Chapter 11- Lets play make believe

~*~Hello, blimey this chapter took a long time to get up. I apologise profusely. This chapter is so different from all my other chapters that you might suddenly think I have changed writing styles completely. In a way I have but this chapter is kind of a comic relief chapter and the next few will be more fluffy and concentrate less on the whole 'danger at Hogwarts' theme. I hope that is the sort of thing you were all hoping for! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Re-arrange this common statement: mine not. Understand?!

Grandmere means grandma in French.

~*~

***

The pair trudged on for four more hours until Hermione was faint with hunger, exhaustion and the lasting effects of her fever. Adding up in her mind all that had happened to her over the last few days she was astonished at how she was still going. She decided that her body must have been running on adrenaline but now that Draco stayed a distance and her life wasn't currently in danger she could feel her body winding down and demanding food and sleep. However if they didn't find a house soon it was going to get neither. She sighed and called out weakly to Draco.

"Oi, Malfoy, I can't keep this up. We have to find somewhere to stay the night."

"If you're too weak Granger, it isn't my problem." He called back hating himself. Hermione felt tears spring to her eyes but she wasn't going to let him know he was hurting her. She knew he wasn't going to leave her so she resolutely sat down on the road.

"I'm not going another step." She called out, knowing she sounded like a spoilt child but not caring. "I'm cold, I'm hungry and I feel sick. I'm not moving until you say we can find somewhere to sleep." Suddenly she heard a rumbling and she turned to see a land-rover bearing down on her. She opened her mouth to scream but the next second the breath was knocked out of her as Draco grabbed her and rolled her off the road into the grass. He lay on top of her staring into her chocolate eyes and she stared back into his grey ones. Neither of them noticed as the car came to a screeching halt and the driver leap out. Hermione could feel Draco's heart pounding just below hers and his ragged breathing was ruffling her hair. Suddenly there was a loud cough and they both turned their heads to see a man in jeans and a shirt staring at them concernedly.

"Are you kids alright?" he asked worry creasing his brow.

Hermione gave a soft whimper and fainted.

***

"I found it so I'll give it to her."

"That's not fair! I bet she likes me better."

"Bet she won't, Draco already said he likes me best."

"Did not!"

"Did to!"

Hermione opened her eyes at the sound of two little girls squabbling at the foot of her bed.

'That's strange' she thought. 'Why are there two little kids in Griffindor tower?' then she looked properly at her surroundings and realised with alarm that she didn't recognise anything.

"Where am I?" she asked weakly.

"Now look what you've done. You've gone and woken her up. Mums gonna be furious when I tell her."

"It wasn't me it was you!"

"Was not!"

"Was to!"

"Enough!" snapped Hermione eyeing the two little girls angrily.

They both flinched and stared at her warily.

Hermione regretted her harsh tone and smiled shakily at them.

"Could you please tell me where I am?" she asked gently.

They gave her identical and brilliant smiles and came closer to the bed.

'They're twins!' Hermione realised and felt a pang as she thought about the Weasley twins who in turn reminded her of Ron and Harry. Suddenly she noticed the two girls (who were about 7) had sat down on either side of her on the large, soft bed.

"Four Gables Farm. You collapsed and daddy and that boy brought you back here. I'm Elsie and that's Marie" The one on her right said jerking her thumb towards the other girl who nodded shyly.

"Did I hear you say Draco just before?" Hermione asked her.

They both nodded.

"Do you think you could fetch him for me?"

The girls giggled mysteriously but nodded again and scurried out of the room.

Hermione flopped back against her pillows and tried to fill in the blanks of her memory.  The last thing she could remember was sitting in the road…and then the land-rover…and then Draco…and then "OH MY GOD!" Hermione yelled out sitting bolt upright in the bed. Draco had just burst through the door wearing nothing but a towel and with drops of water beading down his tightly muscled stomach. In a couple of strides he was by her side.

"Hermione." He panted obviously out of breath. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"

She gaped openly as the towel slipped down a couple of milli-metres.

"D..D..Draco." she finally stammered. "Where are your clothes? I didn't mean you had to drop…" she stared hungrily at the towel then shook her head, disgusted at herself,  "whatever you were doing and visit me straight away!"

Draco lost his concerned look and a smile flickered across his lips. Hermione's brow furrowed in confusion and she looked questioningly up at his amused face.

"Wha…?" she began but he gave her another quirky smile and gently shook his head.

"Girls?" he put on a mock angry tone and turned towards the door. Two blonde heads appeared around the door-frame and two cheeky grins lit up two faces rosy from laughing.

"Yes, Draco?" they asked innocently and in unison.

"Didn't you tell me that the young lady needed me here immediately?"

Giggles were his only answer.

"And," Continued Draco, "didn't you tell me that your mother had taken my clothes to wash?"

More giggles.

"Was any of that true?"

No answer.

"Girls?"

"No Draco." Came two little voices.

"Hmmmm." Draco frowned pretending to look fierce but doing a hopeless job, "in that case I think you deserve some punishment. Where's that flower you were going to give Hermione?"

"Here." One of the girls brought a pretty violet wild flower from behind her back.

"I think I will give it to her." Draco said snatching it out of her hands.

"Oh Draco." The girl pouted and then smiled mischievously. "You can play make believe and pretend to be her boyfriend."

"Yeah" the other girl piped up. "That would be romantic."

 Hermione looked uncomfortable.

"Uh, I don't know girls. Draco might not want to come near a mu…mundane person like me."

Draco winced but recovered before Hermione or the girls noticed.

"I would be honoured if you would accept this flower from me, girlfriend."

She searched his face looking for any sign of mockery but all she could see was genuine amusement at playing along with the little girls. She accepted the slightly crushed flower gingerly and gave him a weak smile.

The twins clapped their hands delightedly.

"Good. But now you have to kiss her." The one who had been holding the flower grinned at them hopefully.

"I live only to please." Draco murmured and he leant over Hermione his lips swooping down on hers…

***

To Hermione the scene seemed to be in slow motion as she watched him come closer and closer. At the last milli-secong he swept upwards and planted a chaste kiss upon her forehead.

"Awwwww!" the girls groaned voicing exactly what Draco and Hermione thought. Suddenly an angry voice with a distinct French accent cut through their little scene.

"Elspeth? Marie? Where are you? Your grandmere and cousin will be here soon. Ah there you are! Oh and you're awake dear. How are you feeling?" The woman bustled over to the bed and smiled down at her patient before noticing Draco and what he was wearing. Or rather noticed the lack of things he was wearing. She gave a small shriek and wrapped one of the blankets she was holding around him, steering him out of the room. The twins were ushered out also and Hermione nearly fell out of bed laughing when they both tried to give her knowing winks.

The woman came back in and Hermione was strongly reminded of Mrs Weasley as she tutted and fussed about Hermione like a mother hen. After nearly force feeding Hermione some chicken broth she instructed her to get some more sleep and even though Hermione was desperate to know exactly the what, when, who, why and how of her arrival in the bed exhaustion once more overcame her and she drifted off. However, she was rudely awakened some half hour later by the loud tooting of a horn and the twins frenzied shrieks.

"Granmere! You're finally here!"

***

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Wow Draco was so cute in this chapter. I wonder what made him change his mind..? oh hang on I know and you guys are the ones that don't! My mistake. All will be revealed in later chapters so that means you will have to read on! I hope you liked this one and if you did (or even if you didn't) please review and let me know. I love reviews! And on that note thankyou to:

Icy Stormz: Thankyou. I love being unexpected but I worry that most of the time my fic is clichéd. Your reviews always make me so happy so keep it up!

Hazeleyez: That's okay you're allowed to miss one or two considering how reliable you usually are. Pretty? That's a new one! Thank you.

Steph C: Lucky you put a hint. I never would have guessed otherwise! I totally agree with you but he has left for a few chapters so it is okay! Thank you so much for reviewing.

VanillaLily: I love naming chapters. I think it is the most fun! Thankyou as always!

Mione G: Please expand on spunky. Do you mean sexier or feistier? Either way I totally agree with you. All she seems to have done so far is cry! Thank you for the advice. I will do my best.

Sucker For Romance: If your name is anything to go by I think you will like this chapter and those soon to follow!

Blueberryfig: I think this chapter answers your question for you! I love your reviews so please keep them coming. It is fantastic to have such a nice person to help me out when I am stuck for ideas. You're the greatest!

JudgeDP: I'm glad you think this is good ick. Me too! Thankyou for reviewing again.

Kristina: Best chapters ever?! I like you! Please keep reading and reviewing you're really marvellous!

Mrs. Scower: Well they found somewhere to sleep but Hermione did see Draco in a towel so I think that makes up for them not being out in the dark wilderness alone! Ta for reviewing Bob.