The next few weeks passed by and draco and hermione didn't share any kisses during that time. Surprisingly. October was beginning and fall started to set in. The air was surprisingly chilly for the time of year as well.

Hermione woke from her slumber to a splitting headache. She had stayed out late the night before with harry, ron and ginny. They had walked around the entire castle lingering at the Quidditch pitch for awhile. What else was there to do on a Friday night?

She sat up in bed and groaned. Slowly she made her way to the bathroom, where her Slytherin roommate was brushing his teeth.

She put her hand to her head as if to try and stop it from pounding. She suddenly sneezed causing draco to jump a little.

"You okay?" he asked. He was answered with another sneeze, then a coughing fit.

"I think I'm sick." she said before sneezing more.

"Yeah me too." she glared at him, but stopped when it made her head hurt more.

"Maybe you should go to madam pomfrey." he said.

"No, I'm fine...really. I'm just gonna go lay dow--" she didn't get to finish because she started coughing again.

"No, what you're gonna do is come with me to see madam pomfrey." He sent her off to her room to get dressed. A few minutes later they met in the common room. Hermione held a tissue in her hand as they walked down the corridors.

Once they reached the hospital wing madam pomfrey looked her over and told her she just had a simple cold and all she could do was wait it out. But she did give her a potion for her headache.

When they got back to the common room draco told hermione that she should probably just rest. Hermione nodded and set off to her room.

She changed back into her pajamas and climbed into bed hoping that if she was sleeping she wouldn't have to deal with her achy throat.

At around noon hermione woke to a tapping at her window. She groaned but hopped out of bed and made her way to the window. She opened it and let in a shaggy looking school owl.

Hermione took the letter it held and opened it up to find ginny's neat handwriting.

It read:

Hermione,

I know you told me not to talk about 'you and draco' but I haven't seen either of you ALL morning. You didn't show up for breakfast or lunch. What are you two up to in that common room of yours? Oh! Remember hermione: Uncle George and Aunty Mable. Feinted at the breakfast table. So all lovers please take warning; Never do it in the morning. (for sexgoddessmisha4draco) I hope you two are behaving...But really why weren't you there?

Love,

Ginny

P.S. Sorry about the school owl, Hedwig is out for a morning fly.

Hermione shook her head as she finished the letter. She grabbed a peace of parchment and the nearest quill and wrote her back.

Ginny,

If you must know why I was absent from breakfast and lunch this morning it was because I am sick. Just a cold though. Draco took me to the hospital wing and then I came back to the common room to sleep, (where I was rudely awoken my a school owl) And as for Malfoy, I haven't seen him since this morning. He might be in the common room. Now would you please stop insinuating that draco and I are together, it's quite annoying. You know I love you but I will not hesitate to hit you with a with a good 'stupefy' if you mention him one more time. Now I'm going to go see if draco will bring me some lunch, I didn't eat any and I'm starved. You can come by the common room if you want but it's at your own risk.

Hermione

Hermione quickly sent the owl off with the letter and lazily strolled down the stairs. She found draco in the common room reading a book. He looked up and smiled slightly at her. She smiled back and moved to sit next to him on the couch. As soon as she sat down however, he moved about a foot away from her. She scooted closer to him and again he moved away. She moved closer, he moved away. Once she had him near the end of the couch she moved towards him and he moved so far, he fell off.

"Listen," he started. "No offense or anything, but...well...stay the hell away from me."

"What!" she yelled.

"No, no, no, no, no, I just don't want you to give me any of your nasty germs." he said hiding behind the arm of the couch.

She 'huffed' and crossed her arms. He stood up.

"...because you're sick." She raised her eyebrows at him.

"Not that kind of sick ...you know...sick sick."

"I get it draco." she said sadly. He groaned as she pouted slightly. She let out a heavy over dramatic sigh and slowly stood up to go to her room. She halted to sneeze a few times. Then sighed again and continued on her way. He let out a breath when he heard her door close.

She's sick! I don't want to get sick...maybe professor snape can give me a sick potion...I should bring her something to eat...I'll go see what she wants...Merlin I'm going soft. Like a bloody Gryffindor or something...

He got up and quickly made his way towards her bedroom. But when he opened the door...

"Bloody hell!" he shouted stumbling back a bit and grasping the door frame for support.

"Don't be too (sneeze) dramatic or anything." she was sitting underneath her covers with tissues piled up all around her. The only light in the room was a small candle lamp. The light shone on her face giving her more of a sickly color. It also made the bags under her eyes stand out more. Her nose was red from all the tissues and her hair was sticking up in odd places. What happened in the last five minutes? Draco wondered. She sniffed loudly and he shuddered.

"D-do you want...anything...to um...eat?" he asked making sure he stayed away from her.

"Some soup would be nice." she mumbled. "Ok." he said. "I'll be back in a minute."

On his way down to the kitchens he stopped by the dungeons to talk to professor snape.

"Professor?" he asked opening the door.

"Oh, what can I do for you draco?" he asked setting down his quill.

"I was wondering if you had any sick repellant potion?"

"Well yes. But if you don't mind me asking, what for?" he walked over to a cupboard and took out a vile of dark blue liquid.

"It's granger. She's sick. Just a cold, but I don't want to catch it." snape nodded and handed over the vile.

"It'll only last about twenty-four hours so use it wisely." draco nodded and once again headed for the kitchens.

He tickled the pear and entered the kitchens, immediately bumping into someone.

"Master draco!" that someone squeaked.

"Dobby!...well... hello."

"What can dobby do for master draco?"

"Well do you think you could bring some soup to the heads common room?"

"Of course master draco!"

"Thank you." he started back towards the common room but stopped when he saw blaise talking to what appeared to be the wall. Being the suspicious Slytherin he was he decided to do a little spying.

"...so I guess I'll see you tonight?" he heard blaise say.

"Of course. But zis time I need to be sure zat draco and 'ermione are in ze common room before I come down." That sounds like...kara.. he thought confused. So that's why she wasn't there that night. He saw blaise walk down towards the dungeons and he watched kara move from one portrait to the next. She got back to the heads portrait about the same time draco did.

Once he was in the common room he remembered hermione. Taking the vile out of his pocket he downed it before heading towards her room.

This time she wasn't as scary as before. She was sitting up in bed with the bowl of soup nestled in her lap. The tissues that had been surrounding her were now in a waste basket and the some scented candles had been placed around. Probably the house elves. He thought.

"You feeling better?" She nodded but said nothing. He walked around her bed and sat down next to her.

"Aren't you worried about my 'nasty germs'?" she asked.

"No." she raised an eyebrow. "Snape gave me some sick-repellant potion." she rolled her eyes.

"Well, thank you for getting me the soup."

"No problem."

As she finished her soup a house elf appeared to take away her bowl. She frowned and shook her head, still being a supporter of S.P.E.W. Draco suppressed a chuckle.

"I think I'm gonna take a bath." she said. "It might make me feel better."

"ok." She got out of her bed and made her way to the bathroom door.

"ummm..." Slowly she turned around to face him. "Yes?" she asked.

"Umm.. well when...when your (ahem) ...done in there do you think you can help me with my...transfiguration...homework?" Hermione stared with her mouth open, awe-struck.

"You had better not be talking about the essay Mcgonagall set two weeks ago..." he smiled sheepishly. "Draco!" she shouted.

"You know I'm horrible at transfiguration." he said in his defense. "Did you even start it?" he scratched the back of his neck. She glared at him but sneezed and ruined her angry demeanor. She sighed pitying him a little.

"As soon as I'm done with my bath I'll help you." he nodded.

She turned on the taps as hot as hey could go. Adding a few bubbles she stripped out of her clothes and immersed herself in the heat. She sighed and leaned her head against the back of the tub. She breathed in deep, the lavender scented bubbled soothing her. She'd never felt so relaxed before.

"aaaaaaaccchhhooooo!" So much for relaxed. She thought.

About an hour later she heard a knock on the door. "Yes?" she called.

Draco opened the door and poked his head inside. Once he saw that she was still submerged in the water, much to his disappointment., he walked inside.

"You know you've been in here for over an hour now."

"Yeah, it's really making me feel so much better."

"That's good." he nodded and put his hands in his pockets.

"Can you hand me that towel and then turn around?" she asked. He smirked mischievously.

"And if I don't?" he asked still smirking.

"If you don't, I won't help you with your transfiguration."

"And I'm gonna get you a towel." he said. She smiled brightly.

He handed her the towel and turned around with his eyes closed. The water splashed around behind him as she got out of the tub. He resisted the urge to turn around. Just turn around... She saw you naked you should get to see her naked...After a few seconds of debating whether or not he was gonna turn around he finally decided....okay I'm gonna do it...

"Okay you can turn around now." damn.

"Give me about ten minutes to get dressed, then I'll help you." he nodded and went to his room.

Once hermione was in her room she did a drying spell on her hair and walked to her dresser to get a clean pair of pajamas. I doubt I'll be (sneeze) going anywhere.

She picked up a pair of shorts and a baggy t-shirt. Before she could close the drawer something caught her eye. The lacy scrap of silk that ginny had bought her. She bit her lip as she thought of the effect it had had on draco that night. A small smile reached her lips as she ran her fingers across the silk. It felt like water running through her fingers. I'm sick...I need the confidence boost...She continued thinking up ways to convince herself to wear it...It wasn't that slutty...I looked good...draco's gonna be here...Her head snapped towards the bathroom door that would inevitably lead to his bedroom. That did it, she was wearing it. She quickly changed into it just before draco knocked on her door.

Taking a deep breath she opened the door to come face to face with the Slytherin. He hadn't been looking at the door when she opened it and when he turned to face her...

"Gra-" ...his jaw dropped. She watched as his eyes moved over her body...lingering...in some places. She couldn't help but smile.

"Come on I'll help you with your transfiguration now." she moved aside and let him walk in. Her sudden burst of happiness was abruptly ended as she sneezed. She blushed and walked over to where draco was standing. Next to her bed. She climbed onto the bed and welcome him onto it as well. He watched her as she pulled out her transfiguration book as well as her own, finished, essay. The way her nightgown slid up her thigh when she stretched across the bed. How convenient, he thoughtHe was taken out of his little trance when hermione opened her book with a thud.

"So, you really haven't even started?" she asked, hopefully.

"No...sorry" he added as an after thought. She frowned.

"Well lets get to work. It took me almost two days to finish mine."

Three hours later they were still sitting on hermione's bed with not even half of draco's essay done. In fact, the essay as well as quills, parchment, and books were forgotten at the foot of the bed. Hermione was almost doubled over with laughter as draco told her a story about when Draco, Crabbe and Goyle locked Pansy outside, half naked, in the middle of winter.

"...Snape found her outside after dinner. When she came back in the common room everyone was laughing so hard. It was brilliant." hermione clutched draco's arm as tears rolled down her face. Finally she caught her breath.

"That was hilarious." she breathed. "Why would she still like you?" He gave her an 'isn't it obvious' look and she giggled again. She was currently resting her head against draco while draco was leaning on her pillow with one arm thrown casually around her shoulders. He too caught his breath. For the past couple hours they had told been telling each other funny anecdotes about themselves. Hermione had told him about when she had gotten her hogwarts acceptance owl, and how her mother had fallen off the last couple of stairs and landed on the coffee table which had sent a vase of flowers straight into something called a television.

"Oh my gosh, we haven't even gotten half way through your essay!" she cried.

"That's okay. You know I think I can finish it now." he grabbed the half-finished essay and climbed off her bed.

"No I insist on helping you finish it!" she moved to slide off the bed making her night gown slide even further up her leg.

Before she could snatch the parchment back and owl had flown into the room and landed perfectly on hermione's dresser.

"Is that potter's owl?" draco asked as he inspected the owl.

"Yea" hermione mumbled as she read the parchment. She let out what sounded like a growl as she finished the letter. She dropped the letter and hopped off the bed. He watched her stroll over to her desk and pick up a scrap of parchment. A few seconds later he could hear her quill scratching feverishly against the paper. Making sure she was busy with her writing, he picked up the discarded letter and read it.

Hermione,

I was going to stop by, but I didn't want to disturb anything you and draco might be up to. (wink wink) I know you said there's nothing going on, but I haven't seen either of you all day. Ginny says you're sick. I hope you're feeling better by the way. Is draco taking care of you? If he is, that is sooooooo sweet. (ginny thinks so too.) Parvati says you should do something 'special' for him...or to him. Your choice.

Once again, hope you feel better.

Love,

Lavender

He smirked and looked up to see hermione still scratching away at the piece of parchment. As if sensing his eyes on her, she turned around. He opened his mouth to say something but she cut him off.

"Don't even think about it." she said in a deadly whisper. He just chuckled.

"Hedwig." she called. Hedwig flew down in front of her and hooted in approval. Draco watched as she fastened the letter to the owls leg.

"Are you hungry?" he asked absentmindedly.

"A little, you wanna get me some dinner? Then we can finish your essay." she asked in a false sugary sweet voice.

"Yeah, I'll be right back."

Sure enough, no less than ten minutes later draco was back with loads of food.

"Neither of us can leave the common room tonight." he said nonchalantly as he set the food down on the bed. She looked at him, expecting an answer, but he was busy getting himself food.

"Why?" she finally asked.

"Oh, right, kara was just leaving as I came back." She looked at him confused. Right I didn't tell her about kara and blaise.

"Kara has been sneaking out of her portrait to visit blaise. I suspect she's going into the empty portrait in the common room." he explained as he continued to eat.

"Well what about her snake? Does she take it with her? I mean, the night when we were locked out...the snake wasn't in the portrait either."

"I thought about that too. I'm almost positive he goes into the portrait across the hall. You know that one with the old lady and all the cats. I think he hunts down her cats." he smiled slightly.

"Oh." was all hermione could say as she thought this over.

"Blaise knows she's a portrait right? She not real." draco shrugged. "I'll talk to blaise about it tomorrow."

She nodded, not really paying attention anymore.

After they finished eating draco went to take a quick shower, while hermione read. After about a half hour she was deeply immerged in her book, so when her bathroom door opened she looked up startled. She gulped when she notices he was only wearing a pair of green silk boxers and a white tank top.

"Want to finish the essay now?" he asked.

"umm..." she nodded, not trusting her voice.

A few of the candles had gone out around her bed, and as draco made himself comfortable again, hermione had busied herself by relighting them.

Hermione sneezed again blowing out the candle in front of her. Draco chuckled slightly. Hermione lit the candle again. Before long she was working on his essay, asking for his imput every so often.

Draco watched her as she studied her books, occasionally making a note on his essay. She had a curious expression on her face as she lifted the book into her lap. She brushed the hair out of her face and that's when she noticed that draco had been looking at her.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing." he smiled. She shook her head and continued to work.

A few hours later she was putting the finishing touches on draco's essay. As soon as she set the essay down she jumped. Draco's fingers were drawing random shaped across her back. She turned to look at him, but he had his eyes closed. She smiled at the peaceful look on his face.

"Draco?" she whispered.

He smiled, but didn't answer her. Keeping his eyes closed, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her down next to him. She pulled away slightly, a little uncertain about what he was doing.

"Relax." he whispered in her ear.

She did as he said and relaxed against his body. She closed her eyes and let him draw patterns on her arms. Before she knew it the drawing had stopped. Looking up at draco's face she realized that he was sleeping. She smiled and once again relaxed against him, only to fall asleep minutes later.

Draco groaned and opened one eye. The room was way too bright. He moved slightly and felt something shift on top of him. Opening the other eye, he noticed brown hair was splayed across his chest. Slowly, making sure she wouldn't wake, he moved out form under her. He rubbed his eyes and looked around. Parchment, quills and books were still spread around at the foot of the bed. He quickly picked them up and set them on hermione desk. Then he blew out the scattered candles, leaving the lamp lit beside her bed.

He slowly moved her body underneath the covers, before climbing under himself. He blew out the lamp on her bedside table, before pulling her close to him. She moaned softly, and snuggled closer.

Sleep did not come easy for him however. It felt like he spent hours mulling over granger and their so called 'relationship.' It was weird, sometimes they acted as though they were a couple, flirting and such. But their petty arguments always put a stop to anything happening. He smiled, her witty comeback were one of the things that attracted him to her most. Of course she was pretty, anyone could see that. And at times, when she set her mind to it, she was down right sexy. But it was definitely her personality that sparked his interest about her. This fact was a strange one for him. Draco Malfoy had never really liked anyone for more than their body. The last thing he thought before drifting off to sleep was: Shit, she's changing me...

Well, sorry I hadn't updated sooner. I'm hoping the next chapter will be up in two weeks. (no promises) I don't really know if I like this chapter much, there's just something about it. Tell me your thoughts please. Reviews really help. Thank you! (sorry for any mistakes.)