Disclaimer: The only thing that's mine is the plot of the story

1997 – March 9

Hermione woke up and shivered. The icy air assaulted her bare arms, her face was numb from the cold and she could see her breath in puffs of white cloud in front of her. The ground below her was hard and damp, definitely not her bed. Her heart began to race as her confused mind began to work out the new scenery.

Where was she? Hermione looked around, discovering that she was lying on the ground outside among the trees. Something wasn't right. Something was terribly wrong. She remembered going to sleep in her bed that night and there was no reason why she should be out of the cabin. She recognized the area from her walk with Draco, but somehow, it was very different. It was dark, shadows stretching to cover the ground. And the cold, it was so cold. What in world was she doing? Why was she outside? Had she walked in her sleep? Hermione was alone, outside, in the dark, and she was very afraid. She didn't think she had ever felt so alone before. It was almost as if any light within her had been sucked out, leaving a hole of never ending dread and loneliness.

She was alone.

She was alone, but she could feel a presence; a dark and evil presence.

Somehow, she knew that there was no one around to help her.

Hermione shakily stood up. She had to find cover, she had to get back to the cabin. Draco was there. He would know what was going on.

Terrified and confused, Hermione began to make her way back towards the cabin, folding her arms across her chest to try to keep warm against the freezing air. Everything was completely still, no movement from wind, no animals in the trees or bushes. The feeling of dread began to escalate inside of her as she got closer to the cabin. It was as if a hush had fallen over the woods, like everything, even the trees themselves, were too petrified to move. Hermione's heart thudded ever quicker as she put one foot in front of the other, slowly making her way through the trees, her bare feet numb against the frosty ground as she walked.

In the distance she made out a figure slumped against a tree. Was it a person? They seemed injured.

Was it Draco? What was going on?

Hermione rushed towards the unidentified person, sprinting forwards as she saw who it was. It wasn't Draco, but Ron. Panic flooded her and her eyes misted as she fell to her knees beside him.

"Ron!" she screamed. Before she even touched his cold hand, she knew he was dead. "Ron!" she cried again tears streaming from her eyes.

His eyes were open, but unseeing and a small trickle of blood left a stain from the corner of his mouth.

How did he even find her there? Why would he come alone?

Then, terror struck her. He wouldn't have. Harry must be there somewhere as well. Whipping her head around, Hermione tried to see any clue as to where he might have gone.

Hermione's eyes fell on another body, lying on the ground farther away, towards the cabin. She got up and ran, holding her arms over her stomach as if to hold it in place as the grief she was experiencing threatened to rip it apart.

"Harry!" she shrieked. He was sprawled across the ground, laying in a pool of blood released from a gaping wound in his chest. With her vision blurred she collapsed beside him, sobbing. "Why did you come!?" she yelled. "Why did you try to find me!?"

Hermione heard footsteps behind her and felt that dark presence lurking closer. Slowly, she turned, already knowing who it was.

Red eyes glared down at her and Hermione's blood ran cold.

"This was fun," Voldemort sneered, raising his wand to her.

Hermione woke up panting, tears running down her face. It was just a dream. It was just a dream but it felt so real. Her heart was racing and she couldn't stop her sobbing.

It was only a dream. It was only a dream. It was only a dream. Hermione repeated the words in her head over and over.

The door burst open and Draco was suddenly beside her.

"What is it? What's wrong?" he asked quickly.

"It was just a nightmare," she said, trying to make herself believe it as well. Her brain knew it was a dream, but for some reason, something deep inside told her it was more than that.

Draco seemed awkward, as if he didn't know what he was supposed to do. Hermione took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself down.

"What. . . what can I do?" he asked.

"Stay with me," she answered quietly. The thought of being alone terrified her.

Seemingly unsure about his actions, Draco sat down on the bed beside Hermione and timidly wrapped an arm around her. Hermione didn't know how much she needed human contact until he initiated it. She curled into his embrace, letting the sound of his heartbeat sooth her fried nerves.

"Do you . . .um. . .want to talk about it?" he asked awkwardly.

"It felt so real. . . like it was actually happening." She took another deep breath and wiped away the wetness on her cheeks. "I woke up outside the cabin on the ground and Ron and Harry . . . they had found this place and . . . Voldemort was there and . . . and . . . he killed them." Hermione tried to tell him.

"Well, it didn't happen," Draco told her, holding her tighter.

It did feel slightly less terrifying when she talked about it, especially being in a familiar place with someone she trusted.

She trusted him. It was too taxing to analyze the discovery at the moment, but she tucked it away in her mind to think about later. Right now, she had much more pressing matters at the front of her mind.

There was a nagging feeling that wouldn't let her heart slow down it's pace. It felt too real, even the coldness of the air still clung to her skin, and the emotion, the feelings of utter despair and grief were still smothering her.

"There was this awful feeling of just… darkness. I felt so alone, like there was nothing but evil left around me." She paused. "When he owls back, can you ask Dumbledore if they're alright? If Harry and Ron are okay?" Hermione asked.

"Alright. I can do that," he told her.

"Just . . . don't leave," she said. Even at the thought of him leaving her alone, fear consumed her. She could have sworn Voldemort had been standing right behind her, that he was the reason for her odd feelings of helplessness. She didn't feel safe alone; at least not tonight.

"I won't," Draco assured her.

Draco had a bad feeling about Hermione's dream. Sure, nightmares were normal, but the way she had described it sent shivers down his spine. He had felt those same feelings himself, the sensation of dark magic as it emanated from the Dark Lord, the feeling of emptiness, of all consuming darkness.

He had assured her that it had only been a dream, and surely it had been, but that the Dark Lord didn't have anything to do with it was another question. Draco wasn't exactly sure how the Dark Lord would have been able to enter her mind being so far away, but he was an extremely powerful legilimens so it wouldn't completely surprise him. And that was a terrifying thought.

Draco had just received an owl back from Dumbledore and walked out to the sofa where Hermione was curled up with a blanket.

"Is that it?" she asked gesturing with her eyes to the parchment he held.

Draco nodded, sitting down next to her and unfolding the letter.

Draco,

I am pleased that you decided to ask for my help.

It shows much courage to reach out to the opposing

side in a war and I am proud of you for doing so.

Hermione's death has been very difficult on many

here and to hear of her living is very pleasing to say

the least. However, I suggest that you stay where

you are for now. Any movement in location could expose

the fact that Hermione is alive. Please send me your location

should the worst occur so we may protect you and

Hermione. Do not sell yourself short Draco. You are

worth more than you know, and who you have become

is not entirely the fault of your own. That you have

reached out is encouraging. I am very pleased that

your conscience and light may have won out against

the darkness surrounding you as I had hoped it would.

Never lose faith.

Dumbledore

Draco silently finished reading the note, hands trembling. The headmaster had predicted that his conscience would overcome the darkness into which he had been thrown? Did he think Draco could escape the punishment for his actions? Surely not. But still, Dumbledore had said that he was worth protecting along with Hermione.

"What does it say?" Hermione asked sounding slightly impatient.

"He says we should stay where we are and tell him our location so that he can protect us," Draco summarized.

"That's good, isn't it? Why do you look so surprised?"

"No reason," he replied.

"You didn't think Dumbledore would really help?" she questioned.

Draco just shrugged. "Should I tell him where we are?"

"Yes. And ask him about how Harry and Ron are," she reminded him.

He was also going to tell Dumbledore about the nightmare she had. Draco hoped it was nothing, that he was just being paranoid, but he didn't want to run the risk that something might happen to her. If it was the Dark Lord somehow entering her mind from afar, they needed to find some way to stop it very quickly.

"Alright," he agreed. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine," she told him, though her eyes said differently. They told him the same thing that all the Dark Lord's victims did; fear.

"You aren't alright," he disagreed.

"I just want to know that Harry and Ron are alright, and that they aren't trying to find me, or doing anything stupid. They tend not to use their heads when it comes to people they care about."

"I've noticed," he replied, wishing he could do more. Without her, who knew what those boys would get up to. "I'll ask."

Draco had been right. Hermione was not as fine as she had said she was. That dream was still shaking her up inside, terrifying her at the memory, making her absolutely paranoid that as soon as Draco left, Voldemort himself would take his place.

Hermione had had nightmares before, but somehow, this one felt different. She had to know that Harry and Ron were alright.

Hermione was very thankful that Draco never left her side for more than a few minutes. She couldn't even imagine being alone right now. Her brain was all muddled and she couldn't quite think right. The way she had felt in that dream, she had never felt that way before, and the fact that Draco's eyes grew slightly wider when she went into more detail about the dream, made her think it could have been a bigger deal than he was making it out to be. She desperately wanted to know what it was, what he was recognizing from her description. What was happening to her?

Hermione kept telling herself that there was nothing wrong with having a nightmare, nightmares were normal. Even the happiest, most peaceful people experienced them once in a while. But every time she thought of that dark forest, it sent chills shooting through her and that sense of dread began to rise.

No, she couldn't keep thinking about it like that. She needed to think of more positive things.

That Dumbledore had gotten back to them about their situation was certainly encouraging. She couldn't believe Draco was so shocked that Dumbledore would help them. There was never any doubt in Hermione's mind that he would. Now, she should be able to relax a little bit, knowing that Dumbledore was involved. They would get out of this alright.

Hermione was still curled up on the sofa when Draco got back from sending the letter.

She couldn't be moping around like this! It wasn't as if her friends had actually been killed or if some terrible thing were happening. It was a dream for goodness sake. Even if it felt as though it were something more, it did not truly happen, that, she knew. She should be moving on with her day. Hermione couldn't let this effect her like it was.

"Draco," she started, as he sat down beside her again. "Are we still having our do-over date today?"

"If you still want to," he replied.

"I do. And I think it would be good to get my mind off things. What were you thinking of? We are pretty limited, having to stay here and all. I mean, this is kind of nice too, just sitting here, but I would much rather be doing something. Maybe we could play a game, or . . . well, I would suggest watching a movie, but I don't believe you have a television."

Draco smiled. "So what, did you just decide to go back to normal?" he asked.

"Pretty much," she replied, nodding.

"Well, what I was thinking probably wouldn't be a good idea anymore, considering last night," he told her.

"And what were you thinking?" she asked curiously.

Draco sighed. "I wanted to take you outside for a picnic under a warming spell."

Hermione thought about that. Outside meant going out into the setting of her horrible dream. On the other hand, it was daytime and Draco would be there, and it would show her for certain that it didn't happen.

"Actually," she started. "I don't think that is such a terrible idea. Maybe it would help me to get over the dream."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

Hermione nodded. "Yes. It was only a dream and it is silly of me to avoid going outside because of it."

"Alright then," Draco agreed.

The time came for Hermione to face her dream and leave the safety of the cabin.

"Are you absolutely certain that you want to do this? I won't be offended if you back out," Draco told her, standing at her side by the door.

"I'm not going to back out," she stated defiantly.

Draco nodded and opened the door for her.

The sight was nothing like the darkness of the nightmare. The snow had melted and the sun was out, sending golden streams of light through the leaves of the trees to form beautiful patterns on the ground. Not only that, but the woods were full of sound and life. She could hear the scurrying of little creatures, rustling their way through the branches and bushes and the trees swayed just a small bit due to the light breeze. Surely without the magic it would have been quite cold, but now she felt warm, and at peace.

On the ground between two trees was a large picnic blanket with enough food for the both of them. Draco lead her over to the blanket and they sat down together. "Are you alright?" he asked, looking concerned.

Hermione smiled. "Yes. I am absolutely fine. This is nothing like my dream. It's beautiful," she told him.

"Good, I'll try not to ruin it this time," he said, to which Hermione laughed a bit and shook her head.

If only she had known this Draco Malfoy in school. Hermione knew that he had had to put on a cruel façade and that she had many a time been on the receiving end of that cruelty. Things would have hurt a lot less if she had understood what was going on. Draco Malfoy had a heart that he had to hide from the rest of the world. He acted like the tough, hardened, school bully, pureblood, Death Eater, when in reality, he was just a boy questioning the things his parents taught him and who they wanted him to be. He was a boy who needed someone with whom he could be himself around, who wouldn't judge him for wanting something different for his life than darkness and death.

You trust him.

The thought flooded through her and wouldn't let go. Hermione trusted Draco Malfoy, the rival and enemy. But he wasn't an enemy. Not anymore. And from the sound of it, he hadn't been for a while. And she did trust him, she felt safe with him. It was an insane discovery considering everything that had happened, but it was undeniable. After the nightmare, the only time her fear didn't completely paralyze her was when Draco was around. Hermione realized he was the only part of her reasoning for being outside at that moment that could have possibly allowed her to go through with it. Because he would be there with her.

He was watching her, not even touching the obviously handmade sandwich in front of him. She couldn't help but smile at the expression of concern and slight uncertainty he was sending her. She would have never believed, even a month ago, that Draco Malfoy could be sweet and thoughtful, but here he was.

"It surprises me that you cook as a muggle would," she pointed out to start a conversation, taking a bite of her sandwich.

It was a bit ironic; the pureblood choosing to cook without magic. She liked that he did, but was curious to know why.

Draco shrugged. "When I first got the place I used magic, but I found that using my hands is more of a stress reliever. It's relaxing."

"How did you learn?" she asked.

"I knew I could do a couple things by hand and I went to a store and got some books that showed me how to do more."

"You went to the store. A muggle store?" Hermione was shocked. If anyone in his circle found out, she didn't even want to think about what would happen.

"Yes. It was very strange and people kept looking at me oddly. I guess I didn't know a lot of things that any normal muggle would have," he said, seeming slightly embarrassed.

"I think that's really great," Hermione told him. "That you went to a muggle store. I would expect it was strange because you were never taught about common muggle things like that. It was strange for me when I first went to a wizard store in Diagon Alley. I wasn't taught about this world so I didn't know a lot of things that anyone raised as a witch or wizard would," she explained.

"That was how it felt for you entering the wizard world?" he asked.

"Somewhat. It was probably a bit different for you because I didn't grow up hearing about how horrible witches and wizards were, just that they didn't really exist."

"I guess I did go in with some different expectations," he agreed.

Hermione really wanted to know when his view of muggles and muggle-borns began to change, but based on the previous night, that was not a good question to ask.

"So, um, what was something fun you used to do as a child?" she asked putting the last bite of her sandwich into her mouth and reaching for the glass of water.

"I had a toy broom that I loved. I had a lot of toys and books, and pretty much everything a kid could want. I was a spoiled child, came to Hogwarts with the belief that I could get anything I wanted just because I was a Malfoy. But that toy broom; it was my favorite thing as a kid," he explained, smiling fondly at the memory.

Yes, Hermione did remember the spoiled rotten Draco Malfoy whose key line to everything in life was threatening to tell his father. Now, that threat would scare her, but back then, it was just plain annoying.

"What did you do as a child?" he asked.

"Well, we would go to the zoo as a family for my birthday. I loved it. I looked forward to the trip every year. That is, until I got older and realized that a zoo was practically a prison for the animals." Draco laughed. "What?" she asked.

"I can see that. Little Hermione Granger loves the zoo for years, then all of a sudden has the desire to free all the animals. You did that at Hogwarts as well. I remember your little club thing. As soon as you heard what a house elf was, you just had save them," he explained.

Hermione elbowed him in the side. "It was called S.P.E.W. and house elves deserve to be treated better than slaves."

"There's your problem right there. You care too much," Draco told her.

"I don't think anyone could care too much," she said.

Draco laughed again and Hermione liked how carefree he sounded for once. "I think you care more than any other person I know."

"I'll take that as a compliment," she replied.

Author's Note:

Hey! Got another chapter up! I was having some troubles ending it properly, so I hope it doesn't seem to cut out of the scene and end too quickly. I was kind of disappointed by the lack of reviews last week. I ended up having a bit more time to edit this week than expected, which was nice, but I kept checking back to see if anyone else had reviewed and being sad to find no one had

Thank you so much to the two people who did review: bennettfan84 and SereniteRose. I couldn't imagine not getting any reviews at this point in the story so I really appreciated your thoughts.

The rest of you! If you appreciate the work that I am putting into this story, let me know! It means so much to me and really only takes a few seconds of your time. If you can't think of anything to say, just a little encouragement would be amazing. In this final month of the semester, things are going to keep getting crazier and crazier and if I don't get reviews, I may not be able to update as often.

The story is really getting going in the next few chapters so you will want to be able to read them ;)

Thanks for reading, favoriting/following and have a great week!