Chapter 8- a confusing, slightly sweet and partly frustrating day.

Hermione walked downstairs in her school uniform, it was summer and she didn't see the need to drag those robes around so she just wore her basic uniform. Draco was sitting on the couch, his head in his hands mumbling something to himself. She eyed him curiously and then overheard a few things he was saying, "Stupid! Why did you do that! You know she doesn't like you!"

She became slightly alert to the situation and decided to make her presence known, "Malfoy." She said coldly as she walked past, towards the door.

"Hermione!" He quickly jolted up. Hermione stood still in shock, he never calls her that, the only time he says that is when he's… well, you know, never like this, outside the bedroom.

She snapped, this wasn't the arrangement! "WHAT?!"

He looked down instantly, almost shyly, "umm… never mind, I'm just, I'm sorry about this morning… that's all."

Hermione took a deep breathe, steadying her slight nerves, "It's fine… just don't let it happen again!" With that she stormed out.

'Ok, harsh, yes! But it had to be done!' She kept telling herself that as she stormed down the corridor, making her way into the great hall and plopping down next to Ginny. Furiously taking a large bit out of piece of unbuttered toast.

Ron, Harry and Ginny all stared at her anxiously until Ron spoke up, "umm, Hermione… everything ok?"

She snapped again, "Ok? OKAY?! No I'm not ok! That bloody Ferret and the way-" She quickly shut herself up as she realised that she was about to scream to the world that her and Draco were having sex! She looked around, only just realising that she was now standing and that the whole hall had stopped and looked at her. She quickly turned around and started rushing to the door, stopping mid-step as she saw him standing there, at the door way, something… something unreadable across his face but what she did see was that smug smirk, the Slytherin Prince's signature smirk! GOD SHE HATED IT! SHE HATED THAT IT HAD THIS AFFECT ON HER! SHE HATED IT! She continued storming down the hall, abruptly shoving past him making sure that he stumbled slightly when she did. She ran to her room and slammed the door shut, putting a locking a spell on it, a REALLY strong locking spell. She collapsed on her bed, screaming into the pillow but that soon turned to tears as she let it all sink in. After what felt like hours of meaningless – what she thought were meaningless tears she drifted off to sleep, a painful, memory filled sleep.

"No… please, don't… Victor stop… Why… Why me…"

"Hermione, wake up, wake up." She woke to find a Malfoy leaning over her, slightly shaking her.

Her eyes were alert and brimmed with tears, her heart racing, sweat lacing her skin. "What happened?!" She said sitting up.

"You ran out of the hall, I figured you just wanted some time to yourself and told all your teachers that you weren't feeling when you didn't show-"

"I missed my classes!?"

"Yes – I came back after dinner and heard you crying, when I came in you were asleep, you talked in your sleep, it sounded… bad…"

She slightly crossed her arms and dipped her head, trying to force the tears away.

"Hermione, what happened with Victor?"

"What?!" Her head snapped up but she tried to hide her anxiety as much as she could, "I don't know what you're talking about? You must have miss heard me, it was stupid nightmare… Draco?"

"Yes?"

"What time is it?"

"umm… probably, nine-ish."

"I'VE BEEN ASPLEEP ALL DAY?!"

He slightly chuckled, "Yeah… Well, goodnight Granger… I hope your sleep is a peaceful one."

He said standing up from the bed but he was quickly pulled down and embarrassed into a soft kiss. Their lips pressed together like two feathers gently dancing across an empty room, it was salty from Hermione's tears but neither of them cared, this felt right and nothing could ruin it except the fact that it was over to soon. Hermione kept her eyes closed as she whispered in a slightly shaky voice, "Thank you."

With out another word she laid down in bed, curling up in her sheets. Draco stood up slightly dazed as he slowly made his way out of her room just before he closed the door he heard her soft voice, "Good night Malfoy."

He smiled to himself and whispered back, "Good night Granger."

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