This is a contest entry for the Dracolov challenge! If you would like to enter you must e-mail Dracolov, her e-mail is in her profile. The last day to enter is 12/1/04. Please R & R (read and review) and thank you for reading my story.

Thank you all who have reviewed. I do hope those of you who haven't are liking it so far. how about you review and let me know, huh?

Hermione was completely surprised about the decor of the room she walked into from the floo. It was a polar opposite from the dungeons at school, with rich cream colored walls poking out between the filled dark wood bookcases that covered 80 of the wall space, inviting sofa's and chairs just beckoning you to cozy up with one of the thousands of books in the room. This was most definitely not what she was expecting from Professor Snapes library.

Walking over to the nearest bookcase she immediately began to scan the titles of the old leather bound books, she was just itching to read anything and everything in the room.

"Do you ever not read, Granger?" A voice said from behind her.

Turning around she was Draco looking at her with a look of complete amusement, "Of course, I'm not reading right now, am I?" She said defensively.

Yeah, whatever you say. It's only a matter of time before your in here, I know you've read everything at school, I give you a day," he replied while laughing.

"Hey where did Professor Snape go?" She asked trying to change the subject.

He laughed again, "Probably in the lab, not sure exactly, he was walking out when I came threw the floo." "Don't worry, he'll come around to you being here in a couple days." He added when he saw the look on her face.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Come on, I'll show you your room."

The rest of the day went as smooth as could be expected. The two spent the rest of the day sitting in the library talking and reading. They only saw Snape at dinner which was beyond uncomfortable. Draco tried to start a conversation with Snape but the one thing he did was say yes or no in between bites of food that he was attempting to eat as quickly as possible. That night Hermione wrote to Mrs. Weasly as she promised, along with one to her parents, one to Harry and Ron and a separate one to Ginny.

Two days later things were begining to feel comfertable living with Snape. The three of them sitting in the library reading after dinner, Draco and Hermione sitting on a sofa, and Professor Snapes sitting in a chair a few feet away. The only sounds were coming from the crackling fire.

Suddenly the fire roared, turned green and none other than Lucius Malfoy strutted out. The only thing the three of them could do was look on in shock. Moments later, Snape stood up and walked over to a furious looking Lucius, while Draco moved closer to her and slipped his arm around her waste protectively.

"So, it's true the little mudblood is here. Oh and look, my ungrateful son is here too, hiding out no less." Lucius sneered.

"What do you want, Lucius?" Snape said, barely hiding his distaste for the man in front of him.

Lucius Laughs maliciously, "Oh, you know why I'm here, don't play ignorant with me. Now give her to me." He replied in a deadly voice, Draco protectively pulls her closer to him.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but she isn't going anywhere without myself or Draco with her," he said moving to stand in front of the man, "Draco, please escort Miss Granger out of the room, I have some things to discuss with your father that are not appropriate for lady to hear.

"Okay." Was all he said as he grabs her hand and begins to lead her to the door, keeping himself between her and his father.

"There's no need to make her leave the room, she will be coming with me whether she likes it or not." Lucius says as he tried to make a move toward her.

Instantly Draco has his wand out and Hermione behind him clutching the back of his clothes, as Snape pulls Lucius back behind him with his wand pointing at the mans chest." Don't be stupid, she isn't going anywhere, especially with you. Now leave before I make you," his voice filled with venom.

Draco could feel her shaking behind him, he slips his free arm, behind him and around her side, pulling her closer to him, wand still pointed at his father.

"Oh she will be mine! You don't know what your messing with by trying to stop me Severus. You'd be smarter to smarted up and join me, whatever you choice, sooner or later she will be mine and theirs not a blooding think you can do about it," he responded practically yelling, while he moved his gave from Snape to Hermione standing behind Draco.

"Father, Hermione isn't going anywhere, she's staying here, with me." Draco mimics his fathers sneer from before, pulling her closer to him.

Laughing he responds, "My son, such the disappointment, I should have killed your Mother years ago, she made you weak. Looking at yourself, clutching that piece of filth, like you could stop me."

Hermione was disgusted at what was coming from the man. As he finished speaking, she could feel Draco tense up as his heart rate increased, she could feel his pulse increase its force threw him as the words his father was saying sank in. She never knew how his mother had died, she couldn't say anything right now the only thing she could do was slide her arm around him, under his raised arm holding his wand, pulling them even closer to one another.

"Lucius, you are getting on my last nerve, you have 3 seconds to leave the way you came before I hex you into oblivion." Snape threatens.

Casting one last glance at the pair of clutching teenagers, "Fine, I'll leave for now, but I WILL be back," he casts another glare at Snape, seconds later he was gone.

As soon as the flames turned back to normal, Snape sealed on the floo. Then turned to the Draco and Hermione who were still clutching each other and slightly shaking, "I want you 2 to go back to your rooms and put up as many wards a you can. I'm going to ward the grounds then, I need to go to head quarters to talk to Albus. I don't know how long I'll be so stay in your rooms until the morning." And with that he was out of the room.

Draco had finally lowered his wand when Hermione grabbed his hand and lead him from the room. They walked in silence, she wanted to say something, he looked so hurt and angry and shocked at the same time. All she could do was squeeze his hand as she lead them down the hall.

Once they were outside her room she spoke, "Draco do you think I could sleep in your room, I don't think I'll be able to sleep if I'm alone," she asked looking up into his eyes.

He blinked then said, "Yes, I think I would sleep better if you were in my room also," then quickly adds," so I know where you are and you're safe."

"Thank you, hold on a second, I just need to change really fast."

Twenty minutes later they were laying in his bed, with a dozen or so wards up around the room an a foot of space between them.

Turning to her side to look at him, she sees he still looks upset, "Draco, are you okay?" she asks, knowing it probably isn't smart to push him into talking about it, 6 years with 2 boys as my best friends has finally shown me that pushing them into talking isn't always smart.

"Yeah, a little," he responds as he turns to his side to face her also. "What about you, you look a little worried or something."

"Just thinking."

"What about?"

"About what you dad said, about you mum. I'm so sorry Draco, I didn't know, where you two close?" I ask him cautiously.

He nods, "Yeah, we were, she was all I really had, besides Severus. Father and I never got along. The only people he ever cared about are himself and that nutter Voldemort."

"When... When did it happen?" She asks timidly.

"The night I refused to get the dark mark."

"I thought you wanted to join. How come you didn't?"

He shrugs his shoulders, "A lot of reasons, I really never wanted to in the first place, father always said it was what I had to do, that or die. Mum always told me it was my choice in the end. Said that she didn't want me to, she wanted me to choice my own path but she knew it was up to me. She always told me how she felt, that this wasn't what she wanted me to do. She wanted me to be someone who wasn't lying all the time and would I would be proud to be." He paused," She always told me I could talk to her, she knew one day if I decided to go against my father that I would have to leave home, so she made sure I knew I could always trust, Snape. And the night I was to get the mark, I went to him. I said I wouldn't do it. I couldn't. And they would have to kill me first. He was happy, that I wasn't doing it. He said he was proud of me and my mum would be too, before he left to the meeting he took me to see Dumbeldore. Dumbeldore told me I had made the right choice he said I was brave to choosing what I wanted, and what others were too scared to do. He told me all about the Order. Said I wouldn't be safe for me to go home so I would stay at head quarters or with Snape over the summer."

'Wow' She thought to her self. "Dumbeldore was right, you are brave. And I know your mum if proud of you. I happy this was what you picked, I hope you know that."

He smiles, "I know thanks, but I'm not brave, look what I did back there. I froze, I could barely say anything, I bloody started to shake." He looked down to avoid her gaze as he finished.

Reaching over, she placed her hand under his chin so she could look him in the eyes," Draco, you are brave, you hear me. Don't you ever doubt yourself. I don't ever want to hear you say that again. You are one of the most bravest people I know. You put yourself between your father and me. Even with Snape there I wouldn't have felt as safe as I do with you as I did then." She had moved her hand to the side of his face and was rubbing his cheek with her thumb by the time she finished.

Now he was blushing," I wouldn't and wont ever let anything happen to you." He moved up to lean on his elbow, and covered her hand on his cheek with his own.

"Hermione?" He asked as he leaned toward her.

"Ye.. Yes?" Was all she could say as she looked into his beautiful gray eyes.

Hahahaha. sorry but I had to stop there. Yea a cliffy!! what's going happen next? Will he kiss her or what? hmm I know cuz I already have the next chapter planed out in my head. But maybe I should make you all wait a week before I update next.

Don't for get to REVIEW. REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW. Gratsi, Ashley