Disclaimer:Nothing you read in this story belongs to me. All credit goes to Queen J.K. Rowling.

Bookshelves

I need a place to cool down. I need a place to cool down.

I kept thinking this over and over again in my head as I marched briskly toward the Room of Requirement. I was just so tired of Ronald lately! My unruly curls flipped behind me from my fast pace. My hands were balled in tight fists, my fingernails almost cutting into my skin. He and that Lavender Brown were driving me nuts! And tonight was suppose to be fun! A night of celebration! Gryffindor had won the Quidditch match! And it was fun, until Ron laid one on Lavender right in front of everyone.

My heavy footsteps echoed off the walls loudly. It was after hours, but I was too angry to care if I got caught. Tears of anger burned down my face. Merlin I hate him so much! How long had he been flirting with me? Since fifth year? And I was just starting to get interested and flirt back when he had to pull something like this! And the worst part is that I can't talk to anyone. Harry and Ginny think it's oh so cute. Disgusting!

I growled softly without meaning to. My steps became faster with anticipation as I neared the Room. Drawing closer I could see that the door was already there, waiting for me. If I wasn't so angry I might have noticed how odd that was, but my mind was so clouded with hatred toward Ron that I couldn't think about anything else.

The light from the torches shown brightly off the elaborate metallic designs that spiraled throughout the large door. You can let your anger out here. It seemed to say, or maybe it was just my wishful thinking. I really needed to cool down before my head popped off.

My hands were pale and shaking fiercely when I flung open the door with enough force to smash anything behind it to smithereens. However, there was nothing directly behind it, so it swung open silently and stopped moving right before it hit the wall. I slammed it shut, but it only made a small 'click' as it connected to the frame.

For a moment I just stood there shaking and taking in the room, trying to decide if the Room really understood what I wanted. There were glass vases everywhere. There was a long window seat on the far wall with plenty of pillows and blankets. It looked out on a spectacular view that I knew must be bewitched, because you cannot see the ocean from Hogwarts. There were many bookshelves full of big fat novels placed everywhere in no particular order and a dozen windows hung from the wall to the left. A bucket full of hard white balls was placed next to them.

I hoped the room was sound proof because I was going to scream. Loudly.

I picked up a vase and chucked it as hard as I could at the far wall, putting all my anger into it. It smashed to pieces with a satisfying crack, littering the floor. I stared wide eyed at what I'd just done. Never before had I ever done anything like that, but it felt so good.

I picked up another one and threw it fast. Then another and another. I imagined them smacking into Ron's face. Some time during my fit I stopped crying and my tears dried to my face, leaving it to feel dry and almost sticky.

I was making a huge mess, but it felt too amazing to stop. I picked up a ball from the bucket and pelted the nearest window, creating a huge crack all the way across and a large hole in the middle. Eventually I even stopped thinking about Ron and Lavender. I don't think I ever felt better.

The muscles in my right arm were starting to ache, but I kept going. My fiery rage couldn't be stopped now. The heat in my arm cooled the rest of me down somehow. The more it hurt the less I hurt.

When I ran out of windows to smash I turned to the bookshelves, but stopped when I looked at them, panting hard. I loved books too much to destroy them, even if they would repair right away, but that wasn't what made me stop. Two of the bookshelves were already empty, the ripped and crinkled books lay in a heap at the bottom, and one bookshelf was half destroyed, like someone had been interrupted half way through.

My heart started pounding faster than it already had been. What if they were still in the room? They had to be. The door had never opened. Why didn't I notice this before?! Why didn't I think that the door already being there meant someone was here? Why am I so thick!

My face grew red, realizing that they had probably seen my whole temper tantrum go down, but obviously they had had one themselves.

I walked cautiously toward the bookshelves, thinking that that was the only place they could hide. I felt awkward and silly creeping around the mess like a child playing hide and seek, but I didn't think it was appropriate to call out either.

Even if I was going to say anything it was too late. The bookshelves dissipated and there was nothing blocking my view anymore. For a moment, the sight made me want to heave.

Way back in the corner someone was hunched up in the fetal position with their face in their hands. Their back, covered by the white school uniform shirt, was shaking slightly like they were crying, but no noise was escaping.

The air suddenly got thin and cold. I couldn't breath. Goosebumps boiled up and down my arms, making the little hairs stand on end. I could feel the sadness radiating off their body. I wanted to touch them and tell them it was okay. Whatever they were worrying about, I wanted to comfort them in a motherly way, the way I would do to Harry and Ron if he wasn't such a git right now.

Quietly, I walked forward and stretched out my hand to touch their back gently. I narrowed my eyes at the quivering form, thinking I recognized the platinum hair. My fingers brushed their shoulder lightly, but it was enough to make them whip around fiercely and me jump.

Cold grey eyes bore into mine. They filled with surprise for a moment, but even through that I could see the pain. The sadness and tears on his face completely caught me off guard. What I said next was supposed to be shouted and dripping with disgust. But instead, it came out in a horse whisper and my voice caught in my throat.

"Malfoy?"

"Fuck," he wiped his tears quickly, but his eyes were still red and bloodshot. I could tell he was trying to hold back more.

And that was all he said. No insult, no yelling, no fighting. Just that. Maybe I should have felt like he deserved what he was crying over, but Malfoy never cries, not for real. He didn't even look like he was angry to see me, he just looked like he'd given up. I felt bad for intruding on what ever he had been doing. Obviously he wanted to be alone or he would have just gone to one of his cocky sidekicks.

"I'll just go," I whispered. I turned around and watched the glass disappear into a fog and then the room was incredibly bare and white. It probably didn't know what either of us needed right now. I was confused myself.

My footsteps echoed in the large blank space. I moved quickly to the door so that Malfoy could just be alone. This was the closest I'd ever felt to feeling bad for him, something must have hurt him a lot. Maybe his mother was ill, perhaps his father had died. I don't know, but for it to make Malfoy cry like that, it must have been bad.

My hand was on the door handle when I heard the scratchy words that made my blood run cold. I froze. My eyes wide. I couldn't have heard that right. But there it was again. It must really be bad.

"Please,"

Hardly a whisper. I turned around, he was crying again and not even bothering to wipe the tears away. I stared at him in shock.

"Please just stay. You don't have to touch me or talk to me or look at me, but don't leave. Please,"

I couldn't believe what I heard. He realized who I was, didn't he? Draco Malfoy never begged for anything. He looked so small and weak. When was the last time he ate? His skin was even paler than I remembered. Black circles around sunk in eyes.

I didn't say or do anything. I couldn't. Why doesn't he just ask one of his mates? Why doesn't he just get Pansy to suck face with him for awhile? That would make him feel better I'm sure.

He put his face back in his hands. Great. I made him feel worse. I shouldn't feel bad, but I do.

Now what am I doing? Am I actually walking away from the door? Stop! I screamed to myself. Just leave him! It's Malfoy! He's a git! Just go! But I couldn't stop. My feet just kept moving. The ground turned into a thick white carpet that would be comfortable to sit on. I felt the need to comfort him, even if he'd done some pretty mean things in the past.

To my own disbelief, and I'm sure his, I sat down next to him. Not too close, but close enough for him to know I was there.

It was quiet. He didn't look back up and I didn't look at him. Neither of us said anything. I don't know how long we sat there, the lights dimmed slightly so that it wasn't so bright and it seemed to be getting a little darker bit by bit. I I stared at the blank wall in front of me and listened to him cry. It was so peaceful somehow. It meant Malfoy was actually a human. With feelings. It meant his had been hurt badly.

Eventually his breathing became slower and more relaxed. When it took on a steady pattern I dared a look at him.

His head was on his arms, but lolled to the side so that I could see his face. His normally perfect hair was a mess of snow white strands, some sticking up and some falling down into his face. His eyes were closed and the lids were red and raw from rubbing them. Tear marks were prominent down his hollow cheeks. He looked like a wreck. A frail, helpless, wreck.

I don't think I'd ever seen anything like it. Someone who's supposed to be cocky and tall and arrogant was sitting before me, small and weak and fragile. And it was probably the saddest thing I'd ever witnessed.

Was I supposed to stay? Did I want to stay? No doubt the Gryffindor party would still be in full swing in the common room, so if I when't back there I'd get no sleep and I didn't want to be bothered either. Also, I had no idea were Ron and Lavender would be. Even the thought of the two made my blood start to boil again. I was afraid I might do something really horrible if I ran into them.

I looked back at Draco. Should I wake him? He looked as though he hadn't slept for days, this was good for him. Why did I care?

I leaned my head against the wall and looked up at the ceiling, like the ceiling in the Great Hall, it was bewitched to look like the night sky. I looked dreamily for constellations I knew, which wasn't many. But it was so beautiful that I hardly cared. Draco breathed deeply, I mimicked him and closed my eyes. I felt light. Sleep masked me so I felt like I was just a body-less soul, floating in a world were nothing mattered. Ron didn't matter. Lavender didn't matter. The fact that I was sitting next to my worst enemy didn't matter.

I woke with a start. Something was shoving me hard and someone was yelling.

"Bloody hell! Granger, get the fuck off me!"

My eyes sprung open and I toppled backward from Malfoy's hard pushing. Had I fallen over on him during the night? I could understand some of his anger, but after all, he had been the one who asked me to stay.

His pale face was tinged with red. He still had dark circles around his eyes and sunken cheeks, but he didn't look as weak as he did last night.

He stood up quickly and took out his wand which he pointed at me with force and hatred. I stared back at him, slightly dazed.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" he spat.

I brushed the curls from my face and stood up so I didn't seem intimidated by him. What was he on about? I should be asking him that! I took out my wand too so that I could block any hex he threw at me.

"Answer me!" he yelled.

I jumped slightly at the force in his voice and then prayed that he hadn't seen.

"Maybe you don't remember!" I shot back, "But you were the one who asked me to stay last night!"

His eyes flashed for a moment and he lowered his wand slightly. But just as quickly, the scowl was back on his face and his wand was brought back up. This was more like the Malfoy I remembered.

"I was drunk!" he stumbled over those few words a bit.

Was that really the best he could come up with? He was drunk?! Was that red hue in his face from anger or embarrassment?

I laughed sarcastically. "You were drunk?" I confirmed.

"Obviously. I'd never get that close to a mud-" he stumbled over his words. "-you, if I was sober,"

I was completely taken back, but I made sure not to show it. Why didn't he say it? He had been given the perfect opportunity to spit that foul word at me and watch my confidence go crashing down. But he didn't. His breakdown last night, begging me to stay, and his missed opportunity at using the word, really had me thinking. What was wrong with Draco Malfoy? What was going on in his life that made him like this? It was scary, I didn't like it.

His eyes were wide like he had just realized what he'd stopped himself from doing. His wand was a little too low again, and after a few seconds he still didn't bring it up. I knew then that he wasn't going to do anything and I relaxed a little.

"You didn't sound that drunk," I crossed my arms. He narrowed his eyes again and furrowed his brow. "I didn't smell any alcohol on your breath," I raised an eyebrow at him, very proud of myself for noticing those details. "Why would you be drinking anyway? Slytherin lost, I don't think that's something for you to celebrate about,"

He adjusted his grip on his wand nervously and reset his feet. I watched his lips part slightly like he was going to say something, but he kept snapping his jaw shut before any words fell out of his mouth.

His hair was still a mess, but it was refreshing from his usual slicked back and perfect hair, it was almost comical. His Slytherin tie was loose and dangling like a pendulum. And the top two buttons of his shirt were undone along with half of his shirt being untucked. Again, so unusual compared to his usual crispness. It was indeed, an odd sight to see.

Evidently he couldn't think of any snarky comments to shoot back because all he said was, "Don't tell anyone about this. Don't you dare say anything."

I rolled my eyes. "Do you honestly think I was about to announce to the whole school that I spent the night in The Room Of Requirement with the Slytherin ferret?" I bit back.

Again he hesitated. "I wasn't talking about that,"

I smirked at him.

I would never stoop that low. What I saw last night was a rare form of Malfoy, and I knew how horrible of a person I'd be if I told anyone. But that wasn't going to stop me from using this as black mail. We'll see if Malfoy dares to trip me in the halls again.

"Fine," I hissed.

He stared hard at me for a second longer and then turned quickly on his heal. He marched to the door and slammed it shut behind him. So I was left alone to wonder what in the world had just happened.

I checked my watch.

Great. I was late for breakfast. Still in my Gryffindor pride wear, I sprinted from the Room and toward the Great Hall.

I ran up to were Harry and Ginny were sitting, keeping as far away from were Ron and Lavender were busy cramming their tongues down each other's throats.

"Hey," I said breathlessly and trying to distract myself from the two.

Harry gave me a worried smile.

"What happened to you last nigh?" Ginny asked, all the while eyeing my disheveled appearance.

"I just needed some air," I said, taking a seat and filling my plate. "Things were a little too crazy for my liking,"

I tried really hard to ignore her worried stare.

"But were did you go?" She pried. I stuffed eggs into my mouth. "I didn't hear you return and you weren't there when I woke up,"

Great. Perfect. Lovely. Wonderful. Crap.

I chewed my eggs slowly as an excuse for why I didn't answer her right away, all the while trying to come up with a good explanation. If there was one thing I knew about Ginny, it was that she wouldn't just drop it.

I glanced over at the Slytherin table, and more specifically, at Malfoy. He was by himself and he wasn't eating. Just playing with his food. As though he sensed my eyes on him, he looked up and directly at me. I saw him glance nervously between Ginny and me. He glared hard at me. You better not be talking about that. I glared back. Neither of us wanted to be the first to look away.

A hand flashed in front of my face, making me blink and loose eye contact. When I looked back he was already bent over the food he wouldn't eat.

"Hello?" Ginny said.

Harry gave me another worried look, but I ignored him.

"Sorry," I said, recovering. "I just went for a walk and then got up early to go to the library,"

Lies. All of it, lies. But not bad ones. I would have pat myself on the back if that wouldn't have looked suspicious.

Ginny seemed to accept it, but Harry wasn't so easily swayed.

"Is there something going on, Hermione?" He asked. "Is it Ron and Lavender? Because, even after one night, everyone's a little tired of them always connected at the mouth,"

"No!" I said, a little too quickly, brushing it off. "I'm just stressed out from studying and homework," I gave him a wide grin as if to say that everything really was fine.

He returned it with another nervous one and then went back to his plate.

I looked up and down the Gryffindor table, just now realizing how many of us were missing. I imagined most had stayed up too late and some had drank a little too much and hadn't gotten their hands on a hangover curing potion. Out of the many, I noticed that Dean was absent, along with Seamus, which surprised me a little. No doubt those two had supplied most of the alcohol, but I thought they would be smart enough to bring hangover curing potions.

"I have an idea!" Ginny squealed, suddenly getting excited and making both Harry and me jump.

"This will be good," I muttered.

She ignored me. "Let's go to Hogsmeade tomorrow, just us three!"

I bit my lip. It would be nice, but... "Ginny, I don't think-"

"Oh come on!" she wailed, cutting me off. "You could use the break, Hermione! And when was the last time you went?"

Not that long ago. I started to say, but thought it was best not to interrupt.

"Let's go as a group, I doubt Ron will want to go, we can do some shopping and stop at The Three Broomsticks on the way back!" She was practically bouncing with excitement.

I rolled my eyes and sighed. I could use the distraction. "Only if Harry will go,"

Ginny and I both turned to him. He smiled. "I'm game,"

A/N: And so begins our journey with Stay. Special thanks to all my returning readers from my last story, Searching. No, this is not the sequel to Searching, but I will post updates about a possible sequel in that story.

And a special welcome to all my new readers!

My previous readers will know that I love reviews, so any questions or comments you have should be put in the review box right down there. vvv

I will make an effort to contact you if you have a specific question or concern.

With this story I'm going to try to follow the actual story line, but it will be slightly AU because I will add or subtract time in between major events in some cases. If I get some things mixed around, please tell me, but bear with me. I will try to fix it, but it might not always happen.

My updates will be pretty random, but normally if I get a lot of reviews I try to update faster.

Thanks for making it all the way down here!

With love,

Wren Gebel