Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or ideas in the Harry Potter books, written by J.K. Rowling. I only own this small plot.

Summary: Things at Hogwarts tend to have a certain pattern. Malfoy hates them. They hate Malfoy. But what happens when a certain spell reveals that the last thing Hermione Granger wants to hear is "He doesn't love you." Who could it be about? Draco is sure curious...(A Draco/Hermione and Harry/Ginny piece.) A friend and I originally co-wrote this as a role-play. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 13: The Trials to Come

Ron woke up to find himself in the bed with a broken spring in the hospital wing. He looked around. Harry and Ginny sat on the edge of an adjacent bed talking. Ron looked over to the corner of the room; Hermione was sitting in front of the window, pale and silent, looking out at the rain.

'We made it,' thought Ron, slightly amazed. Harry noticed he was awake. "Ron, you're up." Harry's eyes had deep shadows, and like Hermione, he was very pale. "What happened?" asked Ron completely confused.

Ginny came over, "Dumbledore saved us. And he was able to capture the Malfoy brothers. They're in Azkaban now...but he never mentioned You Know Who..."

"Must've gotten away..." Harry speculated.

Ron nodded his head towards Hermione, "How is she..." he asked them.

"Well..." Ginny started "...she...doesn't really talk."

"She hasn't said anything since she woke up...I tried to talk to her, I told her what happened, but she - she just stares out the window." Harry said looking over at her.

Suddenly they all turned their heads to the sound of her voice, "You know I can hear everything you are saying," she said bitterly, eyes never leaving the window.

Ginny walked over awkwardly, unsure of how to comfort her. "Just leave me alone" Hermione muttered, and with that she got up and left the hospital wing.

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That day, the day after the ball, the school was buzzing with rumors. Dumbledore called a meeting in the great hall, and everyone assembled, waiting to be told what had happened. Hermione came in and took a seat awkwardly next to Harry. Neither of them said a thing. As the students quieted down, Dumbledore approached the podium thinking, 'Twice in 3 years I've had to make this speech, when is it going to end...'

"Attention Hogwarts students" he began, "Please do not panic. While you were enjoying the night's frivolities, a very terrible force entered our grounds. Lord Voldemort himself has been here, and left two dead bodies to show. Cho Chang and Draco Malfoy were both very determined, and honorable in the pursuit of their goals. And now we must bid them good bye forever."

Gasps filled the great hall. At the Ravenclaw table, many people began to cry. The Slytherin table however, showed no remorse. No doubt they had already heard the news.

Dumbledore continued, "The school is to be closed momentarily. We can no longer assure your safety, and until larger measures of security are taken, I am sorry to say that you will all be spending these next few months at home. The Hogwarts express is arriving tomorrow night. Until we can welcome you back, I urge you to keep your friends close, and your enemies at bay. We will all need each other for the trials to come."

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Later that night, as students fervently packed, and wrote letters home, Hermione wandered through the castle, running her hands along the old banisters and paintings. A lot had changed over the past month, and she wasn't sure she would ever return to being the girl she was at the start of the year. She finally found herself standing in the library, her nostrils filled with the smell of old books. Muggle studies show that the sense of smell triggers emotional memories more than any other sense. And indeed, Hermione's mind was racing, remembering that first sudden kiss.

She looked at the floor, trying to block out the pain, only to see that ink stain, still as vivid as ever, in the carpet.

Tears streaming down her cheeks, Hermione sat on the floor. She needed a moment to live completely in the past, and then she could bring herself to think of the future...of moving on. She felt comforted in the knowledge that, despite the rough times ahead in her last year at Hogwarts, that stain would always be there to remind her of those confusingly blissful days in the library.

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The End

AN: Ahhh I can't believe it's over! I loved writing this fic and hope you all enjoyed it (although I know many of you probably found the end a bit on the depressing sad...to say the least…) Alas, my friend and I seem to feel it fit, and was meant to happen. Thank you to all of you who reviewed! I am thinking of possibly starting another Draco/Hermione fic in the next few weeks. (Not a sequel, different storyline, but same lovely characters.) If any of you have any questions or comments, please review and I will try to reply. Thanks to all of you!

-slytherinfan