Chapter three

When Draco woke up, he was confused and had no idea were he was or what he was doing. He felt the soft breathing and a delicate hand resting on his head and he remembered. He stood up slowly and looked down at Hermione. She had fallen asleep, she looked so beautiful and peaceful. He picked up the fallen blancket and covered her.

She stirred and fluttered her eyes open. She saw Draco standing in front of her and smiled, closing her eyes again. He sighed and and sat down. She had put the sandwitch aside and he reached out for it. He knew he had to put the black things in his ears and press some buttons. He did the first part. And read the letters on the buttons. There was a button called 'play' wich he suspected was the 'go' button.

Indeed, when he pressed the button, the music roared into his ears. He grinned at his own brilliance, until he was swallowed by the rithmic beats. Before he knew it, the train was slowing down and they had finally arrived at Hogwarts. He grinned widly and stood up to wake Hermione. But as he reached her, he noticed her face scrunched up and a look of terror upon her face. Sweat was dripping from her forehead and she was mumbling franticly.

He panicked and shook her lightly. She didn't wake up and still refused to open her eyelids as Draco put more force in his shakes, until he ended up shaking her so hard that she fell off the bench and woke emmidiatly. 'Why didn't I think of that?' thought Draco.

Hermione was breathing heavily and looking confused. She shut her eyes as she remembered what she dreamt about. A tear slid down her cheek and she began to sob. Suddenly, she felt Draco's warm, soft body press against hers as he embraced her warmly. She grabed a clump of the back of his shirt and allowed herself to cry, tears streaming down her face.

They pulled away after Hermione insisted she felt better. Draco looked at her, concern filling his eyes. She looked away shamefuly. He put her chin in his hand and delicatly turned her head to face him. She looked deeply into those blue grey eyes and felt herself drowning in them.

"Hermione, what happened?" a warm voice said through the mist of her emotions.

"I-I c can't..." she said softly.

"Please Hermione, maybe I can help you." said the voice again as she swam back to shore and back to reality. Draco was holding her hands in his and looking worried.

"Um, I er, had a bad dream." she stuttered with a stupid smile.

"What did you dream about?" he asked anxiously.

"Um, about er, um, a...fish." she blurted out without thinking. He looked at her with raised eyebrows, she knew that must have been the stupidest thing she had ever said.

"Yeah, when I was little, my brother had a gold fish and it, um, bit me. And since then I'm teriffied of fish." she said nodding franticly. Draco knew she was lying, but didn't say anything.

"Ah, I agree. Fish can be very aggresive sometimes." he said faking a proffesional voice. Hermione laughed and punched him playfuly on the arm. He joined in laughing, until they both had tears in their eyes.

"We should get going, or the train will leave with us still on it." said Hermione wisely. Draco stood up and held out his hand to help her off the floor. He, as usual, picked her up as if she were made of fluff. She smiled at him and walked out of the compartment.

When they got off the train they saw that only one carrige was left and that it was waiting for them. Hermione sighed as she looked upon the splendid castle. Her eyes searched every window and tower before turning in the direction of the carrige.

Draco was already waiting for her in the carrige and as she stumbled inside, earning herself a nice bruise, he looked up and smiled. She rubbed her leg in pain and sat down next to him. He grinned stupidly and just stared at her as if he had gone mad.

"Hello? Have you gone daft?" she said waving her hand in front of his face.

"You 're Head Girl aren't you?" he said his grin widening. She just nodded still staring at him as he were mental.

"Ooo, this is going to be a FUN year." he said totally serious. Hermione's eyes widened as she searched his broad chest to see a Head Boy badge pinned to his shirt. For a second she looked horrified and then relaxed as she remembered Draco had changed. But then again...what if it all had been a joke? What if he was just fooling with her? What if this year really is going to be hell after all...Draco seemed to sence her unease because he reached out and took her hand in his.

When she looked him in the eyes, she knew he wasn't fooling around with her. The look he gave her was undiscribable, it pierced her body like a sharp blade. She felt herself drowing again, this time pulled completly under water, helpless. But the water was warm and enjoyable, she felt good and safe in the depths of this new world. A warm hand brushed her cheek delicatly, moving towards her hair, were it voyaged through.

The feeling of this nearly made her stop breathing at all, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling, like shocks of pleasure running down her spine. Before she even realized it, she was brutaly thrown to shore, wet and sputtering she was forced to go back to the real world...

The image of Draco came back to her eyes and she sighed, taking one more look at him before turning towards the carrige exit. Draco reached out his hand, as if he didn't want her to leave him. She turned around and took his hand, leading him to the castle. They already were late and when they came into the Great Hall, every head turned their way. The whole school became quiet as the two walked over to their own tables.

Everyone was trying to figure out who that very attractive and pretty girl was. Boys were cranning their necks to get a better look at her, some even falling off their seats. Hermione giggled as she saw a Hufflepuff boy fall out of his seat because he was trying to get a better look at her.

She knew Draco got stuff like this from all the girls everyday and he was probably used to it, but this was something new to her...and she had to admit, she liked it. She raeched the Griffindor table and sat across Ron and Harry, who both had their mouths open in disbeleif. A very pretty red head girl was sitting next to Harry who was grinning from ear to ear.

"Hey guys, have a nice summer?" said Hermione casually, smearing butter onto her bread. The two boys snapped out of their trance, but didn't do anything.

"Hermione, is that you?" asked Ginny, still grinning.

"Yup, is it that hard to figure out?" she said laughing. But stopped quikly when she noticed something.

"Oops, I forgot to change into my robes! There still in by bag...wich is in the train! Oh shit..." she cried, slaming her fist onto the table. She got a few funny looks from the people around her, but as funny as the ones she got from her three friends.

"Hermione, what the hell happened to you? You' ve changed..." said Ron quietly, as if he were scared. Hermione frowned.

"So? Did I change for the worst?" she said angrily. She looked over her shoulder and noticed that Draco also hadn't changed into his robes. She watched him for a while, she couldn't beleive how much he changed.It was asif he were a completly different person. He was being at some point...un- slitherin like, but quikly covered it up by a smooth remark or comment, though she couldn't hear it. He looked very uncomfortable when he was doing it.

Draco caught her eye and winked, wich caused her to smile back before turning around to face her three freinds. Ron and Harry were both staring at her as if she grew another head.

"Hermione! What the bloody hell is going on with you? First you come looking like some kind of...prostitute, you forgot to change into your robes, you stare at Malfoy like a bloody zombie for half an hour, then-" bellowed Ron, turning red. Hermione felt hurt, and furious.

"Shut up Ron! You have no idea what kind of shit I've been through so just shut up! And it's none of your fucking business, I can be whoever I want to be and you have no right at all to interfere with my personal life!" shreiked Hermione standing up.

"Hermione, were just worried about you, first you don't send back owls, then we see you hanging out with... punk people that you shouldn't be hanging out." said Harry quikly, trying to cover up the damage, but just made things worse.

"Oh, don't tell me who I should be hanging out with and who not Harry! I'm a big girl and I can take care of myself thank you! And for your information, my PUNK friends are the bestest freinds I ever HAD. They accept me for who I am and brought out the REAL me." saying this she turned on her heel and stormed out of the hall, every head turning to her and her two very shocked friends.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Draco sat at his Slytherin table, pretending to be his old self. He argued with himself, one part of him urged him on to be his old, mean, self centered self and the other, the nice new him the him that has been waiting deep inside him, simply dying to get out and show the world just who he is. He was afraid that if he did show them the real him, they would stop liking him and push him away.

Though there was one person who exepted him as he is...the one person that made him feel as if he could do anything, and that person was looking at him this very second. Hermione Granger was staring at him, smiling to herself, while the two wonder boys were fuming behind her. He winked at her and recieved a warm smile that sent a wave of pleasure smashing into him with great force.

When she turned around, he saw that her two friends weren't too happy with her. Weasley started yelling at her, though Draco didn't hear what. He was turning red and when he finished, Hermione looked really pissed off. She got up and started yelling right back at him, it was so loud, that everyone in the hall heard every word.

"Shut up Ron! You have no idea what kind of shit I've been through so just shut up! And it's none of your fucking business, I can be whoever I want to be and you have no right at all to interfere with my personal life!" Draco was shocked and he wondered about what she meant by,"...You have no idea what kind of shit I've been through..." He looked over to the Griffindor table again to see if the matters have gotten worse.

Potter was saying something quietly, he was rushing to say it and obviously was trying to mend things up. It seemed only to anger her even more. "Oh, don't tell me who I should be hanging out with and who not Harry! I'm a big girl and I can take care of myself thank you! And for your information, my PUNK friends are the bestest friends I ever HAD. They accept me for who I am and brought out the REAL me." she shreiked and stormed out of the hall.

Every head was now staring at Ron and Harry, shaking their heads and shouting out nasty phrases. Draco got up and said he was going to the rest room and quikly hurried out to catch up with Hermione. He looked around and noticed the school entrance doors were open a bit. He peeked outside and saw a figure walking around slowly, mumbling to herself. He knew it was her, and knew she was probably crying, as all girls do.

He walked up to her and was very surprised to see her holding a lit cigarette. She was just blowing out the smoke when she looked up and saw Draco. She smiled and threw her cigarette onto the ground, stepping on it. She folded her arms and walked up to him.

"Hey, what's up?" she asked quietly.

"You smoke?" he asked bewildered. She snorted, and broke out laughing. She laughed and laughed until she had tears in her eyes.

"Haha, from were I live, It's pretty much impossible not to smoke, and obviously, you have just seen me do so." she said whiping a tear from her cheek. He nodded uncertainly and stared at his feet. She kicked a pebble and sent it flying across the grass. They looked at each other at the same time and were both surprised at how they both looked.

Hermione looked simply gorgeous as deep the shadows cast by moonlight danced on her face. Her hair blended in with the dark sky and waved in the soft breeze. Her eyes were glassy, and showed his reflection. Her lips were were slightly open, but she closed them sharply. She looked away and smiled.

"They treat me as I'm some little helpless two year old who can't take care of herself." she said coldly.

"Hmm." he murmered soflty, making her look up. She laughed again, punching him playfully on the arm.

"What?" he asked sniggering.

"Oh, are those your words of comfort? Some guy you are." she said while pretending to be mad at him.

"Aww, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your o so sensetive feelings." he said sarcasticly. She just pouted and threw back her hair.

"Brrr, you know what? We've been standing outside for almost half an hour and I just realized that I'm freezing cold." she said and shivered. She was after all, wearing a tank top. Draco without thinking went and wraped her in his arms, rubbing his hands against her arms, in atempt to warm her. It was nothing personal, just a freindly act.

She smiled and grabed his hands. She turned around, still holding them, so she was facing him now. She was so close, he could still smell the cigarette stink and wrinkled his nose. She noticed this and broke away from him, leaving him rather cold.

"Oops, I almost forgot. Cratise Smelnise!" she said pointing the wand onto herself. A puff of pink smoke seeped out of the tip of her wand, engulfing her in a sweet smell of something Draco couldn't quite describe.

The smoke blew away to leave a nice smelling Hermione stading in front of him, a large grin on her face.

"Never go anywhere after I light my ciggies without my non-smell spell." she said and and started digging in her purse. Draco just stood there, rooted in the spot. God she changed so much, for all I know, she's a completly different person.

"A-ha! My letter from Dumbledore. It says were our rooms are...ninteenth floor, paranoid cow?" she read, and shook her head as if to say, Dumbledore is mad.

"Okay, we have to go up to the nineteenth floor and look for a paranoid cow. That makes perfect sense!" said Draco sarcasticly, walking through the school entrance. He heard Hermione laugh and smiled; he loved that sound.

Draco slowed down, so that Hermione could catch up. They walked together for a while, chatting happily. But by the time they got to the sixth floor, they were exosted.

"Oh Gods, we still have thirteen more floors to go." huffed Hermione, clutching a stich in her side. Draco groaned an leaned back on the wall, breathing through his mouth. After a while of resting the two students made their way up.

They climbed six more fleights of stairs, Hermione collapsed onto the ground. Draco waited for her to rest, but she refused to get off the ground.

"Come on Hermione, you've been down there for almost an hour." whined Draco.

"No! I don't want to get up, this feels nice." she protested, folding her arms over her chest. She looked up at Draco who had a mischevious grin over his lips. Before she could do anything more, Draco scooped her up and swung her onto his back.

Hermione screamed and laughed, shouting for him to put her down, but he had rested long enough and took three steps at a time. Hermione soon became tired and gave up on yelling at him and just rested her head on his shoulder.

Before they knew it, they were on the nineteenth floor. Draco finally set her down, and collapsed onto the ground as she had done before. Hermione beamed down on him.

"Thanks for caring me." she said, plopping down next to him.

"No problem, you were surprisingly light." he said patting her back. She laughed.

"That's what you get when your a vegetarian for three years." she said.

"Your a vegetarian? Whoa, first you look different, then I find out you smoke and now your a vegetarian. Your too much." he said pushing the air with his hands.

"Well, now that were here, I guess we should look for a paranoid cow. That should be easy." she said getting up and smoothing the wrinkles away delicatly with her hand. Draco also stood up and ran his hand through his hair.

"What do you think Dumbledore meant by: Paranoid cow?" he asked just realizing he didn't have a clue.

"Hmm, I suspect it's a portrait, or a nick name for someone." she said thoughtfuly. He nodded and looked both directions. The corridors on both side stretched on and on and didn't seem to have an end.

"Okay, you go left and I go right." he said, "And when we find the cow, we'll send two loud blasts with our wands, if we don't find it, send three blasts." Hermione nodded in agreemeant and took off to the left side corridor. Draco watched her perfect, slim figure get smaller and smaller as she walked farther and farther, until he didn't see her anymore.

He sighed and headed towards the right, thinking about the Griffindor Head girl that had changed over the summer so much. What could have changed her? And what did she mean by "(...) how much shit I've been through (...)" These confusing questions ran through his mind like pack of wolfs, digging and howling until his head ached. He had to find out, he had to.

a /n Wow, that was hell a long! But I hope you enjoyed it. Don't get mad at me! You'll all find out whats up with Mione later in the story, It would be boring if I just told you in the beggining. Aww, come on! You agree with me right? Haha! Anyway, thanks to...

White-Nights: Thanks for reading! I'll get the next chappie out tomorrow as I already have it written. Thanks!

bottle*of*sunshine: Oh god! Thank you sooo much for telling me those spelling mistakes! I feel so foolish...*blush* Thanks for readin!

bblond07: Thankies for reading!