A Game of Hearts

Hermione slipped through her bedroom door and hurried through the common room attempting to avoid Malfoy. She breathed a sigh of relief when there was no sign of him in the room. After what happened two nights ago she didn't know what to think about him and felt uncomfortable. He had been so kind and gentle, had he changed? She had yet to find out as she spent all of yesterday in her room after their morning encounter.

"My papers," she said to herself realizing she'd left some work in her room. Turning she ran up the stairs and into her room. After grabbing the papers she decided to cut through the bathroom. In a rush she shoved the door separating the bathroom and he common room open. There was a loud crack followed by a string of curses.

"Bloody Hell," Draco cursed as he lay on the floor holding his nose. "Filthy mudblood watch where you're going! Damn it all!"

"Malfoy I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," Hermione bent to help him.

He pushed her away and stood, "Get away from me." He went into the bathroom and slammed to door. Hermione turned and left, not wanting to stay.

"I want a paper on the next four chapter by Friday, at least one parchment per chapter," Snape said as class was being dismissed. Everyone groaned as they left.

Hermione slipped out of the room and headed towards the library to begin her paper.

"Hermione!" Lavender came running up beside her and smiled. "How are you? Enjoying the position as head girl, especially with the head boy?" Lavender grinned mischievously and nudged her shoulder.

"What? What are you talking about?" Hermione asked dumbfounded.

"Got to go," Lavender said and winked then walked away.

"What was that about?" Hermione said to herself as she watched Lavender talk and giggle with some friends.

"Wouldn't you like to know," a deep voice said in her ear. She turned and saw Malfoy smirking. His nose was slightly bruised and she felt a twinge of guilt. How could I bruise something so beautiful? She thought, wait what? I did not just think that! She mentally scolded herself and shook her head.

"What are you about Malfoy?" she asked coldly.

"I did nothing, it's your little friend over there," he said indicating Lavender. "She is spreading some rumors I would defiantly like to put to rest." He stepped towards her so she was backed up against the wall. "People are beginning to think that we've gotten a little," he whispered in her ear, "too close."

She shivered as he breathed lightly in her ear. He backed up and smiled. "Like that mudblood?"

Hermione pushed him back and turned away in disgust. "You disgust me Malfoy," Hermione spat and walked away.

In the library she scribbled endlessly on a piece of parchment trying to take her mind off of the strange morning she had. Her thoughts began to wander and before she knew it night had fallen.

"Hermione dear, it is almost curfew," the librarian shook her gently and Hermione sat up from where she had fallen asleep.

"Oh sorry, I didn't realize the time." She gathered her things and left. Upon reaching the common room she took a deep breath and stepped in.

Malfoy lay across the couch with his Potions textbook on the floor beside him, he was fast asleep. Hermione stepped forward and looked down at him. He looked so peaceful when sleeping. His platinum blonde fell over his closed eyes and his lips were slightly parted. Without realizing it Hermione sighed. She resisted the urge to brush his hair back, to feel the silky strands glide through her fingers. He began to stir and she hurried away to her bedroom.

Draco smiled slightly as he listened to her retreating footsteps. He knew when she entered and heard her almost silent breathing above him. In his mind he could see her warm brown eyes looking down at him. Unsure when she was coming back he went to his room to finish his work.

Hermione sat on her bed flipping through a book when a tap came on her window. An owl sat on the sill with a scroll on its leg. She removed the scroll and it immediately flew away. Curious, she opened the scroll it read-

Dear Hermione,

Now that your friends have been taken care of I am on my way for you. No one can help you now. It is too late. I will be there soon, in the meantime, if you tell anyone of this letter you will force me to dispose of them so they cannot come in the way.

Have a good night we will meet soon

PS- Your hairbrush fell behind your dresser if you're looking for it.

She dropped it and began to shake. Who had sent this to her? It was not signed. She took a few steps to her dresser and looked behind it. Her hairbrush lay on the ground behind it. She squeaked and stepped back. Tears welled up in her eyes and she pulled her drapes shut.

Was someone watching her? Why did they want her. She was suddenly scared of being alone. She walked into the common room hoping Draco would be there. He was gone from his spot on the couch but she could hear water running in the bathroom. Knowing he was there made her feel oddly comfortable.

After almost an hour Draco came walking out of the bathroom clad only in a pair of silver boxers. He walked past her to an armchair and fell into it. She couldn't help but stare. His body was toned and muscular, his arms and chest well defined. The firelight made his pale skin glow. She took a shuddering breath as her eyes moved to his face. His eyebrows were raised as he watched her. When their eyes met he smiled and she looked away.

"Like what you see Granger?" he asked. Hermione blushed and stood.

"I'm going to-." She stopped, not knowing what to say and left to bathe. In the shower she cursed herself for so openly admiring him. Now he knew she found him attractive, all that would do is encourage his arrogance. She leaned against the wall and slid to the ground. Tears began to flow down her cheeks. Tears of fear, she was so scared , scared of what was going to happen to her, who was coming for her.

Draco walked into the bathroom to brush his teeth. Upon entering he heard the shower door closing. As he finished he turned to leave when he heard crying over the running water. His heart sank, was Hermione crying? He suddenly found himself feeling bad. He began to wonder if it was what he had said, if he had upset her.

The water turned off and a few minutes later Hermione came walking out dressed in short shorts and a small tank top. She was wringing out her hair and her eyes were still slightly red. She looked up at him and stopped. Her hands fell to her side.

Draco took three steps forward bringing him directly in front of her. His hand came up and brushed a strand pf wet hand behind her ear. She looked up into his silver eyes searching for the usual cold, icy glare but all traces of it were gone, in its place was the warmth and security she had been searching for.

He bent down and brushed his lips gently across hers trailing across her cheek and down her neck to the sensitive spot where her neck and shoulder meet. Her head lolled to the side and her hands when to his chest. He moved back up and pressed his lips to hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling like if she didn't her legs would give. His tongue ran along the crease in her lips and she opened her mouth. He deepened their kiss and pulled her against him, wrapping his arms tighter around her.

She felt so safe here in the arms of Draco, so warm and secure. Her fragile emotional barrier suddenly came crashing down again and tears began to flow down her cheeks. Draco broke their kiss and pulled back slightly to look at her. He was shocked to see tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Hermione?" he said softly. Gently he brushed away new tears and she began to sob harder. He clasped her to him and sank to the ground. She cried into his chest as he stroked her hair and whispered to her. Her crying began to cease and she trembled. He placed a finger under he chin tilting her face up to him. He began to kiss away the tears on her cheeks then moved to her lips.

She could taste her tears on him and she stiffened. Suddenly she jerked back and stood shakily. "What are we doing?" she asked and he looked at her unable to reply for he himself wasn't quite sure. She shook her head, "no. Stop it. I don't have time for this now. I can't deal with it, just too much, it's too much. Stop playing mind games with me Draco, stop toying with my feelings, I have enough to deal with as it is." She was backing away as she spoke.

He stood and stepped towards her, trying to form a coherent thought.

"Stop! Don't come any closer." Hermione turned and ran into her room slamming the door behind her.

"Damn it," Draco cursed and hit the wall. "What am I doing?" He went back to the common room where a piece of parchment lay on the floor. He bent and picked it up. It was addressed to Hermione. After quickly scanning it he felt a chill run down his spine. Why was someone after Hermione? He suddenly realized what had been wrong with her.

An overwhelming need to protect her filled him and he set the paper down on a table. He lay down on the couch keeping Hermione's bedroom door in view.

As he fell asleep a dream began to take place in his mind.

He was in a dark corridor and the sound of retreating footsteps could be heard. Following them he came to a small room where Hermione sat on a small bench. She smiled and beckoned him forward.

'Come closer Draco. Sit,' she patted the bench beside her. He sat and leaned forward taking possession of her lips but something was wrong. They grew cold and hard. He leapt up and stumbled back. Pansy sat on the bench grinning maliciously.

'What's wrong Draco darling?' She stood. 'Looking for this.' Hermione came from behind her and fell to the ground whimpering. Her hands were tied behind her back and she was badly bruised.

'Draco save me!' she cried. He tried to step forward but couldn't move forward.

Pansy laughed and roughly pulled Hermione to her feet. She then brandished a wicked looking dagger holding it above her head.

'This is for you Draco,' Pansy said and began to lower the dagger towards Hermione's heart.

'No!' Draco cried.

He sat straight up breathing heavily, face covered with sweat.

Even though it was dark, he knew immediately that he was not alone, there was someone else in the room.