Her nose twitched and she sneezed. The force of it shot her head up and she shook it, her fur waving around her. Hermione laid her head back on Draco's lap. The clearing should appear black and white for her, being in wolf form, but she hadn't shifted her eyes to wolf form before her run. The sun shone through the leaves and bounced off the pine needles. Morning birds were chirping happily and the sky looked clear except for a few harmless clouds.

Right here, right now...the world was harmless. It was peaceful. It didn't feel as if their mother had died. Hermione felt nothing. Nothing but peace and calm. If only she could stay that way...but she couldn't.

Soon, once she left this place, she would get angry. She'd rant and rail with Anteros about the loss of the only person who could give them some answers. Lord knows they couldn't take Voldemort's word for anything. After anger, there would be sulking, and then acceptance. It was just how it went. But they'd get through it.

Hermione felt a hand stroking her head. She tilted it to the side and watched Draco. His eyes were closed, but she knew he was awake. Besides his moving hand, his breathing was relaxed and his heart beat was stronger. Draco was enjoying the morning with her.

He opened his eyes and looked down at her. Not a word was said. He only smiled and rubbed his thumb against her hear. Hermione leaned into the touch and wagged her tail.

She stood up and changed back into her human form. She shook her hair out of her face, then laid back down on the ground, resting her head on Draco's lap. He didn't say anything against it. He just continued to stroke her hair. "You holding up okay?" he asked softly.

Hermione shrugged, bringing her hands up to cushion her cheek against his thigh. "I'm fine. Now, at least. I'm sure I'll get angry soon."

Draco squeezed her shoulder so she looked up at him. He had sincerity in his voice. "I'm always here if you need me," he said.

She smiled. "Thank you, Draco," she said, then rolled back to her previous position. Hermione stayed like that for a few moments, just feeling Draco stroke her hair. "You know," she said. "If someone had told me that I would one day be in a clearing enjoying a beautiful sunrise with the Prince of Slytherin...I would have thought they'd escaped from a ward."

Draco chuckled. "I'd probably hex them," he said.

Hermione rolled onto her back and grabbed his hand. She stared up at him for a moment. "Do you think things will be different when we go back to Hogwarts?" she asked.

He stared. "Probably," he said. "Everyone's been through a lot this summer. I know I'm not going to be able to keep my hands off you." He wagged his eyebrows at her and she laughed.

She sighed and looked at the sky. She knew that it was only the spell talking. Not him. Everything would be back to normal in a few days.

The bushes rattled a bit. Hermione turned her head toward the sound, not a bit worried about what might be coming toward them. It was only Anteros. He walked into the clearing in human form. He smiled as she spotted them and sat down cross legged, across from Draco.

"You okay?" Hermione asked, noticing her brother's troubled look. She knew how much it meant to Anteros to know about the past. He, too, knew that Emmeline was probably the last person they could have asked.

Anteros shrugged. He looked sad, despite his smile. "I'll never get my answers questioned, so I'm a little pissed," he said. "Other than that, I guess I'm doing fine."

Hermione reached out and squeezed his knee. "I know you're disappointed," she said. "And I'll try to help as much as I can, Ant."

He nodded. "I just want answers, you know?" he said. "Like, why did she give us up? Didn't she want us...and what was she thinking? Volemort? Really? Was she drunk or something and pro life?"

Hermione wanted to laugh, but she swallowed it. He had a good point. Why did Emmeline and Voldemort get together? Hermione had seen Emmeline once. She was pretty enough to be with any man. But why the Dark Lord when she was an Auror? That was a question she would look into.

She looked up at the sky. "What time do you think it is?" she asked to no one in particular.

Draco looked up. "Early," he said.

Anteros snorted. "That was helpful," Hermione said.

"You asked."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Don't make me regret saving your life," she mumbled.

Draco leaned down so he was close to her lips. "Never," he said and kissed her. She was too tired to fight him. She responded to the kiss, but Draco could feel her tiredness. He pulled back, smiled a bit, then leaned back against the tree behind him. "You know, it would be just too nice if we stayed here for the day," he said.

Anteros looked up from the pine needles he'd been playing with. "Why don't we? Just stay here? Voldemort doesn't care. He has tried to find us yet. I don't think he will. Let's just stay here?"

Hermione smiled and closed her eyes. "I like the idea," she muttered sleepily. "Draco, I'm using you as a pillow." She yawned and fell asleep.

"You like my sister," Anteros said as soon as he was sure his sister was asleep.

Draco looked up at his friend. "Yes," he said. "I do."

"Then you better not hurt her," Anteros said, leaning forward menacingly. "She's all the family I have and, if you hurt her in any way, I will make you regret it ten times over."

Draco met his gaze with his steady one. "I would never hurt Hermione. Not now. Not after everything that's happened." He looked down at her sleeping face. "I'm falling for her."

Anteros was still for a moment. Then, he nodded. "I'm holding you to that, Draco Malfoy; and I will not hesitate to take you down if you hurt her."

Draco looked at Anteros again. The voice and actions were his wolf side taking dominance over. But it was understandable. Hermione was special to both of them. And Draco didn't fault Anteros for his actions one bit. He would do the same if it were someone else interested in Hermione.

Draco stared up at the sky. "I think I'm going to follow Hermione's example and sleep," he mused out load before closing his eyes. He, too, was asleep without another word.

Anteros looked at the two. They'd all been uncomfortable last night. They needed the sleep. He, on the other hand, had some questions to ask the Dark Lord. It was time he had a 'father' to son chat about Anteros' mother.

Dun, dun, duh! What do you think?