Disclaimer- J.K Rowling owns all Harry Potter characters.

Chapter Four

Hermione opened her eyes slowly. She could hear water running from the shower and could see sunlight streaming in through the window. Hermione stole a quick glance at her alarm clock. Her eyes widened as she registered what time is was: 11:30.

She quickly jumped out of bed and ran to get clothes for the day. Without even thinking she rushed to the bathroom and opened the door. At that very moment a Draco was stepping out of the shower. It took Hermione a second to fully comprehend what had happened, but when it did, her face turned a bright red, and she slammed the bathroom door.

Draco's hair dripped water in front of his eyes and he could not see a thing. He quickly dried himself off and then went back into his room to get completely ready.

Hermione was too embarrassed to go back into the bathroom, for fear that Draco was still in there, so she got ready in her bedroom. She knew she couldn't avoid him any longer when she heard his bedroom door opened and feet slowly descending down the stairs.

"This is so embarrassing." Hermione thought as she exited her bedroom and went downstairs.

When she walked into the kitchen her parents were sitting at the table eating lunch (since it was already noon) and in deep conversation with Draco. Draco looked up as she entered the room and pretended that nothing ever happened.

"Good morning Hermione." said Mr. Granger. Hermione smiled at her father and uttered a 'morning' as she went to make herself a sandwich.

"Your father and I decided to take lunch off to see what your plans for the day would be." Mrs. Granger started. Hermione raised her head slightly. "You really should have gotten up earlier you know. Draco toured the town by himself while you were sleeping. You really do need to be more responsible."

Hermione's grip tightened on the knife she was spreading peanut butter with. She was outraged at the fact that her parents were lecturing her in front of Draco! It was ridiculous.

"Of course mother, I'll try harder next time." She rolled her eyes as she went to sit down at the table. Only Draco noticed.

"So what interesting things did you see this morning." Mrs. Granger asked Draco sweetly.

"Lots of things actually. It was nice just wondering around town." Draco answered.

Mrs. Granger smiled as she finished the rest of her drink. "Well, Henry and I really should be getting back to the practice. We have a 1:30 that we need to prepare."

The couple cleared their dished from the table and Mr. Granger bade them farewell from the door. "Have a nice day you two!"

The door shut and the house became completely silent. Hermione just stared at Draco from across the table. It was she who finally broke the silence. "Sorry, about, you know, earlier."

Draco just shrugged and went on eating his lunch. They continued to eat in silence. When Draco had completely finished, he looked up at Hermione. "You really shouldn't let your parents get to you."

"What?" Hermione said, not quite sure what to think.

"Your parents, don't let them get to you." Draco repeated.

"Umm, okay. They don't." Hermione lied.

Draco wanted to tell her that he knew she was lying, but he didn't want to create an more awkward situation.

"So where did you go this morning?" Hermione asked, hastily changing the subject.

"What are you doing today?" Draco interrupted.

"Being a responsible person and taking you around town." Hermione answered.

"How about I take you somewhere?"

"Where?" Hermione asked quizzically.

"You'll see."

"Sure, why not." Hermione shrugged. "When?"

"Now."

Hermione cleared her plate and took Draco's empty one. She grabbed her purse from her room and met Draco in the living room.

"Ready." Hermione said, walking towards the door.

"So where is this mystery place you are taking me?" Hermione asked when they were out on the street.

"You'll find out when we get there." Draco answered, sticking his hands in his shorts pocket.

The walk only took about ten minutes, during which time Hermione realized that she had forgotten to put her watch on this morning, leaving her scar opened to the public. When she noticed it she tried to keep her other hand from hiding it, but that would probably end up gathering more attention to the situation, so she just gave up, hoping Draco wouldn't notice.

Hermione spent so much time worrying about her scar, that she didn't even realize where Draco had taken her. They were at the lake, a place where Hermione hadn't been for at least a few years.

"Here we are." Draco said.

"What are we doing here?" Hermione wondered."

"We are here to help you relax." Draco said matter-of-factly as he walked over to a tree with a large rope hanging from the thickest branch. He then began to take off his shoes.

Hermione was about to say that she didn't need to relax, when Draco bolted towards the rope and swung with one huge leap, landing in the middle of the lake.

Hermione's eyes widened. "What are you doing!"

"Relaxing." Draco shouted back as he floated around on his back in the warm water.

Hermione clutched her purse tightly, unsure what to do. She shifted her weight uncomfortably.

"Are you coming in or what?" Draco shouted, still floating around, staring up at the clouds.

"And why would I do that?" Hermione asked. "Why would I go swimming with you when you have been nothing but a complete jackass to me my entire life?"

Draco stopped floating for a moment, and turned his body upright to face her. "Because I am different now," he said softly.

"What the hell," Hermione said to herself, shrugging her shoulders. She reached down to take off her shoes, and then set her purse on top of them. She walked over to the rope and grabbed it with her right hand. She then leaned back hesitantly, and before she could change her mind, she was swinging through the air.

During that moment, Hermione felt peace. All of her troubles could no longer touch her. She felt complete peace with herself and the world. This was her time, with her hair whipping past her face, and her t-shirt making soft ripples against her body. In a split second, the moment was gone, and Hermione splashed into the water.

When Hermione surfaced, she couldn't help but smile. She tried to bring the moment back, but it was gone. When she finally came back to reality, she felt Draco looking at her.

"Relaxed?" he asked. With a smile, Hermione nodded. "You could try it more often you know." Draco added.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Hermione asked, actually kind of confused at the situation.

"Let's just say I know what it is like not getting along well with my parents. With the pressure and all." Draco said.

Hermione didn't know what to say. She knew the situation at his home, with his dad being in Azkaban. She started to open her mouth, but then stopped herself.

"Hermione," Draco said as he swam closer to her. "I think that we could help each other."

Hermione concentrated her eyes into Draco's. "And how can we do that?"

"I say your wrist this morning." Draco said, not answering her question.

Hermione immediately became uncomfortable, and, not wanting to continue the conversation, she quickly swam back to shore. Hot tears threatened to pore from her eyes, and she wished the feeling that the rope had given her could come back, and erase everything.

When Hermione reached the shore, she sat down, with her back towards the lake, on a large rock, and tried as hard as she could to fight back tears. She heard when Draco came out of the water and felt him as he got closer to wear she was sitting. Draco reached up and put his hand on her shoulder. Hermione jerked away. This was just too weird, being close with Draco.

Draco walked around the rock and sat next to her. "All I was trying to say is that we aren't as different as you might think." With that, he turned his own wrist over, and showed Hermione his scar from the previous night.

Hermione tenderly raised her own hand and traced the outline as Draco's scar. Draco reached his other hand over entwined his fingers with Hermione's. Hermione looked up at him, her brown eyes wide.

"Draco-" she whispered, but was stopped when Draco put his finger to her lips. Her slowly leaned in and softly kissed her on the lips, before pulling away. Hermione then leaned in, and kissed him, but stopped and pulled back.

"This is too weird Draco." she said softly as she let go of his hand and stood up. "We should go."

Draco felt the rejection weigh on his shoulders, but he knew exactly what she was saying. The two of them of all people. "How is this happening? How could it be possible?" Draco thought.

Hermione quickly put on her shoes, and Draco did the same. The walked the entire way back in complete silence and maintained an arm's length between them.

Thought were whirling through Hermione's head. "Could I really have feelings for Draco? What would Harry and Ron think? Harry and Ron..." Hermione thought.

When they reached the house, Hermione noticed that her parents weren't home yet. She went to get her keys from her purse, and she realized they weren't there.

"Shit! Where are my keys!" Hermione said anxiously.

"Are you sure they aren't in your purse?" Draco asked.

"Yes, I'm sure!" Hermione said, frantically searching through the entire contents of her purse. "My parents are going to be so pissed." With that she threw her purse down on the doorstep and plopped down.

Draco sat down next to her. "It's not like they meant to do it."

"That's not what they are going to think." Hermione said. "I guess we'll just have to wait here until they get home."

Draco shrugged, and the conversation between them ended.

Fifteen minutes later, Hermione spotted a large white owl flying towards her house. "Hedwig!" Hermione exclaimed as she stood up to greet the bird.

Hedwig dropped a letter at Hermione's feet and landed about a foot away.

Hermione picked up the letter and read Harry's distinctive handwriting.

Hermione,

I am at the Burrow now, and really wish that you could be here. Why don't you just tell Malferret to go home? I really do hope that I will be able to see you before the school year starts. I cannot believe that we will be starting our sixth year at Hogwarts.

Ron and I have been playing a lot of Quidditch. He is determined to make the team this year, and he actually is getting quite good.

Let Ron and I know if at any time, day or night, if you need rescue. Hopefully I'll see you soon?

-Harry

Hermione couldn't help but smile at the letter, it was exactly like something that Harry would write, about the whole rescuing business. Hermione really wanted to see both Ron and him.

The whole time Hermione was reading the letter, Draco sat on the grass absentmindedly petting Hedwig. He only looked up when he heard a car pull into the driveway.

"What are you to doing outside?" Mr. Granger asked as he stepped out of the car.

"We got locked out," Hermione answered. "I can't find my key."

Mrs. Granger gave her a stern look and Hermione could just sense that she was going to tell her to be more responsible, but the lecture never came. Hermione was relieved.

Mr. Granger unlocked the door and stepped inside, with Mrs. Granger in tow. Draco stole one last look at Hermione, and then went inside.

Hermione stood outside for a few moments, not realizing that Draco was watching her through the window. She clutched the letter to her heart, wishing that she was with Harry and Ron right now. As she went to go inside, Hedwig took flight and flew off into the distance.

A/N: I FINALLY POSTED! I am pretty excited about that. I'm so sorry for making all the nice people who reviewed wait so long. I have no idea when the next chapter will be up, but I promise it will come up at some point in time. Anyways, thanks to everyone who reviewed! I really do appreciate feedback:)