"Hermione tried to convince herself that she actually lost it. All of her sanity and better judgment must have gone somewhere and she couldn't find them. She actually agreed with Draco Malfoy and decided to runaway with him. Her owl looked at her several times and she considered sending a letter to cancel the whole thing. But she hasn't. Why hasn't she canceled it yet? These past few days were rough on her but that didn't mean that she should runaway like some criminal who betrayed her boyfriend. It was an accident, and the circumstances weren't the best. It was a mistake that she regretted but she knew no one would see it that way. People would judge her and talk about her and she was not ready for the inquisition. Draco Malfoy gave her the chance to run from that, and the brave Gryffindor took it.

Crookshanks looked at her with sad green eyes and she remembered Ron. That was exactly why she bought Crooks, he was just like Ron. Ginger. Beautiful eyes. And a great best friend. As it jumped to her lap she considered it was best to take it with her since no one would take care of it if she left it behind.

Hermione looked at the owl her best friends gave her for her birthday last year. She named it Ernest after one of her favorite muggle writers. The witch caressed the owl's head and wrote Harry a note.

"Dear Harry,

I know you probably won't like to hear about this but I am leaving. It's only for some time since I need to clear my head. I have no idea when I will be back. Please take care of Ernest while I am gone. I am taking Crooks with me so don't worry.

I love you, Harry.

HG"

She grabbed her enchanted bag where she had placed everything she needed and left her apartment with Crookshanks walking behind her. When she reached the front door of her building a nice sports car was parked at the door and a blonde haired boy with sunglasses on was in it. Hermione picked up her cat and opened the door to the passenger seat.

Draco studied her with questioning eyes. His partner in crime was wearing a pair of jeans and black trainers with a matching blouse that had a daring cleavage. The smirk made its way up to his lips and only then he noticed the cat. "This wasn't planned. Why are you dragging your cat with you? He obviously looks like the Weasel." br /She looked at Crooks and than she thought about Malfoy's words. He was right but she couldn't find it in herself to leave one of her friends behind.

"Look Malfoy we are going to take it with us. Crookshanks is a nice boy and it will cause us no harm." Her point was more than clear to Draco and he believed it was not worth it to pick up a fight over the cat. So he turned up the car and started driving. The wind in their faces and London at their back. Hermione could almost feel all the problems leaving her as he drove up the country and out of the city. Maybe this was how freedom tasted./p


"It's was dark when he decided to stop the car. Hermione was singing a tune that was playing in the radio and he was laughing like crazy. She couldn't care less and laughed along with him when the high notes came. She sucked at singing but that didn't mean she would stop doing it.

"You are a box full of surprises, as anyone ever told you that Granger?" He asked as the car stopped. "Where should we eat and get some rest?"

"We could apparate to a Forest and comeback in the morning to pick up the car. I could set my tent up and cook us dinner. We can also stop at a hotel. As you prefer." Hermione shrugged, she was determined to not over control and overthink things.

"Maybe a hotel is best. I forgot to bring my tent and I am sure that yours is as small as the brain of a werewolf." She scowled at his disrespect and got back in the car. He followed her and started the car again. "No singing this time Granger. I think your cat is going def."

"Stop being an ass, Malfoy. You were loving my singing. Turn in the next exit. There is a great hotel near by. And it is not too expensive." Hermione used to travel to this town in her Christmas holidays with her parents every year but she hadn't been there since her fifth year. Her memory always made her comeback here. Every Christmas. Even when she was alone. The last person she thought she would bring here was Draco Malfoy, but here she was. Isn't life full of surprises?

As they approached the hotel, Hermione hid Crookshanks in her bag. Draco lifted his eyebrow but shrugged. He didn't care much for the cat anyways.

"Welcome!" A nice old lady invited them in with a wide smile and took them at the reception where a young women waited for them.

"Good evening. Can I help you?" Hermione prepared herself to speak but Draco was faster.

"We are looking for a bedroom, please." He gave his polite smile and the women practically melted. She was a few years older than him but that didn't discouraged her a bit.

"And how many beds will you need? One? You must be married-" Hermione muffled a laugh since the girl was clearly hitting on Draco. The latter didn't bothered. He liked to be noticed. "I will just see if we still have bedrooms with two single beds."

Draco took a look at the Gryffindor who was enjoying this as much as she could. He gave her his smug look hoping they got a bedroom with one bed so he could get his revenge.

"Well Mr.-"

"Malfoy."

"Mr. Malfoy we have two bedrooms left. One with two single beds in the third floor and the other has a couple bed and it's right around this corner" she pointed with her finger, leaning completely on the reception so her breasts were completely showing.

"Oh dear maybe we should take both rooms. The lady here seems to fancy you and she might pay you a visit tonight. I don't want to bother!" Hermione was going to have her fun. The girl was practically all over him and she didn't knew if he was married or not.

"Mrs. Malfoy I am so-"

"Don't be. Just be a darling and give me the key to the one with single beds please" Hermione marked a pace with her nails smiling at Draco who looked amazed with her daring. She practically ruined his chances at getting lucky tonight. The receptionist came back and handed her the key as red as she could be. "Thank you dear. I will go up now. Don't take too long to come by or he will fall asleep. Have a nice evening you two!"

She called the lift and as the doors closed she winked at Draco leaving him pissed with a blushed girl to handle.

She opened the door to her room and opened her bag. Crooks jumped straight out of it and snorted at her, leaving her side to get to know the room.

"Sorry Crooks, it was the daft dimbo at the reception that made me do this." She couldn't understand why but the behavior of that women really bothered her. And the way Draco responded to it, she considerate it was just disrespectful. But what was she expecting from the very one person who always judge her based on blood?


"She was ready to go to bed when there was a knock on the door. She rolled her eyes and took a deep breath ready to hear some piece of Malfoy's mind. When she opened the door a nice boy with a car full of food made his way into her bedroom.

"Miss Granger, right?" The boy looked at her and started to set the table near the window. He placed two plates and she looked towards the entrance again to see Malfoy lingering at the door.

"I thought we agreed on dinner." Draco made his way to the table and grabbed a chair for her. She didn't understand the point of all this but went anyway since her stomach told her to. He took his seat next to her and waited as the waiter served their meal. "You can leave now, Tim. Here take your tip." He handed the boy a couple of pounds and he made his way out closing the door behind him.

Hermione felt really awkward around him. Without any alcohol to loosen her up she felt like she was being judge with every breath she took.

Draco glanced at her and started to eat his food not bothering to ask why was she looking like she was in pain.

"So that was a great show you did down there, Granger. Or should I call you Mrs. Malfoy?"

Hermione blushed slightly and choked with her food. She took a sip of wine to help her swallow.

"She was clearly hitting on you. And didn't even knew if you were married or something. It was disrespectful and you didn't even made her stop!"

"Why does it bother you? Do you fancy me? Are you jealous, Granger?" He smirked at her, but she just found him infuriating. Jealous of what? He wasn't at all special. But her body betrayed her again making her blush.

"Jealous of what? Stop being an ass Malfoy. I was just looking for a little respect since I am going to spend God know how long with you. But that's fine, I shouldn't-"

"Shut it, Granger. I am sleeping here with you so you don't want to pick up a fight, do you?" She took a sip of her wine and looked him in the eye. Questions ran through her mind but she kept quiet. She would ask him later. "All right then, roomie. You might want to go down stairs after dinner. Somebody wants to talk to you."

Hermione ate her dinner and went to the bathroom to switch her pajamas for a pair of jeans and an old Oxford sweatshirt that belonged to her mother. She stepped out searching for her ginger cat and found a certain blonde sleeping on her bed with his clothes on. She wondered if he had brought anything with him, but she doubt that. Crooks was laying at his feet watching the television like it made sense to him, which made the witch smile.

The Gryffindor sneaked out of her room and took the stairs to the reception.

"Mr. Malfoy said that someone was waiting to talk to me, can you tell me who?" Hermione directed her question to the young women who harassed Draco just a couple of hours ago, since she was the only one there at that time.

"Oh, Miss Granger! I-I want to apologize for my behavior it was totally unprofessional and out of line and-" Hermione interrupted her, and hoped that she wasn't the person who needed to contact with the witch.

"Look, I just really want to see who was here to talk to me."

"It was me! Mr. Malfoy was so upset over my behavior, he asked me to apologize right away and told me that you should be treated with respect since you were an old costumer and a good friend of his." Hermione's jaw fell and she felt like a cartoon as the receptionist talked. Draco Malfoy said that? He formed a sentence where respect and her name were together? No. Not the same person.

"You mean Mr. Malfoy said that? The blonde that came with me and that you thought it was my husband? The tall and handsome as hell blonde guy?" Did she just said 'handsome as hell'?

"Yes, that one. So I just really wanted to apologize Miss Granger and I promise I won't behave like that again, forgive me." The look on her eyes was begging Hermione for forgiveness and she couldn't say no to that.

"There's no problem, don't worry. If Mr. Malfoy forgave you, I can too. Have a good evening." Hermione smiled and walked away. She slammed her back against the wall of the lift and gave a thought to this situation. Draco asked the girl to apologize. And he said she deserved respect. Well that was a first. Why didn't he told her that over dinner when she talked about that issue? Well now she felt stupid for what she said. Maybe she should wake him up and apologize. When she opened the door to her room the lights were out and only the lamp next to her bed was lit up. Draco was sleeping peacefully with Crooks near him. She decided that this could wait. Maybe he wasn't a bad guy anymore. Maybe the war changed him too. Maybe, and just maybe, he could see her as an equal now. And that was what made her go to sleep that night with a smile on her lips and her mind cleared of problems.