Chapter 4

" You know, I'm not the only one responsible for the patrolling. You are the head boy, you can't be drunk every night." Hermione grated out.

Draco's apathetic attitude was getting on her nerves. It had been a week since the school had opened, but Malfoy kept avoiding his duties every night.

Draco was seated at his desk in the common room doing his homework. He gave her an indifferent look.

" Why Granger missing me?" He asked with a grin.

" Huh as if. Look I want you to come to patrols today." She answered with a snort.

He looked at her for some time.

" Ok, I'll do it alone no need for you to come." He answered and turned back to his work. After completing his last paragraph, he left the common room.

Hermione watched his retreating back. She could not understand why Malfoy was giving her a hot and cold treatment. She still couldn't figure out what he that night. She shook her head in confusion and turned and went to her desk to start her Arithmancy Homework.

Draco was patrolling for almost an hour, the corridors were fairly empty. When he reached the library, He stopped there were too many memories in their he did not want to approach, but his feet carried him their on his own accord. His feet carried him to the farthest isolated corner of the restricted section near the window, there that was their personal haven.

" Dracoooo. Let me finish my homework." Whined Granger as she tried to concentrate in her transfiguration essay.

Draco had other plans, his hand was on her bare thigh, and it was creeping up towards the center, where he knew was his personal haven and hell. His finger touched the satin coverd treasure. He stroked it lightly, earning a gasp from Hermione.

" What did I do? Go ahead finish your homework. " He said giving her a mischievous grin.

" You know I c... oooohhh. Nghhh Draaacoooo.Pleeeease." She moaned closing her eyes as her head, fell back and she let out a gasp.

Draco took advantage of her lost concentration and swooped in to place his lips on hers, kissing her with intensity that had them both burning. He invaded her mouth with his tounge, exploring every inch of her mouth.

" Hmmmmm," moaned Hermione as she collided her tounge with his it was a battle of domination.

Draco pulled her on to his lap, without letting her lips go.

Draco stumbled back from the memory. Gasping for air he turned back to escape the library as fast as he could. He came to the farthest alcove from the library and stood with his forehead to the wall. With a shaking hand he took out his flask from his robes, and took a large gulp of his firewhisky, trying to calm himself.

Hermione at last finished her homework and looked at the grandfather clock in the corner of the common room. It was almost past curfew, Draco wasn't back. She was feeling worried, she didn't know why? It was not as if they were close but, then why was she worried about his newly developed drinking habit? what could be so bad that he seemed to be drowning in dispare

She couldn't find an answer. She looked at the clock again and saw it was 12, she gave up and retired to bed.

Around 12:30 Draco came back after his patrol. He was greeted with a piercing cry from, Hermione's room. He looked towards her room with a jerk, it was followed by another one.

" Mia..." He whispered and ran up to Hermione's room.

He banged opened the door to find Hermione crying in her sleep.

He ran to her, and cupped her face in his hands.

"Shhh Princess, it's OK I'm here nothing will happen no one's gonna harm you. Wake up... come on. " He cooed to her trying to calm her down.

He had a faint idea what she would be dreaming.

Hermione started to stir.

" That's a good girl come on." He said ,

He moved away and stood by her bed as she sat up slowly. Handed her the glass of water on her night stand.

" M...Malfoy... what are you doing here?" She asked a bit confused.

" Your screams will wake up the dead Princess. Keep it down." He answered, trying to put on his coldest voice.

He went to the bathroom room opened the cabinet above the sink, bringing out a dreamless sleeping potion, he handed it to her. Then without a word he left her room.

Hermione stared at his retreating back. In his room he closed the door and slumped against it.

" I'm sorry Mia. I wish I could stay back and comfort you. But it is imperative I stay away." He whispered as tears rolled down his eyes.

"I don't know how long I'll be able to go on." He whispered to himself.

The extra morning Hermione was up as early as possible and was ready before Malfoy was up, she ran down the stairs, her bag slung on one shoulder about to run towards the portrait hole, she collided with a hard chest. She looked up to find herself staring at a pir of grey stormy eyes.

" M...Malfoy. " She stammered pushing her self away from him.

" Good morning. " She greeted him.

" Good morning. " He answered still staring at her with great intensity.

" Th... Thank you for coming to help me yesterday." She thanked him.

"Couldn't be helped, you were screaming to wake the dead. I had to stop you." He answered witha cold look.

" I'm sorry, I'll make sure you are not disturbed today." She answered.

She skirted around him and left. Her words scared her, what if she had a dream and he wasn't there to help. But then silence charm would be better as he had to stay away.

Hermione reached the dinner hall to find Ginny waiting at the doorway for her.

" What's up Ginny?" She asked

" Just listen to me with an open mind. Tommrow is our Hogwarts week end, Ron wants to ask you out." She said.

Hermione wanted to interupt, but Ginny stopped her.

" Look just this once, Tommrow is Lavender's birthday. He has been really down since he lost her. Give him your company if not like a girlfriend then as a friend." She pleaded.

Hermione looked away for sometime, then nodded.

At breakfast everything was normal, she sat next to Harry on 9ne side and Neville on the other. Her eyes kept straying to the Slytherin table. Malfoy sat with his friends, suddenly he looked up and met her eyes. His eyes were unreadable.

As Hermione left the great hall, Ron stopped her,

" Hey Mione, listen up." He called.

Hermione closed her eyes then braced herself. Then she turned around.

" Yes Ronald." She asked with a smile.

" Listen, tommrow is our first Hogsmead weekend. Wanna come with me... like ... a... a date."

" Ok. But as a friend." She said.

" Look Ron I love you but as a friend. I can't give you an empty heart. An incomplete heart." She answered.

" What do you mean?" Ron asked with confusion.

" It's just that. I feel like I have to be with someone or somewhere, but I can't understand where?" She said.

" So if you agree I'll go with, you to Hogsmead tommrow." She answered with a smile.

Blaise Zabini had just left the great hall to go for his potions class, when he saw Weasley and Granger talking, as he passed them he heard Granger agree to go with Weasley to Hogsmead. He stopped and looked at her, she really remembered nothing. Something hurt inside him. His friend was hurting. He had to do something, did he know.

That day passed slow, at lunch time in the great hall, Blaise sat with Draco and Theo he looked at the Griffindor table, saw Ron pull Granger close to him by her shoulder anc whispered something into her ears, and she blushed. Before he could stop Draco he looked up.

Draco looked at the Griffindor table to find Hermione blushing at something that Weasel had said as they all laughed. He couldn't are it anymore got up from the table abruptly and left the great hallbefore any one could stop him. He ran to the black lake and stopped at the edge of it, panting. He was shaking,

" N...No My Mia... No No No." He shouted into the empty afternoon.

He fell to his knees crying.

Hi everyone

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Love Ipsita