Chapter Three: The Feeling of Regret

Hermione or should I say Gwen floated through the walls of the Great Hall searching for her body. Dinner was over and every one was moving about looking for the correct prefect to go to so they could be led to the correct common room. She found her body walking toward the huge oak doors talking to Blaise. Draco was standing on the other side of her looking annoyed which made the invisible Hermione smile. She came down close enough so that she could pry herself into Draco's thoughts. **you know what? You should calm down I'm not going to do anything with Blaise** Hermione said into his thoughts making him look up with a confused look on his face. She entered her own body and inhaled sharply jerking her head up. Blaise put a hand on her shoulder asking if she was alright. She nodded it covering with a cough and patting her chest as if she swallowed something and it went down the wrong way. They neared the doors and Hermione broke away from them in the direction of the Gryffindor group standing at the foot of the stairs waiting. It was her turn this year to lead the first years up to the common room even though she would have loved to follow Draco and her new found friend, even though he wants to be more then that, Blaise.

"I have to talk to Dumbledore I'll see you later Draco when we see our new common room. Later Blaise!" Hermione called as she walked in the direction of the stairs and made to go up them as if going to Dumbledore's office. Draco and Blaise waved and turned. As soon as their backs were turned she went in front of the Gryffindor group.

"Alright!" She called getting their attention. "Gryffindor follow me!" She called again turning and going up the stairs. "This is the most direct way to get to the common room so please keep up. Oh, and watch for the stair cases they like to change." Hermione continued when they reached the stairs. Hermione heard the ever growing loudness of Ron and Harry's thoughts as they came closer and closer to her. Hermione closed her eyes briefly as they called her name. She didn't stop when she heard their voices call her. She didn't turn her head when they came up next to her.

"What were you doing with Malfoy and his friend?" Ron asked slightly annoyed.

"What? Is there something wrong with me talking to a Slytherin? Last time I checked I didn't belong to the two of you." Hermione snapped turning a corner sharply almost tripping Harry. She didn't care and didn't bother to help him when he stumbled. She would have stepped on his glasses too if they had fallen off him face. **ouch** she heard Ron think when he heard her remark.

"Do you two have something wrong with me having a life and not being your living encyclopedia? Why don't you just go pay your whores Ginny and Lavender?" Hermione said sharply as they reached the portrait of the fat lady.

"My, my we've changed haven't we Miss Granger or should I say Miss Ravenwolf." The portrait said. Hermione gave her a sarcastic smile and turned back to the first years.

"This year's password is Desire. Hopefully you will all remember that because I'm not going to remind you." Hermione told them bitterly before turning to the portrait and saying the password. It opened when it was said and Hermione stomped in trying her best not to explode on them and accidentally kill them even though she would enjoy watching them die.

"Boys password are up the stairs to your right, girls the same but to your left. Your things have already been brought up." Hermione said when every one had entered. No one moved when she told them this.

"What? Are you waiting for me to do something? Go to your dorms!" Hermione yelled angrily. Once she said this every one scrambled up the stairs except for Harry and Ron. Hermione sighed and walked towards the middle of them where there was a space. Hermione pushed passed Harry and walked through Ron grabbing something from his pocket. She opened the portrait and climbed through as they turned around.

"You know you're really pathetic Ron you really are. You carry these things around like girls waiting in line to fuck you. Reality check their not." Hermione said throwing the small pack of condoms at Ron's head. Ron looked embarrassed and caught them as she left the room. She stomped back the way she came towards a small group of prefects, the head girl and Professor McGonagall. She walked up to Draco and flung her arms and his neck and hugged him tightly. Draco was confused but hugged her back anyway liking how she felt against him.

"Thank god you're here to save me from this hell." She whispered giving him an extra squeeze. Draco gave her a small smile and berried his nose into her hair. She smelled like hot peppers and vanilla. The smell was diving him crazy with ecstasy when she pulled away. He had a dreamy look on his face like he was in a trace when McGonagall's voice snapped him back to reality.

"Good, now that we have the head boy and the last prefect we can go." She said and led them to the new dorm. After what seemed like forever McGonagall stopped in front of a portrait of the goddess Hekate, who curtsied bowing her head down. The portraits eyes looked around the students and rested on Hermione who stared right back at her.

"Gwen." Hekate said nodding her head at her. Every one looked at her, except for Draco he was used to the oddness that happened to her.

"Hekate." Hermione said and nodded in return giving her a fait smile. "It's been a long time." Hermione continued ignoring the stares she was getting.

"Yes, too long." Hekate said in a silky voice before turning back to McGonagall. "Password?" she asked looking expectantly at the professor.

"Dragon's Blood." McGonagall told the portrait, instantly it swung open and reveled a beautifully furnished prefect common room. "Prefects remember that password and have a good night. One more thing over each stairwell is your name and the name of your prefect partner you will be sharing a mini common room either up or down the stairs. Have a good night." The professor said her eyes lingering on Hermione before she left with Harry and Leah. Ron looked over at her and anger flared in his eyes. Hermione ignored this and looked at each stairwell looking for her name. She found it on the last stairwell that seemed to be leading upward. She read the name next to hers and smiled, because the writing next to hers read: Draco Malfoy.

"Looks like we're going to be together. I wonder why?" Hermione said looking over and Draco who smirked at her.

"Come Hermione, let us go t our new rooms. I'll tell you the reason later." Draco replied offering her an arm. Hermione nodded her head and took his arm as he led her up the stairs. The other prefects stared after them a little scared at why they were both so calm with each other. Slowly the others found their designated stair well and claimed either up or down it with there prefect partner. Before Ron walked down his stair well he shivered as Hermione's threat pushed its self to the front of his mind and lingered there until he finally did turn and walk down the stairs.

***********

Hermione circled the new mini common room. The walls were forest green with an enchanted ceiling. There was a fire place that was made of black flag stone with two black leather love seats facing it slightly turned so that they sort of faced each other. Opposite this were two desks both were red oak with a black chair with red legs. Hermione knew which one was hers because a pentacle with the eight phases of the moon surrounding them just like her tattoo. Hermione then turned her attention to three doors that stood opposite her. The middle door she knew was the bathroom, the door to the left was Draco's and the door to the right was hers. Her name was written in beautiful black calligraphy on the door. Draco's name was written the same way except his was in a fiery red. She walked to her door curiously and grasped the door knob then let go quickly as if it were on fire. She stepped back and walked over to Draco's door and knocked. Draco opened the door and let her in.

"Is it ok if I go through your bathroom door to my room?" Hermione asked still standing near the door.

"Sure." He said. He was unpacking and changing the colors in his room. His room was now grayish blue color with a black ceiling. His bed had black and red covers and sheets. Hermione nodded and gave him a small smile as she walked through his door to the bathroom. She hesitated at her door that led to her room. She reached out a hand and grabbed the knob and turned it. She opened the door slowly and walked inside with her eyes closed. When she opened her eyes she let out a blood curdling scream.

********** Draco heard Hermione's scream from his room and came running but stopped short in the door way when he saw that she wasn't in any immediate danger.

"What's wrong?" He asked watching Hermione as she stared in horror around the room.

"Pink. They made my room bloody PINK!!!!" Hermione cried backing slowly away from her room. She would have backed up farther if she hadn't bumped into Draco. He didn't mind when she did and placed and hand on her hip in reassurance. She fumbled in her pocket and drew out her wand. She mumbled a few spells and the room changed color. The walls became a black-red color and the ceiling was a blood red with the eternal black flames painted across it. The rug turned black with a small red throw rug at the foot of the bed. Hermione sighed and leaned slightly against him content with the change. After a few moments she stepped away and surveyed her newly redone room. Hermione changed the drapes on her huge fore poster bed the same color as the walls and made her quilt black and the sheets red with a gold shimmer to it. Hermione gave a small smile and fell back on her bed lying spread eagle on it. Draco walked over and stood at the foot of the bed staring down on her.

"That's what you got so freaked out about. That your room was pink." Draco stated mocking her raising an eyebrow at her. She sat up and nodded.

"Yes, but did you see what type of pink it was. It was like a hot pink; even you would tremble and cower when you walk into a hot pink room." Hermione said with mock seriousness. Draco chuckled softly and rolled his eyes at her. "I'm going to check out the big common room down stairs, want to come?" Hermione asked swinging her legs over the right side of the bed and standing. Draco shook his head and turned to go back to his room.

"Suit your self." Hermione said as she made her way out of her room and into the mini common room before going down the stairs to the 'big common room'. She noticed that Ron was the only one there and he was sitting on a black velvet love seat staring at the blazing fire. Hermione snorted at the thought of him thinking. She looked around the room soundlessly touching, picking up and putting down things as she passed. The room was midnight blue with the same black flagstone fireplace as in the other common rooms. The floor was made of wood except that there was a forest green rug that covered the area that the several love seats were placed.

"What are you thinking about?" Hermione whispered in Ron's ear making him jump. He turned around and glared at her remembering what she had said about his sister.

"You little bitch." He said standing and walking up to her. Hermione just stared innocently at him. Ron pushed her hard so she hit the wall next to the fire place, since his chair was very close and faced the fire place, Hermione made a small grunt as she hit the wall. He then grabbed her by the color of her shirt and raised her above his head slightly glaring angrily at her.

"you know," Hermione said softly her eyes glazing over as if she were going to cry. "The doctor said I didn't have much longer. I didn't believe him but now I do. Because I know now that these are my last moments. Thanks Ron for making them so unpleasant for me." She continued with the same soft voice. She closed her eyes softly and her body relaxed. Ron stared in horror at her. **No, this is a trick. She isn't dead.** Ron thought as he lowered her so that her feet were now touching the floor. The only thing that kept her up was Ron's firm grip on her shirt color. Ron let go slowly of her and she crumpled to the floor in a little heap on the ground. He knelt beside her and checked her breathing and she wasn't breathing.

"Oh my god, no." Ron whispered, he then stood and backed away from her. He turned and ran up to her loft.

"Malfoy!" He yelled when he entered the mini common room. Draco came out of his room looking slightly annoyed.

"What do you want Weasley?" Draco said bitterly glaring at him. He noticed Ron's worried look and he raised an eye brow.

"It's Hermione," Ron said, he was almost hyperventilating and couldn't say much at the moment.

"What about her?" Draco asked stiffening "What did you do to her?" He asked narrowing his eyes at him.

"I don't know! She just stopped breathing and died! I don't know what's happening. She was fine a moment ago then she just died!" Ron cried tears coming to his eyes. Draco froze and Ron noticed this. **He must feel something for her** Ron thought as he turned and ran out of the room. Draco followed him to where Hermione lay supposedly dead on the floor. Draco knelt beside her still body then looked up at Ron. Ron wasn't looking at them but looking nervously around the room. Draco looked back over at Hermione and saw a smirk cross her supposedly dead lips. Draco got the idea and smirked as well. Quickly he frowned and looked thoughtful as Ron looked back down at them. Draco placed his hand on hers and rubbed the top of her hand with his thumb. He pretended to look sad and thoughtful with a trace of anger.

"So, tell me what happened." Draco said with a hint of sadness in his voice so that it cracked a little.

"Well, she must have come down into the common room while I was thinking and whispered 'what are you thinking about?' in my ear. I jumped and glared at her because she called my sister a whore. I called her a bitch and pushed her against the wall. I then took her by the color and raised her off the ground and I was gong to say something when her eyes glazed over like she was going to cry and said something about a doctor telling her she didn't have long to live and that these were her last moments. Then she just died." Ron said, he was near hysterics and his voice was slightly high pitched. Draco nodded and looked at Ron for a while.

"I'll take her to the hospital wing. Why don't you go back to your own room and try to relax." Draco said picking up the limp body of Hermione and carrying her to the door. Ron nodded and went down the stairs to his common room, but first waited to see Draco off. Draco opened the door and walked down the hall. As soon as he rounded the corner her put Hermione down and she opened her eyes.

"That was fun." Hermione said. "I should try that more often." She continued smiling. Draco snorted with laughter and frowned at her.

"You had me worried that you had actually died. Don't do that to me again with out warning me next time ok?" Draco asked placing a hand on her cheek. Hermione smiled again and nodded. She leaned into his touch slightly closing her eyes.

"Ron must be feeling very regretful at this moment." Hermione said softly with her eyes still closed.

"Yeah, he thinks that he was some what the cause of your death." Draco said laughing softly. He leaned his head a little closer as Hermione opened her eyes. She stared into his and smirked.

"You want to kiss me now. You're thinking it." Hermione said as she stared into his eyes for a moment longer before speaking again. "So why don't you?" She continued leaning her head in to seal the space between them. Draco pressed his lips softly onto hers before putting a little more pressure onto it. Hermione kissed back with the same passion that he had which surprised him for a moment but not for long. He ran his tong along the line between her lips seeking entrance. She gave in, her tong meeting his as he entered exploring her mouth as she did his. Their tongs played together gently before into turned into a passionate game of tonsil hokey. Draco pushed he up against the wall a little harder as the kiss deepened. Neither wanted it to end, but they knew that it would some time. They broke apart for air before rejoining their lips again. But not with that same force as before, this time they just brought their lips together gently before they broke apart again. Draco stared into her eyes **wow, she is amazing** **Thank you, nice to know you think that** **how?** **I can do much more then get just premonitions and read thoughts. I can also put thoughts in peoples mind. Delete thoughts, shape shift, become invisible and so much more** Draco raised his eye brows at their little mind conversation.

"You really have changed over the summer haven't you." Draco stated smiling slightly.

"You, I guess you could say that." Hermione said giving him a look that read 'haha, I can do more then just cast spells and crap like that!' Draco shook his head and laughed at her look.

"You know, Blaise is nice and all but he's way to forward. You should have heard his thoughts EW!" Hermione said wrinkling her nose at his thoughts. Draco laughed and leaned his forehead on hers.

"He's just being a typical sex crazed guy." He told her with a mocking look on his face.

"I guess you're right about that. And will you stop thinking about kissing me! You know you're going to be kissed eventually." Hermione said laughing at his thoughts. And with that Draco brought his lips to hers for another wonderful kiss.