"Barely even friends, then somebody bends unexpectedly."

Hermione didn't see Draco for the rest of Christmas day. And very little for the week after that. Malfoy Manor was a big place. But it didn't seem big enough for him to constantly hide from her. Unless he never left his room. Hermione figured Draco must not have left his room a week.

If she didn't know better, she'd say she was starting to worry about him.

"Do you think he'll come out of his room?" asked Hermione, leaning in the doorway and biting her nails. The only sign of life coming from Draco's room was the faint light peeking from the crack under the door.

"Maybe if you ask him." Starry swept a little dust out of the hallway with what looked like an old Nimbus.

"I can't imagine that would help," sighed Hermione.

"You'd be surprised." Starry let the broom rest against "What happened on Christmas, anyway? That's when all this craziness started."

There was something in Starry's voice, almost like an accusation, that made Hermione cringe. Still she wasn't sure who knew what around here and she wasn't about to say anything without Draco's permission.

"Nothing," Hermione finally replied. Her heart caught when she heard the door to Draco's room open up. A shadowy figure stepped through the frame. His hair was mussed and he had grown about a half inch of pale facial hair. As he stepped into the hall, his plain white t-shirt transformed into the striped pattern of the wallpaper.

"Hello." Draco nodded at them. Hermione and Starry looked pretty stupid just standing there staring. It was like the first time Hermione ever saw a ghost. She tried to not let on that it freaked her out, but it had.

"Uh, hello, sir," said Starry, a strange combination of worry and relief on her face that just made her look lost.

"Hey Draco," said Hermione.

Draco stopped in his track, his grey eyes narrowing. "What's wrong with you two?"

"Nothing." They answered at the same time. Yeah. That wasn't conspicuous at all.

"Where's Lucky?" he asked, still looking at little leery.

"In the garage," replied Starry.

"You have a garage?" asked Hermione. There was something new to learn about the manor everyday. It was a city unto itself. Albeit, a city of low population.

"Yeah. You want to see – oh, wait. Never mind. You're Ministry." Draco smirked.

"They probably fired me by now. I haven't been to work in like six months." Hermione felt her heart beat faster though she couldn't explain it. It was the very unwelcome reaction she had every time she was near Draco now. Maybe it had something to do with the curse... though that excuse was losing its impact the more she learned about the actual curse.

"Okay. Come on. But if you ever get out of here, you better keep your mouth shut." Draco waved her towards him.

"I can keep a secret."

The garage was twice as big as her dad's garage. It could probably fit six cars at least, though there was only one. A shiny silver thing that looked like it was from an old James Bond movie, sitting right in the middle of the concrete floor.

"Draco can you hand me a screwdriver?" Lucky stood on a step stool and stared down at the engine.

"Phillip's or flathead?"

"Flathead," replied Lucky. Draco rummaged through a tool box sitting on a perfectly clean workspace. That was one thing Hermione could say about Draco, Lucky and Starry. They were very clean

"I'm impressed. That's some serious muggle talk coming from a Malfoy." Hermione grinned. She was really surprised that Draco even knew what a screwdriver was. Lucky muttered something, but Hermione couldn't hear him. "What is he saying?" she asked Draco.

"Nothing," Lucky and Draco both replied. That really was suspicious.

Hermione flopped down in the rolling chair and spun around. "What are you working on?"

"Lucky's been trying to fix this old thing for years." Draco handed Lucky the screwdriver. How either one of them knew a thing about cars, she had no idea.

"It doesn't look old to me. That's a nice car." She didn't know too much about cars either. But it looked nice. Nicer than her mom's old Volvo.

"Yeah and we're not supposed to have it. So she better keep her mouth shut if she ever finds her way out of his place."

"She's cool," said Draco quickly. Hermione had to disguise her smile behind her hand. It was strange to see Draco Malfoy stand up for her.

Draco sat down beside Lucky. "Need some help?" he asked.

"Sure, kid," replied Lucky, a small smile on his normally emotionless face. "I'm trying to fix the alternator, but I don't know even know where it is?"

"Have you looked at the manual?" asked Hermione.

"The what?"

"Cars all come with an owner's manual." Hermione stood up from the chair and popped open the door. The new leather smell was somehow still strong."It's usually in the glove compartment." She opened the little plastic drawer. "See. Alternator. Hmm... where. There it is."

Hermione shut the door and then handed Lucky the book. "Is this what you were looking for?"

"Merlin!" Lucky shouted, a scowl on his face. Great. What did she do this time?

"What?" asked Draco.

"If this is right... that shouldn't be in two pieces." Lucky pulled out two little plastic piece and held them in his small hand.

Hermione was always having to put things back together for Collingsworth. She whipped out her wand and flourished it over the pieces. They quickly reformed. "There you go," she smiled.

"Uh. Thanks, Granger." Draco's eyes met her and suddenly everything felt like it was swirling. Thanks sounded great coming from his lips.

"Sure. I'll just put this back in there," said Hermione, feeling proud of herself. She took the book from Lucky and opened the compartment. When she went to put the manual back, a picture fell out of the compartment. She had hair as black as night, perfect pale skin. Hermione had seen her before. All those months before in Diagon Alley. "Who is this?" Hermione blurted.

Draco grabbed the picture, clouds rolling across his eyes. She could see the back of the picture. There was a note scribbled on it.

Happy Anniversary, baby.

It was, but it couldn't be. She was supposed to be dead. The tension was heavy, tangible. Hermione just wanted out of there.

"I'm sorry. I should-" she said as she rushed out of the garage.

Now it was Hermione hiding in her room. There was another mystery to solve. Had Draco been lying about Astoria's death? No. He couldn't believe that. Then who was it that day in Diagon Alley? Seriously, what was going on?

Hermione sighed, exhaustion creeping through her body. She just couldn't think anymore.

She was sitting on the window sill, reclining against a pillow, staring at the enchanted clock she had traced on the fogged glass.

It had just started to snow when she heard a knock at the door.

"Can I come in?" a drawling, familiar voice asked. Draco. She combed her fingers through her hair and adjusted the silk pair of pajama pants and lacy top she was wearing.

Come on, Hermione. What are you doing?

"Sure," she finally answered.

Draco slipped in through the door and quietly shut it behind him. He had shaved and was once again wearing just his pajama bottoms and no shirt. Draco had to stop dressing like that.

"Sorry about earlier." Her eyes met his as he slowly sat down beside her in the windowsill. "I just can't seem to – I just always find a way to make it worse." She looked away.

"What are you talking about? You fixed the alternator. Lucky's been working on that for as long as I can remember." Draco tried to smile, but she could the pain in his face. The pain that was always there.

"You know what I mean," she breathed.

"It wasn't your fault." Draco sighed then pointed at the clock on the window. "What is that?"

"Oh... I just sort of drew I with my finger... then put a charm on it." The little minute hand and hour hand were ticking through the time.

"I like it," he said. Hermione let out a long breath and stared out the window. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice a little shaky. It was obvious he didn't spend to much time asking other people how they felt. At least not in a long time. Hermione probably shouldn't tell him anything, but she just couldn't help it anymore. She was lonely.

"I just... I miss-"

"Weasley?"

"Harry, actually," she admitted.

"Oh. I didn't know you two were-"

"We're not. He's with Ginny. They're probably married by now." Hermione hadn't thought about that. After everyone had searched for her and come up empty, they would have had to get on with their lives.

"The baby Weasel?"

"Draco." She felt herself scooting closer to him, taking in his warm scent, the heat of his skin so close to her. Hermione shut her eyes trying to block out something, anything to keep her from feeling this way about the person she used to hate.

"Sorry. I just didn't know you felt that way about the chosen one." There was a hint of humor in his voice, but it fell flat. Nothing felt funny all of a sudden.

"I don't. I don't know. He's my best friend." Yeah. Harry was her best friend. He was kind and brave and sweet. He'd always been there for her. "Honestly?"

"No, Granger. Lie to me." He leaned in enough for his hair to brush against her forehead. Shivers shot through her body.

Think about something else. Anything else.

"There was a time. Seventh year. When we were hunting horcruxes. Ron ran off... and to this day I wonder if I would have just kissed Harry that night... what would my life be like now. I may not be here." She may not be be here. With Draco. So close to him, to his bare chest, where if she leaned in, she knew she could hear his heart beat.

Stop it. Stop it. Stop it, Hermione.

Draco didn't want her here. He wished she were anywhere else. She had to remember that. Remember that she didn't want to be here either. Hermione just stared back at Draco, thinking of all the things he didn't like about her.

"What are you doing?" he asked. Her staring must have been really obvious.

"Waiting," she replied. Hermione intended to make a joke, but it just came out sounding defeated.

"For what?"

"Merlin, Granger why didn't you just kiss Potter and I wouldn't have to live you and your filthy mudblood ways," she impersonated Draco. That had to be what he was thinking, right?

"Is that how I sound to you?" His eyes were focused on her, as if they were filled with the kind of magic that could burn straight through her.

"Sometimes," she swallowed, heat rising through her.

"Not now?" Draco's voice was a hoarse whisper.

"No. Not now."

Draco's gaze shifted to the window. To Hermione's clock.

"Look," he said.

"What?"

"It's midnight." He turned to her and smiled. A genuine smile. His hand slowly raised to rest on her cheek, his cold, callous fingertips bit against her cheek like snowflakes. Draco started to lean in. It wasn't the curse. Or adrenaline. Or fear. Or even love.

It was something else. Something just as strong. Maybe even stronger.

As Draco's lips fell softly against hers, parting her mouth with his, moving softly. Rhythmically. Hermione knew exactly what it was.

Forgiveness.

"Happy New Year, Draco."

"Happy New Year, Hermione."

Sorry for the long delay. Things have been super busy! I will try to update sooner. Hope you enjoyed the first real, meaningful Draco and Hermione kiss. And also some more shirtless Draco, just for fun. Please, please review. If you're reading, I'd love to know your thoughts. Thanks!