"Draco…What are you doing here?" Hermione asked astonished that Draco stood before her like he had no trouble getting in, but she knew he would probably have his ways of getting in. He seemed lifeless to her. His eyes looked dead at her making her feel uncomfortable.

She rose from the bed coming closer to him. Maybe he didn't hear her… "Draco why are you here?" She poked him in the shoulder making him look away from where she was once before. He looked at her differently this time, something she had not seen before… like he was angry with her. He grabbed he finger and flicked it off like it was nothing to him. "What?"

"You do not have the right to touch a Malfoy!" This Draco before turned into her father and then turned into the real culprit Lucius Malfoy. His fingers crushed her throat making it harder and harder to breathe. But Hermione wasn't about to just stand there and be beat like this. She kicked, pushed, and shoved against him finally breaking free of the grip.

"So… it was you all along. I should have guessed. You're the only one who could get into the school unnoticed. So tell me why you are here pretending to be my father even before your own son?" She backed up against the door, gripping the knob, turning it only to find that it was locked a spell.

"You're not getting out that way. As for my son he is the future of the Death Eaters and does not need some little mudblood screwing with his precious life. I have plans for him and your not going to ruin it even if that means I must kill you." He replied calmly as if nothing had happened. She backed up over to the window trying to find anyway that she could get out. He came after her again shoving her into the wall, making her fall to the floor from the impact. Her hand went to the back of her head from the pain. She tried to stand up, but he took another blow at her making her lose her balance.

"You're not going to kill me. I'll never let you. NEVER!" She stood again saying Petrificus Totalus under her breath, putting Lucius into a full body bind. He broke free somehow and he was at it again, coming at her. Hermione closed her eyes waiting for what was to happen. He only whispered in her ears something she'll always remember.

"You'll come to me, believe you'll come and then I'll be sure to kill you."

Hermione looked in the same direction as he stepped into the darkness behind her. She didn't know what to say or whether it would be a good idea for Draco to hear bout this. What was she supposed to say to him? Could she really tell him without thinking it was his father instead…? Everything didn't make sense and she didn't have a clue what was going on anymore. And for once she didn't feel like sleeping anymore the only to do was to go and curl up with a good book and hope for the best.

She walked down to the common room seeing that Harry and Ron had already retreated to their dorms. She grabbed a blanket and draped it around her legs, finding a good book, she settled down next to the fire. After reading only a few pages Hermione figured out that what she was doing was not helping her at all. She glanced at the clock seeing it was only about eight o'clock, she decided to go and see if she could find Draco in the library or just something else to read.

She approached the library doors, walking through to find the librarian not at her usual place. Didn't surprise Hermione. She was probably putting books up or something of the sort. She saw Draco stationed at one of the large tables, his feet propped up, a look of confusion on his face.

"Hermione what are you doing here? Thought you would be in bed already. You are the perfect one after all." Draco asked her as she came towards her. He wondered what was really wrong with her. She didn't look all right and from a faint glimpse of her neck he knew why. "What happened? Why do you have fingerprints on your neck? If it was Weasel or Potter they'll be dead before morning comes."

She couldn't look him in the eye. He looked too much like his father and what he had said had started to trouble her more than ever. She would never come to such a bastard! Why couldn't she just say that to Lucius? Why did it have to be so hard? She could just tell Draco what he did. He would protect her…. Right? Of course, he would! She would just have to remember that.

"Your father… came in my dorm… attacked me, told me I wasn't allowed to touch a Malfoy… told me he would kill me if I caused problems for you to become a Death Eater." Hermione breathed out, unable to think of what else to say. Too many things had happened in only a short amount of time.

"Hermione don't listen to him. Don't you ever listen to him! You got that? He will never touch you again and it hurts to know that he did that to you. I should have been there, but I wasn't. I'm so sorry." He brought her to him, wrapping his arms tight around her. It really did hurt him to know that his own father came to her dorm and attacked her completely unnoticed. But his father will always have his ways and that was all there all to it.

The next day finished off slowly. It consisted of the usual breakfast, lunch, classes, and more classes. Draco had stood near her somewhat during the day. Making sure no one laid a finger on her. Things changed for Draco somehow. He seemed a LOT more protective of Hermione. He really was starting to get jealous of how Ron and Harry were always around her, but they were her best friends. So he would have to live with it. She would occasionally look at Draco, but only for a moment. She didn't want to get caught by Ron again. That would be the end of the whole secret.

Draco longed to spend more time with her that day. He was sad that he couldn't even get the chance to even say hi. Even if it was a little thing to him just saying that meant so much more. Well he actually had no idea what else to say to her. He couldn't talk to her anymore without seeing the pain in her eyes from what he did and what his father did to her. Why did it have to be so hard to just live? Everyone had their reasons to hate someone, but why couldn't anyone just forget about those reasons. Only if it was for a little while, it would make everything so much better for the both of them. He longed to tell her what he really thought. He was starting to feel things toward her he never felt before. Even a quick glance from her made him smile with joy. And why shouldn't he? Just telling her the truth might kill him.

The trio walked down the hallway to go to dinner like everything was normal. Course to them it was normal. To her it was just a chance to see Draco again and this time she might even glance a little longer than usual just to savor the moment. When do you really get the chance to enjoy life without so much screaming, and crying? Hermione had the chance to be happy even if it was for a little bit. Draco told her not to listen to his father and she wouldn't. They might have only a little bit of time to enjoy everything the world holds, but it was enough for her now. If nothing happened over the next couple of days it would surely be a miracle to her.

She carried some books in with her just to have something to do while the boys finished their food, if they ever finish. She only nibbled on a piece of bread, while trying to figure out what to put on her potion's essay.

"Hey Hermione why don't you take a break from all that work and actually eat something for once." Ron looked at her oddly like she had lost her mind. It was natural for Hermione to do homework instead of eating, but she hadn't really eaten in a long time and he was starting to worry.

"Too busy… I'll eat later don't worry." She told him calmly shoving a croissant in her mouth to reassure Ron. Harry hadn't said a word, but she didn't think it was abnormal for him to be quiet. She a look over at Draco, nodding her head to the side towards the door to say she was leaving. Harry thought she lost her mind seeing Hermione do this with a croissant hanging out of her mouth.

She then got up to leave, looking back to see Ron and Harry still stuffing their mouths. Draco had also got up seeing her nod toward the door. She stood outside the doors waiting for Draco to finally arrive. She was munching on what was left of the croissant when he came out.

"Well aren't you a little happy today?" He asked waiting her finish the last bit.

"You should be too! Nothing bad has happened and I don't intend to see anything bad happen in the next few days. Do you? I hope not." She asked looking at him like he was just asking for something bad to happen.

"No I don't think anything bad is going to happen. Hermione lets got back to the library I have something to tell you." Before she could say anything he grabbed her hands running off towards the library.

When they reached it they both sat down a table off to the far right corner. She placed her hands in her in her lap, leaning back into the chair. She was about to close her eyes to fall asleep when Draco first spoke before she could.

"I love you."

A/N: You didn't expect that did you?

Sorry for the long wait but school is retarded… especially mine… its horrible.

Hopefully the update shouldn't take so long…