Several hours after Hermione's legs stopped shaking, she stood up from where Narcissa had flung her. The head rushes she got from standing made her sway against the unsteady child's bed. Her stomach was boiling with pain but she curled up on the moth-eaten bed and chewed her nails, talking softly to herself.

"Hermione," a deep voice whispered. Draco stood in the doorway looking at her with droopy eyes. He was covered in a soft, wooly robe that was rocking against his feet back and forth on the cold floor. Draco Malfoy was at a loss of words. All he could do was stare at the woman that not only a week ago had seemed like a strong full grown woman, yet was cowering under him like a wounded child. He had caused this.

He reached forward to touch her shoulder but she jerked sharply and wrapped her arms around her stomach, as if protecting what was hers.

"Please, don't," he choked, sitting beside her and resting his head on her hip. "I've never had anyone want to listen to me before," he sighed, "and I really mean listen. I've always hated you and your goody-goody friends. I hated Ron because even though he was poor he was still so happy and up beat. Well, I hated you obviously because you were so smart but-I hated Potter most of all because he didn't have any parents. I was jealous because he had lost his parents and I hadn't. There were other things too, like him being a better seeker, a Gryffindor, and wizard all around, but his lack of parentage was what sparked my jealousy.

"The years passed, and the more they passed, the more my parents survived to hover over my shoulder, watching for signs of a mistake. They were waiting for signs of their suspicions. I never knew why they expected me to be a failure, but as pride often can do, I wouldn't let them get what they wanted. I always tried to get the top in class, have all the attention of Hogwarts, be a top notch Quiddich player-I had to strive to be even better then what they expected, though even in my older years I didn't know why. I was a Malfoy, why would they doubt my abilities to be a great pureblooded wizard?"

Hermione had loosened her muscles enough for Draco to mold them both into the spooning position. He ran his arm across her middle torso and she shuddered for a mere moment and relaxed again. "My life wasn't all bad. When I was sixteen my father was finally killed, and I was triumphant. Yet, when it came down to it, there was a guilty feeling lingering in my chest. I was free to be who I was, not who he wanted me to be. I didn't really think of my mother, because my father was always the persistent one. Narcissa hid in the shadows, being the wife Lucius wanted. I knew she thought of me as a failure too, but she didn't have to tell me with words. Her eyes always pierced through my heart."

"After his death, though my binds were cut, new ones was put on me. We weren't the rich family we once were with father being fired from the Ministry and the contributions he made to Lord Voldemort. We were nearly dirt poor. I hadn't even finished school, let alone had a name anyone would want to hire.

"Then, among all my problems, you-the girl who had always been that filthy little Mudblood-had to stumble into me at mid thought and say in the kindest words I've ever heard anyone say, you apologized. Even when you noticed it was me, I could have sworn you still were sorry. Yet, I wasn't ready to be nice to you-even with Lucius gone. Hermione you were so beautiful though. It was if I was seeing you for the first time. You still had your bushy hair and the funny way you move your eyebrows when you mad," he laughed soft, in remembrance.

"The next day I was hoping I could avoid you, but there you sat-in your frumpy robes that made you look like an old maid, arguing like you used to with me to that cute little maid. I couldn't resist firing you up even more, but when I did you only stared at me with this mad lust in your eyes that I couldn't shake. When I was trying to concentrate on anything, I just saw your eyes looking back at me. Then you kissed that Longbottom idiot and I realized then, you couldn't be with anyone but be. Your bloodline didn't mean an ounce to me."

"I think Narcissa knew right away. She had her suspciousions for so many years, she was ready for this and told me.," he paused as if the words would come out in a disgusting vomit form, "I was a mere half blood, like her."

The silence was deeply stinging to Draco. Hermione breathed deeply twice and spoke in a splintered voice," I-I--," she smiled earnestly and put one hand in his hair, "I like it when you hair is messy."

Draco hung his head and laughed. "You are something else, Hermione Granger. I don't know what I'm going to do but as soon as I find a place away from here I will do it-but with her eyes everywhere in the manor I don't know when I can come up to see you. If I do things foolishly, she will kill you. I have no doubts."

"He needs a name," she said dreamily.

"What?"

"Our son," she purred, massaging her skinny stomach once again.

"Our.?" His eyes widened with apprehension. "How do you know?"

"I can feel him speaking to me," she whispered, still rubbing. Her voice seemed prophetic. "I can hear him speaking to me about the creation we have made."

Though it was good news, the way she spoke it sent shivers down his spine. "So we're going to have a child? Yes," he said thoughtfully, "I have to get us out of here."

"Draco.did you enjoy Pansy?" she asked timidly.

Draco roared and stood up. "HOW DARE YOU ASK ME IF I ENJOYED THAT SLUT! NO I DID NOT! DO YOU NOT REALIZE WHAT SHE IS PLANNING FOR YOU-FOR US?"

Hermione was taken back by his outburst though he did have good reason. He stood there, looking at her shaking figure, his chest heaving in and out. "I would never enjoy that slut-don't-you-ever-say-anything-like-that-again! My mother wants an heir. She knows I would never touch the likes of Pansy- you're the only one I care about and she knows my breaking point would be killing the only one who believes in me, therefore forcing me to get Pansy pregnant so Narcissa can have an heir to manipulate. I think she plans to kill our child when it is born."

His words sunk like poison in her scabby skin from the bath earlier. "Draco."

"Yes?"

"Will you always love me?" she asked casting her eyes down.

He turned her around and cupped her chin in his hand, looking directly into her eyes. "I know now who I am.and I know with full confidence that I love you, Hermione."

His hot, moist breathing felt good on her chapped lips. He bent down and brushed a small, wet kiss across her mouth and she wrapped her arms around him. Her breathing had rapidly increased.

"Then-you will get us and our child out of here?"

"I will-or die trying," he smiled weakly, "besides, your friends Potter and Weasley could come and play hero like always. I won't let anyone harm you."

Hermione stretched out on the small bed and yawned loudly. "This was my room at one time," Draco said, lost in thought. "I always wanted the highest part of the manor and the most secluded. I've always been most interested in just flying. That barred window was once the one I would fly out of at night. One night I thought I was angry-at what I don't know anymore-but I was enraged at the point that flying was the last thing I was thinking of when I ran out of the window without my broom. I could remember the emptiness and freedom I felt in those few seconds before I hit the water below." He smiled and looked happier then in the elevator. "Being with you is like falling in the free sky forever without the aid of a broom. That's how I knew you were for me."

Tears were sliding down her face. "The window is barred."

"I lost the desire to fly after that.well until I was on the Slytherin Quiddich team. I wanted the window barred and the room locked away. I don't know why I was so brattish about it then. Only now is when I see how much pain I caused."

Before he opened the door to leave Hermione called, "When will you come back?"

"As often as possible. Let's hope someone finds out about Narcissa before she does something seriously drastic."

"Drastic.yeah.seriously," she muttered, her eyes opening and closing slowly.

His smiled quickly turned to a frown as he closed the door. He knew he would not be seeing Hermione again for sometime..

**

Well, I hope my story is living up to everyone's standards.I haven't got many reviews lately, but I hope you're all still reading ^_^ I'm working hard to finish it!! I made this chapter just kinda an interlude though I called it a chapter. I wanted to slow things down a bit and get a little of Draco's feelings 'spilled out on the table' if you will. R&R!!!