Over the next few days Hermione kept to herself, using every available second that wasn't already dedicated to keeping up with her assignments to obsessively go over Snape's "advice". She debated on going to McGonagall and filing a formal complaint for his use of Legilimency against her, but knew it would stay an unvoiced threat. The fact that there was no way for her to reveal his abuse of power without outing her and Draco's relationship enraged her.

There were specific rules that should never be broken as a teacher and the man had wavered on the line before. Sometimes jumping right over when it came to bullying his students... But this... This was grounds for immediate termination according to Decree 3824: Section B, a ruling passed down by the Board of Governors in 1915. Considering she knew of twice in the last six months that the Professor had decided to use the practice against minors, herself and when Harry had overheard his attempt on Draco, it would have been an easy decision for the overseers of the school. Ending with the obvious culmination that every student seemed to secretly wish for... No more Snape at Hogwarts.

The only time she allowed herself to dwell on her impending rendezvous was when she laid down each night. It was then, in the dark that was normally feared, that she felt safe enough to break down the walls she worked so hard to create each morning. Filling her head with random facts from her textbooks and whatever idle gossip she could scrounge up in the common room or halls before breakfast. Anything other than gray eyes and his lips on her skin... Afraid that if she didn't, she would slip at the wrong moment and give Snape even more ammunition.

A plan that was becoming harder and harder to follow through with. While Draco didn't reach out to her again, not even in a hastily scribbled note, he had found a tactic that was much more disconcerting... Every time she seemed to turn around he was there. It did not matter where... The Library. Leaving class. Meals. The Courtyard. Even the random corridor she had been reduced to trying to study in after the common room proved crowded with Lavender and Ron cuddled in front of the fire. All had ended up invaded by Draco, and his cronies, shortly after her arrival.

By Thursday morning she knew she had to respond before her inaction made him think she was avoiding him again. Which she admittedly… kind of was. Or more like avoiding the creation of any more memories she would need to guard with a lock and key... She knew it was an illogical response to the stress of everything since making such a mess of her life. So she bucked it up and braved the chilled dawn to once again find her favorite school owl to deliver the simple date and time written on a spare bit of parchment on the bottom of her bag. She counted on the familiarity of the owl and her handwriting being enough of a clue to the sender and headed down for another early breakfast.

-\/-\/-\/-\/-\/-\/-\/-\/-\/-\/-

The following week went by in a blur of classes, meals, homework and Prefect duties. Draco had needed to decline her offer to meet the prior Sunday during Quidditch practice for the Gryffindors. She had wanted to feel disappointment at the postponement but was only grateful... It gave her more time to reason out her excuses and avoid telling him about what had happened.

The last thing she needed was for him to impulsively think up some grand plan that involved attempting to Obliviate one of their most formidable professors…

And then there was always the worry of another intrusion into her mind by said professor. A worry that had admittedly waned enough for her to be able to walk into her Defense Against the Dark Arts class without her hands shaking. Both from the amount of time that had passed since the attack, and a building of confidence in the combination of her morning ritual and her added efforts to start recalling random mundane memories at will. While she could not be positive without testing the theory, she was hopeful she would have the chance to make it to her wand should there ever be a next time.

It went without saying that when she sat down for dinner on Wednesday night she was preoccupied with not thinking about her "date" later that night and all that it entailed. Not the hardest of tasks given she was stuck in the middle of a huge group of revolving Gryffindors that crowded around Harry. Everyone was starting to get excited over the next Quidditch game that was to take place in two weeks time. Bets were already being placed and loads of students wanted reassurance that the Great Harry Potter would lead them to victory.

As she was about to dig into her plate of food the fourth year she had been forced to take the open seat next to left and Neville slid down the bench to occupy the empty space. He used the clamorous symphony of voices to cover a whispered warning in her ear. "Snape is glaring at you..."

"Oh?" She kept her stare on the bite of mashed potatoes on her fork, fighting not to turn around and look.

He nodded and glanced back over his shoulder before continuing in a hushed voice. "Yes."

"I wonder why that is..." She pretended to give it some thought before shrugging and taking her bite.

"You are lucky that looks can't kill Hermione..."

Her curiosity won and she quickly peeked over her own shoulder at the staff table. Sure enough, Snape sat in his normal seat, glaring at her as if he wanted to set her on fire. Instead of running away screaming like her instincts told her to, she narrowed her eyes and returned the furious look. Their gazes remained locked in a battle of wills, both refusing to be the first to budge. She felt an odd sense of satisfaction when Professor Flitwick interrupted causing Snape to be distracted and look away. With a triumphant smile on her face she turned back to her meal.

"How... How do you and Harry do that?" Neville asked in amazement.

"What do you mean?"

"You stand up to him... It's like his intimidation doesn't work on you." He said almost reverently.

Her lips softened into a genuine smile as she looked over at her first friend at Hogwarts. "I cannot speak for Harry but... For me? It does work. The sound of his disapproving snarl sends shivers down my spine the same as everyone else, but if I let him see that, it would be a thousand times worse. Just like with Malfoy or Parkinson, Neville. He is a bully... One who does have the power to fail you if he wants, but a bully all the same."

"I can't even stand up to Malfoy correctly... How am I supposed to be brave enough to stand up to him?" The boy asked, staring down at his own plate of food.

"You are much more courageous than you give yourself credit for. You've faced down boggarts and Death Eaters... You go to class with a Professor that has threatened or berated you almost every day of your academic career. You have even told Harry-freakin'-Potter and his friends that you would do whatever it took to stop them from losing our House more points. And do you remember what Dumbledore said about that?" When he didn't answer she bumped him with her shoulder and continued on. "He said, 'It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends'. You, Neville Longbottom, are one of the bravest people I know."

The corners of his lips started to lift with the beginnings of a return smile for her. "Well, I will never be like you... Or Harry... Or Ron..."

"True, but I personally think that is fantastic news. Could you really imagine a world with two Hermione Grangers or Harry Potters? Besides... I quite like having a world with one Neville in it." She responded before taking another bite.

"I quite agree..." Came a dreamy voice from behind them. "A world without Neville would be odd and immensely boring."

She looked back at the girl and nodded. "Right you are! Would you like to join us?"

"Oh no, that is alright. I actually came over to see if Ginny still needed some help with her Care of Magical Creatures assignment." said Luna, who reached up and tucked a lock of pale blonde hair back into place as her gaze drifted over to the redhead who looked to be in another bickering match with Dean. "But now does not seem like the right time..."

"No... No it doesn't." Hermione confirmed with a sigh.

Neville snorted at her side and looked even more shocked at the outburst than she did. Quickly trying to cover his tracks he stammered out. "N..No... Not the right time at all. I'd wait until tomorrow if I were you, Luna."

"Thank you for the advice Neville. I am unfortunately forced to agree considering the circumstances. How long do you think they have before she finally has enough and ends things?" The girl asked bluntly. Cutting to the truth of what all three of them must have been thinking in that unwavering manner of hers.

"The way she looks right now I would be surprised if they make it through the night." Neville said as he shook his head and Ginny's face started to turn a dangerous shade of pink with white splotches.

"Mmmmm..." Luna hummed in agreement, going up onto the tips of her toes to get a better look at what was heading in the direction of an all out fight between the pair.

Hermione smiled and sighed again. "No... She isn't ready yet. They might row but they will make up. I give it another month. Maybe two... If he shapes up and quits treating her like a... Well, like a lady."

As if on cue Ginny stood up- gave an exasperated roll of her eyes and then stomped up the aisle, leaving a bewildered looking Dean to scramble after her… And an insulted looking Seamus, who had been interrupted while trying to diffuse the situation, to sit there staring after them. She gave a soft chuckle before using the opportunity to sneak a bite.

"Do you think he will though?" Luna asked tranquilly as she followed the procession with a keen eye.

"No... Dean is a gentleman through and through. That would be like asking Ginny not to play Quidditch." Neville answered for her.

The blonde clasped her hands together at her waist and turned back to them. "I suppose we will find out. It is time for me to leave... Remember to watch out for Corbrealias."

Before she could even ask what a "Corbrealias" was, Luna had vanished into the steady line of students starting to head off to their respective evening activities. She gave Neville a questioning look which he returned, indicating he was just as lost to what it could possibly be as she was. They both fell into an easy silence and finished up their meals together.

He even decided to walk with her up to the common room and thanked her for the kind words from earlier as they parted. She was surprised when she felt the sudden pull to stay there and do something completely normal with him. It had been so long since she had the chance to hang out with an old friend with no baggage hanging over their heads... Ron and her were still not speaking unless absolutely necessary, which led to the inevitable tenseness with Harry. Ginny was becoming more and more distracted by the mounting issues with Dean, and when she wasn't- their time together was spent with her covertly trying to get more information to sleuth out who Hermione was sneaking away to meet.

The feeling quickly passed when the image of Draco waiting for her popped into her head. As much as she looked forward to seeing him, the curiosity on what he had planned for them would have been enough to sway her decision to go... As she made her way up to her dorm room she made the mental note to ask Neville to go for a walk Saturday before Apparition Lessons.

With her nostalgic guilt appeased her thoughts centered on her next immediate concern…

Just what in the heck was she going to wear?!