Hermione spent about eight minutes in the shower before the water began to run cold, and she quickly exited the porcelain tub, toweling herself off before she dressed in the clothes Luna had given her. Fleur had finally fallen asleep and Neville had volunteered to stay beside her in case she awoke, most likely from pain or with questions. Hermione wasn't sure how they would answer those questions. Ginny was still nowhere to be found, and Narcissa recommended everyone leave her alone, at least for the time being.

Hermione walked into what used to be Draco's room, closing the door quietly behind her. The room was empty, minus a bed and night table with a candle stick next to a stack of books. Hermione crawled into the bed, lifting the sheets, and a light puff of dust bloomed as she moved around. She felt so out of place, being in his bed, talking to his mother, moving into his house, all the while he was not there.

There were dark colored blinds covering the windows, and Hermione grasped her wand, pointing it towards the candle, and whispered, "incendio." A small flame licked the wick of the candle and it casted a low glow over the room. She laid back, starring straight above her at the ceiling, the scent of mint surrounding her as she inhaled deeply, her mind buzzing.

What were they to do now?

She had not the slightest clue of what their next move was to be. There was still so many people living under the Lovegood's home that needed to be transported to the Blacks house, but it was dangerous. There was also the issue of disrupting the production of the potion, but no one knew where it was being manufactured.

"If only we knew." Hermione said to herself, and squeezed her eyes shut. A knock sounded at her door, a light thumping against the wooden panel and she sat up, reaching for her wand as she moved towards the door. She held her breath as she swung it open, arm raised. Luna blinked back at her, and raised her fingertips to touch the end of Hermione's wand.

"On edge, are we?" Luna asked, and Hermione lowered her arm nervously, shaking her head.

"I'm sorry," she said, rubbing her arm. "I just...better safe than sorry."

"Of course," Luna replied, holding out a blanket to her. "if you need anything, just let us know. Narcissa is awfully accommodating." Hermione smiled but it felt odd, like it did not belong on her face.

"Luna, can I ask you something?" Hermione said as the other girl turned to leave.

"You know you can." Luna replied, blinking slowly.

"Right," Hermione sighed. "I just... I don't know what to do. I don't know who's alive, who's been kidnapped, who I'm trying to save, who is on our side. I feel so so lost, I feel like I'm missing everything, yet I understand nothing, Harry is gone, and oh god where's Ron?"

It was not until Luna put a hand on her shoulder that Hermione realized she was crying. Her tears felt bizarre as they streaked down her face, and Luna gave her shoulder a squeeze. It was quiet for a moment, the two girls standing in the doorway of Draco's room as Hermione tried to gain some composure.

"I have a boyfriend." Luna stated, and Hermione looked up at her quickly, sniffling.

"You...what? Who?" she sputtered at the new information. Luna cracked a smile.

"Blaise Zabini."

"I beg your pardon." Hermione said, her teeth clenched. Blaise was a Slytherin, he had supported Voldemort for heavens sake. Hermione could not remember him at the Battle of Hogwarts, but she knew he'd been there.

Luna smiled dazedly and gave Hermione a small shrug. "I guess everyone's full of surprises these days." She said, turning slightly. "Hold on to that, Granger."

When had Luna ever called her Granger?

Hermione stood in utter shock as she watched the blonde witch walk down the stairs, and she shut her door, leaning against it. Who would have thought; the idea of Blaise and Luna as a couple was foreign. Hermione laughed softly to herself, sliding down the panel of the door gradually until she sat on the floor, her knees drawn to her chest. How ironic.

April 3rd, 1997

Hermione sat at the back of the library between two stacks of textbooks, her hair tied into a tight bun, her wand stuck in the bun, freckled face so close to the pages her nose brushes it a few times. She straightened as she heard footsteps approaching and peered over the top of the book to find Draco walking towards her, dressed from head to toe in black. Ever since the attempted walk to Hogsmeade, she had not heard from him, and was afraid she had misjudged the situation.

Did she fancy him? Yes. Why? She was damned if she knew.

"Hello, Malfoy." She said coolly, sounding braver than she felt. He raised a thin eyebrow at her, and moved around the desk, pulling out the chair beside her and sat down.

"Back to Malfoy, I see?" He replied, folding his hands on his lap. She sighed, shutting the book in front of her and turned to face him.

"I owe you an apology." She said, and he stared at her.

"Why." It was not a question, more of a statement, and his tone was dismissive. She swallowed, feeling embarrassment grow in her chest, and she picked at a nail on her left hand.

"I shouldn't...I shouldn't have said anything." She replied. "It was rude of me to assume. It wasn't my intention to embarrass yo-"

"You didn't embarrass me." Draco interjected and Hermione blushed, picking at her finger furiously.

"Well, yes perhaps not, but I apologize for overstepping and I wa-"

"God damnit Granger stop apologizing!" Draco hollered, and she winced. She clasped her hands to her chest, feeling her heart beat quickly against her rib cage as she breathed nervously.

"Stop apologizing." He said again, quietly this time.

Hermione watched as he reached forward and placed his hand lightly against the back of her neck. Her heart hammered within her as she felt his fingers move slowly upwards, into her hairline and massage the skin there, his fingertips lightly pressing against the base of her head.

"You truly are a Golden Girl." Draco murmured, a small smile on his mouth, but it did not reach his eyes.

"Draco," Hermione whispered, her skin tingling where his fingers met her hair. "What's wrong?"

He shook his head, and she leaned forward slightly, peering up at him. He was so handsome this up close, but there were slight shades of purple near the corner of his eyes, and his face was tight, like the skin was pulled too far across his skull.

"You can tell me," she pleaded, placing her hand on his knee and he inhaled slightly. "I swear, you can tell me."

He stared at her hand on his knee, blinked several times, then looked up at her, his eyes brimming with words she could not decipher.

"I cannot." He whispered, and before she could ask him once more, his lips were on hers.

Hermione squeezed his knee in surprise as Draco kissed her, his fingers pulling her to him, the pads still massaging her neck and she felt warmth bloom on her lips. She shut her eyes slightly as she opened her mouth to him, moving nearer in her chair, and felt his fingers tugging her closer. His other hand moved to her cheek and cupped her face, his tongue darting slowly in between her lips. He tasted like mint, and his tongue was warm against hers as he deepened the kiss. His lips were softer than she would have expected, and she could feel his want, his need, for something, anything, to hold onto, to anchor him to the world before he floated away.

Draco pulled back slightly, letting out a shaky breath, his hands still cradling her head, and she felt his exhale across her lips.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, untangling his hand from her hair and she ached for the contact once more.

"What is it?" she pleaded again, grasping onto the hand that was still against the side of her face. "I can help."

Draco laughed without humor, looking out the library window as he shook his head, faster this time. "You cannot help me, Hermione, no one can." He said, pulling his hand back. She dropped her hands slowly to her lap, licking her lips. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, the hands that were once in her hair now in tight fists against his thighs.

"I should go." He said, standing and she stood up quickly, her chest heaving.

He couldn't leave, not now. She knew if he walked away, she would never see this side of him again, and that scared her.

When had the thought of Draco Malfoy doing anything but revolt her, change?

"Draco," she said, stepping towards him. "Kiss me."

He hesitated for only a moment before he put his hands on her waist and closed the gap between them. She gasped into his mouth as he pushed her backwards, her back coming into contact with a bookshelf, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. With his right hand, he gripped the side of her face and angled it away, moving his lips from her face to her jaw, trailing wet kisses on her skin. She sighed as his lips pressed against the base of her throat, and she moved her hands towards his front, pulling him closer to her.

"This isn't too fast, is it?" Draco murmured against her skin and shook her head dreamily. His left hand moved from her waist to wrap around her back as his mouth returned to hers, and Hermione took his face in her hands. Softly, she moved her mouth, trying to relax the kiss that seemed like it needed more. Running her thumb over his cheek, she tried to comfort whatever she could feel inside his emotions, the sadness that seemed to be rooted deep within.

"I'm right here." She murmured, willing him to talk to her. He pulled back slowly, eyeing her, his lips slightly swollen and pink. He let her go, and stepped back, placing a light kiss on her cheek.

"I know," He murmured, caressing the skin right beneath her eye with the pad of his thumb.

Someone coughed and both Hermione and Draco jumped back, Hermione hitting her tailbone slightly against the bookcase as Draco jammed his hands into his pocket. Theodore Nott stood a few feet away from them, he arms crossed and a grin spread across his face.

"Hey there, Hermione," he said slowly, giving her a wink. "Draco."

Hermione watched as Draco wiped his mouth on the back of his hand, and he walked around the table, striding past Theo with his shoulders hunched. Theo watched him leave and gave Hermione a smirking glare.

"Blaise knew someone was on his mind." He crooned, and she felt her face grow hot. "Couldn't figure out who. Never would have guessed you."

"Well, that's none of your business, Theo." She shot back, sitting down at her desk, and flipping open her textbook, trying to ignore the buzzing across her skin. Theo nodded, rubbing his jaw with his hand as if he were thinking.

"We take care of one another." Theo said, and Hermione glanced up at him. "Me, Blaise, Draco. Our parents are shit but we have each other. We protect each other. So just listen when I tell you..."

She watched as he walked to her desk, placed both hands on the table, and leaned forward, his brown hair falling in his eyes slightly. Hermione glared at him, gripping her wand underneath the desk tightly. Theo looked her up and down, his eyes pausing on her kiss-bruised mouth and shook his head with a low laugh.

"We'll protect him. Even from you...if we have to."