*WELCOME TO MY 10th CHAPTER! I know its only chapter 8 as far as the story is concerned but with the two chapters of prologue it adds up to 10.*

A big thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter: mmiller0000, ChildofBrisingr, Greenti, EndlessReign, addictedtoloveandfiction, Rouch, nkwolf199, sherbertlemons98, Aid4 and To guest "Amira" for continuing to come back and review and to guest "who" I would also like to specially thank: Bren Gail for popping a review on literally every chapter thus far.

Thank you to everyone for your patience and reviews. I spent this last week updating all 9 chapters of the fanfiction editing as much as I could. Fixing spelling and grammar and adding descriptions. In all there are well over 1000 more words to this story from edits alone-so if you really like it you can go back and see some extra descriptions of the wardrobe and other fun moments.

A NOTE ABOUT UPDATES: My goal-now that the back log of edits is finished- is to update once a week late Sunday or Monday night each week.(It is currently 3 in the morning on Monday night...)

If you enjoy this story I hope that you will please take the time to write a review or two on the chapter/chapters you love or enjoy.

This might be a somewhat controversial chapter for a choice Draco makes, but bear with me there is more to come. Without further ado, I present to you this next chapter. I hope you enjoy.

*TRIGGER WARNING: This story is rated M for a reason. There will be violence, abuse, sex, violence around sex, sexual abuse, molestation etc. I don't want my story to hurt anyone so please do not read if you are not okay with reading about those things. You are warned.

Chapter 8: The Warning

"DRACO" a hard slap across the face woke Draco with a start and he sat bold upright in bed. He sucked air into his lungs feeling winded and covered his face with his hand turning to find Granger sitting up in bed beside him.

"Did you just slap me?" he asked, rubbing at the stinging flesh of his cheek.

"I tried to shake you awake but that only made things worse. I'm sorry," her head dropped slightly. Draco paused realizing she genuinely sounded sorry about slapping him. His shoulders relaxed, dropping visibly.

"Its fine, don't worry about it."

He watched her eyes drifted to his bare chest. He looked down to see he was covered in a fine sheen of sweat form the nightmare. She swallowed reflexively and Draco's body responded. That was not the look of a girl who hated him; it was the look of a girl who liked what she saw and was turned on by it.

Not a chance Draco. You are seeing things.

But he had enough experience to know he was right.

Draco reached out and touched her cheek. Hermione's hand came up and covered his own. She leaned into him, but instead of a kiss she came in for a hug. He realized, as her arms went around him that, she was comforting him.

This was not a dream. It felt far too real. The silk of her skin, the softness of her leaning into him was setting his nerve endings on high alert.

The comfort was more intimate in some ways than a kiss could have ever been. No one had tried to comfort him-not like this, not since his mother when he was a child. His chest tightened and he felt a stinging in his eyes. He jerked away when he realized he was about to cry.

You are not going to cry in front of Granger.

"Don't," he said and got out of bed.

"Draco wait…"

"You can't" he said not looking at her. "You can't do that."

"I'm sorry, I was only trying to make it better."

"You don't understand," he turned back to her. "Nothing you can do will make it better," his voice broke. "You'll be better off to hate me," he said and shook his head. He was thankful for the near dark because his eyes were brimming and he didn't dare let her close enough to see or ever know.

I'm going to have to hurt you to prove to them I'm on their side. You'll hate me then. But it will hurt you less if you hate me now.

"Draco," she crawled off the bed and came towards him. She put a hand on his chest and he shuddered. She reached up to his face and he pulled back violently before she could feel the wetness there.

"I can't…"

"Draco it's okay," she tried to assure him.

"Not it's not!" he yelled back. "I don't want to hurt you."

His words hung in the air like led.

And then came the knock at the door.

Both Draco and Hermione froze.

"Draco, if everything alright in there?" his mother's voice came through the door, "I thought I heard you call out."

"Everything's fine," Draco answered quickly.

"Let me in," his mother's voice was a command. Draco knew why: She was checking to make sure he was genuinely okay and that he wasn't being held somehow at wand point by the witch who was supposed to be his captive.

Draco pulled out his wand waving it so the pallet slipped under the bed. He waved it again this time at Granger, tying her and gagging her at the foot of his bed. She looked at Draco with pleading questioning eyes.

You idiot, he chastised himself. She's already looking at you like you're someone to save. It's going to be the death of you both and all because you had to open your big fat mouth and tell her you didn't want to hurt her.

Draco took a deep breath and opened up the door wide enough for his mother to step inside. The lights in the room came on as she waved her wand. Draco squinted at the light and used it as an excuse to quickly wipe the tears from his face before either woman could see.

Narsissa checked around the room thoroughly and then returned to her son. She touched his face.

"You're warm," she said her voice full of concern. "Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine mother, I just had a…bad dream. I must have called out in my sleep."

"My darling," she wrapped him in a hug and he couldn't help but lean into her. She pulled back after a moment. "I will go make you some tea," she stroked his cheek. "Back in a moment." She paused at the door. "On second thought, why don't you come down with me, I don't want her listening in."

"Alright," said Draco and grabbed his shirt hauling it on roughly. He waved out the lights leaving Granger alone in the dark.

His mother sat with a flourish in her chair as the teapot poured each of them a glass of tea.

"You haven't been sleeping well since you moved her to your room," Narsissa said as Draco finished his first sip of tea.

Draco paused and then took a second sip before setting his cup down.

"I haven't been sleeping well since the tower," he admitted.

"Yes, yes," she waved her hand dismissively in the air. "But this is different; worse."

"Well, things are more stressful at the moment."

"You should put her back in the cellar, have one of the other staff watch over her."

"She is my responsibility, last time I left her alone she almost got raped by Greyback."

"Yes, well…" Narsissa had the good grace to look uncomfortable at that fact and Draco was relieved that his mother at least thought that was out of line.

"Don't worry mother," Draco reached across the small table and squeezed his mother's hand gently. "I have everything under control. I promise."

Narsissa seemed to take some comfort in his son's assurances and she relaxed back into the chair squeezing Draco's hand before picking up her teacup once more. A few moments passed in silence with just the company of their two owls making soft sounds in the corner of the room.

"The Dark Lord is hosting a meeting tomorrow night," said Narsissa after a long moment. "Here, and he will be staying overnight."

Draco's stomach fell and he was thankful for the peppermint tea and its soothing properties. He tried to hide his reaction behind taking another sip of it, but his mother's eyes were on him and he knew she could see that the news made him uncomfortable.

"He will expect the girl to be presented," she said. "As a trophy to the room, no doubt," when Draco didn't respond she continued. "You can't show any weakness or make it appear as if she has had special treatment."

"I understand."

"I don't think you quite do," Narsissa set down her tea. "Greyback will be coming and he is not happy with how things transpired here last week. He will be looking for an excuse to bring you down and will use your choice to protect the girl from him against you."

Draco nodded.

"You are right," he said and finished his tea. His mother's warning rang true in his ears. Lucius may have been the one whom everyone thought of as the head of the house and the one with the plan, but Narsissa was cunning. She kept her head about her even in stressful situations and thought several steps ahead. Draco was grateful knowing that his mother was on his side and wanted what was best for him. She was an adversary he never wanted to face.

"Thank you mother," he said sincerely. "For caring, and for letting me know." He stood and went over to his mother and kissed her forehead gently. "I'm going to head back upstairs," he said stretching. "I want to be well rested. After all, turns out tomorrow is going to be a bigger day than I expected."

His mother bid him goodnight and let him leave. Draco went back up to his room and paused before he reached the door.

The second the dark Lord looks at her, her eyes are going to give you both away.

An uncomfortable prickle made its way down Draco's neck. He knew what he had to do and it made his stomach feel like it was full of spikes.

She'll hate you for it.

She'll never know, and it will save you both.

Draco mustered his courage and went into the room. He knelt down in front of Granger and undid the gag and her ties by hand.

"Did you have to leave me like that?" she asked rubbing at her wrists.

"Yes," he answered. "If my mother had walked back in and seen you walking about it would have…been bad." He stepped away from her and turned on the light.

"Did you mean it?" she asked standing and coming over to him.

It won't hurt to tell her the truth now.

"Yes," he answered, not bothering to play dumb at her question. "I hate having you here."

Her face fell.

"But for the reason you think," he admitted.

"What?" her brows knit together. He wanted to tell her the truth.

"I hate having you here because I wish you were off somewhere safe, away from all of this."

He saw the shock on her face at his admission. He watched a flurry of emotions cross her face.

"You mean that don't you?"

"Yes," he nodded.

"I found some crumpled notes today, I was looking through your trash bin," she stumbled over the words and her cheeks reddened. Draco's stomach dropped abruptly. She had found the notes he had written. Then he thought of the other things that he had written and tossed out. His cheeks flamed with anger and embarrassment.

"Please don't be mad," she pleaded and reached out touching his bicep. "I was bored. I've been dying up here for days with nothing to do, nothing to read and no one to talk to. I needed something to keep myself from going completely mental." She babbled quickly almost stumbling in the rush to get out the words.

"So you thought you'd snoop through my stuff," his tone was a little more accusatory than he intended.

"What did you expect?" she asked exasperated and let go of his arm.

"I don't know I just…don't like people in my business," he shoved a hand through his hair. "But I get it."

When she realised he wasn't going to keep berating her for snooping through his things she softened and continued.

"You wrote that you were sorry."

Draco nodded.

"You wrote that you had made me breakfast yourself. Is that true too?"

"Yes."

"Does anyone else know?" she asked stepping close.

"No," he practically whispered. She was so close, he could smell the sweet scent of her skin mixed with the smell of his shampoo. It was a lovely combination.

"Are you trying to protect me Draco?" she asked looking up at him with her perfect eyes.

Don't say it, don't you dare say it.

This might be the only chance you get to say it without worrying about the consequences.

Don't…

"Yes," he answered truthfully, half undone by the admission.

"Thank you," she said and reached up tentatively to touch his face. Draco couldn't help but lean into the caress.

"I'm sorry Granger, for everything."

"You are aren't you?" she said eyes examining him intensely.

"I am," he nodded. More than you will ever know. Emotions swirled chaotically inside him knowing what was to come.

"I believe you."

Hermione leaned up on her tipsy-toes and pressed her lips to Draco's cheek. Draco shuddered closing his eyes. He savored the feel of her lips on his skin. Savored it knowing he would likely never feel it again.

I'm sorry Granger

He raised his wand while she was still tucked in close and whispered "Obliviate."

Ghaaa! I know! I both hated and loved writing this chapter. I personally don't agree with his decision, but apparently my muse and Draco have decided that this is what is happening now. Hermione will not remember that he is trying to save her and Draco will have to carry the weight of the memory and his choice. (which he made thinking it was the only way to protect her-just like Hermione did to save her parents)

Please review and let me know what you think