Disclaimer: - not mine, all characters and most scenery belong to JKR.

A/N: I think I'm in love with these beautiful reviewers of mine, though I know not even a tiny percentage of people reading this are reviewing it doesn't bother me, I love you all. Your reviews spurred me onto write this at … well its 03:08 am now… be thankful! I still can't get over that you think my writing is good! I'm just a lowly science student! We know not of languages! Be happy that I probably will have time in the morning to start chapter 4….. All plot lines are ready – I write them at work, receptionists are busy people! Provided I get up that is… anyway read and please enjoy, slightly shorter than the last two, but forgive me, review and I'll update faster and longer, your reviews really do count. Xxx

Draco sauntered back into the common room, swinging his newly mended arm. He was about to call out to Hermione to show he was alright, when he spotted her by the fire.

"Check this bad boy out," Draco said waving his arm about.

Hermione didn't say a word but continued to look at her hands, hunched over herself. Draco wasn't sure what was wrong with her until she gave a little 'sniff' … she was crying.

"Hermione," he cooed, she shifted in her seat, trying to face away from him. Draco sat next to her on the sofa and continued to watch her. "What's wrong? Don't cry for me, see, I'm all better."

"Nothing's wrong." A small voice replied.

"Yeah right Hermione, and I was born yesterday, tell me what's up."

"What does it matter to YOU?!" Hermione screamed and fled to her bedroom. Draco was astounded by her sudden change in volume.

'Well she found her voice again.' He thought, trying to joke about the scenario, but there was something about seeing the tears in her eyes, that just made him feel distressed for Hermione. He walked over to her door and knocked gently.

"Hermione? Hermione I was only trying to help…. Let me in…. no? Well fine! You selfish little girl! I thought we had something here, stupid me, I must have been deeply mistaken!" He thundered at her door and stormed into his own bedroom.

'What just happened then? She upset enough without me adding to the anguish! I guess I really can't control my rage. No use pestering her now, give it time and then go apologise.' Draco began to wonder when his internal battles would end. 'When I decide who I really am I guess.' He got up off of his bed, which he had sat on in a huff. He decided a little walk around the lake would be a good idea for him to cool off, and give Hermione a little space.

…………………………….

Draco's walk around the lake was brisk to say the least, the winter months had come upon him quicker than he realised and it was quite frosty outside. Having decided he had not given Hermione enough time, he called in on the House elves in the kitchens for a hot chocolate and a snack.

Later Draco apprehensively re-entered the Head's common room. He saw her again, this time Hermione was sat on the floor looking into the fire. She turned as she heard him enter and he could see she was still deeply upset for tears kept sporadically spilling down her cheeks.

"Hermione, I'm really sorry, I honestly don't know where that came from, I-"

"Draco don't, there's no need, you didn't do anything, you just reacted to my anger that's all." Draco walked slowly toward the fire and sat next to Hermione, his back propped up against the sofa. "I'm the one who should be sorry," as she said this Hermione turned to look at Draco.

He found it a little eerie; she stared straight into his eyes. For a moment there was peace between them, until Hermione broke down again into a fresh mass of tears. Draco hesitated at first, not really knowing what to do.

"Hermione, please tell me what's wrong, I might be able to fix it." Amidst her tears Hermione chuckled slightly.

"Fix it?" She repeated. "Oh no, there's definitely no fixing this, we're done." She glanced at him again, his face contorted into a puzzled look. "Here," she said handing him a note. "I found this on my dresser."

'Dear Hermione,

Although our time together was intellectually stimulating, our summer apart taught me that that's not really what I'm looking for in a girl. Thought I'd get my last piece of you, before I broke it off. I know you'll understand. You probably think I'm being pigheaded here – you'd be quite right to. I'm a teenage boy; I'm not ready to be tied down. And if I want sex, I'll get it, whether my girlfriend is willing or not. It was good, let me at least say, you weren't my worst.

T B'

Draco read the note, mouth open, unable to form sentences.

"Did he… did he rape you?" Draco asked tenderly.

"What? No! Oh god no, why do you say that?" He gestured to the note. "'Whether my girlfriend is willing or not'? Oh, no that was just his polite way of letting me know he's been sleeping round behind my back."

"Bastard," Draco mumbled. Hermione looked surprised.

"You can't honestly say you've never cheated. I've heard the rumours; you have strings of girls at a time."

"Needless to say, they are rumours…" Draco thought for a moment. "No, thank you, I do not cheat. Never had the opportunity to – not that I would." He added hastily.

"What do you mean 'the opportunity'?" she queried.

"I've never had a girlfriend. Sure I've had girls," he smirked. "But never a girlfriend."

"Oh," replied Hermione thoughtfully and softly. Draco smiled and placed an arm around Hermione, bringing her back to their current location.

"Don't waste your tears on him, he was a jerk." Draco offered. Tears welled in Hermione's eyes again.

"I know, b-but, he made me feel so special, like he really cared." Hermione's sobs were out of her control; she gave up attempting to speak and buried her head into Draco's shoulder letting it all out.

Draco was surprised at first, he wasn't sure if they were quite ready for so much physical contact. He soon eased into it, and thought how natural it felt for him to wrap his arms around this fragile Hermione. It was a rare, endearing side to her and he soon found he was caressing her hair in an attempt to soothe her. It worked and he managed to pick her up in his arms and sit on the sofa. He pulled the throw off the back and Hermione got comfy, her head on his lap. Usually he would have found this provocative, but this was just not the time and definitely Hermione had a lot more class than his usual females. They sat there by the fire, not speaking until they both fell asleep by the firelight.

………………………

Hermione woke up that Sunday morning and wondered where she was. She remembered the previous night and realised Draco had left her alone on the sofa, she glanced at the fire and the embers had just stopped glowing. The renewed mood she had awoken with had equally just been put out.

Just then Draco appeared from round the corner, cup of tea in hand.

"Morning," he said and offered her the tea. Hermione smiled in return as he sat down and gave her the tea. She put it on a coffee table, which happened to be next to the sofa and turned to face him once more. Looking into his eyes, Hermione got caught in a moment of stillness again.

All other thoughts cascaded out of her mind and all she saw were Draco's large grey eyes. Draco's mind also emptied as he gazed at Hermione, suddenly realising her natural beauty. He could all but stop himself from reaching up and moving her hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear. The just as quickly as the moment began, it ended as Draco snapped out of his bubble, a confused look on his face. Hermione didn't want the moment ruined by either of them having chance to panic. She leant forward and gave Draco a peck on the cheek.

"Thank you," she breathed, got up and left for her room.

Draco shuddered once she had gone. 'That was a bit…intense. Wow.' He had shuddered because of the feeling of her breath on his neck, her close proximity and the sudden upsurge of emotions from their few moments in each others eyes.