Chapter 2

When Draco woke up the next morning, Hermione was sitting on the couch in the common room, drinking coffee and reading. "Granger." he acknowledged, but said nothing more.

She didn't even bother to acknowledge his presence; just continued reading.

Irked that she could so easily ignore him, he snatched up her book. Childish, yes, but he couldn't help it.

"Give it back, Malfoy. Now." she said without getting up.

"Why should I?"

"Because", she said while standing up and taking a step towards him, "I know where you sleep, and I can let Pansy in on that information as well." With that she snatched her book out of a stunned Draco's hands then turned and left for breakfast.

Draco stood there for a few more minutes, 'Damn', he thought, 'Note to self: don't piss Granger off too much.' then he went to breakfast himself.

At breakfast, Harry and Ron were attempting to talk to Hermione, who was in her own little world. She showed no sign of even being in the land of the living until the mail came, and an owl dropped a letter in front of her that looked like it was from her parents. She tore it open scanned it over then folded it up and ran from the Great Hall.

Harry wasn't sure but he thought he saw tears in her eyes, he turned to Ron and was about to ask him if he saw it, but had barley opened his mouth when:

"Yeah I saw", Ron confirmed. Both boys got up and followed her out but, they never found her.

Draco looked up just as Hermione exited the door.

"What are you looking at Drakie?" Pansy asked again. Then, when he didn't answer, changed the subject, "You sure you don't want to come to my room tonight?" she asked, getting so close she was practically in his lap.

"Pansy", he practically yelled while standing up, but so as it was only about half of the Slytherin table that heard, "I don't want to go to your room tonight or any other night just leave me alone." When he finished he left, wondering how early he would be for class if he went up there right now.

In Hermione's first class, Defenses Against the Dark Arts, she didn't seem upset anymore so the boys didn't bring it up and risk upsetting her again.

The rest of the day went on relatively normally, for both Draco and Hermione.

After dinner that night, and a lengthy stay in the Gryffindor common room, Hermione returned to her common room where Draco had his work spread out on the table working.

"Hi", she said, sliding into the seat across from him.

He looked up and raised an eyebrow, "Hi", he said slowly, "something you want?"

"Just to propose a truce, since we are stuck with each other for the rest of the year."

"On what terms."

"You don't mess with my friends, or me and we don't mess with you. That way we all stay out of trouble, in theory, for our last year."

"OK", he said and stuck out his hand.

"Good", she said and reached and took his hand and gave it one hard shake. Then she stood up and went to her room to work some before going to bed.

Draco watched her leave; 'Well at least I don't have to worry about Pansy showing up in my room in the middle of the night anymore.'

Later that night, Hermione was lying in bed staring at the ceiling and holding her stuffed dog, "I don't know why I'm even trying, I'm never gonna get to sleep, unless." she walked out into the common room and stopped half way to Draco's door. 'No', she thought, 'I cant ask him to do that. I'll just sit out here and get some work done.' She went back to her room and grabbed her schoolbooks then went and sat on the couch. After using her wand to start a fire, she started working on their first DADA assignment.

A little while later as she was writing her paper she nodded off on the couch and her papers slid out of her lap.

She was running; she didn't even have to look behind her to know it was her father, it always was. It always had been since her mom left with her little brother. He caught her, like always, "Hermione", he said as he pinned her to the ground, "since your mother got Travis, I get you, after all that's only fair." Then he started unbuttoning her shirt.

Her own screaming woke her up and had Draco running out of his room with his wand out and ready to fight. "What happened?"

Hermione looked at him but her eyes were unfocused and she didn't appear to really see him.

"Granger?" he asked tentatively.

She didn't respond at first but after a few seconds she looked at him like she had just noticed he was in the room. "Draco? When did you get here?" she asked with a puzzled look.

"Uh, I heard you screaming and came out of my room to see what was going on." he said while giving her an inquisitive look.

"Oh," she said and looked down at her lap, "it was just a bad dream I'm fine now you can go back to sleep sorry about waking you up."

"Are you sure?" He asked tenderly, surprising both of them.

"Yes," she gave him a slight smile, "Thank you." She got up and went to her room Draco watched her until she shut her door then he went into his room.

'Nice Hermione fall asleep in the common room and let Draco find out all about your nightmares,' she thought to herself as she paced her bedroom, after she had put a silencing spell on the door. 'Oh well hopefully he won't ask me about it because I don't know how long I would be able to tell him it was nothing if he looks at me like he did tonight with his eyes full of concern. I dint know he was capable of caring but I guess I was wrong.' She lay down and after a few minutes was back asleep.

A/N: I got this chap up pretty fast but after this it will probably be 5 days to a week between chaps just because I have classes. Hopefully it will be worth the wait, please review.