The screams were louder tonight.
Since Granger's arrest, Draco had barely slept. With rooms just across the hall from each other, he heard her nightmares amplified through the walls. No matter how much he detested the witch, her screams were mixed with so much pain it was almost unbearable.
"Ron! Help me! Please! No! Please Ron, I need you!" Draco winced. Those memories were all too clear, as he'd watched them occurring. Pulling the pillow from over his head, Draco sat up and left his bed. He couldn't go on not sleeping any more.
Glancing across the room, Draco adjusted his emerald green silk boxers in the mirror and quietly left his room, heading silently across the corridor. Whispering the spell, the door sprung open.
Granger, lying in the bed, tossed and turned, her arms flailing. Her bed was made in thin cotton sheets that barely covered her thrashing body. He cautiously stepped towards her, and he took her arms in his strong hands. Her eyes flew opened and widened at the boy in front of her. "Shush," he hurriedly whispered. Her eyes questioned him as his hand flew to her mouth. She shook him off.
"Why the hell are you in here Malfoy?"
"Have you fucking heard yourself Granger? If you weren't on one of the furthest wings, you'd have kept the whole fucking mansion up. No way could I sleep with you flipping out over here."
"What do you want me to do about that Malfoy? You, your family and your 'gang' have done this to me. I need Harry and I need Ron and God only knows where they are. So apologies that Mr Privileged can't get a good sleep over here, but I'm not having that great of a life. But if you want to bugger off back to bed, then I'll try and let you get some rest."
Draco stared at the girl in front of him. Without thinking, he crashed his lips onto hers. His tongue tangled with hers as she was caught off guard. However seconds later he pulled himself off her, as she sat gasping in her bed. "Fuck," he whispered under his breath. "I cannot be doing with this. Good fucking night Granger," he said as he began to exit her sparse room.
"Draco."
Her delicate voice echoed around the room and the use of his first name made the boy halt in his tracks.
"Please just sleep here tonight," she whispered. He whipped round and her cheeks had flushed red. She looked down refusing to meet his glance.
"Why?" His voice was clipped and short. He'd let his guard down with that kiss. It would haunt him now.
"I sleep better with someone here. I promise I won't scream or anything. Draco.." Her voice trailed off at the last syllable.
Without a word, Draco left the room, leaving her door open. Forlornly Hermione's head dropped. "Why the hell did you say that," she muttered to herself.
However, a minute later, Draco returned holding his thick duvet covered in soft green silk. Hermione bit her lip and looked down as Draco threw the cover over her and climbed in next to her. Hermione's head rested on his naked chest and subconsciously, his hand went round her back. "This is just so I get a good night's sleep," Draco said defiantly and a murmured acceptance came from Hermione. However, unknown to the girl, a small smile flickered across Draco's face. Physical contact wasn't something that came lightly in the mansion, and this was really all he'd been searching for.