Author's Note: Slightly shorter chapter... hence why I updated with 2. Enjoy! Chapter 5 should be up in the next day or so.
"Granger, I am convinced you are trying to kill me," Draco groaned as they walked back towards the house.
They had been playing volleyball for the past two hours and Hermione had easily beat him. She had him diving all over the place for the ball. Draco had sand in places that sand should not be.
"How'd it go? I only watched part of it," Ron called from his seat by the grill.
"All I can say is payback's a bitch," Hermione laughed as Draco's mouth dropped open.
"Is that right?" Draco asked.
"I'm fairly certain you got your arse whooped by a girl," Neville said walking up and slipping his arm around Hermione's waist.
"Yeah. I admit it; she stomped me. This is just one battle thought. There will be more."
Hermione reached out and patted him on the shoulder.
"Don't' embarrass yourself more than you already have." Then she skipped away to sit with Ginny, Lavender, Mrs. Weasley, and Mrs. Malfoy.
She plopped down on Ginny's lap.
"Well hello you. You seem mighty chipper today."
Hermione shrugged and grabbed a piece of cheese off the table to munch on.
"So New York treated you well?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
Hermione swallowed and nodded. "Yes, but I wasn't thrilled with my job so I recently left it. I'm not sure what I am going to do now."
"Well what would you like to do Miss Granger?" Narcissa asked smiling at Hermione.
"Uh…" Hermione was taken back by the question, "I'm not real sure yet. At my last job I worked a lot with international cooperation. I liked the idea, but not what they had me doing. I'd like to try something where we encourage people from different walks of life to come together and get to know more about each other. It is what caused the whole war in the first place."
"I think that is a great idea." Ginny smiled up at Hermione.
"I agree." Hermione gave a small smile to Narcissa as she spoke.
The afternoon was spent joking around, Hermione caught up with everyone, and just relaxing in the warm afternoon sun. As the afternoon started turning into evening, the others apparated out leaving Harry, Ginny, Ron, Lavender, Neville, Luna, Draco, and Hermione. After a quick clean-up, the group made their way inside.
"It's early, but I'm whooped. I'm going to go upstairs and take a long bath and read a bit before bed. See you in the morning," Ginny said before heading upstairs.
Harry agreed and made his rounds of goodnight before walking into the kitchen where Hermione was standing at the sink looking out the window.
"You alright?" he asked walking up next to her.
"Yeah. Just watching the sunset."
"I'm really proud of you."
Hermione turned and looked at him questioningly.
"For giving Draco a chance."
"Oh, yeah. I'm trying."
"He's a really good guy now."
"I can see some changes."
"Hermione…" she turned towards him and leaned her hip on the counter, "I'm really glad you're here."
"Me too. It's been too long."
"I'm going to bed. I think Ron and Lavender turned in too. I'll see you in the morning."
"Ok."
She hugged him and he headed upstairs. A moment later Draco walked into the kitchen and pulled the refrigerator open, holding up a beer.
"You want one?"
"No thanks."
He popped the top off and took a swig before eyeing her carefully.
"We were going to watch a movie. Do you want to join us?"
"Yeah. That sounds entertaining. Draco Malfoy watching a muggle movie. All the new experiences today." She smirked at him and headed towards the living room.
"Funny Granger. A real riot."
Two weeks had passed and it was now mid June. Everyone had fallen into a routine of sunbathing, card games, swimming, cookouts, and just relaxing with each other. Hermione found herself hanging out with Draco more and more as everyone else was paired up. She was completely over her aversion of him and treated him just like the rest of the group. She hadn't had any other nightmares, as she had remembered her sleep drought each night.
It was after ten at night and the couples were starting to turn in after a long day of shopping and swimming. Draco said goodnight to Neville and Luna, who were the last to turn in and looked over at Hermione.
"I'm hungry."
She snorted. "Aren't you always?"
"Oh please. Don't sit there and tell me you aren't. I've seen you pack away the food."
Hermione smacked him on the shoulder and headed to the kitchen. He ran up behind her and picked her up, twirling her around before plopping her unceremoniously on the counter.
"Ow! That hurt my butt!"
"Not the first time I've heard that."
"You are disgusting Malfoy!" Hermione said throwing a dish towel at him.
"You love it." He winked before reaching in the refrigerator and pulling out a tray of fruit.
"Mmmm… I love watermelon." Hermione reached out and snagged a piece, bringing it to her lips and taking a bite.
Draco shook his head to get the images running through his mind as Hermione moaned slightly and closed her eyes at the taste.
"Good?" Draco smirked at her before taking a piece of pineapple and popping it in his mouth.
"Delicious. Don't make fun of me."
Draco held his hands up and laughed before popping another piece in his mouth.
"Everyone is acting like an old married couple. None of us have to work, yet they all go to bed at like ten o'clock."
"They are all practically old married couples."
"I guess. I can't go to sleep this early. I'll wake up at four a.m. and not be able to sleep."
"Same here. I'm a night owl."
"Want to deliver some mail for me?"
He went to answer before stopping and looking up at her. She was shaking from her held in laugh.
"Mhmm. Remember this, Granger. Next time I won't be so nice."
"I'm just teasing you."
"Oh I know. I'll get you back though."
"Let's go watch some late night television. How many infomercials do you think we can find?"
"At least five," Draco laughed and grabbed the fruit and following her to the living room.
They situated themselves on the couch, with her resting her head on a pillow againsts his leg and him sitting at one end of the couch. They spent an hour laughing at the different infomercials before settling on a movie on one of the channels. Hermione fell quiet after a bit and Draco glanced down to see her fast asleep. He softly brushed the hair away from her face and rested his hand on her shoulder before turning back to the movie.
It wasn't even a half hour later when his concentration on the movie was interrupted when Hermione made a small noise in her sleep. He glanced down at her and noticed her face was scrunched up. She didn't make another noise so he went back to watching his movie.
"No…" Her voice was so quiet he barely heard it. He reached over and flipped the TV off and looked down at her.
"Hermione?" He shifted slightly so he was looking down at her.
"No… don't…" He squeezed her shoulder gently. "Please… hurts… NO!"
Draco jumped a bit at her sudden outburst.
"Hermione." He ran his hand down the side of her face.
"Please…" her voice was louder. "Don't touch…. Stop… don't…"
"Hermione!" Draco shook her slightly and she gasped before her eyes opened.
Her eyes were unfocused as she took in her surroundings, trying to get her bearings. Her breath was coming quick and her chest rose and fell rapidly.
"Hey. It's ok," Draco ran his hand along her cheek again.
She looked up and met his eyes. Her lower lip quivered slightly. Draco reached around her and pulled her up until she was sitting in his lap sideways. He took her face in both of his hands. They were only a few inches apart.
"It was just a dream. I've got you. You're safe."
A single tear rolled out of her eye and down her face as she nodded her head lightly. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek gently, right where the tear rested. When he pulled back she eyed him carefully before burying her head in the crook of his neck. He wrapped his arms around her and ran a hand slowly up and down her back. A few moments later she pulled back and looked at him again. He cocked his head to the side a bit and studied her. She seemed to be thinking hard. Suddenly she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his roughly. He was taken off guard and it took a moment for him to react. His lips moved against hers and she pressed her body to him roughly. His brain was fuzzy at the feeling of her soft lips on his and her hands running through his hair. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he reminded himself that she had just had a nightmare that probably starred his aunt and himself. He reached up and put his hands on her arms and pushed her back so they broke apart and then let his hands fall to her sides.
"Not like this, Hermione."
She jumped up out of his lap suddenly, her hand flying to her lips.
"It's ok, I just…"
She shook her head and bolted up the stairs before he could say anything. Draco groaned and let his head fall in his hands. This was just perfect.