Draco spent his next few days in his room only leaving for meals and bathroom trips. He couldn't stop thinking about the last time he was at home and the memory of his father beating him almost to the point of death. His thoughts of the painful Caticus curse in his mind every time he let his mind wonder into a dream. He tried to think about other things happy things but his mind always came back to the dreadful last night at his parents house.

When he forced his mind to think about other things the only thing he could think about was the incident with Hermione. She was now avoiding him and he was avoiding her. On the rare occasion that they caught the other looking their way they would sit and stare for a minute or two before the other turned away. Draco couldn't remember a time where he thought about a member of the opposite sex so much and never acted on it. Two days had gone buy and not even once had he even tried to talk to her. He was getting nervous and he new he had to talk to her soon.

Later in the day Draco stepped out of his room and was on his way walking to the loo when he saw Hermione walk out of her room. She was walking in his direction so he casually walked a bit slower. finally when she had seemed to catch up to him he stopped her.

"ummm Hermione do you think I can talk to you for a sec."

she looked at him with a shy but stern look on you face, roled her eyes and looked away. "I suppose you can."

"well ok," "well I wanted to known why you ran away when I kissed you the other day?"

she looked at him and hesitated before replying "well isn't it obvious I mean I have never even had a desent conversation with you and you go and kiss me!" now looking very angry and he face slightly turning read she started to shout. " and you have the nerve to take my first kiss! I don't even like you Draco! Why would you try to kiss me!"

her fist kiss! Oh my god what have I done. He had no idea she had never been kissed now he suddenly felt worse than he had befor.

With that she turned to walk away but he caught her arm and helg it tightly in his grip. Unable to walk away now she only screamed some more. "let go of me Malfoy! I'm going to hex you if you don't release my arm!"

"befor I let go of you I want to say something."

"well hurry up what is it that you have to say?"

"I am extremely sorry. I had no idea that that would be your first kiss. I real terrible now. I want you to know that I will make it up to you. I don't want you to hate me any more Hermione."

He paused for a moment then working from his instincts pulled her close to him. She didn't try to get out of his grip so he took it as a sign that she was excepting his apology. With that he embraced her. "I am sorry again."

He held heer for a while in his arms until she calmed down. " thank you for apologizing. I still don't like you but at least now I know that you can be a kind gentlemen." And with that she stood on her tip toes and pressed her lips to his cheek. Her released his hold on her and she turned to walk back to her room.

Draco watched her leave and finally made his way to the bathroom. He took a long hot shower and relaxed his brain.

He made his way to his room and finally content drifted off to a pleasant dreamless sleep.

Hermione however wasn't so lucky. She couldn't stop thinking about him!

What is going on with me. I cant fall for draco malfoy I mean he is everything I despise. But is he really I mean he did turn to our side and he has made it clear to me that he is trying to be a nice boy. Can I really trust him?

Of course you can! He apologized didn't he?

I guess but can I really trust his apology I mean he didn't say he wouldn't try and kiss me again.

Maybe its because you never told him you didn't want him to kiss you again.

I didn't? why is that?

Probably because you do want him to kiss you again! Duh!

Whatever what do you no. im not going to listen to you.

Hermione don't be stupid I am you.

Ok well then I guess im not going to listen to myself.

And with that Hermione retired to a very bad, uncomfortable night of sleep. Unable to stop dreaming of a cretin someone in the next room…….