A/N Here is the next chapter. I hope I updated fast enough.

I would like to thank my Beta, for correcting my story.

Hermione held up her hand to knock on his door, but she didn't. She even didn't know if he was in there. She almost wanted to turn around and walk away, but her courage made her stay. Her stupid courage! This was the second time her courage made her do something she didn't want. Last time it turned out to be a disastrous date. She felt embarrassed by the fact that Draco saw her when she was most vulnerable, and thank Merlin that he didn't do anything. Well not that she could remember much of it; everything was blurry. Yes, she still felt guilty, but if it wasn't for Ginny (that was the second time already, she should spent more time with Ginny as repayment) she would still have been crying her eyes out. Also, if it wasn't for Ginny, she would never have known that Draco was there, which would make her feel less awkward about seeing him.

Unfortunately, at this moment, Hermione felt like she should thank Draco for being there the first three days when she was … in distress. That happened a month ago and now she was able to go back to work again. Strangely found herself outside Draco's apartment, hoping he would be home. She had to thank him, but she couldn't knock on the door. Great; her courage made her stay, but it couldn't make her nod on the door. She sighed; wasn't it better that she left and maybe come back tomorrow? It would give her more time to consider what to say to Draco and that would make her look less stupid. Tomorrow would give her the opportunity to face him, knowing that she would control the situation; that nothing stupid would happen. She was still vulnerable, and she didn't know if she would have the strength to resist him.

In these few days, after she started to feel less guilty and after Ginny had told her that it was Draco who found her in her bedroom and that he was the one to inform Ginny, she couldn't get him out of her mind. He had been there, cancelled work, and cared for her. Most men don't do that sort of thing, do they? She didn't remember him actually being there, but she did remember someone asking if she was hurt and someone that stayed because she asked. She remembered a hand holding hers and a soft voice singing a lullaby, not completely pure, but it was good enough. She had felt safe, strangely enough. Letting go of her rational thought, she had trusted this man, who turned out to be Draco, completely. He hadn't said much, but his presence was enough to calm her down a bit.

He, on the other hand, must think that she was completely stupid. How could he not? He found her, crying, whispering, not responsing. He couldn't stand it anymore, so he went to Ginny. That was why Ginny came, Hermione suddenly realised. He didn't want to be around her anymore. A tear ran down her cheek. He never meant any of it. He just was there because … Well she didn't know why he was there. The only thing she did know was that he had left after three days, because he had enough of her. It wasn't as if he … As if he cared for her. He had proven that already. The evidence was all there.

Why did he help you then in that bar? A voice in her head asked. Because, he still wants to be on the people's good side and helping her he ensured that the other wizards wouldn't think bad of him anymore. It wasn't because he cared; it was because he wanted his image to be good. Another tear fell down. It was just like with Ron; thinking he cared, but in the end they would only do because it would help them out. She wasn't important to both wizards.

'Hermione, what are you doing here?' She heard someone say behind her and she immediately recognised the voice. The very same person she was here for. She wiped away the tears and turned around. There was Draco, by his side a Labrador, who was very enthusiastic and seemed to want to jump up at her. He looked more gorgeous than she remembered. His hair was all ruffled by the wind and his cheeks were slightly red, as if he had been running.

'Hi Draco,' she said and she realised that it was the first time that she addressed him with his first name. She quickly looked away and felt her cheeks redden. From the corner of her eyes, she could see him smiling. A real smile, not a smirk; something she had never seen before.

'Come in,' he said and he opened the door, letting her walk in first. She didn't know why she was doing this. He took her coat and hung it on the coat and hat rack. To avoid looking at him, she bent down and started petting the Labrador.

'Her name is Timba,' Draco said and she looked up smiling, feeling like a love-sick girl. Her eyes connected with Draco's and she couldn't look away. He seemed to get closer and closer. Now she had to look up at him. He was so close; she could feel his body warmth, or was that her imagination? Strangely surprising herself she didn't mind the proximity. She saw his eye shot down to her lips, and back up again, meeting hers, silently asking permission to kiss her. It scared her that she wanted him to kiss her; this was completely new for her. He reached out and his hand cupped her cheek. She felt her breathing accelerate and her heart in her throat. She wanted to know what he tasted like. His lips was less than an inch away from hers and she closed her eyes, turning her head up, meeting his lips as they faintly brushed hers.

Hermione didn't know what happened, but a second later she found herself on the ground, with Timba licking her face.

'Timba, to your basket, now,' Draco said calmly, but his voice was strict and Timba obeyed immediately. 'Sorry about that,' he said while he helped her up.

'Don't bother,' she said, glad that the dog had interrupted. Whatever would have happened, it would be wrong. This was Draco Malfoy, he wasn't her type. She was here to thank him for helping her, not to jump him. She had to stay focussed. 'I wanted to thank you, for being there for me after... You know what,' she said, avoiding his eyes, knowing that she couldn't afford another moment of weakness, because that was the almost kiss; a moment of weakness. It wasn't as if she wanted it, or, heaven forbid, in love with him.

'You're welcome,' he replied. She gave him a short smile and turned around, walking back through the front door, apparating the moment she was out of there. If she only had looked back, she could have seen the confused, hurt look in his eyes, which could have changed her mind.

OoOoOo

Draco carefully avoided her on the work the next couple of weeks, hoping that his feelings for her would lessen, to a point that it wouldn't bother him every night when he came home to a somewhat empty house. He knew how she felt; it was clearly readable in her eyes when she left that afternoon. He was getting better at this; pretending he didn't feel anything for her. It made life easier. She hadn't sought contact after what happened; he had probably scared her away.

The almost kiss was a conformation for his feelings, which he had tried to denied. He liked her, a lot. He might even been in love with her. Ever since the night she spent, completely hangover, he had been interested in her. Why else he had agreed to talk to her, had he told her the truth about that night? Hell, he had asked her on a date! He was positive now. He rolled on his back and stared at the ceiling of his bedroom. Insomnia was his new best friend. He hadn't slept properly since her lips had brushed hers. Although he hadn't been a stranger to kissing and meaningless sex, something inside him couldn't think that way about her. He wanted her, more and more every day.

He looked at the clock on his bed stand: six a.m. He might as well get up now, and do something useful. He got dressed and went downstairs. Timba looked at him, but made no attempt to get up. It was probably too early for her. After he made breakfast, he felt too active. He needed to do something to get rid of the extra energy, which he had. He could clean his house, but he didn't want to. A few spells could do that for him, and he knew from previous experience that magic would win over his determination to do it the muggle way. He walked into the hall way, not knowing what to do with himself. He knew that he had to distract himself, otherwise he would probably do something he would later regret and he would probably do that something to Hermione. Suddenly his eyes fell on the running shoes he had purchased a few years earlier, just because he, could, and he had done nothing with them. Maybe it was time to change that.

He had been late; he had never been late before. A habit, he realised, was one Hermione had as well. The running took longer than he had thought. It was a perfect way to think and get rid of energy. He dropped his bag on the couch and sat down. Today had been exhausting. He had been wanted at two different floors at the same time. It was a miracle he had survived.

'You look like a mountain troll, you know that right?' said a familiar voice and Draco smiled when his friend entered the room. Timba jumped up and greeted Blaise, as joyful as ever.

'You tell me, I haven't had the chance to look in the mirror today. Been busy all day long,' Draco replied as Blaise sat down on a chair. 'How's Daphne?'

'Good. She says hi.' It was silence for a while. Draco didn't know if he could tell Blaise.

'I've heard that you have a thing for Hermione Granger.' That solved the matter, thought Draco. 'Astoria saw the both of you on date a while ago. If I had known earlier, I would have come.' Draco could see that he was somehow hurt. As much as they tried, they couldn't hide their emotions around each other, the one reason why they were such good friends.

'It was nothing. Mother had talked me into it, and it turned out to be a disaster. But, you're right. I have a thing for her; I like her, a lot. I don't know if she knows, but a couple of weeks ago we almost kissed and gone she was,' Draco confessed to Blaise. The former was absolutely positive that telling his best friend was the right thing to do. Draco waited on a reply, but Blaise was grinning, one that grew bigger every second. Draco raised his eyebrows, motioning the latter to spill what he was thinking.

'You like her,' Blaise only said.

'Yes, I like her. I think we have established that.'

'Didn't I tell you at Hogwarts? Didn't I? I told you that you liked her, but you never listened to me.' Draco sighed, but he remembered. At the time he had dismissed Blaise's comment, finding it impossible. Even now he thought that it had nothing to do with school. The feelings he harboured for Hermione were recent, he was sure of that.

'Yes, you are right, almighty Blaise,' he said dryly. 'What am I to do now?' Usually it was Blaise that had come to him with dating advice. Now the roles were reversed.

'I mean; a couple of weeks ago we almost kissed, but Timba broke us apart, and before I knew it she was gone. She just left.' Blaise said nothing for a while, although a couple of time he opened his mouth, but then he changed his mind and closed it again. Somehow that made Draco nervous. Blaise must have seen that.

'Well, I dare say that it is not completely hopeless, just yet. Have you been able to talk about it?'

'Well I kind of avoided her?' Draco ended with a question when he saw the disapproving face of Blaise.

'What was I suppose to do? I couldn't, well still can't, be around her and not want to kiss her senseless and it is not as if she contacted me, despite the obvious fact that I was avoiding her, though I don't know if she noticed that, because-'

'Draco! You're rambling,' Blaise quickly interrupted his best friend, knowing that Draco could keep going for hours. Draco rarely rambled so when he did, it was serious.

'Sorry,' Draco muttered, feeling slightly embarrassed. Malfoys didn't ramble. They just didn't. Then again, they would never chase after a girl, which would clearly happen.

'It is simple; you are going to take her on a date,' said Blaise. Draco only raised an eyebrow, remembering the previous and only date. 'Well at least you are going to court her.'

'How?' Draco asked, eagerly leaning forward.

'Later, I think it is best that you first eat something.'

'Bastard,' Draco replied, but stood up nonetheless.

'That is exactly why we are friends,' Blaise answered smirking, earning a smack on his arm by Draco.

A/N Read and Review!