Wow, I've written four chapters today. Hopefully some more review will come through… hopefully. Well I'm just going to get on with it now so as Mario would say, 'Here we goooooooooo!'………

Stay With Me

Chapter 5

(Flashback still)

Hermione spent the rest of the day reading her muggle-written book. She, Harry and Ron had returned from Hogsmeade for lunch. Hermione immediately went up to the Head Boy and Head Girl's quarters while Harry and Ron talked about quidditch strategies with Ginny in the Great Hall.

Hermione entered the living space of her shared quarters and looked around. There was no sign of Malfoy yet. The two Heads avoided each other throughout most of the day; in fact the lounging area was barely ever used. However, this time the large cosy sofas looked more than inviting to Hermione, especially as a bright fire had been lit in the fireplace warming the room and spreading a golden glow over everything.

Hermione sat back into one of the sofas and opened her book to the sixth chapter. She soon lost herself within the book and before she knew it, over an hour had passed by. At about three in the afternoon Draco Malfoy entered the room, bringing in a cold draft from the corridors of the castle. Hermione felt the cold air against her ankles and curled them under her body up on the sofa. She was now well over half way through the book.

Draco noticed the girl curled up on the sofa. He, as well, had never really paid attention to the invitingness of the fireplace or the sofas. Hermione was still absorbed in her book and hadn't made any sign of seeing Draco standing in the doorway.

Draco walked over to the fireplace and took off his wet cloak. He laid it on the table in front of the fire so that it would dry quickly. Hermione looked up when she saw movement across the table, and for a moment she paused, unsure what to say. Draco himself froze in the moment, he looked her in the eyes, and then down at the book in her hands. He decided upon another civil nature.

"What's that you're reading?"

Hermione looked down at her book, remembering she still held it in her hands. The question struck her; Malfoy had really been acting a lot more tolerant towards her that day, even after she crushed him in a carriage door.

She troubled over her words, but finally managed to speak the answer out,

"It's a muggle book I found today, 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'-"

"A muggle book?" Draco seemed confused at where she would find such a thing in a wizard community.

"Yes, I saw it in a bookstore on the corner of the street where the carriages drop the students off…" Hermione suddenly stopped herself once she realised she had mentioned the carriages; perhaps he would remember the incident with the door and return to his more ignorant approach.

"I guess I'll just have to take a look for myself" Draco thought again to himself. She seemed uncomfortable to speak to him.

'But what else can I expect from a mudblood? They know their superiors…' he thought to himself. Suddenly the word 'mudblood' seemed all too repulsive to him. It was a word which tasted like venom on the tip of his tongue, well, he at least felt a little ashamed of speaking it, as if it were a swear word of the rudest kind. Before he could continue with any of his thoughts he turned to leave up to his room.

Hermione watched after him. She didn't like to think that the boy who had troubled both her and her friends was suddenly warming up to her, but he was changing her mind for her. It seemed that if she remained civil towards him, then he too showed the same back. Perhaps he was at the age of maturing, or perhaps something else had influenced him. To Hermione, his behaviour was a mystery, and in some part of her mind it troubled her. She hadn't thought things would change like this in Hogwarts, and change frightened her. But for now she continued reading into her book.

Meanwhile Malfoy reached his room at the top of the landing. He threw his clothes off and walked into the shower, closing his head under the hot water to everything outside. After stepping out of the shower, he walked back into his room and dressed. Outside the rain still poured down onto Hogwarts, but it had thinned out since that morning.

Sighing, he moved to his bed and lay down. On his bedside he had several books and a magic photograph of him and his parents when he was younger. His young-self smiled back at him, and even attempted to wave until his father's hand came down sharply on his shoulder. His father, in contrast, held a stern gaze, and his mother stood rigid, a pout across her lips. The photo constantly reminded him of the Malfoy ways. Before they seemed routine, but now that he had gone against the Malfoy-norm, it felt more of a chore to continue in the same strict air that his father always held.

Draco grabbed hold of the frame and opened the draw to the bedside table, placing the photo inside, and closing it. He turned his eyes to the books that sat next to him on top of the table. One of the books happened to be 'Hogwarts: a History'. He flipped the pages open and began to read into the history of his school's past until his stomach called his for dinner.

The next day Hermione awoke to light pouring into her room through the balcony doors. Overnight Saturday's bad spell of weather had cleared to another late summer morning. After washing and dressing, Hermione walked down to the Great Hall to grab some toast before she walked out into the grounds with another book in hand. She had finished her muggle book the night before and decided to re-read a book she had bought on charms a few years back.

She made her way over to the lake where a few students played around in the shallow parts of the water. Their screeches echoed in the distance as they splashed water at each other.

Hermione sat down on the sandy bank of the lake and crossed her legs. She placed the book in her lap and began to read. She soon lost interest in the book though. Sitting back she watched the second year students dunking each other jokingly in the lake. She had only been sitting for ten minutes when she stood up and walked back to the Head's rooms. She didn't feel like reading alone, in fact she was hoping she would run into Malfoy.

She eagerly said the password to the portrait at the entrance to the common room and climbed inside, searching the room. However, he was nowhere to be found. Her eyes then fell on the cloak on the table. She walked over to it and picked it up. It had dried crisp and crinkled which seemed a shame to Hermione seeing as it was made of a light and soft fabric.

She pulled out her wand and muttered a few words under her breath and soon the cloak was soft again, and also un-creased. She folded it carefully and walked up the stairs to Malfoy's room. She stopped at the door hesitantly, but then pulled up enough courage to tap on his door.

She heard his move around his room for a few seconds until he opened the door. He has just dressed from a shower, his hair still wet. He looked down at her curiously.

Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but instead she just handed him his cloak. Malfoy took it and examined it for a second noticing she had cleaned it up. He saw her about to turn to leave so he quickly spoke up,

"Erm, thanks" He was still a little surprised by her visit to his door.

Hermione gave a small smile and nodded before she went down to search for Harry and Ron for company.

Malfoy closed his door behind her and hung his cloak in the closet. He noticed a smile was tugging at his lips; she had done another nice thing for him. That was twice in two days and it hadn't cost him anything. He looked outside through the balcony doors and gave a light sigh of content. He reached for Hermione's book that she had given him the day before and began reading again, his mind drifting over to thoughts about the girl who had just retrieved his cloak for him. He settled the book down on the bedside table and walked over to the dresser across the room.

Draco looked over all the photos he had collected over the years, all of them family poses. His father insisted upon him taking them as to not forget his duty for his family, to make them honourable and proud. But somehow they seemed to have lost a significant amount of meaning; they were just photographs after all.

Draco picked up all the frames and piled them on top of each other before placing them with the one from the bedside table in the draw. He now had a lot of free space on top of the dresser, but nothing to put there. With nothing else to do, he walked out of his room and out of the Head's quarters, walking towards the Slytherin Common Room.

The longest chapter yet! Suddenly Draco's feeling a little bit different towards Hermione, hopefully the balance is right, tell me what you think… Anywayz, I don't think I can write another chapter tonight, I have to get up early tomorrow, but when I get home I'll keep on writing. Until tomorrow… Goodnight:D