Oldies (Bex Drake, Hotpinkflamingo, Mel62, Star19): Bex then I hope you like the bit in this chapter which is the same type of humour. With people like you reviewing I'm updating very fast cos you all so brill (cheesy!). 'mingo I hope you continue to like this chapter though there is very little of Harry looking good in it. Sorry but very glad you like it. Thanks. Mel even I cannot have the lead guy all bad. I can do a damn good job though (ref: end of this chapter). I should think that Hermione's face is well known with being around Harry so much so he might have recognised her. He was just some random guy. I shouldn't think Crabbe and Goyle have brains they just follow orders. Star your review was touching and am very proud to have you as a reader. Please continue to do so.

Oldies 2 (Niam, Haystack, Forestsong, Raine is Crazy, Shady): Niam I do think you do. Perhaps you should go and read some Neville fanfiction... ::sigh:: Anyway I think I am nice to Neville in thsi chapter though I do fear the future. Very nice to you to say thank you very much.Haystacky very sorry about cliffhanger. Wasn't too bad was it? Blaise lends himself to being gay.. or herself... Have got none so far but I'll come crying to you if I do! Forestsong no problem at all. My fault for confuzing ya in the first place. I was listening to the Scarlet Pimpernel at the time which is how it came about. Will it be quite funny? well with all the blood that will be flying about.... oopps did I give something away? Raine calm down girly you'll screaming the site down. You'll probably hate me for this chapter so I'm stopping now so I can get away quickly. Alex is fine. Shady I'm sorry I don't have Dobby in it. But he's probably off at Malfoy Mansion having gay house elf sex so let him be. But if I do update that fast I'll have nothing to keep me going during all my exams that week.

Newbies (Drex, Flu, Niphredil Brandybuck, Evil Fairy 27): Drex thank you ever so much. I do like my bastards very much they so much more fun to write than heros. Methinks personally that Hermione is to enthralled with him to say no at the moment.... JKR writes a kids book so you can't blame her too heavily. Flu sorry I missed you out last time... my mistake. Hope these later chapters will help clear things up. Niph I do love your name Merry is the coolest hobbit and I hope this update is good for you. Evil Fairy thank you very much glad you enjoy it and hope you continue to.

Newbies 2 (Lady Incognita, Magical Ferret, Muggle lover ): Lady Incognita thank you very much glad you enjoyed it. Spiffy name by the way. Ferret depends what Slytherins were following though aye? hehehe. The marks? well you'll find out by the end. Muggle L I think Blaisey boy lends himself to being gay. It's quite a feminine name and in England you would generally think of it being a him.... and Zabini sounds italian and with their birthrate they have to have a high gay population. And besides its good humour.

AN1: Was gobsmacked that reviews since chapter 11 took up over a page of reviews. Would like to thank everyone... you all fantastic people. This is now my highest reviewed story and with 123 (spooky) reviews I am estatic.

AN2: This chapter will require concentration. You will need your wits about you for a section of this chapter and it may require flicking up and down on the page... I hope however it is worth the effort, I enjoyed writing it. Slash warning but only mild. Oh and Draco's back.

Chapter Thirteen

Touching Pain

Neville pushed gently passed Ginny and slide in the seat beside Blaise. Blaise mimicked Malfoy by sliding an arm around Neville's waist. Neville blushed and looked about but the cafe was surprisingly free of Hogwarts students with the exception of themselves. Ginny's jaw was lying somewhere on the ground.

Hermione was blushing deeply and hiding her face in Draco's neck. Her breath down the side of his neck and shoulders was ticklish. Except Malfoy was not ticklish. "Weasley," He drawled over the cafe, "Sit down and don't make such as arse of yourself. Zabini moved over so that Ginny could sit on the end of their row.

"Hermione?" Ginny asked with anxiety precedent in her voice. Hermione looked up from Draco's shoulder, her face a little red.

"Hi Ginny." Hermione said pulling herself out of Draco's arms. He let her go and went up to order seven coffees. "I'm not dating Malfoy." She said as soon as he was away from the table but not out of hearing. "He hasn't asked me out. It's just... weird." She said quickly, not looking at Blaise. "I haven't told anyone. Not even Harry or Ron."

Ginny was staring at her as well as at Neville who was looking decidedly uncomfortable about having an ex-girlfriend here and Blaise who looked indifferent except for the gleam in his eye. "I don't know Hermione. He's Malfoy an all." Malfoy arrived back at the table just at this point sliding in next to Hermione. Hermione's eyes rested on the table, her face beating a light red.

"Glad of you to notice, Weasley." Draco said, ignoring Hermione's embarrassment and putting his arms around her. "Is your friend going to come in? I ordered him a coffee. It'll be a waste if he doesn't." Everyone but Ginny and Malfoy strained to see whom he was on about. Ginny just glared at Malfoy before turning round to gesture at a black figure getting soaked in the rain. The figure came in. He magically dried himself before coming to take Ginny's place. To Ginny's abhorrence there was no room left on that side of the table. She turned to face her fate... Sitting next to Draco Malfoy.

She sat as close as she could to the edge nearly falling off when the waitress arrived with their coffees. Ginny could tell all the men on the table were laughing at her. She sighed. "Well glad to see you could join us, Creevey. Wouldn't want to see you getting drenched." Colin shifted in his seat and sipped his coffee. "Blaise, are you actually dating either of these?" Malfoy asked whilst idly playing with a stray hair from Hermione's ponytail. She was too bothered about Ginny to notice.

"Not pacifically. We're just playing about, aye boys?" Blaise answered roughing Colin's hair and kissing him affectionately on the head. Both boys looked absolutely amazed that Malfoy knew that Zabini was gay and was so free about it. They were also both terrified.

"So that explains why you're still giving my girlfriend the eye up on occasion." Malfoy said just as smoothly.

"Malfoy why did you order seven coffees?" Hermione asked. It had been bugging her. Even with the extra person there was still only six.

"I suppose I could understand." Ginny added, not listening to anybody else. She immediately had Hermione's full attention.

"Because there was five of us and one lurker." Malfoy responded to Hermione leaning back to she could see Ginny. He placed an arm around her shoulder.

"I am free to eye up whoever I want to yes. Your girlfriend has several of the qualities I admire. I always have had a thing for idiotic bravery. And know-it-alls." Blaise sucked in breath and sipped his coffee.

"Understand what?" Hermione asked Ginny. She was leaning forwards so much her hair was in danger of dipping into her coffee. Draco idly pulled her hair to safety.

"You are a queer one Blaise. Have you hidden that money yet?" Malfoy asked taking one of the final sips of coffee from his mug.

"But that still means there's one coffee cup left over!" Hermione exclaimed pointing to the final untouched coffee cup.

"Understand dating Malfoy." Ginny continued still in her own world, oblivious to everyone else. She was halfway through her coffee. "I probably would too if he asked me." Malfoy spat out the coffee he'd just drunk.

"Yeah. I've also got in touch with those people you asked me too. They are all perfectly willing. I personally prefer Barcelona but if you want Venice, Venice it is." Blaise said straightening out Neville's jumper for the obvious excuse that it was wonky. He then returned to his coffee.

"Darling Hermione I need two coffees. I am already huge and still growing." It was Blaise's turn to spit out his coffee. Draco smirked at him.

"You would? So you don't mind? I mean I know he's Malfoy but you know...." Hermione blushed. Malfoy looked interested.

"I don't know, why don't you enlighten me?" Malfoy asked Hermione before returning to Blaise. "Yeah. Venice. Next weekend? Or would that be too soon for your guys?"

"That's foul Malfoy." Hermione reprimanded him. "I'll have you know you're not that big." Ginny spat out her coffee. Apparently she wasn't that out of it.

"You've!" Ginny stopped and shook her head. "Well I suppose. I would be hypocritical saying anything. Can I just check?"

"My guys will be ready for anything you bring on them." Blaise told him playing with Neville's hair. He was now permanently smirking. Even Neville and Colin were smirking more comfortable now. "Who do you want on lists?"

"And what comparison are you setting me to?" Malfoy asked almost finishing his cup of coffee. He kissed Hermione on the lips.

"Yeah. Go on." Hermione said to Ginny after Draco's lips left hers. She kissed him back before he yelped. She burst into giggles as Malfoy looked down at his lap to see Ginny peering down his boxers. Her head came back up and she nodded.

"Not bad." She commented. All the boys on the other side of the table were gazing at her with complete gobsmacked awe. Hermione was still laughing heavily. Malfoy sniggered and drew Hermione closer. She rapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulders.

Ginny smiled at them for a minute. Malfoy was being as close as it was possible for him to be human. Hermione looked happy. Really happy. Ginny sighed and smiled. It would be nice to find someone. Evidently both of them had. "I'm so happy for you two." Ginny said slightly choked up. Malfoy laughed at her and Hermione hit his shoulder lightly.

"Come on Hermione. We'd better be going. Blaise, enjoy your boys. Ginny you coming with us or staying with the battys?" Draco asked pulling Hermione and Ginny out their row. He put down a galleon on the table.

"I'll come." Ginny said, rapping her robes about her. She dug in her purse for money. Draco stopped her. He then moved to the door. He nodded a goodbye to Blaise, waited for Hermione and Ginny to join him by the door. Both girls waved goodbye to the boys at the table before stepping out into the pouring rain. Malfoy swept behind them casting a spell to stop the rain falling on them.

As soon as they were out of sight of the cafe all three burst out laughing. The staggered along the road back towards the coaches laughing hard. Malfoy recovered first resuming his normal face with only the occasional snigger letting through.

Behind them they did not see the two shadows emerging into the rain from the Quidditch store. They were both instantly soaked by the rain. Their red and black hair sticking to their foreheads but they did not seem to notice. Their gaze was fixed on the three figures that just passed them. "You just saw that too? Didn't you?" Ron asked faintly. His voice was hoarse.

"Yeah.... Hermione, Ginny.... and Malfoy. Laughing." Harry answered. He brushed his hair up from his eyes and cleaned his glasses. He squinted again but the now distant figure were still platinum blonde, flaming red and brown. He looked to Ron to see if he was seeing the same thing. Ron wasn't there. "Ron?" He looked around. Where had he gone? Harry walked into something soft. Ron was on the floor. He had fainted.

--

Hermione and Ginny laughed loudly. Draco and Blaise were continuing a witty repartee of jokes ranging from sexual to political. Crabbe and Goyle were also laughing but with a time delay of a second so they could realise they were suppose to be laughing.

Ginny and Hermione had allowed themselves to be walked back to the castle by Draco only under his insistence that he fully believed even two Gryffindor 7th years should not walk about without a third. This in turn had led to a highly educated debate about chauvinism and its justification in modern society. Draco had argued the for, Hermione the against and Ginny the referee. The light hearted nature in Hermione about this conversation had belied her need to know if his opinions on the subject were as they seemed; set and unmoving. Draco had sensed this on some level and kept his opinion the same and his manner as light as possible.

They had found themselves in the library and spent an hour or two conversing and joking on Hermione's bookish habits and the hard studying people in the library. They had sometime later been joined by Blaise and Dethcous, who had just been to have a check up with Madame Pomfrey. Their light-hearted jovial spirit had not been dampened by the ever present hammering rain with short intervals designed to get ones hope up for a little sunshine before it poured again.

They had just reached the main hall, the smell of the hot Sunday Roast dinner had tempted them from the library where they had met with Crabbe and Goyle and a collection of other Slytherins, when Draco had pulled Hermione aside. Ginny had continued in, but not before winking at Hermione, with the remainder of Slytherins close after her. Hermione saw her wave them off and turn to a gobsmacked Gryffindor table.

Hermione turned back to Draco smiling. He returned the smile before brushing his fingers into her hand and tugging on them. "Come with me." He whispered. She followed him. When they reached the first classroom he spun her in, shutting the door behind him. She heard her pulse thump, thump, thump in her head. There was a glint in his eye of hunger. He was advancing on her. She swallowed unable to look away from those grey eyes. Never ending eyes, that devoured you whole, reading every thought, watching every memory.

He stopped an inch away from her. An inch. She could feel the space between their bodies. She craved for him to touch her. For those eyes. Never felt more alive, never been closer to death.

Never felt more alive
Never been closer to death
Never thought I'd feel love
Never felt pain like this
Never knew touch before this time
Never thought you'd be my death
Never been at home before
Never knew hell would be so beautiful
Never will know you like you know me

Torture. She was looking up at him. He was still an inch away his eyes looking into her soul. She felt a shiver pass through her body. The hairs on her arms were standing up and she was breathing in sharp gasps. And he still wasn't touching her.

Ahh his hand. She watched as his right hand as it rose to the height of her face. It was a centimetre away from her. A millimetre. His fingers were tracing her features so close that she could feel the movement of the air. What was he doing? Why wasn't he touching her? Hermione licked her lips and she caught the tail end of a smile flitting across his face. That glint was still there. It read danger.

He drew back. She let out a gasp of air. His face fell but he recovered it quickly. He held out a hand to her. It took a second for her to respond. Her hand reached out to his. So close but not touching, their arms around each other, they moved to a beat that was not there. His fingers trailing a millimetre above the back of her arm. Her fingers grazed the hair on the back of his neck.

She drew back. No. "Don't play games with me Draco. Either you kiss me or you don't." She searched his face. It was the same as it always was. His eyes told a different story. The blackened pupils contracted. A smirk drew up a corner of his mouth. Never knew touch before this time, never thought you'd be my death. He stepped up to her. She stood her ground.

He was touching her now. She ran. She darted out and ran to the door. His voice stopped her. "What happened to the brave Gryffindor? Running away are you?" His mood had flipped like a coin. He moved towards her again. "Running to the hero? The hero who will be all our saviours? Like he saved Loony Lovegood?" Draco sneered.

Never will know you like you know me. "At least he's fighting for all of us. Not just himself." Hermione answered storming as best as she could out the room. She ran into the Great Hall. She located Harry and Ron at the far end of the table having what looked like an argument will Ginny. She walked up as slowly as she could to Harry and sat down beside him. He looked down at her surprised. He had been halfway through speaking. Oh goodness, what had she done?

She looked up at him, pleading silently for him to support her no questions asked. He didn't. He rose instantly, Ron following and walked out the hall. Hermione gaped at their backs. "Hermione?" Seamus asked curiously. "You alright? What happened between you guys?"

Hermione looked bewildered. Her plate steaming of food suddenly made her feel sick. Harry and Ron hadn't stopped talking to her since... years. "They saw us." Ginny said from across the table. Her voice made its way to Hermione's mind dawdling. "With Draco." She whispered, her hand touching Hermione's arm, bringing her back to the Great Hall. Oh no.

Hermione blinked away the tears. She swallowed the lump. Hermione Granger gathered herself together, smiling and nodding a goodbye to Ginny she walked calm and composedly out the Great Hall. There was no tear on her face on her face as she entered the common room. There was no sob from her heart as she passed Harry and Ron who did not even spare her a glance as she passed them.

It was only when her room door was closed and her robes hung upon the peg that her face crumpled, her knees gave way, the tears fell, the body was beaten by sobs.

Everything had been so perfect. Smiles and laughter like it would never end. And in two minutes was all it took to bring down the empire. Draco had... What she had done was right. She did not want to get into such a relationship with him at this time. He was a murderer. And he was too... untrustworthy. She had stopped it before it was too late.

And it was not her fault that Harry and Ron had seen them. It was not her fault she had been with Draco. It was definitely not her fault that they rejected him. She had rejected him. Hermione pulled herself up, ignoring the tears making a waterfall of her face. She walked over to her window and threw it open. The cold night air teased her wet cheek and brushed her hair. The castle's wet stone gleamed under the white moonlight.

She choked out a sob. She could see the warm air from her body disappearing into the inky blackness before her. Another sob escaped her. As they came out they became easier and easier.

--

Draco smashed the window with a loud crash. Shards of glass fell down the inside of the window reflecting his face back to him. He kicked one of his shoes lying at the end of his bed and smashed the shards into the far corners of the room. The unforgiving night air crept in. He picked up a book from his desk and hurled it across the room. It his it wardrobe with a crack as the spine went and thumped to the floor.

His mutinous eyes turned to his father's seal on the desk. He hurled it out the window watching it be swallowed up by the dark. His anger quieted as more of the harsh air seeped into his clothing. The letter from his father still lay in singed embers where he had dropped it. Hermione's denial of him was torturing his mind and the more he reasoned that the anger he felt from it was irrational the more pain it caused. He had had half a mind to fly directly to her rooms and take her by force.

But when he had arrived at his rooms his fathers Eagle owl had been waiting. The letter had read of Draco's failures and his shortcomings. Draco had skimmed the letter before burning it and sending the owl off carrying a piece of parchment blank except for the header 'Draco Markus Malfoy, Slytherin King'. An hour had passed in which he had smashed most of his possessions and burnt the Hogwarts: A History that his father had given him upon his acceptance.

It was only an hour and a half since he had wrecked his room. As the years passed by it became a quicker and quicker job. Zabini knew this when he knocked at exactly the right time. He came in when no answer arrived. Draco was standing outside his bathroom by the broken window. He was looking at himself in the mirror. Some of his hair had come loose from its gel and hung in strands around his face. His face was whiter than white making the black of his pupils give a fearsome affect.

Draco did not look when Zabini opened his door. He just moved from the window and flopped onto the bed. Zabini did not expect any conversation. He simply kicked shut the door behind him, walked to the window and took out his wand. "Accio seal." The stamp flew into his hand and he placed it down on the desk. "Reparo." He ordered the window. The glass flew from all corners of the room matching up into a jigsaw that would have taken a human a lifetime to complete.

It took Zabini ten minutes to set the room to rights. By the time he had finished, Draco had got up and taken off his robes. Draco had not looked at Zabini since he had arrived. "Come in." Zabini called, though there was no knock. The door opened and a Slytherin 5th year girl came in. She stood awkwardly just inside the doorway. "Shut the door." Zabini ordered and turned to Draco who was standing by the wardrobe where he had just removed his jumper. Draco was inspecting the girl.

She had thick dark brown hair that was tied neatly in a ponytail at the back. She had taken great care with her appearance; light touches of makeup around her eyes and lips. Her uniform was smart and correct; her jumper tucked up as to not reveal her shirt underneath, her school skirt level front and back, her knee high white socks pulled up. She was of ample proportions for one of her age. Draco nodded his approval.

"She's hoping to become one of Lithliya's own sometime. She hasn't been accepted yet because she's too quiet and naive. The only reason she is in Slytherin is her bloodline. She has a brain and can use it and she's untouched." Zabini informed Draco quietly, but not quietly enough so that the girl could not hear. Her cheeks coloured. "It was her elder sister who was your floosie when you were a 5th year. The one whose now in the Ministry." Draco nodded again. Zabini smiled at the girl and closed the door quietly on the way out.

--

Well folkies. Sorry for all the time skipping, but I think it's necessary. I think there'll be a little more before we settle down again. Hope you enjoyed and if you did Review!