DISCLAIMER: If I owned Harry Potter, I'd write a book, not fanfiction hehe..

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As Hermione's arms encircled Draco's waist, it suddenly felt as if they were the only two people in the world. The heat he gave off caused her body to involuntarily press up against him to escape the coldness that had surrounded her ever since Dumbledore had told her about what Lucius had done to her parents. She tried to simply not think about the boy who she was grasping onto as they took off, and to focus on the fact that her parents could die at any moment, and that she had to get to them on time.

When Draco guided the broom off the ground, Hermione's stomach clenched and she shut her eyes violently. Flying had always terrified her, and to be on the back of a broom flown by somebody she didn't even truly trust was even worse.

She opened them a crack as they glided past the windows, and saw Harry and Ron in the Gryffindor Tower. Had Malfoy taken them to this area of the castle on purpose? It was a definite possibility, as he was guiding the broom closer and closer to her friends.

"What are you doing?" She leaned as close to his ear as possible so that he could feel the full effect of the warning hiss.

"Just giving Potty and the Weasel something to ponder over for a few days. You and me, on a broom together…should rouse Weasley's emotions a little, ey?"

Hermione battled with this amusing thought for a second, but gave Malfoy a quick pinch in the ribs that make him veer off before getting so close that Harry and Ron were bound to notice. He snickered, but took the hint and didn't go any closer. She took advantage of the last few moments they spent in such close proximity to the boys. They were talking, and laughing. Jealousy rose in her chest as she thought back to the days when everything had been innocent. It was just the three of them against the world, and now that was over. She closed her eyes once more and thought about this startling realization.

Before she and Draco had left the castle, Ron had approached her and apologized profusely. She hadn't accepted in full, but agreed to stay on talking terms with him, only because he had been drunk at the time. When he had suggested to resuming their relationship, she had only looked away and, in the coldest voice she could muster, told him that she didn't believe that could ever happen. He had looked crestfallen, but had to allow this. Ginny later admitted to Hermione that Ron still hoped to work their way back to where they had been, but all Hermione could think of when she saw him was his hands traveling over Lavender's body. Even as friends, she would never be as close with him again, and as Harry would be torn between the two, she knew he would side more with Ron, just as he always seemed to do. He wouldn't even be able to meet her eyes most of the time for fear of betraying Ron. As resentful as she was about his, she understood, and would always love Harry as a friend, despite everything. But for the rest of the year, she would be more alone then she had been ever since the day the trio had fought against the troll that had tried to kill her in their first year. Even when they had fought over the Firebolt, and they had given her the cold-shoulder for such a long time, she had known that things would be patched up and she would have them as friends again. But now…she knew things would never be the same. They would talk, laugh, even work and possibly fight together…but it would be different. There would be a barrier between them.

Tears sprung unwelcome into her eyes at this thought, and she opened them again and let the salty tears freeze on her face in the cold wind. Instinctively, she pulled Draco closer. The presence of another human was too comforting to let her feelings toward the boy get in the way.

Surprisingly, Draco didn't resist to her grip on him, and even seemed to relax into it. She let herself glance around, and was shocked at how gorgeous everything looked. It was as if they were blanketed in stars and enfolded in cushions of clouds. She gasped a little, which made Draco look back at her.

"Scared?"

"No…no, it's beautiful."

"I know. The first time I ever flew above the clouds, I thought so too."

"Don't you anymore?"

Draco's face was unreadable, but his words betrayed his lie. "No… they're just clouds. Nothing special."

"Liar."

"What are you talking about?" His voice was hardened – obviously, people didn't blatantly call him out often.

"I can see the way you look around. Look, over there." He looked to where she was pointing, and she smiled when he saw his defenses drop down a little and an appreciative look crossed his face. The starlight was shining on a group of clouds, and they were shimmering as if they were mountains of Heaven. A breeze was making them roll, and the glowing white seemed to constantly shift and change.

"I knew it. You can accept beauty without being weak, Malfoy."

"Not in my world." His face closed off again, and she sighed. He infuriated her, but at the same time she wanted him to understand that they lived in the same world, with the same horrors and magnificence. His upbringing was different, but now they had the chance to experience life beyond their backgrounds.

They didn't talk for the remainder of the trip, except for the occasional comment from Draco to brace herself when he was making a sharp maneuver on the broom. All of a sudden, Hermione realized that she wasn't scared at all by flying with him, unlike when she had tried it by herself and with Ron. He was graceful and steady. Her cheeks burned when this thought crept up. Thinking good things about Malfoy was supposed to be completely off limits…

As they landed in her backyard, concealing charms hiding them from any prying Muggle eyes, the prospect of seeing her parents finally overwhelmed her awareness of Draco, and she leapt off the broom as fast as possible and sprinted to her house. Draco kept only a couple of feet behind her, and she was strangely comforted because of it.

She entered the house, and felt the gloom that lurked in every corner. This wasn't the vibrant, professional house she had left. Dust was finely sprinkled over every surface, and the lights were dim. Her run slowed, and fear was etched into every part of her body. She climbed the stairs, and saw a brighter light coming from her parents' room. As she walked toward it, her mouth dried and her skin felt like it was tightening around her. She gently pushed open the door, and had to lean against the wall for support when she saw her parents lying side by side on the bed, with four Mediwitches checking on their patients. When the four kindly looking women spotted the girl, they stepped back without a word and gave her room to walk over and get a better look at her family.

They were pale, and had dark circles underneath their eyes. More noticeable, they had dark red sores covering their skin. The sores seemed to have tentacles which spindled out and pulsed with an unnatural black light.

"Mum….dad…." Hermione trailed off when her parents opened their eyes painfully and tried to focus on their child.

"They cannot speak yet," one of the Mediwitches offered to Hermione, "but they will understand you."

Hermione glanced over at the helpful witch and gave a grateful nod.

"I…I love you. Please don't leave me. I'm so sorry….this is all my fault…" Her words deserted her as sobs replaced them, and she sunk down to her knees and laid her forehead on her dying parents' bed.

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