Prologue: Just Dropping In

It was the second Saturday of the term and cool autumn sunlight was pouring through the bay windows of the Hogwarts library. Ginny was staring longingly out of the window down into the courtyard where several students had gathered for a game of enchanted hackey sack. Hermione looked up from her book and watched Ginny guiltily. She had spent hours the previous evening convincing Ginny that Saturday mornings at Hogwarts were actually perfect for studying. Her methods of persuasion had been brutal and unrelenting—they involved the perusal of several of Ginny's most recent assignments, which were covered in red ink and stamped with low marks. After only five minutes, Ron and Harry had left them to play wizard's chess. Even they were unable to bear the embarrassment, take part in it, or even enjoy it.

"Alright, Hermione," Ginny had finally sighed upon the display of a particularly sore grade. "But you know that wasn't my fault. Ron—"

"Yes, yes," Hermione interrupted. "Ronald gave you the wrong answers on purpose. Does that matter? Did Flitwick accept your excuses?" Ginny shook her head. Hermione took this as permission to continue. "Exams are never as far away as you think."

"It's only the second week of term, Hermione!" Ginny said in exasperation, unable to curb her irritation.

"Only? That means we have less than three months until mid-term evaluations. Really, Ginny, you're going to be sitting for your OWLs this year and my NEWTs are just around the corner. We must prepare ourselves, and not just for exams," Hermione said darkly. "I think that we should spend the morning in the library tomorrow while we have a little extra time."

"But tomorrow is a Hogsmeade visit," Ginny said. "I had plans to spend the day with—"

"There will be plenty of Hogsmeade visits. I think if we focus on your charms homework, we can catch you up, but we should start first thing in the morning."

"First thing?" Ginny asked, suddenly ready to argue again. "First thing being around noon, right?"

Hermione laughed without humor. "I'll wake you up at eight sharp," she said as she collected her papers and placed them neatly in her satchel. When she had finished, she stared pointedly at Ginny, who had yet to move a muscle. She seemed in shock. "We should probably get to bed now, early day and all."

Ginny looked around the common room and felt a pang of disappointment. Everyone else was chatting and playing games. It couldn't have been later than seven thirty. Weekends in the Gryffindor common room were made for late night chats and games of exploding snaps. The hearth offered warmth, the large squishy armchairs offered comfort and she was loathe to give either of those things up. Ginny was usually lucky to make it to bed by eleven, but she had the distinct feeling that wouldn't be the case tonight.

"Bollocks," she muttered to herself and headed off to bed.

Looking back on it, Ginny wished she had fought a little harder for the noon study session, but she knew Hermione and there was no arguing with her when her mind was made up.

"You look tired," Hermione observed with a sideways glance, breaking the silence as she scribbled a notation onto her already packed length of parchment. "I hope you weren't up too late."

Ginny shrugged. "It's hard to sleep when everyone else is up having fun without you," she replied. "Besides, my inner clock is set to a more… night owlish sort of schedule."

Hermione did feel bad that she had pushed Ginny so hard, but she refused to let it bother her too much. It really was the best thing for them both. Studying would only help them when assessment time rolled around. Ginny would never say so, but she really did need help.

It was almost one in the afternoon when they finished up their assignments and began heading back to the common room. Ginny was in a much better mood now that she didn't have to worry about her homework being done, and Hermione was glad to have the company. She usually studied alone.

As they walked, a comfortable silence fell over them that neither felt particularly obligated to break. It was during these moments of silence that Hermione and Ginny didn't feel the need to argue—either playfully or not so playfully.

They turned the corner and the fat lady was in view when Hermione decided to ask, "Who did you say you were going to spend the day with in Hogsmeade?"

"I didn't get a chance to tell you, but I was planning to go to the Quidditch shop with Dean."

"Dean? Thomas?" Hermione said archly. Ginny paused and Hermione followed suit.

"Yes, Dean Thomas. What other Deans are there? I need a new set of tail clippers and he says he can help me find the ones that work best with my broom, since we're going to be teammates and all now…" Ginny's voice trailed off and she glanced at Hermione out of the corner of her eyes. "Why do you say it like that?"

"Oh, no reason! Really, he's a very nice person."

"Her—"

"Reall—"

They both began the sentence at once and looked at one another in surprise. Bursting out laughing, they clutched their books to their chests as they continued walking.

Suddenly there was a loud bang and a large shapeless mass fell from the ceiling, eliciting screams from both Hermione and Ginny. It hit the floor with a thump and a grunt of pain and Hermione realized, in a moment of sheer horror, that it was a person that had just appeared out of thin air. Too frightened to run away, Ginny and Hermione merely stared as the person began to move, groaning as they lifted their head. Hermione gasped. It was Draco Malfoy—looking a great deal more grave than usual.

Beating Hermione to the point, Ginny dropped her books and pulled out her wand. Hermione admired the swiftness in which Ginny pulled her body into the primary dueling stance. "What in the hell are you playing at, Malfoy?"

But his eyes were fixed on Hermione. His expression was one of disbelief, fear, and… something else Hermione couldn't, or refused to interpret. "Hermione?" He whispered, the word rolling off his tongue like he had said it twelve times a day for the last six years.

"Draco Malfoy, the astute observer as always," Ginny snarled.

"Who else would it be?" Hermione asked. Looking up at the ceiling and then back down at him, Hermione added, "where in Merlin's name did you come from?"

Draco pulled himself up, using whatever he could for support. He looked pale, thin and his clothes were filthy and wrinkled. "I can't believe it worked…"

Hermione digested his words and slowly reached for her own wand. "How did you get here, Malfoy?" She asked, her voice dangerously low. "It's impossible to apparate on school grounds…"

"Appa… I didn't apparate," he said slowly. He seemed so focused on what she was saying that he couldn't understand her. Draco took a step towards Hermione, a severe limp announcing itself as he stumbled against the wall trying to gain his feet.

"I think you're delirious, Malfoy. Your head must have broken your fall," she said in a warning tone.

"What she's saying is that you should make your way to the infirmary before I curse you," Ginny stated.

"Curse me… I don't care," he murmured, eyes never breaking contact with Hermione's. She believed him. He didn't care.

Draco suddenly reached out. Hermione hadn't realized he was moving towards her and by the time she did, he was close enough that he took hold of an unruly strand of brown hair and moved it gently away from her face. Hermione was frozen—unable to speak or move. "You're okay—"

"This is getting too weird for me," Ginny interjected, looking to her companion with true concern. "I really think we need to go. Let a teacher sort all this out." Turning back to Draco, she said, "Slytherin prefect or not, you picked the wrong witches. You'll answer for this."

Hermione nodded, snapping back to her senses. She stepped away, her cheeks burning in embarrassment and anger as she roughly tucked the loose strand behind her ear. They both put their wands away, Ginny picked up her books, and they practically ran in the opposite direction.

"Hermione…" Draco whispered after her, the longing he felt almost intense enough to tear him open.

Author's note: SO glad to be back revisiting this story. I am, one by one, editing and redoing these chapters. Here is the first and the second will soon follow. Thank you for your patience. Feel free to review. I love getting feedback from you guys. Enjoy :-)