Author's Note: Okay, so this a Draco/Hermione romance. None of the events that happened in the 6th book has taken place in this story. And I know Hermione's parents are dentists, but I thought that profession didn't fit my story. So.. don't be mad that they aren't dentists. Sorry this chapter might be a little short. I'll update as soon as possible. (Waves) Bye bye!

Disclaimer: I own no Harry Potter characters... no jail time for me!

Chapter One: Just A Dream

She ran in a constant sprint. She long hair chased after her, as the forest loomed over her. Draco couldn't see her face, and he couldn't call out to her. She was breathing fast; her back was all he could see. Her limbs were long and graceful as she dodged her way through the thick brush. She was wearing an all white gown made of silk. It held loosely around her feet, but snug around her waist. The straps were slightly falling off her shoulders, and a torn veil was tied to her hair. It must have been a wedding dress. Draco didn't understand what she was running from. He couldn't turn around and see if there was anyone chasing her. She suddenly stopped running. Her shoulders slouched in disappointment and the wind whipped through her hair and veil. She slowly began to turn around. Draco felt his heart race. She snapped forward to face him as Draco let out a scream. She had no face. It seemed to have been eaten away, leaving only bloody remains. She let out a cold scream, which echoed in Draco's ears.

Draco snapped out of his sleep and sat straight up. His face was sweaty and his heart was still racing. His skin crawled as he remembered the faceless bride. He rubbed his eyes and reminded himself it was just a dream. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves and looked around his room. It was a plain room, no special details or anything interesting. His drawers of clothes lined the wall opposite him, and his trunk for Hogwarts was resting next to his bed. His broom was leaning against his window, waiting for him to fly it. His bed was dressed in silver and dark blue cotton sheets. Except his comforter, which was made of the finest silk.

Draco ran his hand through his pale blonde hair as he pushed back the covers to reveal himself. He was only wearing a pair of gray pants. His chest was small for his age, but it was difficult to miss the muscles that formed there. His arms were slender but strong, and his legs were long and built for running. Each muscle was visible, lining the skin of his body. He had a milky pale color to him, but was still handsome. His eyes were a soft gray, sharp with anger and frustration. His whole life, girls had thought of him as gorgeous. But Draco never saw anything attractive about himself.

His bare feet walked the cold floors of the hall as he walked towards the bathroom. He had the sudden urge to wet his face with cold water; it always figured it was the cure to nightmares. Tall and skinny windows lined the main hall of the Malfoy Manor. A full moon poured it's light onto Draco as he peered outside. There wasn't a house for miles, nothing but trees and a bleak lake. He frowned, everything was so dead here. A white image caught his eye and Draco walked towards the windows.

Outside, on the balcony, there stood a woman clad in all black. Her silver hair was let loose around her shoulders and she stood staring at the ground. Draco unlatched the window and climbed out to meet her. She didn't turn around to look at him, but she knew he was there. Draco slowly approached her; she was too close to the edge.

"Mother? What are you doing?"

"Isn't it beautiful, Draco?" Draco tilted his head as he walked a little closer. She didn't move, or turn to face him. She kept staring into the night.

"Yes, Mother. Now, please, come inside. Father will be mad if he sees you out here." She laughed coldly as she began to step towards the ledge. Draco's heart skipped a beat. He out stretched his hand and pleaded with her. "Come on, let's go inside. Please…"

"This is it, this is the end. I can't live like this anymore. Maybe… maybe you could come with me?" She finally turned around and looked at her only son. Draco stared into her icy eyes. He could see madness inside them.

"And where are you going?" Draco felt so desperate, like a child standing before a giant. He felt his heart grow heavy as he watched his mother.

"No… I couldn't take you with me. Draco… goodbye." She climbed onto the ledge and stretched her arms out like wings. Draco's eyes widened with fear.

"Mother! Stop!" She ignored him.

"Goodbye." And with that, Narcissa Malfoy let her feet slip off the ledge.

"MOTHER!" She fell into the darkness, with her eyes closed. She smiled as she hit the ground, ending her life.

Draco fell to his knees, his heart must have been going the rate of a cheetah. His body trembled as he heard the awful thud of her landing. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He began to crawl to the ledge, slowly. His knees scrapped the cement flooring of the balcony as his hands led the way to the edge. His throat was dry, and his stomach felt like rocks were weighing him down. He finally reached the edge, his fingertips latched to the banister that was supposed to prevent falling, but little it did to stop his mother. He peaked over the stone's ledge, and saw his mother. She was still in the position where her arms looked like wings, but now she looked so broken. Her hair was spread out onto the grass around her, and her body was limp. Her black gown spread out like a blanket over her lifeless body. Draco let out a whimper as he leaned back; he couldn't look at her. She was dead. His mother was dead.

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Hermione let out a cry as she sat straight up in her bed, her eyes wide with fear. He heart was beating against her chest. It had been a long time since Hermione had had a nightmare that actually woke her up in such a state. She sighed deeply and glanced around her room. It was a full moon outside, and the stars jealously shone in its shadow. Sometimes, Hermione could relate to the stars that didn't shine as bright as the moon. She thought about the dream that had woken her.

The woman was dressed in all black; her hair was the color of the moon. She was standing on the ledge of a stone balcony with her arms stretched out like wings. Hermione couldn't see her face that well. In her dream, Hermione was standing behind her. The woman took a step over the ledge and plunged into the dark depths below her. And then she heard it, the scream that pierced her heart.

"MOTHER!"

It was a voice Hermione had never heard before. It sounded desperate and scared. It sent shivers up Hermione's spine. She climbed out of her bed and walked into the hallway. Her feet were bare, and she only wore a nightgown made of silk. Her hair had grown long, and hung in loose curls down her back. Her hair was the color of caramel candies, and her eyes matched in a milky brown color. Her skin was slightly tanned and her lips were a pale pink. She turned down the staircase and followed it to the first floor. Her home was huge, but Hermione always felt so cold when she was here.

"Miss Hermione? What are you doing up so late?" A chubby lady in her mid forties came hurrying to Hermione's side. The lady was Claudia, the housekeeper. Hermione also remembered her as a nurse. Claudia practically raised Hermione herself. Hermione's parents were always busy and away from home, leaving their only daughter behind. Hermione's father was a doctor at the muggle hospital, and a famous one at that. He spent hours and hours away from home, practicing surgeries and all sorts of emergencies. He provided Hermione and her mother with a wonderful life, filled with fabulous things. But it wasn't the same. Hermione's mother was a whole other story. She loved to party, and go out with her friends. She liked to go to dance clubs and stay out all hours of the night. When Hermione was little, she used to try to stay up and wait for her. But she grew up and matured, she realized neither of them would be home till the next day… if that.

"I had a bad dream." Claudia was hired shortly after Hermione was born. Mrs. Granger simply didn't have the time to take care of a baby, and neither did Dr. Granger. Hermione felt more like her daughter than her own parents'.

"Oh, you poor dear! Would you like some hot chocolate?" Hot chocolate: Claudia's cure for everything. Hermione smiled and nodded her head. There were so many memories of sitting in the kitchen with Claudia and drinking hot chocolate. Hermione seated herself at the counter and watched Claudia. Claudia slept in the spare room downstairs. She didn't have a family of her own, so she lived with the Grangers. She always considered herself the luckiest woman alive to be able to live with such a wonderful family. But Hermione never saw it that way. She didn't see anything wonderful about her family. They were strangers to each other.

"What are you doing up this late, Claudia?" She smiled as she poured a cup of steaming hot water. Its stream curled up and met Claudia's warm face.

"I was reading, of course." Hermione leaned against the palm of her hand, watching Claudia stir the water with the freshly added chocolate powder. She handed the hot mug to Hermione. Hermione took a wary sip, feeling the liquid slid down her throat and chest. She closed her eyes and finally felt warm. "Want to tell me about this dream?" Hermione took another sip and opened her eyes. Her mind flashed the image of the woman falling. She could still hear the voice calling out.

"A woman killed herself by jumping." Claudia gasped.

"That's terrible!" Hermione dropped her eyes to the spotless countertop. She explained every detail to Claudia. She told her about the voice screaming, and how it wasn't hers. She told her how she didn't know who the woman was, but it felt like she should. Claudia nodded her head and listened the entire time. "Dreams don't always makes sense at first, but things might clear up later on." Hermione yawned and smiled.

"It was probably just a dream."