Disclaimer: Not J.K.R. I wish.

Hermione wondered back to her room full of ideas and worries. She didn't know what she was going to say to Draco though she had a pretty good idea of what he was going to say to her. If he was half as confused, angry, and frustrated as she was, he'd have sever choice words to throw in her direction. She was right.

She had only to climb through the portrait hole to be hit with, "Let's get a few things straight, Granger."

She sighed and crossed the room to sit in her chair next to Malfoy.

"I didn't ask for this." He snarled. "If it were up to me, you'd be on your own. I'd be happy to never see you, speak to you, or hear of you again."

Hermione was silent, waiting for him to say everything he needed to say. She knew there was no point in arguing with him about any of it. She didn't really have it in her to fight with him anyway. She wasn't any happier about this than he was, but she knew what had to be done.

"If I had it to do over again, I'd leave you to bleed to death in that bathroom."

Hermione was jolted out of her thoughts by this comment. She felt like she'd been slapped across the face. She looked into Draco's eyes and he looked like he knew he'd gone too far.

"Do you mean that?" She finally asked.

He clenched his jaw then said, "It doesn't matter, Granger. I don't have a choice about what has to be done here and neither do you."

"You're wrong, Malfoy. I don't have a choice, but you do. Walk away. I can do this on my own. If that's what you want, if you would truly have left me to die, then I don't need you with me." Hermione said quietly. She got up and began to walk to her room. She didn't need this. Screw it.

-

Draco had known as soon as he'd said it that he'd crossed the line. He knew that it was a lie. There is no way he would have let her die. A vivid image of her clasping in his arms flashed into his arms and he scowled.

When she asked him if he meant it, he couldn't honestly say he had. But he couldn't make himself say that he hadn't.

She was right. He did have a choice. But he knew he couldn't leave her to do this alone, just as he couldn't have let her to die. There was no choice.

"Get back here, Granger!" Draco commanded furiously.

Surprisingly she obeyed. She turned around and glared at him wearily. "What?"

"I'm not about to let you take this on by yourself. I would never be able to show my face again if people knew that I was assigned to help you and refused. If you died I'd never live it down."

Hermione scoffed indignantly. "If that's what this is about for you then you don't have to worry. Nobody knows and I won't tell anyone. I have no intention of dying."

Draco shook his head. "What are you saying, Granger?"

"I'm offering you an out. You can do what we both know you want to do: leave the work to me and worry about yourself. I wouldn't even blame you."

"That's enough, Granger. He spat angrily. "That is the last time I'm going to let you tell me what I'd prefer to do. You have no idea what I want. You don't even know me. You are a condescending bitch. But I have something you don't give me credit for. I'm not a coward. I stick to my word. I told Dumbledore I'd help you and I will."

She had no right to look at him like he was nothing, like he was irresponsible and lazy. She just assumed things about him and he hated it.

"No sit down. We need to figure out what we are going to do."

Hermione stared at him for a long time with a confused look on her face, as though she couldn't believe he had an ounce of integrity in him, and it annoyed the hell out of him. After a while she sat down again.

"Fine." She said. She obviously wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of arguing his last point. "Dumbledore suggested we go to my parents first. He said they'd have some insight."

"What, no!" Draco said, incensed by the idea that Hermione's muggle parents could do anything to help the situation.

"I thought you said you were going to help me." Said Hermione, crossing her arms.

"I did. But there's no way I'm going to spend time in your dirty muggle house."

Hermione ignored his rudeness and said, "You have a better idea."

Draco huffed as he thought. The truth was that he didn't have a better idea. As much as the thought of even entering Granger's filthy dwelling and spending time with her common family, he couldn't think of another option. They really had nowhere else to go and no ideas of where to start yet.

"Fine." He said finally. "We'll leave tomorrow morning."

"Fine." She said. And with that she got up and walked into her room, leaving him to consider what he'd just agreed to. Not just spending time in Hermione's house, but all of it. He couldn't think of a logical reason to help her. Even a year ago, he probably would have left her on her own. But something unknown combined with how angry he'd felt when she'd suggested he 'take an out' made him do it.

A few minutes later, Hermione came out of her room again and left for her classes, reminding Draco he should do the same. He went through the day distractedly. He didn't see Hermione again until that night when she was bent over her desk in their study with several large books spread out in front of her. He decided he'd leave her to it. Hermione loved knowledge and they were going to need as much of it as they could get.

Draco slept restlessly once again and woke up early to pack. He didn't know how long he'd be gone of what he'd need. He pulled out a duffle bag from his closet and placed it on his bed. The obvious things went in first. He pulled several pairs of boxers and socks. He stuck his dress shoes, which he wore almost every day, in the bottom on the bag.

Three pairs of black slacks went in next followed by five plain oxford style shirts and a dark green sweater and a couple of plain grey t-shirts. That was everything he could think of. He took a quick shower then brushed his teeth.

Back in his room he put the toothbrush and paste in the side pouch of his bag, along with a comb, a razor, hair gel, and his cologne. Only a few minutes later he heard the shower turn on again and knew that Hermione was awake and getting ready. Good. He didn't want to draw the whole thing out.

He pulled on the pair of slacks he'd left out and a light grey sweater with a slight V-neck and a navy blue stripe across the upper chest that wrapped all the way around. He put on his trainers and picked up his bag. He took on last look at the room, turned off the light, and went down to the great hall for an early breakfast.

He was one of only a few people there when he arrived. He sat down at the Staff Table next to Dumbledore and stuck his bag under the table. Dumbledore, who was in fact one of the early risers, smiled warmly at him.

"Judging by your lack of a uniform and the bag you just placed on my foot, I'd say you and Miss Granger are leaving this morning."

"Yes, Professor." Said Draco, kicking his bag a bit so it was no longer squashing Dumbledore. "The sooner the better, we figured."

"I quite agree. And I'm very proud to see you attacking this challenge head on."

"Thank you sir." Said Draco, trying to smile.

He spoke to Dumbledore about various things that needed addressing, then something hit him.

"Sir?" He said suddenly.

"Yes?" Answered Dumbledore politely.

"Yesterday in your office, you were going to say something before Granger showed up. What was it?"

"I think that can wait until another time, Draco. You have enough to be getting on with right now." He smiled kindly.

Draco nodded, shoving down his curiosity and went back to his breakfast. Dumbledore was certainly right about that. He had more than enough to deal with.

Hermione came in about a half an hour later with a bag very like Draco's on one arm and Ginny Weasley clinging to the other looking very anxious. He couldn't hear what they were saying but he realized that Hermione must have told her what was going on.

He watched as the He Weasel and Scarhead came in and sat down next to Hermione. Potter looked okay, but Weasley looked sick. There was obvious tension between he and Hermione and when he saw Ron throw his arms around Hermione has instinctively looked away. He thought for a moment about Hermione and her friends and how close they were.

He thought of the people he called friends and how a scene like the on he had just witnessed would be absolutely laughable. He realized he hadn't said a word to any of what was going on to any of them. He turned again to Dumbledore to find the man already looking at him. It was like he had read Draco's mind.

"I will tell your friends that you have gone to see the opening of the new Egyptian Library with the Head Girl once you are gone."

Draco nodded. This was a good cover. Simple and vague. They wouldn't question it since the Head Boy and Girl often went on field trips together.

He looked back at Hermione's table to see she had left it and was walking toward him. It was obvious that she didn't want to draw it out either.

"I'm ready." She said simply, standing next to him. Draco nodded and stood up. Hermione smiled at the Headmaster and they both shook his hand.

"Good luck, to both of you." He said. "Let me know how things are going."

They nodded and left together without another word to Dumbledore or each other, until they were out the gates and into apparating range.

"I wrote my parents yesterday and told them we were coming. They're expecting us. Draco didn't trust himself to speak without saying something that would make Hermione slap him to he kept his mouth shut.

"Here's the address." She said, giving him a small piece of paper with her address written on it.

"On three." He said, grabbing hold of his bag. "One. Two- he focused on the address. Three."

-

Hermione knew she was going to have to tell Harry and Ron that she'd been shot and that she was leaving for an indefinite period of time, but she didn't know how she was going to say it.

She was antsy all through her first classes with them and she knew she'd have to do it soon before her nerves got the better of her and she said the wrong thing. In her last class, toward the end of the hour, she pulled them aside.

"Ron, Harry, I have to tell you something."

Ron, who was still avoiding her pretended like he didn't hear her, but Harry said, "What is it, Hermione?"

"Something happened to me last night, something bad."

Ron immediately snapped out of his cold silence and said, "It's Malfoy isn't it? He tried something. I'll kill him."

"No. Ron." She said firmly. "I was shot."

"What?" Said her two friends together.

"Are you okay?" Breathed Ron.
"By a gun?" Said Harry perplexedly.

"I'm fine. And yes, by a gun." She assured them. She saw Ron relax slightly. "Madame Pomfrey fixed it up."

"Oh, good." Said Harry. She knew he was about to dive into the who's and why's but she cut him off before he could.

"I have to leave." She said simply. Silence. "Dumbledore wants me to go figure this out."

"What?"
"On your own?"
"Why?"

"I won't be on my own. Malfoy will be with me." She said quietly.

Ron looked murderous.

"But, Hermione-" Started Harry.

"Please." She said. "I know you want to talk about it, Harry. But I can't. I just wanted to tell you that I'll be gone for a little while. I'd tell you not to worry but it'd be a waste of breath." She smiled at him but Harry didn't smile back.

After a while he nodded. And that was it. Hermione looked at Ron for some sort of reaction but he just stood up and walked out of the room.

"I've got to go Harry. I'll see you tomorrow morning before I leave."

She gave him another smile, which he returned this time, and turned to leave. She walked quickly to the library and pulled as many books on muggle weapons from the shelves as she could find.

She spent the evening delving through them looking for something that could help her then went to bed early. The next morning she got into the shower almost as soon as she heard Malfoy get out. She packed up her things and went to the Great Hall.

On the way she met Ginny, who ran into her arms like a crazy person, in tears.

"Harry told me…oh Hermione!" She sobbed. "Be careful!"

"I will, Ginny." Hermione whispered reassuringly. "Take care of Harry and Ron while I'm gone."

The two girls hugged for a while then went to breakfast together.

Hermione saw Draco seated at the Staff Table with Dumbledore. He was ready to leave whenever she was. She sat down and began to eat. Not long after this, Ron and Harry walked in and sat down next to her.

"Well, I guess you'll be going soon." Said Harry.

"As soon as I'm finished eating." She replied, nodding. She really wanted to get on with it. She tried to smile as she got up to grab her bag again, but was half-assaulted by Ron as he threw his arms around her.

"Come back to me." He whispered before releasing her and walking out of the great hall. Hermione smiled and relaxed. Everything was going to be okay, she knew it. She smiled one last time then went to join Malfoy and Dumbledore.

-

When he arrived on Hermione's lawn, the first thing Draco felt was astonishment. He had expected to appear and find himself in front of a hovel in the same class as the shack the Weasley's had the boldness to call a house. Hermione's house was very large even by wizard standards. It was brown and tan in a Tudor style. The lawn was large and well taken care of. Roses surrounded the walk to the door. Draco thought gave off an air of wealth and class, against his will.

"Granger, what do your parents do for a living…" He mumbled, still in a sort of daze.

"They're Dentists." She said a little shortly.

Draco didn't know what a Dentist was but if he were a muggle and forced to make his own fortune, it was obvious that Dentistry would be his career of choice. Maybe staying here wouldn't be so bad after all…

"Alright Malfoy." She said shrewdly. "Let's get a few things straight."

Draco turned his head to her a little startled.

"You're in my house now, so you'll follow my parents' rules. You may not like this and you may not like them, but you will treat them with respect in their own home." She said authoritatively. "Is that clear?"

Draco rolled his eyes and began up the walk. "Honestly Granger, I'm not completely devoid of class."

Hermione snorted and moved past him, walking quickly to the door. She knocked a few times before opening the door and walking in. Draco stepped in behind her and closed the door softly. He set his bag down and looked around.

Not bad…

The foyer itself, aside from being lavishly decorated, was large enough to fit the whole of the Burrow in.

She has this and she spends her summers with Weasley? He though, bewildered.

It was nothing on the Malfoy Manor of course. But Draco felt comfortable here. Well, as comfortable as could considering his present company.

"Hermione!" Said a woman with thick brown hair as she came around a corner from the right. Her thick brown hair and defined jaw line gave her away as Hermione's mother. She took her daughter in her arms and held her. She whispered something in her ear that Draco couldn't hear. He imagined it had something to do with her being shot from the worried look in her eyes.

She let go of Hermione and turned to Draco with a smile on her face. Muggle though she was, Mrs. Granger exuded warmth and Draco couldn't help but smile back at her.

"And you must be Draco Malfoy." She said, keeping an arm around Hermione's shoulder.

"I am. It's very nice to meet you, Mrs. Granger." Said Draco politely, although distantly.

"You can call me Jane. And welcome to our home."

"Thank you. It's quite beautiful." He commented truthfully.

Jane Granger beamed at him. "Well," She said, clapping her hands once. "I wanted to be here when you got here. Your father had to leave early to the office today. He wanted to be here but he sends his love and says he'll see you tonight."

"Okay." Said Hermione cheerfully. "Are you leaving now?"

"Yes." Her mother replied. "I'm sorry dear. I'd love to stay but I can't. I trust the two of you can handle yourselves until we're home tonight. Just don't set anything on fire."

Mrs. Granger winked and Hermione chuckled. "I can't promise anything, mum."

Mrs. Granger laughed and hugged her daughter again quickly before grabbing a large leather bag off a mahogany table near the front door. "I made up the second guest room for Mr. Malfoy. You can show him to it whenever you're ready. I love you dear."

With that, her mother left and there was quiet again. Draco looked at Hermione, who was smiling.

Second guest room? How many did they have?

Draco, who had watched the whole scene aloofly, stared at her curiously. It was like he was seeing her for the first time. Hermione in her own home seemed somehow different. For once in his life, Draco felt out of place, for more than one reason.

"Your parents really love you." He said quietly. "Don't they?"

If Hermione though this was an odd question, she didn't show it. "Yes, they do." She looked around her foyer once more and smiled again before looking back at him. "Thank you, for being courteous to my mother."

Draco nodded once to show he'd heard her but didn't say anything. Granger thanking him was still an idea he was getting used to.

Something strange was happening. Much of the anger he usually felt had evaporated when he walked through the Grangers' door. He felt more at ease than he had in a long time. Still, best not to lead himself or Granger into a false sense of security.

"Granger. This doesn't change anything. I'll behave like the well bred individual that I am to your parents, but don't expect me to start being buddy-buddy with you."

"Don't worry Malfoy." She answered quickly. "I gave up expecting things from you a long time ago. I'll show you to your room."

That was harsh…

He followed he silently up the large wooden staircase that curved up to the left and open up into a long wide hallway with many closed doors. There were a lot of rooms for so few people. Still, there were not so many rooms as there could have been. Looking around the house, it seemed the Grangers had opted for quality more than quantity…interesting.

They passed several doors on both the right and left before Hermione stopped near the end of the hall.

"Right here." She said, motioning to a door on the left. She opened it up and Draco followed her in.

It was simple, but large. It was tastefully furnished, with a large bed against the opposite wall, a dresser, a walk in closet, and a nightstand. A mirror with a gold frame hung on a wall. Draco could handle this.

He set down his bag on the bed.

Hermione leaned against the doorframe and said, "Your bathroom is right across the hall. I'm going to go unpack and change. I'll let you do the same, then I'll show you where the kitchen is."

She turned and to walk down the hall. Draco followed her and stopped in the doorway. "Which one is yours?" He asked.

She pointed to a door on the other side of the hall then disappeared behind it.

For some reason he would have paid a lot of money to see Hermione's room.

It didn't take him long to unpack everything he had in his bad. He hung most of his clothes in the closet and stuck the rest in the dresser. He didn't need to change into anything else, so he put his other things in the bathroom Hermione had told him was for his use. Once again he wasn't disappointed.

He sauntered back into the guest room and lied down on the bed. He was very tired considering it was midmorning. This was all so strange. It was remarkable to him that he could feel so relaxed in this muggle home. In Hermione's home. A part of him had honestly thought there would be a real stench to her house, as though muggles would reek in their natural habitat. That was certainly what he father had always led him to believe. But then, Lucius Malfoy was not exactly what could be considered credible. And with that ironic thought in his head, Draco drifted off to sleep.

-

Only a short while later Hermione appeared in his doorway, intending to show him the rest of the house, or at least the parts he would be using for however long they were there. But when she saw him lying on the bed, she decided not to wake him. The obvious reason was that Draco Malfoy was much more tolerable while unconscious. But as she stood there watching him, she realized that Draco Malfoy looked peaceful. His breathing was deep and steady and he didn't even have a trace of his usual sneer.

She stood there watching him sleep until she realized what she was doing. She closed the door softly and walked down the hallway and back to her room. She had a lot to think about.

000

A/N- Okay, this chapter came a lot more easily than most of the other have. I apologize for writing most of the time from Draco's perspective. Honestly, I find him simply fascinating and I love writing from him. I have to remind myself to switch back to Hermione sometimes…lol

I'm sorry for skimming over the goodbyes between Hermione and her friends. This is a D/Hr story and I wanted to get on with it.

Thanks as always for the reviews and again, tell me what you think!

Amanda