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Chapter Text

4.

It was too hot to talk. Draco was laying on the grass with his eyes closed. Hermione was sitting on a bench reading some muggle book. It was quiet. But the silence between them was comfortable. Once again, they were back to friendship for the summer and once again they will part ways during school year. But Draco stopped thinking what will happen in school. He liked to enjoy the time he had with her. Hermione, on the other hand, kept wondering.

"I was just reading this book on psychology..." She said.

"Of course you were." Draco mumbled in a sleepy voice.

"I was just wondering. Maybe you have a personality disorder of some kind?"

"What?"

"You know most of the time you are a jerk. But here you turn into a boy with actual humanity."

Draco sat down and stared at her with consternation.

"Calm down, I wasn't serious. But I am kind of right."

"Why do you even read this?" He asked ignoring her statement. "To mock me?"

"It's just interesting."

"How can you be interested in everything?"

"Is it bad to be curious?" She asked worriedly.

"No, of course not. I like it in you. No wonder you beat me in every subject." He laid down again putting his hands behind his head.

"That is because I actually study."

"I do too. Sometimes."

"Yeah, right." Hermione laughed. "You spend most of the time looking for someone to bully."

Draco wasn't bothered by the truth anymore. Hermione often expressed her opinion on his behaviour in Hogwarts.

"I have to keep my reputation." He said calmly.

"Yeah, I know... You and your reputation." It was sarcastic.

"Do you want me to tell you why am I doing all this?" He asked, sitting up and looking her in the eyes. Hermione nodded. "My father is constantly disappointed in me. He's mad that you have better grades. He's furious that Potter is better ad Quidditch. But after every school year we host a dinner. Crabbe, Goyle, Theo, sometimes even Pansy- they all come with their parents. And we discuss the school year. And they all like "Hey, you remember that time you insulted Potter?" "Ha, and you know what he told Granger after that?". And it makes me feel awful to be honest. But then I look at my father and he is laughing. And there is no disappointment in his eyes anymore. It seems to make up for everything else. And that is why I always do it again."

"I thought you hated your father." Hermione stated.

"I do hate him for many reasons. But he is still my father, Hermione. He raised me, he red me bedtime stories and there were times when I considered him as my hero. There is always a part of me that wants to make him proud. I want to deserve his approval."

"Do you think he is a good man?"

"In many ways he isn't. But sometimes..."

"Then it makes no sense."

"Maybe it doesn't. But that is the way I feel."

Hermione took few minutes to process his speech. She never had any reason not to love her parents. She didn't know how to live under one roof with Lucius Malfoy. Yet, she still couldn't understand it. If people loved us they should accept the way we are, not make us someone else. And Hermione believed Draco wasn't this mean brat he was at Hogwarts. The way he was with her- kind, funny, intelligent and sometimes a bit problematic- that was who he was.

"Okay." She said finally.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Insult me all you want. As long as I know you don't mean that I'll manage."

"You know I don't want to..."

"But you will. In the end you always will. But have it your way." She tried not to look at him. She felt like she had to think about it more. "I have to go."

"See you Saturday?" There was some kind of desperation in his eyes.

"Yeah. I'll be here."

Draco was soaking when he got under the tree. It was finally raining. Hermione didn't seem to hear or notice him. She was sitting with her eyes closed and some weird wires in her ears.

"Why on earth are you wearing earmuffs?" He said, touching her arm. Hermione jumped. "Is some mandrake around?"

"What?" she asked taking the weird thing off. "Oh, these are just headphones. You know, to listen to music. My parents bought me this, I don't think they realise that it won't work in Hogwarts."

"And the music comes from this box?" He asked curiously looking at the thing next to her.

"It's called disc-man. You put a CD inside and then..." Draco looked completely lost. "It's just a muggle device."

"I've heard about TV and cars, even planes but I've never seen anything like it."

"Muggle technology is very... developed. I think wizards could..." She paused not sure if it's a good idea to start that topic. "Would you like to listen with me?"

"Yeah, whatever." He said, trying so sound casual. He sat down next to her. She shivered when his arm touched hers.

"God, you are soaking." She said placing headphones between them. "It's just a muggle English band."

"Fine, just play it."

Draco listened without a word. He rarely listened to any music. He played piano a bit, but he never found it that interesting to listen to any wizard bands. But he found it calming. Maybe it wasn't the music, maybe it was Hermione sitting next to him, silently humming the words.

"Maybe I will never be all the things that I want to be. But now is not the time to cry. Now's the time to find out why. I think you're the same as me, we see things they'll never see. You and I are gonna live forever... It kind of suits us, don't you think?" she asked. "The lyrics."

"Yeah, maybe a bit."

He wanted to stay there forever, in the rain, with the music in his ears and her by his side. He realized he felt something strong in moments like this, something he couldn't name yet. But he didn't feel the urge to explain this feeling. This was the real magic. Not the wands, spells and curses- this moment.

"Draco, are you going to the World Cup?" she suddenly asked.

"Sure. Wouldn't miss it for the world." he shrugged. "Why?"

"I'm going with Weasleys. I was just curious. Now, where did I put this Ancient Runes book... I wanted to ask you something."

And the moment was destroyed. Draco's heart started to beat faster. He heard a few things during dinners. He heard there was some kind of plan for the World Cup. He knew that his father and his friend's parents are going to do something. He wasn't sure what but he was sure it was going to get very nasty.

"Got it!" Said Hermione, opening the book. "Ouch. I got a paper-cut." She said putting her finger in her mouth.

"Let me see." He took her hand in his and saw a red drop of blood. "It's red." He observed.

"Yeah, what did you expect? Mud?" She sounded offended.

"No. Of course not. I just always thought it would look different." It was stupid, he knew that. But everything he was told his whole life made him think that.

"We are the same, Draco. I hope you believe it now."

"I do. I always knew that. It's just kind of weird to know that all you believed your whole life is wrong."

"It's fine. Now can you help me with this translation? I'm not sure if I got it right."

He took the book from her and they both tried focused on their homework. The atmosphere changed. They talked about runes but their minds were drifting far away. Hopefully in the same direction.

"I'm leaving on Monday." She said when they finished.

"I guess I see you in school then."

"Yeah."

She was about to walk away when he stopped her.

"Hermione. During the Cup... Be careful, okay?"

"What do you mean?"

He didn't answer her. He pulled her into a hug. It was something new.

"Just be careful." He whispered into her hair.

With every year it was easier to switch worlds. She finally felt like she belonged, after all this friendless years. She felt so lucky having such friends like Harry and Ron. There was no unnecessary drama, no hiding, no insults. And she always though if Draco would be different if he had this.

She didn't think about him much. After four years Harry and the Weasleys became her family. They didn't have much but they still were so generous. Quidditch World Cup was an amazing experience so far. She never saw so many wizards from other countries. She red about them in books but seeing them was so much better. She had fun. She didn't think anything could spoil it for her. But, like always, something had to go wrong.

"...ah, and here's Lucius!" she heard. She turned her head and there he was. Draco with both his parents. She never saw his mother. She was very pretty but she looked like she was in pain.

"Ah, Fudge," said Mr. Malfoy, holding out his hand as he reached the Minister of Magic. "How are you? I don't think you've met my wife, Narcissa? Or our son, Draco?"

"How do you do, how do you do?" said Fudge, smiling and bowing to Mrs. Malfoy. "And allow me to introduce you to — Obalonsk — Mr. — well, he's the Bulgarian Minister of Magic, and he can't understand a word I'm saying anyway, so never mind. And let's see who else — you know Arthur Weasley, I dare say?"

It was a tense moment. Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy looked at each other.

"Good lord, Arthur," he said softly. "What did you have to sell to get seats in the Top Box? Surely your house wouldn't have fetched this much?"

Fudge, who wasn't listening, said, "Lucius has just given a very generous contribution to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, Arthur. He's here as my guest."

"How — how nice," said Mr. Weasley, with a very strained smile. Mr. Malfoy's eyes had returned to Hermione. She felt that her face changed colour, but stared determinedly back at him. There was a threat in her eyes. Draco shot Harry, Ron, and Hermione one contemptuous look, then settled himself between his mother and father.

She tried to focus on the game. She looked at Victor Krum and tried to figure out what is all this fuss about. He was just a Quidditch player. Sure, he could fly well, but was there anything else? He didn't look like a very bright person. She stopped herself after that. Was she really going to judge someone by their appearance?

She screamed with everyone when Ireland won. She celebrated and almost forgot all that Malfoy thing. She went to the tent with Ginny and they gossiped until they fell asleep. And then it started.

People were running in various directions. There was fire. There were people yelling, a big crowd, probably drunk. A masked group of people with they wands pointing straight upward. And above them, Hermione observed with terror, there were people. Muggles. Parents with little children, hanging in the air like dolls. She felt tears in her eyes.

"We're going to help the Ministry!" Mr. Weasley shouted over all the noise, rolling up his own sleeves. "You lot — get into the woods, and stick together. I'll come and fetch you when we've sorted this out!"

She cleared her eyes and hurried to get closer to Harry and Ron. After a while she heard Ron yell with pain.

"What happened?" she said anxiously, stopping so abruptly that Harry walked into her. "Ron, where are you? Oh this is stupid — lumos!"

She illuminated her wand and directed its narrow beam across the path. Ron was lying sprawled on the ground.

"Tripped over a tree root," he said angrily, getting to his feet again.

"Well, with feet that size, hard not to," said a drawling voice from behind them. Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned sharply. Draco was standing alone nearby, leaning against a tree, looking utterly relaxed. Too relaxed. His arms folded, he seemed to have been watching the scene at the camp-site through a gap in the trees. Ron cursed him.

"Language, Weasley," said Draco, his pale eyes glittering. "Hadn't you better be hurrying along, now? You wouldn't like her spotted, would you?"

He nodded at Hermione, and at the same moment, a blast like a bomb sounded from the camp-site, and a flash of green light momentarily lit the trees around them. She felt more tears coming to her eyes. She did give him her permission. But why on earth would he pick up a fight in a moment like that?

"What's that supposed to mean?" she said defiantly, fighting with tears.

"Granger, they're after Muggles," said Draco. "D'you want to be showing off your knickers in mid air? Because if you do, hang around... they're moving this way, and it would give us all a laugh."

"Hermione's a witch," Harry snarled. Hermione thought they got it clear this summer. They were the same.

"Have it your own way, Potter," said Draco, grinning maliciously. "If you think they can't spot a Mudblood, stay where you are."

Why was he doing that? She looked for an explanation in her head.

"You watch your mouth!" shouted Ron.

"Never mind, Ron," said Hermione quickly, seizing Ron's arm to restrain him as he took a step toward Malfoy. There came a bang from the other side of the trees that was louder than anything they had heard. Several people nearby screamed. Draco chuckled softly.

"Scare easily, don't they?" he said lazily. "I suppose your daddy told you all to hide? What's he up to — trying to rescue the Muggles?"

"Where're your parents?" said Harry, his temper rising. "Out there wearing masks, are they?"

Hermione was sure they were. Draco turned his face to Harry, still smiling.

"Well... if they were, I wouldn't be likely to tell you, would I, Potter?"

"Oh come on," she said, with a disgusted look at Malfoy, "let's go and find the others."

"Keep that big bushy head down, Granger," sneered Malfoy.

"Come on," Hermione repeated. She looked at Draco one more time. But she couldn't read anything from his face. There was no time to analyse this. She pulled Harry and Ron up the path again.

"I'll bet you anything his dad is one of that masked lot!" said Ron hotly.

"Well, with any luck, the Ministry will catch him!" said Hermione fervently. "Oh I can't believe this. Where have the others got to?"

They looked for Fred, George and Ginny and she felt scared. Be careful- Draco said before they parted few days ago. Did he know about all this? Was she really in danger? And then she heard something. It sounded as though someone was staggering toward their clearing. They waited, listening to the sounds of the uneven steps behind the dark trees. But the footsteps came to a sudden halt.

"Hello?" called Harry. There was silence. Harry got to his feet and peered around the tree. It felt like somebody was standing just beyond the range of his vision.

"Who's there?" Harry said. And then, without warning, the silence was rent by a voice unlike any they had heard in the wood; and it uttered, not a panicked shout, but what sounded like a spell.

"MORSMORDRE!"

And something vast, green, and glittering erupted from the patch of darkness it flew up over the tree tops and into the sky.

"What the —?" gasped Ron as he sprang to his feet again, staring up at the thing that had appeared. It was a colossal skull, comprised of what looked like emerald stars, with a serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue. Hermione immediately recognized it as a Dark Mark.

"Harry, come on, move!" She seized the collar of his jacket and was tugging him backward.

"What's the matter?" Harry said, startled to see her face so white and terrified.

"It's the Dark Mark, Harry!" Hermione moaned, pulling him as hard as she could. "You-Know-Who's sign!" "

"Voldemort's—?"

"Harry, come on!"

She felt it wasn't going to be a one time thing. Voldemort's minions were rising which meant he was also close to rise again.

He knew she would be furious. He understood that she didn't wanted to talk. But all he wanted to do is explain.

He was exhausted. He haven't slept well since The World Cup. He dreamt that his father got to her. He saw her body in the air, emptiness in her eyes. He knew she was okay. But every time he woke up he thought that those nightmares may become true in the future. He took out a piece of paper and wrote: 8PM – Astronomy Tower. He crumpled the note in his hand and stood up. Crabbe and Goyle followed as usual.

"We saw him right up close, as well," he heard Wesley's voice. "We were in the Top Box -"

"For the first and last time in your life, Weasley." Draco stopped in the doorway.

"Don't remember asking you to join us, Malfoy," said Harry coolly.

"Weasley... what is that?" said Draco, pointing at Pigwidgeon's cage. A sleeve was dangling from it, swaying with the motion of the train, the moldy lace cuff very obvious. Ron made to stuff the robes out of sight, but Malfoy was too quick for him; he seized the sleeve and pulled.

"Look at this!" said Malfoy in ecstasy, holding up Ron's robes and showing Crabbe and Goyle. He used his other hand to drop the note on Hermione's lap.

He continued making fun of Wesley, while trying to catch a glimpse of Hermione. She took the note in her hand but did nothing more.

"So... going to enter, Weasley? Going to try and bring a bit of glory to the family name? There's money involved as well, you know... you'd be able to afford some decent robes if you won..." He started teasing, hoping to get her attention.

"What are you talking about?" snapped Ron.

"Are you going to enter?" Draco repeated. "I suppose you will, Potter? You never miss a chance to show off, do you?"

"Either explain what you're on about or go away, Malfoy," said Hermione testily. He saw a piece of paper sticking out from The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 4. She took it but didn't read it.

"Don't tell me you don't know? You've got a father and brother at the Ministry and you don't even know? My God, my father told me about it ages ago... heard it from Cornelius Fudge. But then, Father's always associated with the top people at the Ministry... Maybe your father's too junior to know about it, Weasley... yes... they probably don't talk about important stuff in front of him..."

He laughed one more time and left. Hermione knew about the Triwizard Tournament. They talked about it during the summer. He told her about Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. He was glad she kept it a secret. He thought that maybe she wasn't that mad after all.

He waited two hours. The wind was cold and his fingers went numb. She didn't show up. Next day during their lessons she snapped at him after one of his comments. Her words felt like poison. He wondered if that is how she feels when he calls her names. But that time during world cup was different, he did it for a reason and he had to explain.

Hermione came to conclusion that first days of school are always bad luck for Draco. Last year the Hippogriff incident, and this year Moody. She was so furious with him that for a minute there she thought he deserved it. But the sympathy for him always won with her anger. She blew him off the other day. Today she felt like she needed to fix it.

"Don't talk to me," Ron said quietly to Harry and Hermione as they sat down at the Gryffindor table a few minutes after Moody transfigured Draco into a ferret.

"Why not?" said Hermione in surprise.

"Because I want to fix that in my memory forever," said Ron, his eyes closed and an uplifted expression on his face. "Draco Malfoy, the amazing bouncing ferret."

Hermione forced herself to laugh.

"He could have really hurt Malfoy, though," she said. "It was good, really, that Professor McGonagall stopped it -"

"Hermione!" said Ron furiously, his eyes snapping open again, "you're ruining the best moment of my life!"

Hermione made an impatient noise and began to eat at top speed again.

"Don't tell me you're going back to the library this evening?" said Harry, watching her.

"Got to," said Hermione thickly. "Loads to do."

"But you told us Professor Vector -"

"It's not schoolwork," she said. She finished her food and left her place. She needed to find Draco.

She hid behind some statue in the dungeons, close to Snape's office and she waited. Moody left first and luckily went opposite direction. Draco followed him few minutes later.

"Hey." she whispered and he turned around. He smiled at her but made no move. He looked around nervously. They were alone.

"Classroom five at second floor. In ten minutes." she said seeing his confusion and hurried to the staircase.

"Hermione, whatever you found me for, you have to listen to me first!" he ordered as he entered the room. Hermione crossed her arms and looked at him calmly.

"I said all those things during Cup to scare you away. I thought that maybe if... I was too harsh because I thought you will get hurt and go as far away from me as you can. And when I spoke about you being at those muggles place... I wanted to give you a massage. My father spoke a lot about getting to you. I don't know if there were just threats or he was serious but I couldn't take any chances."

"He wanted to get to me?" Hermione remembered the look Lucius gave her that day. "What did I ever do to him?"

"What did those muggles do to him?" Draco said. "Nothing. And you... you are a friend of Potter's. Who knows what he could... Never mind. I'm really sorry."

"It's fine." She felt a bit overwhelmed. "I was so confused, I thought that after I gave you my permission you decided to strain it. I'm glad there was a reason behind it." She paused for a minute. "So your father was there?" She wanted to get that clear.

"Yes." Draco looked down. "I overheard that they are planning something. I warned you, remember?"

"Yeah." She touched his hand and he looked up at her. "It was very unprofessional of Moody to do this to you. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. But Potter and Weasel are not going to let me forget it."

"Like you didn't let them forget many things." Hermione smiled at him. "I wonder if this is going to end someday."

"Never." Draco stated. He noticed that she held a book about House Elves. "What is that? Are you writing a paper on House Elves?"

"No. I am going to fight for their rights." Hermione said proudly.

"What?" Draco laughed. "Are you kidding me?" Hermione gave him a furious look. "Okay, fine. Just tell me about it first and I'll laugh after.

The excitement in the castle was rising wit each day. Delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang were suppose to arrive by the end of the month. Draco wondered if those students are any different. He wanted to make new friends. Crabbe and Goyle were more irritating with every year. He liked talking to Theo but they weren't that close. He sometimes discussed his homework with Blaise but he was a bit of a loner so they didn't hang out much. He saw Hermione two or three times but she was busy with this whole S.P.E.W thing.

So at October 30th he made sure that the Durmstrang students sat at his house table. He was never obsessed with Victor Krum but when he sat next to him he introduced himself.

"Hey, great game at the World Cup." He said trying to sound casual. "Very impressive."

"Thanks." Krum's accent was weird. "You play Quidditch at Hogwarts too?" He asked.

"Yeah. I'm the seeker." Draco nodded. "But this year there won't be any matches. Because of the tournament."

Krum didn't comment that. Draco decided not to force him into a conversation. He spoke with some other students. After the Goblet was presented, he found out all of them are going to put their names in.

The next day Draco cheered with everybody as Krum was chosen. But when Potter's name was chosen by the Goblet he felt unease. Draco knew the rules of the tournament and he wasn't stupid. He knew Potter couldn't have put his name in. He caught Hermione's look. She looked worried. For a second there, Draco thought that maybe his father had anything to do with it. Hermione found him in the crowd when they were leaving the Great Hall.

"Tomorrow, 5PM." she said looking at the other direction.

He came earlier. He was eager to see her, but not because of what happened. Three meetings a month weren't enough for him. Day by day, he found himself thinking about her. He missed her, even though he saw her everyday.

"Hey." She slipped into the classroom. "What a crazy day."

"I know."

"Do you know anything about this?" Hermione seemed devastated. "I've been thinking all night, and Draco, I know you hate Harry but I don't think it's a coincidence. The dark mark during the cup and now this. There is something bad going on."

"I don't know anything." He said and hoped that she believed him. "But you are right, I think there is a connection. I thought about it and this time I don't think my father was involved."

"I didn't say that..."

"But I know you thought about it."

"I'm scared. I'm trying not to show it but I am." She confessed.

"Me too." He said putting his arm around her. "But we are safe at Hogwarts."

"I'm worried about Harry." She started crying. Draco knew there was no point in being jealous of him now.

"I know." He didn't know how to help her.

"Draco It's better if we don't see each other for now." She said. "With your father threatening me like this during the Cup and now this... It may be safer."

"But we are at Hogwarts." Draco opposed.

"It doesn't really matter. Besides I have to focus on helping Harry. In case of emergency... Just pass me a note during Arithmancy."

"But..." Draco looked for more buts.

"I'm sorry Draco." she said. She sounded like she wouldn't bear any objections. "But this is how it has to be."

She left without goodbye. He didn't know who to hate more: Potter or his father and his friends.

It wasn't easy for her too. But she decided it was for the best. She didn't have time for Draco's drama this year. And now she understood why they could never be friends publicly. If his father found out he would crush her. The fact that Ron and Harry weren't on speaking terms made it even worse. And then, before Potions, she saw those stupid badges.

SUPPORT CEDRIC DIGGORY—THE REAL HOGWARTS CHAMPION!

"Like them, Potter?" said Draco loudly as Harry approached. "And this isn't all they do – look!"

He pressed his badge into his chest, and the message upon it vanished, to be replaced by another one, which glowed green: POTTER STINKS!

"Oh very funny," Hermione said sarcastically to Pansy Parkinson and her gang of Slytherin girls, who were laughing harder than anyone, "really witty."

"Want one, Granger?" said Malfoy, holding out a badge to Hermione. "I've got loads. But don't touch my hand, now. I've just washed it, you see; don't want a Mudblood sliming it up."

She wasn't hurt by his words. She knew he didn't mean them and she knew he was also angry with her. But Harry had reached for his wand. People all around them scrambled out of the way, backing down the corridor.

"Harry!" She said warningly.

"Go on, then, Potter," Draco said quietly, drawing out his own wand. "Moody's not here to look after you now – do it, if you've got the guts -"

For a split second, they looked into each other's eyes, then, at exactly the same time, both acted.

"Funnunculus!" Harry yelled.

"Densaugeo!" screamed Draco.

Jets of light shot from both wands, hit each other in mid air, and ricocheted off at angles — Harry's hit Goyle in the face, and Malfoy's hit Hermione. She started whimpering in panic clutching her mouth. Ron had hurried forward to see what was wrong with her; She felt her teeth growing very quickly past her bottom lip, toward her chin – panic-stricken, she felt them and let out a terrified cry.

"And what is all this noise about?" said a soft, deadly voice.

Snape had arrived. The Slytherins clamoured to give their explanations; Snape pointed a long yellow finger at Draco and said, "Explain."

"Potter attacked me, sir -"

"We attacked each other at the same time!" Harry shouted.

"- and he hit Goyle – look -"

Snape examined Goyle, whose face now resembled something that would have been at home in a

book on poisonous fungi.

"Hospital wing, Goyle," Snape said calmly.

"Malfoy got Hermione!" Ron said. "Look!"

He forced Hermione to show Snape her teeth – she was doing her best to hide them with her hands, though this was difficult as they had now grown down past her collar. Pansy Parkinson and the other Slytherin girls were doubled up with silent giggles, pointing at her from behind Snape's back. Snape looked coldly at Hermione, then said, "I see no difference."

Hermione let out a whimper; her eyes filled with tears, she turned on her heel and ran, ran all the way up the corridor, straight to the hospital wing.

She knew that Draco aimed at Harry but it didn't make her feel any better. Madam Pomfrey immediately took care of her. She gave her a mirror and cast a spell.

"Call me when they get back to their normal size." She said and went away to take care of Goyle.

Hermione waited patiently. She never liked her teeth. He parents made her wear braces when she was younger. But nothing could shrink her front teeth. She wanted to use magic but her parents never let her. But now it wasn't her doing. When her teeth came back to the usual size she still waited. She called the nurse a bit later. She decided she should thank Draco for this one day.

The first task was behind and Christmas were very close. Draco was thankful for the Tournament. He didn't wanted to come home. He rarely wrote letters to his parents. His father sickened him. But for the sake of his mother he responded once in a while. He was sitting on the steps to the Owlery, trying to rig up few sentences. It was early morning and it was freaking cold but suddenly he felt something warm on his side.

"Crookshanks." He called. "Hey buddy. Haven't seen you in a while."

He placed the can onto his knees.

"And where is Hermione?" He asked the cat, feeling a bit stupid.

"Hey." He heard a vice behind him. It was Victor Krum.

"Oh, hey." Draco stood up. "I was just..."

"You know this girl? Hermy-own?" he asked.

"Hermi... You mean Granger? "

"Yeah, you just said her name."

"It's her cat and I was just..." Draco tried to explain himself. But Krum had no idea about how things at Hogwarts were. "Why are you asking?"

"The ball. I want to ask her."

"Oh." Draco forgot about the Yule Ball. "Yeah, go ahead. I don't really like her but it's your choice."

"Why? Something wrong with her?" Asked Krum.

"No. There is nothing wrong with her." Draco said quietly.

"Thanks." Krum said and walked away.

Draco felt something weird in his chest. Was that jealousy? What was this girl doing to him? But then he thought, why would she say yes? She didn't like boys like Krum. She preferred brains to sports. She would refuse this poor guy. But what if she says yes?

"What do you think, Crookshanks?" he asked the cat. But Crookshanks just purred and walked away. Draco realized that he needed to get a date himself.

That turned out to be easy. He just ask Pansy. They always had a weird relationship. He didn't consider her a friend but she always followed him, always tried to be close to him. So he decided she won't refuse. He didn't really care about who he was going with. He was more concerned about Hermione. He waited for an opportunity to find out.

"Hermione – who are you going to the ball with?" He heard Weasleys voice in the entrance hall.

"I'm not telling you, you'll just make fun of me." Said Hermione. What did that mean? Why would he make fun of Krum?

"You're joking, Weasley!" said Draco, trying to find out more. "You're not telling me someone's asked that to the ball? Not the long-molared Mudblood?"

Hermione didn't say anything, instead she said loudly, waving to somebody over his shoulder, "Hello, Professor Moody!"

Draco still remembered the ferret incident. He went pale and jumped backward, looking wildly around for Moody, but he was still up at the staff table, finishing his stew.

"Twitchy little ferret, aren't you, Malfoy?" said Hermione scathingly and the trio walked away leaving Draco without an answer.

She couldn't say she wasn't surprised with Krum's invitation. He annoyed her for some time now, always being around. Now she understood why. They talked for some time and she found out that she misjudged him. So she agreed to go to the ball with him. And she actually felt excited. She was always a bookworm. She never really cared for clothes and appearance. But she was a girl after all. And when she was little she wanted to experience something like all those princesses in the books. Wear a pretty dress and dance all night. So she put a lot of work into her appearance. Not for Krum's pleasure, but for her own. She wrote to her mother and she had sent her the perfect, blue dress. She bought some magical hair product to make her hair straight and twisted it up into an elegant knot at the back of her head. She meant to have fun.

Victor was a perfect gentlemen and she really enjoyed talking to him. She was always eager to find out more about other cultures. He was also a good dancer. And it was really magical, but few times she caught herself looking for Draco in the crowd. They eyes met once and he smiled at her, but she quickly looked away. Then Ron had to spoil everything and she wasn't in the mood for a party anymore. She left for a bit, sitting down in some empty corridor.

"Are you crying?" She heard a familiar voice. It was Draco.

"Leave me alone, before someone sees us." She said hiding her face in her arms. But few seconds later she felt his hand on his shoulder.

"What happened?" He asked with a warm voice.

"Nothing."

"Come on, let's go in there." He said, making her go into a classroom behind them.

"It's nothing, Draco. Just Ron spoiling everything." She said, sitting up on one of the desks.

"You looked like you were having fun." He stated. There was something weird in his voice.

"I was. Victor is very nice."

"I bet he is." Now he sounded like he was angry. Hermione didn't respond. "You look beautiful."

Draco added.

"Thanks."

"How is everything?"

"Fine."

"Hermione, look at me." Draco started to get annoyed. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, really." She raised her eyes at him.

"You look different." He noticed.

"Yeah, It's the spell you've hit me with. My teeth are smaller now." She send him a weak smile.

"They were okay before."

"What do you want, Draco?" She asked after a moment of silence. "I thought I made it clear that..."

"I miss you. Damn, I don't know, I wish we came together... And you came with Krum and it made me angry, I don't know why..." Hermione didn't say anything. She looked confused.

"Are you jealous?" She finally asked. No matter what his answer would be- both would be bad.

"I..." He started. "Would you like to dance?"

"Here?"

"It's not like we can dance down there."

She slowly nodded. They could barely hear the music. Draco took her hand and pulled her closer. It was something new. They hugged occasionally, but only for a short time. Their arms sometimes touched when they were reading together. They were close from time to time. But this was a new type of closeness. Their faces were inches away. Hermione didn't even think about dancing, she moved automatically, like in a dream. She felt panic raising in her stomach. And then Draco leaned closer and looked into her eyes. And she didn't move back. So he let his lips touch hers. And at that moment so many emotions exploded inside her. She didn't even know that she was longing for this kiss. Longing to somehow get close to him. But at the same time she knew it was wrong and that she has to stop now until it's too late. She pulled away.

Draco looked as confused as she was. She could tell he didn't plan it.

"Why did you do that?" she breathed quietly.

"I just... I couldn't stop thinking that Krum is going to kiss you tonight. And I wanted to do that first."

"That is not a good reason. If you just..."

"No. I really wanted to do that. For some time now. But I didn't realise that until tonight."

Hermione stepped back and sat down again. The way she felt couldn't be explained by books. And she hated that.

"Draco, you know this can't be like this. We can't."

"I know. But it's so good to feel like that. To feel anything. I don't ever want to stop. Do you?"

"It doesn't really matter what we want, Draco."

"With every year I am learning that there are actually things I want but can't have. That is not how I was raised. No one prepared me for this." He took her hand into his and touched her face. "Do you think maybe one day..."

"No." She said harshly. "I don't know. For now we have to stay away from each other. And it will go away."

"I don't want..."

"Neither do I, Draco!" She almost yelled. "But like I said, It's not about what we want. We both know that there is something bad going on. And by all book definitions we are enemies. And in case of a war we are standing on opposite sides."

"Books definitions are not always right. We are not enemies by heart." One more time it was clear to her that he needed her more that she needed him. She had friends and family to help her get through everything. And he was stuck on the bad side. Maybe she was the only one who could help him escape it. But for now she just didn't know how.

"I know we aren't." She said. "But this is not enough to make it last. It will never be enough. Not unless it's all over. And it haven't even started yet."

Before she could protest he leaned in for a kiss again. And that's how she found out how goodbye tastes like. And she wandered how many times would she taste it again.

"Go." He ordered, not even looking at her.

She came back to the Great Hall as nothing happened.

The rest of the school year he spent on reading and delivering gossips to Rita Skeeter. He felt like he turned into a plant, he wasn't able to think or speak clearly. And then all of their worst fears came true.

When Potter came back with Diggory's body, screaming that Voldemort came back, Draco haven't given it a second thought. And at the end of the day Hermione found him. He already knew what she was going to tell him. She threw her arms around him and started to weep.

Draco was calm. He promised himself he would be strong.

"Hermione, wait." He said noticing something in her hair. He quickly took a small beetle into his hand. "Don't say anything. I should have done it months ago."

He took out his wand and in a second, the insect was trapped in a small jar. Hermione looked at him with confusion.

"I'll tell you after we talk." He said, sitting down next to her. "So it was him, right? My father. Tell me what happened."

"He came back." Hermione whispered. "He has a body now and he called all the Death Eaters. Your father, and Crabbe's and Goyle's... And it was Moody! He was the one who messed with the Goblet!"

"Moody?!" Draco was shocked.

"It was Crouch's son. He drunk Polyjuice Potion. He posed as Moody. There was a Death Eater in Hogwarts. For the whole year." She begun to shiver.

"Shhh. Calm down." He said putting his hand around her shoulder.

"He is back." She repeated. "What are you going to do now? Your father swore his loyalty to him."

"I don't know." Draco whispered. "It doesn't seem real yet. But it will be all right. We will be fine."

This time it was her who leaned down for a kiss. The war has started. And few months ago keeping her distance seemed like a wise idea. But now she thought that maybe they can help one another get through this.

"So what's in the jar?" She said, pulling away. Draco let out a smile.

"Rita Skeeter. She's an Animagus. That is how she..."

"...overheard all conversations!" Hermione finished for him. "Oh my god, It all makes sense now. Would you mind if I..."

"She's all yours." Draco passed the jar into her hands.

"It will all be twice as hard, Draco." She said. "You know that, right? I'm not even sure If we will be able to meet very often during summer. We can't let anyone know a thing about us."

"We've never let anyone know. That's the whole magic of it."

"I don't think I would call it that..."

"This, whatever it is, between us. It belongs to us. And whatever happens, no one can take it away from us. No one can spoil it with their opinions or try to destroy it. Not the war, not my father, not even Voldemort. You can't destroy something that doesn't exist. And this exists only for us."

"I hope you are right." Hermione said, getting rid of the tears in her eyes. "We can't use letters anymore. I have to come up with something different real quick. While I can use magic."

"I'm sure you will think of something really clever." Draco smiled and kissed her forehead. They were just two teenagers, oblivious to what's ahead of them. But they had this moment now, and it was their right to enjoy it. Before everything falls apart.