A/N: Next chapter, already written, just needs to get typed, as always..This one doesn't have as messed up of spacing as the last one, and hopefully it won't be as annoying to read.. Not much more to say, still looking for a BETA!!!! E-mail me if you're interested, DisenchantedSoul@anitsocial.com.

I know they are OOC, sorry, but I like them like that. This IS fiction, by the way, so I can write them however I want! It's called freedom of..um, fan fiction! Yeah! So there! I NEED A BETA!!!

Disclaimer: You all know I own nothing except the plot, which was probably subconsciously taken or influenced from somewhere else anyway.ha

NOTE: that whole system of bold and italics isn't gonna work, the site wont allow it.so I'm using the ** method. Anything in *s is thinking, and anything in quotes is talking.



CHAPTER TWO: The Balcony



Hermione sighed; she peeled off the blanket, and stood from her armchair. She averted her eyes from the flames of the small kindle and reached for her book. She saw the bookmark, delicately placed on a wrinkled page, where her head must have rested. She draped the throw over the crook of her arm and started the walk to her own room.

Hermione paused at the door and let her eyes drift over her shoulder to a door only a few feet away from hers. A sign labeled "Head Boy" still swung slightly. She opened the door to her room and stepped in. Hermione shuffled over to an end table next to her queen-size, red and gold, four-poster bed. She blindly fumbled for her wand, and upon finding it, muttered a simple spell, lighting all the candles in the room and shedding a warm gold light into the vast space.



Hermione looked around, her eyes brushed paste the bed and night table, over the large bookcase, charmed to always have the book she was looking for, provided it was fiction, over the fire place, and stopped on the vanity, eyes on eyes as her reflection stared back at her. Hermione liked her reflection, she had become very pretty, and she liked the way she looked. She smiled, and averted her eyes from the mirror. Hermione spun around and gazed eagerly at the moon, as if looking for something. A spark of suspicion seemed to flash in her eyes, and she donned a cloak before stepping quietly out on to the balcony.



She didn't stop until her hands silently hit the railing. Slowly, Hermione brought her gaze from the moon to the ground below. There was a light snow covering the land, and it blanketed the trees and large rocks near the lake. Some still lingered in the air, and she shivered, pulling the cloak tighter around her. Her eyes drifted to the lake where the calm moonlight glittered on the surface. Suddenly, her eyes attempted to focus, she thought she had seen a flash of blonde hair, and her mind went directly to Draco. **That's impossible**, she told herself silently. **He went directly to his room; there wasn't enough time to get to the lake. **



But Hermione knew Draco, and she knew he could find a way. Her mind began to contemplate a way for him to make it down there; apparition was out, even though Voldemort was dead, Dumbledore had not taken the charm off the school. Hermione assumed it was because of angry former death-eaters, when in reality, Dumbledore liked the elimination of both students and staff being seen in..indecent positions, and lack of people being caught off guard.



Draco could have flown from his balcony on his broom, but the Quidditch team usually kept their brooms in designated sheds, one per house, so to heave them at practices. Hermione's thoughts drifted off for a while, before she suddenly snapped back to reality and averted her eyes back to the lake, searching for any movement. She thought she had seen something, but convinced herself it was only her imagination, and closed her eyes. She looked back to the lake, seeing nothing.



"Draco." She whispered loudly, needing to hear something in the silent night that surrounded her.



"Yes?" A deep voice said. Not expecting a reply, Hermione whipped around to see who the owner of the voice could be. She gasped as she slipped on some melted snow and teetered backward, fearful close to the balcony's edge. Hermione readied herself for the fall, only to be taken aback by a strong arm around her waist. The wind knocked out of her, Hermione wrapped her arms around the neck of her rescuer. Still breathing quickly, Hermione fluttered her eyes open only to see a pair of silvery grey ones staring into hers, full of concern.



"Are you alright?" Draco said, attempting to hide his concern, but failing. Hermione could see he wasn't trying very hard.



"Draco? Yes, yes I'm fine. thank you." She managed to say, when enough shock had worn off. A smile shown brightly on the face of the tall boy, and Hermione flashed a sweet one back.



Draco began to pull away, righting Hermione's stance. He looked back up at her, her golden brown eyes sweetly showing gratitude, but with a hint of confusion.

"Hermione?" Draco asked, a bit uncomfortable at being so close to her. Hermione snapped back to reality and quickly, but not too quickly, undid her arms from around Draco's neck. Draco let go of her waist and she took a small step back.



"Sorry." she said quietly. Draco shrugged his shoulders and turned to return to his side of the balcony. Hermione had forgotten that Draco's room also had a door leading outside.

Hermione watched as Draco made his way across the landing. Then, the boy turned to her and spoke.

"Are you ok?" Hermione was a little surprised at this question, as well as confused, and her face showed it. "It's just that," he continued, "you rushed out here, and probably would have run off if not for the railing, then stood there for the longest time with a strange look on your face. I was about to say something when you said my name. I wasn't even sure you knew I was out here, but I answered anyway. Then you almost jump off the balcony at the sound of my voice."



He said this all very fast, and Hermione just listened. Trying to piece together what this platinum blonde boy was saying. When he finished, all she could muster was a nod, and to the look of concern on Draco's face, a weak reply.



"Yes, I'm fine." Draco didn't look convinced, but said nothing. Hermione saw a hint of. **What is it? Fear? Is that fear in his eyes.is Draco Malfoy afraid of me?** Hermione thought as the muscular seventeen year old advanced toward her. He held his hands out and placed them on her shoulders.

"You're shivering, Hermione.what are you thinking? You're not even wearing shoes! You're going to catch your death out here"

Hermione looked down. For the first time she noticed how cold she was, how cold and wet her feet were. She looked up into his eyes, like mercury in the moonlight. **For me.he's afraid for me...** But, he was right, she was too cold.

She noticed how close he was to her, she could smell his cologne, and had to resist the urge to run her hand through his white-blonde locks. She took a deep breath and shuddered. Draco opened his mouth to say something, but Hermione cut him off.

"I better go inside." She said quickly and ducked under his arm. He turned to look at her as Hermione quickly made her way inside. At the door, she turned to Draco and smiled. He smiled back.

"Goodnight, Hermione." "Goodnight, Draco."

Hermione slid into her room, leaving Draco on the cold balcony alone.



A/N: Endo of chapter two! I know it's a little shorter than the first chapter, but not much, and the third should be up soon. I still need you guys to review though! He