Draco watched his father, in his permanent state of indifference and arrogance that was always characteristic of the Malfoy men. His mother told him his grandfather was a very harsh man, with very little love to give and Draco could see why his father was shaped like this. He approached Draco, emphasizing the height that separated them, as a demonstration of his power over him. Always with the same disapproving look, as if Draco's every breath were a failure in his eyes.

"I know what you are up to, young boy. Do you think that I'm that stupid?" His father asked, grabbing his chin, and pulling him close. "Do you think I'm a joke to you?"

"No, father." Draco merely said, maintaining eye contact. If he showed weakness, the punishment would be worse.

"I saw the way you look at that girl. That muddleblood. Do you desire her Draco, is that it? I raised you better than that." Malfoy said crushing Draco's face, he could not look away. "You give me no choice Draco; I have to tell the Dark Lord."

Draco's eyes darted in panic and his breath caught in his throat. "You make me sick Draco. You are weak like your mother is. This is all her doing, making you soft for some dirt." Malfoy laughed cruelly. "Do you want to play the hero in her pathetic and worthless life?" Draco did not answer. "Bring her in." Malfoy said, wiping Draco's face, which was red, marked with his father's long fingers.

Her crazy aunt, Bellatrix came in with Granger, who was crawling on the floor, being pulled by an arm, practically torn and in living blood. "Disgusting." His father said, giving the order. Granger looked at Draco, with those big amber eyes, begging for him, for his mercy, and for so much more. "Do it." His father said, walking away from the show of misery.

Bellatrix let out a sick laugh and with a slice of her wand, she slit Hermione's throat, her body falling limp into the floor. Her blood was everywhere and it as hopeless.

"Sometimes we hurt the ones we love, right Draco?" The venom of his father's voice following him into awaking.

Draco jerked awake, fighting for some air that he had been holding during his nightmare. His bed was soaked from his sweat. The nightmares became something Draco was familiar with, he was even surprised when he had a good night of sleep, without the usual fear and the distress, gasping for air and life. Ever since, he was almost the same dreams, that ended up with his mother dying or the Dark Lord torturing him without mercy. Granger never showed up in his dreams until now and it was just as awful as the others. He wondered when all of this was going to end.

Draco only came back to reality when he heard the bathroom door slam shut and, a few moments later, Granger saying good morning to his shaggy cat. He hated that stupid cat. Tired of weeping in bed and drenched in his own sweat, Draco went to take a shower, hoping to forget this damn nightmare, which only became more real each time he remembered that he shared the room with her. Obviously spending time with her was getting into his head.

"Good morning Malfoy. Do you want some tea?" Hermione asked, curled up with a blanket and a book on the sofa, with her cat by the side. Malfoy looked at the cat, which he could have sworn showed him his sharp teeth.

"I need something stronger," Draco said looking at the freshly brewed coffee pot. The smell of fresh coffee and vanilla scent hovered in the air.

"For me?" Draco questioned, holding the pot, watching it as if it were a foreign object which he did not understand.

"Well, for both of us." Hermione said. "Don't make it a big deal Malfoy. I'm in a better mood than yesterday and I wanted to thank you for tonight, for listening to my problems." She said drowned in her book, clearly hiding.

Draco smiled, amused. "It was not a big deal Granger."

He considered sitting on the couch too but away from Granger or going back to his room until he finished drinking his coffee. After a few quiet minutes, of Malfoy leaning against the small bench alone, he decided to sit on the sofa but keeping his distance from Granger, who was absorbed in her little world.

"What are you reading?" Draco asked, noting that the book had an old, dark cover.

Hermione immediately fumbled. "Old ruins. I have a big essay coming up." Draco thought that was odd because he never saw a book like that, clearly, it was not an academic light reading but he did not push any further.

"What's up with that weird and hairy cat?" Draco watched him, leaning against Hermione's legs.

"Isn't it adorable?" Hermione asked, putting down the book to pet her cat. "His name is Crookshanks."

"It's bloody ugly and I'm certain he doesn't like me." Draco said whining taking a sip of his coffee.

"Well, all you have to do is behave, Draco. And I promise he won't kill you in your sleep." Hermione said smiling at him provocatively.

"Very funny Granger, I'm impressed." Draco sarcastically keeping an eye on the cat, that walked away with his tail in the air. Hermione closed her book and tugged in between her arm. While she got up from the blanket that covers her legs, Draco found himself looking at her long legs and her skirt which went up a little too much.

"Tomorrow is a full moon and we need to finish the potion. Remember?" Hermione said looking down at him, in a bossy tone.

"Yes. Tomorrow night." Malfoy said looking this time at her amber eyes, which seemed bigger in this angle. The same eyes that were begging him to save her from certain and horrific death. Somehow Draco felt like that his life was a loop and Granger was part of it. And no matter how good this morning came to be, nor her company, the end of the cycle was the same. Her, lying dead, because of him. Because he was a coward, even in his dreams. He did not know when Granger become sort of his conscious or maybe she was just a face that summed up all his guilt. He needed to burn whatever this was to the fucking ground. But for Salazar's sake, seeing her leave after she smiled at him and that bloody skirt. Was it always so short or was he imagining things? Draco rubbed his eyes aggressively and when he opened it, that damn cat was lying on the couch again, looking at him.

"Fuck off." Draco said and left the room.

After a couple of hours spent in the library, catching up on some future essays, Hermione thought about going to the Gryffindor tower, surely Harry and Ron were thereafter the practice, but she did not want to face Ginny or look at Ron, giving him more false hopes or whatever, she was doing according to Ginny. Tired and with a sharp pain in her back, she walked towards her dormitory. Maybe she and Malfoy could hang out. Yes, she was going bloody nuts and she was past analyzing that. She could not deny her face light up when she saw Malfoy lying on the couch sleeping peacefully. This was the first time she saw Draco spending time in their living room. Ever since the year began, they pretty much ignored each other or the space they shared. She was sure they would be yelling at each other and throwing spells if they exchange even if one single look. But now they became quite civil with each other, which was surprising or bloody mental.

Hermione just stands there, looking – really looking- at him. At his wild and ruffled hair, so different from the usual rigid style he used to wear. His face looked almost peacefully but never fully relaxed, his forehead was constantly frowning like he was having a nightmare. He became more restless, almost fighting with his own body and Hermione approached and put her warm hand in his face, and just like that Draco's face relaxed and he stopped trembling. Hermione could not help but smile. She got up and covered him with her favorite blanket and left him to rest, accompanied by her cat.

Later that evening, Draco woke up feeling warm and strangely good for the first time since… well, he did not know really, he always had restless dreams since he was a little kid. He opened his eyes, it was alright night-time, he could not believe he spent all this time sleeping. That was not the plan, but he felt completely exhausted fixing that bloody thing and he just wanted to go somewhere where he could breathe.

He looked around to see Granger curled up, reading a book in her lap, with a cup of tea in her hand. For a few seconds before saying something, Draco took a moment to look at her – really look at her- her relaxed features, the way she was so focused in her book that did not notice her cat, trying desperately to climb to her. lap. Her body seemed very small when she was curled up like that, almost fragile and without her usual rigid posture in class. She was in her ambient, her safe space with him right beside her. Merlin, the world had gone mad.

Draco coughed and immediately she looked up from her book. Her eyes were very small and a little red, probably for studying many hours but her shy smile was still there.

"Morning, sunshine." She said looking at him.

"What time is it?" He asked a bit disoriented.

"Almost nine, I think. You missed dinner."

"I'm not hungry." He lied; his stomach was hurting.

"Well, I asked Winky to spare you some food from dinner. It's in the kitchen balcony if you want." She said returning her attention to her book like what she said was nothing.

Draco was speechless, his lips moved but he did not know what to say or how to act really. Was he supposed to say thank you? He was horrible in this kind of stuff, mostly because no one ever did stuff like this to him, without wanting anything in return. "Who's Winky?" He asked instead.

"She's an elf, she works at the kitchen mostly. Quite lovely but she has some… problems, let's say." Hermione said.

"And she answers to you?" Draco asked.

"Not like that! She's free and… we're friends." Hermione said proudly at him.

"Of course." Draco said smirking. He got up, noticing the fuzzy red blanket that covered him and then to Hermione that was immersed in her book again. He thought about making some comment about her blanket, but he was too damn hungry to think clearly. The stew that Winky brought smelled wonderful and Draco's stomach growled again. Then he took out a small bowl and poured himself a large quantity. Honestly, he did not remember the last time he had had a meal itself, without feeling sick or practically not hungry enough to enjoy it. He considered going back to his room and calling it a night, but she was still curled up on the sofa reading and it seemed wrong to take the food she kept for him without saying takings at least. He was not a bloody monster, his mother raised him well, after all.

Sitting in silence, a storm outside began to approach. A constant reminder that winter ruled over, even when some afternoons were spent outside, feeling the warm sun in their faces. But at night, everything changed. The sound of the rain began to softly beat against the window and the wind haunted the room they shared.

In the silence of the night, Draco wondered why she was so nice to him. After everything he had done, after everything they went through. Even though his father was a cruel man, a murderer, that would kill her in a blink of an eye just because she was near his beloved son. Did she have a death wish? Or she did not care at all? Or maybe, it was just her stupid Gryffindor complex? She was smart, surely, she would know better than to be some strange way of friends with a son of a Death Eater, especially, one with a suicide mission and nothing to hold on to.

He looked at her, surely, she was not that confrontable in that position, her neck must be killing her. "Are you comfortable in there?" He asked, breaking the silence.

She looked up, realizing she was not alone after all, and shut her book. "Actually, not really but you were asleep, so I didn't want to push you from the sofa. I'm not ruthless." She said playing.

"Come on then. I don't bite." He said smirking, touching the spot next to him.

She got up and sat next to him. She was looking at him curiously. "This is strange. I never thought I would be spending my Saturday night with you."

"Me neither, but I supposed you are not that bad. Only your ugly cat." Draco said looking at their surroundings, searching for that bloody thing.

"Asshole." She said smiling. "My dad found him near our house a long time ago. Someone left him, poor thing."

"I wonder why." Draco said and Hermione smacked his arm. "Sorry!" He said putting his hand in the air.

"Anyways." She continued "He didn't like us at first. He kept escaping and trying to bite us. I don't think his former owners were good with him, so he's a little bit tough but just stick around and he will surprise you."

Draco looked at her. "I respect that." He merely said and she nodded. The silence fell upon them again and Draco felt doing something stupid and impulsive, like so many times he was near her.

"Draco…" She said. "Can I ask you something?" She said, with her big amber eyes looking straight at him.

He nodded, fearing her next words but still, his body did not want to move and leave here so he was embracing for what's coming. "Do you thought about running away from this war?"

He breathed again. "What do you mean?"

"If my friends heard me, they would be so fucking disappointed but we are in a bloody war. This is not some adventure that Harry drags me to, there are people's life's line, like my parents." She breathed out, tears starting to form in her eyes. "And sometimes I don't want to stay and fight against You-Know-Who. Sometimes I just want to fucking run away with my parents and hide forever. Sometimes I just want everything to disappear." She rumbled out. "I'm a bloody coward."

"You Gryffindor's are insane." He said and she laughed softly "And I would to the same…If I could. I would run away but that is pointless. I don't think we can escape this, Granger."

She turned her body to him, looking at him carefully like he was something fragile to look at and she needed to be careful not to breathe too loud. "What have they asked you to do?" Her words almost sound like a whisper, a secret revealed in a moment of weakness.

She caught him off his guard like she imagined she would. Hermione immediately sensed him tense around her, his back straight up and his jaw was more noticeable than before. She was sure he was going to tell her to fuck off and leave but he remained still, facing her, probably thinking about his options. Finally, for that felt like a million of years, he said in a low and deep tone, unsure: "How did you find out?"

"I didn't. It was just a guess." Hermione said softly. "I won't tell Harry but he's suspicious already." She did not know why she said that. To assure him? To make him feel safe and less trapped in this conversation? Part of her did not seem to fully understand the implications of her words. If she did, well, she was probably really affected by the war, because she was practically allying with Malfoy, instead of her long-time best friend who was right.

"You won't?" He stared harshly at her. Examining her.

"I won't. I promise." She said truthfully.

"What you want from me Granger?" Draco asked bluntly rising from the couch.

"I want to help you." She said following him to the center of the room. Outside the storm echoed behind them, like war drums, preparing for the finale battle, where everything was lost or won.

Malfoy laughed. "Well, you can't. Nobody can." He approached her, looking with a cold indifference look. "I don't need your help or pity. Do you think you know me? You have no idea what I must do… What I will do." He said out loud.

"Try hard Malfoy. I'm not scared of you." She said, putting her hands on her hips. "And I do not know everything, but I do know some things. I know you are miserable; you are physically ill Draco. You do not eat and I doubt you sleep, and you are different from me. That's when I knew something wrong was happening."

"Because I was nice to you?" Draco snorted, almost like he did not believe her words. "You're such a good detective, has anyone tell you that?"

"You don't call me a muddleblood anymore." Hermione said finally and he looked away, almost disgusting with the word. "I think you hate that word now. I don't know why but something changed with you."

"And where that leaves us, Granger?" Draco looked at her again, with a firm posture, very different from the scared and lost boy he sounded just a few seconds ago. "Now that you know who I am. Do I repulse you?"

Hermione did not know how to respond. She staged this conversation several times, the way she was going to approach him, what to say, what he could say but she never thought how to end the conversation, which would result after this confrontation, which seemed increasingly inevitable because she was getting closer and closer to him. But of all the imaginary scenarios, she never thought he would just stand in front of her, with his arms crossed, waiting for something from her. Maybe he was waiting for her to betray him and tell Dumbledore who he really was, and everything was over, even this little thing they had together.

"I don't know Malfoy." She said honestly. "Why are you doing this? I mean, do you believe in him?"

Draco had been thinking about that question many times in the past few months, or even years. He wanted to be just like his father. Powerful, hateful, brilliant, but it always involved being a Death Eater and Draco was not sure about that. "I don't know. I am still the same. I believe that purebloods are superior but ... I don't think anyone should die because of that, nor because some manic has some really big ego."

Hermione approached him to the point she was now standing in front of him. "Let me help you. Please."

Draco looked at her big eyes, begging him. And he immediately went back to his vivid nightmare, the one where she was dying in front of him, begging for him to save her and just because he was selfish and let her in. She was too close. "Please Draco." She whispered.

"What are you doing Granger?" He asked feeling distracted by how proximate her body was from his, by the way, he felt her hot breathing in his face.

"I knew it because I saw you Draco. And I can't help to see you." She said quietly "To want you." The secret was out, all that was left was her weakness and confusion.

"You don't know what you're saying, Granger. And I know you are smart enough to know nothing good would come out of this. Me with the order. Us." He managed to find some words after a few seconds of silence. His mind was racing, he did not know what to think or to feel, only that she was pushing and pushing him to his end, testing him to feel, to say things he did not want to say out loud, to face himself. He was about to fall to his end and to whatever she was. He could not step back away from her and he did not want to blink this moment away. This moment when everything seemed wrong and right, this moment when they were alone, and no one really could stop them.

"Maybe. But I'm still here."

"What should I do then?" Draco asked bloody anxious for her. He could not face away, not now.

"Take what you want and don't look back." She said finally, sounding so sure of herself. Just like that. Let the world burn?

Draco remained still, mesmerized by every part of her, and then without thinking twice, he grabbed her face and kissed her passionately and hard. She kissed him back with the same urge, the same almost sense of desperation like they were apart for years and years, and finally they came home.