"Draco, have you seen my Transfiguration book," Hermione whispered.

"What," Draco asked, looking at her clammy palor and too bright eyes.

"My transfiguration book," Hermione said straining to be heard, although her words came out in the same hushed wheeze as before.

"Are you sick," Draco asked coming closer and looking at her through narrowed eyes.

Hermione looked down at her feet. "A little bit."

"A little?

"Yes, I'll be fine," She said her voice loosing even more volume.

Draco shook his head and went over to the large wooden table. He picked up a few papers and shifted some books till he found what he was looking for. He came back and handed Hermione her book.

"You should rest," Draco said and Hermione shook her head.

"I can't," She said, missing the angry gleem in Draco's eyes.

He grabbed her arm, none to gently and marched her into her own room. Hermione couldn't even protest or struggle, she was too worn out. As soon as they made it inside he let go.

"Get into bed," Draco demanded, he was pointing to her large four poster in the most intimidating fashion. Hermione didn't move a muscle. She wasn't scared of him and he was definately not ordering her around.

"I will not," She croaked stubbornly, folding her arms across her chest.

"You're sick, Hermione. Sleeping will make you all better," Draco said sounding very much like he was talking to a five year old. Hermione resented that, and there was the fact that he was totally right.

"I'm fine," She said, ending that statement pathetically with a cough.

"You are not, now get into bed," Draco said taking a few menacing steps towards her.

The expression on his face scared her. She thought he was capable of tossing her in there.

She dove onto her bed and lay ontop of the covers looking up at him. His blanket was draped over her chair and she remember with embarrasment that she hadn't given it back to him. He noticed though, because suddenly it was in his arms and then all around her. Draco Malfoy was tucking her into bed, with his super soft green blanket. Was something seriously wrong with this picture? Hermione was too tired to wonder about it.

She felt her eyelids droop almost immediately. She was a near insomniac though, and knew this supposed tiredness wouldn't be productive. She didn't know why, but she didn't sleep well anymore. She wished she knew why.

"Goodnight," She mumbled before she fell asleep.

Draco knew Hermione way too well. At four in the morning, he woke up to the sounds of someone walking in the common room. He immediately got up and opened his door. She was sitting on one of the couches, her Transfiguration book propped up on her lap. Every other second she sniffed or cough and even from where he was standing, Draco could tell she was not well in the slightest.

Angrily he marched across the common room.

"What part of rest do you not understand?"

Hermione looked up, her eyes huge and a bit surprised.

"I have things to do," Hermione tried to explain, "I am going to fall behind if I do not get my work done."

Draco glanced down at what she'd been reading.

"Give me that book right now," He demanded and she stiffly put it in his hands.

"This assignment isn't due for two weeks." He said slowly and Hermione winced knowing what was next.

"You obviously do not know how to care for yourself." Draco said in he same slow voice that was scaring Hermione so much.

"I'm fine. Give me my book," Hermione said petulantly.

Draco tossed it on the couch behind him and grabbed Hermione's arm's roughly. Once she was standing, he scooped her up and carried her to her room. All she could do was miserably sniff and give him dirty looks.

He dropped her on her bed and enjoyed the angry groan she gave as he pulled the blankets up to her chin.

"No matter what, you are going to lay here, whether you sleep or not is up to you."

Draco pulled a winged backed chair up to the side of her bed and sat down.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm making sure you don't go anywhere," Draco said and Hermione turned over so she wouldn't have to look at him anymore.

The first thing she heard as she woke up was his soft breathing. She moaned and put the pillow over her head. When this only made it harder to breath, she pulled it off and looked over at the boy sleeping in her chair. He was so presumtious, about her, especially. She wished someone else had gotten Head Boy, someone less demanding of her time and attention.

She got up, and stretched. She did feel much better, even though she didn't want Draco to know that. She grabbed some clothes and padded into the bathroom.

After a quick shower and washing her face, she came back into her room fully dressed and ready for the day. Draco was in the same spot. She walked over and gave his shoulder a good shake.

His response was to grunt and try to turn over, which proved difficult for him. He opened his eyes and looked around.

"Get up. You've got an hour before classes start," Hermione said bossily.

"Mornin' to you to," Draco grumbled and got up, stretching out his kinked back muscles.

"Good morning," Hermione said in a flat and unfriendly voice.

"I've figured out your payment for my services," Draco said and grinned when Hermione first blushed and then looked peturbed.

"No way."

"Yes. I require a back massage. Tonight preferably, after Quidditch practice."

"You are out of your mind."

"No, dear. I am quite sane and sore from sleeping in that goddamn chair and saving you from yourself.," Draco said. Hermione shook her head and went to the door of her room, she opened it and waited. He knew she wanted him to leave.

"I never asked you to do anything for me."

"Exactly," Draco said and Hermionegave him a push as he walked past.

He chuckled and went to his own room to get ready.

Later, when Hermione was sitting in the common room, a pile of tissues on one side and a stack of books on the other, Draco came in, sweaty and flushed.

"Good evening, honey," He said making Hermione slowly raise her head to give him a cold stare. He ignored this and plopped down on the couch opposite the one she was seated on.

As she kept her gaze on her parchment, he started taking off his Quidditch gear. First the leather wrist gaurds, then the shin shields. The boots were next and then his green cloak. He pulled off his sweater, revealing a dark green t-shirt. He made himself get to his feet and he pulled off the shirt too, leaving him bare chested and gleaming. Hermione glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, his defined torso was perfectly porcelean, all except his shoulder which was a furious red.

He went and sat in front of her crossed legs, she looked down at his blonde head and tried to decide whether to aknowledge him or not.

"What happened to your shoulder," She asked, and went back to writing out her notes carefully.

"Bloody bludger," Draco grunted and she couldn't help but put out a hand and run it across the vivid redness.

He tensed, but let her touch him.

"I suppose you expect a massage," Hermione said. He laughed and nodded. "No."

"Hermione, please."

"I have work to do," She said flatly and he turned and lay his arm and his head across her book.

"What work?"

"Stop being childish. I have a Potion's essay due in a week and two more for History of Magic." Hermione said pulling her book from under his head and laying it on top of it, so she could continue reading.

Draco groaned and got up. She really was a bore some days.

Hermione looked in the bathroom mirror. Although she still looked sick, she could see signs of improvement. The only things wrong now, was the red under her nose and the rather large circles under her eyes, which she was convinced, had been there for a while.

She walked out of the bathroom in her pajamas and went into her room. Sitting in the same chair was Draco. He had brough himself a blanket this time and he looked tired as he huddled under it.

"Why are you here, again?"

"You're still not well. Obviously."

"You're so annoying," Hermione said in a fed up way.

"And your point is?"

Hermione gave up trying to dissuade him from staying in her room. She just got into bed.

"Goodnight," Draco said cheerfully.

"Night," Hermione muttered, turning so her back faced him. She lay on her side, her eyes wide open.

Once she thought he was asleep, she rolled onto her back and stared straight up at the blank ceiling.

"Why aren't you sleeping," Came a voice in the dark and Hermione groaned and turned her head to look at Draco.

"I can't."

"Why not," Draco asked and she shrugged, before realizing he probably hadn't been able to see it.

"If I knew that, I'd be sleeping," She snapped and she heard rustling and suddenly he was standing beside her.

"Did your mum ever sing to you?"

"No."

"Well my mum sang to me, when I was little and it always helped," Draco said and Hermione just looked up at him like he was crazy.

"You're going to sing to me?"

"No. You're going to sing to yourself. Yeah, that's kind of the point, Granger." Came Draco's tart reply.

"Are you a good singer?" She wanted to know.

"The best."

"Honestly?"

"Stop stalling and relax. If I'm that bad you can cover your ears and ignore me."

"Is this going to be like "Hush Little Baby"? Because I don't agree with being related to an infant."

"Shut up."

"Fine."

"Don't be concerned, you know I'll be fine on my own, I never said don't go, don't go. But I've hidden a note, it's pressed between pages you've marked to find your way back, it says, 'Does he ever get the girl'? But what if the pages stay pressed, the chapters unfinished, the story's too dull to unfold, does he ever get the girl?"

Hermione listened. He wasn't a bad singer, she actually like his voice quite a bit, not that she'd tell him. She closed her eyes as he started into another song.

"I fell asleep on a late night train, I missed my stop and I went round again, why would I want to see you now? To fix it up, to make it up somehow. Baby, I'll try again, try again, Baby, I die every night, every time. What I was, isn't what I am, I'd change back, but I don't know if I can. Still I'll try, try again, try again, Baby, I die every night, everytime. But I was made the way I am, I'm not a stone, I'm just a man, lay down arms and I will lay down mine, rip back the time that we've been wasting. God I wish you could see me now, you'd pick me up and you'de sort me out."

Somehow it worked and she found herself drifting quickly off. Draco smiled contentedly as she sunk into slumber. The song he'd sang was for her, she had to know that.

Draco had been singing her to sleep all week and while she wouldn't tell him so, he sounded way good. Somethings in life really weren't fair. Why did someone so good looking also get blessed with an amazing voice? She looked over her Potion's essay once more. She had worked hard on it, and now as she waited for the ink to dry, she hoped it would bring her grade up maybe just a point.

Hearing Draco belt it out every night had made her want to sing as well. She had never had anyone hear her, but she thought she sounded decent enough. So as she sat alone in her room she sang to herself.

"I think you know, because it's old news, the people you love are hard to find, so I think if I was in your shoes, I would be kind. I look out for you, come rain, come shine, what good does it do? I guess I'm a toy that is broken, I guess we're just older now. I want to stay another season, see summer upon this sorry land, so don't dust off your gun, without a reason you understand. I look out for you, come rain, come shine, what good does it do? I guess I'm a toy that is broken, I guess we're just older now. Who says a river can't leave its waters? Who says you walk in a line? Who says a city can't change its borders? Who says you're mine? I look out for you, come rain, come shine, what good does it do? I guess I'm a record you're tired of, I guess we're just older now."

As Draco walked up to the portrait he could hear Hermione singing very loudly, a song he recognized as one he'd sang her. He smirked at the fact that she had remembered it and went in. She had stopped singing and was waving a paper in the air as she looked around for her folders. She kept all her due papers in a red one. He'd noticed it, the corner of which was sticking out from under the couch.

"It's there," He pointed out lazily and she scrambled to retrieve it.

"Thanks," She said lifting it up and sliding her parchment into it with a slight smile.

A neatly scripted T lay heavy on the top of the page. She looked at it and had to let it sink in. Her stomach turned on itself and she felt like throwing up. Her hands shook, she watched the paper fluttering more and more chaotically. Her breathing became shallow and faster. She could hear herself panting, but it was like she was somewhere else. Her vision swam. It was just about then that Hermione started crying. It would have been one thing if she'd just cried to herself, but she was having full out panicked sobs.

Draco ripped the paper out of her hand, he saw the T and knew why she was behaving so oddly. He gave Proffesor Snape a very dark look and pulled Hermione to her feet. She followed him with that pathetic dazed look still painting her now red face. He took her outside the classroom and made her lean against the cool stone wall.

"Breathe, Hermione," He said forcefully and she just looked up at him through her fringe and gasped. She wasn't calming down at all.

Draco grabbed her and gave her a good shake. She was scaring him and that made him angry.

"Stop it."

Hermione squeaked and looked more terrorized than before. Draco let go of her for a moment and stared at her pale face. She was shaking so violently and sounded so horrendous, he wanted to just walk away, just so he wouldn't have to see it anymore. He closed his eyes. Which of course didn't make it go away.

He felt her tiny fists gather the material of his grey sweater and his eyes popped open. She held onto him this way for a moment, swaying on the spot, then she was hugging him around the middle, holding on tighter than he'd thought her capable of. Lacking anything better to do, Draco patted her hair in sympathy. It was softer than he would have thought.

"It's only one grade, Hermione. It will hardly make a dent in your average. You'll be fine," Draco promised her and she nodded slightly.

She was still trembling and Draco finally sighed and put his arms around her, bringing her closer. She finally started breathing normaly, letting her breathing follow his.

"You really are a very strange girl. Have ever, even once gotten this worked up over a guy?"

Hermione shook her head no.

"Thought so."

The door the the Potion's room burst open and they sprung apart quickly. Draco rubbed his arm absently and looked around for someone from his house to walk with. Harry and Ron rushed to Hermione's side and spirited her away. The last Draco saw of her, she was pointedly ignoring Ron's prattling on and was instead holding onto Harry's arm like she was going to fall over.

Hermione arrived in the Great Hall for dinner nearly twenty minutes late. She felt much better than she had that afternoon. She'd ran to her room and taken a shower before she'd changed and come down. She even smiled slightly, when she caught Draco staring at her as she made her way to the Gryffindor table. There really was something odd going on with the Head Boy if he was concerned about her welfare.

She stopped behind Harry and reached over his shoulder to grab a pastry that looked, in her opinion, absolutely delicious. Harry grabbed her wrist and turned, inspecting her face for signs of her earlier freak out. She smiled kindly at him, showing, she hoped, that she was over it. She took a big bite of the pastry and Ron looked up just then. Seeing her he flushed bright red and opened his mouth several times.

"Hermione, will you go out with me," Ron asked bravely.

Hermione smiled as kindly as she could.

"I would love to give you the answer that you want, but I just can't. I'm sorry," Hermione said before she turned away and marched to further down the table to where Ginny was sitting with her friends.

Hermione opened her book, there was a slip of parchment placed there, just where she had last been reading. She unfolded the paper carefully. The neat scrawl across it wasn't unfamiliar and it made Hermione's stomach knot. It read;

Does he ever get the girl?

She slammed the book closed with such force Ginny looked up at her in surpise.

"What's the matter, Hermione." She asked shoving her auburn hair behind her ears.

"Nothing, I am just tired of studying. I am going to go to bed," Hermione said rather quickly and before Ginny would protest, she had gathered her books and was out the door.

"What's this," Hermione asked shoving the note under Draco's nose.

"My guess would be it's a note," Draco said laughing at her angry expression.

"Why don't you get the hint that we would never work," Hermione ranted throwing the note down on the floor.

"Moine," Draco said huskily and Hermione felt her skin prick, "You are amazing."

She'd never been called that before, amazing or Mione. She colored at his compliment and took two steps backwards and away from him.

"Draco Malfoy, you self-righteous prat, I don't want you," Hermione screamed and Draco just looked amused.

Draco stepped forward and clasped her dainty hand in his two big ones.

"Hermione Granger, I don't care," He said with such quiet force and Hermione felt as though he had slapped her.

"Draco," Hermione said hesitantly as he moved even closer.

"Shhh," He whispered pulling her into his arms.

He gently held her, his breathe warm and inviting against her throat. Hermione relaxed into his arms, resting her head on his chest. It felt nice to finally give into the temptation that had been haunting her all year.