I apologize for this chapter, I haven't written this story in a long time and I think I lost touch of some of my characters. So bear with me, they might be OOC. Also, I might have some plot lines wrong…

Hermione P.O.V.

Sometimes I really don't know why I bothered trying to impress Draco at all. He was extremely mysterious, with layers upon layers protecting his true thoughts. How he could do it, was really the question.

I had a habit of wearing my heart on my sleeve, so much so that everyone knew what I was thinking, or what I wanted. Of course, I am a girl and we are emotional, but me, I have always been more so.

And for the life of me I couldn't resist my inner mutterings saying that I wanted Draco. He was Draco to me now, it was obvious. Even in my innermost thoughts I couldn't escape the budding love I had for him.

And yes, it must be love. I mean, I thought I loved Ron, deeply, but look where that got me. Pregnant with his child, and he left me. Without a backwards glance. Even though the baby was gone, the only thing left of our love, I still couldn't bring myself to regret our fling.

But Draco, when had I truly realized I loved him? We was arrogant, snide, hurtful, prejudice, and everything else I detested in Ron. And yet, with Ron all of his repellent qualities were buried deep, deep inside, so when you found them it was much, much, much to late for you. For me. I had fallen to hard for him.

Draco was if anything, the opposite. To an extent I mean. At first glance it seemed he was only made up of those personality traits, and yet, the closer you got, the more you saw inside. I had only gotten glimpses of the man who I thought he was, glimpses past the ice cold, hard shell he kept up at all times. It didn't matter though, the more I saw, the harder I fell.

And to be fair, I really should cut him some slack. To be raised in this home, which really couldn't even be called a home, it wasn't friendly, it wasn't welcoming, with no one but yourself really instills a sense of abandonment, and not quite worthlessness, but close.

To live in this place, you couldn't be worthless, as the extravagance and taste for finer things blatantly insisted that being a Malfoy inherently made you better then the rest. And with spoiling Draco rotten, and yet depriving him of human needs, must have turned him sour.

Bittersweet, I would think. To have everything you ever could want, but nothing really you care about.

To top it off, the idea of the arranged marriage. That he was to be married to Astoria Greengrass with no say in the matter whatsoever. To be deprived of one of the most beautiful natures of life, love.

I doubted Draco loved me, in fact, I knew he didn't. How could he? I offered him nothing, and reminded him of everything he has been brought up to hate, to despise, and simply was a symbol of something he could never have.

Freedom.

I wonder what it must be like, to never have freedom. To be on a leash so long you can almost forget that you are on a leash, and yet, must come running at the slightest beck and call.

Sighing I shook my head, breaking out of the trance I had held myself in and stood up, stretching my stiff body. My bones creaked in protest and I smiled to myself grimly, as I left my room and wandered down the hallway to the music room.

Music was something I had never had, well, never had as much as I wished. My parents, well, my Aunt and Uncle really didn't fancy the idea of me wasting time learning musical arts.

So at Hogwarts, on nights where my thoughts would weigh me down to the point of depression, I would find my way to the empty room in a secret corridor. There I would teach myself how to play piano.

Music was a soother, a connecter, a bonder. It symbolized everything someone couldn't say out loud, and was evermore enchanting because of it.

At first, I was disappointed that I wasn't as good at the piano as I was everything else, but persistent, I kept through with it until I could play with my eyes shut. After a while I even started dabbling into composing myself.

I wasn't particularly good, from what I knew. I had never let someone else hear me play, as I never had the need to.

Harry didn't care for music, he never had and I honestly thought he never will. And Ron was as arrogant and rude in the world of unspoken melodies as he was in the world of spoken ones.

And apart from those two I really had no reason to show anyone else, as no one really was my friend apart from them.

I closed my eyes, ignorant of time passing or anything that didn't involve my fingers on black and white keys, reveling in the beauty of the noise enveloping my ears. So caught up, I failed to notice the nearly silent steps that indicated another presence in the room.

"You play beautifully." Draco's soft voice was suddenly in my ear, and I jumped, wrenching open my eyes, my heart pounding furiously.

"Excuse me?" I stared at him incredulously, what was he doing here?

He looked at me thoroughly, and chuckled softly. "The piano. I didn't know you could play." He slowly slid his hands in his pockets and mused quietly.

I ran a hand through my hair sighing softly and looked at him curiously. "No one does. It's not exactly something I'm public about."

"And why is that?" He blinked surprised, and his gaze was soft upon mine, eliciting a blush upon my cheeks.

"It has always been something personal to me, really. Something I can partake in to clear my head when my thoughts get to heavy." I lowered my eyes away from his, nervous to the scathing glance I was sure to receive. However, instead of scorn, I felt him lower himself next to me on the piano bench.

"What kind of thoughts?"

"Well, nothing really. You wouldn't want to know."

"No. I really do. Tell me."

I hesitantly turned my head to look at him and sighed, submitting to his pleading gaze. "It's when I feel like I could explode with the thoughts inside of me. It's usually when I start to feel sort of suicidal-"

"What?" Draco's outraged tone stopped me short, and I raised my eyebrow questioningly.

"Yes?"

He spluttered, so uncommon from his normal composed features and managed to spit out, "Suicidal?"

"No. Not really." I shot him a look communicating I was about to explain everything and he fell silent, deflating. "I have never really been suicidal, just thought about it. And not even seriously. More along the lines of Do I really matter, or What is my purpose here. That's when I sit down to play. My pain becomes infused with the music, and it says everything I cannot."

Draco looked at me his gaze filled with disbelief. "But how is that even possible, if you refuse to share it with anyone else?"

I scoffed politely. "It's just like keeping a journal, but more intimate."

I let him ponder over that for a few seconds and he nodded in agreement. "I guess you are right."

"Of course I'm right!" I shoved him playfully, with a soft laugh.

His eyes twinkled down into mine and I felt the blush come back full force. "Will you play me something?"

I hesitated, staring into his eyes, contemplating if he was joking or not, and when I decided he was serious I nodded.

I let him watch me as I lowered my hands to the keyboard and started playing a delicate tune. As the music rose into a melodious crescendo, I felt him smile next to me.

"You really do play beautifully."

I didn't need to look at him to know he spoke truthfully, and suddenly I became overwhelmed with my attraction to him.

Before I could say anything, I felt his hand cup my chin bringing his soft lips over mine. I let out a breathy sigh, passion and desire coursing through my veins, and involuntarily wrapped my arms around his neck.

He let out a deep wanton moan, his hands making their way to my waste and pulling me on his lap. Suddenly my senses came back to me and I jerked my mouth away from his.

"What are we doing Draco?"

"Well, I thought we were making out. You know, where to people kiss…" His joking tone faded off quickly when he noticed my serious gaze.

"You're engaged."

"So?"

"So you are engaged to someone that isn't me. And you are kissing me. Why?" I placed my hands on his chest gently, my voice delicate and pleading.

"Because I care about you and not her. It's you I want to be with and not her." At his confession his normally bloodless cheeks colored in embarrassment and I stared at him confused.

"What are you saying Draco?"

"I don't know what I'm saying alright? I just, I want you. I want to be with someone who actually understands me. Do you know how many times I've actually spoken to Astoria?" He ran a hand through his hair, frustration flowing off of him.

"Well, no-"

"Once! I've spoken to her one time, and that was because I had to turn her down to the Yule Ball."

I raised my eyebrow skeptically and he clenched his hands in exasperation. "She's ridiculously insane Hermione. She has been obsessed with me for years. And I just don't like her like that."

I laughed softly and gave him a small smirk. "I thought you loved with the girls would fawn over you, and drop at your feet."

He glowered at me and spoke with a sullen edge. "No. I don't. Sure, it is all fun and games until you realize how desperate and psycho they are all. Every single one of them, the good pureblood daughters they are all, are trying to find respectable pureblood husbands. Of course all of their mothers are pushing for me, but Theo and Blaise are perfectly acceptable as well."

"Theo?" I frowned, trying to remember who he was talking about, as the name didn't sound particularly familiar.

"Theodore Nott. He's in our year."

"Oh."

"Anyway, they all would stalk me, follow me to classes, wait outside the dorm rooms hoping to be warranted of my affections."

"Oh, poor baby." I laughed at his indignant expression.

"Don't mock me." He gently pushed my shoulder with a chuckle then composed his face again. "The point being, is I've never been in a real relationship where I actually want to be with the other person. Well, up until you that is."

"Up until me what?" He couldn't possibly mean what I thought he meant.

"I have never been attracted to someone until you. I had the relationship with Pansy for diplomatic purposes only, but you, I actually enjoy being around you. And I for the life of me cannot figure out why."

I stared at him incredulously. "Are you serious?"

"Completely. Hermione, I want to be with you. And I don't know why, because trust me, it must be as confusing to me as it is confusing to you, but I do."

"Draco, what about your mother?"

"She'll live."

"No I mean about cutting you off."

Draco bit his lip and stared at me softly. "If it means being happy, then I guess it is a sacrifice I will have to make."

I stared at him in complete shock. "You would give up everything, to be with me? Are you sure I can make you that happy?"

He nodded slowly and smiled hesitantly. "I don't know how, but when I am with you, everything is put into perspective. I realize, I really don't need money to be happy. You and I, we can work this out together."

I nodded, agreeing with him, a splitting smile dancing upon my lips.

A/N

WOW. That was interesting to write. Huh. It really has been awhile.

Anyway, I hope that was long enough for you, and hopefully I can figure out where I want to take this story. Please review!

Also, follow me on tumblr, peanutbutterandink (my main one) and printedpassions (my one for writing)

~hawkshadow