Well back again after a lengthy absence from this story! … I hope I haven't left it too long that people have lost interest…I'd still love to know what you think. And thanks for all the reviews I received for chapter 4. They made me smile :)

Happy reading

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Hermione climbed into bed as quietly as she could that night. She had stayed at the Malfoy Manor for far too long and had not arrived home until very late.

Ron stirred slightly as she edged the covers over herself and she silently prayed he wouldn't wake. She really didn't know how she would explain coming in at such a late hour. As she lay there listening to him breathe in and out all she could think of was Draco. He had listened to everything…without a hint of the complaints she usually received from Ron whenever she tried to talk to him about anything.

She felt like a great weight had been lifted off her chest, finally she had told someone just how unhappy she was with everything. She felt calm and content for the first time and didn't feel like worrying about anything, not for that night at least. Slowly she closed her eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep.

"Ron, I'm going to be late… have you seen my file?" Hermione asked the next morning, desperately searching her desk.

Ron entered the room and Hermione knew at once he had other things on his mind than her file.

"Where were you last night?" he eyed her suspiciously.

"What do you mean?" she replied, not taking her attention away from searching.

"You know what I mean," he whispered dangerously.

"Oh yeah, sorry. I did get in a bit late. I err… totally lost track of time at the office. You know they've got me doing three people's work… it's really not fair!" She laughed nervously.

"I'm not stupid Hermione… don't treat me like I am." With that he left room silently leaving Hermione feeling totally ashamed at herself for lying to him so obviously.

On entering the office Hermione was greeted the person she both desperately wanted to see and desperately wanted to avoid. Draco Malfoy.

"You left this at mine last night. I thought you might need it," he said smiling, holding Hermione's file in his hand.

"Oh thanks… I've been looking for this everywhere!" She smiled back.

"How do you feel about going for a drink tonight after work?" He asked, walking to her cubicle.

"Draco, I'd love to but… well the thing is I promised Ron I'd be home early today. Sorry." She turned away, hating the fact that she was making excuses to not see him.

"One drink! Come on, Weasley would never know! I promise I won't keep you out late." He laughed, trying to ease her clearly guilty conscience.

She couldn't help it… she wanted more than anything to go. The temptation of enjoying herself rather than arguing with Ron got the better of her. Again.

"One drink!" She smiled broadly.

They took their seats in the bar and as soon as they had sat down with their drinks they were talking with just as much ease as they had been the previous night. Hermione lost all thoughts of time as she listened eagerly while he explained everything he'd known about the war and what his father had done.

"I thought it was right, if father said it was ok then I believed him. I was a bit of a fool wasn't I?" He smiled weakly.

"I hate your dad." She stated very quietly but her words had an obvious strong meaning behind them.

"I know you do. I know what he did to Harry. I saw him before he left to go and fight that night. He told me that no matter what I was to protect my mum and that if I let anything happen to her he'd kill me himself." His eyes saddened, memories of his mother were the one thing Draco would try never to think about.

"She died didn't she?"

"Yeah," he admitted softly. "She was killed. I couldn't stop her wanting to fight… she was so determined my mum! It was probably the worst day of my life. Mum was dead in my living room and dad was taken to prison. I have never felt more alone in my whole life. Of course he hasn't been able to forgive me for it since and constantly reminds me of how I failed him." Hermione could hear the bitterness in his voice.

"You couldn't stop her wanting to fight. I suppose your family had just as much a belief in what they were fighting for as us," she smiled reassuringly.

"Did your dad ever talk about the day Harry died?"

Darco went silent, suddenly seeming very interested in his fire whiskey.

"It's ok if you don't want to talk about it. I know it's weird, I mean your dad murdered my best friend… hardly the greatest conversation," she laughed feebly but there was no trace of amusement of Draco's face.

"I'd like to think he never meant to kill Harry…" he trailed off seeing the look of utter disgust on Hermione's face.

"Never meant to? Draco I know he's your father but surely you can't believe that. Harry had won it…he'd battled and won it and then out of nowhere it was your dad that killed him… after all his hard work." Hermione's eyes filled with furious tears.

"Listen, I don't really want to talk about it anymore ok!" There was a defiant tone in his voice that plunged the conversation into silence.

"I'm sorry," Hermione whispered after a few minutes, "I didn't mean to be horrible."

"I'm sorry too," he answered quickly. " Perhaps we should call it a night? Ron will be waiting…"

"I think that's a good idea," Hermione said, visibly upset at how differently this evening had ended compared to the last.

Hermione entered the house to a very cold, quiet atmosphere. He won't be that mad… I'm not even that late! she tried to reassure herself but in reality she was only half an hour earlier than she has been the previous night.

She slipped into living room quietly, hoping to just sleep there for the night save risking waking Ron up. She needn't had bothered.

"Where have you been?" A voice from the pitch black whispered.

"Ron!"

I hope you enjoyed please review

Lots of love

Rachel

xxxx

You'll never walk alone

L.F.C

( Champions League WINNERS!)