Chapter 6

Hermione's point of view

Draco had already gone downstairs when I got out of bed. I got dressed into my school uniform and picked up my timetable from my desk. Draco had left his so I compared them; we had all the same lessons and there was a new one- life counselling. That was probably to teach us how to bring up children as we were all expected to have one soon. The thought made me physically sick. I had always wanted kids, but I'd always thought that I'd have them after I had gotten my life sorted. I wanted to have a successful career and become someone before I settled down and started that new chapter of my life. This law was taking away all my control and it made my future so uncertain that I couldn't think straight. There was also the problem of how that child would be conceived, I'd never done it before and the fact that I had to do it with someone I didn't love,it hurt. They had taken away the one thing I always thought I should have been able to control.

I set both timetables down and began to pack my bag for the lessons. Today I had Potions, Arithmancy and Transfiguration. Despite the fact I had come back to learn and to get the grades, I felt my mind consumed with Draco and nothing else. It was like he was a plague that was tearing its way through my nervous system and I couldn't stop it. It didn't help that his scent hung in the air- heavy and masculine- constantly reminding me of the closeness I was beginning to feel for him. Our cuddle last night played over and over again in my mind, his vulnerability made him so much more... It just made him more, and it made me feel more.

I shook myself out of the daze I was in and looked at the clock. I only had half an hour before Potions, I packed my school bag and headed down the stairs to find Draco waiting with food.

"Well this trip was highly more successful than last time." He smiled an empty smile, I nodded knowingly.

"Thanks." I took the heavy plate from his hand and sat down on the sofa. He had put so much food on the plate, I could only manage to eat a third of the food before I started to feel full. I offered him the plate when he came back downstairs from getting his school bag. He shook his head and was about to explain why when I saw the time on my wrist watch. "We have to go or we will be late for our lesson!" I put the plate down and grabbed his wrist before pulling him out of the portrait hole.

"Hey that's hurting my wrist, slow down."

"I can't slow down, we can't be late on our first day of lessons." I continued to pull him through the stone hallways of Hogwarts. As we descended further into the depths of the castle I felt that familiar chill settle into my bones. Draco had long since given up trying to make me slow down and I was grateful. No one seemed to understand my need to be punctual. Every few seconds I checked my watch, in response I would speed up and Draco would grunt as he tried to catch up with my frenzy movements. We made it to Potions just on time, a second later and we would have been late. I tried to ignore the inquisitive stares from the rest of my classmates as they took in our red faces and dishevelled appearances, they were probably staring at our intertwined hands. It wasn't every day that you saw a Malfoy and a Mudblood holding hands and not hating one another. In the classroom we were forced to sit next to our husbands and wives (that's still weird). It wasn't like I was complaining or anything, Draco was very smart but I needed space. He distracted me so much, how was I going to be able to concentrate in my lessons if I was sat next to him.

Across the room I saw Lavender Brown practically in Ron's lap, his face was so red and I couldn't help but laugh at that. He was going to get so much less done than usual. Blaise Zabini and Luna Lovegood were not talking, neither were Neville Longbottom and Daphne Greengrass. However most of the other couples were happily getting along. And of course Harry and Ginny were in the corner making eyes at one another as if they were the only ones in the room. I got see Snape observing the room with his snake eyes, he looked uncertain. I would be in his situation, the classroom definitely looked daunting. I looked like the only one who actually wanted to work, even Draco was just staring into space. I had a feeling that no one would get much done this year.

Despite his hesitancy he carried on with the lesson with his usual sarcasm. Every single one of us messed up the complex potion that Snape had got us making, even me. Every time that Draco accidently made contact I was transported back to last night, I'd be distracted and then I'd make a mistake. Mine was the best out of a bad bunch but I could feel the despair that radiated from Snape. Even I was beginning to feel that despair. I'd come back to get the grades but so far it didn't look like I'd be getting much done. The only solution was to avoid contact with Draco but I really didn't want to do that as we were making real progress. But, I decided with a sigh, I had to put my future before our 'relationship'.

Draco's point of view

Hermione got increasingly distant throughout the day. She stopped talking to me and only acknowledged me when I addressed her directly. It was like she was shutting down. I felt all the progress we had been making slip away.

Back in our rooms she immediately grabbed some parchment and headed to the library. I would have followed her if I hadn't sensed her need to be alone. I decided that I needed some advice on all things Hermione, I decided to do something that I'd never thought I'd do.

An hour later I was sitting outside near the edge of the forbidden forest when Ginny Weasley came and sat next to me.

"I got your letter, what's wrong with Hermione?"

"The problem is, I don't know. She was fine before Potions and she's just become increasingly more distant through out the day but only towards me. So, I was wondering whether you could talk to her and make her feel better. Is that okay?"

"I'm surprised that your so concerned for her. I didn't realise that you were that close." I hated how sceptical the red-head was being. Why was it so hard to believe that I could actually care about Hermione?

"Please."

"Fine and I'm glad that Hermione has someone who is looking out for her." She smiled at me hesitantly. I felt that her statement was a form of acceptance and I actually felt happy that I might have made a new...lets say acquaintance. She walked off back into the school, her red hair glinting in the sun.

I hoped that she could find out what was bothering Hermione and I hoped that it wasn't me.

Hermione's point of view

I had been sat at the desk looking at a blank piece of parchment for 20 minutes. Snape had set an assignment and I really wanted to finish it this evening but from the look of things I was no where near to completion. I shut my books in frustration and saw Ginny looking down at me, concern written all over her freckled face.

"Hey Gin what's the matter."

"Nothing I'm fine but I just watched you slam that book closed like you had something on your mind and also I talked to Draco and he said that you were being distant. What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I knew that I couldn't lie convincingly so it was no surprise when she gave me an extremely sceptical look, "Fine. I'm not okay. I'm getting so distracted by Draco that my future, my academic future, it's at risk. I need to distance myself from him before he consumes me."

"Hermione, if you're in danger of being consumed then...then you and Draco are meant to be. I was consumed by Harry years ago and we fell in love. You need to trust that you and him can exist side by side instead of denying it because that denial, that's the distraction. Not the way you feel about him."

"He was a monster, he terrorised us." I spit out, I immediately regretted my words.

"Hermione, we both know that he has changed." I knew it, deep down I knew it.

"You think that I can love him?"

I think you are already half way there." I tried to ignore what she was saying but I couldn't. The thought of Draco sent my heart racing inside my chest, my hands got clammy and I couldn't seem to get him off my mind. He was kind, considerate, even funny. He was dashing, charming and handsome. He was everything that I'd ever dreamed of in a man. And I liked him, maybe more than a friend.

I was just so scared, these feelings had crept up on me so fast, so alarmingly fast and I really wasn't ready to accept that I could like Draco Malfoy, a former Death Eater. However, as I looked at Ginny, I knew those things didn't matter. I needed to accept the person he was now and forget about the person he had been manipulated into being. I knew Ginny was right, the denial was causing a battle in my brain and my heart and that was the thing that was distracting me- not how I was beginning to feel about Draco.

"Ginny, I think you're right." She just smiled back and said:

"I am right."

A/N: Please review x.