A/N: Sorry for the delay! Thank you SO much for the reviews. I will really need your opinion on this chapter!

Oh, there's a change in the middle of the chappie from HG to DM. and I've changed the rating to PG-13, but it will go up soon. There's just no need to put R rating yet...

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Chapter 8

Two hours later, Draco returned. Strangely enough, the first thing Hermione thought when she saw him again was not how angry she was with him for burdening her with all that work, but how his platinum blond hair was gleaming in the moonlight.

She had worked hard on the potion during those solitary hours in the dungeon. But part of her mind had wandered during all that time, dwelling on the recent events; the kiss with Malfoy in their dorm, her encounter with him this morning, her conversation with Ginny after breakfast.

..~**~..

Hermione had spent breakfast avoiding a certain Slytherin's gaze. What was going to happen to her tonight? She had discovered Malfoy's robes full of blood, after all, and he certainly didn't feel happy about it. But other images trotted through her head. Those of a naked Malfoy...

"Okay, who? What? And how?" Ginny asked her, as they both walked out of the Great Hall.

"Ginny, what -?"

"Oh come on Hermione! The grin on your face, it's like you've been hexed or something. There's got to be a guy behind all this, so tell me everything!" the red-head argued.

"Ginny, there is no way I'm telling you! You never keep your mouth shut!" Hermione laughed.

"Hermoine, pleeeeease!"

"Alright but this time, you KEEP YOUR BIG MOUTH SHUT!" the seventh-year said in a loud whisper. She grabbed Ginny's hand and took a different turn to lose the crowd of students. When she judged that no one could hear them, Hermione told Ginny about the bathroom incident the same morning, leaving out the bloody robes.

Hermione never was the kind to divulge her feelings like this, but this was something completely new for her, and she thought she might explode if she didn't tell someone! She certainly couldn't tell Ron or Harry. Ginny was her closest girl friend and the only one she could talk to.

Ginny's eyes opened wide as she listened carefully to Hermione. "Oh Merlin! You saw Malfoy NAKED!"

Hermione shushed her friend and blushed again against her will.

"You have got to tell me everything," Ginny said excitedly. "Hermione, he's the most wanted guy at Hogwarts. He's like a sex god, girls are crazy about him and YOU saw him NA -"

"Yes, I think I got the point, Gin," Hermione said laughing softly. "Merlin, why am I telling you this?"

Ginny's face fell at her words. "You mean you weren't going to tell me? Hermione, this is vital information!"

Ginny could be shallow at times, but Hermione nodded at her friend and willingly told her everything she wanted to know. It was just the sort of girlish indulgence she needed to take her mind off her fear of Malfoy.

..~**~..

As she watched the Slytherin strut into the classroom, she also remembered her conversation with Ron. It had been strange at the time, but seeing Malfoy's assurance and the glares he sent her, Hermione began to understand Ron's concern.

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"Ron, you don't need to accompany me all the way there! I know my way perfectly well," Hermione had complained for the tenth time.

"I know 'Mione," he had answered hesitantly, "but well, I just wanted to make sure that stupid Malferret doesn't meet you before."

"It'd be rather surprising considering that I'm late," she said coldly. Indeed, Ron had insisted that they take a longer route to the dungeons, just in case.

They walked in silence until they reached the flight of stairs leading to the dungeon classrooms. Hermione muttered a quick goodbye and started down the stairs, but Ron had called after her.

"Hermione wait! There's something you need to know!" he had said urgently. His blue eyes peered deeply into hers as he stepped closer to her.

For a moment she was confused - why was Ron keeping her waiting? Why had they suddenly become uncomfortable with each other?

"Ron, I don't have much time -"

"Hermione, please take care of yourself!" he blurted out suddenly. "I don't think I could take it if anything happened to you."

His cheeks quickly became red and Hermione felt her own change colour at Ron's words. His eyes, however, expressed something else. Compassion, maybe? Friendship - or love? She wasn't sure. All she knew was that Ron cared about her and somehow, he knew she was in trouble with Malfoy.

"Ron, please don't worry about me. And please don't say anything to Harry. He really doesn't need the extra stress. I'll see you tomorrow." She kissed him on the cheek lightly and ran down the stairs, more anxious about her detention than Ron's concerns.

..~**~..

Malfoy looked up at Snape's desk and nodded approvingly as he saw two samples of the potion standing on top. It annoyed her even more the way he was judging her own work.

What a pretentious git! Why am I even bothering with this guy?

She crossed her arms over her chest, looking back at him sternly.

"So, where were you?" she asked him crossly. "You left me to prepare that potion by myself and now you're inspecting my work? Who do you think you are?"

"A Malfoy."

She narrowed her eyes at him. She hated it when he used his family name like that, as if he owned everything - and everyone.

"I can't believe you sometimes!" Hermione burst out in exasperation. "Fine, after all, I really don't give a damn where you were these past two hours! I'm not your mum!"

He laughed lightly at her words and leaned against the wall. He propped a leg up and crossed his arms over his chest nonchalantly.

"Good," he said, "because where I was is still none of your business!"

"Fine!" she shouted back. God, why was she shouting already? How did he get her worked up like this so easily? And why did he need to take his cloak off and show off his body in that black shirt?

She had noticed that her temper always got a little more out of control when Malfoy was around. Why was he so damn good-looking?

Stop it! Don't go there! Remember who he is!

But her body didn't seem to care when he was around. Hermione knew she had to regain control of the conversation or her temper would only get worse. It was time to get some answers one way or another.

She sat down quietly at a desk and turned to face him. "So, did you use a healing spell on yourself?" She thought a radical change of tactic might be in order.

"What makes you say that?" he answered with a question, his steel grey eyes revealing nothing.

"Well, your robes were stained with blood this morning and as you obviously have no cuts on yourself, I simply guessed..."

"That the blood was mine?" he inquired amused. "But how do you know it wasn't somebody else's?" His voice had become darker and he moved slowly towards her as he spoke. "A Muggle's for example?"

Hermione couldn't help her gasp as she heard him speak and cursed under her breath. The harsh truth dawned upon her. He was a murderer now, he had to be, he was a Death Eater after all!

"Doesn't mean I'm a murderer," said Malfoy, as if he had read her mind, "or maybe I am. What do you think?"

"Who? Why?" Those were the only words that came out of Hermione's mouth. Millions of unanswered questions whizzed through her mind as Malfoy's words hit her. If he had really killed a Muggle last night, did that mean he had killed others? Was she in danger? Dumbledore did warn her against him, but still...

Malfoy stopped at her questions. His gray gaze darkened considerably. His fists clenched and unclenched as he spoke.

"You see, my dear Granger, that, once again, is strictly none of your business," he hissed at her. Seeing Hermione's pained face, he smirked at her and lifted her chin. "What do you think? That I'm suddenly going to reveal all my deepest darkest secrets to you, a pathetic Mudblood know-it-all, a well-known member of Dumbledore's little gang and Weasel's worthless whore!"

His cold voice had turned into a shout, but even then he still seemed in control. However, his expression soon changed from a smirk into confusion as Hermione slowly stood up, pointing her wand at him. Her pained light brown eyes betrayed her heightened emotional state, and she was angrier than Draco had ever seen her before.

"How dare you?" she shouted back at the Slytherin Prince. She stood mere inches from him, threatening him with her wand, but he did not flinch at her words, although he could tell that it would take much before he was seriously cursed. "How dare you call me that after all we've been through? I always thought you had more respect for me than that Draco, especially after the other night when you kissed me! How could you say this to me? You sly, evil bastard! Expelliarmus!"

Tears were falling from her eyes, but she didn't care. She had watched as Malfoy looked up surprised when she spoke. Was it because she had called him Draco? Was it because her words actually affected him? She didn't care anymore, she wanted to hurt the bastard, make him suffer like she had.

But he didn't. Nothing happened. At least not what she had expected. Malfoy hardly took a couple of steps backwards after she had shouted her curse. What had happened? Hadn't she hit him squarely in the chest? Surely she hadn't missed...

"Come on Granger! You know it takes more than that to hurt me now," he replied calmly, referring to his Death Eater training. "I believe it's my turn now. Expelliarmus!"

His curse sent her flying backwards into the wall. The last thing she remembered before blacking out was the incredible pain that shot through her head as it hit the stone wall.

..~**~..

Triumph flared up in Draco's eyes as he watched Granger's body hit the hard floor after crashing into the wall. She was going to be extremely angry when she got up. But Draco didn't care anymore; he was ready for her. He had had enough of the Mudblood trying to get in his way, in between him and his destiny.

Merlin, when she gets up, she'll finally fucking understand what I've been telling her all this time! She'll understand who I am! When she gets up...

But Granger still did not move. Her body seemed lifeless against the cold floor, her eyes were closed and her face had gone incredibly pale. Malfoy's face turned the same colour and his triumphant gaze vanished as he realised what he had done.

"Granger! Hermione!" He rushed to her and touched her face gently. Her skin was ice cold. Without thinking, he picked her up in his arms and laid her down on a nearby table.

"Hermione, Hermione, can you hear me? Hermione, wake up!" Draco shouted desperately. If she didn't wake up soon, he'd have to take her to the hospital wing. What would he say to Pomfrey? What would Snape say - and Dumbledore?

But Draco didn't have time to think of the consequences as Hermione stirred under him. He pulled her up in his arms, helping her to gain consciousness.

..~**~..

As Hermione opened her eyes, she instantly regretted it. Pain ran through her head, causing her to feel dizzy and very faint. It took her a few moments to realise where she was and what had happened.

"Draco -" she said faintly, staring at him.

"Shit, are you okay? Are you badly hurt?" he cut in, distressed. He helped her up in a sitting position and waited for her to regain full consciousness.

"I think it's just my head," answered Hermione, touching the back of her skull. "It hurts like hell."

"Come on. I'll get you to the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey better examine it."

Hermione watched as he put an arm around her waist, ready to carry her there.

"It's okay, I don't need to go. I think I just need to sit down," she said, gladly accepting Malfoy's offer to help her to the chair.

But as she got up, the room began to swing around her and she felt very faint again. Sensing her weak in his arms, Draco quickly sat her down and kneeled in front of her, with genuine concern in his face.

"I'm sorry, Granger. I didn't mean to hurt you like that. It's just when I'm with you, I - you make me lose my temper so damn quickly!" he said truthfully.

Hermione blinked her eyes twice and her jaw dropped open. "Draco, did you just say that you were sorry? To me? You've just attacked me and now you're apologising?"

"Like I said," he answered calmly, standing up, "I lose control over myself when I'm with you." His eyes averted the soft chocolate-brown gaze Hermione sent him.

Was he finally going to confess his hidden feelings for her or did she just seriously piss him off? But Hermione knew within herself that Malfoy did have affection for her, whether it was love or not. Last year had proved it to her and never before had she seen him lose control like that when she had argued with him.

An unbearable silence followed Malfoy's last words. Sensing the unease between them, he added. "But that is the first and last time you will hear me say sorry to you, Granger."

Hermione's face fell at his cold words. "So we're back to calling each other by our last names," she stated plainly. She said it more to herself than to him.

"What do you mean?" He arched his eyebrow in amusement. "When did it ever change?"

"I mean, that you still won't admit it," Hermione continued as she stood up, grasping the table for help, refusing his outstretched hand.

"Admit what?" He demanded, rising to his feet again.

"You're feelings for me!" she cried out.

Still amused, Draco chuckled and nodded his head, although his clouded grey eyes avoided hers. "You're kidding me, right?"

"No."

"You know, you must have received a bigger hit on the head than I thought, Granger -" he started, turning his back to Hermione, but this only worked to her advantage, making it easier for her to surprise him.

Grabbing his arm, she swung Draco around to face her and kissed him. Hermione didn't know what possessed her at that exact moment, but her lips came crashing onto his. She kissed him hungrily, wanting to awaken the hidden emotions inside his cold heart. Before she knew it, his soft lips were kissing her back.

After several moments, she broke away.

"Don't tell me that you still felt nothing?" she asked breathlessly.

Her answer came when Malfoy roughly pulled her against him and kissed her again. His arms made their way to her waist, pulling her closer to him, whilst hers were around his neck. Her body quickly gave in to him and her lips soon parted, granting entrance to his tongue, which glided across hers. Hermione felt weak in the knees and she moaned unwillingly against his lips as the kiss deepened becoming more lustful, more passionate.

Suddenly, Malfoy quickly broke away before she felt herself lose all control. They both breathed heavily, eyeing each other in silence.

"What do you want from me?" he finally asked, looking confused.

His silver grey eyes had softened, but his face remained expressionless, as always. "I want you to stop lying to yourself," she pleaded.

He nervously ran his hand through his blond hair, causing random strands to fall back in his eyes. "Hermione, I -"

But she cut in before she heard his excuses. "You care about me Draco, just admit it already!" she cried out.

"You're out of your mind!" he shouted back at her, his arms waving out in frustration. "You're living in a fantasy world, Hermione! Things aren't all rainbows and butterflies here! In the real world, I'm a Death Eater and you're a Mudblood!"

Seeing her shocked face didn't seem to help his anger.

"What did you expect; you're scum to me! You shouldn't be telling me these things! You can't argue with me like before! Merlin, you're in danger around me!" he announced, grabbing her by the shoulders. "Don't you understand?"

Tears rolled down Hermione's cheeks as she took in each and every word he had said to her. There was nothing more she could do now. She had used every possible idea she had to make him realise that being a Death Eater wasn't him. Following his father's footsteps wasn't him. Denying his feelings for her wasn't the Draco Malfoy she had known. No, her Draco Malfoy would have fought against the system for his love, he would have told his father to go to hell before becoming a Death Eater, but that didn't mean he would have joined Dumbledore. No, he surely would have said the same thing to him too and gone alone.

"We have nothing more to do with each other except for Head duties," he told her, letting go. "Do I make myself clear?"

Hermione nodded and looked for the last time into his now hardened steel-grey eyes.

"This aching won't stop," she cried deadpanned, still peering into his eyes.

He looked away hurriedly, turning his back to her, as he gathered his stuff. He seemed to want to flee her as quickly as possible. "You should get something for your head."

"I'm not talking about my head," she barely whispered.

Picking up her bag swiftly, Hermione ran out of the classroom, almost knocking over Snape at the door, who was returning early.

"Miss Granger, where do you think you are going?" he snapped at her fleeing form.

But Hermione didn't care. He could take away as many points as he wanted from Gryffindor, she wouldn't turn back; she couldn't turn back. She had already been broken down enough for the day to last a century.

"Let her go, Snape," Malfoy urged his Head of House.

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