Author's note: This chapter and the next are mainly about having a special moment (more like 10 special moments) between Draco and Hermione. The next one will be the same chapter, but Draco's POV. Reviews are always appreciated. Enjoy!

Chapter 2

*Hermione's POV*

Early the next morning Hermione stirred from a troubled sleep. She looked at her clock, which read 4:45 am, and groaned. "Seriously…" She rolled out of bed, planning to go downstairs and watch the sun rise. As she left her room, she saw another door swing shut. She quietly crept over to the slightly ajar door. Curiosity getting the better of her, she opened it a crack wider without a sound. She quickly threw her hand over her mouth to keep from gasping. The room, she discovered, was the guest room currently being used by Draco Malfoy.

"Too early…" Hermione thought, "Too early for this… Brain not completely awake… Bad thoughts… Can't process… Wow, he's hot." She peeked back through the crack in the door. "He must've just taken a shower. His hair is still wet." She simply couldn't help but stare at him. All he had on was a pair of jeans, and he was just putting on a belt. His upper body was completely exposed, revealing his slender yet muscled form. "Oh, he HAS to do more than just quidditch… his body is WAY better than Harry's…" She compared the two boys in her mind's eye.

"Enjoying the view?" Draco said in a level tone, not even looking at the door. Hermione tensed slightly when he tossed a seductive sideways glance at her through his platinum fringe.

"Umm… I just… I was going to…" she stuttered, opening the door completely now.

"You wanted to know whose room it was. Who was mad enough to be up before 5 in the morning," Draco cut in. "No harm done, so relax," he added with a smirk.

"You—You aren't upset?" Hermione was slightly confused. "I mean, I kind of invaded your privacy, like, a lot."

"It's fine," he said, "If you had come about five minutes earlier though, that would have been a different story. I think it's safe to say, that would have been a little awkward for both of us." He sat on the edge of his bed. Hermione blushed and nodded her agreement.

"How did you know that I was there?" she asked, wanting desperately to change the subject.

"I could hear you," he said.

"But I didn't make a sound. How could you have possibly—"

"I can hear things that most people can't…"

"Vague. So… What? You have super-hearing or something like that?"

"Yeah… Something like that…"

Hermione rolled her eyes, realizing that she wasn't going to get anywhere with this conversation. "Why are you awake so early?"

"I was just about to ask you the same…"

She was getting annoyed with this little game of his. "Couldn't sleep. Too much on my mind, you know? Your turn."

"Early riser by nature, or maybe it's habit…" he shrugged. "Either way…" Hermione went to sit next to him and he suddenly shifted, making it so she couldn't see his back. She brushed it off as a Malfoy-thing. But then her eyes fell upon the mirror behind him.

"What happened to you?" she asked, her hand clasped over her mouth. Draco whipped his head around and glared at the mirror that had betrayed his secret. His back was covered with scars as well as fresh gashes and bruises.

He looked back at Hermione. "It's not important…"

"You know what, Malfoy! I'm getting really sick of that goddamn catch phrase of yours!" Her eyes were filled with a burning intensity, but it wasn't the usual disdain for the blonde. It was concern. "Tell me." The tone of her voice told him that it wasn't exactly an order, but Draco thought that she deserved the truth for once.

After a moment's hesitation, he finally found his voice and spoke up. "It's just my father." Hermione's eyes widened, but she nodded, signaling him to go on. "Well," he started, "he gets angry. At everything. And I let him take it out on me…"

"Why?!"

"Because if I don't, he'll go after my mother and the house-elves. He's already come close to killing Dobby on multiple occasions and I can't bear to watch it anymore. And I don't want him anywhere NEAR my mother. If I let him do it to me, then both problems are solved. He doesn't hurt mum, and I don't have to see or hear it." He pulled on a plain, black long-sleeved shirt as he spoke, as if it were a completely normal conversation to be having.

"Draco! While I think it's rather admirable of you to sacrifice yourself for your mother and Dobby, you can't let him keep doing this to you. He could kill you…" Her eyes began brimming with tears.

Draco knelt in front of Hermione, who was still on the bed and crying freely now. "Won't happen," he put one hand on her shoulder and tilted her face to look into his with the other. "Trust me," he said sweetly, smiling lightly, trying to comfort her. She gave a weak smile in return.

"I think that's the first time I've ever actually seen you smile," she giggled, wiping the tears from her eyes. "You have a really nice smile…" she added shyly. Her stomach gave a quiet rumble. She wrapped her arms around her waist, embarrassed.

Draco stood, chuckling, and extended his hand to her. "Come on," he said, "We've still got a few hours before the others wake up. I'll make us some breakfast."

"YOU can cook?" she asked, taking his hand.

"Shocking, I know." They left the room. "So, what'll you have?" he asked when they finally reached the kitchen.

"I don't know…" she giggled.

"Well, what sounds good?" he asked, leaning up against the counter.

"Umm… I don't know… Pancakes?"

"OK. Pancakes it is then..." He set about trying to find where everything was. Hermione laughed as he opened cupboard after cupboard with no luck. After about 5 minutes of searching, he had finally found what he needed. As he was making the batter, he decided to show off a bit and began juggling the eggs, much to Hermione's delight. She started laughing again.

He stopped juggling and looked at her. "He's got really pretty eyes…" Hermione thought.

"You know what?" he said smoothly. "I really like it when you laugh. I like making you laugh."

"Funny," she smiled, "Because I like you making me laugh, too."

Draco finished making the pancakes and put on some tea. They ate breakfast, talked, laughed, and waited for the sun to rise together.