Author's Note: I received three (!) very uplifting reviews on this story's last chapter, so to all of you, you made my night and mornings, and inspired me to keep writing.

The next four-ish chapters (currently as my plans for the story are going) will be focused on Draco and Hermione without anyone else in the mix. The next four chapters (this one included!) are taking place over the next three days.

Enough of my rambling. This is the chapter I (maybe you) have been waiting for! Don't get your hopes up too high though… ;)

"You give me something to think about

that's not the shit in my head."

PVRIS- St. Patrick

"Excuse me?" Draco was, to say the least, shocked and confused. If he hadn't taken his glasses off before, just then in that moment of shock would have been his opportunity. "What exactly did you say?"

I took a deep breath, channeling my inner Gryffindor that used to serve me so well. I seemed to have lost some of it along the way, especially around him. "I said, I need a distraction."

"Well what the hell kind of demand is that?"

"What do you mean? Malfoy if you're going to stay in my home you might as well do something useful." I groaned and slumped a bit, throwing a hand to my forehead with the thought of Stupid, Stupid, Stupid, running through my head. Like Draco Malfoy would ever know how to comfort someone. "You know what? Forget it. I don't know what I was thinking you could even do anyway."

I slung my bag back onto my shoulder properly and started for the staircase, determined to forget any of the last five minutes had happened. I then felt a hand wrap around my wrist, the skin cool and firm. "Wait," Malfoy said. I turned and he released me. "I can, um, help."

I almost laughed at his quiet horror, the look in his eyes like a deer in the headlights, entirely unsure of what to do next. "Ok," was all that I could mumble out, trying to get over the fact that he had voluntarily touched me again.

"In your dreams mudblood." I shivered at the thought of the dream I had just days before. Would I ever escape?

I followed Draco back into the living room. "Sit here, I'll be back in a minute." He took all of the empty food containers to the kitchen while I made myself comfortable on the couch. My mind was racing, wondering what he would do. Honestly that was distracting enough...until my thoughts went back to dinner. I clutched the couch beneath me in anger but mostly frustration, at myself and the world.

Draco was back, as promised, and he sat across from me on the sofa. "Sit cross legged in front of me," he said. I shifted over on the cushion and sat as he did, legs crossed in a meditative pose. Were we gonna do yoga or something? "My mum used to do this with me when I was younger. I was a pretty stressed out little kid."

"You don't say?" I joked. He rolled his eyes halfheartedly and I shut up.

"As I was saying...my mother would sit across from me and tell me to look into her eyes and tell her everything that was bothering me. 'The mind is a wandering dream,' she used to say. You'll see what I mean when we get started."

"Wait," I interrupted. "I'm supposed to tell you everything that's bothering me?"

"You really are the Brightest Witch of our Age, Granger. And yes everything. You wanted a distraction right?"

"Yes but I don't see how reminding myself of it all will-"

"Trust me," Draco said, placing one hand on own my folded hands that sat on top of my jean covered legs. I reluctantly nodded and said, "Just tell me what I need to do."

Draco dipped his head, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. It occurred to me that we hadn't been this close for this long the entire time he had been staying in my house. I took notice of his cologne, the same as what was on his suit jacket and in his closet, slightly like cinnamon. With his eyes still closed I could admire his eyelids: translucent with veins running below; the same veins filled with blood that for years he felt was superior to my own. His eyelashes were a bit darker than his natural pale blond hair color. They twitched a bit before he opened his eyes again.

His demeanor had changed to a calm state, as if in that time he had been meditating. "Take my hands," he said, his voice just a few notches above a whisper. Draco held his two hands out in between us, imploring me to take them but also frightening me beyond control. I knew when this happened I was screwed. My emotions took over and I was done for.

I placed my hands downwards in his, hoping that he wouldn't mind that my palms were getting sweaty from the nerves of what he had in mind. He covered my small hands with his large ones, his fingers wrapping over the top of my skin. Electricity seemed to flow, jolting me out of my trance of large hands and eyelids.

I looked up from our hands and met his storm grey eyes peering down at me. I was tempted to immediately look away when he said, "Don't even think about breaking eye contact."

My courage had disappeared, abandoning me after his skin touched mine, reminding me that he was human, not just an untouchable beast from my past. I wanted to run, hide, scream, touch more of him, get lost in his eyes...the latter I was doing fairly well on. I was entirely vulnerable under his gaze, like he could see everything inside my mind.

"Tell me what you want out of your head," Draco reminded.

"You know that your eyes are a bit achromatic?" I asked. Draco just smiled with a hint of How crazy is this girl? laced in between his lips.

"Yes, I do Granger. Is that the entirety of the problem that you've been avoiding since I got here?" he asked. "The lack of real color in my eyes?"

"No," I said. Here goes nothing. "More like my effing friends and my coworkers and the damn people in this world who think that just because I killed people and didn't die in the Battle, that I should get consolation prizes of free meals and gifts and fancy invitations!" My breathing had elevated and at that point, I wanted to escape the grasp of Draco's storm eyes.

"You have survivor's guilt?" Draco asked knowingly. I turned my head to look to the side, very uncomfortable in his eyes. "Nope. No looking away."

I sighed and blinked for longer than was probably allowed in this sick and twisted game of "Don't look away".

"Survivor's guilt could explain what I'm feeling, yes. But why does this take over my life?"

"It took over mine."

"Really?"

"Yes."

I stared deeper into him, hoping to find an inkling of a lie, just to see if he actually meant what he said. I found nothing. "How did you deal with it?" I asked.

Now he was the one who looked like he regretted joining this staring match. "I don't think I did. I have fits of rage where the only thing on my mind is dying and finishing what I started myself sixth year. I spent much of my life allowing myself to be defined by others who had defined me as a pawn in their sick game. Well that pawn killed a lot of other pieces." Draco was on the edge. I tightened my hold on his hands to bring him back. His voice was just as purr as mine only moments before; it scared the hell out of me.

"I did too," I said. "I've never admitted that."

We were both getting quieter. The dark closets of our minds being opened were not loud and joyful places to be; they were quiet secret holders.

"I blame myself," he said. "I know I shouldn't. I had a fucked up childhood and I shouldn't blame myself. But even without it, I did damage. Lots of it. And I was allowed to continue on?"

"I know how you feel," I whispered. "Do you realize how different we are Malfoy?"

"Yes."

"And not just in blood. I'm praised for killing while you are destroyed for helping wizards and witches like you. We all did what we had to do and yet...you are the one punished."

"I think you've been pretty punished yourself, Granger. Except you do it all in your head."

I leaned forward and rested my forehead on his, needing support. Draco seemed too shocked to react right away. I closed my eyes just moments after Draco closed his own, finally calm at our touch. He tightened his grip on my hands, his breath picking up in speed. His hands were warm now, the first time I had felt them not be cool to the touch.

"Draco what are we do-"

"Shh," he silenced me. "Don't say what I know you're thinking. I don't know the answer."

At that moment I wanted desperately to just get back to how life was before this man was in my life. Before I had the constant ache in my heart for not just me but for him as well. The damaged man in front of me was becoming a lifeline. I knew it was one that could save me if I allowed it to. Was it easier without him?

"Granger what are you thinking about?"

I felt as if I was under the truth serum, not pausing when immediately I said, "You."

I sensed his eyes on me again, so I opened mine. There was a quiet fury in his storm, lightning about to strike. I licked my lips subconsciously and he looked down to them before finding my eyes again.

His head tilted to the left and I followed his opposite, tilting my head so ours would fit together. He sucked in a breath of air and closed the gap between us.

His lips silenced my thoughts, bringing me to that divine air of peace and oneness with the man in front of me. The kiss was slow, dragging lips across lips. My skin tingled with anticipation and from the soft feel of his mouth on mine. I was sore after just a second of feeling him against me, something I had never experienced before. He exhaled through his nose slowly and a small noise sounded from his throat, almost pained. His hands left mine, one going to the side of my face, leaving a burning sensation on my skin at his closeness; his hand branded me. I let my free hand slide to the back of his neck, silently stroking the fine hair on his slick cut hair.

He smelled like the vision in his eyes, the day after a storm. I could've melted into that moment, claiming it for my own and feeling ready to die- when he released me.

Our eyes opened, still centimeters from each other. He looked frightened, the crease between his brows more prominent.

He opened his mouth, my heart racing for the words to escape when he said,"That was a mistake."

Author's Note: Commence reviews, follows and favorites ;) Love to you all!