Disclaimer: I own nothing as always.

I'm so sorry about the long wait I've been grounded. The reason for the short chapters is because I could only write them when my mom was gone.

Thanks all reviewers

Chapter 4

Hermione watched as the eyes advanced. She was sweating now. Lighting flashed, but still the creature was not revealed. It's as if the shadows stayed there only because the creature was there. She could hear its rasping breath. The two pair of eyes locked. Hermione stared into those unblinking eyes. She blinked, she could help it. And as if the say "the more you blink the closer I come" it took a step forward. Hermione forced herself not to blink. She was not going to lose this battle. Eyes determined she stepped back into the raging battle, and again their eye's locked. Mocking Hermione the creature half blinked. Hermione's eyes began to water. She was never any good at staring contests, it didn't help that the wind was blowing and the rain fell heavily upon the scene. Closer, and closer it came, until it seemed as if the creatures, and her nose where touching. She felt something wet brush the side of her neck. She made a small shriek when she realized it was the creatures tongue. Hermione shuddered as the thing began to lick her neck. Goose bumps ran along her neck and all down her back. The whole time their eye's stayed locked. She felt its nose touch her cheek. she could feel its intake of breath. It was getting her scent.

'Maybe it wont hurt me after all,' she thought. But right as the though entered her head she felt its cold breath on her throat. She some how knew its mouth was open. Its teeth scrapped across her skin like silver blades, cutting though her flesh like butter. Hermione took a sharp intake of breath, surprised at the creature actions. She placed her hand on the brim of her neck where the creature had cut her. Feeling the warm sensation of blood she realized how cold she was. Shaking from the cold she placed her hand on the source of heat, the cut. She didn't care at the moment that she was bleeding. All she wanted was to be warm and dry. Being too wrapped up on becoming warm she didn't notice the creature press its forehead against hers until it touched her. she looked up as a strange sensation came over her. it felt as if she where on fire and freezing at the same time. No longer feeling cold she felt her hands. They weren't warm, but they weren't cold. There was no way to really describe it. Suddenly there was a flash of blinding white light. It hit the creatures side. The force of the spell pushed the creature into the near by bushes. As soon as the contact was broken the sensation was drained only to be fill again by coldness. Hermione's teeth began to chatter. Malfoy appeared from the direction the spell came from.

"Granger! Come on! We've got to get out of here!" he yelled over the thunder. Hermione didn't care that it was Malfoy at the moment. All she cared about was the fact that some one found her and she was going to be warm and dry soon. Running up to him she waited for him to lead the way out. He began to walk Hermione followed, not watching where they where going. Soon they where both out of the forest, cold and soaked but safe non the less. They both broke into a slow run, eager to return to the castle. Once they reached the castle gates they slipped in unnoticed.

"Listen Granger, we have to be careful and not let the teachers see us," he whispered.

"Why?" she asked.

"Sh!" he hushed her avoiding the question. After that Hermione remained silent. They stealthily made there way through the shadows, even being unnoticed by the caretakers cat Mrs. Norris. By the time they reached the vampire statue both Hermione and Malfoy where shivering.

"Is this the entrance to our common room?" Hermione questioned quietly. Malfoy mealy nodded and muttered tears of blood. The Vampire smiled at him and the floor gave way. Falling into blackness Hermione shrieked. Soon as they slide further down the tunnel her screams of fright turned to shrieks of joy. Malfoy too was enjoying the trip, but tried to hide his smile. Soon they entered the common room with black velvet walls. They both landed in a heap on the dark green floor. Hermione sat up he wet hair a tangled mess. She squealed excitedly. Hopping up she momentarily forgot about being cold and wet, running she jumped on the silver couched. Laying there was the most wonderful feeling. Looking around she noticed the giant window and the large bookcase next to it. Malfoy hadn't noticed this before. He almost laughed at the expression that came over Grangers face. Her smile almost seemed to reach her eye's. and her eye's seemed to shine as the moon does on a cloudless night. Trying not the stare at her to long he took off his shirt and pants. Walking across the room he set them by the fire place. Almost instantly they became dry.

'The fire must be magic,' he thought. Suddenly he heard a scream. Turing around he saw Hermione, her mouth open.

"Ew!" she screamed and threw a pillow at him so he could cover his boxers. "Get some clothes on please!" Jumping up from the couch she ran to her dormitory.

"Awesome!" Malfoy heard her scream. He walked into his room as he sighed.

Hermione quickly picked out some gray sweat pants and a black long sleeve shirt and began to open the bathroom door.

Malfoy walked into his room, instantly feeling calm. Grabbing some silver basket ball shorts he began to open the bathroom door.

"Ah!" they both screamed. They had both entered the bathroom at the same time.

"What the hell is going on!" yelled Malfoy.

"Hermione looked around they replied hesitantly, " I think- I think we have a conjoining bathroom."

"A what!"

"A conjoining bathroom, it means one bath-," she was cut off.

"I know what it means!" he screamed at her, "I will write to my father at once! What's Dumbledore playing at! Making me share bathrooms with a mudblood!"

Hermione's eyes filled with tears. "You can have this one," she said, attempting to keep her voice strong, "I'll just use the Gryffindors showers." With that she walked out trying to hide her tears. She left Malfoy standing there still fuming.

Hermione walked down the deserted corridors the get to the Gryffindor common room. Once she reached the fat lady's portrait she cursed, "damn it! I don't know the password."

Suddenly Ginny appeared behind her and said, "liverwort." The portrait swung open and she nodded for Hermione to enter. As they stepped through the portrait hole Ginny asked, "where were you today? Everyone was so worried!"

"Hey listen Gin, I'll tell you about it later, right now all I need is a hot shower and some sleep," Hermione said in a dreamy voice as is she where already in the shower.

"Hermione! Your sopping wet! You'd better get out of those clothes! You'll get sick."

"Don't worry about me," she muttered as she walked into the girls showers. Quickly she removed her clothes. It took a little longer than usual because her cloth stuck to her body. Turning on the shower as hot as it would go she stepped into the stream of water. She sighed in relief as warmth ran over her. She could feel the blood rushing back into her fingers and toes. She closed her eyes and let the water run onto her face. Grabbing a bar of soap and a wash cloth she began to clean her body. Then she took her shampoo and squeezed what seemed like half of the bottle in her hair. There was no telling what was in there. Rubbing it gently into her hair she put it in funky spikes all over her head. She laughed at her own silliness, it was something she used to do when she was younger. Washing it out she watched as the bubbles went down the drain. Grabbing some conditioner she put some in her hair and let it sit for a minute as she enjoyed the heat of the shower. Washing that out she sat for a few more minutes and regretfully stepped out of the shower. Grabbing some soft towels she dried off. Slipping on a thong and a bra she pulled on her sweat pants and shirt.

'I really need to get out of the habits of wearing thongs and drinking,' she thought to herself. Taking a towel she dried her hair. Letting it fall down in loose curls she walked out of the bathroom and into the corridors.

Malfoy stood there for a moment. Shocked even by what he had said. A little voice in the back of his said, 'that was really cold.' And Draco agreed. But he was a Malfoy! He was supposed to be cold… right? I mean, and she is a mudblood. Taking off his boxers he turned on the shower. Stepping into the hot water he let it run down him as he though. The warmth was refreshing, but he still felt cold. It was a cold heat could statically. Like his heart was broken, but when he put it back together he was missing a piece. And that missing peace allowed hatred and coldness to reach into his heart and take hold.

'If I find that piece will I change? Can I live a normal life?' he though. Taking shampoo he rubbed it into his hair. He washed it out and then took a bar of soap and washed his body. Standing in the heat for a few moments longer he regretfully stepped out. Drying off he slipped on his silver basket ball shorts.

Hermione whispered, "tears of blood." Trying not to make any noise sliding down the passage she entered the common room. Sighing with relief that he wasn't there she looked for a book on the shelf by the large window. Grabbing a book that caught her eye she sat down on the comfortable couch and turned on a dim reading light. She began reading The Silver Kiss (AN: I don't own that). It was a short book only a few hundred pages long. Easy for Hermione Granger, bookworm. Within half an hour she was half way through. She was really into this book. He eye's where stinging for sleep but she wouldn't close them.

As Malfoy walked into his room he thought he heard some one come into the common room. Opening the door a crack he looked out. There was Granger bookworm, looking for a book. He watched as she chose one and sat down on the couch. He watched as she flipped through the pages fast.

'She's a really fast reader,' he thought. He didn't know how long he stood there, all he knew is that before he knew it she was half way through the book. His eye's stung for sleep but he wouldn't close them.

Within another half hour she was almost done. Silent tears streamed down her face. Simon had chosen death. The book was so sad. She stopped reading for a moment to whip away the tears. They where so perfect for each other, why did they have to part. As she turned the last page one last tear slid down her cheek and she laid her head on the arm rest and closed her eyes.

Draco blinked. She was almost done! And- and she was crying! Why? What would make her cry over a stupid book? He watched as her tears feel. The disfigured moon reflecting in them. As the last page was turned her last tear fell. Them she laid her delicate head on the arm rest a closed her eye's. He just stood there for a moment, staring. Then emerging from his hiding place he made his way over to her. She looked so warn out. And it was his fault. The least he could do was put her in her bed. Picking her up gently he carried her into her dorm. He could see why she was so happy with her room. The walls where covered with black and white band pictures. Everywhere there where pictures, anime, and friends all in black and white. The floor was silver and the bed was blue, all the furniture was black. Gently he lay her down on her bed. Covering her with sheets he left her to sleep, but before he walked out the door he took one last glance and her moon lit face. He walked into his room. Getting into bed he closed his eye's when he heard her scream the most treble scream he'd ever heard.

Ha ha! Cliffy! Ya well I need 10 reviews before I can update again so review! Review! review!