I do not own anything,but the plot. Thanks to my beta reader Lily, and to all the people who reviewd. Draco paced around the Common Room. Hermione's cries had long since ceased, but Draco was still fighting the urge to go up and check on her. "Malfoy's do not check up on others," Draco muttered to himself as he continued to pace around the room. Visions of a tear stained Hermione curled up in a tight ball on her bed clouded Draco's head. He felt like he couldn't breathe, and he could do one of two things: Go up and check on her or leave the Heads' room and try to forget about it. "Why would I want to check on her?" Draco ponderd to himself. "Because you like her." a small voice in Draco's subconcius said. "I do not!" Draco said outloud. "Great now I am talking to myself." He mumbled as he headed toward Hermione's room his conscious getting the better of him. ~&~&~&~&~&~ Hermione's sleep was filled with unwelcome dreams. She was drenched with sweat. Tossing and turning on her bed. She let out a small whimper that grew louder by the minute. Draco was standing on the other side of the door getting ready to knock when he heard the whimpers. He quickly shoved open the door and surveyed the room to make sure nothing was out of order. Then he noticed Hemione's sleeping form on her bed. She was tanged in the sheets her hair matted to her forehead. "Now what do I do?" Draco ask himself and instinct got the better of him as he walked to Hermione's side and quickly sat down on the bed reaching out a hand and gently shaking her shoulders. "No," Hermione whisperd in her sleep. "Please don't hurt me!" she whispered, more desprate with each passing breath. "Hermione?" Draco whisperd equally as quite as she was. "Wake up, you're having a bad dream, that's all." Draco whispered as Hermione tried to fight his grasp in her sleep. "Come on, Hermione," Draco coaxed, shaking her a little bit harder. Her eyelids started to fluttered open. "That's it, Hermione, come on, wake up." Draco said in a soothing voice, but thinking to himself: 'What am I doing I'm a Malfoy for crying out loud!' Hermione's eyes came open slowly, she felt someone's hand resting on her shoulder and in the darkness of her room she couldn't tell who it was. She quickly scooted up near the head of her bed."What do you want?" Hermione asked in a small voice. "Well, Granger, I was coming to see if you were okay, which apparently you were not." Draco said, adopting his bratty attitude now that Hermione was awake. "Malfoy," Hermione said, sighing in relief, "Who'd you think it was? Voldermort?" Draco sneered. "You can never be too sure these days," Hermione said, laughing nervously. "Want to tell me what's wrong, Granger?" Malfoy asked, curiousity showing. "No. Not really." Hermione said, suddenly she clearly didn't want to talk about the subject. "It may make you feel better." Draco said, once again in his calm voice. 'What the hell am I saying It may make you feel better I'm a Malfoy for crying out loud' Draco said in his head. "No, it won't, it will give you information to blackmail me with." Hermione said, sighing and rolling over to face the window instead of Malfoy. "I don't want to blackmail you, Hermione," Draco said softly, as realization hit him hard: he really didn't want to hurt this girl that lay before him, who seemed to be full of pain. "Sure you don't, Draco, and I am the Minister of Magic." Hermione replied sarcasticly and sniffled a bit. "Hermione look at me." Draco said touching her shoulder as he sat on her bed. Hermione rolled back over and looked at Draco. "I really don't want to hurt you, I don't know why. Given that was my plan at first..." Draco said softly, a blush creeping up on his pale cheeks. "But something has changed. I've changed." Draco said with a sincere look in his eyes. Hermione just looked at him, her mouth slighty open. For once she was left speechless.