Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any other character. Neither do I own the places. All I own is the plot. The rest belongs to J.K Rowling.

Chapter ten: Goodnight

"Draco what happened?"

She scrambled up and rested his head on her lap. His face was screwed up in pain. She gently caressed his forehead and slowly his body came to rest. He opened his eyes and looked into her eyes.

"Her- Hermione." he said hoarsley.

"Shh...don't speak."

She bent down and pecked his forehead, his cheek, his chin, his nose, his mouth. He smiled weakly and then fainted.

"...Draco?"

She looked around. They were sitting in an open door in the middle of a dark forest. Not a good idea. She took out her wand and lifted his limp body inside and closed the door. She carefully layed him down on the couch. He was still breathing. Thank god.

His cloak was beyond repair. His hands were cut, his wrists bruised. His neck was slowly turning blue. Another bruise. His legs were also full of cuts, just like his arms. A deep cut was on his forehead. She quickly cast a curing charm and the bruises and cuts disapeared. All of them, except the one on his forehead.

She silently walked over to the kitchen and got a wet cloth. She carefully layed it on his forehead. Immediatley he gasped, grabbed her wrist, sat up straight and looked around wildy. As he saw her face, he relexed again.

"Draco...what happened?" she asked soflty, but with a worried voice.

He coughed before answering.

"Father...found a piece of my sleeve in the dungeon, next to your replacement. The House Elf couldn't keep her mouth shut so they knew she was fake. And...well they wanted me to...tell them...where you were. Where the Order is...everything. They-"

His voice trailed away as he remembered what had happened. He winced at hearing his father's voice say 'crucio'. He shuddered.

"Draco? What did they do to you...those horrible-...those-"

"Don't, Hermione. I got what I deserve. I betrayed my family. It was their right to...to do his."

He tried to get up but was still a bit dizzy. She caught him before he fell. He felt warm at her touch and the pain he'd had was gone. He looked around. The cottage was perfect. At least for now.

"Are you tired? You should get some sleep." She said.

He nodded.

"Come. I'll take you to the bed."

"But where will you sleep? There's only one bed." He said suddenly.

She smiled. "The couch is pretty comfy too you know."

With small steps, leaning on her shoulder, he made it to the bedroom. Gently she let him down.

"Ahh...this is comfortable." He stated contently.

She turned around wanted to leave the room.

"Wait! Hermione...please...will you...stay with me tonight? I'll stay on this side of the bed, I won't try anything I swear...it's just...I don't want to be alone right now..."

She hesitated. "...If you want me to, then I will Draco."

She sat down on the pther side of the bed and snuggled up under the overs.

"Goodnight Hermione."

"Goodnight Draco."

She woke up. The sun was shining and the birds were singing. She tried to move, but she was hindered. She realised where she was. In Draco's arms.

His face was at rest, his breathing was light. He looked sweet when he was alseep. His breathing tickled her forehead. Her own face was at the height of his neck. The bruises there were gone.

His arms were wrapped around her, holding her close. With a content sigh she snuggled up closer to him.

--- FLASHBACK ---

"Goodnight Hermione."

"Goodnight Draco."

They there had been nothing but silence. Draco fell asleep quite fast, but Hermione couldn't. Every time she closed her eyes she could see pictures. Pictures of Harry being tortured. Pictures of Draco's mangled body, tied to a chair while someone said 'crucio' hidden in the shadows.

She didn't want to see it anymore. Draco was here, safe. But Harry...

'Don't think about him anymore. He left you behind. Didn't bother to rescue you. He probably forgot about you right away and moved on to the next girl. Poor Ginny.'

As she closed her eyes, sleep finally took her. She was in a dungeon. There was the body of a young man. It was sloutched on the floor, shaking.

"Please...no more...I beg of you."

"A Malfoy does not beg." A cold voice sneered.

The man's face was hidden in the darkness. The tip of a wand emerged from behind the shadows.

"Speak."

"Father...please."

"Crucio."

The young man arched his back in pain. He was rolling on the floor. His screams filled the dungeon. She, too, felt the pain. She screamed.

A cold hand on her forehead made it stop. She opened her eyes. She was staring straight in Draco's face.

"Hermione?" he whispered. "Are you okay?"

"What happened." She asked, her voice shaking.

"You were screaming and rolling over...what..."

"I...I saw you...in the darkness. Your father...tortured you and I felt it too."

"Oh...Oh shh...come here."

He hugged her. She started to cry. "I'm so sorry. It's my fault. It's all my fault. If I had listened to-"

She hesitated.

"To Potter?" he opted.

She nodded. "Yes. Then I wouldn't have been captured. Then you wouldn't have had to hide me. Then you would still be at home and your father wouldn't have-"

"Don't...don't blame yourself. I was careless. He would have found out. No one can fool a Malfoy for long."

He caressed her forehead. "Please don't cry." He whispered.

She looked into his eyes. "Thank you." She whispered back. "Thank you for everything." And she gave him a peck on his cheek.

He smiled. "I never thought I'd say this...but...I think I-"

He was cut off when she suddenly pressed her lips against his. As their tongues connected he felt a pleasant tingle soar through his body. He kissed her back. She closed her eyes when he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her deeper into the kiss.

"Are you feeling better now?" he asked as she snuggled up closer to him.

"Yes...much."

"Do you want me to let go of you?"

"No...please...please hold me like this. I feel safer..."

"Okay...goodnight Mione." And he gently kissed her forehead.

--- END OF FLASHBACK ---

He opened his eyes and looked at the girl in his arms. She was breathing peacefully. He stroked the hair out of her eyes. She opened her eyes and looked at him. She smiled.

"Good morning." He said.

She yawned and sat up. He, too, sat up.

"What time is it?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Don't know. Does it matter?"

"...No...I guess not." She smiled at him. Then suddenly she raised her hand and reached out to his forehead. With a finger she gently caressed the cut that had not yet healed. He winced.

"...sorry. I think that will leave a scar."

He tried to feel where the cut was himslef. He winced again. "Well...if that's all I'm going to keep from this...I should be thankful."

He grinned. Then caressed her cheek again. "You're really pretty you know."

She blushed. "No I'm not. You're just delusional from your injuries."

"...Well...okay...if you say so. But I still want to kiss you." And he gave her a soft kiss. "Right...now, we've got to think about what we do next."

Hermione nodded. "Yes. But breakfast first."

She got up from the bed, pulled up Draco and went to the kitchen. He followed her. How could he ever have been hateful towards her? At least she didn't hold his past against him.

He sat down at the table and watched her bustle around.

"You know." He said. "You never let me finish my sentence last night."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. What I wanted to say...I think...no, I know...that I love you."

ShylaMalfoy: Thank you hope you'll continue reading it

Iron Morgan: You'll see what happens to Harry. Hermione doens't know about him trying to rescue her does she...so, all will be revieled in time. Thanks!

Someone: the chapters are as long as they are, I already wrote it and cuttign and pasting in these documents isn't really in my plan ore timescheme...but they do get a bit longer as we progress in the story.

Dark Angels: thank you for the lollipop. I hope this update drags you through the last few days of your exams, good luck on those last ones!!!!!! (Oh and I'm glad you're not gonna kill me )

Shadowrayne: this chappy explained eh! Thanks for the review

You're gonna get a really quick update on this one because Thursday the 17th is my birthday (i'm turning 17!!!!!) And I'll celebrate with an update! See you then,
- Raven55