Chapter 5: Raging Fires and a First Kiss

"Hermione! Hermione! It's Harry and Ron! Let us in, please!" At the sound of Harry and Ron's shouts, Hermione jumped back from Draco's arms. He let her go reluctantly and scowled deeply. Great, just when she was opening up to me, they just had to come along and ruin it. Another reason on the list of "Why I hate Potter and Weasley."

"Oh!" she breathed, standing and scrubbing her face. "Oh, my! What do I..." She glanced hopefully over at Draco, her eyes wide and pleading. He sighed as if just having run ten miles.

"Alright, alright. I'll tell them you're in the bathroom," he said, with his head hanging low. She hesitated a moment, then shocked Draco almost out of his pants when she reached up and kissed his cheek, hugging him close.

"Thank you," she whispered, then ran into the bathroom.

Draco touched his cheek slightly. That girl is something else all together. Now to deal with the dynamic degenerates. He exited via Hermione's room, grabbing his robe to cover his half nakedness, and ran down the steps, to the entrance. He opened the door behind the tapestry and allowed them in grudgingly.

"Granger's in the lavatory," he snarled, reverting back to his old self as a protectant against what he'd revealed to Hermione. Hell would freeze over before he'd let them onto their secret.

"Whatever, Malfoy," Ron answered. Draco stared at him coldly for a moment, then turned on his heal and headed back to his room. He knocked on the door to the bathroom quietly and cracked it slightly.

"Hermione? What do I do now?" he whispered. She turned from her place at the sink and rushed over to him.

"I've got things under control now. I'll be out in a minute," she whispered back. Draco saw that she'd changed from her pajamas into a pair of shorts and an oversized sweatshirt. Her hair pulled back into a tight braid and her face cleansed of all tear streaks, it looked as if their fight and Hermione's break down had never happened. She smiled slightly and touched his hair. He nuzzled her hand and kissed her palm, pay back for the kiss she'd given him. Hermione pulled away and crossed the room, going through her room and down the sairs.

"Hello Harry, Ron," she said confidently as she stepped off the bottom stair. Underneath her strong outer shell, she was trembling terribly and crying inside. God, I don't think I can do this. What am I going to say? Could she say anything about what she'd heard on the train, or did she just let it go and pretend like nothing had happened.

"Hermione! We've missed you!" Ron exclaimed, pulling her into a close hug. Harry leaned in and kissed her cheek. She controlled her impulse to jerk back from their affectionate touches, for fear they would be angered before she could say anything.

"I've missed you too..." she said uncertainly. She jestured for them to sit and they made them selves comfortable on the plush couches. Hermione snuck a glance up to the second floor and saw Draco leaning partially hidden by the shadow in his doorway. Relief washed over her skin and she relaxed a little under his watchful eyes. She knew that at one shout he'd be down the stairs and across to her in a second.

Harry and Ron started talking about things Hermione really didn't care to hear about, so she put on the "I'm really listening to you" face and preceeded to withdraw into her own thoughts. They flowed toward her newly found friendship with Draco Malfoy. She wasn't sure if she really did trust him. So far, he was the only person she'd found who actually knew what she was going through. And it was so wonderful to have that. Hermione felt guilty for a moment. Am I using him to make myself feel better? It certainly seems that way, doesn't it? She was horribly confused at this thought. I don't want to use him. But what are supposed to do when your enemy is telling you that everything will be right in time, and your friends have refused to even consol and level with you? I don't understand this.

Draco watched her internal struggle from his place at the threshold of his room. Man, those two must be bloody idiots if they can't see that she's getting upset. All they do is sit there and talk and talk and talk. They don't even pay any attention to her. Hopefully Hermione's going to be able to keep her cool and not eat their arms off. Draco smiled at the thought. Oh wow. That would be hilarious. I'd pay money to see that!

"So, Hermione, how've you been? You're Mom told us what happened. We're sorry," Ron said. It shook Hermione awake and the underlying fury that she seemed to always be carrying with her these days flared. Oh God. They're sorry? They're my friends! They were supposed to be with me when I needed them! Harry's words on the train rung in her ears painfully: "I hope she doesn't really say anything about it to us. I don't think I could handle another teary female. Ginny cries enough, I can't have Hermione do it too."

"Why do you care?" she practically snarled. Harry and Ron looked like their eyes were going to pop out. "You didn't seem to think I needed any consoling over the summer because you know, it was just my fiance who died. It's not like that is a big deal or anything."

"Well, Hermione, you are just a teenager. You can't just live like you're dying for the rest of your life. Things like this happen," Ron said sheepishly, his face turning blood red with embarrassment.

"Oh! Oh, that's right! I'm just a teenager. You know, somehow, Ron, that really doesn't make it any better. Friends are supposed to be there when the other needs them. My future husband, the man I was willing to spend the rest of my life with, DIED! And you...you didn't care. You didn't care enough to spend even five minutes with your so called best friend when she needed you the most. Something just doesn't add up there. I don't think that I need to sit here with you fucking assholes anymore!" Hermione stood and ran up the stairs to her room, crying as she went. Harry and Ron tried to follow, but Malfoy blocked them at the top of the stairs.

"I don't think so, boys. Out!" he snapped. Harry and Ron looked at him. Ron stepped forward to push Draco out of the way, but Draco pulled out his wand and pointed it at his chest. "I said out." His voice was low and menecing. Harry and Ron backed off and stormed out of the room, pissed as Hell.

When he was sure the two Golden Boys were out of the way, Draco followed Hermione's path into her room. She'd thrown herself on her bed, but wasn't crying. A few sniffles and a sigh escaped, and Draco was relieved she wasn't making herself sick over those two asses. He laid on the bed beside her and pulled her close. She turned and looked up at him, finding the caring and compassion she'd been longing to see in Harry and Ron, in Draco's eyes. She touched his cheek and ran her fingers through his white blonde hair. Smiling, he squeezed her hand softly and leaned in a little closer. When she didn't protest, he hesitantly caressed her lips with his, unsure of her reaction. She moved under him, wrapping her arms around his neck and intertwining their legs, pulling him closer. He kissed her deeply with gentle pressure on her lips and his tongue sweetly running around their edge, begging for an entrance. She allowed, and their tongues flicked together and danced the dance of passion.

Hermione didn't know where she was at. Lost in the sweet nectare of passion, she was absent of any feelings of guilty or displeasure. Oh...wow. I feel so...alive...She felt then, her first real joy since the death of her love...

Hey ho, and away we go! See ya next week with a brand new show!

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