A/N: Hello! Yes, it's me again. I am sorry for the wait but I hope this chapter makes up for it. Also I would like to thank Pokey314 and LullabyTales for those lovely reviews. This chapter was actually gonna be quite different but then I got carried away and I could not resist putting in a dream based on a memory. So, the dream is in bold italics.

Disclaimer: Not Mine.

Enjoy!

Thank You

Hermione picked up the book she was reading before her boyfriend and her two best friends had arrived. She started reading it again.

Draco had left a couple of minutes ago and it had been a normal day so far except for Wadden's strange behaviour. He needs to take a break. – She thought.

Madam Pomfrey came in after sometime. "Do you feel alright, Hermione? You look a bit flushed." – She asked.

"I am okay, ma'am." – Hermione replied.

"You are still quite weak, so do not exert yourself too much. Okay? I suggest you take a nap for now." – Pomfrey said, pulling the book.

"Okay." – She closed her eyes, laying still.

The mediwitch smiled inwardly and exited the room, pulling the curtains on her way out.

It was almost 4 o'clock when Draco arrived at the Manor. His meeting with the French minister had been very long and very exhausting.

As soon as he entered through the gates, he saw his mother pruning the rose bushes in the expansive garden. Rose – her favourite flower. Draco chose not to interrupt her and so, went directly into the house.

He bounded up the stairs and into his room. He had a shower and then, changed into more casual clothes. The sun was not very low on the horizon, so he decided to go for a walk. Smiling inwardly, he strode out towards the lake.

That spot reminded him of a similar spot near the Great Lake in Hogwarts. Quiet, peaceful, secluded. No Hogwarts student ever came to that place except Hermione. And Draco, himself. He vividly remembered the first time he had gone there.

It was in the Third year. Draco was desperately looking for a place to hide from Pansy Parkinson. And this spot near the Lake was perfect since no one ever came there. Or so he thought. He was surprised to see a brunette sitting underneath a tree, hugging her knees with her arms. It was no ordinary brunette – it was Hermione Granger.

Draco came up slowly from behind. "Oh! Look who's here?" – He drawled out.

"Go away, Malfoy." – She said, slowly turning to face him. Her eyes were red, her hair was a mess and her face was flushed. She had definitely been crying.

"What happened?" – He asked, all of his pretence gone.

Apparently, Hermione did not notice the change in his tone for she shouted at him. "You git! You happened!"

Was she crying because of him? Did he make her cry very often? Yes, he did taunt her a lot but he had to do something to keep up his reputation, right? And besides, he never thought that Hermione Granger would break down over such petty things.

He suddenly felt very guilty.

"What did I do, Granger?" – He asked softly, moving closer.

"What did you do?!" – She shrieked. "You self-righteous git! You know it's your fault! You know that you should not have insulted the Hippogriff! Yet you did and then you have the guts to complain to your Father?!"

Hermione stopped to take a breath and then continued.

"Poor Buckbeak is going to be executed and that too for attacking an idiot who totally deserved it!"

Draco now looked very ashamed and guilty. He knew that she was right. "Look Granger. Yes, I did tell Father about that Hippogriff attacking me. And yes, I gladly left out the part about me not respecting it. But I did not know that it would evolve into something this serious."

"Yeah, right." – She scoffed, wiping her tears away.

"No, seriously. I thought that they would just send it away like that baby Dragon in our Second Year. I really did not know it was going to be executed."

"Go away, Malfoy. Atleast let me cry in peace. Or are we, mudbloods not even allowed to do that?"

Oh Merlin, her words hurt him. Why? Draco had no freaking idea. I mean, he did not care about her, right? Or did he? Oh shit, he was so screwed.

Then he did something that no one thought he would ever do – he apologized.

"I am sorry, Granger."

Hermione slowly turned towards him, shock evident on her face. "Did you just say that you're sorry?"

Draco nodded uncomfortably. He was not used to apologizing and definitely not to Hermione Granger.

"Draco 'freaking' Malfoy just said sorry to me? To Hermione 'mudblood' Granger?!" – She shouted, hysterically.

"Don't call yourself a mudblood." – He said.

"Well, you call me that." – She said, tartly.

"And I don't mean it." – He replied, looking away.

"What?!" - She looked at him, disbelief obvious on her face.

"I am starting to think that you have some hearing disability, Granger. I did not mean it when I called you that. I just have to say it. Or else my Father will hear about it." – He sighed. – "Do not tell anyone but I don't like calling you that."

"Really? So, do you also tease me just to keep up that facade?" – She asked, wiping her tears.

"Oh no. I like the 'not-so-mean' teasing part." – He replied, smirking.

"Slytherins." – She rolled her eyes.

Yeah, Draco could let her tease him if it would prevent her from crying.

He smiled at that thought. He did not smirk. He smiled. Another first for him. Oh Salazar, what the hell was happening to him?

Suddenly, there was a high-pitched scream. "DRACO!"

"Merlin's beard! This woman will not let me be in peace! Don't tell her that I am here, Granger." – Draco said, clambering up the tree.

"But..." – Hermione could not complete her sentence because Pansy came storming up to her.

"Where is Draco?!" – She demanded.

"Why should I tell you?" – Hermione decided to rile her up.

"He was right here! Crabbe and Goyle saw him talking to you. Tell me where he is!" – Pansy shouted.

"Those fools need to get better eyes then." – Hermione crossed her arms.

Pansy huffed and turned around to go but Hermione was not quite done with her.

"Did you 'boyfriend' run off because he could not stand you? But no one can, so who is to blame him." - She jeered, putting emphasis on the 'boyfriend'.

In an instant, Pansy was at Hermione's throat, but Hermione was quick as well – her wand already pointed at Pansy.

"Try something funny and you will deeply regret it, Parkinson." – She smirked.

Seeing no way out, Pansy Parkinson stormed off into the castle, screaming.

Draco was watching the exchange with awe. Hermione looked so fierce and so damned beautiful at the same time. Just like a lioness. And that smirk... He could kill for that smirk! Oh Merlin, help him. There was no denying anymore. He could not lie to himself. He liked her. A lot.

"You can come down, you know." – She called out, breaking him out of the trance.

"That. Was. Incredible." – He said, coming down the tree. "I have never seen anyone shut Pansy up that way."

Hermione smiled at that. Then, she looked at him curiously.

"Why are you hiding from her anyway? Aren't you two dating?"

"What?!" – Draco shouted, horrified. "Who told you that?!"

"Well that's what everyone says."

"Listen, Granger. That is not true. Anyway, it doesn't seem like 'you' believe it." – He smirked.

"Umm. Yeah. Well, you don't seem to be enjoying Parkinson's company at any time. And I see how you avoid her cuddles and ... um... kisses." – Hermione said, blushing.

"You observe me?" – Draco asked, genuinely curious. "Why?"

"I don't know."

"That is unheard of. 'The' Hermione Granger does not know something!"

Hermione narrowed her eyes and hit the back of his head with her hand.

"Ouch, woman! I bruise easily!" – Draco shouted, causing Hermione to burst into peals of laughter.

He felt a bit warm inside. He had made her laugh. He 'could' make her laugh.

It was starting to get dark, and both of them knew that they had to head back into the Great Hall for dinner.

"You know, I really am sorry about that Buckbeak thing." – He said, getting up and brushing dirt off his robes.

Hermione nodded.

"Also, thank you, Hermione." – He said suddenly, stretching his arms out to offer a hug.

"It's okay, um... Draco." – She managed, shock evident at hearing him use her first name. And then, she hugged him.

And that felt right. It felt perfect. Like he was an incomplete puzzle and she was the missing piece. Like he was the lock and she was the key. 'His' key.

And when she pulled away, he let go. Very reluctantly. Then, he started to move towards the castle. Turning back one last time, he smiled and said, "You are not that bad without those sidekicks, Hermione."

"They are my Best ..."

POP!

Draco woke up with a start. Had he fallen asleep? Getting up, he saw Felsh looking at him with narrowed eyes. "Young Master has to go inside now. Felsh has come to take Master inside. Mistress has asked Young Master to come for Dinner." – The elf chanted.

"Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I'm going." – Draco chuckled, looking at the tiny creature in front of him.

His mother was waiting for him when he got inside. They had a sumptuous dinner and then, he retired for the night. His room was lit only by the moonlight streaming in from the glass door leading to his balcony. He liked it better this way. Natural lighting. Draco lied down on his bed and closed his eyes, still thinking about that meeting near the Lake. 'Their' meeting.

"Yeah, Hermione. You might have thought that I was thanking you that day for not letting Pansy get me. But I was thanking you for many other reasons. I was thanking you for looking at me differently, for believing me. I was thanking you for letting me lessen your pain. I was thanking you for making me realise that... that I love you. Even now, I thank you. Thank you for letting me love you. And most importantly, thank you for loving me, Hermione." – He whispered, falling asleep.

Hermione ate her dinner which the Hogwarts' elves brought for her. Of course she did not like making these poor creatures labour for her, but she could not really do anything for them, could she? And besides, it seemed that they really wanted to serve people. Only yesterday, an elf had shrieked and apparated immediately when Hermione had asked her if the he preferred freedom. Hermione cringed at the memory.

Setting the tray aside, she got up and walked to the window sill. She turned off the lights and sat on the sill. Moonlight was pouring into her small room, making everything look gray. Almost silver. The hue reminded her of Draco's eyes. Oh, she really did love him.

"Thank you for letting me love you. And thank you for loving me, Draco." – She breathed, not knowing that back in the Malfoy Manor, Draco was thanking her for similar reasons.

An elf came to collect the food tray and then left very quietly as usual. Then, Madam Pomfrey peeped in and asked her to sleep after drinking a Dreamless Sleep Draught. Hermione smiled and got into bed, grabbing a small vial of the potion. She quickly drank it and then laid down, waiting for sleep to engulf her.

But after sometime, Hermione felt quite uneasy. Her body was heating up and it was becoming sweaty. She threw open the window to let in the cool breeze. But still she did not get any relief. It was as if the heat was growing inside of her. She decided to wake Madam Pomfrey up and tell her about it. But she could only manage a few steps and she had not even exited the room when a wave of dizziness hit her and she collapsed.

A/N: So? Liked it? Hated it? I know the dream was very long but I could not help it. And yes, I know - a cliffhanger. Haha. Review review!

Also, I could not stop myself from writing the replies to the reviews. So, there you have it .

Pokey314 : Oh Thank you so much for the very encouraging review. It just made my day. Glad that you liked my plot. Do continue reading and feel free to review. Thanks once again!

LullabyTales : You have reviewed four times! Thank you so much for taking sometime to do so. Also, you nearly guessed what happens next. I won't give away too much but you are half-correct! Read on!