Chapter 1:
It was a cool mid-August night as Hermione Granger changed into her white t-shirt and pink pajama bottoms. She had wondered how many times she had done this same routine since her sixth year had ended. Now that she was home in the muggle world, she could change into pajamas that were informal.
She walked into the kitchen and started to make herself a cup of tea from the kettle that relaxed on the stove. Her hands felt warm as she held the glass mug in her hands. Just as she was about to take a sip, there was loud knocking at her door. The sound had nearly made her drop the crimson mug but she quickly placed it on the cream counter before she went to go answer the door.
The knocking turned into pounding.
"I'm coming! Hang on a moment!" Hermione yelled patiently as she made her way towards the peephole in the door.
Her heart skipped a beat and her stomach clenched nervously as she saw her house enemy standing outside.
What does he want? Why on earth would he come to, of all houses, mine?
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Hermione demanded.
"Come on, Granger. Let me in."
She sighed. "Why should I? Give me one good reason."
Draco sighed impatiently on the other side of the door. "Because if you don't, I'll let myself in and you won't like it. Now let me in!"
Hermione slowly turned the wooden doorknob and opened the oak door. She looked at Draco Malfoy and saw a side of him that she had never seen before. He looked anxious and expecting. His forehead had small specks of sweat and his lip looked like he had been hurt by someone. She watched as he looked around outside and then walked inside the house.
"Close the door." He ordered after he made his way inside the warm house. Hermione did as she was told and then took her wand and locked it to satisfy her nervousness.
"Draco Malfoy, what the devil is going on?"
He didn't answer as he walked around the house, making sure that all the doors were locked. If they weren't locked, he put a locking spell on them.
Hermione followed him around with her wand in hand, just in case he decided to put tricks out of his sleeve.
"Answer me, Malfoy! What is going on?" She repeated.
He turned around in the living room and looked at her. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you, Granger."
Hermione narrowed her eyes at the pale Slytherin and gazed at him. "Try me." She walked into the kitchen and picked up her glass mug again and took a sip of it, but gave a look of disgust because of the coldness it had gotten. She poured it out into the sink and then walked back over to Draco.
"My father...we had an argument and it turned out badly. He told me that I had made him displeased and he wanted me to, as his heir; take over what he has been doing for so long. He wants me to become a Death Eater, like him." Draco replied.
Hermione gasped and then started putting the pieces of the puzzle together internally.
"And you said no...am I right?" She asked him.
The young teenager nodded and then looked into Hermione's caramel brown eyes and suddenly had a first reaction.
"Oh Merlin, I've put you in danger by coming here..."
Hermione raised an eyebrow at this in shock. Had he changed over the summer? Why wasn't he teasing her and calling her Mudblood?
"I'm sorry, Draco...but why do you suddenly care if you put me in danger or not? What did your father do to have you have a change in heart?" she asked him curiously.
Draco stepped forward suddenly and slowly walked towards Hermione. He placed a hand on her cheek and gently rubbed it with his thumb. He nonchalantly took in her scent, sweet lilacs and lavender. She smelled like heaven.
Before she knew what was happening, his lips met hers and confusion and anger swept over her.
SMACK!
Draco rubbed his cheek where he was slapped and then glared at her with cold steel eyes. No one knew what to do for several moments but then Hermione spoke up.
"You just came here to kiss me, didn't you Draco?" Hermione asked him coldly.
"Granger, I-I think I love you."
SMACK!
Draco's face went in the direction that he was slapped a second time.
"Did you brew yourself a love potion before you came here, Malfoy? You don't know what you want. I, Draco Malfoy, do not love you. In all essence, I despise your very existence. Take your lies and get out!" Hermione yelled at him.
She wasn't exactly angry with him, despite the fact that he had kissed her. She was more uneasy about his presence in her house and worried that something might happen. Something somewhat out of her control. She really regretted moving out of her parent's house right now. She had decided in the beginning of her sixth year that she would move out in the summer and have a place of her own. Hermione wasn't really or even expecting this to happen.
She looked at Draco, who looked hurt, but she showed no signs of pity. She just wanted him out of her house so she could relax.
"I'm sorry, Granger..." Draco replied before opening the front door. He glanced back at Hermione and sadly walked out, closing the door behind him.
She locked the door, and then sat down on the couch but didn't feel safe yet. She was scared, scared that he might come back. Hermione kicked herself for feeling so insecure but went easy on herself. She had a right to feel scared and nervous. Draco Malfoy, enemy of all enemies, had come into her home and kissed her, and confessed his love.
She got off the couch and searched for a piece of parchment and a quill. Once she had found both, she started to write her letter.
Harry,
Please come over to my house as soon as you are able to. I am alright but I would like to talk to you. If you come early, I promise I'll make you breakfast. You can also bring Ron if you want. I hope to see you soon!
With love,
Hermione
She folded the parchment into quarters and then placed it in an envelope and walked over to the tawny gray owl that she had bought in fifth year. Hermione placed the envelope in the owl's mouth and talked softly to it.
"Give this to Harry Potter."
The owl made a noise of agreement and then flew out the window she had opened.
Hermione grabbed a blanket and laid on the scarlet couch, watching the flames of the fireplace flicker in the dark. It was a fireplace that didn't give off heat but it was nice to look at. The flames hypnotized Hermione as she slowly started to fall asleep...
