There will be a lot of author's notes at the end, until then, just bare with me.

Disclaimer: Obviously there is always a danger that someone will accuse me of stealing Jo's story, but at the moment I'm more worried about the death threats I will inevitably be bombarded with very shortly.

000

Draco walked quickly back into the restaurant, putting his customary aloof façade on as best he could. He'd just come completely undone, but nobody would know. He looked at Hermione and saw that she had done the same thing. Good. Nobody had to know, ever.

He couldn't believe what had just happened. It was like something had taken control of him. He'd been unable to stop himself. The command over his emotions and actions he normally possessed had abandoned him when he'd needed it the most.

As astounded as he was that he'd almost taken Hermione Granger up against a wall, he was more astounded that she'd let him. She hadn't pushed him away. The moment he'd touched her she lost control of herself. Why?

It was all physical, he knew that. She hated him and he felt the same way, most of the time.

It was that damned dress!

Anyone would have wanted her in that dress. So he was attracted to her, it didn't mean anything. They'd lost their heads for a moment but that's all it was.

But she tasted so good…

Still, it didn't matter. He'd taken what he wanted and now it was over. It was better this way. If he'd done it, if he'd actually had sex with her, things would be much more difficult. But he hadn't. He'd evaded a potentially deadly situation.

He sat down at the table across from Hermione, who was now speaking normally to her mother. He stared at his hands fixedly. Hermione was nothing special. She was just a mudblood made up to be beautiful for one night.

But then Draco did something stupid. He looked up at Hermione and for one moment and remembered her with no makeup and no dress. A vision of her sitting on her bed and smiling flashed into his mind, and all the talking he'd just done to himself was undone.

He felt physically sick as he looked away again quickly. He could hear Hermione conversing lightly with her mother but it was muddled. He wasn't listening. She stood up and he didn't notice. Not until her father's hand rested on his shoulder did he realize that they were leaving.

He got up quickly and followed the Grangers to the curb. What seemed only a moment later the valet pulled the car up and Draco absently slid into his seat. He kept himself from looking at Hermione out of sheer will. He was in deep shit, and he knew it. But no one else had to.

-

Hermione's mind was racing, but years of resolve in the face of conflict had taught her how to appear in control. As she sat down in the car she stared ahead blankly.

She was terrified of what had just happened, but it had also made things easier. Malfoy hated her and openly admitted it, but he hadn't hesitated to take advantage of her in her moment of weakness.

She'd begged him to stop pretending, to leave her alone. But he'd used her. She didn't think she could ever forgive him of that. She hardened herself in that moment. She forced herself to remember every time he'd called her a mudblood, every sneer he'd ever given her, and how much she detested him. She made a conscious decision to close herself off from his influence.

And with that he was gone.

She had a job to do. He was here because he had to be. And she would never, never let him take advantage of her again.

A tiredness filled her like she hadn't felt in her whole life and she leaned against the window, overcome. She closed her eyes and let everything fall away until she was left in quiet slumber.

-

Draco wondered if Hermione was going through the torment he was suffering. He felt like something had wrecked him. It was as though there was something inside him tearing him apart and the harder he tried to fight it the more demolishing it became.

Finally his will crumbled and he turned his head to look at Hermione. He needed to look into her eyes and know what was there. But he couldn't look into her eyes. They were closed, and she was sleeping. He wondered if she was feigning sleep to avoid him, but he could hear her. Her breathing was deep and even and her face was tranquil. She wasn't pretending.How could she sleep? After what had just happened, how could she find enough peace to let go of consciousness? Draco doubted he'd be able to sleep for years to come.

He knew he shouldn't have, but he let himself watch her.

And then he heard it, that song again. The one she'd been listening to in her room. Hermione's parents were chatting over the radio but through the speaker behind him he could hear every word clearly. He hadn't paid close attention to the lyrics the first time, but now he clung to every word because they were hers.

'And I wonder this, could tomorrow be so wondrous as you there sleeping?'

He heard the words as she breathed deeply and a strand of hair fell over her eye. Draco swallowed hard, then forced himself to look away. For the remainder of the journey he looked out the window and watched the lights pass. He leaned his temple lightly against the glass and closed his eyes.

'Am I right side up or upside down?'

-

When they pulled into the Grangers' driveway ten minutes later Draco felt slightly numb. He reached over tentatively to shake Hermione awake.

"Are we home?" She mumbled sleepily.

The question was apparently rhetorical, since she immediately sat up and opened her door. Draco got out of the car and walked in the doors to the house behind Hermione and her parents.

"Well," Her father said, turning to both Hermione and Draco. "Shall we get to business?" He wanted to talk about what they'd come to figure out in the first place.

Hermione shook her head in reply. "Not tonight, Dad. It's been a long day. I'm really tired. Can we do this tomorrow?"

"Of course. If you're sure you'd rather wait." He said.

Draco watched the scene mutely, wondering why Hermione wanted to put off discussing her attack.

"I am sure. I need sleep." She said, smiling simply at her father. "Thanks for dinner though. You were right, it was fun."

And with that she turned and began to walk toward the staircase. Draco knew if Hermione was going to bed there was no point in staying up. He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep, but he'd be glad to be alone.

He gave a gracious nod to Hermione's parents and followed her. Hermione looked over her shoulder and said, "goodnight," before turning back to walk up the stairs.

Draco was right in her line of sight but she looked right passed him, as though he were invisible. She really did look tired.

He walked up the stairs behind her quietly, only a few feet from her. It was clear that she had no intention of acknowledging him at all, but Draco couldn't let that happen. When she reached her door and open it Draco spoke quickly.

"Granger, wait." He expected her to ignore him and keep walking, but she didn't. She turned swiftly to meet him. There was a coldness in her eyes that he'd never seen before, not even when she'd hit him in their third year. It was pure loathing. It terrified him, but Draco stared hard into the cold, wanting to understand.

As he looked at her he felt ripped apart and he just wanted to quiet the storm. Instinctively he took a step toward her. But no sooner than he'd moved her voice came like a knife, piercing him to the core.

"No." She said in a quiet, icy tone. "No. Don't ever touch me again."

She gave him one final ice-filled glare then walked into her room. She closed her door softly but she might as well have slammed in his face for the way it struck him. He would have preferred she screamed and stormed at him to the icy fury in her voice.

He stood in the hall in total shock for a long time before walking to the guest room and closing the door behind him. What he done that was so terrible, that would cause that kind of hate?

Sure, he'd kissed her, but she'd kissed him back. Hadn't she?

He sank back onto the bed fully clothed and put his head into his hands. It was his fault and he knew it. It was like an anvil on his chest. He'd slipped up. He'd let himself feel. He'd been warned long ago only he could save himself, yet he'd let it happen. And now it was too late, the damage was done.

And he knew it more clearly than ever as he sat there with his head buried in his hands. As much as he wanted for it not to be true, he knew it when he looked at her. He couldn't deny it any more than he could turn the night to day. He was in love with Hermione Granger.

But as surely as he knew that, he knew with equal certainty that it didn't matter. He was resigned to the worst, to whatever it brought him. But he knew that it would never mean anything. She would never feel anything for him but the loathing he'd seen in her eyes and heard in her voice.

But if that was the way it was going to be, so be it. She could hate him; he could live with that. He was a Malfoy, and nothing could break him.

And with that, a strange calm swept over him and he fell back into a deep sleep, where he dreamt of Hermione and the song that was hers.

000

Okay, so I know that many of you are hating me right now, or thinking of turning your back on this story, but I swear, Draco and Hermione are meant to be together. None of us can deny it and I wouldn't dream of ending a fic any other way. Just keep that in mind, and that this story is far from over. I will deliver.

To anyone who read the last chapter and was offended or grossed out by the scene at the end, this fic is rated M for a reason and has been since the beginning. What did you expect? lol
If that bothered you, I can tell you that wasn't the last of it. Again, this story is far from over. ;)

Thanks for all the kind reviews and to Pantheras Rebellion- I have read 'A World Apart.' It's one of my favorites, it's the one that got me truly hooked on D/Hr. So yours was quite a compliment! Thank you very much.

As for my choice of songs, aside from the fact that I love Crush with a passion, it just fit like nothing else could. Whether you like it or not, it really is perfect in my opinion.

Everyone, if you haven't read Pansy's Volcano, do so immediately.

The Dragon's Bride. Those two fics can be found on Coloured Grey. FF won't let me link directly, so google Coloured Grey and read them.

The Ends of the Earth and A World Apart are both fantastic and can be found here on FF. Check them out.

Those are my fic recs for now, enjoy!