Harry Potter and the Boy of Two Houses

Chapter 14

Skipping Hogsmeade

Hermione slept in brief intervals during the next few hours, awakening every so often with a feeling of urgency, momentarily panicking that she'd forgotten something important, only to remember her early morning wake up call from Winky and her following trip to the Room of Requirement. Then, with a small sigh and a thought as to how Draco was getting along, she would lie back against her pillows and slowly drift back to sleep. It was probably the most ineffective sleep Hermione had ever had, for when she work up around nine she was yawning effusively and would've fallen back asleep easily if Lavender and Parvati hadn't already been up and chattering loudly while dressing and preparing for Hogsmeade.

With a slight groan she sat up. She explained the normal pleasantries with Lavender and Parvati, who both gave her startled glances and told she looked overly pale and tired, then dragged herself out of bed to get dressed. Her gloomy mood persisted even as she chatted with her roommates and prepared for the village. For some reason she just did not feel like visiting Hogsmeade today. Her thoughts were centered mostly on Draco, wondering what he was doing all by himself. The Room of Requirement was useful and helpful, but it didn't exactly provide entertainment, and he couldn't very well leave the room to go get something if he grew bored.

"Hermione, why do you look so worried?" Parvati asked, concerned, interrupting her thoughts.

"I'm not," Hermione replied automatically, and then turned away before Lavender and Parvati could scrutinize her further. She hurriedly got her things together and then left the dormitory. Perhaps, she wondered hopefully, she could sneak to the Room of Requirement to check on Draco before leaving. And despite his insistence that he didn't need anything, she would probably bring him some of his schoolwork. She bit her lip. Hermione was probably one of few students at Hogwarts who considered essays fun, but she didn't know what other activities he could do by himself all day.

"Hermione, are you ready to go down for breakfast?"

Hermione looked up to see Harry and Ron waiting expectantly for her at the portrait hole. "Yeah," she said vaguely, and accompanied them through the Fat Lady without another word.

"We had another nightmare in our dormitory last night," Harry informed her.

Hermione jerked to alertness. "You?"

But to her surprise, Harry was faintly grinning. "No, it was Ron."

Ron turned red in indignation and proceeded to recount a ridiculous dream he'd had. Hermione wasn't listening to the details until she heard mention of a particular name she too had been thinking of quite a lot . . .

"Well, you would wake up yelling too if you thought you were talking with a bunch of friends on the train home at the end of the summer and suddenly you realized one of them was Malfoy . . ."

Hermione choked. "You dreamt about Dra- Mal- What?"

Harry nodded with feigned grimness. "He woke us all up about four in the morning screaming bloody murder about how he wasn't friends with Malfoy and nobody could make him."

Ron gave both of them a dire look. "It's not funny. He was playing Exploding Snap with us! It was my worst nightmare ever."

"Don't worry," Harry said soothingly, but he still seemed to be biting back a laugh. "Malfoy's dead, so I wouldn't worry about having to play Exploding Snap with him anytime soon. Besides, why would we even want to be friends with him?"

"It wasn't just us," Ron exclaimed as they entered the Great Hall. "Ginny, and Neville were there, so were Angelina, Luna, Seamus, Dean and we were all having a good time with him!"

"Was Ginny sitting on anyone's lap?" Harry quipped, his face a mask of innocence.

Ron peered at him suspiciously. "No. Why?"

"Just wondering," Harry said airily, winking at Hermione and hiding a grin.

Hermione tried to smile back but found it quite hard to maintain the carefree air she was trying for. Ron had had a dream about Draco at four in the morning, around the same time she'd been wakened by Winky? What a eerie coincidence. And how very amusing that they'd all been friends in the dream, she thought, smiling for the first time all morning. No wonder Ron had considered it a nightmare. Imagine the horrified look on Draco's face when she told him . . .

"Dean and Seamus couldn't stop laughing, and Neville went into shock," Harry continued to Ron's furious indignation. The trio sat at the table across from Ginny.

"What's so funny?" she asked, intrigued.

Harry explained Ron's dream, with the latter adding details reluctantly. Hermione grinned guiltily at the incredulous look on Ginny's face as her friend turned to gape at her.

"Exactly," said Ron approvingly, misjudging Ginny's gaze as one of abject horror matching his own. "It was terrifying."

"And what little chance it has of coming true," Ginny said faintly.

"None," Harry said cheerfully, helping himself to several sausages.

Hermione, despite being hungry, did not eat much. Ron's dream had only done more to increase her anxiety over Draco. It was just not fair that his only day as himself should be spent locked up in a Room all alone. At the very least she could be there, too, to provide a bit of company. The Hogsmeade visits were becoming much more frequent, and the next one would probably be at the end of February or early March. She wouldn't have to wait that long to visit the village again if she decided not to go . . .

"I'm not going to Hogsmeade," she announced abruptly at the end of breakfast, taking not only her friends but herself as well by complete surprise.

"Why not?" Ron demanded, and Harry nodded.

"I don't feel like going," Hermione said nervously. "And I feel a bit peaky." It was the truth, actually. Her stomach was a jumble of nerves, and she still felt rather drained of energy.

"Do you want us to stay with you?" asked Harry worriedly, and it was Ron's turn to nod fervently.

"No, thanks, I'm sure I'll be fine," Hermione said hurriedly. "I'll probably do homework or something."

Ron looked as if he wanted to object, but Harry spoke first. "All right," he said unwillingly. "If you're sure."

"Feel better," Ron added as he and Harry, both looking severely disappointed, left for the entrance hall.

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, having forgotten Ginny.

"What is it?" Ginny hissed instantly, making Hermione start. "It is because

of . . .?"

Hermione nodded reluctantly. "Yeah. He's-" She hesitated, wondering whether to tell. Then again, it couldn't hurt for her to know. "He's turned back into himself for the day," she said in a whisper.

Ginny's eyes widened, and she gaped once more. "How? Why?"

"It's sort of like a loophole in the curse," Hermione explained wearily. "And it's only for 24 hours. He'll change back at midnight tonight."

"Where is he? How do you know?" Ginny asked urgently.

"The Room of Requirement," Hermione replied, lowering her voice even further and glancing along the table to make sure no on was listening. "He sent Winky to get me really early this morning."

Ginny was silent for a moment, staring with furrowed brow as she thought. "And you're going to spend the whole day with him?" she asked at last, raising an eyebrow.

Hermione shrugged, her face suddenly warmer than normal. She didn't like the shrewd look in Ginny's eyes.

"I'll come back early," Ginny said abruptly. "I need to see this for myself."

Too worn out to argue, Hermione nodded, ducking her head so Ginny wouldn't see the blush in her cheeks. She didn't know why she felt so self-conscious all of a sudden. There was nothing wrong with choosing to remain at Hogwarts, but, judging by the small, discreet smile tugging on Ginny's lips, she thought it had some sort of special meaning. Hermione left the table quickly and returned to Gryffindor, where she spent the next ten minutes collecting various items and shoving them unceremoniously into her bag.

She was out of breath when she finally arrived back at the Room of Requirement. Though the hall was empty, Hermione couldn't help glancing around nervously before knocking timidly on the door and entering.

The alarmed look on Draco's face disappeared the moment he saw it was only her, and he lowered his raised wand.

"What are you doing here?" he asked in surprise. Hermione flushed, dropping her bag, and locking the door.

She took a deep breath. "I decided not to go to Hosgmeade."

There was a long pause before he spoke, but she stood steadfast against his measuring gaze.

"Why?"

"There are plenty of other chances to go to Hogsmeade," Hermione said slowly. "But you only have one day as yourself." She met his eyes. "You shouldn't have to spend it alone."

They looked away at the same time. Hermione walked over to the table and set her stuff down, glancing at him as he retreated hesitantly to the couch. The Room had provided him with the standard uniform, for he now wore robes instead of his sleeping attire. A pillow was on the couch and remains of breakfast on the coffee table. This time it was she who sat nervously at the table, not quite willing to share the couch.

"What have you been doing?"

He shrugged. "I read mostly."

Hermione eyed the bookshelf and noticed several comic books strewn on the couch. Seeing where she was looking, Draco swept them in a pile and dumped them on the coffee table, making room for her. Hermione glanced away. Somehow, sitting next to Draco in his real body seemed much more difficult than sitting beside an eleven year-old Draco.

The amused smile on his lips showed he understood her feelings, but he didn't say anything.

"I brought Exploding Snap or Wizard's Chess if you wanted to play something," Hermione said awkwardly.

"Great," he said enthusiastically, and she couldn't help but grin. Still feeling self-conscious, she grudgingly moved to the couch and unpacked her bag.

Though Hermione was not the most adept player at chess, it was impossible to be Ron's best friend for so many years and not improve somewhat, so she was a fair enough match for Draco. However, upon seeing him decide not to take one of her bishops in a fairly obvious, advantageous move, she was forced to conclude suspiciously that he was downplaying his skills on purpose. They made small chatter, but mostly concentrated on the game.

Hermione sighed as Draco took her black knight. He was about to put it down when a horrified look crossed his face, and he nearly dropped it.

"Is this Weasley?" he sputtered, holding it by the tips of his fingertips as if afraid it were contaminated. Hermione nodded, trying not to laugh. She had borrowed Ron's chess set, and the boys had obviously left their pieces there; she was so preoccupied, she hadn't even realized they were playing with Harry and Ron's replicas.

Draco looked disgusted. "I can't believe your knight is Weasley."

"Yours is Harry," Hermione pointed out.

He snorted. "Don't be ridic-" He held up his own knight for proof, and his jaw promptly dropped, as did the playing piece. It skidded off the table and onto the floor.

"Don't throw them," Hermione reproved, working even harder not to laugh as she bent down and dusted off the piece, checking for chips. "Those are their Christmas presents."

"You got them chess pieces of themselves?" Draco said blankly.

Hermione nodded. "It's sort of like you and Harry are working as a team," she said brightly, and his expression of disgust deepened.

"So that's why it didn't want to go anywhere I directed it." Draco was quite indignant as he stared reproachfully at the knight in Hermione's hand, which, she now noticed, was glaring frostily at Draco.

"Do you want to stop playing?" he asked hopefully.

"Well, since you're approximately three moves away from checkmating my king, I don't think it'll be that great of a loss . . ."

He smirked, and a small smile still lingered on his face as he helped her clean up (he adamantly refused to touch either the Harry or Ron replicas).

They played several games of Exploding Snap next and only stopped when the hem of Draco's robes started smoking slightly and Hermione's fringe had gotten rather severely singed.

It was easier to just talk after that, and Hermione found herself growing quite comfortable just sitting there. It was quite relaxing and peaceful. It was also very easy to just look at Draco. She didn't know why precisely, but something about him was captivating. Hermione supposed it was the fact that she hadn't seen his real face in such a long time. Part of her felt the need to soak up his exact image, every detail of it, so that when the 24 hours ended, he would be engraved there and it would be easier to think of the real Draco Malfoy without past feelings getting in the way.

"What are you looking at?" he asked, finally noticing she had stopped speaking.

Hermione wondered whether to tell him. "You," she replied at last, after a considerable silence had grown. "It's different."

"I should hope so," Draco said. He smiled half-heartedly, but after a few seconds it faded.

"So is your voice," Hermione continued musing. "It's deeper."

Draco looked disconcerted. "Well, yes. It should be. What's the matter?"

"Nothing's wrong," Hermione said, smiling at his confused expression. "It's just- I haven't seen your face in a long time, and it might be a long time before I do again. I'm trying to get used to it so next time I don't . . ." She left her sentence hanging, but he nodded to show he understood. Hermione still felt odd feeling so comfortable around Draco as he appeared now, but she did not want to have another reaction like her one in the early morning.

"I'm glad," he said quietly, and left it at that. They fell to talking about schoolwork, a subject that lasted until it was long past time to eat the lunch the Room provided. It was then that Hermione remembered Ron's "nightmare."

"I have something to tell you, but you might want to stop eating before I do," she warned, setting down her own plate. He followed, looking dubious. "You might choke otherwise," she added in explanation, but it didn't seem to help.

"Is this something you should have told me before I ate?" Draco asked suspiciously.

Hermione considered. "Probably. Last night Ron had a nightmare."

"Oh." He sounded anything but interested and took a forkful of food.

"You were in it," Hermione said slyly.

Just as she'd predicted, he choked and spat out his mouthful. "What?"

"I warned you," Hermione said cheerfully as he struggled to repeat himself through a coughing fit. She handed him a glass of water, which he gulped down eagerly, glowering at her.

Hermione tried to convince herself she wasn't enjoying this. It was a lie.

"Weasley had a dream about me?"

"Actually I think it was more of a nightmare."

He spluttered some more. "What involving me could be called a nightmare?"

"Well, from what I understand we were all friends in it," Hermione said vaguely, ducking her head so he wouldn't see her smile. "I think that's what scared him the most."

Draco looked outraged. "Friends?"

Hermione nodded, not trusting herself to speak. He had reacted exactly as she'd imagined. It was almost like watching Ron, minus the red hair, something she decided not to share with him in case it caused an apoplectic fit.

"We were playing Exploding Snap on the Hogwarts Express," Hermione said reminiscently, as if it were an event she were really remembering.

Draco glared at the cards on the table as if it were their fault.

"Apparently he woke up screaming."

"I don't blame him," Draco said darkly. "If I had a dream in which we were friends I'd wake up screaming, too."

"The other first years might think you were a bit strange if you woke up in the middle of the night screaming about Ron," Hermione said, a bit too innocently.

Draco glared at her, but she could only grin in response. He proceeded to call her several names (none of which included 'mudblood') and ended by informing her she had a much dirtier mind than he'd ever expected, and it could no longer be attributed to his influence. Hermione tried to keep a straight face through it all but didn't succeed very well. It was almost too much for her when he said indignantly at the end that she was not paying attention to a word he was saying.

"From now one Weasley should keep his dreams to himself and keep me out of them," Draco finished severely, and Hermione at least managed to muffle her laugh, albeit badly. "Pass that on to him, will you?"

"Of course," she said sympathetically, ignoring his scowl. She fingered the necklace he had given her without realizing it.

By the time lunch was over, they had run out of activities to do, and silences were stretching longer than their occasional conversations. Hermione found herself wishing longingly for either a good book or a short nap; the latter was quite appealing, as she had really gotten very little restful sleep the previous night. Practicing spells such as human transfiguration was not an especially exciting idea, nor was any other form of studying.

"Whatever happened to the Blushing Potion?" Draco asked, finally breaking the silence.

"I finished it ages ago. It's still in the girls' bathroom." Hermione's eyes widened. "You never saw it finished, though, did you? Shall I go get it?"

He thought for a second and then nodded. Hermione stood, stretched out her sore limbs, and headed for the door. She unlocked it and stepped out in the hall, carefully closing the door behind her. The walk to the bathroom was quick, and she passed only a few students, most of the rest being at Hogsmeade. That was a relief; Hermione didn't especially want to carry a cauldron through halls crowded with curious students.

Moaning Myrtle's sobs could be heard coming from the last cubicle, but the ghost herself wasn't visible, and Hermione tiptoed to the back, feeling rather guilty as she did her best not to be heard. Unfortunately, it was rather complicated having to figure out how to move a large, heavy, potion-filled cauldron, and soon enough Myrtle came out to investigate.

She floated through her stall, almost passing right through Hermione, so that she actually felt a shiver of cold from the ghost.

Myrtle blinked, translucent tears sliding down her transparent face. "You're back again. What are you doing?" she demanded as Hermione studied the cauldron thoughtfully.

"Trying to figure out how to move this."

"Ooh, why?" Strangely, Myrtle reminded her of Lavender or Parvati in a Divination class.

"I'm bringing it to the Room of Requirement so Draco can see it," Hermione said absent-mindedly. "It's rather boring staying in there all day with nothing to do."

If Myrtle found parts of this explanation strange, she didn't comment on it. "Why doesn't he just come down here?"

"He can't. He's turned back into himself for the day and anyone who sees Draco Malfoy walking around the halls will think they're crazy."

Myrtle's eyes widened and took on an unusually crafty glint. "Are you going to use it?" she asked slyly.

Hermione gaped at the ghost. "Of course not! Why would we do that?"

"Well, if he is himself for the day, it'd be the opportune time."

Hermione blushed furiously. "We were never planning on using it in the first place!"

Myrtle raised a pearly eyebrow disbelievingly. "If you say so."

Honestly, Hermione thought, very annoyed, as the ghost drifted back into her cubicle. Ghosts could be quite aggravating. Really, the very idea of using the Blushing Potion with Draco . . . It was absurd!

She finally did the only idea that presented itself to her now distracted mind and performed a quick Sealing Spell on the cauldron so no liquid would splash out, followed by a simple Levitating Charm. Then, glaring back at the closed door to Myrtle's stall, Hermione waved it to the door with her wand and headed out of the bathroom.

Fortunately, the halls were still relatively clear. She only passed five students on her entire way back up to the seventh floor and no teachers (it would, after all, be much harder to think of a plausible excuse to be walking around with a floating cauldron for a teacher than a fellow student).

Her luck did not last, though. As she reached the corridor down which the Room of Requirement was, she heard two voices that sounded vaguely familiar. She instantly recognized Angelina's, but it was a bit harder to place the second.

"I don't what makes you think you can dictate Ravenclaw's Quidditch schedule!"

"I'm not, I'm just passing on Madame Hooch's message: sign up for the pitch more than one day ahead of time!"

The second speaker was Cho. Now that she knew both identities, Hermione's heart rate practically doubled. They were at the other end of the passage, closer to the Room's door than she was, and they were walking her way. With a soft sigh, she lowered her wand so the cauldron fell with a small thump to the ground and tried to make it look as unobtrusive behind a large suit of armor as possible.

Angelina and Cho rounded the corner. Both looked surprised to see her.

"Hermione?" Angelina asked blankly. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you in Hogsmeade?"

"What are you doing here?" Hermione countered quickly, avoiding the question.

"Ravenclaw's Quidditch practice just ended," Cho replied, fighting to conceal her dislike as she stared at Hermione.

"And I, being Madame Hooch's assistant, was just delivering her a message," Angelina finished in what sounded close to a growl, as she glared at Cho.

Hermione nodded as if this were a pleasant, planned meeting rather than an unpremeditated one in suspicious circumstances.

"What are you doing here?" Angelina asked again curiously. "Why aren't you in Hogsmeade?"

"I didn't feel well this morning," Hermione began instantly, the words flowing out of her mouth faster than she could say them. "And I was passing by, and felt nostalgic- I was just looking at the Room of Requirement." It sounded lame, and for a moment both girls still looked suspicious, but then Angelina gave her a hesitant, albeit odd, smile and Cho nodded uncertainly. Hermione tried not to let her relief appear evident and fiddled with the catch of her necklace indiscreetly. It was becoming a nervous habit.

"I miss that place," Angelina said wistfully, smiling.

Cho nodded, looking a bit sad. "The D.A. was fun."

"Yeah," Hermione responded enthusiastically. Then, to her further relief, Angelina broke the awkward silence first with the very words she'd wanted to hear.

"I guess we'll be leaving now. See you later, Hermione." She watched as the two girls headed off in the opposite direction of which she was headed and then headed back for the Room of Requirement.

With a soft sigh she levitated the cauldron again and headed for the Room as quickly as possible. Draco was standing by the door waiting when she got back in.

"What's the matter?" he asked, taking in her frazzled appearance.

"Angelina and Cho Chang were outside the Room," she explained. "But they left." The worry that had appeared on his face for a split second disappeared and he relaxed. He dragged the cauldron into the middle of the Room. Hermione blinked. She hadn't realized he was that strong. Draco eyed the potion thoughtfully.

Hermione was just about to pull up a chair next to him she could go over the potion-making process again when a loud click and the sudden rumble of voices echoed outside the Room.

"She might be in here-"

The door swung open. Hermione gasped, and Draco almost tipped off his chair, shocked. Angelina and Cho stood in the doorway. For a second time seemed to freeze, and Hermione hoped desperately that neither of them would recognize him. After all they were both older . . . perhaps they would simply think she was indulging with a secret boyfriend . . .

But their eyes widened in recognition. Both girls screamed. Cho yelped as if she'd been stung, and Angelina stumbled backwards against the door, too dazed for words. Hermione sprang out of her seat and before they could react, she had pulled both fully inside and slammed and locked the door.

"H-he's s-s-supposed to b-be d-dead," Cho whimpered, pointing a shaking finger at Draco, who had stood nervously and was glancing from one girl to the other.

Angelina's dark skin was pale, and she looked vaguely panicky, her hand straying to her belt, where Hermione knew her wand was. Fearing that Cho was about to scream again, she began speaking rapidly.

"Don't be upset, it's alright! Er, yes, this is Draco Malfoy, but he's not dead-"

"Obviously," Cho choked out.

"He's under a spell," Hermione continued. "A curse. He's been changed into a first year-"

"Oh yes, he looks exactly like a first year, Hermione," Cho continued, giving a small hiccup. She still looked ready to shriek at any moment.

"No!" Hermione argued desperately. Of all the days for someone to walk in on them unexpectedly, it had to be this one! "Today's different. It's- it's like a loophole day-"

"I can explain." Draco's voice sounded unnaturally calm for so explosive a situation. Relieved, Hermione glanced back. He, too, was pale, but he also looked determined to prove himself. She inwardly sighed. It would be nice to let him handle things for a change.

"Yes, please do," Angelina said at last, in icy tones. She shot Hermione a suspicious glare and stomped further into the Room, stopping just short of Draco. They were eye-to-eye. After several seconds of study, Angelina snorted in disbelief, but looked convinced that it was really him.

It took less that fifteen minutes for Draco to tell his story. It was awkward for Hermione to be listening to it this time, instead of telling it, like she had to Ginny, the Fat Lady, and Moaning Myrtle. Angelina acted more stunned with every sentence, and Cho's jaw dropped. He was only leaving out one detail. Draco had failed to mention that he was really Conrad Johnson, and Hermione realized why. He was now on the Quidditch team that Angelina helped run, and it had been she who had really persuaded Harry to let him on the team. That wasn't bound to go over well considering the cool way she stared at him.

"I take it you don't like me," Draco said conversationally, abruptly switching subjects at the end of his quick rendition.

"Not very much," Angelina said testily. "Because of you we lost our best Seeker and Beaters last year."

Draco looked supremely unfazed by this, but at least restrained from smirking proudly. There was a tense silence, as Angelina glared fiercely at him, obviously hoping for any sign of remorse or apology.

"What are you doing here, anyway?" Hermione asked, knowing Draco would sooner lose his loophole day than apologize. "I thought you left."

Cho reached into her pocket in response and stepped closer, holding something out. "We found this in the hall and thought it was yours." She held out a shining gold locket. Hermione's hand flew to her throat, and sure enough, there was no necklace.

"Yes," she breathed, taking the locket gently, and smiling gratefully. "Thanks. I didn't realize it fell off."

"You're welcome," Cho replied. "We didn't know who else it belonged to considering it had your initials on it. And it was right where you'd been standing."

"We thought about what you'd said, and decided to go back and look at the Room ourselves," Angelina explained, giving the Room a sad smile. "That's when we found it."

Cho eyed them curiously as Draco automatically reached out, took the necklace, and redid the clasp around her neck. Hermione was only too aware of the blush that spread across her cheeks. With both girls staring in such open surprise, Draco's warm hands on the back of her neck, and the knowledge that he was now sixteen again, it was more than a little uncomfortable. It didn't help that now he was taller than she and standing very close behind her.

"Who knows about this?" Angelina asked, still watching them beadily. She flipped her braids. "Do Harry and Ron?"

Hermione shook her head as Draco scowled in distaste.

"Just Ginny," she answered, deciding the Fat Lady and Moaning Myrtle were not worth mentioning at this point.

"Which first year are you?" Angelina gave Draco a measuring look, as if she could discern his first year body though his real one. "I've worked with them all during flying lessons."

Draco paused, and for a long moment he stared at Hermione out of the corner of his eye. She shrugged discreetly. It was all his decision as to whether or not he told her he was her newest Chaser.

To her surprise, he smirked. "I'm afraid that's my little secret."

Angelina gaped, furious. Cho and Hermione both smothered chuckles. To Hermione's surprise, Cho was giving her an almost friendly glance.

"That's not fair!" Angelina objected, outraged.

Draco only smiled at her blustering until she stopped, seething. A pained expression appeared on her face, and Hermione had an inkling as to what she was thinking. They had made it clear from the start that Draco didn't want anyone finding out, and she was undoubtedly deciding whether or not to blackmail him for his first year identity.

She sighed and said regretfully. "Fortunately for you I have my morals." Draco gave her an odd look, but Hermione didn't bother explaining.

Cho gave the Room a glance and then laughed. "I can't believe everyone thinks you're dead."

"It's not funny," Draco said irritably, frowning.

Angelina smirked, taking a seat at the table. "Of course it is. You're stuck as a first year, and the whole school thinks you're six feet under. What's not funny about that?" Clearly, she had a serious grudge.

Draco opened his mouth to retort, glaring through narrowed eyes, but Cho cut in.

"Harry and Ron Weasley must be awfully pleased," she said grinning.

"I'm sure they are," Draco snapped.

"They're probably not the only ones who don't miss you," Angelina said coldly.

There was a long silence. Draco looked ready to throttle her. Part of Hermione was astounded that Angelina could be so rude, and another part of her wasn't surprised and didn't hold her at all responsible. After all, to her knowledge, not many people who weren't in Slytherin had liked him, and he had almost single-handedly ruined Angelina's team the previous year . . .

"Wait," said Cho slowly. "If Harry and Ron dislike you so much, why is Hermione helping you?" Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. "I thought you hated him," she added, turning to Hermione.

"Yeah, why are you helping him?" Angelina demanded, glaring harder at Draco. You always seemed to enjoy the insults at Slytherin in the D.A. last year as much as everyone else."

Hermione blushed. Draco's cheeks had turned light pink, and he was glowering unblinkingly at them.

"Things have changed," she said meekly. "We're . . ."

"Friendly acquaintances," Draco snapped angrily, and Hermione felt her stomach give a little jolt. So he was still refusing to believe that Gryffindors and Slytherins could ever truly be friends. That was fine by her.

Cho and Angelina shared a look. Then they simultaneously smirked.

"Slytherin's going to be flattened in Quidditch," Cho announced gleefully. They seemed intent on rubbing in Draco's predicament to its fullest.

"Not that you were ever much of a threat anyway," Angelina preened. "And now it's going to be that much easier to beat you. We do have our wonderful Seeker back, a-" she paused. "A great Keeper-" Draco couldn't help giving a derisive snort.

Angelina shot him a nasty look before continuing. "Two rapidly improving Beaters, and three fabulous Chasers." It was lucky neither girl noticed the growing smirk on Draco's face at her last praise. Hermione tried not to giggle as she imagined Angelina's outrage and shock when she finally learned her "fabulous" new Chaser's real identity. After all, she would have to find out sometime.

"Indeed," Draco said, managing to keep a straight face.

"And Ravenclaw has a pretty good team, too," Angelina added as an afterthought, earning a withering glance from Cho.

Satisfied with their Quidditch insults, Angelina and Cho grew silent.

The door handle behind them rattled. The three girls turned with identical looks of worry, and Draco edged towards the couch. An exasperated sigh and a mumbled curse, followed by "Alohomora," echoed faintly out in the hallway. Then the door opened.

Hermione gave an enormous sigh of relief. It was only Ginny.

Ginny gaped at Angelina and Cho, stopping in mid step.

"Would you close the door!" Draco hissed.

Her head snapped around to look at him in shock, and despite having been warned by Hermione, her eyes still widened considerably. She pushed the door closed, still gawking at him.

"I know I'm breathtakingly attractive, Ginevra" Draco drawled. "But if your jaw sinks any lower you might dislocate it."

Ginny's mouth snapped close in an instant, and her familiar glare resurfaced. Much to her apparent annoyance, Angelina and Cho were both smothering chuckles.

"You're more attractive as a ferret," she snapped, striding into the room and stopping at Angelina and Cho. It was Hermione's turn to hide a laugh. "What are you doing here?"

"We came in accidentally," Cho said, eyeing Draco critically. "You're right, I think; he is more attrac-"

"That's enough," Draco interrupted, pink again. He shot Hermione a dirty look as she pretended to cough to cover her giggle.

"How long have you known?" Cho asked

Ginny shrugged. "Since before Christmas."

"Which first year is he?" Angelina asked quickly.

Draco shook his head violently at Ginny, who had opened her mouth to answer but not spoken yet. Her eyes narrowed, but she didn't spite him by replying.

"You're not going to tell me either?" Angelina cried indignantly.

Ginny shook her head. The irony of the situation had reached her, too, and she tried to keep from ginning. "I'm sure you'll find out eventually."

Angelina snarled under her breath.

"I'll be going now," Cho said lightly. "It's terribly exciting meeting a "dead" Slytherin, but homework is calling." She winked. "Do try to behave yourself more this time around. You have a much better reputation to live up to now that you're in Gryffindor. Have fun!"

"I look forward to your next flying lesson," Angelina added, smirking. "It'll be a challenge figuring out which one you are, but I'm sure I'll manage." She and Cho exchanged identical wicked grins, delighted at Draco's furious glare, and then left laughing.

Ginny watched them with a bemused smile until the door had clicked closed again.

"Someone's finding out your secret every day," she said brightly.

"It's only three total," Draco said, annoyed. "Not including Hermione or the portrait."

Hermione winced. "Well, actually Moaning Myrtle knows, too. I had to tell her after our fight in the bathroom," she added at Draco's outraged expression. "And, of course, you told Dobby and Winky."

"And to think this was all supposed to stay a secret," he said grumpily.

"And, except for Dobby, it's only girls who know," Ginny added. She walked slowly around Draco, hands on her hips, as if he were an article of clothing she was intending to buy and wanted to look at very carefully.

"You don't know how weird you look," she informed him at last.

"What?" Draco exclaimed indignantly. "This is how I'm supposed to look!"

"Sixth years changing into first years, then changing back- you really have to pick one body or the other," she said severely.

Draco choked, and Hermione couldn't even try to hold back a smile.

"And then you also really have to choose whether to be living or dead, because you can't keep on scaring people like that. They think they're seeing a ghost which ordinarily wouldn't be frightening except you're not pearly white and transparent!" Hermione put a placating hand on Draco's arm and squeezed him gently just to be on the safe side. Ginny was pretty adept when it came to dueling, but Draco looked awfully close to just pulling out his wand and using the first hex that came to mind.

Unfortunately, that drew Ginny's unwanted attention to her touch, and her eyes narrowed slyly. Hermione's heart sank as the redhead's gaze flew to the cauldron. It had been silly to hope she wouldn't notice.

"What is your Blushing Potion doing here?" Ginny demanded

Draco pulled away and Hermione stepped back, feeling suddenly self-conscious again. "We were bored, and I was just going to show it to him and explain and . . ." Her voice trailed off at Ginny's politely incredulous expression.

"Is that all?" she asked rather pointedly.

Hermione tried to keep the crimson flush in her cheeks to a minimum. "Yes."

For a moment she thought the look on Ginny's face almost resembled disappointment. Hermione shook her head; she must have imagined it.

"How was Hogsmeade?" she asked, keen on changing the subject.

Ginny looked startled and less than happy at the sudden change in conversation, but did not argue. "It was fine," she replied. "I went around the shops with some of my friends, and then met up with Harry and Ron in the Three Broomsticks. Ron fancies someone!" Ginny exclaimed, her eyes widening as she remembered this important piece of information.

"Who?" Hermione gasped, ignoring Draco's noise of impatience and loud, exaggerated sigh. "And how did I not realize it?"

Ginny giggled. We were just talking about Quidditch and suddenly he went all red in the face while staring out the window. Harry and I turned to see but whomever it was had disappeared! He wouldn't tell us," she added unnecessarily. "Got a bit tetchy with us actually, after we'd been wheedling him for about fifteen minutes." She grinned. "Not that it means we won't try again as soon as he cools off some.

"Why didn't you tell Angelina about being Conrad?" Ginny asked, abruptly switching topics just as Hermione had.

Draco raised his eyebrows and shrugged disinterestedly. "It's more fun this way. Plus, if I tell her, she'll want me off the team, and Gryffindor will have to find a new Chaser."

"It's so sweet of you to care for our team," Ginny said sarcastically.

"Not to mention, you actually like being on the team," Hermione added under her breath. He scowled at her, but she only returned an imitation of his smirk, making Ginny giggle again.

"She'll be fuming about that for ages."

"I know. You're not doing it right," Draco added suddenly to Hermione.

She blinked. "Not doing what right?"

"The smirk. You have to act smug otherwise it just doesn't work." To Ginny and Hermione's amusement, he demonstrated.

Hermione felt a small tingle race through her that she was entirely unaccustomed to. His smirk was actually sort of cute when there wasn't any malice included. It was hard to believe, she thoughts suddenly, that the sixteen year-old boy in front of her, who, if viewed objectively, was almost handsome, was the same first year she tutored. She had sub-consciously considered "Conrad" to be like a younger brother or someone she babysat, forgetting he was really someone she'd known her entire life at Hogwarts. But looking at him for real brought back with a hard jolt just exactly who this was, and the fact that their relationship could never be described in such simple terms as 'friendship.'

"And Ron thought he had a nightmare last night," Ginny said brightly, grinning. "Imagine what he'd say if he saw you now."

"Hopefully run away screaming and accidentally jump into the lake," Draco said with just as much enthusiasm.

Ginny gave a fake smile. "Much as I'd love to stay, Angelina wants the Chasers to practice a bit . . ." Her eyes widened. "Oh, dear, what are you going to do?"

Draco swore under his breath. "I forgot about that." He sighed. "Probably should've told Angelina, then."

Ginny and Hermione exchanged looks, and the former bit her lip.

"Well . . . I suppose I could make excuses for you, tell Angelina you weren't feeling well and went to the Hospital Wing."

Draco brightened considerably. "Thank you," he said sincerely, and Ginny looked taken aback.

"Don't think me doing favors for you is going to become a habit," she warned warily, and Hermione could almost hear her underlying question, 'why are you being so polite?'

"I'm still a Weasley."

"Yes," Draco said with a considering frown. "But I assume someday you'll get married, therefore you won't be a Weasley, and I'll be able to acknowledge your existence without feeling embarrassed. Perhaps you'll be a Thomas," he mused. "You know who I mean, that Dean fellow you hide from your brother."

Ginny blushed, but seemed somehow relieved to be back to their normal insults once more. "At least I have a special someone," she pointed out. Just as Hermione knew it would, after his reaction to the Blushing Potion in Snape's class, she had struck a nerve. Draco glared angrily at her.

"But then again, you do have a Blushing Potion in here," Ginny said lightly, already flitting towards the door, and winking at Hermione. "So that particular problem could be remedied for a day, at least." She had disappeared before Hermione, in utter shock at her supposed friend's clear insinuation, could retort.

Red-faced, Hermione couldn't even look at Draco, wondering how best to "accidentally" tell Ron about Dean. No, that wouldn't be fair to Dean; after all, it wasn't he who had just purposely embarrassed her but his conniving girlfriend.

Draco seemed to be thinking similar thoughts. "I'll be having a little chat with Weasley next Quidditch practice, I think, let him know exactly what his darling sister's been up to." His throat seemed to be oddly constricted.

Hermione didn't think the flush would ever fully fade from her cheeks. She perched on the nearest chair, not even considering the couch an option at this point.

She cleared her throat. "So, um, the Blushing Potion. Well, I just followed the instructions, which you have a copy of, and, erm, this is it." It was a struggle to formulate words.

Draco idly stirred the ladle with his fingertips, staring blankly at the potion. What would it be like to test it with him? Hermione wondered, the thought entering her head before she could stop it. She firmly squashed it. That idea was simply unthinkable. They had never planned on testing it; they had agreed so at the beginning. After all, he was a first year, which was absolutely sick! But, said a little corner of her mind, one that seemed annoyingly determined to be heard, he's not a first year, at least not for today, and the Blushing Potion only lasts for an hour. Without realizing it, Hermione checked her watch. It was mid afternoon, plenty of time if they wanted it.

No, she argued with herself in vain. No matter how friendly they acted, he was still a Malfoy!

Yes, but he was also Draco . . .

Juliet had fallen in love with Romeo even though he was a Montague.

Hermione didn't know where that thought had come from. She hadn't read any Shakespeare lately.

And, besides, it wasn't even falling in love, it was just a Blushing Potion.

They looked up at the exact same moment. Hermione swallowed, suddenly feeling a bit lightheaded. His face was full of uncertainty and nervousness. She imagined it was probably the way she looked, too. To her great relief, Draco, sensing that she was thinking the same thing but was unable to voice it aloud, spoke for both of them.

"We don't have to test it," he said in a rush. "Ginny was just joking." Hermione stared at him, not knowing what to say, thought it was obvious he was waiting for her to speak.

"But we could," she whispered, taking a deep breath and staring him square in the face. Her heart was beating uncomfortably fast. For a moment all she could do was stare into his eyes, waiting for any response, whether verbal or facial.

"If you wanted to," he said, again in a constricted voice. "I- I wouldn't mind. But if you don't-" he added quickly.

"I don't mind," Hermione cut him off just as fast. She glanced down at the Blushing Potion. Two glasses appeared on the table beside them. She picked them up and slowly, as if in a trance, held them out. Silently Draco ladled the correct amount into each glass.

Hermione fought off the feelings of hesitation that threatened to overwhelm her. She didn't know why or how, but this felt somehow right, and it didn't seem so absurd anymore. Draco held out his glass, and she clinked hers against him. A sudden memory of her former experience in Potions class assailed her, and Hermione couldn't help but smile fondly as she remembered doing the same with Harry. What would he say if he knew she was about to take a mild Love Potion with Draco Malfoy? Probably forcibly drag her to the Hospital Wing, come to think of it.

Draco drained his glass in a single gulp, and Hermione followed a second later. It tasted a bit less sweet than last time, probably because it didn't have the second half of Ashwinder egg in it. This important detail resurfaced in her mind while her eyes were still closed and the sticky potion was still sliding down her throat. Pansy Parkinson hadn't been around to enhance their Blushing Potion this time, which meant there was definitely no chance of any "side effects."

Hermione opened her eyes. The effect was a bit slower this time. For a moment she only stared at him, blinking as a sudden feeling of peace, not unlike drowsiness, descended upon her. She could actually feel it starting to affect her. Hermione was just about to conclude that nothing was happening, when she blinked and an unfamiliar feeling assailed her.

All of a sudden, she felt very self-conscious, extremely aware of the fact that Draco was looking only at her. He was awfully cute, Hermione thought, feeling an inane urge to giggle and blush. It registered dimly in the back of her mind that the Blushing Potion was working, after all. But that hardly seemed important right now. She had to say something, hopefully something witty and charming that would bring attention to her intelligence and other attractive qualities. Of course, she thought, smiling prettily and ducking her head demurely, he was already looking at her with great interest. The most she could manage to do for the moment, though, was smile and glance up from under her eyelashes, no engaging comments coming to mind.

That was not the case for him. "Are the books you read aware how lucky they are to fascinate you so?" Draco inquired casually, a small smirk drifting on his lips as he looked at her.

Hermione couldn't help but blush at the compliment. "I consider myself lucky to have such fascinating books."

"The boys at Hogwarts would be half so fortunate if you considered them the same."

"Why, Draco, are you flirting with me?" she asked, smiling slyly.

"If I were, would you object?" he drawled.

Hermione got up quickly so he wouldn't hear her nervous giggle and sat on the couch, wondering if he would join her. He did.

"How perceptive of you," he added, taking a seat that was much closer than he could've sat.

"Perceptive of me?"

"To realize I was flirting," Draco explained, smirking. He gently reached out and started lazily twisting one of her curls around his finger. "I didn't know how often you did it."

"Who said I was returning your flirtations?" Hermione asked primly, batting away his hand. She moved to the other side of the couch, feeling supremely satisfied with his brief look of surprise and admiration. After a moment Draco scooted next to her once more. Though there was plenty enough room so that he didn't actually need to be sitting so close, Hermione didn't mind in the least. Her eyes fell on the cauldron in the middle of the room, and with a jolt she remembered the Blushing Potion inside it.

"You do know we're acting this way because of that," she whispered, leaning in towards him as if it were a secret and indicating the cauldron. For a second he showed no sign of recognition, and then his eyes lit up in surprise. He drew back slightly, looking faintly appalled, as if he hadn't been consciously aware that he was flirting while he was doing it. Hermione wanted to jokingly tease him about it, but the Potion was already slipping back into unimportance, and she could feel her eyelashes fluttering almost as of their own accord. It would have been hard to stop acting so coy even if she'd wanted to.

"But we don't need to worry about that right now," she added, her voice more of a purr this time.

He started tracing a finger along her arm, and this time she didn't move away from his touch. Hermione was beginning to quite enjoy herself. She could not deny that she was attracted to Draco, but for the moment all she wanted to do was flirt, or at least try her skills at it. Part of her was still amazed by the fact that he seemed so openly taken with her as well, and her first instinct was still to blush and avert her eyes.

If he had been someone she did not know very well, that would perhaps be her reaction, but this was Draco, and Hermione knew him quite well by now. She knew his interests and likes, some of his favorite things, that he was a hard worker and mostly enjoyed school. He was funny, clever, and even charming when he wanted to be. He had learned much about her as well and no matter what either of them, particularly Draco, said, and no matter how hard they tried to deny it, they were friends. Hermione also knew that at the moment both were intoxicated by a Blushing Potion that was making them say and do things neither would in normal circumstances, and she intended to take full advantage of it. It was impossible to ignore the irresistible attraction drawing them together, and, due to the Potion, nor did she want to.

"Hermione," Draco broke into her thoughts suddenly. "Is this potion supposed to make me . . . fancy you?" The flirtatious smirk had disappeared from his face, and now Draco's expression had flickered to nervous confusion. His eyes searched hers for confirmation of what he obviously knew was true.

Hermione felt her heart begin to beat a bit faster, and suddenly she wasn't so confident. "Yes," she whispered, drawing back.

Draco had to clear his throat several times before speaking. "Then it's working."

"Yeah," she said dazedly. "I think it is."

As if on cue, now that they had both admitted aloud their actions were not of natural occurrence, they drew back so their upper bodies, if not their legs were at least not touching.

"What do you think's going to happen when the spell's broken?" The question broke from Hermione before it had even fully assembled in her mind, and she had to elaborate quickly. "Between us, that is." She hadn't realized how important that query was until then, and she doubted she'd ever even considered the answer herself, much less asked him. It wasn't something she would've done without the Blushing Potion, as it implied that their relationship had progressed into something that was no longer forgettable.

Draco waited a long time before answering, but it wasn't because of embarrassment or that he was intent on avoiding it. He seemed to be deliberating it thoughfully. Hermione was rather glad she had thought to ask it first and was not in his position.

"I don't think it'll be easy to keep from regressing," he said at last, fully serious as he looked at her. The flirtatious grin had not yet reappeared but there was a looking of caring in his eyes that meant almost more. "But I don't think either of us wants to, so we we'll try our hardest not to, and in the end, we won't." He gave a small shrug, a hint of a smile flickering on his lips. "I imagine everyone is going to be surprised enough as it is when they inevitably, er, hear rumors about what had happened to me. I doubt our-" He paused, and Hermione found herself holding her breath.

"I doubt our friendship will be the thing people wonder about the most. Besides, only the other sixth years will really care."

Hermione couldn't help but smile at finally hearing him say the "f' word. If a Blushing Potion was what it took to make him admit it, maybe Ginny wasn't so to bad after all.

"It'll be funny seeing their faces," Hermione mused, still smiling as she pictured all the stunned Gryffindors, and equally shocked Slytherins. Not that the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs wouldn't have their fair share of surprise as well. The name Malfoy wasn't unknown and, due to close association with Harry and her precedent in academic achievement, neither was hers.

"Ginny's taking it rather well." Hermione, after barely a second's consideration, turned to teasing. "I'd say you're frien-"

"Oh, shut up," he grumbled, cutting her off. "Weasley is already going to try to kill me for hanging out with you. Do you really think I want him getting protective about his little sister, as well?"

Hermione laughed again, and instinctively narrowed the space between them. "Can you imagine what the teachers will look like? Especially McGonagall and Snape when they find out you've switched Houses." For once he didn't get upset by the mention of his switch to Gryffindor.

"I think Potter and Weasley's reactions will be my personal favorite," he said, smirking with a faraway look. Hermione batted his arm reprovingly.

"I still say Professor Snape's will be more amusing," she said huffily, and he laughed. It was a very sweet sound, rich and light at the same time. Hermione sighed, a calm feeling of satisfied happiness settling over her. Without consciously thinking about it first she gently put her head on his shoulder. For a minute Draco didn't do anything, and then she felt his arm encircle her shoulders. Hermione tried to suppress a yawn, remembering all of a sudden how restless her sleep had been and realizing how tired she was because of it now.

Hermione didn't know how long they sat like that, just passing the time quietly. It was as if the overdone flirting had exhausted them both out. She, at least, was perfectly fine simply snuggling close to him. She could tell instinctively the Blushing Potion was starting to wear off. Hermione knew that if she looked up she would still think he was handsome, but that was just he was, despite how she disapproved of admitting it. However, there was no more urge to blush or make silly comments. In fact, as memories of the last hour flitted through her head, Hermione knew that was plenty enough reason to cringe and turn red.

"I think it's worn off," she said drowsily, opening her eyes and shifting to put her feet up to the couch's armrest.

Draco moved his arm slightly, allowing her to get up if she wanted. Hermione sat further up, afraid she would accidentally slide down into his lap, but did not move from under his arm. After a moment he rested it around her shoulders again, and, if Hermione read his face correctly, didn't look at all unpleased.

"It was easier to talk like that, wasn't it," Hermione said honestly, not intending it to be a question.

He paused and then nodded, blond hair falling into his eyes. Hermione had never had such a close up view of his face before. He had very fine, thin hair; it actually wasn't so terrible looking once you got past the shocking brightness of it, she thought, rubbing a few silky strands between her fingers. Draco didn't seem to mind; on the other hand, there was an amused smile drifting around his lips.

"Should we thank Ginevra before we take revenge?" he asked.

Hermione bit her lip, trying not to smile. "Perhaps," she conceded. Even she couldn't deny that Ginny deserved a bit of trickery in return, though whatever they thought of had to be planned very carefully indeed considering whom she had for twin brothers.

"Hermione, what makes you so sure I'm going to be able to break the curse?" Hermione was shaken out of her regret for not having paid closer attention to Fred and George's tricks over the years, and couldn't help but pull back a little so she could give Draco a good stare.

"What do you mean?" Her tone was a bit tarter than she'd meant it to sound.

He shrugged, glancing away. "If my greatest fear is the Dark Lord, how exactly am I supposed to face that? And I'm not even sure if it is that."

"We could always try a boggart," Hermione suggested, and then berated herself for not thinking of that before. "Not that I'd know where to find one around here," she added dismally. "You can't exactly buy one as a pet." She would ordinarily think that a good hunting of the castle would present a boggart, but on second thought Hogwarts was kept pretty clean of dark creatures. Professor Lupin having one in third year was only because he had specifically not gotten rid of it immediately. If any ever did find their way into Hogwarts, the ghosts probably came upon them sooner or later and informed a teacher.

"You can't get stuck like this forever," Hermione said at last, not knowing what else to say. "If it's not broken by the end of the school year you'll have to go to a teacher."

Draco was quiet for a while before speaking, and when he did it was with heavy resignation. "I promise," he said finally. "I can't very well spend the summer like this."

Hermione realized something unexpected as that particular line of conversation came to a close. Back in September Draco hadn't wanted to go to a teacher because of embarrassment and pride. Now it was a matter of Draco wanting to solve the problem on his own- well, with her help, of course. He didn't want Dumbledore or Snape to just make the problem go away for him. And perhaps, her mind added even as Hermione was trying to dismiss the idea, maybe he wasn't purposely trying to make the curse end faster, because he knew that no matter what steps they took it would still be significantly changing, if not ending, their relationship.

"Hermione," he said again, quietly, looking at her with utmost seriousness. "Thanks for not going to Hogsmeade."

"You're welcome," she whispered.

For some reason this simple interaction seemed more important than it should've been, and Hermione leaned back against his shoulder quickly so he wouldn't see her eyes just in case they were a bit brighter than normal. The cauldron with the Blushing Potion inside still lay in the middle of the floor, but she smiled faintly at it rather than glared. Draco was right: maybe Ginny deserved some thanks after all.

* * *

When Hermione awoke she could tell it was very late in the evening. For one, the lights were all dimmed, and for another, the side of her body that had been leaning on Draco had grown cold from his absence. She started, jerking around wildly for a minute as she struggled to get her bearings. As if sensing her sudden change from sleep to consciousness, the lights came back on full force, and Hermione had to blink to readjust her eyes. The Room was empty; Draco had left.

A note lay on the couch next to her, and Hermione read it, yawning.

Hermione,

I changed back at midnight, and I'm leaving. I hope you don't mind that I didn't wake you, but you seemed so tired. Thank you again for spending the day with me. I really appreciate not having been alone.

Draco

For a brief moment Hermione was upset that he hadn't woken her, and then, as she slowly processed the day's events, it started to make sense that he hadn't, and part of her was glad. The more she thought about it, Hermione felt sure that if he had woken her to watch his transformation from himself back into a first year, she would've cried. In fact, her eyes felt a little moist now, just as they had when she had first fallen asleep. Hermione carefully wiped them on her sleeve, feeling for the first time the empathetic ache of Draco's situation. It was better that he had left her sleeping. Perhaps he had felt the same way, not wanting her to see him immediately. It would be bad enough having to see him tomorrow and the day after, knowing Draco was trapped inside such a young body, excluded completely from his former life.

According to her watch, it was 12:34, so it couldn't have been long after Draco had left. Hermione's mind wanted to feel alarmed that she was out of the dormitory so late, but her body still felt too sluggish to react properly. She almost forgot to check the corridor before leaving the Room of Requirement. Luckily, the passageway and all others leading to Gryffindor were empty. Her only scare was when a loud meowing noise echoed from the next hall over, but it was only Mrs. Norris magnified, probably by a suit of armor. The Fat Lady fortunately did not recognize her and grunted sleepily, already snoring again when she banged shut. Hermione was up the stairs in a flash, her head too full of thoughts to bother making sure she didn't wake Lavender and Parvati. She was still tired, but after her long nap, she was much refreshed and sleep didn't come easily. Hermione kept replaying the day's events in her head, always coming back to when she had rested peacefully against Draco. She realized she had left his note in her robes and determined to get it the next morning.

Would she see Draco tomorrow? And if she did, would they talk of the previous day, his loophole day? What would she say if Ginny asked if they had taken the Blushing Potion? Hermione sighed into her pillow at all the bothersome questions, but couldn't help but smile a little, too. It had been a fun day, if not especially productive. Amazing how she had started out the day wishing he hadn't changed and ended disappointed that he wouldn't stay the blond she remembered. And to think it had started out with a House-Elf she hadn't seen in two years and Ron's nightmare, she added mentally, grinning.

Draco certainly had a reason for liking his loophole day but Hermione, if possible, found herself liking it almost as much.