Hermione woke in a cold sweat. She bolted straight up in bed causing Crookshanks to go leaping off. The cat sounded an offended meow and Hermione quickly apologized.

Hermione wondered what had caused her to go into this complete state of alarm. She remembered drifting of to sleep, she remembered a voice and she remembered a person.

She looked at her alarm clock. It was only 7:43. Breakfast was at 8:00. 'Oh well,"she thought to herself, "its late enough." And Hermione started to get ready for the day.

Draco woke to a knock at his door. He rolled over and tried desperately to ignore the unmistakable voice of Pansy Parkinson.

"Draky!!!!" she shrieked, "Get up my baby, Slytherin heir, you!"

` She barged in the room. Draco hurriedly pulled the covers over his body. He was well aware of every muscle in his abs and arms; he wasn't about to let Pansy see them. Pansy was very unpleased.

"Well aren't you getting up?"

"No, Pansy. Let me sleep!"

"Now way! Get up! I want to talk to you about the Dark Lord like old times."

Draco had had enough. "PANSY!!!!!!!! One, YOURE A COLD HEARTED WITCH FOR WAKING ME UP! Two, I DUMPED YOU DURING THE SUMMER!!! And three, GO TALK TO YOUR OWL!!!!!"

"But…"

"GET OUT!!!!" he bellowed.

Sobbing Pansy left the room. Draco was furious. He got dressed and started down to breakfast. He muttered to himself on the way. Peeves who was flying over him at the time could hear words like " idiot" and "wake me up"along with some other unmentionable words. He was so caught up in al of his annoyance that he walked right into, and knocked down, Hermione.

"Oh shit, Hermione I'm sorry!" He said picking her up. She looked disgusted so he added, "Shoot, I meant shoot. I mean – I meant 'Shoot, Hermione, I'm sorry." He realized he was still holding her and dropped his arms. "Sorry." To his surprise she didn't back away. He didn't realize he totally crushed her...or how tiny she really was. Her hair was up in a ponytail and she smelled like springtime. She looked totally wiped out. "Are you okay? I really hurt you didn't I? Why are girls so fragile? Hermione, are you okay?" She nodded slowly. "You scared me!" he said. 'Did I just say that out loud?" he thought. She turned to walk away, but stumbled. Draco caught her in his arms.

"What's going on?" he asked.

" I just woke up and I need food."

"No kidding. Can you get there on your own?" She stood up and started walking in the wrong direction. "No Hermione, its this way." She stopped and turned around. How could he leave her here like this? Draco ran back to Hermione, took her hand, and led the way.

When they got to the Great Hall, Hermione was feeling drastically better. "I'm here!"she said "and look at all of the food! She looked gratefully at Draco. "Thanks."

He took her hands. "Anytime."