Chapter Eighteen:

(A/N. Hello everyone! I got a B+ on my test. Round of applause for me! ( I REALLY suck at math, I failed my last test so this is REALLY cool.) Anyways, thanks everyone for reviewing as to the person who offered the constructive criticism I meant the luckily because Pansy might have spelled the letter so it couldn't be destroyed. And no offense I don't picture Draco as the person who shows his irritation and stuff. Okay then! Thank you everyone who said they love me and my story! I love all of you too! And I'm also really glad that my story produced such sentimentality among my readers! Read on! Sorry the shortness, the next one will be longer, I promise!)

The days crawled by. Hermione went to Diagon Alley and got her books so that she could wile away the lonely hours getting ready for their seventh and final year at Hogwarts. She saw very little of Draco and his family because she normally took her meals in her room for fear of Lucius and his wrath. She missed Draco's jokes and snide remarks. She missed sitting beside him as he drew. But most of all she missed Draco the person she had gotten to know at the camp. One day she was reading her Transfigurations book for the fourth time when she threw down the book in exasperation. She was tired of hiding from Draco. She wanted an explanation. She called Serby and demanded to be led to Draco's room.

"Of course, Miss Granger. Serby will lead you to Master Malfoy's room." And that he did. He led her through long corridors to the otherside of the mansion. She carefully knocked on the door. It opened and she came face to face with Draco for the first time in two weeks.

"Yes?" He demanded. He was dressed in black wizards robes and he looked as handsome as ever.

"Can I come in?" She asked. He glanced around the hallway before stepping aside to let her through. He closed the door behind her.

"What is it?" He asked softly. She sat down on the green bed. She looked up at him. He seemed tired and lonely.

"I want to know why you shut me out." She said. He sighed and started to pace around the room.

"Hermione, it's very long and complicated…" He began but Hermione stood up to cut him off.

"Tell me, Draco. I want to know. I need to know." She whispered. He looked at her strangely before nodding.

"Alright. I was raised as a Malfoy, which means to have no feelings for the world around you. My father was a Death Eater so he taught me that all muggles, and muggle-born wizards were vermin. I believed him. When I came to Hogwarts, I realized I was wrong. But to defy my father was death. So I showed them the Draco Malfoy my father makes the world see. A cold person just like him. But that wasn't me." Draco said speaking softly. Hermione listened intently. She knew she had to understand Draco to know his motives for so many things he had done in the past. "In my second year at Hogwarts my father decided I was a spoiled brat and I needed to learn my place so that I could serve the Dark Lord. That's when he started to torture me when I disobeyed him or disappointed him.

"I grew bitter. I blamed you and your friends for unknowingly causing me my pain and for having all the things I so desperately wanted. I envied Potter more than anyone. His parent's had been willing to die for him when mine could barely look at me. He had wonderful friends and everyone respected him because he was a good person, not because of his family name. As I grew more bitter I shut people out. Because on the outside I was this arrogant person who had all of the Slytherin girls at his feet. The real me was a sad little boy who realized he had no one who truly loved him and was slowly dieing. I developed a crush on you in our second year at Hogwarts. When you slapped me. I couldn't believe that a mere muggle-born witch had done that to a Malfoy. I was intrigued. I wanted to know more about you. I didn't want the pathetic girls that threw themselves to my feet. I wanted the fire that burned in you. I denied the feelings of course. I hated you for making me feel for making me lo… I told myself a Malfoy would never develop feelings for anyone or anything. I was wrong. I realized that when we went to Camp Friendship." Draco looked up at Hermione who smiled at him slowly.

"I'm so sorry that you had to live like that. And I'm sorry for the things I said on the plane…" She trailed off as he placed his fingers on her lips.

"Hush. Harsh words were exchanged. No one is sorrier than I but let us forget about it now." He whispered his eyes losing the hard, silver edge they'd had for the past few days.

"Draco? What happens next?" Hermione asked ever so softly. Draco sighed dropping his hand from her face and staring down at the floor.

"I don't know." He whispered. She took his hands in one of her own and reached up with her free hand to caress his face. Then she pulled him down into a kiss.