Hey there all,
sorry it had been a while since I have written but here is another chappy for you to read. Please be the star that I know you can be and leave a review at the end!

Thanks a bunch.

Now…where was I!

Draco paced in the heads common room. He wasn't sure what the time was, but by the lack of light coming through the windows he could guess it was late.

There was something wrong. He couldn't put his finger on what exactly it was but he knew there was something a miss. Growling he picked up a cushion and threw it into the fire. Watching as it caught a light, hissed and burned.

"Now what had that cushion ever done to you?" a familiar voice asked from behind him.

He turned to find Hermione standing at the bottom of her stairs. Seeing her there did nothing to cool his anger but knowing that she was not getting sleep either helped.

"Nothing, it was just there." He snapped and turned to look at the remains burning on.

Hermione walked over to the bookcase and started to scan the titles.

"Of course. That's how you pick most things…it's it Malfoy. You picked me to taunt because I was there. You picked Neville because he was there. Ron, Harry…Gryffindors." She picked and book and turned to look at his tense back. "And Pansy."

Draco spun around to look at the little-know-it-all, but he paused and bit his tongue. She was not so little. If anything she had shown that she could deal with a lot and come out strong. Just last night she had found out she had 'the gift' and here she stood today, as strong as ever. And Merlin did it piss him off!

But there was another reason he did not fight with her. Things were already a mess inside his head. A black cloud grew and he had no idea if it was going to rain or pour. Getting into a fight now was not a wise idea.

"What? Got nothing to say Malfoy? No sharp come back, one that's meant to bring me to my knees?" she smirked at him. Not a good look for the witch.

He turned away from her and stood looking into the fire again. It was only then that he connected the fact that she was awake to the fact that she could not sleep.

"Why are you up?" he asked her, not turning to look at her.

There was a pause. Silence rang out through out the room. Not even there own breathing could be heard.

Hermione stood looking down at the book in her hands. She would not be able to tell you what it was called or who wrote it. She had scanned the tittles before picking this one but she had no idea what it was, nor did she care. She had been having fun teasing Malfoy. It had given her a rest from the feeling of doom hanging over her.

Doom…it was such a strange word. So vague and yet you knew it was bad. It was not like a table. You could point at a table and know that it was a table. Doom was different. It was a thing…a thing that had no form but drowned you all the same. It was just…there.

"I couldn't sleep." She finally whispered.

The time for joking had passed. There was something going on and he clearly felt it too. But it was so hard to talk to him. So hard to share these new feelings and sensations with someone that had done nothing but made her life a living hell.

He turned to look at her. She hadn't looked up from her book but she knew he had turned. Little things like that scared the hell out of her. He could be on the other side of the world and she was sure she would be aware of every step he took.

"Why have you not been to see Dumbledore?" he asked quietly.

Anger surged through her veins but she had no idea why. It was a good question, why had she not been to see Dumbledore? She had seen something that he needed to know about and yet…and yet she was reluctant to go to the man that had kept 'the gift' a secret from her. It was a part of herself that he had known about and he had said nothing. Not one word in all those times he had seen her.

A knock on the portrait brought her out of her thoughts and her head up.

If that's potter or weasel I will hit them.

Hermione was still not sure how to talk back to him without shouting, so she said nothing. Besides if it was Harry or Ron she might hit them. This was not the time for them to come barging in being big brothers or scored lovers. Not that they were either.

Malfoy flung the portrait open and came face to face with Pansy.

"Honey bunch, you changed the password." She pouted.

"Sweet Merlin, does she ever leave your side for five frickin' minutes!" Hermione said out loud before she could stop herself.

Both Malfoy and Pansy turned to look at her. One with slight smirk the other with a look of pure hatred.

"I came now because I thought you would be alone." Pansy looked up at Malfoy then scowled across at Hermione. "I didn't realise that the piece of filth would be up."

Malfoy said nothing but let Pansy into the room and shut the portrait.

So it's okay for Pansy to come here but if it had been Harry and Ron then they would have been punched. Hermione conveniently forgot that she would have been tempted to hit her friends. But why had Hermione thought that it would been any different. Pansy was his play thing. A shag here and a shag there. What did it matter to him? It didn't and that was the point. It didn't matter how much she lusted after him, how much she thought about there dance or the kiss on the train. He was happy with his play thing and wanted nothing more.

Hermione would you shut up I can't think!

Hermione felt her cheeks burn red.

"Aww, look honey bunch, I have hurt her feelings!" Pansy squealed with delight.

"Shut up Pansy. You don't even know what you are talking about." Hermione snapped right back.

The Slytherin took a couple of steps closer to Hermione.

"I know that you should not be here. That I should be here with Draco."

Hermione burst into laughter.

"Are you telling me that you thought you would be head girl…over me!" Hermione bent over and laughed harder. "I think that is the funniest thing I have heard in my whole life."

The Gryffindor witch had no idea what was going on. She felt so unlike herself. First she had made fun of Malfoy and now she was laughing in Pansy's face. It must be doom. That thing that was never had a form but that she was drowning in.

The dark haired witch flew across the room and had slapped Hermione before she had any idea what was going to happen next.

Yes the slap had hurt like hell but that was not what had caused the brunette to gasp. No that was the over whelming anger that flowed through her body. Under the anger there was hurt…so much hurt…and fear. Fear of true words, fear of never being good enough. Hurt at never getting asked and looked after. Anger at having been bettered by a lower level blood, anger at having to fight to survive.

Pansy stood, panting hard, in front of Hermione. The dark haired girl was ready for a return attack but got none. The other witch was too swamped by feelings that she was beginning to realise were not her own but the Slytherin's.

To afraid that she might feel it again she fled to her room. Not looking back at either Pansy or Malfoy.

By the next morning Hermione Granger had calmed. The feelings that had lasted mere seconds still haunted her, but she knew what they were now, that calmed her. For there was really only one thing in life to fear and that was the unknown.

Besides this part of her gift could be fun. She could sense other people's feelings. Granted she had to have some kind of skin on skin contact for it to work, but it would be fun. Well that's what she told herself after last nights shock.

Sneaking out of the common room without bumping into Malfoy had been surprisingly easy. She could sense that he was awake but he had not come to wind her up or ask her what the fuck last night was about.

Sitting down at the Gryffindor table she waited for the others to arrive. It did not take them long. Half way through the meal Neville laughed at something Luna had said. Reaching out Hermione touched his hand. Happiness filled her, making her smile. But there was something else. But what was it…

Attraction. That's what it was. Quickly removing her hand she looked over at Neville and Luna. How could she have missed it before?

Smiling for a different reason she carried on eating. Ron said something that sent his sister off into a furious rant. Hermione reached out again and 'accidentally' brushed hand with the red headed girls. A burning rage filled her. Making her seethe and beg to stab Ron with a fork. But under that there was love for her brother.

Hermione smiled again and nearly chuckled.

Having fun?

Hermione looked up at over at the far away table.

Yes I am.

She had no idea if he heard that or not and she didn't care.

Harry sat staring at his uneaten toast. She reached out and placed her hand over his. Fear, bravery, uncertainty but most of all love for his family. The ones that had come before and for the ones that sat around him now. Hermione could almost have wept for her friend…her brother. But instead she smiled.

So that's why you fled the room last night. You felt what Pansy was felling. That bad, huh?

I have one thing to say to you about that. I may not like her and I may not like what she believes in, but she is still a person looking for what we all want.

Hermione carried on eating her meal. Once plates were empty and tummies were full, everybody started to make their way out of the Great Hall and to the first classes.

Thank you for learning to talk. The shouting was killing me.

Hermione stopped walking. Had Malfoy just complimented her! There really was something strange with the world. Maybe she was dreaming. She thought hard about Malfoy and what he had just said and then she heard something else.

She looks amazing in skirts.

Only this time she knew he had not said it to her but to himself.

She wasn't sure which shocked her more. The fact she had been inside Draco Malfoy's head, or the fact that he thought she look amazing in skirts! So she did the only thing a girl should do when a guy compliments you…she thanked him…inside his own head!

There we go another chappy down…please let me know what you think.

HC