Chapter Ten- Awakening

Hermione didn't know what had possessed her to wrap her arms around Draco's neck, but she did, and as she felt him kiss her back a new awakening happened inside her heart. She wasn't sure just what it was yet, but for the first time in months she felt alive and almost whole again.

As they broke apart, they both took a step back from each other looking in each other's eyes, searching for something. She was waiting for him to say that he never meant what he had said and would bolt from this place, but somewhere deep inside her heart she dismissed that thought as soon as it had come. He was truly sincere and had brought her to this place to tell her. Took her away from everyone's prying eyes and wagging tongues to this remote area and tell her that he was sorry.

They stood there a little awkwardly and biting her lower lip she wondered what was to happen now when he asked, "What are you thinking?"

It was killing him not knowing what she was thinking. Was she regretting the kiss? Did she not believe his sincere apology? Did she think this was a cruel joke for him to bring her back to a spot where he had made fun of her and Weaselbee all those years ago?

But as she smiled he felt his uneasiness go away as she said, "I was just thinking what was going to happen now."

"Oh." He shifted his weight from one foot to the other and started thinking. He hadn't thought that far ahead just yet. He had only planned up to bringing her here and after that he had hoped that things would work out for themselves.

As she watched him shift his weight, she found him completely adorable the way he had suddenly become nervous and didn't know what to do. Looking around she then had a sudden idea and clearing her throat a little, saw him look at her as she smiled at him and said, "We could look around a little bit. I've never seen the entire inside."

He began to nod when something seemed to sink in and he asked, "'The entire inside'? You've been inside before?"

Nodding she looked around and said, "Third year. Harry and I had followed Sirius drag Ron under the Whomping Willow and we ended up here."

"Oh." He realized just how little he knew of all that she had been through.

As he thought back to third year he laughed suddenly and looked down, absentmindedly rubbing the side of his nose.

"What?" she asked suddenly.

"That was the year you punched me." He responded chuckling.

"Oh." She mimicked him, looking down at the floor.

Laughing he quickly stood before her and raising her face to look at him, waited until her eyes met his before saying, "That's all in the past now."

She gave him a pitiful little smile and as he bent down to kiss her gently on the lips he lingered only momentarily before looking back at her. Her eyes were still closed, and as she opened them slowly he smiled at her and said softly, "Let's take a look around."

Smiling at him he noticed her face was a little flushed and as they started walking around they were silent as they went through the different rooms. As they walked towards the back towards the run down and broken kitchen with its cupboard doors falling down and counter sunken in they continued on towards the dining room.

They continued on to the next room and as Hermione felt a little more comfortable being around Draco she wished that she knew just what to say. As they made it to the living room she looked over to the fireplace with sunlight shining down from above she couldn't help but laugh suddenly and looking at him said, "I bet this place is warm in the winter."

Looking around she got the exact response she was looking for as he faked a grimace and said, "I don't know, it's a little drafty for me."

Laughing they looked around. She could see holes in the walls, and in the ceiling looking ready to collapse any moment, and the wind was blowing through the house chilled her through her still wet clothes.

"Are you cold?" he asked suddenly.

"A little." She said, but her teeth were starting to chatter a bit giving away just how cold she was.

Taking off his jacket he placed it over her shoulders, and feeling concerned for her said, "We could go back to the castle if you want. I didn't realize you were still wet from the rain earlier."

Feeling the warmth envelope her, it took her a moment to register what he said, when she shook her head and said,

"It's ok. We still haven't checked out the upstairs."

As she smiled at him, he smiled back and reaching for her hand said, "Let's go check it out."

Taking his hand they walked up the stairs and as they reached the landing she couldn't help but to feel that this was a whole different rule breaking experience for her. Usually she was helping Harry and had risked and put her life on the line. With Draco, this was a new spontaneous rule-breaking and she was enjoying it completely.

Turning to look at her, he felt puzzled as to her sudden merriment. He couldn't help but to ask, "You ok?"

"Yeah." She giggled, and looking at him said, "I've never broken the rules without risking my life in some way. This kind of rule breaking is fun and so spontaneous!"

Realizing what she meant he couldn't help but laugh with her and taking her hand and hoping he sounded sincere said, "I hope we can always be spontaneous."

She looked adorable as she bite her lower lip her and lowered her gaze to the ground. Placing a hand under her chin he raised her face up to look at him, and from the dim lighting could tell that she was blushing. Stepping down to the same step she was on he felt drawn to her as he bent his head closer to hers and whispered softly, "Like now."

With that he gently placed his lips upon hers and kissed her.

By the time they finally left the Shrieking Shack Hermione had never had such a fun afternoon. She had told him about what had happened with Sirius when they reached the bedroom, Lupin and Sirius surprising them by being old pals, and when they discovered Ron's rat Scabber's was really Peter Pettigrew. He was all ears as she talked, soaking up everything that she said, and looked at her with concern when she told him about howling like a wolf to save their skins from Lupin when he had transformed into a werewolf.

He asked her questions about everything. How she had made it to all her classes that year. What had she felt when she had been petrified by the Basilisk. How was it that she ended up going to the Yule Ball with Victor Krum? They seemed to try to make up time for all the years they had wasted.

It wasn't until they reached the castle, did she stop talking and as they hid behind an alcove around the courtyard did she feel nervous. Back at the Shrieking Shack they didn't have to worry about onlookers. She knew they were a little late as they returned from Hogsmead, but Filch didn't seem to say anything as they had snuck their way by and had laughed at the expression on his face. But now that they were here she couldn't but wonder, what was to happen now?

Sensing her thoughts Draco looked up at the castle and sighing said, "This changes a lot of things doesn't it?"

Nodding she heard her voice say a quiet, "Yes."

"I guess we could just go back to pretending to hate each other. Call each other names and avoid each other as much as possible."

She could hear the forced humor in his voice, and as she smiled meekly at him she knew that they both wouldn't be able to continue on like they had. A huge part of her wanted to say to hell with what people would say, but another part of her didn't want people to know. In her mind she wanted to have Draco to herself and to not let peoples prodding eyes and questioning glances and jeers ruin their tender moments together.

Gazing up at him she noticed he seemed to understand what she was thinking. Taking his jacket off her shoulders, he kissed her on the mouth one last time and said, "Go on. I'll head in after a bit."

Nodding she began to walk towards the front doors, but before she took ten steps stopped turning around ran back to him, wrapping her arms around him. He held her close to him, breathing in the smell of her hair, and feeling her heart beat from her neck against his cheek.

They stood there for several minutes before she finally stepped back and as she walked away he called out, "Hermione?"

She spun around and as she looked at him, he felt his heart pound as he said, "Follow the Stars." With that he disappeared in the shadows as a group of people came walking out.

Walking towards the entrance she couldn't help but wonder what he meant when as she came towards the Great Hall she found Ginny and Harry walking towards her. Seeing their faces she could tell they had been worried about her.

"Hermione!" Ginny cried out running up and hugging her, "What happened to you?"

Before she could answer Ginny tugged on her arm and said, "Let's get you out of these clothes."

As they walked by Harry she let Ginny drag her down the corridors towards the Fat Lady and as they entered they headed up the stairs towards the empty girls dormitory. Heading towards her trunk she was gathering some dry clothes when Ginny sat on her bed and looking at her asked,

"What happened to you? You were right behind us and then Harry had asked you a question and when we looked back you weren't there."

"Oh...well...I..." she couldn't look her friend in the eye, and as she hid behind her dressing screen tried to think of something suitable to tell her friend.

"Was it a guy? Are you seeing someone?" Ginny asked excited.

As she emerged from behind the screen, she wished she could hide her blushing cheeks when Ginny jumped up and cried out, "You are! Who is he? How long have you guys been talking?"

Hermione felt torn. She wasn't sure if she should tell Ginny about Draco or make up some boy. But she really didn't want to try and keep straight with any sort of lie, so as she arranged her wet clothes around the heater in the middle of the room she took a deep breath and said,

"How long have we been talking? Two days now. Who is he?" she paused suddenly and looking down at her steaming clothes whispered, "Draco Malfoy."