CHAPTER 4~ The Line Becomes Thinner
Hermione looked into Draco's eyes. She could see the pain radiating from them, and she felt sorry for him. "What happened?" she asked.
He had to tell her now since he made that agreement. "My father did it the other day because I didn't get down to dinner fast enough. He's been beating me since before I can remember. My life is already planned out for me, and I don't want it to be that way. I wanna make my own decisions and be my own person, but no. Everything is his way or the highway. I'd do just about anything to live a better life."
"Why does he hit you?"
"It's a different reason everyday. Sometimes it's just because he can't stand looking at me. He hates that I don't gel my hair back anymore, so he hits me. When I don't kick a house elf for being in my way he hits me. If I sit the wrong way, he hits me. If I breathe the wrong way, if I answer back, if I tell him I'm not gunna be a Death Eater." He looked away from her. He hadn't planned on telling her so much, but he needed to talk to someone and she was there.
"Malfoy, I'm sorry. I had no idea you had it so hard."
"Yeah well, it happens to the best of us. Now are you gunna help me or not?"
Hermione was taken aback. Just as quickly as he had taken off his cover, he had brought it back. She didn't think she would ever understand him and she didn't exactly want to most of the time.
Letting out a sigh she said, "Let me see your back."
He undid his school robes and threw them over the couch and then he took off his shirt and turned his back to her. If anything, the gash had gotten worse since the night before. There was now an ugly purplish bruise around it and blood was flowing freely from it.
"Malfoy, what did you father do this with?" she asked.
"I'm not exactly sure. I think it might have been a knife, but I know it was filled with Dark Magic, whatever it was."
"Well I can see that. It's still bleeding," she informed him.
"I thought it stopped."
"Apparently you thought wrong. Lay down on your stomach. I have to go get some things. I'll be right back." She dashed up to her room and retrieved some of the herbs her grandmother had given her to heal deep wounds. Her grandmother knew all about the Earth and roots, and had passed her information along to Hermione in case she ever needed it. Hermione was thankful for that now.
Draco didn't think she was going to come back. He figured she had gotten sick or something. **Typical** he thought. **Just when I need her, she goes and runs off. I should have expected that** As he was about to get up, she came back down with what looked like leaves.
"Uh, Granger, what the hell are you planning to do with a bunch of leaves. If you're planning on getting high, you really ought to offer."
"Shut up, Malfoy. I don't do that kind of shit. These are herbs and they will help to heal your back. Really, I didn't know you were that ignorant."
"I thought you would have realized that I was by now, but I guess not."
"I don't get you, Malfoy."
"What's not to get?" he asked as she began to crush some of the herbs together.
"Everything! One minute you act like you actually don't mind having me around and you actually talk to me, and then you turn around and become Malfoy again. I don't get you."
He looked at her carefully and saw that she was busy with crushing her "herbs" together. She didn't look very annoyed, but she sounded it. "Listen, Granger, I tell only what I need to tell and no more. If I say too much then I'm dead, alright. Not that I would mind, but." he trailed off as she moved toward him. "What are you doing?"
She took a wet cloth and began dabbing the gash gently with it. He squirmed at the feeling of pain that shot through him. Noticing this, she removed her hand quickly. "Tell me if I hurt you."
She brought the cloth back to his back and began cleaning the blood off his back. He grimaced a bit, but wouldn't tell her that he was hurt. Once most of the blood had been cleaned, she but the rag down by her side and picked up the concoction that she had made from the herbs.
"This is probably going to hurt a little," she informed him before she rubbed some into his wound.
He was expecting a sharp pain, but it never came. The only thing he felt was her feathery light touch gently rubbing his back. Everything in his body relaxed as she continued to rub the herbs into his wound. Once he felt her hand leave, a sharp pain radiated through his system.
"Ow! Fuck Granger! What the hell did you do to me?" he cried out.
"I told you it would hurt, Malfoy. But the more it hurts, the faster it heals."
"So the pain is a good thing?" he questioned through gritted teeth. "It hurts like a fucking bitch. I can't believe you did this to me!" He continued with his obscenities as she chuckled a little.
"It can't hurt that badly, Malfoy. I've used it before."
"Yeah well, I'm used to magical remedies, not this Muggle shit! Ow!"
"I guess someone's not going to anymore classes today," she said. "Would you like me to owl Dumbledore to let him know of your absences?"
"Oh no you don't! You are not leaving me here in pain while you go off to all of your classes with you queer buddies. You are going to stay here and listen to my bitching and moaning," he demanded looking at her threateningly.
"Hey, you were the one who was practically begging for it. I offered to help you, you could've refused!"
"You know that the only reason you offered to help me is so that you could see me half naked again." He smirked at her and she rolled her eyes.
"Oh yes, Malfoy, because I am just like the rest of the girls in this school and I pine for you day in and day out. I want you, Malfoy. I need you. I can't live without you!"
"Well isn't that sweet? Now that I know how you really feel, I can move on with my life. Those are the words I've been longing to hear for the last six years and I have finally heard them. I think I will die a happy man. OW! Dammit, Granger, fuck you and the Muggle world too! You can take your goddamn remedies and shove them up your fucking ass!"
Hermione had to cough to stifle a laugh. "I'll be back, Malfoy."
"Where are you going?" he asked as she stood up.
"I wanna write a letter to Dumbledore so he knows where we are."
"Do not tell him anything I told you earlier."
"I won't," she promised as she headed up to her dorm.
Hermione sat down at her desk and took out a quill and a piece of parchment. She was trying to think of exactly what to tell Dumbledore since she knew that she couldn't tell him what really happened to Draco. ^^Maybe I could tell him that he's sick and can't even walk to go down to Madame Pomfrey. No, he was at breakfast this morning. I can tell him that Malfoy passed out on the way to Care of Magical Creatures and I brought him up here and don't wanna leave his side until he gets up because I'm worried^^ It wasn't a total lie. She was worried about Malfoy and didn't want to leave him until he was able to walk again.
Dear Professor Dumbledore, Malfoy and I will not be attending classes for the remainder of the day. He passed out on the way to Care of Magical Creatures and I brought Him back up to our room. I don't want to leave him until he gets up Again. Please understand this and if it is at all possible, can you please Send our homework up to our dorms. Thank you. Sincerely, Hermione Granger
Once she was sure it was okay, she called for her new owl and sent the message to the headmaster. As she watched the owl fly off into the grey sky, she heard a purr from the other side of her room and saw Crookshanks walking over to her.
"Hey baby," she cooed. "I haven't seen since we arrived here. You wanna come downstairs and visit our new roommate? Come on."
She scooped the ginger cat into her arms and walked with him back down to the common room and sat down across from the couch Draco was lying on. "What the hell is that thing?" Draco asked as he looked at the cat's squashed face.
"This is Crookshanks. Crookshanks, I want you to meet Draco Malfoy, he's gonna be our roommate for the rest of the year. He doesn't like me too much, but that's okay."
"Granger, you actually talk to your cat like it can understand you. My cat understands every word I say. He's not like most animals. I know there's something different about him, but I don't know exactly what it is."
"Well isn't that sweet?" he said sarcastically. "Does it answer you too?" He began to laugh at his own joke, but Hermione glared at him.
"You know, Malfoy, you don't know what I put in that letter. I could've accidentally let something slip."
"If you did, Granger, I swear I'll-OW! This shit hurts! Is it even working or am I putting up with all this pain so you can have a good laugh?"
She peered at his back and saw that the gash was starting to close a bit and looked better than it had before. "It's working just fine, Malfoy. You just can't deal with the pain."
"I've had to deal with more pain than you can possibly imagine. This just hurts more than anything my father-if you can call him that-has ever done to me. It feels like put me on a rotisserie and set me over a blazing fire to cook my like a freaking turkey."
Hermione laughed. "Maybe I do want to cook you like a turkey, Malfoy. I'm sure you'd taste absolutely delicious." She licked her lips and Malfoy's eyes widened considerably.
"I never knew you capable of such impure thoughts, Granger. It's rather shocking."
Hermione's smile turned to a smirk. "There's a lot you don't know about me, Malfoy. There's also a lot about me that I'm sure would scare you, but I won't let you in on that just yet."
"And why's that?" He clenched his jaw to keep from crying out in pain once again.
"I just don't feel like it." Her hand stroked lazily over Crookshanks' back, and he purred while his eyes started drooping a little.
"I can't believe I got stuck with you for the rest of the year," Draco muttered almost inaudibly.
"What's that, Malfoy?"
"I said I can't believe I got stuck sharing a dorm with you for the rest of the year. There are plenty of other girls who were more than capable of being Head Girl and I got stuck with you-the know-it-all Gryffindor who has to be right about every goddamn thing," he paused and looked up at the hurt expression flash through her eyes. "You're also the only one who would care enough to help me, and I thank you for that," he added a little softer.
"Did I just receive a thank you from Draco Malfoy? I think it's gunna snow, and it's only September!"
"Don't push your luck, Granger."
She smiled a bit. "You actually appreciate this?"
"Yes. Is that so hard to believe? I also appreciate the fact that your staying here with me while you could be going to class and learning something useful."
"If I remember correctly, you weren't about to let me go to my classes. You said something to the effect of if you had to deal with the pain, then I wouldn't be allowed to attend my classes."
"You still could have left. It's not like I could exactly get up to make you stay."
"I never said you couldn't get up, Malfoy. It would just hurt more than it does now, and I really don't appreciate your swearing every three minutes as it is."
Draco opened his mouth to say something, but Crookshanks chose that moment to jump to the floor and then onto the couch near Draco's head. "What the hell is your cat doing, Granger?"
"I don't know. It looks like he betrayed me for you. Fine, I see how it is you little fur ball. Go with the enemy, see if I care."
And Crookshanks did just that. He nuzzled into Draco's neck and began purring softly. Draco shot Hermione a confused look and Hermione looked hurt that her cat had moved left her to comfort her enemy.
Draco lifted one hand a little hesitantly and stroked the cat's long fur. Crookshanks arched his back as Draco ran his hand over it. Hermione shook her head and got up to sit on the windowsill. She wasn't exactly mad, but the fact that her own cat had left her made her feel empty inside and she didn't exactly know why.
About ten minutes later, she felt a hand rest on her shoulder. She jumped and turned a little to meet the sight of Draco's eyes staring into her brown orbs. "Hey," he said. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, fine. Why?"
"You just look upset, that's all."
"Oh."
"Does this have to do with you silly cat? He doesn't know better. I'm sure it was just the initial reaction of seeing a new face."
"I don't know." She looked back over the grounds. The clouds were low and it looked like it was about to rain. "You shouldn't be standing, you know? It'll hurt more."
"Don't worry about me. I can take it. I was just joking before too; I didn't hurt as much as I let on. I was just curious to see how much of my bitching and moaning you could take." He smirked and she smacked him on the arm. "What was that for?"
"For being an inconsiderate prick," she snapped.
"You should be used to that by now," he retorted hotly. "I don't know why I bothered to get up in the first place."
"Draco, look, I'm sorry alright. I just got some stuff on my mind right now, and it's just bothering me."
"Oh, um, sure." He hadn't failed to catch the fact that she had used his first name. "And since when did I become Draco?"
"I said Malfoy, didn't I?"
"Uh no, no you didn't. You must be having a rough day. Care to tell me what's wrong?"
She looked uncomfortable. Truthfully, she didn't know what was wrong herself. She just had this feeling of emptiness that she had never felt before. "Gods, I don't know myself. I can't sort out my own thoughts right now."
He sat down across next to her on the windowsill. "Does it have to do with Potter and Weasley?" he asked almost as if he could read her mind.
"Well.partially, but there's other things too, and I'm really confused."
"Like what kind of other things. Viktor broke up with me a few weeks ago because I wouldn't give him, 'vat I vant.' That just pissed me off and then Harry and Ron are always together and I don't want to disturb them, and then there's this other guy that I haven't exactly ever liked, but I think I might have feelings for him even though he hates me, and."
She was cut off by his lips pressing against hers. His kiss wasn't exactly what he had expected. It was soft and gentle instead of rough, but she was enjoying it greatly. Her hands ran up his bare chest and around his neck and his went to the small of her back and pulled her closer to him. As he started to pull her robes off her shoulders, she broke away from him.
"No, we can't."
He was startled. "Why not? I thought-you were-I." He became very flushed as he looked at the water that was starting to drip down the window.
"I don't know what I want, Draco." She leaned her back against the side of the sill and drew her knees up to her chest.
"Yeah, yeah. I understand. You're afraid that I'm gunna hurt you, aren't you? I know I'd feel that way if I was in your position."
She didn't dare to look at him again for fear that she would kiss him. He was right, though, she was afraid to be hurt. Instead of telling him this, however, she remained silent as the rain started pounded harder against the glass.
Draco got up and went back to the couch leaving Hermione to sort out her own thoughts while he went to sort out his. **What the hell am I thinking? I can't like her. She's my enemy. But there's something about her-she's somehow different than I remember. It's like she doesn't know exactly what she wants. That could just be my imagination running wild on me. Anyways, I don't even know if it was me that she was talking about. I shouldn't have done that just yet. Sometimes I wonder if I have any common sense at all. Maybe she was right. Maybe there is a fine line between love and hate. And as of now, I don't know where exactly I'm standing**
Hermione felt Draco leave rather than see him. ^^That felt so good. Why did I have to stop? I'm so stupid. That was what I've been longing for- someone who can read my mind and know exactly what I'm thinking and what I want to happen next. He knows that I was talking about him, but I still don't know what would happen if something were to happen between us. I don't know if he would hurt me or not, but the possibility is always there. Maybe I should just see what happens in the next few days and not push anything too far. Yeah, that's it; I won't push him, and that way I'll be able to find out what he really feels. After all, there is a fine line between love and hate, and I don't know exactly where I stand on that line anymore^^
Hermione looked into Draco's eyes. She could see the pain radiating from them, and she felt sorry for him. "What happened?" she asked.
He had to tell her now since he made that agreement. "My father did it the other day because I didn't get down to dinner fast enough. He's been beating me since before I can remember. My life is already planned out for me, and I don't want it to be that way. I wanna make my own decisions and be my own person, but no. Everything is his way or the highway. I'd do just about anything to live a better life."
"Why does he hit you?"
"It's a different reason everyday. Sometimes it's just because he can't stand looking at me. He hates that I don't gel my hair back anymore, so he hits me. When I don't kick a house elf for being in my way he hits me. If I sit the wrong way, he hits me. If I breathe the wrong way, if I answer back, if I tell him I'm not gunna be a Death Eater." He looked away from her. He hadn't planned on telling her so much, but he needed to talk to someone and she was there.
"Malfoy, I'm sorry. I had no idea you had it so hard."
"Yeah well, it happens to the best of us. Now are you gunna help me or not?"
Hermione was taken aback. Just as quickly as he had taken off his cover, he had brought it back. She didn't think she would ever understand him and she didn't exactly want to most of the time.
Letting out a sigh she said, "Let me see your back."
He undid his school robes and threw them over the couch and then he took off his shirt and turned his back to her. If anything, the gash had gotten worse since the night before. There was now an ugly purplish bruise around it and blood was flowing freely from it.
"Malfoy, what did you father do this with?" she asked.
"I'm not exactly sure. I think it might have been a knife, but I know it was filled with Dark Magic, whatever it was."
"Well I can see that. It's still bleeding," she informed him.
"I thought it stopped."
"Apparently you thought wrong. Lay down on your stomach. I have to go get some things. I'll be right back." She dashed up to her room and retrieved some of the herbs her grandmother had given her to heal deep wounds. Her grandmother knew all about the Earth and roots, and had passed her information along to Hermione in case she ever needed it. Hermione was thankful for that now.
Draco didn't think she was going to come back. He figured she had gotten sick or something. **Typical** he thought. **Just when I need her, she goes and runs off. I should have expected that** As he was about to get up, she came back down with what looked like leaves.
"Uh, Granger, what the hell are you planning to do with a bunch of leaves. If you're planning on getting high, you really ought to offer."
"Shut up, Malfoy. I don't do that kind of shit. These are herbs and they will help to heal your back. Really, I didn't know you were that ignorant."
"I thought you would have realized that I was by now, but I guess not."
"I don't get you, Malfoy."
"What's not to get?" he asked as she began to crush some of the herbs together.
"Everything! One minute you act like you actually don't mind having me around and you actually talk to me, and then you turn around and become Malfoy again. I don't get you."
He looked at her carefully and saw that she was busy with crushing her "herbs" together. She didn't look very annoyed, but she sounded it. "Listen, Granger, I tell only what I need to tell and no more. If I say too much then I'm dead, alright. Not that I would mind, but." he trailed off as she moved toward him. "What are you doing?"
She took a wet cloth and began dabbing the gash gently with it. He squirmed at the feeling of pain that shot through him. Noticing this, she removed her hand quickly. "Tell me if I hurt you."
She brought the cloth back to his back and began cleaning the blood off his back. He grimaced a bit, but wouldn't tell her that he was hurt. Once most of the blood had been cleaned, she but the rag down by her side and picked up the concoction that she had made from the herbs.
"This is probably going to hurt a little," she informed him before she rubbed some into his wound.
He was expecting a sharp pain, but it never came. The only thing he felt was her feathery light touch gently rubbing his back. Everything in his body relaxed as she continued to rub the herbs into his wound. Once he felt her hand leave, a sharp pain radiated through his system.
"Ow! Fuck Granger! What the hell did you do to me?" he cried out.
"I told you it would hurt, Malfoy. But the more it hurts, the faster it heals."
"So the pain is a good thing?" he questioned through gritted teeth. "It hurts like a fucking bitch. I can't believe you did this to me!" He continued with his obscenities as she chuckled a little.
"It can't hurt that badly, Malfoy. I've used it before."
"Yeah well, I'm used to magical remedies, not this Muggle shit! Ow!"
"I guess someone's not going to anymore classes today," she said. "Would you like me to owl Dumbledore to let him know of your absences?"
"Oh no you don't! You are not leaving me here in pain while you go off to all of your classes with you queer buddies. You are going to stay here and listen to my bitching and moaning," he demanded looking at her threateningly.
"Hey, you were the one who was practically begging for it. I offered to help you, you could've refused!"
"You know that the only reason you offered to help me is so that you could see me half naked again." He smirked at her and she rolled her eyes.
"Oh yes, Malfoy, because I am just like the rest of the girls in this school and I pine for you day in and day out. I want you, Malfoy. I need you. I can't live without you!"
"Well isn't that sweet? Now that I know how you really feel, I can move on with my life. Those are the words I've been longing to hear for the last six years and I have finally heard them. I think I will die a happy man. OW! Dammit, Granger, fuck you and the Muggle world too! You can take your goddamn remedies and shove them up your fucking ass!"
Hermione had to cough to stifle a laugh. "I'll be back, Malfoy."
"Where are you going?" he asked as she stood up.
"I wanna write a letter to Dumbledore so he knows where we are."
"Do not tell him anything I told you earlier."
"I won't," she promised as she headed up to her dorm.
Hermione sat down at her desk and took out a quill and a piece of parchment. She was trying to think of exactly what to tell Dumbledore since she knew that she couldn't tell him what really happened to Draco. ^^Maybe I could tell him that he's sick and can't even walk to go down to Madame Pomfrey. No, he was at breakfast this morning. I can tell him that Malfoy passed out on the way to Care of Magical Creatures and I brought him up here and don't wanna leave his side until he gets up because I'm worried^^ It wasn't a total lie. She was worried about Malfoy and didn't want to leave him until he was able to walk again.
Dear Professor Dumbledore, Malfoy and I will not be attending classes for the remainder of the day. He passed out on the way to Care of Magical Creatures and I brought Him back up to our room. I don't want to leave him until he gets up Again. Please understand this and if it is at all possible, can you please Send our homework up to our dorms. Thank you. Sincerely, Hermione Granger
Once she was sure it was okay, she called for her new owl and sent the message to the headmaster. As she watched the owl fly off into the grey sky, she heard a purr from the other side of her room and saw Crookshanks walking over to her.
"Hey baby," she cooed. "I haven't seen since we arrived here. You wanna come downstairs and visit our new roommate? Come on."
She scooped the ginger cat into her arms and walked with him back down to the common room and sat down across from the couch Draco was lying on. "What the hell is that thing?" Draco asked as he looked at the cat's squashed face.
"This is Crookshanks. Crookshanks, I want you to meet Draco Malfoy, he's gonna be our roommate for the rest of the year. He doesn't like me too much, but that's okay."
"Granger, you actually talk to your cat like it can understand you. My cat understands every word I say. He's not like most animals. I know there's something different about him, but I don't know exactly what it is."
"Well isn't that sweet?" he said sarcastically. "Does it answer you too?" He began to laugh at his own joke, but Hermione glared at him.
"You know, Malfoy, you don't know what I put in that letter. I could've accidentally let something slip."
"If you did, Granger, I swear I'll-OW! This shit hurts! Is it even working or am I putting up with all this pain so you can have a good laugh?"
She peered at his back and saw that the gash was starting to close a bit and looked better than it had before. "It's working just fine, Malfoy. You just can't deal with the pain."
"I've had to deal with more pain than you can possibly imagine. This just hurts more than anything my father-if you can call him that-has ever done to me. It feels like put me on a rotisserie and set me over a blazing fire to cook my like a freaking turkey."
Hermione laughed. "Maybe I do want to cook you like a turkey, Malfoy. I'm sure you'd taste absolutely delicious." She licked her lips and Malfoy's eyes widened considerably.
"I never knew you capable of such impure thoughts, Granger. It's rather shocking."
Hermione's smile turned to a smirk. "There's a lot you don't know about me, Malfoy. There's also a lot about me that I'm sure would scare you, but I won't let you in on that just yet."
"And why's that?" He clenched his jaw to keep from crying out in pain once again.
"I just don't feel like it." Her hand stroked lazily over Crookshanks' back, and he purred while his eyes started drooping a little.
"I can't believe I got stuck with you for the rest of the year," Draco muttered almost inaudibly.
"What's that, Malfoy?"
"I said I can't believe I got stuck sharing a dorm with you for the rest of the year. There are plenty of other girls who were more than capable of being Head Girl and I got stuck with you-the know-it-all Gryffindor who has to be right about every goddamn thing," he paused and looked up at the hurt expression flash through her eyes. "You're also the only one who would care enough to help me, and I thank you for that," he added a little softer.
"Did I just receive a thank you from Draco Malfoy? I think it's gunna snow, and it's only September!"
"Don't push your luck, Granger."
She smiled a bit. "You actually appreciate this?"
"Yes. Is that so hard to believe? I also appreciate the fact that your staying here with me while you could be going to class and learning something useful."
"If I remember correctly, you weren't about to let me go to my classes. You said something to the effect of if you had to deal with the pain, then I wouldn't be allowed to attend my classes."
"You still could have left. It's not like I could exactly get up to make you stay."
"I never said you couldn't get up, Malfoy. It would just hurt more than it does now, and I really don't appreciate your swearing every three minutes as it is."
Draco opened his mouth to say something, but Crookshanks chose that moment to jump to the floor and then onto the couch near Draco's head. "What the hell is your cat doing, Granger?"
"I don't know. It looks like he betrayed me for you. Fine, I see how it is you little fur ball. Go with the enemy, see if I care."
And Crookshanks did just that. He nuzzled into Draco's neck and began purring softly. Draco shot Hermione a confused look and Hermione looked hurt that her cat had moved left her to comfort her enemy.
Draco lifted one hand a little hesitantly and stroked the cat's long fur. Crookshanks arched his back as Draco ran his hand over it. Hermione shook her head and got up to sit on the windowsill. She wasn't exactly mad, but the fact that her own cat had left her made her feel empty inside and she didn't exactly know why.
About ten minutes later, she felt a hand rest on her shoulder. She jumped and turned a little to meet the sight of Draco's eyes staring into her brown orbs. "Hey," he said. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, fine. Why?"
"You just look upset, that's all."
"Oh."
"Does this have to do with you silly cat? He doesn't know better. I'm sure it was just the initial reaction of seeing a new face."
"I don't know." She looked back over the grounds. The clouds were low and it looked like it was about to rain. "You shouldn't be standing, you know? It'll hurt more."
"Don't worry about me. I can take it. I was just joking before too; I didn't hurt as much as I let on. I was just curious to see how much of my bitching and moaning you could take." He smirked and she smacked him on the arm. "What was that for?"
"For being an inconsiderate prick," she snapped.
"You should be used to that by now," he retorted hotly. "I don't know why I bothered to get up in the first place."
"Draco, look, I'm sorry alright. I just got some stuff on my mind right now, and it's just bothering me."
"Oh, um, sure." He hadn't failed to catch the fact that she had used his first name. "And since when did I become Draco?"
"I said Malfoy, didn't I?"
"Uh no, no you didn't. You must be having a rough day. Care to tell me what's wrong?"
She looked uncomfortable. Truthfully, she didn't know what was wrong herself. She just had this feeling of emptiness that she had never felt before. "Gods, I don't know myself. I can't sort out my own thoughts right now."
He sat down across next to her on the windowsill. "Does it have to do with Potter and Weasley?" he asked almost as if he could read her mind.
"Well.partially, but there's other things too, and I'm really confused."
"Like what kind of other things. Viktor broke up with me a few weeks ago because I wouldn't give him, 'vat I vant.' That just pissed me off and then Harry and Ron are always together and I don't want to disturb them, and then there's this other guy that I haven't exactly ever liked, but I think I might have feelings for him even though he hates me, and."
She was cut off by his lips pressing against hers. His kiss wasn't exactly what he had expected. It was soft and gentle instead of rough, but she was enjoying it greatly. Her hands ran up his bare chest and around his neck and his went to the small of her back and pulled her closer to him. As he started to pull her robes off her shoulders, she broke away from him.
"No, we can't."
He was startled. "Why not? I thought-you were-I." He became very flushed as he looked at the water that was starting to drip down the window.
"I don't know what I want, Draco." She leaned her back against the side of the sill and drew her knees up to her chest.
"Yeah, yeah. I understand. You're afraid that I'm gunna hurt you, aren't you? I know I'd feel that way if I was in your position."
She didn't dare to look at him again for fear that she would kiss him. He was right, though, she was afraid to be hurt. Instead of telling him this, however, she remained silent as the rain started pounded harder against the glass.
Draco got up and went back to the couch leaving Hermione to sort out her own thoughts while he went to sort out his. **What the hell am I thinking? I can't like her. She's my enemy. But there's something about her-she's somehow different than I remember. It's like she doesn't know exactly what she wants. That could just be my imagination running wild on me. Anyways, I don't even know if it was me that she was talking about. I shouldn't have done that just yet. Sometimes I wonder if I have any common sense at all. Maybe she was right. Maybe there is a fine line between love and hate. And as of now, I don't know where exactly I'm standing**
Hermione felt Draco leave rather than see him. ^^That felt so good. Why did I have to stop? I'm so stupid. That was what I've been longing for- someone who can read my mind and know exactly what I'm thinking and what I want to happen next. He knows that I was talking about him, but I still don't know what would happen if something were to happen between us. I don't know if he would hurt me or not, but the possibility is always there. Maybe I should just see what happens in the next few days and not push anything too far. Yeah, that's it; I won't push him, and that way I'll be able to find out what he really feels. After all, there is a fine line between love and hate, and I don't know exactly where I stand on that line anymore^^