"Okay Malfoy.  Before we get started, let's chat," Harry began, pulling him back so the boys were a few paces behind Hermione.

"Yeah.  Hermione might trust you, but we sure as hell don't.  Not yet.  So keep yourself in check if you want to earn our trust," Ron added.

"Oh?  That's nice but can I just-" Draco tried to start explaining but was cut off.

"No.  Wait.  Not only do you have to earn out trust, but you have to earn our forgiveness. For years we've been enemies. You've picked on us and we picked on you. If we're going to put this in the past, it's going to take a while."  Ron said strongly.

"Also, you have to earn our approval.  Ron and I, we're like brothers to Hermione.  If you want to keep spending time with her, I want one of us to know every time you hang out. We want her to be safe and it's in her best interest for us to look out for her. Got it?"

"Yes.  Now if you two are done, I'd like to get back to explaining things to your ignorant little arses," Draco said with a frustrated sigh.

———————————

Draco was confused.

I mean, he was always confused when it came to the Golden Trio, but now he was more confused than usual.

What did they mean 'if you want to keep spending time with Hermione?' Did she tell them she likes him?

No.   That's ridikulous.  She doesn't like him.  Does she?

"Where are you going Draco?" Hermione pulled him out of his thoughts.

Bloody hell.  He just walked right past the library.  Oh god.

"Yeah, sorry, I was just thinking."

"Well Malfoy, if you could do your thinking out loud?  In the library preferably," Ron commented sardonically.

"Ronald!  Stop being rude!"  Hermione chastised.  Hmm... maybe she does like me, Draco thought.  But he shook those thoughts out of his mind.

Once they were in the library, they made sure to ask Madam Prince to keep it open for a few more minutes, as it was almost curfew.  She loved Hermione so much that she instantly granted it, even though she shot the boys disgusted glances.

"But be careful, someone is in your usual library spot, Miss Granger," Madam Pince warned.

"Probably a first year.  I'll work it out.  Thank you," Hermione said, already walking towards the back corner of the library where she found Draco that day.

She stopped in her tracks when she saw a new student reading there.  The student looked about sixth or seventh year and was wearing Gryffindor robes, sitting in Hermione's usual chair.

"Excuse me?  I don't believe we've met before.  I'm-"

"Hermione Granger.  And your friends are Ron, Harry and Draco," the girl said smoothly.  "I'm Izzy. Izzy Whethers.  And I know I'm in your spot, I just didn't expect you to be here this late at night."

"Oh.  Well, I'm glad that we know each other now," Hermione said, slightly shaken that this girl immediately knew who she was and why she was talking to her.  "My friends and I need to do something important.  I won't make you move as I love a good book too-" she gestured to the book in Izzy's hands, "-but we'll be over there, so please don't disturb us.  Sorry to interrupt your reading!"  With that, Hermione walked away, the boys following.

Harry thought it was strange that he had never seen her before, even though she looked to be about his age and in his house.  Then again, he wasn't a very observant person.

----------------------

"The ministry began a Heritage Studies program as part of the deal with Voldemort," Draco began confidently, once they all sat down. "I think he wanted them to do this for two reasons. One, so he could have an excuse to look in files on people and search for someone. Two, to create unrest about the 'importance' of pure bloods.

"Why would he want to make pure bloods seem more important? To start a feud between blood. He needs this because he needs to fuel the unrest in the world for when he makes his power move.

"That brings me to my second point. He needs to be able to go through files to find someone. I believe he is looking for someone that might be a threat to him as he tries to regain power. At least, that's what I assume he's doing."

Ron looked at Draco incredulously. "You're assuming quite a bit here. How do we even know that Voldemort is back?"

"Ron... I think Mal-," Harry sighed and started again, "I think Draco is right.  I know my scar disappeared, but I've been getting the same feelings that I used to when Voldemort was rising to power."

"So Voldemort is back.  But who could he be after?   Who at this school could be a threat to him at all?" Hermione asked.

"Me," responded Harry.

"Actually, no."  They all looked at Draco in surprise.   "I'm sorry to burst your little bubble of heroism, but he wouldn't be looking for you again.   That'd be suicide.   He wouldn't be looking for a Muggleborn because he's trying to prove they're worthless. He'd be looking for someone that could pose a threat and be used as leverage if captured.

"That's why I came to you. I thought maybe you'd know who Voldemort could be after."

"Uhh... the only person I can think of is Neville, but everyone knows Neville's heritage so there would be no reason for this program," Harry said.

"Well you're a great help," Draco said, putting his head in his hands.

"It's not like you know either!" Harry exclaimed.

"Well then what do we do now? We have no clue who the person is, and a loose idea of what's going on. We're hopeless!" Ron complained.

"No we're not."

Everyone turned to look at Hermione.

"Meet me back here, tomorrow, at 11:00."

"Hermione, what are you-" Draco began.

"Just meet me here, okay? We've got to get to bed."

"Why? It's Saturday!" Ron called after her as she rushed out of the library.

"Well, that settles it. We have a lead and a mystery to solve. It's like those muggle television shows," Draco muttered to himself, ruffling his hair, loosening his tie, unbuttoning his shirt a bit and unzipping his fly.

"What the bloody hell are you doing?" Ron asked, watching Draco dishevel himself.

"It'll look less suspicious when I'm leaving the library if it looks like I've just had a good shagging. I might have a bad reputation, but I still have people falling over me," he said like it was obvious. "Oh, and don't try it. It's not like you and it won't fly. Unless I was shagging one of you..." he said with a wink and then laughed at their horrified faces.

And then there were two.

As Ron and Harry silently walked back to the common room, neither of them noticed a Gryffindor girl hiding behind a bookcase, eavesdropping on the entire conversation that was just had.

Hey guys!  I'm sorry this chapter was so confusing and if it didn't really make sense, that's okay.  I'm having trouble following my own story line, but next chapter everything will make sense.  Once I make the (not really) big reveal, you'll all get it.

Thanks for sticking with me!  Luv ya Wattfam!

Delphie, out.