Ok...next chapter coming right up!

Chapter 5: Stars

Hermione folded her arms and frowned.

"Why?" She questioned firmly. "Why after all these years of torturing me and making my life hell would you ask me to stay? You're up to something." Draco let go of the door and backed against the wall. He didn't know what to say to her. He couldn't tell her how he felt. She'd never believe him. She'd say he was trying to get her alone to hex her into oblivion or something. Draco couldn't blame her for not wanting to stay alone, in a place where no one came anymore, with him. After all, for the past six years her pain had been his pleasure. Why should he expect her to forget this and stay?

"Fine" He sat down with his back against the wall looking out over the Forbidden Forest. "Go if you want" Hermione noticed that his voice had lost its coldness and a slight hint of disappointment had taken its place.

"No" She said surprising herself as well as Draco. "I want to know why you want me to stay" She added quickly. She didn't want to leave. It was her favourite place. Why should his presence make it any different? She walked to the other end of the small balcony. She leaned against the rail and looked up at the stars. Draco looked up too but he remained silent.

During the silence Hermione seemed to forget about everything except the stars. She always did when she was looking at stars. "They're so pretty twinkling away up there" Hermione sighed dreamily. "I love the stars. They're so peaceful. There's no fighting and pain up there. There's no anger, guilt or hatred. No lies or deceit. It's perfect" Draco smiled slightly. He too loved the stars. Draco looked at the young girl. She seemed so beautiful in his eyes. He wanted to say something but was afraid he'd mess it up.

"Do you come here often?" She asked him

"Yes," He replied quietly as he looked out towards the forest, "I come nearly every night around midnight. You?"

"It's my favourite place in the whole castle. I come as often as I can"

"I've never seen you"

"I only come for a short time after dinner" Hermione looked at the Slytherin, hardly believing she was talking to him like a friend. "I can never come for too long, everyone thinks I'm in the library reading or studying. I just come to see the stars and then leave."

"So no one knows?"

"No, it's my secret place. A place where I can relax and just be me. It's like a dream; I just seem to forget all my problems when I'm here" Hermione did not quite understand why she was telling him this. It just seemed so natural and right to be talking to him.

Her eyes fell on Draco. "Why do you come here?" She asked him.

He sat in silence, staring out at the forest for a moment before he spoke.

"Granger, do you know snakes are more afraid of you than you are of them?" She shook her head. He continued. "Few people believe it. When a snake feels threatened it retreats to safe place, a sanctuary where it can escape all danger." His eyes were still fixed on the forest. Hermione thought about his words carefully. She didn't quite understand what he meant.

"Malfoy, I..." She began but he cut across. He knew what she was going to say.

"Think about it, Granger" His eyes moved to the Gryffindor. Surely she would be able to work it out. Her confused expression told him she was stumped. "I come here to escape reality" He explained. "Life is so hard on everyone. Life is so painful and full of suffering. I come here to escape and stop myself doing anything I'll regret"

Hermione was now even more confused than ever. What was so wrong with his life? He was spoilt by his father. He had everything he wanted.

"Life can't be that hard on you" Hermione came closer and sat down with her back against the railings facing him. Draco felt warm and happy inside. She wasn't that close to him but he felt as though she was directly beside him. He wished he could tell her how he felt.

"Life's cruel Hermione, remember that" Hermione's eyes widened at the sound of her name coming from his mouth. Draco was looking at the stars again. She could see every twinkling dot in his sparkling blue eyes. His platinum blonde hair flopped around his eyes as he looked down from the sky and straight into Hermione's eyes. Hermione suddenly felt as though butterflies had been let loose in her stomach. Draco smiled. She could hardly breathe. He had given her a real smile, not a smirk but a genuine smile.

After what seemed like forever, Hermione finally spoke.

"So does this mean we are friends?" Draco wanted to say 'yes' but knew he couldn't. He knew there'd be trouble if they were friends. He knew his father would find out.

"No" Draco whispered. Hermione looked sadly at the floor. "We can never be friends. I dread to think what will happen if we ever are. I don't want to feel responsible if anything happens to you. You've suffered enough because of me. I don't want you to suffer anymore." Hermione nodded. Draco rose to his feet and extended his hand to Hermione. She placed her small hand inside his. Her hand fit just as perfectly as it had the first time (A/N. chapt 2). He tugged her gently to her feet.

"Thanks" She smiled. Draco opened his mouth to say something but Hermione cut in

"Let me guess...'Don't get used to it'" She said playfully and laughed as she remembered the last time he'd helped her to her feet. He smiled too. The warmth filled him again. The jealousy he had felt when Hermione had been laughing with Ron vanished. This time she had laughed for him.

"Well, goodnight" He said as they parted at the bottom of the stairs to go to their dorms.

"Night! See you tomorrow" Draco watched her back as she left in the direction of the Gryffindor tower.

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As Hermione lay in her bed staring up at the red and gold hangings on her four poster bed, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. What did he mean about them being friends? She thought about everything he had said to her.

"You've suffered enough because of me. I don't want you to suffer anymore" Did this mean that he liked her? Or had he just grown a conscience and was feeling guilty?

Her head began to hurt as she forced herself to think of answers. Draco's face drifted into her head as she stared at the canvas above her. She smiled to herself. He'd changed so much. 'But why?' She asked herself. All these questions spun around in her head. She wanted answers.

Ok I'm leaving it there coz I'm stuck on what to write next. I know what's going to happen in the next chapter but I can't think of any more for this one! Sorry there's no song. I couldn't find one that fits. I'll find one for the next chapter though. Thanks to all who reviewed. Please review and tell me how it can be improved. What's good? What's bad? Please let me know. Thanks! Sakura x