This chap is sorta short but it's an in between as I like to call it...I'll be posting the other half of what the in between is in between as soon as I'm done writing it...but I also wanted to let you all know that I've started a new story...yes I know shameless plug...it's called Could This Be It?...and it's gonna be great...first chap of that's up so go and read and let me know what you think...lol

Disclaimer: N-O-T mine...lol

Rest and Relaxation

The rest of the day was a blur to Draco. He slept most of the time on the other side of the bed on top of the blankets. He remembered bits and pieces of dreams but nothing solid. It wasn't until close to ten o' clock that he awoke and didn't fall right back to sleep.

He was lying on his right side one arm shoved up under the pillow beneath his head his other one lying across the bed. When he opened his eyes he saw through the darkness the outline of Granger's face. She was facing him her eyes half open half closed like she was in the process of waking up.

Her hair was spread out on the pillow behind her head and Draco could see most of her upper body, for the blankets were pushed down. She looked like she was in pain for he saw her hand resting on her stomach. Draco sat up and leaned over her pushing her onto her back.

"What are you doing?" she asked her voice barely a whisper. Her eyes were open fully this time as he moved her hand.

"I need to check it." He said starting to lift her shirt.

"Stop!" she cried pushing his hand away and pulling her shirt down.

"Granger I need to check it. I'm not going to take your shirt off or anything I'm just going to look right there." He said pointing to just above her navel.

"Why what did you do?" she asked. "What happened?"

"Someone was casting a spell on you. They were using a Voodoo doll to try to kill you. You had a hole in your stomach but it's fixed now. I'm just checking to make sure it's still fixed and the spell hasn't been recast." Draco said calmly. He was still really tired.

"Fine but make it quick. I don't like this."

"Believe me I don't really enjoy having to lift your shirt Granger. I'm doing it because if you're hurt I have to go get the Dark Lord."

He lifted her shirt and examined the cut. He touched it with an index finger, something that made her shiver. He smirked at that looking up at her face. She was watching him like a hawk, her eyes much like Professor McGonigall's.

"You have cold hands Malfoy." She said softly.

He just looked at her for a moment. She seemed to be trying to convince herself not to start anything with him. She didn't like him touching her skin something that made him want to do it more…only because it would annoy her.

"Where does it hurt Granger?" he asked touching his index and middle fingers to the silvery scar. He watched her shiver again and noticed the little goose bumps that spread like a wave across her stomach.

"Here." She said guiding his fingers over to the left just a bit. Her eyes closed as he touched it making him lessen the pressure.

"I have to get the Dark Lord. He told me to tell him whenever something happens with you." Draco said lifting his fingers from her skin and replacing her shirt. She nodded her eyes still closed. Draco assumed that she was still in pain so he quickened his pace across the room.

He opened the door and walked down the hall being sure to shut the door after him. He walked up the hall stopping when he reached the Dark Lord's quarters. He knocked softly on the door trying to stifle a yawn.

The door opened and it was Lucius who greeted Draco. He stepped aside, allowing Draco to pass him. Draco heard the door close behind him as the Dark Lord looked up.

"Has something new developed Draco?"

"She's awake my Lord. But she's in pain. It hurts right at the scar she showed me. What would you like me to do." Draco asked trying again to stifle a yawn.

"I will go and tend to it. I wish to ask her a question or two. Have you slept at all boy?"

"I was sleeping for a bit my Lord." Draco replied.

"The girl's room has been finished. After we've relieved her pain we will move her back so that you may get a full night's rest. I will have a Death Eater watch over her through out the night. But right now let's go and visit the girl." Voldemort then stood silently and passed Draco and Lucius on his way to the door.

Hermione waited patiently in the room where Draco had left her. Had her abdomen not hurt so badly she would have made an attempt to get through the door and maybe to freedom. But all that she could do was lay there like a log wincing every once in a while when a sharp pain shot throughout her entire midsection.

The darkness that surrounded her could have been cut with a knife. She wondered why she had been moved from the bright cheery room to this dreary dark place. She didn't like it and wanted to be in the old room much more.

Thoughts, however, chased themselves about her mind. Thoughts about Malfoy and his personality. He had seemed worried about her this evening. Maybe it was only her imagination getting the better of her, but he definitely seemed concerned.

She could still remember the feel of his single finger on her skin. It was so cold like ice. She shivered at the memory wondering why his hands were so cold. But what made her shiver the most was that she wasn't as bothered as she thought she'd be at the feel of his skin on hers. It had felt nice, except for the coolness.

Her eyes were closed again when she heard the door open. She figured it was only Draco with something to ease her pain so she didn't bother to open them. It wasn't until she heard more than one set of feet shuffling over the carpet that she bothered to open them.

"Miss Granger my honoured guest." Said Voldemort with a smile.

Hermione's heart stopped. Forgetting her pain she immediately tried to run away but cried out in pain at her movements. Draco hurried forward at Voldemort's wave and helped Hermione lay back down. He then handed her a vial uncorking it for her.

"Drink it. It'll help with the pain." He said stiffly then took his place beside his father.

Hermione did as he instructed only because Voldemort was watching her and the aching of her stomach was becoming unbearable. When the liquid was all swallowed Voldemort held out his hand for the vial. With a shaky hand Hermione gave it to him.

"Just lay back and relax Mudblood I will not harm you." Voldemort said in a calm voice. This sent fearful trembles through her but no one saw for Hermione had pulled the blankets up around her.

Hermione stared at Voldemort worry and fear the most obvious things in her eyes. Draco could tell that she wanted nothing more than to get very far from him.

Voldemort waved a hand and a chair flew across the room sitting itself behind him. He sat down gracefully keeping his eyes locked on Hermione. Both Draco and Lucius seated themselves behind Voldemort Draco looking tired.

"Do you remember if you felt anything strange before the pain started earlier this morning, Mudblood?" Voldemort asked.

"No. I felt just as I always have." She said softly her voice weak.

"Would you have any idea of anyone that would want to kill you both?" Voldemort asked casually as if people tried to kill her all the time.

"No. I don't have any enemies but you and Malfoy." Hermione said bravely. Draco's jaw almost dropped to the floor.

'She's stupid she is. He's not going to take that from her.'

"I see. Very well. You will be moved back to your room now. I suggest that you get some rest Mudblood. You should recover in a day or so."

Hermione merely nodded at the villain before her. He inclined his head slightly before standing and starting for the door. Before he crossed the threshold however he called back to Draco.

"She may be moved now Draco. After that I wish you to get sleep. You'll need your rest." Then he was gone.

"Carry her to the next room. Don't use magic it might make the potion go through a reaction. Macnair will be waiting." Lucius then followed Voldemort.

"What did he mean by Macnair will be waiting?" she asked her eyes still wide as she gazed at him.

"He'll be standing watch over you for the night. Since the Dark Lord wants me to get rest someone else will have to watch you." Draco said approaching the bed.

"Wait a minute. I can walk." She said starting to move. That's when she realized that most of her body was numb. She couldn't feel her feet or her hands. It felt as if she had no legs at all.

"No you can't Granger. That potion I gave you makes sure you're in no pain, anywhere. You won't be walking anywhere tonight."

"Well I don't want you carrying me. Why can't I just stay here?"

"Because Granger this is my room. This is my bed." He said softly the now lit candles making the dim light flicker off his pale face. "Your rooms only down the hall."

Hermione couldn't stop him even if she tried. She was too tired and her arms felt like jelly as they slowly went numb. She couldn't feel his hands as they slid beneath her body and gently lifted her. She couldn't feel her arms that encircled his neck. All that she could feel was her head bouncing a little as he shifted her in his arms and his breath against her face.

She kept her eyes averted though she knew that Malfoy's face was dangerously close to her own. She didn't want to think about being that close to him, her mind fighting to think of something else.

Her eyes were beginning to droop almost as if someone was putting her under a sleeping spell. She truly didn't want to sleep but she knew that to recover from almost being skewed she needed to.

She felt the direction change and forced her eyes open to see that she was in the other room again. There was a tall burly man sitting in a chair with a Daily Prophet in his hands who was looking at her. Hermione felt a little uncomfortable with him there but could do nothing about it.

Draco started to set her down something that made Hermione's head turn toward his face. Their noses were mere centimeters apart as Draco stopped at her movement. Both were stuck almost as if in a dream that way. Draco peering into her half-glazed eyes, as Hermione tried to look in to his.

The fire was blazing making the room much warmer than it needed to be but it seemed that neither Hermione nor Draco noticed. Draco's warm breath blew on Hermione's face driving a few stray hairs back out of her eyes. If Macnair hadn't rustled his paper the two might have stared all night long. But at the sound Draco blinked and retracted his head a bit.

Gently he lowered her to the mattress. Her head rested on the now light blue pillowcases to go with the light blue sheets. He pulled the blankets up feeling more like a baby-sitter than a groom to be. He pulled the comforter that had blue flowers printed on it up to her chest folding it down and smoothing it out. Her arms rested atop it motionless. She was asleep again.

"Get going Draco. She'll be fine." Macnair said from behind him.

Draco turned and looked at the man. He was sitting in the chair relaxed as if he knew nothing had happened. He must not have been here that afternoon when everything began. Had he been he would know there was something to be alert about. Very alert.

kk...so things are progressing nicely...I know that you all want Draco and Hermione to get together and that will happen...eventually...but somethings have to happen first...like...oh wait and find out...

remember review and you get cyber cookies...lol...

Starry