Thank you for reviewing. Enjoy Chapter 7.

For Hermione, the broom ride was exhilarating. Since the first time she'd sat on a broom, she felt safe.

For Draco, the broom ride felt like it normally did for him. He felt calm and relaxed under the stars with the wind blowing in his face. Something about it was different though. Maybe it was the company or perhaps it was the smell of her hair that kept napping at his face. It smelt like vanilla and was warm and inviting.

He went for a ride almost every night and wasn't sure why he had decided to invite Hermione along with him this time. Maybe it was because she was the only person he could talk to. She was his only friend.

After about a half an hour, it had started to rain on them and they flew back in through Hermione's bedroom window and hopped off the broom, soaking wet.

She laughed, "Well that certainly was fun." She went to turn on the light to her bathroom, then opened her dresser, took out a new shirt, and headed back to the bathroom, stripping her layers as she went.

He watched her slowly cross the room in awe. She faced away from him and ripped off her final shirt and unhooked her bra. She slid a dry, clean shirt over her head and turned back towards him.

He realized his heart was beating fast and for the first time he was flustered in front of a girl.

Hermione tucked a strand of hair that had fallen out of her messy bun behind her ear. "Um well thanks for taking me out though I'm not really sure why you did it." She half laughed.

"Listen, I just I want to," he hesitated, trying to find the right words, "I don't have many people I can talk to these days besides you and I just wanted to let you know that I appreciate you, for listening to me."

"Wow, did Draco Malfoy just say thank you to me, Hermione Granger?" She smirked.

"I suppose so."

"You really have changed."

"It's just these days, you're my only friend, as pathetic as that sounds." He looked down, embarrassed.

"You consider me a friend?" She asked.

"Well yeah. You're the only one I trust. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because you dared to talk to me when no one else did." He lingered around her room to her dresser and picked up a moving picture of her, Ron, and Harry from first year.

"You can stay here if you'd like." She mumbled.

He snapped his head towards her. "What?" He was sure he misinterpreted her.

"I just mean," she cleared her throat, "It's raining outside and all my roommates left for Christmas so I have four empty beds."

"Hermione Granger inviting a boy into her bedroom? What will people think? They certainly wouldn't call you a prude anymore." He looked toward the ceiling.

"I am not a prude!" She gasped.

"Hermione," He cocked his head.

"What did you just say?"

"Hermione?" He furrowed his brows.

"B-but you never call me that." She sat on her bed.

"Sure I do. That's your name. You call me Draco."

"I mean you only say it when you use my full name and that's when you're being sarcastic. I'm sorry. I'm being silly."

He knelt in front of her. "Well you're my friend now. I just thought it best if we were on a first name basis."

She let out of small laugh and nodded her head, "Of course."

He stood up and grabbed his broomstick. "I should probably head out."

She jumped up and walked over to him. "You won't stay?"

She was legitimately disappointed. She had come to enjoy talking to Draco. She was able to tell him things that she had never told anyone before, not even Ron and Harry. She knew it was the same for him as well.

"So how are the Weaslbee and Potty doing?" Draco had asked one night on the Astronomy Tower.

"Harry and Ron," she emphasized, "are well. They're at the Weasley's this Christmas."

"Yeah? And why aren't you there?" She shrugged. "Ah, still not over Weaslebee ,eh?

Her head shot up. Come to think of it, she was over Ron. Actually, she hadn't thought of him much since she'd become friends with Draco.

"Actually, I haven't thought about him much at all lately." She scoffed. She then realized that Draco had subconsciously gotten her over Ron.

"I wouldn't want to ruin your reputation." He said sarcastically.

She placed her hand on his shoulder and ran it down his arm, "No one has to know." She couldn't help but think he looked attractive with his wet fringe in his eyes and his wet shirt clinging to his muscles. Her heart started to speed up and she retracted her hand quickly.

He put a hand to her cheek. She closed her eyes and he kissed her softly.

When she opened her eyes again, he was gone. She smiled.

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When she woke up the next morning there were a bundle of presents at the foot of her bed. It was Christmas morning, how could she have forgotten?

She jumped out of bed and sat on the floor to open presents. There was a handmade scarf from Mrs. Weasley, a book on the history of famous witches from Harry, some chocolate frogs and other candies from Ron, joke products from Fred and George, and a new, very fashionable blouse from Ginny. And of course there was a plentiful amount of gifts from her mother and father that included presents from other members of her family. When she was done ripping through them all, she noticed a small green package with a silver ribbon on it that she had managed to overlook.

She picked it up and inspected it first. There was a small note attached to the present and she read it.

Hermione,

I saw this and knew you'd appreciated it.

She noticed there was no name, but opened the present regardless. She gasped when she opened the green velvet box. There, on the soft material, lied a stunning silver bracelet. She picked it up and noticed something hanging from it: a curled up snake. She smiled and thought one thing: Draco. She then immediately snapped the bracelet on her wrist.

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Later that night, Hermione couldn't wait to meet Draco at the Astronomy Tower. So excited in fact that she showed up an hour early. She came carrying Draco's Christmas gift. She had wanted to give it to him in person.

However, when midnight rolled around, he hadn't shown up. Then when 12:30 came, he still wasn't there.

Hermione was starting to get worried. What if something had happened to him? She waited around until 1:30 in the morning and finally decided that he wasn't coming.

She was sad and disappointed. She wanted to express thanks for her gift and see his reaction when he opened hers. She realized she was slightly angry that he hadn't told her he wasn't coming, so she placed the gift down where they usually sat and headed towards her common room.

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The next day in the Great Hall she was glad to see him alive and well, eating breakfast. But, he never would look at her and when he left the Great Hall he nearly ran out as if not to be followed, so she didn't.

She hoped to see him tonight in the tower with some sort of explanation, but when she got there at 12:10, he was not there. Instead she found a note where she had placed his gift. She picked it up and started reading.

Hermione,

I don't think I can do this anymore. It's not right. It's not who we are.

Draco

P.S. Thank you for the book. I've never heard of Romeo and Juliet but I'll give it a try.

She was surprised at how quickly tears fell from her face. She was hurt. He gave her no explanation and she felt like she had just lost a friend.

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Days passed and still no sign of Draco. She would see him in the Great Hall but nothing else. She began to worry about him. He was after all a Death Eater with a mission and she knew that's why he no longer spoke to her. He looked more sick and skinnier and her heart dropped every time she looked at him. His eyes were black again and she wondered if they were there because of the lack of sleep or if they were bruises. The thought made her sick to her stomach.

The holiday break was almost over and everyone would be returning to Hogwarts tomorrow. She was happy at the thought of having Harry and Ron by her side again. Everything would then go back to normal. Just her, Harry, and Ron going to class, studying, and no more Draco. It was a bittersweet thought. While she missed having Ron and Harry with her, she knew she would miss Draco as well. He had become a good friend, someone to talk to and she had to admit he was a good kisser.

Thanks for reading.