"Time without Malfoy," Ron put his hands behind his head and signed happily, "This is a treat."

"Come off it," Hermione gave him a playful glare, "Unless there's a head meeting or an issue, us three are left alone every evening."

"For now." Ron scoffed, "I bet if Malfoy had it his way, he'd change that. I swear he enjoys using his Head Boy privileges to make your life overly complicated." Ron muttered, "It's bad enough you're tied to his hip during the day."

"I told you Ron, we have the same classes and it just makes sense." She looked at Harry for help,"You can change the subject anytime."

"Hmmm," Harry caught up, "So who does Malfoy have over tonight?"

Hermione cringed, "Ugh...no clue."

Their evening rambles allowed Hermione the chance to avoid Draco's random companions. When she'd been told about his cursed state there had been assumptions regarding his 'performance' abilities. That thinking quickly went out the window when she walked in on him and a Ravenclaw on their common room sofa. Rules were quickly put into place.

Stopping near the shore of the black lake they each picked a few rocks to toss across, "The one who gets it the furthest gets to pick who buys the next round of butterbeer." Hermione said, "And if I see a single wand out you have to for two weeks."

"So..." Ron said as he tossed his first rock, "About that idea we mentioned yesterday."

"Same answer as yesterday," Hermione quickly said as she flicked her wrist and sent the stone sailing.

"Come on Hermione…"Ron rubbed the surface of the stone in his hand.

"You know, it's our last year." Harry added, "It would be fun."

"Fun for a brief moment. Have you guys forgotten that I'd get into a world of trouble." Hermione dropped the rock in her hand in favor of another flatter one, "Head Girl says no."

"Head Girl is one thing," Ron smirked, "But what about Hermione. I bet you're itching to get some peace and quiet in your room. Malfoy would only be in the infirmary for a day or two."

"JUST a day or two," She scoffed, "Really."

"You know with the map and cloak there's no way anyone would pin it on you," Harry threw his rock and it skipped across the pond, "And I volunteer to buy drinks for the next month."

"Famous? I thought you were sick of fame, Mr Potter" Hermione threw her final rock into the lake with a resounding 'plop'

"This kind of fame is perfectly fine by me" Harry laugh ed and punched Ron's arm playfully, "I think we can handle it."

"Again," Hermione added, "You get the fame and I get the flogging. Sorry, not appealing."

"You know sometimes it feels like you actually enjoy having Malfoy around," Ron gave her a confused look, "Last year you would have at least given us an alternative."

"Merlin's sake Ronald!" Hermione threw out his first name, "I wasn't Head Girl last year and I won't do that to the Head Boy."

"So.." Ron walked up behind her, "Honestly, are you worried about getting into trouble or getting on Draco Malfoy's bad side?"

"You know this has nothing to do with Malfoy. I could care less what he thinks." She turned to face him, "I have a responsibility to the other students."

Ron placed his hands on her shoulder, his fingers gently tickling her neck, "But wouldn't you love to see that ferret squirm from embarrassment?" His fingers migrated to cup her cheeks, "Come on Mione…"

"Ron, I can't," They were so close, her face in his hands almost seemed intimate, "It's not right" The words were almost a whisper.

"For old times sake." Ron answered back.

"Ahem.." Harry cleared his throat.

Hermione flushed at the memory of Ron's assumption that she had feelings for Harry, "Ron…"

"You know, from where I'm standing… you two look awfully cozy." Harry's voice cut through the moment.

"I..what ..no.." Hermione exasperatedly yelped, "You two are impossible." Hermione pushed away from Ron. Her hands reached up to remove his grasp on her face. Still partially dazed from his closeness, she forgot how close to the lake they were and while rushing away form him her foot hit a wet rock . Ron grasped for her as she slipped but his hand instead filled with her scarf that slid off her shoulders. The resounding splash echoed in the dim light of the evening.

"For the love of…" Hermione looked down at the water she now sat in, "Well, this is a perfect way to end the conversation."

"Hermione, I'm so sorry" Ron reached down and helped her out of the pond, "I should have caught you."

"It's not your fault. I wasn't paying attention," Hermione looked down at her soaked robes.

"A simple drying spell should put things back to the way they were," Ron eagerly took out his wand.

"No!" Harry interrupted, "You're likely to turn her into a fish."

That comment got them all laughing. The tension broke immediately and they enjoyed a second laugh when Ron wrapped the dry scarf around Hermione's sopping form.

"Please tell me you two will drop the whole Malfoy prank," Hermione asked while casting a drying spell, "I have enough on my plate."

"Fine," Ron put his arm around Harry, "For now."

-Back at the Heads Quarters-

Walking through the portrait Hermione was surprised to see Malfoy alone on the in his hand and fingers absently tucked in his hair, he looked oddly at home amidst the mix of their house colors.

"You're staring at me, Granger." He looked up at her, "How's your two man servants. Is the ginger beast still oblivious to your desires?"

"You're disgusting," Hermione said with a roll of her eyes, "We're just friends." Her cheeks flushed at the memory of Ron's hands on her face.

"Granger," He closed his book with a 'thwack' and twisted his body towards her, "I've been stuck with your adorable little trio for weeks now. Please, don't treat me like anything other than my legs are useless."

"I've never said any part of you was useless," Hermione sighed, "We're just friends and even if I wanted that to change, it's not possible. I'll only ever be one of the gang..." The fact she added on the last comment left her more open and vulnerable than Hermione would have liked, "I'm...going to bed."

"Just one of the gang? Something happened!" Draco's formed a knowing smirk. He pointed to the other end of the sofa, "Bed can wait."

"Malfoy..." Hermione shook her head, "I really am not in the mood."

"In the name of house unity and togetherness," Draco again pointed to the couch, "Come on Gryffindor. You know you're dying to tell someone."

That comment brought a small curve to her lips, "I doubt it will do much good but if it's in the name of house unity." Hermione walked over and took over the opposite end of the sofa.

"So, what happened?" Draco asked.

"Technically, nothing." Hermione furrowed her brow, "We just had what felt like it could have been a moment but…" She stopped," If you're going to use anything I say as ammunition.."

"Oh please. I'm beyond all that now." Draco waved off the childishness with his long fingers, "Continue."

"We were down by the pond, and the boys were asking for my help," Hermione cleared her throat, "And."

"Help with?" Draco interrupted, "Full picture helps."

Hermione signed, "They wanted me to give them access to our common room so they could pull a prank."

"I'm hurt," Draco feigned horror, "All the time we've spent together and they would even think of doing such a thing."

"I refused." Hermione countered, "Obviously times are different and regardless of that I can't do that to the Head Boy."

"How noble of you Granger." Draco gave her a slow clap, "And then?"

"When I refused Ron came over and…"Her cheeks brushed a bright crimson, "He was so close and he held my face so gently."

"Ugh.." His words conveyed the usual sarcasm but Draco hadn't seen her blush like this, ever; not even with Krum, "So he was close enough to kiss you and he didn't."

"I guess so. I mean...yes and then Harry spoke and I backed away." Hermione palmed her face, "I backed away too fast and wound up in the lake."

Draco burst out laughing, "You really don't do anything halfway Granger."

"So I've been told.." Hermione nodded while wanting to crawl into her bed more than anything at that point.

"Okay, stand up." Draco pushed off the sofa and rose to his feet, "Some girls take the simplest touch and misconstrue it. As Head Boy, I have decided to help you figure out if this is all in your head or not." He waited for her to join him and then continued, "Now, a friend wouldn't touch another friend intimately. So when you say his hands were on your face. Was he a foot away? Two feet? Half a foot?"

"Uhm...a foot?" Hermione guessed, "I think."

Draco reached up and touched her cheek, "Show me."

"What!" Hermione's eyes grew big and she squeaked out her words, "How."

"Full picture, Granger," He looked down at her feet and the distance between them, "Step forward or backwards as required. Show me where you were."

"Uhm.." Hermione looked down and brought the toes of her shoes closer, "I think we were about here." She bravely changed the position of his hand on her face, "Full picture, right?"

Draco assessed their scenario, "Mhmm. So you're standing by the black lake. The git is begging you for the password to our common room. He's standing…" Draco double checked, "..less than a foot away from you."

"Sounds about right," Hermione said quietly with a nod.

"Well, I won't ever be able to comprehend the inner workings of a Weasley," Draco's thumb brushed across her cheek, "But, as a member of the same species, there is no way that a warm blooded male can be this close to a female without you misinterpreting it."

Hermione suddenly felt embarrassed, "So..that's your opinion?"

"Completely. Either he likes you or he has no understanding of personal boundary rules," He dropped his hand and took a step back, "And you weren't alone so that hindered him making a move but still, he wasn't afraid to get that close to you with Harry around."

"He thinks I like Harry though," Hermione threw a strand of hair behind her ear, "There's also that."

"Okay, so that adds another level to the uselessness of him,"Draco chucked, "Granger if he thought you liked your friend why would he even get that close to you. Unless..." Draco started to ramble, "If he was attempting to make Harry jealous or to make you uncomfortable so that you'd make your feelings known. No...no that's way too complicated for him."

"Oh Merlin, if younger me knew we'd be having this conversation I'd probably never believe it." She tugged on her robe, "This is ridiculous. I'm going to bed."

"Your younger self would be fine. You're a bright witch and I'm well acquainted with mutual attraction," Draco smirked, "Besides, we'll both be working at the Ministry in a year or so and then we'll simply be co-workers. I may as well get a head start on being in your good graces."

Hermione brow angled in confusion, "You? At the ministry?"

"You sound shocked." Draco reached down and picked up his book, "My grades are as good as yours Granger. I won't have an issue."

"It's not that," Hermione countered, "You and I both know your father has voiced his expectations."

"My father," He spat out the word, "He and I have barely spoken since the curse came upon me. I have half a belief he's behind it."

"Why would he curse his only son?" Hermione scoffed, "You taking over the company will turn a new leaf and allow the Malfoy name to grace society again."

"And that's exactly what I want to do with my life," Draco's eyes rolled, "My life's goal is to repair my father's reputation."

"I didn't mean.." Hermione stopped,"I'm sorry..I wouldn't want to be pegged because I was friends with Harry Potter. I doubt you want the same for being a Malfoy."

"Thank you," Draco's words seemed to surprise Hermione, "I know that you took on an extra responsibility when I came back. And I can see you don't approve of my ...guests."

"I try not to judge how you spend your time," She shrugged her shoulders to ease the uncomfortable topic, "You don't flaunt them in our shared space and I respect that."

"Jinx would have my head if I did. She's rather fond of you." Draco chuckled, "I dare say she likes you more than me."

"Probably because I do my own dishes," Hermione responded with a laugh of her own.

"I know you're tired, as you keep glancing at the staircase but one last question," Draco poked her with his book, "Why don't you just go kiss the weasel if that's what you want?"

The sound Hermione made in response was a mix between a squeak and a gasp.

"I thought so," Draco nodded, "You're scared of what will happen if he doesn't respond."

Hermione meekly nodded, "There's no Gryffindor bravery to help with that…" She said good night and headed to the stairs.

"Granger," Draco called out from over his shoulder, "I could help you make sure he responds." When he turned to look for her response, all he found was the empty staircase.