Morning Awakenings

Thin streams of sunlight seeped into the room from the partially opened blinds on the window. I groaned as I woke up, then froze. There was a warm body pressed lightly against my back, and a pair of strong arms holding me. I could feel the rise and fall of a chest against my back and I somehow felt, safe, protected.

That feeling didn't last long though as my breath caught in my throat at the thought of whose those arms belonged to; who was in bed with me. I tried to wriggle out of his arms, but stopped when he drew in a deep, sharp breath.

He looked so peaceful; blank, his face was concrete, eve sleeping it held no sign of emotion, and well beautiful was the only word that came to my mind.

He murmured something softly, "Hermione…"

Then I noticed movement. It was subtle at first, the muscles around his mouth began to twitch slightly, then he began to stretch. Suddenly his eyes flew open when he realized he wasn't alone. Blue eyes flew to hazel ones, and for just a moment I saw disorientation in the icy depths. I took that opportunity as my queue to get out of bed. Not saying a word on my rush to the bathroom.

Once I was safely in the bathroom I splashed some cold water on my face and looked at my reflection. I had felt safe in his arms. How was that possible?

He hated muggle-borns, that was blatantly obvious, and he especially hated me. I looked down at my appearance and grimaced. What had he been talking about? There wasn't all that much to my appearance.

I slowly counted to ten as I closed my eyes regaining my composure. I smiled while continuing on with my usual bathroom routine. Once I finished with my I laid out an extra toothbrush on the counter for Malfoy, surely he needed to brush his teeth.

As I walked out of the bathroom I noticed that he was pacing along the floor of my room. No idea what was going through that boy's head, and didn't really care much to know. At the sound of the door being opened he looked up, and stopped in his tracks, changing his direction. He walked straight to me, grabbed me by the shoulders, and brought his lips down savagely on mine.

I was giving in to Malfoy.

As quickly as he began the kiss, he broke it. Letting go of my shoulders he brushed past me into the loo, leaving me swooning and breathless just outside the bathroom door slightly confused too.

His head was swimming with thoughts. That was not something he planned. It had been spontaneous, powerful, dangerous; it just happened, and he'd liked it. He liked the taste of her minty fresh lips and how easily she responded; how easily they seemed to fit. She was amazing, and when he slept in her bed with her, the ongoing nightmares no longer plagued him. No dreams of his father's cold, commanding voice demanding his attention and devotion. No crimson red eyes demanding his loyalty and service.

He'd only dreamed of a happy life, with a family, and…her.

He looked in the mirror and was shocked. It was as if he were seeing himself for the first time. There was more color to him than usual, he looked determined, although nothing new there, and he looked…happy. He thought back to all the times he had insulted her, and realized all those years he had thought he loathed and hated her, he really loathed and hated himself; he hated the person his father had made him.

She was everything he wanted to be and everything he just simply wanted.

She was also the one thing he could never have, simply because she was the only one strong enough to resist him. "What is she doing to me?" he murmured quietly to himself. Any other girl he could have taken then and there. No, she was never like any other girl.

She never could be.

He noticed the toothbrush lying on the sink's counter, it was a new one with a dark green handle. He picked it up, put on some toothpaste, and brushed his teeth. When that task was done he used her mouthwash once more, relieved himself, then washed and dried his hands. He turned towards the mirror once more and ran a hand through his tousled silvery blond hair and sighed as it fell back and settled down. He really needed something to wear.

He was sure that Hermi-Granger was getting tired of seeing him in his boxers. He shrugged the thought off and then walked out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, just as she was pulling a t-shirt on. She quickly snatched the shirt down at the sound of the door and spun around. However, not quickly enough, Draco still got a good glimpse at her revealed red lacy bra.

He had a bemused expression on his face. It was nice to know that she was shy and modest in his presence.

I retreated from my room, face full of colour. I went downstairs to the kitchen and began fixing breakfast; some scrambled eggs and sausages. I was glad that my parents were at work today. I had no idea how I could continue the charade of keeping a half-naked boy up in my room without them finding out sooner or later. Malfoy was not one to just stay quietly locked up if he could be causing trouble, especially in the home of muggles, that much I knew to be true.

I looked up when I heard someone walking down the stairs. Funny, it sounded like someone with shoes on. Malfoy walked into the kitchen wearing black slacks, a grey sweater, and black boots. My eyes widened.

How had he gotten the clothes, then I remembered my wand. I had left it in my room. He raised an eyebrow at me while pulling something out of his pocket. It was a wand, not mine, but his, and then he pulled my wand out and held it out to me.

I took it and looked over at him, wondering what he was up to. He sat down at the kitchen table and took a deep breath. "Smells like food in here, Granger. What is on the menu, or do you only serve house specials?" he spoke teasingly.

I rolled my eyes and dumped the cooked eggs onto two plates, which already held the sausages I had cooked. I took my plate and placed it across from him. I then retreated to the fridge to pour myself some juice from the pitcher.

When I was done I set the pitcher on the table and began to eat my breakfast. Draco looked at me incredulously. I blatantly ignored him.

He cleared his throat, "Well, aren't you going to serve me? I am your guest after all."

I looked up at him, "Guests are invited, so you are not a guest, therefore you can serve yourself. I left your plate on the counter, you've seen where the glasses are, and the pitcher of orange juice is right in front of you."

"WHAT?" he nearly chocked, and almost said something about no Malfoy ever having served themselves, but then he thought back to the reason he'd fled his home.

There was no going back there unless he gave into his father. The only way to get out from under his father's thumb was to be disgraced, and he had no idea how to accomplish that feat, then he looked up and saw his answer right before him, eating eggs and sipping orange juice.