Author's Note: Thanks for coming so far in this story; as things begin to escalate, we'll be reaching the past-meets-present moment very soon. As always, JKR wrote us these thrilling characters.

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The noise in the common room was thrumming up into a steady roaring of voices against the backdrop of a fast paced electric guitar. Hermione placed her hands over her ears to try and block it out, but it just made the sound all warped and far away. She groaned and leaned back against the wall. She supposed she could go up to the dormitory and try to read, but she had promised Harry she would wait for him. Not that he'd probably even notice her when he got back. He'd been in detention all day, but he'd cheer up the moment he walked in and saw the jubilant celebration that had erupted in Gryffindor house. He likely wouldn't even see her through the tangle of arms and flurry of red and gold banners. Ron was jumping around and whooping like a mad person, a mug of butterbeer sloshing onto the floor as he bounded around the crowd.

"GRYYFFINNNDOOOR!"

Another round of chanting started up and Hermione shook her head with an indulgent smile. It was hard not to be infected by this kind of triumphant energy. Finally, after what seemed like hours of partying, a bedraggled and downcast looking Harry dragged his feet through the portrait and stared in disbelief at the chaos of celebration before him.

"We won!"

The team dragged him in and, in wonderment, Harry's eyes widened from weary blinking to pure elation. He grinned bigger than Hermione had seen all year, and it warmed her heart to watch him enjoy a moment of such simple happiness. It was nice that he could have these memories, as they all approached the coming war. She laughed as he was mauled by a big group hug, and then her smile grew softer as she watched Ginny advance toward him. She saw the way their eyes connected, and inwardly cheered as Harry grabbed the girl he'd been infatuated with all year and kissed her right in front of the entire Gryffindor house. The noise stuttered a bit, but for once in his life, Hermione was pleased to see Ron have a mature response to the situation. He smiled and waved his approval, and the kissing began anew.

Hermione chuckled to herself, but then her throat tightened as she swallowed down the sadness that suddenly crept up on her. If only things were so easily solved for her. Without warning, the familiar discomfort washed over her, being surrounded by people and feeling a bit claustrophobic. She had never liked this much noise and activity around her, not when it left her feeling an oppressive heat that rose up her neck and reduced her to a tired, aching mess.

Of course no one was looking at her, everyone had their eyes and their catcalls directed at the romantic display unfolding before them between the Chosen One and the popular redhead. So it wasn't too hard to slip past everyone and make it out through the portrait. As soon as the Fat Lady closed behind her, she felt a wave of relief. It was so much cooler out here, and she sucked in a deep breath and took a moment to just enjoy the silence.

Hermione glanced around her before casting a tempus charm. It was getting late, but she still had another hour before curfew. She set off towards the library at a brisk pace, putting as much space between her and the rowdy party behind her. As a prefect, she was expected to keep a lid on this kind of thing and keep it under control, but tonight she simple didn't have the energy. There had been too many conflicting thoughts spinning through her mind this week, and she was desperately seeking some quiet time with a good book in the library.

When she was almost there, she felt a cold hand reach out and grab her roughly, dragging her into a protected alcove to one side of the corridor, masked by a heavy tapestry and a particularly creaky suit of armour. It was so dark, and Hermione started to raise her voice in fright when a hand clamped over her mouth to stifle her cry. The other person pushed her bodily into the wall and pressed against her to keep her still.

A couple of split seconds of panic washed through her, before Hermione realised with a rush of relief that the moonlight peaking through the window was helping her to blink and become accustomed to the darkness, shedding light on the blonde hair of her assailant. She took a deep, shaky breath through her nose and was assaulted by the scent of expensive cologne, mint and parchment.

Draco.

"It's just me, so don't scream, alright?"

She nodded and he dropped his hand carefully.

"What the bloody hell was that for? You could have just said hello!" She whispered, matching the volume of his voice with her own. He held up a finger brusquely, giving her a pointed look, and she fell silent. She listened with detached anxiety as the sound of footsteps and the voices of some giggling Slytherin girls walked past. She nodded reluctantly to him, still a bit miffed that he had thought it was necessary to accost her with such force. She waited a few seconds for his apology, but frowned when none came. He was usually more gentlemanly when they were alone. She peered through the darkness to look more closely at him. His skin was very pale and it had felt ice cold against her earlier. The dark, exhausted rings under his eyes were almost purple, and his hair was a chaotic mess. He looked deranged. Hermione felt her heart skip with worry, which was only increased by the desperate panic written across all his features.

"What's wrong? Are you ok?" she asked urgently.

Draco nodded but, even though she was still and not shouting or drawing attention to them, he remained firm pressing her into the wall. Hermione shuddered at the feel of his body against hers. Although his skin was cold, he acted like he was heated and out of breath; shaky and panting. She felt worry clench in her gut and tried to wriggle away from him to get a better look at him in the dark space. He noticed her struggling and stepped back, giving her as much room as the little alcove would allow.

"I'm fine…" he muttered, still piercing her with a fiery stare. She shook her head.

"No, you're not. You're clearly upset, and you look exhausted and-"

"Please stop," he begged, and she immediately fell silent, shocked by his odd behaviour. He closed his eyes briefly and visibly trembled. When he opened them again, his gaze was one of pure despair. She blinked and felt her body tense with fear, a frightened yearning to help him without really knowing how. She watched as he raised his arms, pressing his hands against the wall behind her back and leaning into her. He pressed his forehead against hers and let out a rasping breath.

"Hermione…" he began in a croaky voice, and she felt a silly little flutter in her stomach at the way her name sounded coming from his lips, as if he was slowly whispering out the words of a prayer. "If I asked you to leave the country and go into hiding, would you do it?"

Hermione was shocked. She inhaled too quickly in a weak gasp as her mind froze at the unexpected question. Something was painfully wrong with him. He seemed terrified, feverish, urgent. Maybe he knew something was coming that would put them all in danger. But despite the confused notions going around in her head about his reasons for asking, his question still had an obvious answer.

"No…" she whispered, "No, Draco, I wouldn't."

She peered up at him, using the slithers of moonlight coming in through the window, seeing his eyes scrunch up in agony. He looked unhinged. But nevertheless, his idea was completely impossible. If something was happening, if something bad was going down soon that Draco knew about, then she had to stay and help protect the school and fight with her friends. Harry needed her. She had accepted years ago that her place was by his side no matter what; that her life was bound to her friend's fate. Despite what people said about her belonging in Ravenclaw, she was pretty sure that this quiet determination to stand by Harry through everything was the kind of bravery that put her in Gryffindor house in the first place.

"Please, Hermione," he repeated harshly, and she winced at the anger starting to form in his voice.

"No," she answered more strongly, leaving him in no doubt about her certainty. His eyes widened in furious denial and he stared at her, his eyes crackling, before pushing off the wall and off her. He started pacing back and forth in the tiny alcove space, prowling like a predator in agitated pursuit of its prey.

"I won't take no for an answer," he growled.

"Don't be ridiculous!" she spat back.

He looked at her again, and she could tell it was a bad idea to get into a fight with him in his current mood, but she would never agree to this, so it seemed a disagreement was inevitable. She softened her expression and tried a different tactic.

"Draco…" she pleaded with him grabbing onto his hand and holding it tightly, "Just tell me what's going on! Why are you acting like this? What's going to happen that you want me to hide from?"

He clenched his fist unconsciously around her hand, making her wince in slight discomfort. She was sure to bruise, but couldn't find it in her to tell him he was hurting her. She saw a muscle work in his jaw as he tried to contain his rage.

"I can't tell you. You'll…find out soon enough. And then you're going to hate me. You'll hate me."

Hermione shook her head, eyes wide.

"No, I won't. I know you. Whatever it is, I know you don't want this."

Draco snorted out a dark laugh.

"Even you will not forgive me this time. It doesn't matter if I want to or not. The fact is that I'm prepared to do it, and you will despise me for it."

Hermione's mind spun with this information. She had no idea that it was possible to feel so torn in two for someone she had always thought to be a selfish, bigoted boy. But these last few months had completely transformed the way she saw him. The Gryffindor view of a black and white world was slowly dissipating into many different grey tones that left her lost and confused. And she simply couldn't imagine hating him. Not when he still had a chance to alter things. She tried to stroke his hand, like calming a wild beast, but he was gripping her so tightly she wasn't sure he would even feel it.

"Draco, listen to me. Let me help you. We can stop whatever this is from ever happening, and make things right-"

Draco chuckled bitterly, though it sounded more like a sob of anguish.

"No," he croaked sadly, "It's too late. My parents…he'll kill my parents…my mum…"

Her heart almost shattered then at the pitiful sound of his voice as he admitted his greatest fear. Hermione's whole body ached for him, swimming with pity and regret. She had only met his mother once, and his father had tried to kill her a year ago, but they were still his parents. And it still hurt deeply to see his raw, unguarded terror for them. She sniffled slightly, trying to rally herself and appeal to him one last time.

"So we won't fight it. We'll just leave together right now and make a run for it. We can go away and hide you somewhere, take your parents with us, then I'll come back to help Harry end this…"

"Don't be stupid," he said tightly, "He'd slaughter us before we could even think about betraying him. And we'd probably have to imperius my father to get him to comply."

Hermione knew he was watching as her face fell and she bit into her bottom lip. She saw the moment his anger returned in a flood as his eyes flickered across her stubborn face.

"It's too late for me. But you need to go. Screw Potter and his fucking death wish. Save yourself while you still can."

"I won't abandon him," she said with quiet confidence, leaving no room for doubt about her determination. Draco slammed his hand against the wall behind her.

"If you don't agree to this, I'll find another way. I'll stun you and drag you away myself if I have to."

Hermione stared at him furiously. She felt her ire rise at his impetuous words, and she almost stomped her foot in a childlike gesture of refusal. Taking a deep breath, she managed to get a grip on her rage before she spoke, calmly and coldly.

"You wouldn't dare. I can forgive you for almost anything that's about to happen, because you're my friend, and I care about you and I know you. But not for that. Not for preventing me from helping my friends – that's my choice, not yours."

He spun with a growl and punched his fist into the opposite wall with a grunt of pain. He was breathing heavily when he spun around to face her, eyes wide and unbridled with panic.

"You don't understand. You don't know what they will do to you!"

"That's why I have to fight," she nearly yelled back.

"If they find out that you and I are…friends…you'll…" he choked on the words, but she just squared up to him as her stubbornness increased.

"They won't. And if I get caught I'm dead anyway, regardless of whether they read my mind or not."

Draco leaned against the wall, his head buried in his hands, fingers dragging through his hair nervously. She could see the moment his anger began to fade as his shoulder dropped and shuddered, to be replaced by a soul-crushing feeling of helplessness.

"Please, Hermione," he muttered hoarsely into his palms, the sound muffled but clear.

"No. I'm sorry, Draco, but I won't run."

Draco pushed himself off the wall and stumbled back over to her. He mimicked their position from earlier when he had first dragged her into the alcove, only this time he was not as in control of his own actions as before. He pressed her back against the cold stone, his body so close to her she could feel his breaths tickle her face, and for the first time in the dark space she became aware of the slightly wet sensation of his tears brushing her cheek.

"Please," he whispered one last time, hoarsely against her skin, his arms braced on either side of her body to trap her there. She felt goosebumps erupt all down her spine in a trickle of nervous anticipation. She tried to lean back away from him to look at him, but he just followed the movement so that he was pressing her even more intimately into the wall.

"Why? Draco…why do you want me to leave so badly?" she murmured uncertainly, scared by his behaviour and wishing she had the strength to push him away and run from the overwhelming feelings he was stirring in her.

Draco jerked back in confusion at the question. He stared into her eyes for a moment, no doubt seeing the doubt and conflict in them. But he didn't speak, and she became nervous waiting for him to offer an explanation or anything that might ground her and end this feeling of floating above her body as her thoughts were spinning around in turmoil.

"Draco-" she began again, trying to break through the cloud of sadness in his eyes. But he didn't let her speak. The moment she said his name, he pressed his lips against hers furiously, kissing her like his world was ending. And based on his behaviour tonight, maybe it was. Hermione gasped as he slanted his mouth across hers and fed from her like he was parched. His lips were soft and cold to touch, but the way they moved seared her.

Hermione's mind shattered in that moment, and she could no longer hold onto the desperate threads of rational thought. His smell and taste surrounded her, and she allowed her eyes to flutter closed and give in. She had never been kissed like this. Krum certainly hadn't kissed her with this raw, unbridled passion. Everything with him had been practiced, controlled, designed to feel nice and end appropriately. But Draco was relentless. His lips tugged and sucked and pulled as he really explored her. It was like he wanted to feel every inch and angle of her mouth, and took delight in each new moment. It was voracious and impulsive, with no plan or routine as he simply experienced her. Hermione's lips felt numb and on fire all at once, and the feeling was filtering down through the rest of her body as well.

At first she just held onto him tightly and tried to stop herself from making embarrassing sounds of pleasure, though it was difficult and a few long moans slipped through that made him shudder in response. But eventually she became courageous enough to start to kiss him back.

Hermione opened her mouth to him with a slight whimper when she felt his tongue swipe across her bottom lip, and she felt her eyes roll back in her head when he stroked inside her mouth and caressed her tongue with his own. The taste and feel of him sent a pulse of something between her legs, and she felt a bit dizzy at the sensation. She heard him make a strangled noise at the intimate contact, and he became even more frantic in his movements.

Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer and she couldn't seem to stop her nails from digging sharply into his neck and shoulders, but he didn't appear to mind. He groaned as well and positioned himself so that he was standing pressed against her slightly splayed thighs. It was then that Hermione became aware of just how aroused he really was by the kiss. She felt him, hard and real against her stomach and her belly fluttered nervously, but not unpleasantly.

He's too tall, she thought dimly. And when she went to stand on her toes to reach more of his mouth and hair with her fingers, she rubbed against the bulge she had felt and delighted in the involuntary gasp and groan that he released into her mouth. Knowing that Draco was so excited by her gave her a little thrill, and made her so much braver.

They broke apart for a second to take gulping breaths of air. Hermione stared at him with bright eyes, alight with arousal, and he shuddered as she whispered throatily,

"Draco, do you-"

She was about to ask him if he thought this was a good idea, just because she was worried she'd drown in him if she didn't say something, but his eyes were unfocused and heated.

"Fuck, Hermione-" he exclaimed hoarsely, interrupting her before she could finish. But she didn't mind too much as he leaned in again and attacked her mouth, tongues duelling in an embrace as teeth scraped lips and heavy pants and moans filled the air. She didn't think she could feel any more excited and energetic than she already did, but that notion was put to rest when he dropped his head with a groan and started to press slow, open mouthed kisses down her neck.

"You taste fucking amazing," he murmured almost inaudibly, and she felt him breathing in deeply through his nose as he nibbled on a spot just above her collarbone that made her feel light headed. When she let out a long, throaty sound as he grazed a sensitive spot under her ear, she felt his hips jolt a bit and he ground himself against her curves, seemingly with no control over his body's impulses.

Hermione felt a responding ache between her legs, but with him standing so close she couldn't squirm her thighs together to alleviate it. Instead, acting on instinct, she copied his motion and rubbed back, and felt her eyes roll back in her head at how nice it was. His hands had taken to roaming her back during all this, playing her body like an instrument so that she arched into him and moved just how he wanted. She tried not to think about how he got so good at this, but her thoughts came to a screeching halt as his hands lowered to clasp her bottom and pull her against him.

Any sounds of surprise were swallowed though, because he chose that moment to return his mouth to hers, kissing her deeply as his fingers stroked her skin and moved down her thighs. His touch was gentle and soothing, as if she were something precious that he was worried might break. He ran his fingers over the skin of her thighs; pausing in his kiss to suck in some much needed air. He leaned his forehead against hers as they panted, both focusing on the feeling of his fingertips tracing patterns on her skin underneath her skirt.

"Hermione-" he croaked, licking his lips, "Is it…alright…are you-"

She didn't really know what to say. The dull aching she was feeling was just a little bit higher than where his hand was touching her, and she both dreaded and wanted desperately for him to go further. She tried to listen to the thrumming in her body, but instead of putting into words what she was feeling she just nodded against him. He exhaled a heavy breath, his hand shaking against her thigh. He joined their mouths again, nibbling on her bottom lip and she melted into the kiss.

All the silly months of confusion about maybe having a crush on Ron and being jealous of Lavender fell apart in that kiss. The very idea of kissing any other boy but Draco Malfoy in that moment was absurd to her. Their bodies fused together perfectly and her lips returned his kiss enthusiastically. The butterflies she had been feeling in her stomach these last few weeks were going wild and setting her on edge as she became lost in him.

Hermione became aware of the soothing touch of him starting up again on her thighs, and she shivered as he pushed her skirt up higher to reveal more skin. One of his hands had risen to stroke up her ribs and along the underside of her breast, but the other was starting to trace the edge of her cotton knickers like an eager child waiting to open a Christmas present. Her fingers sunk into his hair and gripped him tighter, deepening the kiss as she shook with nerves.

Her heart pounded. She was waiting for him to go further and until he did, she wasn't sure she could breathe properly. She felt his thumb stroked against the seat of her knickers between her legs, which she was fairly certain she would have soaked through by now, and felt him freeze. He was barely touching her there, just the lightest of caresses that she felt right down to the tips of her toes. She quaked with scared anticipation, but nothing happened. He pulled his lips away from hers and then his hand was gone.

"Wait…"

Draco was panting and staring at her. She was sure she looked dishevelled; her lips felt puffy and her hair was no doubt in disarray. She watched him try to calm the blood pounding in his veins as he took stock of her panicked face and wide eyes. He reached down and spent a couple of moments smoothing down her skirt from where he had hiked it up in his eagerness.

"I…I'm sorry," he stammered, his face slightly pink with shame.

Hermione felt an odd mixture of relief and disappointment that he had stopped. But then she let her self-doubt take control and she frowned at him, blinking in confusion.

"Are you really?" she asked shakily.

He scowled at her. He looked angry again, and it was only adding to her confusion and hurt. He grit his teeth together and snarled as he replied.

"No, not really. Of course I'm not bloody sorry! You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that."

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. Well, she supposed that was enough to calm her doubt and insecurity before it could truly take hold. He seemed agitated again, not from regret, but from unfulfilled hopes, and so she spoke before he could have a chance to snap or get too angry.

"I think I can guess," she said softly, then added, "So have I."

He looked at her with wide, pleased eyes, like a little puppy dog that had been given a treat. She smiled at him and he relaxed fractionally.

"I just meant…I shouldn't have pushed you so far," he murmured.

Hermione shrugged slightly.

"I wasn't exactly complaining."

Draco looked at her heatedly and leaned in closer again.

"No you weren't," he said with a twitch of a smug smile, looking a bit like his old self for a minute. Then he sighed and lifted a hand to push a wild strand of her hair behind her ear, "But you deserve better."

Hermione frowned.

"Better than what?"

He grimaced and looked at the dusty little alcove they were squeezed into.

"Better than this," he said, gesturing around him before meeting her eye again, "Better than me," he added.

Hermione tutted and pressed her palm against his cheek, stroking his skin softly. His eyes fluttered a bit and he looked at her with an intensity that made her want to throw all caution and anxiety to the wind and kiss him again.

"Don't say that," she scolded gently, searching his face for some sign that he could be convinced to accept her help. But he looked resolute. She sighed.

"This isn't going to end well, is it?" she said sadly, and he shook his head, pursing his lips and squinting slightly as if to stop tears from forming in his eyes again.

"I'm afraid," she added when he didn't say anything.

"So am I."

They were silent for a long time then, unable to form words to express what they were both feeling in that moment. There was too much happening. Too much secrecy, fear, affection, confusion, dread and lust hanging in the air between them. So instead they just stared at each other, longingly, wishing that they could abandon it all and forget just for a little while. But it was hard to ignore the ticking time bomb over their heads. After a while, Draco's sad frown softened, and his lips curved into a gentle smile. He reached up and clasped his hand around her neck, and Hermione felt herself being pulled forwards. She complied and let her eyes drift closed as he placed a gentle, not quite chaste kiss on her lips. It was the kind of kiss that she felt across her whole body, and her toes actually curled inside her shoes as she returned it softly. Eventually he pulled back and blinked down at her for a few seconds in wonderment.

"Thank you," he whispered.

And then he was gone. The tapestry fluttered closed behind him, the gust of cool air making Hermione shiver. She leaned back wearily against the wall, pressing her fingertips to her mouth and closing her eyes against the tears that wanted to fall. The other, more rational part of her mind that was slowly ticking back into gear was reminding her that something dark was happening this week. Based on Draco's behaviour and words, she was sure of it. She needed to go back and find Harry and make sure he was all right. She would be keeping a close eye on him now that she knew. Not to mention she was going to be busy preparing everything for what came next. Pulling herself together, she tried uselessly to smooth her hair down as she stumbled out from behind the tapestry and into the long corridor. She was so focused on running through lists of things in her head and reliving that mind-blowing kiss, that she didn't even notice the set of eyes watching her walk back to Gryffindor tower.

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Sorry for the mean cliffy. Wow, I'm exhausted. The next chapter, as you might have guessed, will be a big one full of forgetting spells and angst! Please leave your lovely and constructive reviews, I live off them, and write better with them J