Silence. That's what Draco heard. He paced in the boys dormitory, all the others having gone down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

Silence. She said nothing, after he had told her everything. Hell, he had told her he'd killed someone. Something not even his closest friends knew. And she said nothing. She had just sat there, leaning against him, in silence.

Do you blame her? Draco, you couldn't possibly believe she would love a monster like you. The voices began ringing again. They hurt his head, like whizzbees buzzing in his brain. You're damaged goods. You're sick. Twisted. Psychotic. Unable to feel, as much as you'd like to think you do. This isn't love. She said nothing because she knows she couldn't love you. And that you couldn't love her, even if you tried.

Draco whimpered, hitting his temples with the palms of his hands, trying to silence the voices. Stop. Please. Not now. I do feel love. I didn't realize it until now. You're wrong. All of you are wrong. I'd die for her. I'd kill for her. I'd love her till the day I die. I'd love her more than Mother.

Oh but Draco, she doesn't want you, the nasty little voice said. I do believe it was apparent by the way she quickly left after you both said your goodbyes.

But, a second voice said, I also do believe it was apparent in the way she avoided looking at you. She couldn't look you in the eye because she knows you are nothing but an animal that deserves to be locked up in St. Mungo's where you belong.

Oh please, a third voice piped up. He wouldn't last a day without his mummy. Poor little Draco, you probably couldn't tie your shoes without her. Much less feed yourself. And what about her cleaning up your messes? What do YOU think would happen if she wasn't there to make everything right?

Oh, and what about Katie Bell? The second voice chimed in. How you slipped her that cursed necklace? And let's not forget how you neglected to mention that to dear, sweet Hermione. Sure, you'd tell her that you killed someone, but that could be written off as a bit of accidental magic. But to tell her that you cursed someone on purpose? Oh that would scare her off, no doubt. It shows just how depraved you are. And would she want you then?

You're all wrong, Draco thought. All three of you seek to destroy me. And I had to give Katie the cursed necklace, to pass along to Dumbledore, just as the Dark Lord wished for me to do. It's not my fault the silly bint had a burning curiosity to touch the damn thing. And as for Hermione, I want to be with her. And she silences all of you. No more delusions. No more nasty thoughts. No more of this bullshit. Please, go away. All of you. I've no time for this.

Draco, Draco, Draco. You should know by now that we'll never go away by your command. The first voice spat viciously.

Draco walked over to his bed, and leaned against one of the poles on the four poster. A light sheen of sweat on his brow, Draco was shaking, not from the more than usually chilly air in the dungeon (well, it was November), but because the voices were taking a toll on him. Make it stop, he pleaded. Please, for the love of Merlin, make it stop.

We will never stop, Draco. And Hermione won't always be around. You've lived with us for nine years. And you'll live with us for eighty more.

Draco leaned down and picked up his school bag, slinging it over his shoulder. I'm going to be late for breakfast. It's enough. At least let me get through Arithmancy and Potions. Draco strode towards the door, exiting the dormitory. He walked through the common room and out of the dungeons. Walking through the hallways, the voices returned, suggesting nasty and horrible things to do to the people passing by.

You could Crucio Marietta Edgecombe. The first voice chirped.

Why don't you just punch Colin Creevey? Wipe the smile off his stupid little face. Or better yet, lure him into a dark corner and slice his skin? Suggested the second voice.

No, no, Draco; why don't you just kill yourself? Save the world a whole lot of trouble and pain. No one would miss you, spat the third voice, the most vicious of all three.

"SHUT UP!" Draco screamed, and everyone that was near him stared at him like he'd gone mad. He stopped, and glared at those who dared to stare at him. They looked away as his eyes met theirs, a scowl on his face. He continued walking, hurrying to get to breakfast before they had cleared everything from the tables.

Reaching the Great Hall, Draco took a deep breath, and entered, the voices still whispering, making his way to the Slytherin table. He looked around first, trying to spot Hermione at the Gryffindor table, but was unsuccessful. Where could she be?

Just as he found his seat, he saw her come through the doorway, and the voices stopped abruptly. Silence. Finally. She looked to be in deep thought. He stared at her, watching her walk all the way to where the Gryffindors were sitting, and plop down right next to Harry, who smiled at her and continued reading his Daily Prophet. She opened up a book, no doubt some obscure historical tome she had borrowed from the library. She propped it up and made a plate, all the while reading. She took no notice of his piercing gaze.

Draco's eyes traveled her face, resting on her full lips. Why do they always seem so red to me? He remembered feeling those soft lips against his, and how her mouth tasted succulent, like honeydew. It fits her; of course she would taste sweet. He remembered her scent, how she smelled of roses and cherry blossoms, much like his Mother's garden. She smelled like home.

Draco's gaze was broken by a hand being waved in his face. He flinched, and looked to see who dared to interrupt him. It was Pansy.

"Oh Draco, where has your mind wandered off to? You've been distant lately and we've not been spending much time together like we used to." she cooed, fluttering her eyelashes, stroking his arm.

Draco's mouth curled in disgust. "Pansy, you look like a dog that's seizing when you do that. Stop flirting with me. You disgust me. And we don't spend time together anymore because you like to spread your legs for any wizard that crosses your path."

Pansy's mouth fell open, shock evident on her face. "Where's all this coming from, Draco? I've done nothing to deserve this!" Shock turned into anger. "And I wouldn't have to fuck every guy that comes across my path if you had been man enough to do me yourself. But no. Sometimes I wonder, Draco, if the reason you refuse to sleep with me is if you prefer boys, or, Merlin forbid, if you have a tiny penis."

Draco snapped, smacking his hand against the table, causing the dark-haired witch to squeal and jump, and moved his face closer to hers. "How fucking dare you, you stupid whore? You dare to throw those accusations at me, simply because I won't sleep with you?" he growled, grabbing her arm hard, twisting it behind her back, his eyes wide, nostrils flaring. "Don't you ever fucking assume things about me."

Pansy whimpered, her arm hurting, scared at the way Draco was glaring at her. "I'm sorry Draco! Please, let my arm go!" She cried out, drawing the attention of a few Slytherins towards the end of the table. They watched Draco, fear evident in their eyes, unsure as to whether to help the witch currently in his grasp. He stared them down until they looked away, and Pansy cried a little, clearly in pain. "Draco, please!"

He turned to look at Pansy, but something caught his eye. It was Hermione. She had been watching the entire scene unfold, her eyes wide, her chest heaving, her eyes pleading, and she was halfway out of her seat. Harry was looking at her, confused as to why his friend was standing up. Harry followed her line of vision, and his eyes rested on Draco, puzzled. Draco looked back at Harry, and then his eyes darted to Hermione. Realization crossed Harry's face. He turned back to Hermione and took her by the arm and led her out of the Great Hall, Draco staring intently after them.

Draco let go of Pansy's arm, and got up, walking out of the Great Hall to follow the two. He looked around, and saw a flash of Hermione's hair disappearing around the corner, and Draco strode to a statue close to the young witch and wizard. He listened intently, hearing snippets of what Harry was saying.

"-hell are you thinking, Hermione?! He's a Death Eater! He's on Voldemort's side! How could you do this? Do you know what's going to happen to you if Voldemort finds out about your involvement with the slimy git?"

"Harry, listen to me! I'm not involved with him, I swear! He only just started paying attention to me a two weeks ago, when he followed me to my study spot. He kissed me and-"

"WHAT?! THAT FUCKING FERRET!" Harry yelled, startling Draco.

"Harry please, calm down! You're going to draw attention to us!"

Draco heard Harry sigh. "Fine. I'm sorry, Hermione. Continue what you were saying."

"He kissed me and I hexed him, and I left him there. And then last night when I ran out of the common room, I went to my study spot again and he was there, waiting for me. I was so upset with Ron, Harry." She paused, and took a deep breath, no doubt dreading what she had to tell Harry. "I wasn't in my right mind, Harry. I-I kissed him."

"YOU WHAT?!"

"Harry, please!"

"I'm sorry Hermione. Continue."

"I kissed him, and he said a few things about wanting to be with me, and how he was afraid he'd mucked it up. I felt so bad for him I ended up taking him to a spot by the lake and we watched the stars. Then…"

"Then what, Hermione? What happened?"

"He held me. I was still so upset with Ron. And it was cold. And we talked about stuff."

Why'd she have to be so vague about it? It wasn't just 'stuff', it was deep meaningful conversation, Draco thought bitterly.

"That's it? He didn't… force you to do anything, did he?"

"No! No, I promise you Harry, he didn't."

"So, are you going to date him?"

There was silence. "I honestly don't know. It's too much, and it's too fast." Draco cringed. Does she really think that way? Am I moving too fast? "He's… intense. But he seems serious. I don't know what to do Harry."

"What do you mean by 'intense'? How is he intense?"

Hermione paused, and Draco held his breath, wondering if she would tell Potter about his mental affliction. "He's just intense Harry. Like everything he does is calculated, planned out. He stares at me in an intense way. I don't know how to explain it." Draco let go of the breath he had been holding, relieved that she kept his secret.

"Does he have the potential to make you happy?"

"I don't know Harry. I don't know how to deal with this, it's all new to me."

Draco could hear Harry shuffling his feet. "I always thought he was crazy. And I have a hunch that he's a Death Eater, I just know it. Be careful Hermione. Merlin knows what he could be up to."

Draco peeked around the statue, and caught a glimpse of Hermione nodding her head, all the while looking at the ground. She looked up, and noticed Draco, but her eyes never betrayed his position. Harry placed a hand on her shoulder, and rubbed it.

"I wished you had told me sooner, Hermione. You don't have to hide things like this from me."

"I didn't know how you would have reacted, Harry. I was afraid I'd lose my best friend."

Harry chuckled. "You could never lose me, unless you killed someone I loved."

"And that's not likely to happen, Harry."

"Of course not." Draco saw Harry pull Hermione into a hug. "Just tell me what you decide, when you decide it. I'll still be by your side."

Hermione watched Draco over Harry's shoulder, and raise a hand up to motion for him to hide again. Draco complied, ducking back behind the statue. "I'll tell you as soon as I decide, Harry. I promise. Now, you should probably go back and finish breakfast. It's almost time for morning classes."

"Okay. I'll see you later then." Draco heard Harry's footsteps near the statue, and he walked around it, until he was where Harry had stood. Peering around the statue, he watched Harry leave, and turned his attention to Hermione. And he almost wished he hadn't.

She was fuming. "In what world are you allowed to follow me, and eavesdrop on my conversation with my best friend?! We, Draco, are not dating. So you have no right to follow me! Got it?"

Draco nodded. "Yes."

Hermione huffed, crossing her arms. "Now, what the hell was that business with Pansy in the Great Hall? You were scaring me. What did she do to you to warrant such a reaction?"

Draco hesitated. "...She insulted my pride. Made an assumption about me."

Hermione stared at him, then burst out laughing, her arms falling to her sides. "She hurt your pride? And that warrants her arm being twisted behind her back? Draco, you make me laugh. Who knew, Draco Malfoy has a fragile ego?" She laughed even harder, doubling over and holding her stomach. "It- shouldn't- be- a- surprise! You are such a cliché!" she gasped out between breaths.

Draco scowled, angry that he was being made fun of. "Don't laugh at me. It isn't funny!"

Hermione, with tears in her eyes from laughing so hard, stood up straight. "Oh, but Draco, it is! You can be a textbook prat and you're all too predictable." She smoothed her hair and wiped the tears from her eyes. "How did she hurt your pride?"

Draco turned away from Hermione, tilting his head back so his nose was up in the air. "Why should I tell you? Hmm? You've just made fun of me. I don't think I have to answer anything you ask of me," he responded playfully, smirking the entire time.

"Oh fine." He heard movement behind him, and a dull thud. "Draco, dearest, love of my life, please, I'm so sorry. Could you ever forgive me?" she said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

He turned around, and saw her on her knees, hands clasped in front of her like she was begging. The sight of her like that made him laugh. "Never in a million years would I have thought I'd have Hermione Granger begging for my forgiveness, practically on her knees in front of me." He winked at her. "It's funny."

Hermione chuckled. "I was thinking more along the lines of provocative." She went quiet, realizing what her words must've sounded like, and blushed a deep red. Draco extended a hand out, and she took it, lifting her up to her feet.

"So, what exactly did she say to hurt your pride, Draco?" Hermione asked, the blush slowly leaving her cheeks.

"She uh, insinuated that I had, um, a small, y'know…" Draco stared at the floor, rubbing the back of his neck with his left hand, "ahem, penis." he finished, mumbling under his breath.

Hermione's mouth opened up into an 'O'. "Ohhh. Why would she say that?"

"Because she's been begging to sleep with me for a month and a half now, and I refused."

"But why? I thought you both were already sleeping together. At least, that's the consensus amongst our peers."

Draco reluctantly looked at Hermione. "That's not true. I've… never… you know…"

Hermione looked at him, puzzled. "You mean… you've never…had sex?"

Draco nodded. "Y-yeah."

"Oh."

Now Draco was the one who was blushing. "Why is it I always manage to tell you extremely personal things about myself?"

Hermione shook her head. "I don't know. But no one other than Harry or Ron or Ginny has done that with me. So congratulations I guess."

Draco looked at his shoes. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

Draco opened his mouth, ready to ask his question, but was interrupted by a loud bell, signaling the beginning of morning classes.

"I'm sorry, Draco, I've got to go. I'll talk to you later?" She made to move past him, but he caught her arm.

"It'll only take less than a minute to answer the question, Hermione."

She looked impatiently at him. "Fine. Go ahead. Ask."

He cleared his throat. "Are you a virgin too?"

She stared at him, slightly taken aback. A look Draco couldn't quite place flashed across her face, almost like a sense of longing and regret. Just as she was about to answer, another loud bell resounded in the hall, and the shuffling of feet could be heard.

"I really have to go, Draco. I'll see you later? Meet me in my study room?" She shrugged her arm from his grasp and walked away, leaving him with the sound of silence.