Who are you? You are defiantly thinking. Shame on me. It's been like a month since I last updated, and that is just not on. I'm not trying to make excuses, but my workload from school has been soo much, that I barely had time to eat or sleep. I had been living on a couple of hours of sleep each night just so I could finish my work. Then…I had this chapter written up, when Bam Bammm! My computer breaks and I lost everything, and sadly my computer is still broken, so I am using a borrowed laptop until I finish school. So I am going to make good use of it, and try to write as much as possible. So here is another chapter for you guys. I promise to not let the next update take months to appear. Hope you like this.

ekatia217: I know that Draco was a bit OOC, but he can't always be the sarcastic Prince of Slytherin all the time. Or can he? I guess you will have to read on to find out.

KeepMovingForward: I'm glad you are liking what I have written so far and I can say for now, that I think Pansy will only appear a couple more times, but not for a long while. Or better yet she may not, I haven't completely decided yet.

brooke.h16: Thank you I am trying to update quick, but the amount of work I have been given is ridiculous.

QueenofDemons68: A twist you ask? A twist you will get I have one planned so far, but if you have any ideas let me know, and I might just add it in ;)

SortedIntoSlytherin6580: That may happen and it may not, I haven't fully decided when they will find out, but they will find out soon. And I'm glad you are enjoying the story. I will try and update quicker than this.

CloudGazer15: Yes, yes he is :P change of heart maybe? Will it last?

Kariah Bengalii: Thank you, and sorry for the ridiculously long delay between updates, I promise that I am trying to work on that.

acciojean: I'm glad you are enjoying it so far, and I hope you like this chapter.

Also a special thank you to all those who have story alerted/favourite this story, and added me to their author alerts/favourite, it means a lot.


Chapter 11: When You Feel Safe.

It was lunchtime, and I slowly made my way to the Great Hall with Ginny. Who would have thought that a simple action would be this terrifying? The entire way to the Great Hall, Ginny was withering on about something or another, but I think her reason behind this was to keep a sense of normalcy, for which I was grateful. I didn't try to add any comments in like I usually do, but kept my eyes focused straight ahead. In what felt like an eternity we had reached the big doors to the Great Hall. I took a deep breath and followed Ginny inside. I don't know if it was just me, but I'm sure that many people stopped their conversations to stare at me.

*Don't be paranoid Hermione. Just walk over to your seat as if grief hasn't taken over you*

I repeated that in my head until I reached my seat next to Harry. Ron sat with Lavender further down the table. I looked over to the Slytherin table and saw Malfoy watching me. I filled my plate up with a little bit of pasta and took a bite. I looked up again and saw Malfoy give me a small nod. After that one bite, I took another and another, until I finished. I looked around the room, and did see that a few people were staring at me. I knew it; I knew that it wasn't paranoia. I couldn't take the stares anymore, so I quickly stood up and left, to find peace and calm in the library for the rest of the lunch period.

For what seemed like a year, lessons were finally over. No more pity comments and stares. I walked out of the classroom quickly my eyes glued to the floor. Quickly and unnoticeable, I made my way to the Room of Requirement. I paced three times up and down thinking 'I need a place where I and Malfoy can talk uninterrupted.' And then a door appeared. I opened it quickly and walked in looking around. I smiled; it was like a dream room. It was small yet quaint. It had periwinkle blue plush sofas surrounding a small coffee table. Lining the back of the room against the wall, were bookshelves. There were large windows on the sides, letting in sunlight. Artificial. Near the sofas there were a few potted plants. And to the side, was a huge fireplace with a fire already lit. This is exactly the room that I want in my house when I move out. My smile dropped and I had a feeling like I had just been hit by a tonne of bricks. Move out of what? My parents are dead, which means that the house would belong to me. I felt my eyes water, but they didn't shed. I kept blinking until they stopped; I had no more energy to cry. I walked over to the shelf and picked up the first book that I found. Pride and Prejudiced. My favourite book. I headed over to one of the sofa, resting my bag on the floor and settling into my book. I was deeply engrossed into my book I didn't hear the door open and somebody entering until they throw themselves onto the sofa next to me. I jumped and immediately rested my hand on my heart in an attempt to slow it down. Malfoy was sitting on the sofa, he hands resting on the neck of the chair, legs crossed and watching me with a small smile on his face.

"What?" I asked him as I closed the book.

"Trust you to think of a room like this Granger," he said, the smirk remaining on his face. I looked around once more before glaring at him.

"Well if you don't like it Malfoy, you know what you should have done?" I snapped at him. He raised his eyebrows in a questioning way. "Get here first," I answered opening my book again in an angry fashion. I heard Malfoy chuckle, but I refused to look up at him.

"Granger, I didn't meant to upset you there," he said, amusement still in his voice. I looked up and glared at him before returning to my story. "Look the room is lovely, and it's warm."

"It's warm? Is that all you have to say?" I asked him. Of all things to say, he came up with that.

"Well it is incredibly warmer than the astronomy tower," he pointed out. And it was a very valid point. Winter has arrived, and so has the cold weather. I decided that I should let him off.

"So why did you make me come here then Malfoy?" I asked him.

"I thought we could chat. I know you have had a hard week," he said quietly. I looked over at him, my eyes narrowing in disbelief.

"Hard week? Hard week? It's been more than hard. Having people staring and watching your every move. All those pity comments and glances that people have been giving me. People stopping their conversations whenever I came close to them. This was more of an unbearable week." I finished practically shouting at him. Malfoy's face didn't change from the unreadable expression he always has.

"I know how it feels to have people staring at you Granger," he said softly.

"Really Malfoy?" I asked disbelieving.

"I'm the son of Death Eater. I'm a Death Eater myself for goodness sake. People used to look at me as if I was pure evil. The only people that accepted me were the Slytherin's they worshiped me like the Gryffindor's worshipped Pothead – sorry, Potter. So in a way, I do understand all the stares, that's why I went to the astronomy tower for some peace." He explained to me. Oh how could I have been stupid? He already told me this, but I'm too wrapped up in myself to pay attention to anything else. "Enough about me, I saw you ate something at lunch,"

"How could I not, with you watching me," I pointed out with a smile. Malfoy gave a small smile,

"You raise a valid point, but as Potter and Weaselette, haven't done anything to make sure that you were eating, I decided to take matters into my own hands. You need to eat, you are becoming a bit thin," Malfoy said bluntly.

"No I'm not." I cried out in shock. I'm not am I?

"Granger, your shirt is too big for you," he answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "And I don't think the shirt has grown," he ended, with a sarcastic comment. I looked down at my shirt, and maybe he was right. Maybe it is too big for me, but for him to notice and my friends not to is something that I don't want to think about so much. Ginny and Harry are trying to be there for me, and I appreciate that. Ron on the other hand, is so wrapped up with Lavender to pay attention. Maybe I could make do without them? What am I thinking, that's a silly idea. Of course I need my friends, they have been my best friends for eight years. Besides them, who else do I have? Malfoy?


I know that this chapter is a bit rubbish, and short, and i know it's no excuse but I did write it quickly just to have something for you to read. But tbh, this chapter is more of a filler chapter, leading up to a bit of drama. If all goes to plan, the next chapter shall be up later today, if not tomorrow. And I can guarantee it will be better and longer than this one. Hope you enjoyed this chapter…

Please review :)