A/N: If you thought the last chapter was sweet, wait until you read this baby. Very creepy, I agree. Anyone who is pissed off at where it ended, don't talk to me....talk to Ashlee. This chapter was gonna be like chapter ten and eleven combined, but she said, no...break them up, and try to leave it a cliff hanger. So I did, haha. That is all, thank you. And thanx to my betas....now that it's working, you guys are shelling out chapters as fast as I am! Go you!

Disclaimer: This is the annoying part at the beginning that never ends. It just goes on and on my friends. Some people started writing, not knowing it was here, now they'll continue to creatively jot them for every chapter forever just because, this is the disclaimer cycle, and it never ends.

So what if it doesn't go to the tune? You get the idea.....haha





CHAPTER TEN: Another Pure Repose

It was about one o'clock the next night, and Hermione was sitting cross- legged on the common room sofa, rocking gently back and forth. Draco was at his desk, facing away from her, studying. She heard him sigh and looked over the back of the couch at him. He dropped his quill and leaned back in his chair. Hermione watched him rub his face wearily and run his fingers through his blonde locks, causing them to fall casually over his face. She smiled, despite her exhaustion.

Draco sighed again and lifted himself heavily from his chair, turning to her but apparently not expecting to see her.

"Hermione?" he said in weary surprise. Then he flashed a smirk before converting his face back to the groggy, 'one AM and no coffee' face. "You should have gone to bed hours ago." Hermione was shocked.

"Are you kidding? I am not going back in there when it's dark, there is no way in hell...." she said, looking toward her door.

"I never said anything about going in there." He smiled and held out his hand to her. She understood immediately, and was overwhelmed with something like relief. Hermione was not looking forward to being anywhere alone tonight. She accepted his hand, and pulled herself up. They stood there quietly for a moment, but then Hermione spoke.

"Are you sure?" she whispered.

"Hermione! Of course I'm sure, I wouldn't leave you alone tonight if you asked me to." He paused slightly, "And do you really think I'd ask you to go in there? Sometimes I wonder if you actually listen when people talk to you," he said, the last statement playfully. Hermione was overwhelmed with happiness and managed to utter a weak 'thank you' before a lone tear slid down her face. She tried to wipe it away before Draco could see, but she wasn't quick enough.

"Now, Hermione...didn't we already have a talk about crying?" She smiled, as did he. "Shall we?" he said, slipping and arm around her waist. She didn't officially answer, but they made their way to the bedroom just the same.

Upon arrival, Draco unattached himself from her and held up a finger.

"I'll be right back." She nodded and Draco proceeded to go into the bathroom. He exited soon after, and made a beeline for his room. The door was already about half way open and Draco opened it entirely, a big grin on his lips with which to greet Hermione. The grin broke into a subtle 'O' of horror as Draco entered his room. It was empty.

"Hermione?!" he was getting panicky. He felt a hand on his shoulder and jumped in reaction.

"What?" she asked, standing behind him. He slouched a little, visibly relieved to see her.

"Oh god, Hermione. You scared the life out of me." Hermione heard correctly, but didn't understand it the way Draco felt it.

"What, I can't even leave the room without permission? NOW you sound like Harry and Ron, Draco." **Ouch** he thought.

"No, Hermione, it's not like that. It's just, I expected to see you here, and upon not I panicked. I'm sorry, but under the circumstances, I think it's understandable." She looked down as she listened, no longer mad at him.

"I know...you're right. You're always right. I'm sorry." Draco didn't know how to answer to that, so he dodged it with another question.

"Why did you go back into the common room anyway?" he asked, walking into the room and sitting on the bed. Hermione smiled and held up a little plastic case, shaped much like an 8. One loop was inscribed with an L, the other an R.

"Contacts," she said plainly. Draco shrugged and watched her walk around to her side of the bed, or so it had become, and sit down.

"You could have summoned them." He said, trying to justify his actions. He watched her remove her visual aid with interest, and a certain amount of disgust.

"I suppose I could have," Hermione said as if she had been proved wrong, but then followed it up with an explanation. "That is, if I hadn't also left my wand out there." She smiled. Draco flashed a weak grin, but it was gone again in no time, replaced by a look of defeat.

Hermione finished removing and tending to her contacts, then crawled into the bed. She situated herself on her side so that she was facing Draco. When he didn't move, she beckoned to him with her finger and purred,

"Well?" mock-seductively, much unlike her. Draco was a bit surprised.

"You want me to get in?" he said, disbelieving. All playing aside, she looked confused.

"Of course," she said, as if it were obvious. Draco shrugged his shoulders, more to himself than to her. **Why fight it? ** he thought and crawled under the blankets with his beautiful brunette.

* * * * * * * * * *

Draco lay straight and still in the beginning, not exactly sure what Hermione would allow him to do. He was more nervous about this encounter than she was, and he had been planning this since at least that afternoon.

Hermione noticed this and giggled to herself silently. The unfamiliar situation she found herself presently in brought out something in her. The moment Draco had gotten into the bed; she felt something wild and exhilarating bubble inside her. She smirked seductively to herself.

Draco tensed a little as he felt Hermione stir and move closer to him. When she touched her lips to his, however, he relaxed, and kissed back. Draco wanted to roll her onto her back, become the dominant one, but he wasn't sure exactly how she would react to that. Instead, he put his desires aside and just leaned in, making them equals.

When they broke apart, Hermione was the first to speak.

"Hold me, Draco," she pleaded in a whisper.

"Anything, Hermione." Draco waited for Hermione to position herself on her side, facing away from him. He kissed her tenderly on the shoulder, moving into her neck. Draco then wrapped his arm around her and placed her hand is his. Still kissing her neck softly, he whispered, "Anything."

* * * * * * * * * *

Hermione woke first and was once again greeted by that sinking feeling and the question, 'Where am I?'. The memories flooded back to her this time, however, and she moaned softly when she remembered the previous morning and afternoon events. Hermione felt an arm slightly tighten around her protectively at the sound, and wondered if Draco was awake, and if so, why? Knowing her, it was somewhere close to eight AM and Draco was never up that early.

"Draco?" she whispered very quietly, not expecting a reply, nor receiving one. She felt his shallow breathing on her neck and smiled. Hermione made herself as aware of him as possible, concentrating on each aspect individually. She focused on his breath first, then his arm around her. He still held her hand in his, and she tightened her grip on his fingers. She moved on next to his well-built chest, feeling it rise and fall against her back.

Hermione loved the way they seemed to fit together. She moved on to his legs now, entangled with her own beneath a Slytherin emblem. A year ago, lying in a bed under these conditions would have made her feel dirty and shameful, but today she couldn't have felt more content with everything. Lying like this with Draco made even matters such as the staff and the letter seem unimportant. Hermione closed her eyes and waited for sleep to overcome her once more.

She was almost asleep when a soft mumbling jolted her back to reality. She realized that it was Draco, and wondered if he was awake, but said nothing. She listened hard for a moment, and realized that Draco was talking in his sleep. That made her smile; there was so much she didn't know about him. Hermione continued to listen to the mumbling, trying to decipher something of it. She knew he had sworn more than once, and that he would speak her name repeatedly, almost frantically. He would then speak something she couldn't understand, and go back to repeating her name.

She was scared. The new found aspect that had made her happy only moments ago now frightened her. Draco sounded dazed, but scared...and she was terrified by his fear. The mumbling grew louder and faster, but not any clearer. It reminded Hermione of a strange ritual she had seen played out in a book, and that scared her even more. It had been a sacrificial ritual.

Hermione squeezed her eyes shut and tried to wait out the spell of mumbling, too afraid to wake him. It was all happening very fast, and she was shaking. Draco stopped suddenly and a moment later woke with a gasp. He tightened his arm around Hermione, and then noticed her shaking.

"Draco?" she whispered.

"Hermione?" he said, he had not known she was awake. "Are you alright? What's wrong, why....why are you shaking?" She shifted and lay on her back, beneath him. She looked scared, and was surprised at how calm Draco looked, save for the worry that was obviously for her.

"What were you dreaming, just now?" she said, not nearly as calm as he was. Draco paled, knew immediately what must have happened.

"Oh God, Hermione I'm sorry. I must have been premonishing." He paused and paled more, if that was possible. He looked Hermione in the eyes, and she saw the genuine fear in his silver grey pools. "Listen to me, Hermione, this is very important. What was it....what did I say?" Hermione just stared at him, not knowing how to tell him. She couldn't speak, but placed a hand on her chest, acknowledging herself.

Draco understood, and died inside. He looked away from her. Nothing had compared to this feeling, not even the night he had found her bed empty. Something was going to happen to her, and he couldn't do anything...he felt helpless. Draco started breathing quickly, hyperventilating. Hermione lifted a hand to his face and he looked back to her. It was Draco's turn to cry. He slid an arm behind her and held Hermione close to him as he let the few tears slide down his cheeks.

She held him, scared. Draco wasn't supposed to cry like this...she had never seen him this upset. Whenever she had seen Draco cry, it was maybe one or two silent tears, but now he was letting the tears flow, breathing quickly and squeezing her close to him. She was scared, but subconsciously flattered. He was this way because she was in danger, and he loved her.

Hermione tried to reassure him, but her efforts were lost.

"It'll be okay, Draco... please calm down," she rubbed his back gently. Draco made no effort to calm himself, but kissed her gently on the shoulder. She tried again and again to reassure him, but to no avail. "Draco, please... you're scaring me." Although the statement was true, Hermione had not planned on saying it. The words had slipped out unintentionally, but seemed to break Draco's curse.

Realizing the way he must look, Draco quickly slowed his breathing and calmed himself, never letting go of her. She held him like a small child, and spoke softly.

"What is it, Draco...what did you see?" she asked a little nervously, not sure if she wanted to be told. Draco shook his head slowly.

"I don't know..." He sounded defeated.

"You don't remember?"

"Not right away, but I will..." He shuddered, then pulled away to look at her. "I just feel so helpless..." he lifted his hand and placed it on her cheek. "Something is going to happen to you, Hermione, and I can't do anything."

"I'll be alright, Draco... we'll figure something out. Will you stay with me?"

"Hermione, I'm never going to take my eyes off you again." He smiled a little, but then his face became serious again. "I can't lose you again, Hermione, I just can't..." he whispered.

"You've never lost me, and I'm not going anywhere." She smiled and kissed him tenderly on the corner of his mouth.

"I hope not," he said, more to himself than to her. Hermione rolled beneath him again, back to the position on her side. Draco knew what she wanted, and he wanted it too. He slid his body behind her, pulling her small frame against him. Hermione sighed deeply in comfort. Draco was about to snake his arm around her, when he noticed that Hermione's shirt was now bunched up below her breasts, exposing her stomach. He wanted to hold her closer to him, but was nervous about touching her.

As if she knew, Hermione reached for Draco's hand behind her. She placed it gently onto her stomach and melted into his warmth. Hermione then slid her hand over his and Draco smiled. He kissed her along the back of her shoulder, moving into her neck, then up behind her ear as he had done many times before. Hermione was in heaven. This time was different, the moment was different, the scenery was different, and she was different. She moaned softly into his ear.

"Oh, Draco..." she whispered, wanting to share the feeling with him.

"Shh..." he spoke softly. Hermione did as he asked, and let herself fall into his touch. Draco was softly rolling his thumb over her bare skin, and she made no effort to stop him. She rolled back on her shoulders, facing him. Hermione smiled and licked her lips mock seductively, then giggled as Draco leaned closer to her. They kissed.

This was no ordinary kiss, however. Like the cool shoulder kisses, it was different; perhaps it was the intense fear they had both felt moments ago that had changed it. The kiss went on and on, both Draco and Hermione were breathing through noses, not wanting to end the kiss.

Draco saw an image pass through his closed eyes, but tried to ignore it. He continued with the kiss, deepening it.

He saw another flash, longer this time, he could almost make out something, but then it was gone. Draco was getting worried, hoping it wasn't the premonition. He broke away from Hermione unexpectedly, holding himself up with his arms, and breathing heavily. She looked hurt, but saw the subtle fear in his eyes and let it go.

"What is it, Draco?" she asked, worried.

"I don't know..." he whispered, noticeably afraid. "I think it's the dream..." She gasped, but then calmed herself.

"That's good, right? Then we'll know what's going to happen, and we might not be so surprised when it does," she asked, sounding small. She did not really want him to agree with her.

"You're right," he paused and looked at her, "Are you sure you want to know?"

"I'd feel better, but if it's too hard for you, you don't have to try, Draco... I wouldn't make you." He closed his eyes and sighed, head slightly down.

"I'll remember anyway, in time," he said, suddenly sounding old. Hermione hated to see him look so drained, so defeated. She placed a hand gently on his cheek. Draco looked at her and Hermione nodded. He sighed again, this time not as deeply. "Come here," he whispered. She obeyed; she would do anything he asked her to right now.

Hermione turned her hips toward him, and Draco held her close. He hesitated for a moment, and then rolled onto his back, hoisting Hermione on top of him. Hermione instinctly spread her legs over him, planting each knee on the bed beside his hips. She then laid herself down on him, head on his chest, and curled her arms under his, grasping his shoulders.

Hermione held him as if clinging on for life. Draco wrapped his arms around her, holding her to him, then he spoke to her.

"Don't be scared, Hermione. Whatever happens, just stay here...please..." he said, almost pleading.

"Draco, what's going to happen?" she whispered.

"I don't know, Hermione. I've never tried to remember before." She said nothing, but he knew she understood. "Ready?" he asked her, shakily. Hermione squeezed her eyes shut and gripped him hard.

"Yes..." she whispered, almost inaudibly.



A/N HAHA! Bet you thought you were gonna see some nice good action in this one, weren't ya? Oh well....there HAS to be a boring chapter before there can be a super good one! Duh, silly! Hehe. And I know it's short, but I HAD to end there, I just HAD to...hehe

PRF:

Avi- I totally agree; I always fall for the bad guys too! I'll check out your fic ASAP! Haha, thanx for checking back! Most people are like screw it; it wasn't that good....but not you, haha!

Long- I too am lost in my story; thanx!

Cyropi- There is so much fluff in my lungs I can't breathe....but I'm enjoying it! What would a fanfic be without fluff? CRAP!

Jack- Her room is destroyed, they find a weird thingy, and it BURNS her.....and you ask me what the RED CRAP IS! I think you're missing the point; but thanx for reviewing! Haha

Hasapi- yeah, I know that I would have....but I couldn't let them; it's vital to my story that he not find out until later, they will tell, don't worry. And yeah, that guy knows everything!

S-Star - freaky is my thing! And I've always wanted to write a letter like that and send it to the people that piss me off; I don't think I will, but it was nice to let Hermione do it....she seems to have some pretty crappy friends

Sass - Thanx and I will

Stace- I totally agree, he is super awesome! Way way way way out of character, but super awesome! Then again, Draco is so hott I'd shackle him to my bed if I met him on the street even if he hadn't changed! Maybe I DO have some things in common with Pansy Parkinson.....I shudder to think

Silver-eyed-girl- Thanx and I sure will....probably not till this weekend, but I will most defiantly check it out

Lil-spitfire- you're too kind, really! I'm glad you like it though, and thanx for reviewing; it's the reviewers that make all the difference. That goes for anybody else too, REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!