Sitting in The Three Broomsticks, Hermione traces the tip of her mug of Butterbeer. What she was about to do was something much long overdue and it was only pushed forward by the turn of events that came around the previous week. She had talked it over with Ginny and Luna for their input two nights before. While Ginny wishes there was another way and believes that it's the wrong choice she is supporting her. In sum of all that Luna just said was that Hermione should follow her heart because true love is a beautiful thing. 

A wave of heat and electric tingles goes through her body, starting from the locket all the way to the rest of her body. She looks up from her still full drink and sees Draco Malfoy walk in with the Defense Against the Dark Art's assistant teacher. Hermione has yet to learn his name as the few times they've interacted have been brief. Somehow - and with yet to fail - he always seems to be in the same room or area as her. It's curious, she thought, is it possible-

Of course her thoughts were rudely interrupted by Draco the infamous Malfoy loudly sliding a chair back and sitting at the table with me.

"Hullo, Granger. Fancy meeting you here!", The necklace continues to burn as he talks. The teacher's assistant walks behind him and winks at Hermione. She goes to grab the necklace but it burns her hand at the touch.

"OUCH!", she shouts and looks at her hand astonished. Printed right on the palm of her left hand is now the heart shaped gears that cover the locket.

Draco reaches over and grabs her hand looking at it. "Geeze Granger. Why are you lot always getting yourself injured?", He mutters under her breath but she hears it nonetheless.

He pulls out his wand and she jerks back her hand, holding it to her chest out of fear. "What are you going to do Malfoy?"

He rolls his eyes and holds out his right hand. "If I wanted to curse you Granger-"

"I'd curse you first Malfoy", says a voice they both know all too well behind her. Draco looks up and what was a smirk turned into a frown. She looks behind her and sees Ron. Why hadn't she noticed him walking in? Her chair faces the windows and doors after all.

Ron puts his hands on her shoulders and Hermione looks at Draco while still holding her hand to her chest. It stings again and the locket burns her chest this time. She shouts in pain and flings the necklace off. Looking down she sees it left a mark but instead of the heart shaped gears on her left palm, it's the infamous dragon that lives inside of it.

Ron and Draco are both staring in shock. Only Ron is staring at the locket and Draco is staring at her. "What the bloody hell, Granger!?", He says with his already pale face, 3 shades paler.

She looks at the locket wildly and points to it saying, "It's burning hot! It's burning marks on to me, I think it's cursed!"

She holds up her hand to show Ron but he just looks at her like she's crazy. "Mione, there are no marks there..."

She looks at her hand and  sees the burn mark clearly there. "No, there is clearly a burn mark Ronald" she holds it up and says, "Honestly Ronald, sometimes you worry me" she rolls her eyes and notices Draco again.

She watches as he reaches for the necklace but she grabs his wrist stopping him as his fingers barley graze the chain. "I may not like or trust you Malfoy but that doesn't mean I'm going to let you just burn yourself on a cursed necklace"

They stare into each other's eyes and his face turns into a tight expression she can't read as he pulls his hand back.

She feels a cool hand lay on her skin and jerk back. "Bloody hell, Mione, your burning up with a fever!" They look at each other and she notices the astonishment in his eyes. Is this really how things have always been? Them both believing the other insane?

She begins to feel foolish and stands up but her hand stings as it lands instinctively on the table. Even more so because she accidentally put it on the locket. The heat washes over her causing her hands to clench in pain only making her hold the locket more.

Draco and Ron continue saying stuff but she doesn't really process it as spots cloud her vision. One step to the back and it feels like her body falls in slow motion as the room spins.