Hello to those who are left! I am so sorry for how late this is. I'm pretty sure it's been about a year since my last update and I have no excuses.

In light of what has been happening recently, I thought I would go ahead and start posting chapters again. The world is changing so rapidly right now and sometimes we all just need an escape from reality. I'm hoping to give you all that escape you need.

I just want to take some time to thank everyone who has read this story. I will do everything in my power to insure I finish it.

I'm so incredibly sorry again and I hope you all enjoy!

- Frostbit3

The air in the room immediately felt heavy as Hermione stepped forward, letting the hidden door shut behind her. She took in a calming breath and stepped farther into the dark room. Her eyes widened in fascination as she looked around her. Towers of bookshelves lined the walls, adorned with thousands of worn books. She stood frozen in shock and her lips twitched ever so slightly in glee. Hesitantly she took a step forward, closing in on one of the nearest bookshelves. Her fingers glided across the different titles, and she sighed in relief at the familiar feeling of book spines beneath her touch.

Lit candles flickered throughout the large room, casting a beautiful glow across her healing skin. Her hand drifted across the smooth wood banister as she made her way up the spiral staircase, oblivious to the grey eyes stalking her from below.

She reached the top level and chose a dark red book with elegant black writing in ink. She took the book from the shelf and leaned forward, breathing in the comforting smell of aged parchment. Her eyes fluttered close, briefly forgetting the reason she came here in the first place.

"Ever the same, Granger."

She jumped in shock at the sound of a familiar voice, and jerked around. Her heart rate accelerated at an alarming pace as she searched for his body in the dark. Her eyes strained, for the entire floor level was shadowed in dark. She held her breath in hesitation, waiting for his voice again.

"How did you find me,"

His voice echoed through the room, making it impossible to distinguish where he was. She walked across the expanse of the upper level, making her way to the other set of stairs on the other side.

"I asked around," she waited for a response, "We need to talk"

"There's nothing left to say" he whispered.

She jumped in terror, as she felt his breath on the back of her ear. She felt his body heat from directly behind her. Instinctively she stepped back and lost her footing on the top of the stairs. Suddenly she felt strong arms wrap around her waist, hoisting her forward and away from the staircase.

She gasped as her eyes met his stormy grey ones. His hands tightened on her waist, as his gaze drifted down to her full lips.

"I-" she muttered, words escaping her. "I wanted to talk."

His gaze broke away from hers, as his hands dropped from her waist and fell to his side. He stepped back, creating distance between them.

"I don't want to talk"

"Well I do, so you can at least listen, Malfoy."

"Whatever," he grumbled, waving a hand, signaling her to continue.

"What is with the attitude? I thought we were friends."

She watched as something unrecognizable flashed behind his eyes before being replaced by a cold glare.

"I'm not so sure we should anymore," he muttered.

"What changed? I don't understand?" she pleaded, stepping forward. She grasped his chin in one hand, forcing him to meet her gaze. "Make me understand," she whispered.

"I can't do this anymore," he cried. "He knows!"

"I don't care. We are safe here," she stepped closer, closing the distance between them. "He can't do anything."

A tear fell slowly from his eye and she caught it with the pad of her thumb, rubbing the tear into his cheek. He leaned into her palm, finding solace in her touch. His lips grazed her palm, ever so slightly, sending chills down her spine.

"I can't protect you," his voice wavered, and Hermione's heart broke a little more.

"I don't need protection. But even if I did, if my life was in your hands, I trust you more than you know."

"Please take that back," his eyes flashed angrily. Stepping back, his hands ran through his hair anxiously. "Why?" he pleaded. "How did this happen? How could I let this happen?" he whispered to himself, his eyes growing frantic.

"It just happened, Malfoy. We grew to lo- like each other."

She held her breath, hoping he didn't catch her slip up.

"The Slytherin and the Gryffindor. The unlikely friends," she smiled softly, finding the humor in the situation.

"The pureblood and the muggleborn," he added.

"I just want you to know that I'm really glad I got to know you, Draco Malfoy. You were there for me during one of my hardest times. You showed me that kindness can come from some of the most unexpected places and you taught me that some people," she reached toward him but he stepped back again, and she dropped her hand, "are just misunderstood."

"Granger-"

"No, it's time for you to listen," she puffed her chest in determination. "I'm not scared of whatever this is. I don't care if anybody finds out, because our friendship-," she hesitantly took a step forward, "is special to me and I would never want to lose it for anything. And I know you may be scared," she had him cornered now, his back pressed against a bookshelf, "but I have enough Gryffindor courage for the both of us," she smirked up at him and felt her heart sing as he slowly smirked back.

She felt his strong heartbeat against her own chest as her breathing became labored. She looked up into his face, the light from the candles flickering beautifully across his pale skin. His eyes shone like two pools of mercury and there was nothing more in the world she wanted than to kiss him right now. Her hands cupped his face, and he stared back, his eyes unfocused and frightened. Her head leaned forward as her soft lips landed smoothly on his cheek.

"Did I mention I missed you," she whispered into his ear as she embraced him.

"I think you may have,"

She felt him smile, his head buried in her wild curls.

"I missed you too, Granger."

"You need to think about this."

Malfoy leaned against the hallway wall as Granger paced back and forth outside the room her parents were staying in.

"I have thought about it," she responded.

"After what they just went through, do you think the best idea is to leave them alone?"

"I don't know what's best for them, but what I do know is they will be safer away from me. I can't risk anything," her voice broke as she spoke.

"Granger," he tried to get her attention but she kept pacing, "Granger. Hermione."

She halted her movements and turned to him. His throat bobbed as he swallowed and he watched as her eyes began to glisten with tears.

"If you obliviate them there is a chance you may never be able to recover their memories again."

He tried to warn her, but deep inside he knew she wouldn't change her mind. Watching her in so much pain was hurting him more than he would have liked to admit.

"I know, this is just something I have to do."

"Ok. Then let's do it. We can take them somewhere nice. Safe."

"We?" she questioned, eyeing him curiously.

"I'm here for you, Granger. You shouldn't have to do this alone," he said, his body going rigid as he leaned against the wall.

There was a moment of silence before she jumped forward, pouncing on him without warning.

"Thank you," she whispered.

His heart soared as she grasped onto him tightly. His arms wrapped around her instinctively as he felt a foreign flutter in the pit of his stomach.

What was that, he thought to himself as the feeling grew in intensity the longer they stayed in each other's arms. He unraveled himself from her arms and stepped back awkwardly, clearing his throat. He stared at the flush of red that was now across her cheeks and wondered whether she felt it too. He watched as her teeth dragged across her bottom lip anxiously and he felt a lurch in his lower abdomen that was definitely not a foreign feeling. Oh how he wished those were his teeth nibbling along the bottom of her lip. Her chin. Her neck.

She cleared her throat, shifting uncomfortably under his intense scrutiny.

"I think I know a place," she said breaking the silence and ignoring the thick tension between them.

"Ok, if you are ready, then let's do it."

He wanted to take her pain away so she never had to feel like this ever again. Draco and Granger stood in the living room of her suburban childhood home. The sweltering summer heat drifted inside the spacious living area from outside. Draco watched as tear after tear slid from her eyes, as she pointed her wand at the unconscious forms of her parents. He wanted so badly to grab her by the hand and apparate her back to 12 Grimmauld Place, or anywhere at all. Just not here. In this room, in this house, in this country. He knew she would never live this down, and she would torture herself until it consumed her to no end. And that's why he stepped forward, placing his hand on her forearm and looking her deeply in the eyes.

"Let me,"

"Draco," she peered at him curiously. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I would do anything to prevent you from feeling this crippling guilt. Because you may not know it yet, but if you do this,the guilt will eat you alive, and Hermione Granger without the spirit and fire that I love so much wouldn't be Hermione Granger."

"Love?" she gasped, her eyes wide with shock.

"You know what I mean, like as a friend," he said quickly trying to patch up his mistake.

"Of course," she muttered, her head nodding in understanding.

He silently kicked himself for saying what he did and what was worse was the look of disappointment that now graced her features. What did she want him to say? That he loved her? That he would do anything for her, even if it meant risking his own life. Did she feel the same or was he just another friend like Potter or Weasley?

He wanted to scream himself hoarse until she heard him when he said that he didn't want to just be friends. He wanted to kiss her without wondering if she would push him away in repulsion. He wanted to hold her close like it was their last day. But this was neither the time nor the place, there were more important things at bay.

"Just, let me do it." he said again, shifting the topic back to what they were doing.

Granger hesitantly took a step back, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked down at her parents. Draco stepped forward, taking the space that Granger previously stood. Slowly, his arm raised, pointing at the two muggles. He refused to look back at Granger's tear stricken face as he whispered the incantation. A wisp of smoke flowed from his wand and creeped their ways into the muggle's ears. He made them forget her. Her first steps, her contagious smile, and the memory of her first magical experience. Without Hermione's knowledge he whispered, "Legilimens," and found entrance into her mother's mind. He watched as memory after memory faded away, leaving a false memory without her in it. Suddenly he saw 12 year-old Hermione sitting in her room, her head buried in her mother's chest.

"They say I'm a mudblood."

Draco took a staggering step back, an unknown force hitting his chest.

"They are just words, Hermione," her mother soothed, smoothing down her hair.

"But they say I'm not as good as the rest of them because I'm not from a magical family."

"Who is saying this?"

"A boy," young Hermione sniffed, "his name is Draco Malfoy."

"My darling," her mother began, "no words this boy may say will ever tear down the strength that is inside your heart. This boy may be hurting as well, perhaps he just needs kindness to help him through it."

Young Hermione peered curiously up at her mother, "I never thought of it like that."

"You hold so much power inside you and don't let anyone else let you think otherwise."

Her mother placed a soft kiss upon her forehead and Draco watched as their forms began to slowly fade until all that was left was an empty dark space in its wake.

Pulling himself out of her mother's mind, he stepped back and took a deep breath in. From behind, he heard a strangled sob. He turned in alarm to see Hermione hunched over a moving box they had packed, a framed photo in her hands. Tears dropped onto the glass, which held a photo of her parents smiling next to each other, with an empty space between them.

He took her cheek into his palm and turned her head to face him. Tears streamed faster down her face, as her chest heaved back and forth.

"The don't remember me. I never existed."

She blinked rapidly, trying to curb the tears in vain. He pulled her into a hug, her head burying deep into his chest. He sat with her until her tears finally ran dry, soaking his shirt.

He stood, her hand clasped in his as he guided her to standing. She wobbled on her feet so he steadied her with his hands on her waist. She looked up at him with her red-brimmed eyes. He held his breath as her gaze lowered to his lip. She bent her head forward, her lips nearing his. They hovered above his, nearly touching as her breath ghosted over his face. He felt her chest rise and fall rapidly, matching the pace of his own heart. His hand snaked up to the back of her neck, tangling his fingers in her hair. He tilted her head back as he bent his forward with only one goal in his mind. To finally kiss her. She gasped audibly as his parted lips neared her own.

"Wait," she breathed.

He froze, his eyes searching hers for an answer. When he couldn't find one, he released his hold on her and took two steps backward, an unseen force hitting him had never felt rejection before.

"I-" she paused, her eyes shifting from his rigid form to the unconscious forms of her parents. "Thank you."

He closed his eyes trying to regain his control as he took in a calming breath. When he opened them, he caught Granger's inquisitive eyes staring back at him. His fists clenched and unclenched.

"Don't mention it," he gritted out.

Embarrassment and shame bubbled beneath his surface. He looked down at his feet, avoiding eye contact with her. He reached out to her hand, and as soon as he felt her smooth hand in his, he apparated them away.

Their feet landed roughly on the cobblestone pavement in the alley near 12 Grimmauld Place. Hermione shook her head, dispelling the dizzying feeling swirling behind her eyes. Malfoy was already halfway down the alley, leaving her to stand by herself.

"Hey Malfoy! Wait up!" she shouted, running after him, her head pounding from dehydration.

He turned the corner out into the street and she quickly followed behind him. He quickened his pace as they neared the steps up to the front door. She finally reached him and grabbed his shoulder, turning him to face her. Her nostrils flared angrily as she shouted.

"What was that back there? I'm getting tired of your crazy moods!"

"Send a patronus for them to open the door," he stated, his eyes giving her a hard glare.

"No. Not until you tell me what's wrong." she placed her hands on her waist defiantly.

"Nothing. It's just been a long day."

"Of course it's been a long day! We erased my parents' memories, and just 48 hours ago I was laying on my living room floor on the brink of death! Everyday is going to be a hell day from here on out but that doesn't give you an excuse to act like a complete prat for absolutely no reason." she poked him in the chest once she was finished.

"Stop yelling, someone is going to see," he said, his voice lowered as his eyes stayed locked on nosy passerbys.

"Fine. We will talk about this inside." she grumbled as she waved her wand.

Malfoy stared in awe as a blue wisp in the shape of an otter emitted from her wand and jumped inside. Almost instantly the door was open and Hermione and Malfoy were being dragged roughly into the safe house by Ron. He immediately shut the door, a terrified look in his eye.

"Ron, what's wrong?" Hermione questioned, noticing the look of pure fear on his face.

"Thank Merlin you guys are okay!" Ron exhaled, pulling Hermione into a hug. He met Malfoy's eyes and gave him an appreciative nod. Malfoy nodded back, an understanding passing between the old enemies.

"Ron, what happened?"

Hermione held her breath, waiting for the worst case scenario.

"Voldemort has kidnapped someone," Ron said, his eyes darting back and forth.

"Who was it?" Malfoy spoke this time, his body going stiff.

Ron took a deep breath in, his blood boiling beneath the surface with unbridled anger.

"Cormac Mclaggen."

I'm sorry for all the back and forth in this chapter. It was completely necessary. Thank you for getting this far and please let me know how you liked it!