A dark thunderous storm raged outside Hermione's window. All the inhabitants of the street had retreated to the warm comfort of their homes. Hermione yawned and stretched her arms. Pain shot through her body as she tried to move from her bed. Last night had not been the first time she had to cater to the wishes of her father's friends, so why did it hurt now?

She sat up, much to the protest of her body, and moved away from her window side bed. Stumbling painfully, Hermione made her way to the kitchen. She was met with someone whom she hoped to avoid for most of the day; her father. He was sitting at the table, hands folded in a civilized manner though Hermione knew he would be much less than civil to her. He motioned to the chair across from himself. Hermione reluctantly took a seat. They sat in silence for a few moments; Hermione was avoiding eye contact.

"My friends are coming over again tonight," He said; not waiting for Hermione's protests, which he knew would come. He continued. "They expect the same as last night, do not disappoint, we need this."

"But dad, I can't do that again. Those men are pigs!" Hermione protested.

"You must and will. Also, you will not speak about them that way," Hermione nodded. "Good. Now, we need provisions for tonight, you will walk to the store and get the general things," he said with a wink. "I will get what you can't." Again she nodded. He dismissed her from the table. She staggered upstairs.

It was pouring outside and she had to walk three miles both ways to get a few silly items; items which she particularly didn't want, but if she must be around those men, she would prefer to have them. She dressed in a long sleeve shirt, pausing only a moment to run her fingers over the bandage on her arm. The urge to do it again surfaced, but she shook it from her head. She would not fall victim to such a thing. She slid on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. She opened the door and stepped out into the hall. Draco was standing there fully dressed and waiting for her.

"I'm coming with you," He said. She didn't have the strength to argue, so she let him come.

A chilling silence had fallen over the small town as the sadistic rain pounded down on the roof tops. Draco and Hermione leisurely meandered down the desolate street. With the exception of a few nomadic cars, they were pretty much alone. It seemed that this storm had stopped all life in the town. The walk into town was silent, but understanding. Draco knew not to question, and Hermione didn't have to lie and get angry. Both of them were soaked to the bone with water, neither seemed to mind.

They entered a small store on the corner of the main street. Shivers played up and down their spines as a wave of warm air engulfed them. Draco stumbled up and down the mysterious rows. Hermione had disappeared into a back room, leaving Draco wondering.

Draco eyed the eerie items that lined the shelves. Nothing seemed familiar to him. He was to preoccupied by the foreign objects to notice that Hermione had paid and now had a small brown paper bag in her hand. Sliding the bag gingerly into her pocket, Hermione ushered Draco out of the store and back into the livid rain. Hermione stopped walking and flung her head back, facing up towards the sky. Rain pouring down over her, she spun in circles, embracing the cold droplets.

Draco watched her spin. This incredibly strong woman weakened by the simple pleasure of rain. She had lived in England her whole life; Draco thought she would be sick of rain by now. Draco was amazed by this newfound respect he had for his worst enemy, well besides Potter. He had hated both of them since the beginning of school. He had tormented them and hurt them, and here she was taking him in and being civil towards him. Why this sudden change of heart? Hermione fell to the ground, right into a huge puddle of water. She even fell gracefully, all her movements were perfect. He shook that last thought from his head.

Surprisingly enough she just laughed and stood up. She gave Draco this corky grin and turned to continue walking. He followed after her, studying her movements. She walked while looking at her feet, her hair flopping wildly around her head. She was not like other girls.

"Granger?" Draco said. She looked up at him. "Why did you let me live with you?" She turned away and continued walking. Her hands were resting in her sweatshirt pocket. He waited a few moments and with no response tried again. "Why did you let me live with you? After all the things I have done to you, I wouldn't have done something like that for anyone."

"Well that's a difference between you and me. I think about other people and their needs, besides, what was I going to do, leave you wondering the subway? Ha! That's funny, you couldn't have survived more than a day on your own, and I couldn't have your death on my conscience, it would drive me crazy," She replied.

"Is that the reason?"

"The reason for what?" Hermione asked

"The reason you let me live with you? You didn't want me to die?" Draco questioned.

"As if, it wasn't that I didn't want you to die, it was that I didn't want you to die when I could have stopped it," She turned her head as far away from him as possible. He stopped her, she continued to avoid eye contact.

"Hermione, look at me," He said, placing his hand under her chin and lifting her face up to look at him. "Why did you let me live with you?" Swimming deep within her soul, the truth lay hidden beneath a pool of tears just waiting to be fished out.

"Fine! You really want to know?" She snapped. He nodded. "I just wanted to feel needed by a normal person, I wanted something normal in my life," Draco felt there was more coming and did not speak. "I JUST WANTED TO FEEL LOVED!" She fell to her knees and sobbed into her hands. The brown bag had fallen out of her pocket and rested in a puddle of rain. Draco picked it up. "I know deep down my father loves me, but right now he just doesn't show it. Especially since he makes me work. He makes me…" Hermione stopped herself. She looked up at Draco, her eyes wide with fear as the brown bag disintegrated in his hands. He gasped at what he saw; condoms. Why would Hermione need condoms?

authors note: the other site rejected this chapter... probably because I said the word condoms twice... oh no! condoms! lol... so heres chapter4! I hope you like it! please review!