A couple of weeks had passed and Hermione had gotten used to the giant fly, named Draco Malfoy that was fallowing her everywhere. She tried to ignore him, but that didn't work and he only pestered her more. She gave up after a couple of days and grudgingly welcomed him back into her life.

This time around though, they had become real friends, which by the way wasn't such a bad thing. Hermione had discovered that he was actually fun to be around with when they were not lashing out on each other when it came to settling disagreements and differences in opinions. They had spent time working together on after-class assignments even though Hermione preferred to study by herself. Malfoy didn't really give her much choice because he was so relentless in following her around. She would never be able to get any work done if she didn't give in to him.

She was quite surprised to find that he was actually knowledgeable about the muggle world. Although he didn't know everything, he knew well enough to fit in perfectly with the muggles. It seemed like he had lived as one before, but Hermione knew that it was a totally absurd idea.

She was getting to know a side of Malfoy that she didn't even know existed. He was a different person than who she had grown up with in Hogwarts. It was weird how she had gotten comfortable with him fast and how they had progressed to addressing each other on a first name basis, although they still reverted back to calling each other their last names to stress a point. What was even weirder than that was she didn't mind Pippa popping into her dorm anytime when Draco wanted something from her and he was too lazy to go next door to ask her himself. She didn't mind because she liked the little elf and Pippa seemed to really like Draco. She'd tell Hermione how good her master was to her and sometimes tell her little tidbits about Draco. Pippa told her that she could call anytime and Pippa would make sure to answer, unless she was ordered not to by her master.

Hermione had gotten so used to Draco being around her that she would search for his presence in the days he was out. Even though she got to spend those days with Dexter and enjoying every minute of it without any interruption, it was like something was missing and her day seemed incomplete.

She would worry about him for he would go missing for days without any word whatsoever. She had even reached the point where she would go and knock at his door (would've used Alohamora on it if it weren't against her morals) or call on Pippa, but to her disappointment, would always go unanswered. She always wondered where he was, especially when he would come back days after looking like death. He'd always look fragile and sickly, paler than he already was with dark circles under his eyes. She would ask where he'd been, but he was so secretive about his life outside of the university. He would smile at her and tell her that there was nothing to worry about. But Hermione would always get that uneasy feeling in her gut, kind of like how her instincts would react years back during the war when she knew something was wrong. She was never wrong when it came to her instincts. It was fine tuned for all the troubles she had gone through with Harry and Ron, but she couldn't place this one. All she knew that there was something.

Hermione wondered if his absences now were related to his disappearance after graduation. He was gone for a very long time and nobody knew his whereabouts. She often eased that topic in their conversations, but he was so tight-lipped when it came to his personal life especially when his parents, the war and the time after that are mentioned. She was too curious to just let it go though, but Draco was very skillful in the art of distraction and expertly changing topics. She had tried everything to get him to talk, but to no avail.

Where had he been all this time? What had he been doing? Those were the questions, she knew she had no business in, yet couldn't seem to just leave it alone.

It was days after he had returned and he was slowly getting his color back, albeit still pale, but a little better than that deathly paleness he came back with. He was extra nice and kept smiling too, as if to show her that he was indeed alright.

Hermione was at her favorite spot in the University Library. There were a couple of tables behind the last shelf opposite the librarian's station that she had taken a liking to. For one, it was away from where the main sitting area where the students usually sat because of its accessibility to the book shelves. The bookshelves served as a divider from the main area, thus hiding her from the public and muffling the audible whispers of the other occupants. It gave her the illusion of being solitary. But what she loved most were the wide windows that welcomed the cool breeze and a nice view of the campus where students were running about. She liked looking out that window when she took breaks writing her paper.

Her table was already crowded with books and encyclopedias she and Draco would use as references. She took the liberty of preparing everything they needed whilst she waited.

They were once again partnered for a case study in which they needed to submit a paper to justify their research. It was just a quarter after twelve on a Saturday and they had agreed to meet around 12:30 PM to get the fundamentals done.

She had been waiting for her partner for fifteen minutes already, but that was because she was early. She was eager to get this started and be done with for the day since Dexter had asked her out earlier that day. Well, it wasn't really a date since they were just hanging out with some of their classmates at the lake an hour drive from campus, but still she was really excited for some time with Dexter.

Their agreed meeting time came and went, but still no sign of Draco. She drummed her fingers on the table before she finally decided to look for him, not liking one bit how this was like Harry and Ron when it came to homework completion. If he thought that she would do all the work and he got credit for it, well, he was sorely mistaken.

Hermione found a secluded area just behind the library. She looked around, making sure that she was alone before taking out her wand from her tote. She always kept her wand close even though she didn't need it as a force of habit from the war years ago. You never know when you might need it.

She cast a simple locating spell and walked toward the direction her wand pointed.

She found him all the way across campus, sleeping under the tree at the end of the field where some students were practicing Lacrosse on one half and Rugby on the other.

Hermione stood towering above him, blocking the sunlight that hit his face. If she weren't that mad at him for skiving off, she would've thought how adorably angelic his sleeping form was, but she knew when he was awake that angelic was very far from it.

She cleared her throat, knowing that Draco was only feigning sleep for her benefit. He opened one eye to take a peek at her and took his arms from under his head as he pretended to stretch.

"You ruined a perfectly good dream, Hermione."

"Are you forgetting something, Malfoy?"

"Hmmm…" He propped himself up with his elbows as he pretended to think.

"I don't think so."

She knew he was trying to get her mad like he did countless of times before, but she wasn't giving him the satisfaction of losing her cool again and somehow managing to embarrass herself along the way. No, never again. She had learned her lesson.

"We were supposed to start working on our case study today."

"Oh, you mean the one due months away?"

"Yes!"

"Well, there you have it. It isn't due anytime soon so lighten up, will you? Have some fun. Do something with your life."

"Hmph! I just don't want to leave it out until the last minute. And who are you to say that I'm not doing anything with my life?"

Draco stood up and placed both his hands on her shoulder.

"You know what I mean. When was the last time you had fun?"

"I have fun all the time."

"I mean other than studying, Granger. There's more to life than just reading and studying. You love to read, yeah? Because those pages take you on a wonderful adventure…but have you actually lived it?"

Hermione arched her eyebrow and place her hands on her hips. She did love to read because her books took her to a whole new world. She had read a lot of books over the years, discovered new worlds, loved new places and lived in different lifetimes. Only problem was, she hasn't actually lived it. It was all in her mind. He was right, but he didn't need to know that.

"That's what I thought."

"And I suppose who know how to have fun?"

"Oh I know how to have alright."

"I doubt it." Draco raised an eyebrow and gave her that patented Malfoy smirk.

"Is that a challenge?"

"Will you rise to it?"

"You'll just have to see, Granger."

Without waiting for her to reply, he pulled her to his chest and protectively put his arms around her. She didn't have time to react as he disapparated them both not a second later.

She was disoriented and gasping for air when they had popped up somewhere. She was positively sure that she would have lost balance if it weren't for Draco's strong arms holding her steady. She kind of liked being there.

"What was that for…?" She pushed him away when she got her bearings again. What she didn't like was where her thoughts were headed regarding their current position.

She was mad at him for taking her on side-along apparation without telling her. She had always hated apparating, especially when caught unaware like what he had done just seconds ago. But her anger got caught in her throat when she realized where he had taken her.

Hermione looked around the rows of shops on that familiar street and instantly felt nostalgic. Hogsmeade. She could remember running through these streets with Harry and Ron like it were yesterday. She hadn't been here ever since school ended and now she was wondering why she never came to visit.

"Why did you take me here?"

"Trust me. You'll see."

Draco held her hand as if he had been doing it for years and led her to the path they took a million times back when they were still students. Hermione looked at their entwined hands. She didn't know what came over her, but she didn't let go or push him away like she should have. She smiled at the warm fuzzy feelings residing in her chest. It was weird. Should she even have these feelings? Let alone the warm and fuzzy ones?

"Draco, what are we doing here? Is it okay to even be here?"

They had been walking for a while, hands still clasped together when they had finally reached their destination.

Hermione eyed the majestic Hogwarts castle. This place held so many memories for her, of making friends and losing some, of happy ones and sad ones. So much has happened here especially during the war. It was destroyed, yet it was rebuilt again. It signified hope for new beginnings. Just like a new beginning to this strange friendship with Draco. She smiled inwardly. She was finally home.

"You worry too much, Granger. Just trust me, okay?"

"Shouldn't we at least get permission from the headmaster to roam the grounds?" She asked Draco as they entered the gate and walked toward the direction of the Quidditch pitch.

"Don't worry, I've been here a couple of times and I've kept correspondence with Dumbledore. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"Wait, you came here before today? And what did you have to discuss with Dumbledore anyway?"

Draco tsk'd at her nosiness and chose to ignore her questions.

"Again with the questions. That's not why we're here."

Classes were currently going on in the castle so the Quidditch pitch was empty. Draco let go of her hand and looked up. Hermione took a chance to glance at him as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. There was a sense of calm and happiness in his face as the wind blew through his hair.

"Well, today's your lucky day, Hermione!"

"And why is that?"

"Pippa!"

There was loud pop and the little elf had appeared in front of them along with Draco's Nimbus 2001. It was an old broom and he could very well afford to buy the newest model, but this broomstick was very special to him. He had spent so much time with this broom when he tried to run away from his life that it felt like they had bonded and became one. It was like the broom was a part of him, like it knew all his pain, his demons, but it understood him nonetheless. This broom was his only escape.

"Oh no, no, no, no!"

"I'm going to teach you how to fly. And I guarantee that you'll love it by the end of this lesson."

"Absolutely not! Harry and Ron tried several times already and nothing good ever came out of it." Draco had taken hold of his Nimbus 2001 and Hermione started to back away.

"They weren't very good teachers then."

"Don't let me do this, Draco. Heights and flying are just not my thing."

"Since when do you back out from a challenge? Hell, you've faced greater, scarier obstacles with Scarhead and Weasel and lived through it. This should be a cinch for you."

"Name calling? Really Draco? Very mature."

"Don't change the subject."

"Well, flying is terrifying and I'm absolutely acrophobic."

"Where's that Gryffindor courage, Granger? The way I see it, you're just afraid to actually enjoy it. For once in your life, just jump without over thinking it and take the risk. You don't know what happens tomorrow so might as well make the most of everything today. A life lived in fear is a life half lived and you don't want to be old someday and regret the things you never did, do you?"

Hermione thought about it as she looked into his amazing gray eyes. Once again, he was right. Somehow there was some wisdom to his words. She had spent half of her life being afraid because of Voldemort, but he was gone now. It was time to start living.

"So what do you say, Hermione? Ready to give it a shot?" He extended his hand to her, hoping that she would take it.

A part of her wanted to say no and walk away from him, but there was just something about Draco Malfoy that fascinated her. Since when did he get so wise? There was something in the way he looked at her and the way he said those things that made her want to trust him. Wait…she did trust him! That was weird, right? How could she ever trust him when he spent their Hogwarts years making her miserable? But somehow she did trust him.

The next thing she knew, she had taken Draco's offered hand and he smiled at her, the kind that made her heart beat faster. It was hypnotizing.

Draco had explained to her what to expect when they were on the air. He taught her how to hold the broom and how to control it. They mounted the broom with him behind her. She gripped the handle hard with her shaking hands. Draco noticed so he placed his hands atop hers and used his thumbs to soothe the top of her hands. He leaned in until his chest had connected with her back and his mouth just beside her ear.

And in a soft whisper, he told her, "Trust me. I won't ever let go."

A/N: Oh my! What do you suppose is wrong with Draco? Is he sick or is there something more to his disappearance all those years ago?

Anyway, PLEASE do REVIEW and share your thoughts with me. I would love to hear them. Constructive criticism is also welcome.

Til the next chapter! :)