Chapter Ten

Breakfast was a quiet affair with Draco, Hermione, and Biddy eating French toast around the circular dining table. Draco and Hermione didn't speak much and were extra attentive to Biddy to delay the inevitable awkwardness that hung between them from last night. Draco would occasionally catch Hermione looking at him, but as soon as his gaze flickered up to her quizzically, she would immediately lower her gaze and blush. Draco mentally kicked himself for the umpteenth time for walking into the bathroom while she was showering. Biddy eyed the pair suspiciously as she chewed on her French toast.

"Biddy, you need to finish the last bit," Draco sighed exasperatedly, demonstrating by shoving a large piece of toast in his mouth and chewing exaggeratedly. Biddy crossed her arms and gave him a skeptical look. Draco ran his fingers through his hair and shot a desperate look at Hermione, who had been watching the affair with amusement. Taking pity on him, Hermione decided to take some action.

"Biddy," Hermione leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially to the girl, "if you finish that last bit of French toast; I'll get Mister Malfoy here to sing 'Old McDonald' for you again." A large grin split Biddy's face and she proceeded to shove the toast into her mouth, all the while watching Draco with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Granger, what did you tell her?" Draco muttered under his breath, looking apprehensively at three year old in front of him.

Hermione fought back a smirk and replied, "You'll find out, Old McDonald."

Draco's jaw dropped in horror as he gazed at Hermione with wide eyes. "Please tell me you're joking." Hermione just smiled placidly as Biddy turned expectantly to Draco. Draco scuffed up his hair nervously. Sighing, he began, "Old McDonald had a farm -." Suddenly, there was a sickening band outside the house and his spine stiffened and he turned towards the source of the noise. Another bang exploded outside the house. Draco swiftly got to his feet and Hermione quickly followed this action. "No, take Biddy, Granger. Stay – stay hidden." A peculiar expression twisted across Draco's face.

"Malfoy, do you think I'm going to just let you -?"

"Hermione. Please," Draco asked desperately. "Please don't argue with me." The use of her proper name and his tone of voice had silenced whatever retort Hermione was about to bite out. Fear replaced defiance as she hastily scooped up Biddy and walked to her bedroom. Draco let out a momentary sigh of relief. He knew that she had protected her door with Anti – Intruder jinxes. Granger and her privacy – Draco shook his head. Yet, he didn't know how well they would hold up against whatever was out there. He feared the worst. Another explosion resounded outside and it seemed like the intruders were making some headway. Taking a breath to calm himself, he walked quickly to the front door and peeked through the peephole. Fear shot through his veins as he saw Greyback and a gaggle of Death Eaters blasting through the protective spells Hermione had put up. Straightening himself up and composing his expression, he opened the door casually. "Gentlemen."

"Ah Mister Malfoy," Greyback sneered at him, sauntering towards Draco menacingly. "Would you mind calling your Ministry dogs off my tail? It makes my job so much more difficult."

"You know I can't do that, Greyback," Draco's eyes hardened as he appraised the leering form of Greyback. A growl erupted from Greyback's clenched teeth as he advanced upon Draco. He repelled him with a lazy flick of his wand, blasting in back a few feet.

"Draco Malfoy's gotten soft," Came the hissing whisper of Avery, eyes glinting from under his hood maliciously. "Needs so much protection –." Avery gestured to the protective bubble around the house, "from his friends." Fury marred Draco's features as he turned his icy glare on Avery.

"I'm getting the job done, Avery. I wouldn't expect you to understand the matters that the Dark Lord discusses with me." Draco flipped the gold coin into Avery's hand. "This is how the Mudblood meets with her group of Muggle-lovers and blood traitors. You can give that to the Dark Lord – take credit for all I care. He'll know you aren't bright enough to get evidence from the Mudblood anyway." Crossing his arms, he raised a pale brow at Avery's incredulous expression as he fingered the Galleon wonderingly.

"How do I know it's real?" Avery asked, eyeing Draco shrewdly.

"Honestly, how thick are you? Do you think I would submit false evidence to the Dark Lord?" Draco asked contemptuously, a familiar arrogant smirk gracing his features. "It would be better for all of you to clear out, or else the Mudblood will get suspicious."

"Afraid of a Mudblood," Avery snickered, shaking his head.

"I don't want to blow my cover, in case I can get something more valuable," Draco bristled at the older man. "If you don't mind…" Draco gestured for them to get lost.

"Not so fast, Draco," Greyback rasped. "I know you've got a child in there. She's mine."

"There are other children, Greyback," Avery replied condescendingly. "A whole town of them just a few miles from here. You'll get you fill." Greyback balefully glared at Draco, but turned his heel and Disapparated with the rest of the Death Eaters. Draco's expression didn't change as the trees rustled from the force of the departure of the Death Eaters. Trees were burned to the ground and pits scarred the charred ground. This part of the forest looked as though it had died. Emotion flickered across Draco's face as he saw a familiar finger strewn aside carelessly and the ground. Draco felt like something had punched him hard on the gut, but he refused to let down his guard. He flicked his wand at the finger and it disappeared. He didn't know what would have happened if Biddy saw that finger again. Unable to relax his stance, he walked back into the house and closed the door behind him.

"Drake!" Biddy burst out of Hermione's room, wrestling out of Hermione's grasp. Tears were streaming down her face as she hugged him around the knees. Robotically, Draco hugged the little girl loosely. Hermione's face looked haunted as she gazed at him.

"What did she see?" Draco asked hollowly.

"My room has a window," Hermione replied in a brittle voice. For a moment, Draco feared the worst and Hermione had seen through his cover. "All she could see was a whole bunch of Death Eaters levitating a woman in the air before discarding her in the woods and attacking the house. I made sure she couldn't see anything else after that." Biddy buried her face in the material of his pants and Draco felt her tears leak through. Draco didn't know what to feel as he digested this information. "Malfoy… are you all right?" Hermione's voice was touched with concern. He didn't deserve it.

"I'm fine," He replied in an unemotional voice. Biddy slowly released his knees and returned to Hermione's room.

"I'm sleepy," She mumbled on the way out. "Nap time."

"Biddy, do you want me or Hermione to stay with you?" Draco whispered, kneeling down to her height. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes. She looked much too old to be a three year old. She had changed. Hermione's eyes flickered up to Draco and then back down to Biddy.

"Sweetie, I'll come with you in a few minutes," Hermione kissed the girl's head and hugged her tightly. Biddy sagged against Hermione before curling under the covers of her bed. Getting up, Hermione turned her gaze on Draco. Draco had expected and angry, accusatory glare directed at him. He hadn't expected her brown eyes to be filled with tears. He hands trembled against the door handle as she shut the door behind Biddy. Soon enough her whole frame was wracked with silent sobs as she covered her face with her small palms. Instinctively, Draco walked towards her, but didn't know how to comfort her. Suddenly, Hermione wrapped her arms around him and pressed her body against his. Surprise froze Draco's body as he felt the shaking, warm form against him. Slowly he wound his long arms around her, hesitantly hugging her. Her face was buried in his collar and her tears stained his shirt. He pressed his fingertips against her back and stroked her hair with one hand. After a few minutes, Hermione's breathing steadied but she didn't release him. The two of them stood for a while like that, forgetting that they were Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger. Draco subconsciously hugged her a little closer when she didn't let go. Hermione sniffed and finally brought her face away from his shirt and gazed at him. Tears clung to her lashes as she watched his face. Draco was reminded of what had transpired between them yesterday night in the bathroom. He could feel her heart hammer against her ribcage and through the material of his thin shirt. Her expression was enigmatic as she bit her lip. "Thanks," She murmured huskily.

"You're welcome," Draco replied, brushing the hair out of her face softly. His grey eyes scanned her face.

"Well," Hermione sighed and cleared her throat, smiling sadly. Her hands relinquished their place from around his neck. Draco loosened his grip on her and his grey eyes flickered down to his feet. Her gaze trailed from his face to his soaked shirt. "Oh, I ruined your shirt!" Hermione clapped her hand to her mouth.

Draco let out a hard chuckle. "It's not a problem." His body twitched as if he wanted to hold her again, but Hermione stood her ground. Draco and Hermione stood a foot apart awkwardly for a minute. Suddenly, Hermione covered the space in between them with quick steps forward, placed her hands on his shoulders, and kissed Draco. He drew Hermione to him and trapped her in his steel grip, feeling her body pressed against his, her hands in his hair. He felt her mouth open against his and he forgot that they were on opposite sides of the spectrum. He was a boy and she was a girl and nothing else mattered.

But it mattered with them. It could never be that simple with Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger. At last, reluctantly, Draco broke the kiss and when he opened his eyes he saw that Hermione still had hers closed. She touched her fingers to her lips and opened her eyes. Draco felt a jolt shoot down his spine and into his stomach when she locked eyes with him. He bent down so their foreheads were pressed together.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione asked, "So, do I still owe you a new shirt?"

Draco laughed quietly, brushing a stray tear off her cheek. "I'm pretty sure you're off the hook."