Author's Note: Thank you to all my lovely reviewers! I love you all! Ok, might have scared you all away with that one, but you all really cheered me up.

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing!

Chapter 4

Passion exists in many forms. It exists physically and mentally. It can feel like a million emotions exploding within you like fireworks in a dark sky. Whatever that feeling it makes you alive. Blood courses through your veins and exhilaration fills every particle of your being.  Whether it is love or hate, passion exists. The confusion is the thin line between them…

Draco glanced down at the piece of parchment in front of him. Blank. Steadily, he leant his elbows on the desk top and placed his chin in the palms of his hands. The quill lay discarded by the side, a single blot of ink crashed down onto the blank expanse. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The essay he was supposed to be writing wasn't getting done. His concentration was broken by the constant flow of thoughts.

It had only been the day before that he had come up with the plan to set the record straight with Hermione. He had to show her that what had happened in the library had been a mistake, if not for him then defiantly for her. Most importantly of all though, she had to know that Draco Malfoy was as bad as ever. Of course, when it had come to the actual plan in action it had gone terribly wrong.

Angrily he screwed up the piece of parchment and threw it across the room. Why did she have to smell so good? He growled. She had been so close, enough so for him to be able to feel her heart racing within her chest. Then she had to go and babble on and on, pushing his patience. The only reasonable way to shut her up was to kiss her. Well, that's the way it had seemed to him at the time. A smile teased his lips. What a kiss it had been! She had tasted a little like strawberries and the moment she began to retaliate the kiss, had felt like heaven. Another sigh. That was when the plan was scrapped. All he wanted then was her there and then.

In a large sweeping motion, Draco was standing up and pacing the floor. He had to leave her alone. She was no good for him. No. She was too good for him. That was the problem. If he ever pursued his desire for her, he would be cut down by Potter and Weasley. He scowled at the mere thought of them. They would take the moral high ground, making an already complicated relationship more so. Goodbye was the wisest thing to do. It had been hard to say, to tear himself away from her, but he had done it. Now he had to live with the consequences.

Padding over to the window, he surveyed the grounds below. First Years were souring up and then landing and occasionally a brittle shout of exasperation could be heard from Madame Hooch. Draco couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips. Life in the first year had been so much easier. It was a time where girls where merely a tiresome group, who were ignored at all costs. A time where hatred was just that. Then slowly through the Fourth Year, there had been women. Draco didn't know where they had all come from, but they were there. They looked great and manipulated the hell out of any boy with a pulse. He had found his eyes wondering and his heart racing when they walked by. It had all felt so primal. Well, it had until her.

It had happened in the Fifth Year. He had been stood out in the cold during a rare out door lesson, rubbing his hands together and glaring with contempt at Potter. The teacher, whose name he couldn't remember, was talking about something or other. Draco hadn't been listening. Instead, he had stood and muttered empty threats towards his nemesis. That was when it happened. A sharp gust of wind began whipping about them and he had felt his gaze shift. There she had stood. Her face turned defiantly to the wind, her chin high, and a small smile playing about her lips. Her eyes had seemed to twinkle as her hair was flung back, gently riding the wind. His heart had seemed to melt away for a second. For the first time in his life, Draco had noticed Hermione. Truly noticed her.

Memories of that day stayed imprinted in his mind. He hadn't understood at the time what was happening, but now it was blatantly clear. Love, he thought, was too strong a word. For love to occur she would have to reciprocate his feelings. He was unsure of this part. Yesterday when he had made his final advancement, she hadn't pulled away. In fact, it seemed like she was enjoying the experience. It had defiantly sounded it anyway. Regret tripped through his body. Maybe goodbye had been a bad idea… 'No Malfoy,' he whispered, 'She could never love you.'

***

'That's just one of life's little mysteries.'

Hermione nodded and gazed into the flames that danced about in the fireplace. Her and Harry had been sat like this for a couple of hours now. Harry would talk and she would nod and add in a little bit of input now and then. Her heart wasn't entirely in the matter though and she found herself drifting in and out of the conversation. Why did life have to be confusing? The things you became to rely on as always being there where gone. Ron had disappeared off the face of the planet and Ginny wasn't talking to her. Then there was the kiss. She was trying her best not to think about that though.

'Harry,' she said softly, 'Do you know where Ron went?' Harry shook his head. She sighed. It didn't help that her best friend was avoiding her. In fact, it made it made everything harder.

'I think he was a little annoyed about you running off when he wanted to talk,' Harry said with equal softness. Hermione nodded for the hundredth time that night. She shouldn't have done it. Maybe if she hadn't she wouldn't be in the predicament she was now.

All she had been able to 'avoid' thinking about all day, was the feeling of Draco's lips pressed against hers. It had seemed so right. They had fitted together almost perfectly it had seemed. The hate that had been between them seemed to have gone. No…not gone, changed. It had seemed to metamorphosis into something more… She couldn't put her finger on it. She sighed. It was like a drug.

'Right, I'm off,' Harry said getting to his feet, 'I don't know what's wrong with you, but I advise you go sort it out.'

Hermione looked up at her friends sudden bout of in depth advise. Her jaw dropped slightly. Was it that obvious that something was wrong? She watched as he left for his dorm with a slight frown. She needed to escape.

Urgently, she stood up and made a dash up to her dorm room. She shoved the door open with both hands and almost fell into the room. Glancing around, she noticed it was empty and smiled. Her eyes rested on the chest that lay at the end of her bed. She walked over to it and pulled the lid open. Raking her hands through it a bit she finally pulled out an old pair of jeans and a baggy t-shirt. She smiled. Even though she was all for rules and regulations she knew that they could easily be broken.

Tonight, she had decided, she would slip out on to the grounds and take a long walk to clear her head. Secretly she hoped she would stumble upon Malfoy. She craved for him to touch her again. She bit her lip gently. He had said goodbye to her. It had seemed so final. Had he meant it? Or was it simply a gesture that he was leaving? As she thought about it, she slipped her skirt off over her hips and pulled the old jeans on. Quickly she removed her jumper and shirt and slipped the t-shirt on. Glancing in the mirror, she checked her reflection and twisted her hair up with a clip. Finally, shoving her wand in her waistband, she left the room with a flourish.

***

The silence of the corridors seemed to consume Draco as he crept about in the shadows. Silent, like a cat, he moved between them with exact precision. With his prowess, no one would notice his nighttime activities. Glancing around again, he flattened himself against the wall. He didn't want to be caught by Filch out of bed at this time.

Outside the pitter-patter of rain was beginning to build up. Each suicidal drop plummeting down to its ultimate death. Draco glanced up at the clock and shivered slightly when lightning broke out through the night sky. The atmosphere made him tingle with excitement. Something was going to happen. He could feel it in his skin. He stepped closer to the window. His silhouette was etched out by the night sky.

The sound of feet made him turn his head. Someone was coming towards him. Instinctively, he merged back into the shadows. His eyes dropped until they were merely slits and slowed his breathing down so it wouldn't be audible. The figure drew closer and he could just about make out the build. Too petite to be any of the teachers was the first thing that struck him. People who regularly slipped out late at night didn't normally walk so boldly for all to see, he thought. He moved a little to get a better look and felt the familiar tug of a smile, when he saw who it was. Hermione Granger.

Suddenly his attention was drawn away from the girl to a soft scraping noise coming from up the corridor. Filch. His mind raced for a solution. Hermione was still walking steadily down the corridor, completely unaware that Filch was only seconds away from discovering her. He bit his bottom lip. The promise not to interfere with her again, lingered on his mind. Should he save her, or let her be caught? He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, uncertainty beginning to get at him. With a deep breathe he came to a conclusion. He'd let her be caught. That's was the Malfoy thing to do. Stand by and let it happen to other people. She stepped in front of his hiding place and he swore he could feel her heart racing. Her small frame was shaking slightly and a single strand of hair to seemed fall in slow motion across her face. 'Bugger', he muttered and shot out an arm, pulling her into the shadows.

At first, she seemed shocked and Draco could see a fresh glare beginning to work its way onto her face. Pulling himself out of the daze he was beginning to slip into, he placed his hand firmly over her mouth and signalled for her to be quiet. The scraping was coming closer and the deep raspy breathing of Filch was clear.  Draco closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the wall, above Hermione's shoulder. His body was practically crushed against hers and he could feel her discomfort. The smell of her hair drifted up to his nostrils. He quickly smothered a sigh of happiness and waited for a couple of seconds until Filch's footsteps were but a distant memory.

Slowly, but regretfully, he eased backwards and took his hand away from her mouth. Her lips were trembling slightly and she looked almost close to tears. An urge to take her in his arms and comfort her, washed over him but he resisted. The fear of rejection was a little too much for him at this time of night.

'What are you doing?' Hermione hissed. Draco looked down and cleared his face of all emotion. He didn't want her to know that he had done something from the kindness of his heart.

'Don't worry Granger,' He muttered stepping back, 'Didn't want you blowing my cover. Won't do it again.' His eyes still rested on her, and he could see a blush creep up her cheeks. She was obviously embarrassed at having been saved from Filch by Draco. It hurt that she felt like that. All his good intentions seemed over-ruled by his reputation.

Glancing up the corridor, he stepped out of the hiding place and into the light. He blinked a couple of times and then stretched. She was watching him. Her eyes seemed to be burning into him, trying to make sense out of what was happening. Choosing to ignore her, he began to walk towards the main doors. He needed to cool off and the storm outside was the perfect way to do so.

Pushing the oak doors open, he was confronted by a wind swept sight. He smiled and stepped out into the wind and rain. It whipped at his cloak and he pulled it closer round him. As he was admiring the spectacular storm, he heard the door close softly behind him and a presence at his side. He turned his head and was surprised to see Hermione stood there, also looking out at the storm.

'My names Hermione,' she whispered, 'Who are you?'

Draco thought about it and silently walked forward onto the path. The shadow of Hogwarts was cast across the wide expanse of grass before him. An eerie howl pierced the silence of night and he jumped slightly. The Forbidden Forest was one of the only things that made a shiver run through him. Hermione, who was stood behind him, also reacted this way. He smiled then turned round quickly, catching her off guard. 'Scared?'

'I'm not scared of you,' she said defiantly, the wind tossing her hair back.

He watched a trickle of water run down her face. She was licking her lips nervously and he couldn't help but stare. Slowly he took a step forward and she backed away. He tried again, and again she backed away. He laughed softly. 'You sure of that?' Another scowl crossed her face. He stepped forward again and this time she held her ground, spurned on by Draco's comment. Looking down he ran his fingers over her cheek, their eyes connecting. Her whole body was trembling with cold and he pulled off his cloak and wrapped it round her.

'Draco,' He whispered, maintaining eye contact.

Hermione nodded and pushed a hand out of the cloak. 'Hello Draco, nice to meet you.'

Taking her hand, he pulled her close sharply. A smile played about her lips, her free hand pressed against his chest. He smiled back and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before leaning in closer. Faltering slightly, he wondered what to do. Had the words she'd spoken meant to have that implication? Her fingers dug into his chest bringing him back to reality. She pulled him closer a little. The rain on her face made her look like a lost little girl, yet the glint in her eye said more. Draco found himself nuzzling against her affectionately. She was mumbling something to herself, interrupting his actions.

'What?' He whispered.

'I said when are you going to kiss me?' She repeated firmly.

He laughed at her forwardness. And just then, it didn't matter what he was doing. It didn't matter who he was with. It was just a boy and a girl, stood out in the storm, needing each other. And with that thought in mind, he kissed her gently on the lips.

Little did they know that eyes where upon them…

…The line is only ever definite when either love turns to hate, or hate to love. Sometimes it happens suddenly like a bolt of lightning flashing across the sky. Sometimes it's slow at the start but picks up like the rain pouring from heavy clouds. Passion is like a storm. Unpredictable and predictable at the same time. A new and old experience. Spectacular and average. Complete opposition becoming something beautiful and dangerous…

***

Author's Note 2: So what do you think? Curious? Well review please! I will be forever grateful for your opinion.