Ok here it is, the next chapter, sorry it took so long but i got writers block halfway through it and was unsure of how to proceed with it.

This chapter also went through several name changes before i was happy with it, thoug i'm not too sure that i am totally happy with the chapter i figured that i had kept you all waiting long enough, i may come back and edit this chapter at a later date, most probably after i finish this story.

Usual disclaimer i don't own anything to do with the Harry Potter world, if i did Draco and Hermione would end up together!!!

Read and enjoy (i hope)

Chapter Eight: The Nightmares Begin

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Blaise and Theo both awoke to the scream reverberating around their room that night, each threw the curtains of their beds back and looked at each other,

"What was that?" Blaise asked, rubbing sleep out of his eyes,

"I don't know!" Theo replied, then they heard it again,

"That sounds like Draco!" Blaise stated as he jumped out of his bed and ran over to Draco's bed, Theo directly behind him. They threw back the curtains and saw Draco. He was thrashing about, every now and then he would shout out 'NO!' then continue with his thrashing, almost as if he were fighting something. Sweat covered his face and arms, and soaked the green t-shirt that he wore with his boxers. Blaise placed his hands on Draco's shoulders and shook the blonde roughly,

"Draco mate, wake up!"

"Look out!" Theo cried as Draco's arm swung towards Blaise. Blaise jumped back, just in time to avoid being hit with Draco's flying fist. Both boys looked at each other in confusion, then comprehension dawned,

"The Manticore!" Blaise stated. Moving together they both took hold of his arms and began to shake him, hoping to wake him up. Draco fought them off, thrashing wildly, almost viciously in his attempt to break free of their hold. Finally, panting, both boys gave up and watched, helpless, as Draco continued to fight his nightmare.

"Any suggestions?" Blaise asked,

"We need to get Snape, Lucius and Narcissa" Theo answered, Blaise nodded in agreement,

"Damn, I'm glad that there's a silencing spell on this dorm, otherwise, every Slytherin would be in here!"

"You stay here with him and I'll go grab Snape" Theo decided, then, without waiting for Blaise's reply, he threw on his robe and bolted out the door, being careful to close it behind him. What seemed like hours later, but was only five minutes, Theo returned with Snape and the Malfoy's.

"Draco!" Narcissa called as she moved to her son's bedside, "Draco, wake up honey!"

"Cissa duck!" Lucius called, Narcissa looked up and just managed to duck in time to avoid being kicked,

"Lucius, what do we do?" Narcissa asked as she moved back from the bed wringing her hands in worry. Lucius and Snape both approached the bed and tried to restrain Draco, at the same time as shake him awake. Draco fought furiously, screaming and thrashing for all he was worth,

"Cissa try to enervate him!" Lucius gasped as he struggled to wake his thrashing son,

"Enervate!" Narcissa cried, it didn't work, she tried several other spells, none of them worked either. Draco finally managed to throw what he thought were his attackers off, Snape landed on the floor and Lucius found himself sprawled over Draco's huge mahogany desk.

"What in Merlin's name is happening to him?" Lucius demanded as he straightened himself out,

"He's dreaming about being attacked by the Manticore" Blaise answered,

"Professor, would a dreamless sleep potion work on him?" Theo asked, Snape shook his head,

"He is no longer sleeping, his nightmare and fear have completely absorbed him, I don't know if there is any way to reach him until he snaps out of it on his own" Blaise and Theo looked at each other, both had the same thought,

"Hermione!" Snape spun around,

"Miss Granger?" Blaise nodded,

"He had an episode like this during care of magical creatures, the first, its probably what triggered his nightmare"

"And what does this have to do with Miss Granger?" Snape asked,

"She was able to bring him out of it"

"He's right, Hermione somehow managed to get him to focus on her voice, it brought him out of his panic" Lucius explained. Narcissa didn't say a word, instead she moved to the desk and wrote a quick note on a piece of parchment. Moving to the perch next to Draco's bed, she roused his black eagle owl and sent it off, instructing it that the note was urgent and to use any means necessary to wake Hermione up to deliver it.

Hermione woke to the sound of a sharp tapping at her window, glancing around she saw that it was till dark outside.

"What on earth?" the tapping was getting louder and more insistent. Opening the curtains around her bed she saw what looked to be a large owl shining in the moonlight, it had a note attached to its leg. Moving out of bed she approached the window and opened it, allowing the owl to enter.

"Who is your note for?" Hermione asked as she watched the bird fly around the room, finally it settled on her bedside table and held its leg out for her. Something in the owl's demeanor gave Hermione a sense of urgency and she quickly removed the note and unfolded it, reading the hasty scribble.

Hermione sorry for waking you, but an urgent situation has come up and we desperately need you in the Slytherin common room now! Please hurry! I will meet you that the entrance.

Narcissa

Hermione gasped and wrote a quick reply on the back of the parchment saying that she was on her way. After sending the owl off with her reply she quickly put her robe on over her sleep wear and exited her dorm room, thankful that both Pavarti and Lavender were sound sleepers. Silently she snuck out of Gryffindor tower and ran down the halls, heading for the dungeons. Narcissa was waiting for her as she reached the Slytherin House entrance,

"Narcissa what's going on?" Hermione asked as Narcissa opened the portrait and ushered Hermione inside,

"Draco had a nightmare about fighting the Manticore and now he's slipped into his fear, we can't snap him out of it, we thought that maybe you could help"

"I can try" Hermione replied, then gasped as they entered the 6th year boys dorm's and she saw Draco, "Oh dear Merlin" she whispered as she approached the bed. Snape and Lucius moved forwards and started to restrain him,

"Wait until we hold him still" Snape instructed,

"NO! No, don't touch him, he'll think that you're the Manticore and fight you harder, it will distract him from my voice" Hermione replied quickly, as she dodged arms and legs until she was beside the bed, she contemplated the situation for a moment before turning to the other people in the room,

"Miss Granger?" Snape enquired, seeing that her attention was on them and not his godson,

"Can you see if you can get his blankets off him, he needs nothing on him at the moment to make him feel like he's being restrained"

"Of course" Snape replied. He and Lucius moved to the bed and pulled the covers off the bed, dodging limbs as they went. As soon as the covers were off, Draco's thrashing slowed down somewhat, but didn't stop. Hermione knelt by the bed and placed her lips next to his ear.

"Draco" No response, "Draco, its Hermione" a hesitation in his thrashing indicated that he had heard her, "Draco, focus on my voice again, just like you did before. You did it once, this time should be easier, focus on my voice, on my words, listen to my tone" Draco's thrashing slowed then eventually stopped, but his entire body was shaking. Hermione took the opportunity to climb up onto the bed beside him.

"I'm going to take your hand, don't fight, its just me" she soothed as she took hold of his hand and intertwined their fingers. His hand became rigid, but then relaxed. Hermione squeezed it gently and felt him hesitantly squeeze in return.

Draco knew immediately that Hermione was there, he could feel her presence. He was too engrossed in his fear to wonder why he could feel her before she even spoke to him, but as soon as she did, the fear surrounding him eased a little. She was right, it was easier this time, probably because he knew that he had been fighting a phantom of his nightmares, instead of staring at the real thing. He heard her tell him that she was going to take his hand, then felt her delicate fingers intertwine with his. He stiffened, his fear clouding his mind for a moment before he forced himself to relax, she squeezed his hand gently and he responded. Draco listened to her voice as she talked to him, instructing him to focus once again on her and only her. The black cloud of fear parted slightly allowing him to concentrate solely on her. He refused to open his eyes, though he was finally able to speak through the lump clogging his throat.

"Hermione?" he whispered hoarsely, for the first time using her first name, Hermione looked down into his face, surprised when she heard her given name fall from his lips,

"Yes Draco?"

"The fear, its like a black cloud surrounding me, cutting me off from everything safe"

"Its ok, I'm here"

"I see it, as if it were happening again" he whispered

"What do you see? Tell me" Hermione asked. Draco's body started shaking violently, but he forced himself to tell her, hoping that she will be able to help him.

"I see it baring down on me, Potter shoving me out of the way and it pouncing on him instead. I get up and throw every spell I can think of at it, trying to distract it, finally it leaves Potter and charges at me, knocking me down. Its tail aims at my neck but I twist out of the way and it buries itself in the dirt next to my head" Draco paused to take a shuddering breath before continuing, "It pins me to the ground, I can feel its hot breath on my face, its haunting cries are echoing in my ears, I'm fighting to get it off me, and then there's nothing but pain as its claws slash into my side and legs, cutting through my skin like it were butter, there's blood everywhere, my blood and I try to push it off me but I'm getting weak, I can't fight it any more" Hermione lifted her pale face and looked over at the five others who are in the room. Narcissa had tears streaking down her face as she listened to her son recount what happened that day. Blaise and Theo looked like they were about to pass out and Lucius and Snape were speechless as they realized the horror that Draco had gone through. Hermione turned back to Draco as he started to thrash about again,

"Draco, its ok, you need to relax" she whispered soothingly,

"No I can't, I can smell its horrid breath as it moves in closer for the kill, its jaws are open, ready to rip out my throat" Hermione gripped Draco's hand tighter, leaning forwards she placed her lips close to his ear again,

"Draco, come on, focus on my voice, clear your mind of everything but my voice" Hermione whispered. Then it happened, as Hermione pulled back she accidentally breathed on his face. She pulled back sharply, knowing that that one mistake could set him off, she never anticipated the speed and violence of his reaction though. One moment he was thrashing about on the bed beside her, the next, he had reared up and pounced on her. Grabbing her other hand, he pinned her to the bed, his body was laying on top of hers, his hands held her's to the bed next to her head, and his face was flush with her own. Hermione's eyes widened and she blushed as she realized the compromising position she found herself in. 'Oh dear, this wasn't supposed to happen, what do I do now?' Hermione thought as she gulped.

"Draco open your eyes!" she called

"No! I can't! I don't want to see it!" Draco refused, shaking his head,

"Draco, its alright, open your eyes, trust me"

"NO!" Draco cried, then he went off in his ramblings again, Hermione couldn't quite catch what he was saying,

"Miss Granger" Hermione looked to the side and saw that Snape had approached the bed,

"Yes Professor?"

"We can't move him without there being a chance that you could get hurt. You must do something to shock him out of the state he's in! something that a Manticore would never do" Snape instructed,

"Like what?"

"Think! You are the smartest witch in your year, you must know something that you could do!" Snape replied, frustrated. Hermione thought for a moment, 'Something that I can do that a Manticore never would, what could that be?' Hermione glanced around and noticed how close Draco's face was to hers, 'Well its worth a try, it would definitely shock him! As well as everyone else in the room!' Hermione closed her eyes and gathered her courage, then, when Draco seemed to stop his mumbling for a moment, she lifted her head and pressed her lips to his. Hermione could hear the gasps from the five people surrounding the bed, but paid them no attention, instead she concentrated on kissing Draco well enough that it would shock him out of his fear. Finally, after a few moments, Draco's hands gentled their grasp and his lips started moving against hers, returning the kiss. Hermione kept the kiss going for a couple of minutes before she finally pulled back and lay her head back on the pillow.

"Draco, open your eyes" she whispered. Slowly, ever so slowly, Draco's eyes opened and she found herself staring up into his silver orbs. He focused on her for a moment, before his body started to tremble violently.

"Oh god!" he groaned as he collapsed on her and his arms wrapped themselves tightly around her body, "I could have hurt you!" Draco whispered brokenly into her neck as he continued to tremble. This time there were no sobs, yet he continued to hold her tight. Hermione lifted her arms from their position on the bed and slowly wrapped them around him, one rested on his back, while the other lifted to stroke his hair.

"Shh, its ok, its ok" she soothed. Though she was a bit shaken, and uncomfortable with the position that she was in, with his body pressed so tightly to hers. Hermione recognized his need for comfort, so continued to whisper reassuringly to him as her hands stroked his back and hair.

Lucius and Narcissa watched as Hermione gently comforted their son. They themselves were shocked at his reaction, they had heard his broken whisper about how he could have hurt her and wondered at the depth of the emotion in his voice as he said it. As far as they knew, Draco had no idea of his attraction to the muggleborn Gryffindor, and yet he found comfort and solace in her arms, when nothing else could help him. They had also noticed that Draco's hidden attraction seemed to be reciprocated by Hermione. Watching them now, they were struck by how striking a couple they made, Hermione's brunette colouring complimenting Draco's blonde.

Blaise and Theo had always thought that Draco and Hermione secretly fancied each other and that that was why they fought so much. Almost as if they were fighting against the attraction as well as each other. Now seeing them together they were shocked at how Draco had folded, it wasn't like him to be this worried about hurting anyone. Perhaps he had finally realized his attraction for the muggleborn Gryffindor. Draco had always been stubborn, never for one moment believing that he would succumb to the feelings of love and affection. Believing that it was below a Malfoy. Then his father had told him everything that had been kept hidden from him for sixteen years and Draco's world and beliefs had been totally thrown for a loop. Now it seemed that he was finally realizing the attraction that he felt for Hermione Granger and it was scaring him as much as the memory of the Manticore attack.

Professor Snape was another that was shocked at the transformation of his once cold and unfeeling godson. Now it seemed that his total outlook on life had been changed. Then again finding out that you actually have a set of loving parents could do that. Snape found that he wasn't as disgusted by the affection that Draco showed to the Gryffindor as he thought he would be. It was endearing in a soppy sort of way. He was surprised at Hermione's actions though. She seemed to reciprocate the affection that Draco was showing.

Draco knew that his parents, Snape, Blaise and Theo were watching him as he held Hermione, but for the moment he didn't care. He had been shocked to come out of his almost trance like state to find himself pinning Hermione to the bed. For the first few seconds he had felt numb, then the realization had hit him that he could have hurt her while she was trying to help him. That had terrified him beyond anything that he had felt before. Lying there on top of her, his body pressed tightly to her's, Draco was aware of the tingle of awareness that was running through his body that informed him of the fact that Hermione Granger had matured into a beautiful young woman. Now as he remembered her kiss he discovered that perhaps his hatred for her had been a front to cover a different set of feelings that he had for the Gryffindor Princess. To put it bluntly, when he had become aware of the kiss, he had felt instant attraction and so had returned it. Now his emotions were in turmoil, as he struggled to come to terms with his growing respect and attraction for the Muggleborn witch. Finally after nearly fifteen minutes, the thought entered his brain that he might be crushing her with his weight so he loosened his arms from around her and shifted his weight off her body and sprawled out on his side next to her on the bed. Closing his eyes he was surprised when he felt her small hand take his, offering continued comfort when he needed it the most.

"Draco?" Narcissa's voice tentatively asked,

"I'm okay, Mum" Draco answered, still keeping his eyes closed, he wasn't ready to face anyone yet. He felt Hermione squeeze his hand gently and returned the gesture. Eventually Draco clamed himself enough that he was able to open his eyes and face the people closest to him.

"Draco mate, you okay?" Blaise asked.

"Yeah Blaise I'm fine"

"You scared the living crap out of us! And you nearly gave me a black eye! Man you have one hell of a swing!" Blaise commented. Draco smiled at him in appreciation, knowing that Blaise was trying to lighten the mood somewhat.

"I'll say, you sent Lucius and Professor Snape flying!" Theo added with a grin, remembering Snape's undignified landing on the floor. Draco smirked slightly then turned his head when he felt the bed shift. Hermione had moved to her side and was watching him intently.

"It seems that you are always saving me. I though that it was traditionally the guy who was supposed to save the girl, not the other way around"

"Who said that I was the traditional type?" Hermione asked. Draco smiled slightly and shook his head, then his face became serious and he sighed heavily,

"I'm going to have to face this aren't I?" Hermione nodded gently,

"Yes, you are, otherwise this fear will dominate your life" Draco groaned,

"I knew that you were going to say that"

"Miss Granger is right, if you do not face it now, it will manifest into something larger and will control your entire life" Snape commented.

"We'll help you through it mate" Blaise added, when he saw Draco pale.

"Alright, so anyone got any ideas as to how I'm going to do this?" Draco asked. For the next hour the seven of them brainstormed with ideas until finally they had come up with a guide of what to do, Draco would start to face his fears the following morning.

Ok so there it is, Draco and Hermione's first kiss!!! anyway there will be better ones coming up in future chapters as well as some more funny adventures with the Marauders and other characters. Please Read and Review, though No flames please!!

Also for the purpose of this story( and i know that this is not correct but this is for MY story only), in the wizarding world only those of the same blood type can give and recieve transfusions, so if Draco is AB+ then that means that he can only recieve blood from another with AB+... I have been getting quite a few reviews about this whole blood issue and i picked this blood type for a reason that will be revealed towards the end of this story so bare with it if you want to find out why!! teehee!!!