a/n: Hellooo! I've been waiting to write this chapter since I started writing this fanfic teehee. Anyway, please please review! It keeps me going, even if it's advice or something that you want to point out. Thanks xx

Chapter 11:

Anyone who knew Hermione could assure that she wasn't one for reckless behavior, but like anyone else, she had her moments. Most of these moments consisted of her friends persuading her to help them with some ludicrous plan, or rather Hermione insisting on joining in, mostly to keep anything stupid from happening. This particular time, however, there was no ludicrous plan and no one accompanying her on her nightly escapade. There was only a restless Hermione, a million thoughts swirling in her mind, and a strong urge to get out of her dorm walls. Hermione tried to convince herself that she was fine, she would fall asleep if she just let herself lay in her bed and close her eyes, but after a few minutes of doing just that- to no avail- she decided that something had to be done. Her thoughts were driving her out of her mind- from lessons, to homework, to worrying about Harry and Ron, to Draco, to the day's occurrences and what they meant. Did Draco mind me touching his hair? Did it even mean something? Maybe I'm making a deal out of nothing... He's probably forgotten about it. I have so much to do tomorrow... There's that new Transfiguration spell I need to practice, I should probably remind Harry and Ron to practice it as well. There's also that DADA essay we've got to write. I've been letting myself get distracted this year, I've got to stay focused...and on and on. The pattering rain outside that usually lulled her to sleep was no help this time. Eventually, she came to the decision that this was getting her nowhere near sleep and decided that she needed to get outside. Now, Hermione knew that going outside in the middle of the night was probably not her best idea. But then again, it's not like anyone would expel her from Hogwarts now, it was her last year for Merlin's sake, and she hardly cared for House points anymore. All that competition seemed foolish now.

She carefully got out of her four-poster bed, quiet as to not wake the other girls. She didn't bother with shoes with the thought that she would be quieter without them. Her pajamas were long sleeved fleece so she didn't bother with wearing anything over them either. All she took was her wand. Hermione tiptoed out of the dorm and down the stairs into the common room. She let go of the breath she had been holding and looked around. The room was eerily quiet, obviously, and was covered in odd shadows coming from the lights shining through the windows.

Hermione took a deep breath and tried to calm herself, but it wasn't enough. She needed to actually be outside, to breath in the cold, crisp air that had had her frozen to death a mere few hours ago. She wouldn't go that far, of course, it was too much of a risk to leave the castle at- she cast a quick tempus- 1:07 in the morning, so she chose the next closest place to being outside. The Astronomy Tower, she knew, wasn't far from the Gryffindor one. She would get there quickly, let herself breath the air for a few minutes and calm her thoughts, and then come back and no one would have to know. With that thought in mind, she cautiously approached the common room door, braced herself, and slipped outside.

Down the corridor she crept, trying to slow her quickly beating heart. All her senses were sharpened, straining to hear or see any signs of movement. Fortunately, neither Filch nor any of the other staff members were lurking on this side of the castle at the moment and Hermione made it to entrance of the tower without being spotted. The Headmistress had made the decision of having a nightly watch this year, meaning at least one of the teachers was roaming the school halls at all times. Said nightly watch was the product of the complaints of many worried parents that had warned that their children wouldn't come back at the beginning of the year if there wasn't someone watching the halls at all times. Their worries were justified, in Hermione's opinion, seeing as just the last year there had been two Death Eaters teaching- well, mostly torturing- at the school. At the moment, however, Hermione just hoped they wouldn't think to check the tower. She let herself into the long spiraling staircase that led to the top and began climbing. It was a long climb, the Astronomy Tower was known as the highest in Hogwarts. Finally, Hermione made it to last few steps and emerged at the floor of the tower. Immediately she let out a panicked gasp. There, standing with it's hands on the railing and peering outside, was a black robed body. The person had taken notice of her presence, or maybe it was just that moment it had picked to turn sharply around and grab it's wand. Hermione made a shaking grasp for her wand as well, a disarming charm already on her lips, when recognition flooded her mind and she felt relief wash over her. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, finally taking the last step that brought her at the floor of the tower. "Following me again, Hermione? I didn't realize this was going to become a regular occurrence," Draco said, smirking, after taking a moment to calm himself as well. Hermione rolled her eyes. "I wasn't following you."

She wondered if she should go stand by him or just stay where she was by the entrance, but in the end she decided that she had come here to feel as if she were outside and that was what she intended to do. She padded to where he was standing, careful to keep at least two feet between them. She didn't want him to get the wrong idea, though it seemed like that ship had sailed a few hours ago. Draco looked her up and down and raised his eyebrows. Hermione realized that he was covered in a robe over his pajamas and he had the decency to at least wear socks over his feet while she was clad in her blue striped pajamas and her feet were bare for the world to see. She felt slightly embarrassed and uncomfortable but tried to ignore the feelings. "Sorry I didn't dress accordingly, I didn't realize I would meet someone here," she said in answer to his judging looks and turned to face the view. The sky was inky black and the rain that had started earlier that evening was taking a short break. The lake surrounded the tower and beyond it she could see the rolling hills until it all faded into darkness. Hermione realized for the umpteenth time how breathtaking this view was. She had gotten so used to this place, her second home, that sometimes she just needed a second to appreciate how genuinely amazing it was, how isolated they were from everything except for this landscape. Hermione glanced sideways to see if Draco was having the same experience as she and saw that he had stopped looking at the view and was now facing the inside of the tower, a thoughtful expression on his face. Thoughtful, that was hardly something associated with Draco Malfoy, she thought to herself. "What are you doing here, anyway?" she asked him, curious and also trying to fill the silence. She turned to look at him. "I never get much sleep when my scar gets like this," he replied, looking straight ahead as he often did when talking to her. "I hate lying restlessly in my bed all night so I come here most of the time."

Hermione's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean you do this often?"

Draco shrugged. "You know, only when my scar acts up," he said, turning back to face the view. He leaned on the railing with his arms and peered outside. She could see the parts of the glowing red scar. "Never got any visitors till today," he added, glancing sideways at her, obviously posing a question. Hermione sighed and followed his actions, turning to the railing. She gazed down at the ripples of the lake. "I couldn't sleep either, and I needed to get outside."

They looked out, feeling an odd sort of connection that was part of being there, on that night, looking out at the same view. It was just them, and the lake, and the hills, and the sky. And Filch and Hagrid and two other students that were currently making out in the Room of Requirement but none of that was felt at the moment. After a few minutes Hermione broke the silence. "It's funny how we keep running into each other this way," she said quietly, not wanting to ruin the...whatever it was that was passing between them. "From what I remember, last time we met you were following me so I don't really see what you're getting at," Draco said, matter-of-factly. Hermione laughed. "You're ruining the mood. I was trying to say something serious."

"I'm just stating a fact, nothing more."

Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled. "What was it you were trying to say?" Draco asked. Hermione closed her eyes against the sharp wind that had suddenly started. "Never mind, it's not that important."

"It's not like we have anything better to talk about," he said.

Hermione breathed deeply and the smell of rain and wet dirt filled her nose. She knew she should go back to the dorm, it was risky being out this long, but it seemed like she was finally getting somewhere with Draco. They were having a normal conversation, and he was even showing a slight interest in it, which was shocking on its own. "I was just thinking how odd it is that we keep meeting by chance, you know? Like, we were paired together for a project or I come here and there you are...It's weird, like you're trying to avoid me but the universe doesn't want you to." Hermione could feel his eyes on her but pretended like she couldn't and kept staring ahead. The clouds were getting darker and she knew the rain would start again soon. "I haven't...I haven't been avoiding you," Draco said defensively.

Hermione snorted. "Well, that's the most obnoxious thing I've heard today, and trust me, I've heard many obnoxious things today," Hermione replied, reminded of the conversation she'd heard about Lavender Brown earlier that day-or rather, the day before. Draco scowled. "Do explain," he said sharply. Hermione shook her head in disbelief and exasperation. It was simply impossible for them to have one civil conversation that didn't turn into a fight of some kind. Suddenly she couldn't stand being near the ledge of the tower and she moved to sit on one of the little rickety benches that occupied a corner of the tower. She stared down at her bare feet that were now stiff with cold and felt the bench shift as more weight was put on it. The fact that Draco had come to sit next to her softened her a bit and she began talking. "I mean, you've obviously been avoiding me since the beginning of the school year. I tried talking to you multiple times, and you were either angry or found an excuse and left. We used to be able to talk freely, now I feel self-conscious just being next to you." Hermione was surprised that she'd let out that much and stared stubbornly at her toes. There was a silence as Draco gathered whatever little courage he had and finally let out what he had been bottling in for so long. "I was scared, I guess. Last time we had talked-before the beginning of the year- I had shown you my Dark Mark. Many things had happened since then. I didn't think you wanted anything to do with me. Hell, I didn't want anything to do with me. When you tried talking to me, I just clammed up. I didn't want to have anything to do with anyone. I still don't. They're all acting normal as if nothing has changed. My life has completely been turned around. I don't have anyone here. Anyone. It just feels like everyone's got everything figured out except for me. I want to get out of here, but where would I go? I don't know anyone out of England, but no one here gives a shit about what I do." Draco hadn't planned on letting so much out. Whatever he'd answered wasn't even relevant to Hermione's question. He snuck a look at Hermione who was regarding him with a shocked expression. She quickly tried to regain her composure but he'd already seen it, the damage was already done. Hermione watched as he stood up and went to stand by the ledge, this time a different one, one you could see parts of Hogwarts from. She stared at his back as she carefully phrased her words. "No one's acting normal. It may seem like it, but hardly anyone hasn't been affected by the war some way or another. Everybody's still recovering, and I'm sure many people don't have 'everything figured out', including myself." She looked at his face as he stared outside. "And about the other thing, I don't mean to sound cliche but I just want you to know that I'm here. It seems like you've completely forgotten that we used to be friends. I'm here if you want to talk, or just complain about things." Hermione finally understood that she needed to take matters into her own hands. Apparently, nothing ever worked if you weren't straightforward with the teenage male species, something she probably should have learned by now. She stood and went to stand by Draco. She took his hand that rested on the railing, his scarred one, and held it in her own, pressing it against the wall that occupied the area beneath the railing. "I'm here, for whatever you need." She hardly dared to look at him, instead concentrating on the line between the sky and the hills. Their hands lay gently in each other, hardly holding, more like fluttering against each other, their nerves sharpened to any touch. The way that they were held, it seemed as if Hermione's hand was pressing Draco's against the wall. Hermione tried to clear the image from her mind, but it was a stubborn one. She felt hands clasp on her shoulders and turn her. She looked up in surprise just as lips pressed onto hers. The force of the kiss caused her to back up and she clutched the railing harshly. Draco took notice of this and stepped away. They stared at each other, grey eyes into amber. "Was that okay?" Draco asked quietly. "I don't know," she murmured, matching her tone to his. She saw his face flicker. "We should probably try again."