1I've completely forgotten the disclaimer before now so this one applies to this chapter as well as the earlier chapters and any chapters I forget to disclaim in the future.

Disclaimer: This story, unfortunately, does not belong to me and neither do the characters. Actually Will belongs to me but I give J.K Rowling full permission to use him if she ever wants :P

Chapter 5

Hermione sauntered through the forest pausing every now and then to gather the multi-coloured

fauna that surrounded her. She didn't know where her delight came from but everything in the

forest charmed her. The birds were singing a harmony to her silver-trebled laughter that trilled at

the sight of any creature that crossed her path. She began weaving the flowers she had picked

into a floral crown for her, now tamed, curly, rich brown hair. Such was her light-heartedness

that she could have been mistaken for a faerie; she currently exhibited all of the traits of an elfin

being including the incessant need to frolic. She laughed again, spun in a circle, and fell.

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"It would be nice to have someone to catch me when I fall," she reflected. Continuing her train of

thought Hermione speculated on people she would like to hold on to if she stumbled again: "Ron

would be so shocked that he would probably drop me. Harry, well he might not do a bad job

but with Voldemort still around I wouldn't be his main concern. I need to find someone who will

always have me as their top priority." Her thoughts continued to wander. Musing over names

she stopped at, "Draco would have caught me."

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With that thought her mind drifted into an imaginary scenario in which her and Draco were

walking through the forest. Light streamed in through the leafy foliage making the dust floating in

the air glow with a golden haze. It was a perfect world; no flower was missing a petal and not a

plant had a stem that was broken. The pair laughed and talked as they continued walking down

the path hand in hand. At this realization Hermione mentally removed her hand. The pair laughed

and talked as they continued walking down the path with Draco slightly in front. Hermione's foot

caught in the gnarled root of a maple tree and she began to fall forward. As she fell she let out a

cry of surprise. Draco, hearing her exclamation, turned around just in time to catch her. He

slowly pulled her towards him. Hermione could feel the heat he emitted. As she stared up at

Draco she felt as if she were being pulled into two silver grey eyes. Hermione was lost- drowning in his eyes. Draco's head bent and began to lean

towards her. Hermione tilted her head back, up-turning her lips, which were parted slightly. She

closed her eyes and felt his warm breath on her skin as his head drew nearer to hers. There was

no space between them and his lips –

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"HERMIONE!" she chided herself. She hadn't meant to get caught up in her imagination. "What

was that anyway?" Hermione asked herself. "I can't believe I thought that about Malfoy! I mean

all either of us wants is to be friends, right?" For the rest of the walk to the cottage she pondered

the question, "what does Draco mean to me?" and returned to her fantasy to let it continue as it

would.

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A/N Thanks to everyone who has read the story so far, this is my favouritist chapter I think except for maybe 10 and I had so much fun writing it.

Alenor: you're my first reviewer, thanks so much for taking the time to read my story and review it. Lucius is definitely evil, I'm sorry, I couldn't bear to have him to nice. No reformations for me!

Lylas, Sierra