I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and are looking forwards to the New Year.

AN - Everything but the plot belongs to JK Rowling.


Eight

"What was that for?" I asked as he released me from his hold.

"I'm glad you're not dead Granger…" he smiled, eyes twinkling. "…because then I'd be forced to figure a way out of this by myself."

I rolled my eyes at the annoying blond. "So what do you think we should do now?"

He leant forward, leaning his elbows on his thighs. "Follow the path again I guess, I don't think there's much else we can do."

Wordlessly he stood up, and after rifling through his school robes for a moment, pulled out my wand and held it out to me. It was instantly soothing to have it back in my hands, and I cast a pain numbing charm on my ankle before I gingerly stood up; it still hurt a bit, but nowhere near as bad as the intense burning pain I had felt previously.

"Shall we go?" I asked as I looked at Malfoy over my shoulder.

"It would be nice to get out of these woods by nightfall." He agreed.

As before, I followed Malfoy down the dry, mud path, limping my way through the crisp autumn leaves. The limp I had been forced to accommodate was slowing me down considerably, and I had to keep reminding Malfoy to slow down. His stride in normal circumstances was longer than mine, now it was just ridiculous.

He was getting frustrated with me as well, I could tell, and by the fifth time during the course of the day that I had shouted after his disappearing figure to slow down or stop; he had retraced his steps, marching determinedly towards me. A shocked squeal of surprise escaped my throat as he stooped down in front of me, his arms encircling around my legs and lower back before he hoisted me up and over his shoulder, in an undignified fireman's lift.

"Malfoy…" I yelled at his back. "What the hell do you think you're playing at? Put me down this instant." He ignored me, only making me angrier with him. "I am not a bloody child you know."

I began pounding his body with my fists, taking out my frustration. "Hitting me isn't going to make me put you down you know. Besides, it's not like your little girly fists are actually hurting me." I thumped him as hard as I could, my coordination whilst hanging upside down was a little off, and instead of hitting his back, I got his arse instead.

A laugh rumbled through him, making the ride a lot more uncomfortable as his shoulders shook up and down with mirth. He patted me on the bum condescendingly. "And you said you weren't a child."

"I think you'll find that I am much more mature than you Malfoy."

"Says the girl whose taking her temper out on my poor arse?" He was right damn it; refusing to dignify that with a response, I ceased my rampant fists and remained silent, hanging over his shoulders like a rag doll.

We stayed liked that for a few minutes, Malfoy continued to chuckle quietly to himself as he walked. My blood however was pooling in my head, causing a headache. "Uhm Malfoy, can you put me down please?"

His arms held onto me tightly as he pulled me back over his shoulder and slid me down the front of his body. Being upright again made me dizzy and I swayed a bit, but his arms didn't fully release their hold on me until I looked up at him properly.

"Is that better?" He asked, smiling at me kindly.

"What, now that I'm back on two feet you mean?" I replied sarcastically. "Yes, it's much better, thanks."

We had been walking for a few hours by this point, and had yet to encounter a new 'story' for us to enter. Despite Malfoy carrying me for that last twenty minutes or so, I was exhausted. "I don't think I can go any further today, I'm knackered." He was looking up at the bit of sky that was visible. I looked too; it was getting towards dusk and the sky was of a pretty orange hue.

"Are you sure that I can't just carry you for a bit longer? We might find something else a bit further up."

"No, I will not let you carry me; anyway, I am more than cap…"

He held a hand up to cease my words. "Don't you dare say 'capable' miss-hop-along, I doubt that that ankle of yours will allow you to walk much further today; whereas I still have two fully functioning legs, and anyway, it's not as if you're exactly heavy."

"I said no, alright?"

"But why not?" He was looking at me sternly now, his molten silver eyes working to make my thoughts unintelligible as they bored into mine.

I didn't want to say anything that would indicate a weakness on my part, but eventually I forced myself to state the real reason. "I hate not being in control, alright, and to have you carrying me like some damsel in distress…well it seems wrong."

"I forgot that you're a control freak." I glared angrily at him. "But that's not necessarily a bad thing." He amended quickly.

Limping away from him, I awkwardly manoeuvred my body until I was sat on the slightly damp grass, next to a tall tree. My ankle was throbbing now as the charm wore off, maybe walking on it for nearly an entire day had been a bad idea.

Malfoy crouched down in front of me, flicking his hair from out of his eyes as I sulked; shaking his head he cast another pain numbing charm. "You are so fucking stubborn sometimes." I raised an eyebrow disbelievingly and cleared my throat. "What? You are though."

"I know I'm stubborn, but you are as well; you wouldn't exactly win the 'accommodating' award would you?" I huffed.

"Well someone's being a grumpy bitch aren't they?"

"I would suggest that you stop talking if you know what's best for you; and remember that I am currently in possession of my wand again."

He started minutely at my growled words. "Which is why I am going to go and set up tonight's protection wards." He bid a hasty retreat, disappearing amongst the trees. It was getting considerably colder again now that it was nearly dark, and a sharp breeze was building up as it tumbled through the mossy grass and trees.

I rubbed absently at the sore muscles surrounding my injured ankle. The spell was working well, but it was still feeling a bit tender. So maybe Malfoy was a nice guy after all. I came over all warm and giddy as I remembered our kiss from earlier. It had become a lot more apparent to me as well, that I had been wanting something to happen between us for a lot longer than I had consciously thought.


It was another evening sat around a crackling fire in a comfortable silence, both obviously wrapped up in our own thoughts. On my part, I couldn't help but sneak a glance or two at him, the amber glow of the flames flickering over his face. He looked somewhat content as he too watched the flames with a small smile on his lips.

The guy had saved my life; what had happened to all that 'self-preservation' tripe he'd spouted off about earlier in the day? There were certainly hidden depths to the Slytherin that no one ever expected, least of all me. But I was delighted to see it; I liked spending time with a kind Malfoy…probably too much actually.

"I don't hate you, you know." His voice broke into my thoughts, forcing me to look at him quizzically. "I don't hate you; never really did now that I think about it." My eyes had gone wide; I couldn't believe I was hearing him right. "Don't give me that look Granger, I know that you've thought about it before, your thoughts can be surprisingly transparent."

"Whereas your thoughts are completely impossible to decipher."

The smirk reappeared. "Years of practice on my part."

"Well I suppose I don't dislike you either."

"You don't dislike me; does that mean that you like me then, oh eloquent one?"

I was incredibly grateful that our only light source was an orange tinted one as I blushed. "My impression of you may have improved somewhat…or, well quite a lot actually."

We looked at each other for a moment. Malfoy smiled at me, but didn't respond. Instead he stretched his body out onto its side. "Are you going to join me Granger?" I looked at him confused, and he simply held the edges of his winter cloak up. "To go to sleep Granger."

"Oh, uhm yes, I guess so." I slid my body over until I was next to him. Lying down a little awkwardly; last time had been bad enough and there hadn't been as many feelings and emotions flying around.

"Relax Hermione; we're just going to sleep." He pulled my body closer again, until we were spooning quite comfortably under our makeshift blanket. One arm was slung casually over my waist and was resting against my stomach, his other arm was tucked under my neck and he'd brought it up to rest across my chest. It was essentially a (quite intimate) hug.

As we lay together, I was struggling to control my breathing, and so apparently was Draco. I felt it speed up; his chest rising and falling against my back. "Hermione…"

"Hmm?" He moved back an inch or two, pulling my body over until I lay more on my back. His grey eyes were fixed on me, and his beautiful face was all I could see; and it was definitely getting closer…oh god.

I shuddered as one smooth finger trailed along my jawline, moving teasingly slow towards my cheek. He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, allowing his fingers to skim down my neck; and then his lips were on mine again.

The frenzied kisses of earlier were gone, and in their place were calm, gentle kisses. His lips were pressing to mine with such warmth and need that I didn't even consider stifling the moan that rose in my throat; causing him to chuckle.

When he pulled away, I swatted lightly at his chest. "That wasn't quite 'just going to sleep' was it Draco?"

"Right, because you were putting up such a fight?" He laughed, turning me so I lay against his chest again.

"Ah, touché Draco." I squeezed the hand that lay across my stomach, and just as I was falling asleep, I felt his arms tighten around me with a squeeze of their own.


Bit sappy at the end there, but it needed some there I think.

Thank you all SO much...there were a lot of reviews for that last chapter. I am very glad that you're all enjoying it so much, and I know some of you have suggested some fairy-tales of your own. If I can work more in, then I will. But if I feel that the story line isn't as evolved as the remaining chapters I have in my head and notes, then I won't extend it, only to have my story turn into something I'm not proud of.

Thanks again.

Gemsibob