Hi guys! yes i know it's been a while and im soooooo sorry!!! i had so many ideas and then i just had a blank! i know where i want this story to go, it's just getting there that i'm having trouble with, and im afraid lately i haven't been too inspired. but i am now and chapter 7 is already in progress.

thanks to those who review it really makes my day to know that someone out there is reading my story and is enjoying it. it is you who truly inspires me.

i hope you like this chapter and feel that it has been worth the wait. love to you all xoxo

and again i own nothing, we owe it all to the wonderful J.K Rowling.

Chapter 6:

Their moment was short-lived however as it was only a matter of seconds before they both realised what was happening and quickly recoiled in disgust.

Draco gave Hermione a look of disdain as he wiped the back of his hand across his mouth in attempt to wipe away the sweet taste of her that was still lingering. He couldn't help but stare at her lips and had to fight off the strong urge to grab her into his arms and kiss her again. Kissing her was like nothing he could describe, it had been soft, yet passionate, innocent, yet thrilling, and worst of all he had enjoyed it. He, Draco Malfoy, Slytherin Prince, Pureblood had enjoyed kissing her, Hermione Granger, Gryffindor Queen, Mudblood. He could not believe it!

Meanwhile Hermione didn't know what to think. What had just happened? She already knew that she had some feelings for him, she had begun to rely on him because he was the only connection to her past that she had, even if she didn't know exactly what kind of connection it was. His lips had been so soft and gentle, the complete opposite to his personality, which was so prickly and tough and damn near impossible to figure out. He could be quite charming at times, but as soon as he realised he was acting like a normal, compassionate human being, he immediately reverted back into asshole mode. Try as hard as she might, Hermione could not figure this man out. She knew there was more to their past relationship than he let on, the way he always avoided her questions about it made that fact obvious to Hermione.

Draco cleared his throat. "Uh..." he trailed off uncertainly, the awkwardness rapidly increasing over the incident which had occurred only moments before. He tried to think of something to say, but nothing came to mind, not even one of his scathing remarks that he was so famous for. So he simply turned on his heel and walked out of the bathroom, leaving Hermione to stare after him.

---::---

Hermione remained in her room until dinnertime, and although she didn't want to admit it, it was because she was avoiding Draco. She wasn't sure why, but she just wasn't in the mood to get into a fight with him after that intimate kiss they had shared earlier. She knew she shouldn't place any importance on it, but just thinking about it brought a smile to her face and she couldn't help but gently touch her lips. She could still taste him there, and a part of her wished that he was still kissing her. She wanted to remember him in that tender moment, she didn't want him to say hurtful words to her about it and ruin it. Hermione knew she was setting herself up for a fall, she wasn't anything if not realistic. Draco had made his feelings towards her clearly known since the moment they had met. Hermione also knew that the only reason she was having these feelings for Draco was because he was really the only human contact, besides Narcissa, that she had really had since... well it was all she could remember. Hermione doubted that her memories would ever return and if that was the case, she realised that she couldn't spend the rest of her life living here with Narcissa and Draco, although eventually, she supposed, Draco would get married and move away. One of the boys from her dreams, the one with the scar, Draco said they used to be best friends, perhaps if she went and visited him, maybe he could give her some answers, Draco and Narcissa hadn't really known her so they couldn't really give her much information on her past. Hermione decided she would ask Draco where she could find this boy during their evening meal.

---::---

Draco too was avoiding Hermione. He didn't know how he was feeling about what had happened before. Part of him had enjoyed it, there was no denying that. But another part knew that he should not have let it happen. Ever since Hermione had arrived, he had tried as hard as he possibly could to distance himself from her. She intrigued him and he wanted to get to know her, but at the same time, he wished he had never found her in that bloody forest and brought her back with him. She was different than how he remembered her from Hogwarts, she seemed vulnerable, and the Granger he remembered from his school days was anything but. Her eyes still got fiery when he riled her up, but upsetting her just didn't bring the same satisfaction that it used to. Why can't her damned memories just return, so she can just get the hell out of my life! Draco didn't like the effect that Hermione was having on him. He couldn't describe it, and he didn't want to. When he was around her he felt different, relaxed, like she was someone that he could be himself around, he felt comfortable. Yet he felt uncomfortable at the same time, that he didn't want to get close to her. He wanted to scream, but was worried that it would draw Hermione's attention and she was the last person he wanted to see.

---::---

Hermione didn't come down for dinner, and Draco wouldn't admit it, but he was slightly disappointed. He had wanted to see her; something in him had missed her that afternoon while they had been avoiding each other. When Draco had seen her in that bath, under the water, her eyes closed, he was sure she was dead. He was so scared although he had tried his best to hide it, he knew Hermione had caught on, she was like that, she could read people, although Draco wished she couldn't read him. He had always been so good at hiding his emotions but he felt like an open book when Hermione looked at him, he couldn't hide what he felt from her.

Draco gathered some food on a tray and decided to take it up to Hermione's room for her. When he got to her door he knocked, struggling not to drop the tray, thankful that no one was around to see him because he was not looking very poised or graceful, two very important aspects of being a Malfoy. There was no answer so he tried again, still no answer. Draco's heart leapt in his chest for a moment, afraid that she was hurt or that something had happened. He opened the door and was surprised to find Hermione sprawled out on her bed fast asleep. She had little shorts on and a tight singlet top that made Draco gulp and use every bit of his self restraint. At least she's okay Draco thought with relief. He placed the tray down on her dresser and walked over to the bed. He noticed something clutched in her hand. Draco gently pried it away from her. It was a letter.

Dear Miss Granger,

We are extremely pleased to inform you that Mr. Harry Potter awoke from his coma this morning and is very anxious to see you. He is aware of your condition and understands if you are hesitant to visit, but he wishes me to assure you that the two of you were the best of friends and he wants to do anything possible to help you recover. The other healers and myself also believe that a visit will do the both of you a great amount of good in the aid of both of your recoveries.

Hope to see you soon,

Mark Saunders

Head Healer St. Mungo's

Draco tensed. So Potter's awake. He didn't understand what he was feeling. Part of him felt… jealous. He was feeling possessive. He had found Hermione and he didn't want Potter to come along and take her away from him. He didn't want Potter to tell her all the awful things he had done to her and all the hurtful names he had called her. But Hermione had already read the letter! Draco did not want her to visit Potter, but how could he stop her? He didn't want her to know that he didn't want her to go, then she definitely would go just to piss him off. He needed to convince her that seeing Potter at this point in time wasn't a good idea. That she should wait a bit longer. That way he would have some time to make Hermione like him, they could become…friends. Draco knew he was being irrational, but it was only once he realized that she could choose Potter, go off with him, that he could lose her, that he finally understood what the past couple of weeks had been telling him, what that kiss had told him, he liked Hermione, he wanted to get to know her, he wanted to be friends with her, maybe even something more. But he had been so horrible to her, only because he didn't want to admit to his feelings, but would she forgive him? Draco hoped so. He never wanted her to find out about their past. But what could he do? She surely wasn't going to believe a complete turn around in his character. Draco felt like his mind was going to explode, he needed a plan and he needed it now. Then a memory popped into his mind. That night when Draco had been sick and Hermione took care of him, it was perfect. He knew it wasn't right to trick Hermione into worrying about him, and then he remembered a potion that he had once bought from a joke shop, the person who drinks it will become sick for about twenty-four hours. So he wouldn't really be tricking her, he really would be sick, she just didn't need to know that it was on purpose. He looked at her sleeping form, she looked so peaceful and innocent, he wanted to kiss her again, but knew that would have to wait.

---::---

Hermione woke up to a strange noise. It sounded like moaning. Hermione slowly got out of bed and left her room, the noise sounded like it was coming from somewhere down the corridor, somewhere nearby. When she reached Draco's room, she realized that it was coming from within.

"Draco!" she called out, but only got more moaning in reply. She opened the door, the room was dark except for some light shining under the bathroom door where she could hear Draco violently throwing up. As she enterered the bathroom she heard him mutter under his breath, "The most stupid thing…"

"What's the most stupid thing?" Hermione asked him, kneeling down beside him, running a soothing hand down his back. He was soaked with sweat!

"Eating that bloody food that's been in the fridge for… I can't remember." Draco lied. He was starting to rethink his situation, he wasn't sure if it was worth it. He had never felt so ill in his entire life!

"Yes, well then that was pretty stupid." Hermione said as she got up.

Draco's heart dropped. He thought she was leaving. He was relieved when he noticed she had only walked over to the basin and was running some cool water.

"I think you might have a fever." She told him. She fished around under the sink and found a large bucket that, she assumed, the house elfs used for cleaning.

"Do you think you can make it back to the bed?" she asked him, as she put a face washer in the now full basin.

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"That's what this is for." Hermione told him, holding up the bucket.

Draco didn't reply he just groaned as he shakily rose to his feel and slowly made his way back into his room. Hermione noticed that he was very pale and started to get worried, he might have food poisoning!

Draco collapsed onto the bed and Hermione sat down beside him, placing the bucket on the floor. "If you feel like you are going to throw up," she said, "just let me know and I'll pass you the bucket."

Draco only nodded in reply. He felt extremely weak and pathetic, he hadn't thought of that before and it really wasn't how he had wanted Hermione to see him. How was he supposed to make her fall for him like this? This had definitely been a very stupid idea, maybe even his stupidest, it was up there with putting a love potion on Snape during seventh year so that every girl that laid eyes on him would fall madly in love with him. It had been extremely entertaining, even though it landed him six months of detention rotating between Snape himself and Filch.

Hermione placed a cold cloth on his forehead. It was nice.

"Shh," she soothed. "Try and get some sleep."

Draco reached out for her other hand, and she gave it easily. Draco had his eyes closed, but he could tell she was smiling.

"Thanks." He whispered weakly before falling asleep.

Hermione smiled down at him. He was human after all.

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A/N: Hit that review button and make my day... ill give you a cookie!!!