Their fun only lasted a little while, but they emerged from the water dripping wet with big smiles plastered on their faces. They both took off their soaking shoes and sat with their legs dangling over the edge.

“I was just bombarded with all of this pressure about how things have changed too much and I know that this will be the biggest change of all.” She sighed. “I really care about you Draco, I just got scared that no one else would understand it.” She looked down at her legs. “They’ll never understand it I’m afraid.”

Draco could see it now. He knew what it meant to be afraid of how people would react. He would never admit it but he was scared that his parents or Pansy or some of the others that frequented his house during the last three years would find out and come after him, or worse, her. He hadn’t really thought about that last bit much, but now that he has it will be the thing he worries about most.

And then he understood what Hermione meant. She wasn’t scared of their reactions, she was scared of losing them. She was scared of losing everything that she cared about.

So was he. Was it worth it to risk her life for the sake of maybe being happy for a while? He had to believe that it was. And she would never let him leave because he was worried about her safety.

So he understood, because he finally had something to lose. Finally he had something in his life that he would be lost without. He had something that he was so scared to let go in case he never got it back and the thought of her slipping through his fingers was terrifying, but he finally got it.

He reached up and put his arm around her and she rested her head on his shoulder. He hated the fact that she had so many people that she was scared to lose that it made her question the way she felt about him. He was absolutely fuming inside.

But it wasn’t spite, it was jealousy. How long had he ached for someone to share his life with in more than just the way he does with her? He could never truly be himself with his ‘friends’. She didn’t even realise just how lucky she was to have it all.

In his eyes, she had everything. Maybe that was why he had hated her so much before it all. She had friends who were loyal to a fault, she was capable of love and she could separate her family life from her problems here in the wizarding world.

She had everything and he had always felt like he had nothing. He was on a winding path down a road that he thought he knew, until he passed the point where he couldn’t turn back. He hated it.

But because he cared about her, he swallowed his anger and jealousy and tried not to pick a fight with her, not now.

“I know.” He said finally.

“I shouldn’t have let that get in our way. I guess it was my turn to turn the cold shoulder.” She looked up at him with a small smile.

He snorted. He had been a little hot and cold with her early on. “I wasn’t that bad.”

This time she laughed loudly and leant over to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. “You were an absolute mind bender.” She kissed him again before taking her legs out of the bath and walking over to where her bag had dropped.

She pulled out her wand as Draco walked towards her and she held it up to him.

“What are you doing?” He said.

“Don’t you trust me?” She said with a cheeky gleam in her eye.

“I think.” He gave a feeble smile and she flicked her wand.

He flinched a little but he felt his clothes begin to dry themselves.

“That’s much better, isn’t it?” She smiled.

“Pass me my bag and let me practise that one on you.” She reached down to grab his satchel and lifted at the wrong end so that its contents came pouring out.

“Oh! Oh, I’m sorry!” He smiled as her cheeks flushed.

“It’s fine, it’s just a few books.”

They began to scoop everything back in when Hermione saw something interesting on the cold tiles of the bathroom.

“Draco…” She said slowly.

“Yes?” He looked up from his bag to see her holding the dried leaves that he had put in his bag earlier.

He felt his stomach twist a little and he swallowed hard. She would definitely know what that was.

“Why do you have leaves of Aconite in your bag?” She held them up and looked over curiously.

“I… well I found them in one of the classrooms and thought I better take them to Slughorn.” He said.

“You weren’t going to put them into a potion were you?”

“I didn’t know they were Aconite, I thought they were a simple herb. I’ve never seen Aconite looking like that.” He said defensively.

“You know that leaves of Aconite are-”

“Poison, yes, any first year would know.” He snapped.

“Sorry… I just thought it was curious is all.”

“Well it’s not. Can I have them back so that I can take them to Slughorn?” He held out his hand and she was reluctant to return them.

“You promise that you didn’t know it was Aconite?” She asked.

“Please just give them back?” His eyes were pleading and she nodded a little before handing them over.

He shoved them into his bag and picked his wand up off the floor. He pointed it at her and gave it a flick. Soon enough, she was dry as well.

“So where does all this leave us?” He asked.

“I’m not going to let my fear get in the way of us anymore. I’ve faced worse.” She smiled and walked forward to take his hand. “How about we meet after dinner? In the room of requirement as per usual.” She gave his hand a little squeeze.

He nodded and leant down to press his lips against hers. As she parted her mouth slightly he put a hand on her side. If there was one thing he had missed for the past few days it was this. She pulled away and leaned into him for an embrace.

He raised a hand to cup the back of her head and kissed her hair. As he closed his eyes and breathed in her sweet lavender scent he felt his whole body relax a little more. She was here in his arms and no one was going to take her from him. No matter what happened.

He told himself that even if the rest of them found out he wouldn’t let them close enough to hurt her. He would do anything to keep her safe; there was no doubt about that.

Hermione headed back to the common room to freshen up before dinner. So many unanswered questions about the Aconite leaves swirled around in her head and she knew that she should have believed him when he said that he had found them. She just couldn’t believe that he wouldn’t have recognised them. He has taken potions every year since the beginning.

When her mind began raising suspicions about any sinister intentions that he may have with them she felt a pang of guilt. That is the old you talking, she thought to herself, that is what you would have thought three years ago when you didn’t know who he really was. Even through her scolding there was always that nagging voice. Could he really have been planning something terrible?

She shook her head of all of those thoughts and walked through the portrait of the fat lady. She came almost nose to nose with Harry.

“Hey Hermione, I thought you’d be on your way down to dinner already.” He said.

“I was just coming in to freshen up a bit. I’ve been in the library with all the dusty old book cases.” She smiled.

“You know, you could take some time to yourself to just… I don’t know, relax.”

“We have our final exams this year Harry.”

“Yeah and you always end up on top anyway.” He smiled and she rolled her eyes with a laugh.

“Well that’s because I always study and you don’t. Don’t even get me started on the way Ronald has me correct his essays. It would be faster to have me write it myself.”

“That’s true. Come on, you look fine. Let’s go down to dinner.”

She tried lazily to argue but began walking down to the great hall with him anyway.

“So you and Ginny seemed to pick things up again pretty quickly.” She said with a slight glance to Harry on her right.

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed pretty loudly before looking back at her.

“She’s just so worried that everything will change.”

“I know, she told me about that.” Hermione nodded.

“Well, it has to doesn’t it? Even if we never had to face Voldemort and all the rest of it we would still have to leave school at some point. Everything changes then anyway, not to mention we won't see each other every day and we’ll have different jobs and new people in our lives… well, she got me thinking about it and I think I found myself missing the way it used to be. I love Ginny, I do. I just don’t know if we’re right for each other right now.

“She’s still going to be in school next year and I’ll be… well I don’t know yet. I just couldn’t say no when she was so upset. I guess I needed the comfort of what it used to be like too.” He sighed again and Hermione looped her arm through his and rested her head on his shoulder.

“I guess you're right. Things would have changed anyway.”

“So why does it feel like things would have been the same if it weren’t for everything?”

“It just fits in with the timing.” She sighed. “Sometimes I wish we could just go back to before everything, but I suppose we have to live with it all now.”

“Yeah, I guess we do. Hey, why don’t you take a night off from study, or whatever it is you’ve been doing to come down to the lake for a bonfire with us?” Harry looked down at her and she smiled at the thought of spending a night with all of her friends- like old times.

“You aren’t really listening to all of Ginny’s ramblings are you?” She laughed. “I would love to.”

She thought about Draco and knew that she would have to tell him to wait until tomorrow, even though she knew he would hate it. She walked with Harry down to the hall and as quickly as she could she scrawled a note to Draco and sent it whizzing away. She couldn’t wait for tonight.

As Draco was heading towards the hall for dinner he had a little more spring in his step than the last few days. She always seemed to have an invigorating effect on him. As he turned a corner he only just saw the little piece of paper before it jabbed him in the nose.

He gave it an annoyed whack before he opened it and upon reading the first line his heart sank.

Draco, I’m so sorry but I have to cancel for tonight. I really do want to see you so get some sleep and meet me by the room an hour before breakfast.

H.

He was slightly confused but he tried not to let himself get angry with her. He wanted to see her even though she couldn’t make it tonight, that had to be a good sign, didn’t it?

The old group were getting together that night, the first time in a very long time. Hermione walked down towards the lake with Harry, Ginny and Ron. She couldn’t wipe the grin off her face. She looked over at Harry who was holding Ginny’s hand and smiling. Ron put his arm around her shoulders and they fell back from the other two a little.

“Hey Hermione, I just want to make sure that everything is okay with us.” He looked down at her expectantly.

“Well of course it is.” She gave him a warm smile.

“I just don’t want things to be weird anymore, you know?” She put her arm around his waist.

“I don’t want to lose you Ronald, and I suppose things have to move forward at some point, don’t they?”

He made a little sound in his throat. “Yeah, they do. Look, I just want to tell you something before… well I thought I should tell you.”

“Well go on then.”

“I… well I thought that you should know that I’m kind of seeing someone.” He took a big gulp and Hermione just looked up at him for a moment.

He looked very nervous but that was when she realised that she didn’t feel jealous or annoyed. She actually felt glad that he had found someone too, so she gave him a big smile.

She reached around and hugged him, something that they had never really done before it all changed. He seemed a bit surprised but he hugged her back.

“I’m so happy for you.” She said.

He seemed to let out a sigh and she laughed a little.

“Imagine that, you, nervous about telling me.” She grinned.

“Well, I’m glad you’re okay with it.”

“I’m glad that this isn’t weird anymore, I hated not being able to talk around you.”

“Yeah, me too.” He gave her a small squeeze before they made a few quick steps to catch up to Harry and Ginny.

Hermione could see the warm glow of the small fire through the trees and as they got closer she saw Dean and Seamus sitting by it holding drinks in their hands.

“Well look who finally decided to arrive. I’ve had to sit around listening to him for the last half hour.” Seamus said.

“Steady on, you’re not so interesting yourself.” Dean grinned.

Ginny looked down to their cups and Seamus laughed. “Calm down, it’s just butterbeer.”

They passed around more cups and Hermione took a sip. The foamy sweet familiar taste made her think of better times.

It wasn’t long before Neville and Luna arrived, hand in hand. Luna skipped over to sit next to Ginny with her sweet smile and rosy cheeks. Neville wandered over to Dean and gave him a nudge on the arm.

They all mulled around for a while, chatting as a group before smaller factions broke off. Harry, Dean, Ron and Neville were talking about the not-so-secret return of the Quiddich World Cup, Ginny and Luna were having a private chat over on a fallen log and Hermione was left to talk with Seamus.

“He really doesn’t know how to keep his mouth shut does he?” He pointed over to Ron.

“No, not really, he’s always been one to gossip.” They smiled.

“Well let’s just hope that one day he doesn’t get himself in trouble.”

They sat in silence for a moment after that before Hermione piped up.

“So Seamus, do have many plans for next year?”

He took a sip of his butterbeer and shrugged. “Well, I think I should steer clear of flammable things.” They laughed together.

“Maybe you could, if they were meant to explode or catch fire.” She smiled.

“I don’t know, when I was a kid me dad brought some fireworks home, I don’t even know how but next thing you know half the house was up in flames.” They laughed again and each took sips of their drinks. “No really, I don’t know. They want me to join the ministry as an Auror in training. I don’t know if I really want to do that.”

“Well, you have all year to think of something.” Hermione gave him a light nudge on the arm.

“I take it you’re still on the fence then?” He asked.

“I just have no idea where to go from here.” She sighed.

“Well you have the choice of the lot so you don’t need to worry.” He laughed.

It had become quite dark by that time and the moonlight was glistening on the black water of the lake. Seamus had joined the Quiddich discussion – which seemed like it would never end – and Hermione walked over to join Ginny and Luna.

“It’s a beautiful night, don’t you think Hermione?” Luna gave her a sweet little smile as she sat down.

“It is, the moon’s almost full.”

“Enough with this polite chit-chat, I know that Luna knows who it is you’re seeing.” Ginny gave her an accusing look. “Why won't you tell me?”

“I only found out because I worked it out. She never told me, not really.”

“Still, you can still tell me.” Ginny sulked a little and Luna smiled over at Hermione again, the two of them sharing the burden of Hermione’s secret.

“I can tell you that you don’t have to worry, she’s in good hands.” Luna said.

“Yes well I still feel out of the loop.”

“You Weasleys are always trying to hunt down the latest information, and you can never keep it to yourselves.” Hermione grinned at Ginny’s scowl.

“What is it you’re saying about us?” Ron and the boys were turning around to face them.

“Only that you can't keep secrets.” Dean laughed.

“We can too.” Ron protested.

“Maybe when your life depends on it but otherwise you’re hopeless.” Harry said.

They all had a good laugh at the expense of Rona and Ginny before they turned it around to Seamus’ pyrotechnics and then the time Neville thought he killed Harry at the triwizard tournament.

“Oh come on, how was I to know that I hadn’t killed him? He looked like he was just sinking!” Neville said.

“You should’ve seen your face Longbottom; you were white as a sheet. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to miss the tournament to take you to the hospital wing, I probably would have just left you there.” Seamus howled.

“Well I wouldn’t have any idea, I was stuck at the bottom of the bloody lake.” Ron looked rather annoyed that he had to miss all the excitement to be someone’s item.

“So was I you know.” Hermione smiled over at him.

“Well we were all being subjected to Fred and George taking bets on who would and wouldn’t make it out alive.” Ginny said.

They all laughed at the memory before silence filled the clearing around the fire. No one really knew what else to say. They were all thinking the same thing.

“It’s George’s birthday next week.” Ginny said slowly.

Hermione saw Ron sigh and Luna rested her head on Neville’s shoulder. Dean and Seamus looked intently at the raging orange fire and Harry looked up at Hermione, the two giving each other knowing looks.

The silence was deafening, crushing. Hermione had an idea.

She stood up and started walking to the edge of the lake. As she took out her wand all eyes were on her and she closed hers with a deep breath. She thought back to all those Christmases and holidays at the Burrow. All the wonderful memories of Fred and George, of Molly and her friends flooded her. She smiled as they filled her with nostalgia and a sense of pure happiness that she missed dearly and she whispered the words.

“Expecto patronum.”

The silver light came pouring out of her wand in the form of an otter and began dancing above the surface of the lake. Hermione opened her eyes and smiled at its pure beauty. It wasn’t long before a small hare joined the otter in their play over the lake.

Hermione looked to the side to see Luna standing with her.

Seamus was next, his silky fox almost as agile as the moonlight. Then came Ginny’s patronus, a graceful mare. Ron stepped up, and then Neville and Dean, producing a small dog, a lion fish and a badger.

When Harry produced his stag – the final patronus to complete the set – they all gathered in the centre of the lake with what seemed to be a final gaze back before running towards the forest trees.

Luna took Hermione’s hand and on her other side Harry gave her hand a squeeze. Things wouldn’t be the same, not ever, but this made Hermione believe that nothing could break them apart.

Draco went to bed that night, it took him hours to fall asleep. He was just waiting to see her in the morning, even if they had only a little while. He finally fell asleep at almost midnight.

This was right about the time when the gang were making their way back to the castle, trying to avoid Filch, who still liked to roam around looking for students out of their beds.

As they finally made their way through to the staircases, trying infinitely hard not to laugh they waved goodbye to Luna as she headed to the Ravenclaw common room. The others made their way to the portrait of the fat lady after Ron was stuck on a shifting staircase for a while, much to everyone’s amusement.

Hermione said goodnight to the others and climbed into bed, her heart pounding, and this was not the end of it.

In the morning, she woke up with enough time to quickly dress and sneak out of the deserted common room to meet with Draco.

He was already there. He was never going to let her know just how long he’d been there.

He went to pull her in for a hug but she grabbed his arm and pulled him down the hall.

“Where are we going?” He asked.

“There’s plenty of time to explain.” She pulled him into a corner and he looked quite confused.

“What’s going on?”

“Did you go straight to your common room last night?” She asked.

“Yes, why?”

“Good, because I have something to show you.”

Now he was completely confused, even more so when she pulled out a necklace with a tiny golden hourglass in its centre.

“What is that?”

“How long ago was dinner? It was at about seven wasn’t it?” She said, ignoring his question. “Do you have the time now?”

“Uh… Twelve past six, why? Did you hear that?” He went to look out in the hall but she pulled him closer to her and put the chain around their necks.

“Remember that time will you?” She smiled and turned the little spindle exactly eleven times.

He felt strange for a few moments before she pulled the chain off his neck and took his hand.

“What just happened?” He said as they walked past the room of requirement and waited for the door to appear.

She looked up with a gleam in her eye and took the handle of the door. “Time travel.” And with a single finger pressed to her lips she pulled him into the room at twelve past seven the night before.