Title: Dreams
Summary: Hermione is having strange dreams lately. Foul dreams of Lucius and Voldemort torturing her, but in the darkness shines a light. A light that is called Draco Malfoy. They're just dreams, aren't they? But then why does Draco need her help?
Disclaimer: I just own the plot.
Setting: Book 4 & 5? Didn't happen. Voldemort hasn't become corporeal and started his great war. Let's just say things were postponed. They're now all in their sixth year, and because Voldemort didn't become corporeal, Sirius is still alive, and that means Harry will be slightly different as well.
Draco closed his eyes for a second.
"I knew that was the key. I just knew it. My father reacts the same way. It only works for a few minutes with him though, because my mothers love for him isn't unconditional which it should be."
"I don't understand"
Hermione admitted quietly.
"I don't love you. I merely tolerate you. How can a lie undo something so powerful?"
"It can't"
Draco stated calmly.
"It has to be real unconditional love or else evil will conquer all good things. I found it in this book."
He handed her a small leather book that looked strangely familiar.
"This is the diary of You-Know-Who! How...I thought it was destroyed."
"It was one of the diaries that got destroyed. This one I found while you were sleeping, hidden in another book."
Hermione frowned.
"You couldn't have. The prophecy said that we could only find it together. How could you have found it when I was asleep?"
His eyes rested on her face and a little smile appeared on his lips.
"Your head was on my shoulder when I opened the book. You trusted me enough to fall asleep next to me. I guess that was the base of true friendship they were looking for. Trust."
Hermione smiled back at him, but then her face saddened.
"But if I don't love you..."
"I'm doomed"
He answered quietly, his face serious.
"D...does it have to be real romantic love? And does it have to be mutual?"
He shrugged.
"I don't know. I can't imagine it being mutual, not after Voldemort got rid of all my good parts."
"Maybe you should have loved me before he performed the ritual. You can't destroy something that powerful. Not if it's true love. I refuse to believe that."
Draco sighed, ruffling his hair.
"Doesn't matter now anyway. We can't force ourselves to feel something we don't. That I don't exactly hate you or consider you inferior doesn't mean I love you. I respect you, that's all."
"You respect me!"
"Well"
He sneered, suddenly the old Malfoy again.
"You're not as thick and disgusting as most mudbloods are. If you want to call that respect then yes."
Hermione fell silent for a minute before doing something she had never expected to do…
She kissed Draco Malfoy.
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