I swear people don't read these little notes I write, explaining my absences etcetera, but I put them in to back up my point when I get reviews demanding to know why my chapters are short and where I was been.

Basically, since the last chapter was posted, I officially applied to university, got offers from my 2 favourite universities, passed my driving test, completed 2 sets of coursework, read 18 books and watched about 46 films… I been busy, mate!

It was very difficult not to doubt him. The dark jokes that crept into conversation occasionally that threw the mood completely, the threatening body language he used when annoyed, and the ever present mark on his arm made it very difficult for Hermione to forget that Draco was a Deatheater.

His Dark Mark seemed to be bothering him far more just recently than she'd ever noticed before. He itched it almost constantly, or else ran his fingers across it without even seeming to realise he was doing so. It was guilt, she supposed. He was betraying everything he had ever known even by speaking to her with civility, let alone touching her… kissing her.

He never admitted it to her, but Hermione could sense that he was worried. Counting down the minutes until his father found out, or one his "friends" let slip, and he became number one of the Dark Lord's hit list.

"Draco, stop that." Hermione quipped wearily, catching Draco scratching at his forearm. "What are you trying to do, rip it off?"

He sighed heavily, pulling up the sleeve of his robes to reveal the reddened patch of skin that surrounded the awful mark. "Maybe." He winced as Hermione reached across her desk in the heads' office to touch the sore skin tentatively. "The only other option appears to be slicing my arm off, but I'm not really sure that's the right route to take."

She looked into his eyes, concern riddling her soft features. "You should know I'm meant to be reporting any Deatheater activity in the student body to Dumbledore. Just try to stay out of trouble. I know you will, but if you or any of your…"

"Hermione, I'd thought you'd know me better than that by now." He cut in. "'Deatheater activity' isn't exactly top of my list of priorities right now."

"You've never let that stop you before." She murmured, quiet enough so that he only just caught her words.

"Yes, well, now I'm with you." His face softened as he laced his fingers with hers. "And you don't like it, with every reason, and so I'm not going to involve myself."

She glowed with the words of his care for her, but her eyes remained suspicious. "And what if you weren't with me? What would you be doing then?"

"A lot less homework." He smirked. She raised an eyebrow at him, unimpressed. "I don't know. Plotting to kill Potter or kidnap you, or shave Weasley's fiery head, or all of them, depending on how I was feeling."

Hermione couldn't help but giggle, though she knew it was inappropriate. "Are you serious? That's really what you'd be doing if I wasn't around?" She withdrew her hands across the desk.

He shrugged. "Well, yes. As you've already gracefully pointed out, Hermione, I'm a Deatheater. That sort of thing is basically what we do with our free time."

"Do you…" Hermione cleared her throat. "Do you enjoy it?" She asked, emotionlessly.

Draco squinted at her, desperately trying to decide whether to tell the truth or to lie. "If I said… I can't be sure either way, would you condemn me for it?"

She looked disappointed, but thankfully reached across and ran a finger along the heart line of his palm. "I suppose it would be unfair of me if I did." He could see she was trying to understand but was struggling. "I suppose… it's how you've been brought up, isn't it? What you're used to. I guess it's hard to escape such a sense of duty."

Draco nodded, glad she was unable to accept his answer so well. "Anyway, Miss Granger, I do believe it's time for lunch." He glided around the desk and politely helped her to her feet as she giggled at the unnecessary gesture.

Harry Potter was unhappy. It was bad enough that he should hardly see one of his best friends anymore, but now he saw that it was with him she had been choosing to spend her time instead. Why? What was she up to? He guessed it had something to do with the task Dumbledore had set for her and Ernie at the start of the year. She must be prizing information out of Malfoy, but how could she stand to be with him so long?

He watched as they exchanged a smile before parting way to head towards their separate tables and turned to scowl at his plate of mashed potato as Hermione took the seat next to his. Harry could almost feel her grinning beside him as she began to chatter across the table to Ginny about scheduling a trip to Hogsmeade in order to get some Christmas shopping done.

Ron slid down on Harry's other side and Harry turned to see that he too was grinning maniacally.

"Guess what I heard!" He was quite clearly ecstatic with himself about something. Harry indicated that he should continue. "Malfoy got cheated on." Harry couldn't help but notice that Hermione stop short mid-sentence. "Can you believe it! You know he was shagging Parkinson? Well, just heard from Graham Pritchard, you know, that Slytherin who's not all that bad, that she had a thing with Zabini, and now the whole things off!"

Harry almost laughed, but stopped himself when he noticed Hermione's torn expression.

He cleared his throat instead, and bit his lip as Ron's laughter rang out awkwardly across the table of silent Gryffindors.

Hermione stood up. "I've got homework I should be doing." She murmured, and walked away.

Ron's laughter died away and he looked comically around him at the small crowd looking at him blankly. "What's wrong with her?"

Harry sighed. "I wish I knew."

"I just heard a rumour about you." Draco stopped short, and turned to see who had spoken. A book faced him. He pushed the book down to find Hermione, head on one side, smiling satisfactorily.

"Nothing bad I hope." He grinned, pulling out the seat opposite her and sliding into it.

She put the book down. "Well, actually, it sort of was. Apparently you've been cheated on."

He frowned at her, confused. "But no one even knows…"

"Not by me." Hermione laughed. "By Pansy."

Draco laughed, running his hands through his hair in mock relief. "Was it with Blaise by any chance?"

"I don't know." Hermione replied, giggling along with him. "I didn't exactly stick around to hear the details."

"Well, I know for a fact she's cheated on me with Blaise because I watched it getting started."

Hermione winced in disgust. "Lovely."

Draco got up and moved around the table to help her put her books back in her bag and they left the library. It was a Saturday, and the corridors were busy so they were forced to walk metres apart, Draco leading, whilst Hermione tailed behind, struggling with her heavy bag.

Draco led the way to the head's office, where he took his usual seat before her desk. A few seconds later, she joined him.

"So what's this meeting in aid of?" She sat down opposite him, peering at him quizzically. It was unusual for them to be in here twice in one week, let alone twice in one day.

Draco straightened up and sighed wearily. Hermione couldn't help but dread what was coming. "I want to tell Blaise about us."

"What?"

"About you and me. I need to tell someone. Blaise is the ideal candidate."

Hermione was stunned at this anticlimax of a request from him, she'd been expecting something far more radical.

"Will he not tell, do you think?"

Draco shrugged. "Why would he? To him we're no more interesting than a pair of salamanders who have decided to get it on."

"Well sure, why not then."

"Excellent. I'll go and find him now."

"I think that's a very good idea."

"Hey, Zabini" Blaise swung around to find Draco leaning nonchalantly against their dormitory wall. "I think you owe me some money."

This… kind of doesn't make much sense, this chapter… It is going somewhere though, I promise.

The bit with Hermione and Draco:

"Well sure, why not then."

"Excellent. I'll go and find him now."

"I think that's a very good idea."

Is soooo English, but it is exactly what we do (I swear, I'm one of them). Whenever faced with something surprising or unexpected, we suddenly become very eloquent and proper!

Please review (and ignore my ramblings)

JustADoll

xxx