"Malfoy?" Hermione asked as she looked at the ceiling from Draco's bed.

The owner of the room, who was sitting in a leather chair by the fire, had his nose in a book. After their discussion Draco and Hermione had gone to his room to reside in till dinner.

"Yeah?"

Hermione didn't answer right away, but took in the details of the room. It was dark… yet sophisticated like the man who owned it. There were hundreds of books lined up along the shelves on the walls. It was a bookworms dream.

There were also gadgets that Hermione didn't want to know about. Most likely things used for the dark arts; which made Hermione realize exactly she was dealing with.

"Tell me about your childhood."

Draco practically jumped out of his seat. Hermione granger asking about his childhood was the most bizarre thing he had ever heard.

"What?" He asked as he placed the book down and made his way over to the bed.

The question was a bit bizarre, but Hermione really wanted to know. Why Draco was… Draco. In the seven years they had been together, they really didn't know a thing about each other.

She sat up on the soft, gray comforter, and patted the space beside her for Draco to sit. And he granted her wish, by taking a seat next to her.

Hermione was finally relaxing around him. Now he was the only person that she had… considering her friends disowned her. So she was making the best out of a bad situation.

"Tell me… I want to know."

"Your mad, Granger," he muttered while lying down, and placing his hands behind his head.

She didn't say a word as she layed down beside him and looked back up at the ceiling, awaiting his answer. It wasn't everyday you heard about Draco Malfoy childhood.

"Well, I really didn't have a normal childhood. As you know my father is a death eater, my mother a trophy wife, and me the son that every parent should want," Draco started while staring at the fire, "I was brought up going to elegant parties, having play dates, even being betrothed at some point. Life was complicated; I'll give you that. I never knew whether my father had died in a raid… if my mother was sleeping with another man… who my real friends were. It's been a journey. And since my father hasn't been around since I was fifteen, I became the man of the house. Taking on responsibilities teenagers shouldn't have. Doing things I didn't want to."

When he finished he looked towards Hermione and raised an eyebrow.

"You?"

Hermione was still in shock from what she heard. It hadn't occurred to her that Draco Malfoy actually had feelings. But who wouldn't be mean after all that he was put through.

Snapping back from her trance, she raised an eyebrow at him. He wanted to know about her childhood? That was something she thought she'd never hear. She sat up slightly and shrugged.

"My parents were always busy. Dentist; highly respected ones at that. I had whatever I wanted being an only child. They spent time with me whenever they could, but it wasn't enough. So that's when I started looking towards books to be my friends, and that's when I learned about your world. I fell in love with it. It was hard telling my parents that I wanted to be a witch… they thought it was a joke at first, but here I am. That's all really," Hermione said as she turned away from Draco and to a window across the room.

The two didn't speak for a few moments. Draco watched Hermione, and Hermione fiddled with the hem of her skirt. It was uncomfortable talking about themselves to each other, and each was searching for the right words to say.

Finally the dragon spoke.

"We're not all that different I guess."

Hermione turned to face him and caught the emotions that were in the eyes she loved so dearly. But she couldn't make out what emotion it was.

"You have beautiful eyes, Draco."

Draco practically choked at her comment. Looking up at her, he shook his head in fury and inched himself closer to her.

"What in the fuck are you talking about?"

Hermione stared deeper into them, trying her hardest to figure him out.

"I've just always loved your eyes. They're like no one else's… they show what your feeling. If you're mad, sad, angry. I wish they were on someone else, so I could stare at them all day, but they're on you,"

It didn't occur to Draco what exactly she was talking about, but he continued on with the conversation. He placed his hand on her shoulder and layed her down on the bed gently, while straddling her waist. Hermione wasn't fighting with him, which made her easier to handle.

"What do you see in them now?" He asked curiously.

The question she couldn't figure out. Trying her hardest, Hermione stared into his gray orbs, looking for something… anything.

"You're fighting something," She started, "Something you're afraid of."

And that he was.

Not wanting her to look any deeper, Draco came up with something to distract her. He ran his hands through her untamed curls and sighed slightly. Since she told him one of her darkest secrets, he'd spill his.

"You, Hermione Granger, are by far the cleverest witch I have ever met in my entire life. You're beautiful, charming, and brave. The qualities I seek in a witch. Only problem is I could never be with you," he drawled as he took in the details of her delicate face, "We are from two very different worlds. That's why I hate you, Granger. The only reason I hate you."

As he finished, Hermione breath left her body. It was like she had been hit in the stomach with his words. They weren't insulting… but charming in a way. She had never heard something so beautiful from the mouth of a snake.

She didn't say a word though.

Of course, Draco took care of that for her.

"What went on between you and Potter?"

Hermione was taken back with this question. Harry had always been a touchy subject for her. She thought about her answer wisely though. This was still a Slytherin she was dealing with, sly and cunning, and whatever she said could be used against her.

"I… I really don't know. I mean I've been in love with Harry since our second year, but he never saw me as anything more than a friend…" Hermione trailed off softly and looked to her lap.

Draco was about to ask about the night between her and Harry, but was cut off by people yelling outside his portrait hole. He cocked an eyebrow and ushered for Hermione to stay on the bed, as he got up and headed over.

The portrait hole opened, and what he saw was enough to give him a heart attack.

The boy who lived and his faithful sidekick.

"What are you two doing here?" Draco snarled and glared at the two as if vermin on the side of the street.

Ron was the first to make a move. He pushed Draco out of the way and into a table, knocking him to the floor. Harry followed behind Ron as they headed towards Hermione.

The brunette stared wide-eyed at her two best friends as they picked her up, Ron got her hands and Harry her feet, and took her out of the room. She couldn't think of anything to say as they carried her away from Draco's room.

Once Draco got his strength back, he got up from the floor and brushed his pants off. Without thinking about it, Draco stormed out of his room and down the corridors to find the trio.



"Put me down!" Hermione screamed at Ron and Harry as they carried her like some rag doll up the stairs.

They obeyed her wishes though and set her down gently. Ron rubbed his neck slightly and shook his head slightly at Hermione.

"Him? Hermione… you could have had anybody. But you chose… him?" He asked, flabbergasted.

Hermione never lied to Harry and Ron. Ever. Now she had to. The weird part about it though, was she was only protecting them by hurting them.

"Ron, Harry just listen. It's not going to make sense right n-"

"-Make sense?! Hermione this doesn't make sense at all! Last week you were talking about what a wretch it was to know Malfoy… and now your DATING him?" Ron yelled as he paced back and forth.

"'Mione," Harry finally spoke up, "What's really going on?"

Desperately, Hermione searched for an answer… but the only one was the truth. She stared at them and pursed her lips together to speak, but was distracted as Draco came over and grabbed her hand roughly, and stood beside her.

"I'm sure that you two must've heard about Hermione and I dating?" He asked cunning, egging them on.

Ron clenched his fist together as he stared at Hermione and Draco.

"Your fucking mad, Malfoy. Hermione wouldn't touch you with a ten foot pole, so what've you done to her?" Harry asked.

Draco practically glowed at Harry's statement. Smiling wickedly, he shrugged and pulled Hermione closer.

"Really? It occurs to me though that Weasley here has a bit of a crush on Hermione… Yet does he have her hanging off his arm?"

Hermione swallowed hard. It never occurred to her that Ron liked her… that way. She stared up at the redhead and noticed the life was gone from his eyes.

"Fuck off, Malfoy," Harry muttered as he stared at his best friends.

"Whatever you want, Potter," Draco said as he tried to tug Hermione along.

But she didn't budge.

Draco narrowed his eyebrows, and tightened the grip around her arm.

"Come on, Hermione."

"Just lettme stay here for a bit. I need to talk to my friends," she locked her eyes with his, and said what she wanted to say without saying anything at all.

Finally he released her arm, and stared at the Gryffindors for a few seconds before leaning down and kissing her cheek softly. As he pulled back, he smirked at her bewildered expression and walked off towards his room.

Hermione didn't have any clue of what to make of the surprise kiss, but she dismissed and turned to the two people that meant the world to her.

"I'm sorry I can't make everyone happy. But I can't help on what my heart feels."

Both Harry and Ron looked disgusted at her statement. Even insulted somewhat.

"Hermione… he's vile," Harry said while wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

"No he's not! I swear it. Once you actually talk to him, he's just like anyone else," She argued.

Ron didn't care though. He just stood there; staring at her as if waiting for her to say it was all a joke, a big joke. But he already knew Hermione's heart belonged to someone else.

"Malfoy? Like on of us? Hermione, he's given us hell for the past seven years," Harry said while taking his former position next to Ron.

"Look, all I ask from you two is to support me," She asked, "As your best friend."

Both Harry and Ron looked at each other then to Hermione. They couldn't just dismiss her wishes. They embraced her in a hug, and held her tightly.

"If you really like him, 'Mione, then I guess we could attempt to be nice," Ron muttered through his teeth.

"Thank you."

While everything was once again peachy with the Gryffindor trio, Draco had just gotten a letter from his mother.

He sat on his chair, and opened the letter slowly in fear of what exactly it was going to say. As the letter went on, Draco couldn't help but start fuming. Throwing down the letter he closed his eyes and groaned. It was going to be a long weekend…

Dear Draco,

Your father had finally been released from Azkaban, and as a welcome home gift, I have decided to throw him a party. I have already sent out the invitations to all our friends, and to Dumbledore, stating that I will need to be home next weekend. This time I expect you to bring someone special with you. Pansy perhaps? Lovely girl she is. Also wear your nicest attire… I'm sure some of your fathers more respectable friends will be there and will be expecting to see you.

All my love,

Cissa

In his eyes, Lucius Malfoy was the worst person ever to grace the face of the earth. He hated him with every bone he possessed.. And now that he was coming back after two years was more than Draco could handle.

The only thing that was keeping him sane was bringing Hermione Granger. Parading her around like a princess to all the DE's was going to be a sight to see, and Draco knew that his father would be outraged.



But he wasn't going to bring her. Draco wasn't going to spend a whole weekend with the mudblood no matter how much it would disgust his father. He decided that he would ask Pansy in the morning before Hermione had anything to say about it.

Not wanting to think about anything anymore, Draco drifted off to sleep.

Authors comments: Once again a HUGE thanks to everyone has reviewed. You guys are absolutely wonderful! Well chapter 5 should be up tomorrow or Sunday. I hope you guys keep reading.