Disclaimer; I dont own Harry, or Hermione or Draco (unfortunatly) or anything else you may recognize. :(

A/N; I love all of the reviews I am getting for this story. I am so happy! Keep them up and Happy Reading!

Roommates

He smiled as he was walking down the stairs to the kitchen. Dribby greeted him at the kitchen door bowing and asking him what he wanted.

"I am getting some tea and snacks Dribby. I want you to promise me you won't mention my guest to mother or anyone else, okay?" he looked at her sternly.

She nodded and mumbled a yes as he grabbed some tea, biscuits, jam, cheese, crackers and some chocolate cookies. He filled the tray and gave her his order for dinner, 8pm. And he proceeded to carry the tray up the stairs to his room. When he unlocked the door she was sitting on the couch again, reading a book. She looked happier already. And he felt good about himself. He had done something completely unselfish, and it felt great. He laid the tray on the small table and poured her some tea.

"Thank you again Malfoy." she said sipping her tea.

"Can I ask you for a favor?" he said sitting his cup back on the tray.

"Sure. What is it?"

"Can you not call me Malfoy? I hate it." he smiled.

"Oh, sure. What do you want me to call you?" that was a stupid question, she thought.

"Master." he said grinning madly. She giggled. "Draco."

"Ok, Draco."

He handed her a plate filled with food.

"I can't eat all this." she said. Eyes wide looking at the plate.

"You can, you are far to thin." she smiled at him and nibbled on a cookie.

The rest of the evening, she hardly looked at the clock. They talked quietly and read. She found out she enjoyed his company, and he hers. They ate dinner together, she actually had an appetite.

When 10 pm came, she got up and looked around.

"Where should I sleep?" she asked.

"In my bed" he said.

She looked alarmed. Was this the price of her staying here?

"Excuse me?"

"In my bed, I always sleep on the couch or in the reading chair. Why what did you think I meant?"

She laughed.

"Nothing." she said climbing onto the large bed. It was the most comfortable bed she had ever laid on. Her body sunk into the feather mattress. She couldn't help but think of Steven when she closed her eyes. She wondered what he was doing, if he thought she left him, or if he even cared. Soon after, she drifted into peaceful slumber.

Draco reclined on the couch and watched her. She looked like she was enjoying the massive bed, as she was lying directly in the middle, arms and legs stretched out as far at she could. She was breathing heavily. He blew out the candles and the whole room filled with moonlight. Some of it spilled onto the bed. She looked so fragile lying there; he couldn't help feeling a twinge in his heart. He laid his head on the pillow and fell asleep.

Several hours later she woke up screaming, in unfamiliar surroundings. She felt the bed, she was alone. She started crying. 'I don't know any other way anymore.' she thought. 'I need to get back to him.' she was panicking. Draco heard her wake up and walked over to the bed.

"Is everything ok?" he asked patting her on the shoulder. She was having trouble breathing. He sat down next to her.

"I can't do this." she said sobbing. "I don't know how anymore, I am too old to start over."

"Oh, yes positively ancient. What are you 23?" he laughed. She gave him a scowling look.

"You know what I mean. I am used to it, used to the schedule, the way things were done." she looked him in the eyes, not knowing what to say to explain.

"Granger, what are you worried about?" he said getting annoyed with her. He didn't understand how she could want to go back to him.

"I don't know." she sniffed. "I guess I am having trouble sleeping alone. She looked down at the floor. "I am used to having someone lay next to me. I can't sleep without it." she looked down, ashamed again. Draco blushed a deep red.

"Uh, I don't know what to say to that." he absentmindedly scratched his head and looked around the room. He felt awkward. If you had told him a few weeks ago that he would be sitting her having a conversation in the middle of the night, on his bed, with Hermione Granger he would have told you to get your head checked at St. Mungo's. But here she was, sobbing like a child, looking at him with her big brown eyes that pleaded silently.

"Would you like me to lay with you until you fell asleep?" he asked embarrassed.

She looked up at him, shocked that he would suggest it. This was Draco Malfoy. The one that tormented and teased her relentlessly throughout her years at school. But for once he was sincere and she did need some comforting. She nodded her head. And slipped back under the covers. He grabbed a blanket from the couch and got on top of the covers, slipped under his blanket and laid next to her. She lay on her side, facing the window.

"Draco?" she said quietly. "Are you asleep?"

"No" he said, staring up at the canopy above him.

"Would you mind lying behind me, facing the same way? It's the way I normally sleep."

He sighed heavily. And turned to face the window as well. It was quite uncomfortable. His arms lay in awkward places. She scooted closer to him, and breathed a sigh of relief. He was now laying an inch from her body. His one arm was under a pillow and the other one was balanced on top of his body. He could not sleep like this. A second later, his right arm fell over her body, holding her absentmindedly. He fell asleep within seconds.

Morning came with Hermione jumping up at 7am. She looked at the clock and ran around the room, forgetting again where she was. Draco sat up in his bed and laughed at her.

'She must have an internal clock.' he thought.

"Calm down, breakfast will be here soon. I told Dribby what to bring last night. Would you like to bathe or shower first?" she shook her head no. "All right, I am going to hop in the shower. Be right back." he got up from bed and strolled over to his adjoining bath. He stripped down and threw his clothes into the hamper and grabbed a large fluffy towel from the shelf. He turned the water on, steaming hot. He stepped in and let the hot water run down his body. He had slept very well last night. Too well. He woke up with his arm wrapped around her, smelling her sweet scent. It alarmed him. But he fell asleep again, at least until she jolted up in a panic. 10 minutes later he was refreshed and awake. He wrapped a towel around his waist and without thinking walked back out into his room. She was sitting on the couch, flipping through a book. He caught her eyes with his. They traveled from his eyes, down his chest, to his towel. And she looked back up startled.

"OH GODS! I am sorry. I am used to just strutting around her naked!" he blushed again and grabbed some clothes, running back into the bathroom. He promptly got dressed and walked back out to find her giggling madly. He smiled back.

"All yours." he said, motioning for her to go in. She grabbed some of the clothes that Dribby brought her the previous day and drew herself a bath. The water filled quickly and she stepped in. Her mind darted to last night. Draco had slept with her, held her close. Made her feel safe. It was a strange feeling for her. She hadn't felt safe in years. Always walking on egg shells. But not last night. She had cried and he comforted her like an old friend. She then thought of a minute ago. She looked at him standing there in only a towel. Feelings stirred in her that hadn't been there in quite a while. She felt like she would very much like to run her hand down his smooth chest. She giggled at that thought. Her life had been turned upside down in the last 24 hours. And she was enjoying it immensely. But she knew sometime that she would have to go back and face Steven. But not today hopefully.

'Please Gods, not today.'

Steven called one of his lower employees to fill in for him while he went to the ministry. The London times already ran an article in this morning's news about his missing wife. After the ministry, he would owl The Daily Prophet and have them run something too. He had slept like shit. He was used to having her before he slept. He fumbled around with his wand trying to fix himself something to eat. He would kill whoever had taken her away from him. 10 minutes and several burned eggs later he threw some crap on a plate and tried to force it down. After a bite or so he tossed it in the can and apperated directly to the ministry. The short wizard at the desk pointed him towards the auror office. He opened the door and strolled over to the desk of the first wizard he saw.

"I need some help" he stated. The wizard, who was medium height, with black untidy hair and emerald green eyes that were hidden behind glasses. A lightning bolt scar resided on his forehead.

"What can I do for you Mr.….?"

"Shanly. Steven Shanly. My wife is missing." he sat down across from the Auror and carefully explained the situation. The man took down notes, filled in some papers and bid him a good day saying he would owl with any new leads. He shoved Steven out the door and returned to his desk, slightly alarmed at seeing him here. He didn't recognize Harry, thank Merlin. He owled Malfoy immediately telling him that Steven was looking for her and to keep her put.

Draco and Hermione had a pleasant breakfast, after which they played wizard chess. She lost miserably. Just then an owl pecked at Draco's window.

"It's from the ministry." he grabbed the letter and read;

Draco,

Steven was in here filing a missing person's report. The London Times had an article in it about her telling anyone who saw anything to report it to the muggle police. I am sure the Daily Prophet will be running something tomorrow. Keep her happy and quiet. I am still looking for somewhere to hide her. No luck yet. Tell her I love her and to try to cheer up.

Thanks,

Harry

He read it quickly before tossing it into the fire. He didn't want anything to be able to be traced. She asked him what the letter was for and he lied, saying it was something to do with his family's contributions. He sat back down and played many games of chess before becoming bored.

"So…" he started. "What do you want to do now?" he asked.

She shrugged her shoulders and looked around. It was quite boring being trapped in one room all day long. He reached under a dresser and pulled out a bottle of fire-red liquid. He poured himself a glass and offered some to her. She shook her head no, but he poured a small one anyway. Handing her to her, he drank his in one big gulp, smacking the glass back onto the table. She sniffed the drink suspiciously and took a tiny sip. He enjoyed watching her face as she felt the burning liquid slide down her throat. She choked and he laughed.

"What in Merlin's name is that?' she asked between coughs.

"Firewhiskey. Don't tell me you have never had any." he said amused.

"No, I don't drink." but as she said that she downed the rest of the glass and slammed the glass down on the table imitating him. She smiled. He poured them both another glass, and tried to make pleasant conversation with her.

"So, Granger what do you do all day normally?" he asked.

"Well, I get up at 7, make breakfast. Mondays I go to the market. Clean the house, fix lunch, clean the house, fix dinner, clean up from dinner, listen to him about his day, shower, get ready for bed, have…well never mind, then go to sleep." she left out the nightly sex part.

"Wow, boring." he mused as he poured another glass for himself. "Can I ask you something else?"

"I guess."

"What in the hell do you see in that guy? I always thought you were a very strong independent person, even in school."

"I don't know Draco; he wasn't like this before we got married. I was studying to be a healer; Harry was studying to be an Auror. Ron and I, well we broke up after graduation, but we were still friends. I met him and he swept me off of my feet. We married a year later, and within the week the abuse started. I told him I was still going to be a healer, but he said I was to be a housewife and nothing more. I planned to leave, but he took my wand and locked me in the basement. After that getting hit I guess broke my spirit. I just accepted it as part of my life." tears fell fast and free. He wanted to hug her, but he resisted.

"I didn't mean to upset you." he said, placing his hand on her bony shoulder.

"It's ok. I feel like I can tell you since you went through it too." she sniffed. He nodded his head letting her know he understood. Then she leaned over and hugged him, startled, he hugged back. He felt so good in her arms, she smelled his body. Clean and fresh and she nuzzled her head in his chest. He too inhaled her scent. Sweet, like jasmine and vanilla. He laid his head on top of her hair and let her cry into him. After what seemed like a long time, but not long enough for either of them, they broke apart, slightly embarrassed for that moment of intimacy.

"Sorry." she mumbled, backing away from him as if she were scared he would lash out at any moment.

"Its fine." he replied. Not letting on that he would have held her all night if she would have let him.