Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and do not make any profit from this fanfic other than the joys of your responses for which I am forever grateful!

Words

Sometimes words don't need to be spoken. Sometimes words aren't needed. Sometimes words are just words. Sometimes it's what is behind the words that really matter; the feelings, the compassion. The feeling of not being alone.

The silence between the two was like a blank space. Hermione and Draco rested in their own thoughts. Feeling the cold wall against the back of their heads it was almost as if it calmed their minds. There was yet silence. Not the kind of silence that can be cut with a knife. No, more along the lines of independent comfort.

"Well" she started, slightly hesitant about breaking the silence, yet still lingering in her own thoughts. Taking a deep breath she braced herself. "We all suffer."

Draco rose his eyebrows to the words that now echoed through the room. He would rather stand up and walk away at this very moment; he did not want to talk about this. It was better to do what he had always done, and hide it deep inside somewhere. Yet something kept him still. Hope was yearning for the meaning of her words.

Hermione traveled deep inside herself to find what to say. She was not sure if she was uttering these words for herself or for him. "Without the tears, without the pain, we can't appreciate what we have. With each tear that falls down our cheeks we are reminded of the greatness we had, and now lost. Its the pain of losing something we held so dearly that sparks this flood of emotions." Hermione was still, resting against the wall next to him, looking into the fire like it was holding the answers to all their problems. "Emotions are good. They are needed." she continued, and nodded slowly to herself. "With great pain comes great joy, you know."

Malfoy tilted his head ever so slightly to the side as he was watching the same flames roar in the fireplace. Slightly bemused, yet something kept him there. Something inside of him was thirsting for her words, drinking them in like a withered plant.

"People always say it the other way around, in order to remind you to not take it for granted. More times than often we tend to do so nonetheless."

"Which only makes the pain all the greater." Malfoy mumbled back.

Hermione nodded, slightly baffled. She continued, still not taking her eyes off of the fire. "We try to find something or someone to blame, but in the end it comes down to ourselves; Why we didn't acknowledge the fleetingness of the joys in our life." Hermione took a breath as to collect her thoughts. "I always say it the way I just did; With great pain comes great joy."

Draco turned his head slightly to Hermione, watching her out of the corner of his eye.

"Why, you might wonder. And I will tell you why." She full on turned her head to him. "It is because we need to remember that in our pain, we are feeling the pain because we have felt joy. When knowing we only feel the pain for this very reason the pain becomes almost… sweet." She scrunched up her face, as if she was confused by her own words. "It is also a reminder that after rain there's sunshine. Nothing is ever monotone, it is continuously changing. Forever."

Draco watched the pain in her eyes. It sparked something inside him, an almost need to sooth.

Not knowing what to do with this emotion, he returned to react the way he was taught; he looked away; continuing to watch the fire. It was his safety net. He did not wish to argue with her. Within him he could sense the truth in her words, but a part of him still wished to fight it.

"Memories may haunt us, remind us of these joys that we no longer have. Why don't you accept that pain you feel when you remember? Is it because you fear you wont feel it again? Or because you no longer have it?" Draco took a breath and opened his mouth as to speak some snarly words, but was cut off before he could even begin to explain himself.

"You felt it, nonetheless. You have felt that joy, and made an amazing and happy memory. That in itself should make the pain bitter-sweet."

Malfoy reluctantly agreed though his silence.

"As human beings we always look for escapes." Hermione continued and returned to watch the fire. "It is easier to feel angry or upset, than to know you feel upset and let yourself feel it. We want to escape any pain as much as possible. This hinders us from accepting the pain, and realizing why we feel it." She paused and thought about her own words. "Feel the pain." she finally decided. "Pain is good for you. It reminds you of the good things you have had."

Malfoy's lips made it into the faintest of smiles, but a smile nonetheless.

The warmth from her shoulder touching his gave a strange feeling of calming comfort.

The fire was alive, yet so still. A bright warming yellow, burning the air to red. The loggs with its almost blue tint cracked as the fire was absorbing its essence. The fire flickered alike the two's slow breathing. It moved, danced, peacefully together in the most humble of ways. So quietly moving, yet so loud in essence.

"When pain gets out of hand, though" she almost whispered, her words like the dancing flames. "That is when you know you might be struggling with something. If you feel this way, you might need to take certain actions to find acceptance. The best way to manage this is through talking to someone. It may be a friend, it may be a professional. Nonetheless, it is important that you do. Pain is good, but when you can not handle it, you need help to find ways to deal with it. There is nothing wrong with that. It might be that the joy, that you feel sorrow for losing, is too great for you to feel at the moment. Too great to handle. It doesn't make you weak. It makes you strong."

The fire burned and warmed their flesh.

"You are realizing the greatness of your joy and counter pain, and taking actions to battle that greatness." Hermione looked to him. "You are strong. But together we are stronger." Hermione said slightly hesitant. It was not easy talking to the man next to her. His barriers, his walls, were strong and hard to break through. She was not sure as to how he would react to her latest comment. She had expressed them as being equals, and she was still a bit confused as to his stand on this. If it wasn't for the fact his chest moved when he breathed she wouldn't have thought him to be alive.

He felt her eyes on him and waited. Finally he drew a breath and almost sighed. "Leave it up to you to ruin a good talk with a lecture." he huffed and placed his big hand on the floor, easily pushing himself up onto his feet.

Hermione sat there, feeling bare. She had opened herself up inorder to help. His words hurt. What had she expected, though? A hug and thankfulness? No, this was Malfoy.

That is exactly why she got surprised when a hand came into her view. Hermione tilted her head up and was met by grey eyes. Although the dim color in his eyes, they were full of life, she noted. Full of different levels, alike stormy seas.

Malfoy cleared his throat.

Hermione looked back to the hand he was holding out infront of her. An "Oh" escaped her parted lips. She peeked back up into his eyes questioningly, before accepting the hand.

"Thank you" she mumbled when she was back up on her feet. Brushing the back of her skirt to make sure she had not acquired some dirt onto it.

Draco nodded in return. He stood awkwardly for a moment before he decided it was time to leave the situation. It had lasted much too long. He was almost through the hole when she piped up. Without turning around he listened to her words.

"I won't tell." Hermione took a small breath. "And I'm here, if you need me, that is."

With that Malfoy went back to walking away, leaving Hermione awkwardly on her own in their common room.

"At least I tried" she mumbled, not sure of the situation or the turn out.

The following morning started in a rush. The rain drummed loudly against the window. Hermione flew out of bed, her hair in a real jungle jam and her oversized t-shirt leaving her shoulder exposed. One of her knee socks had crumpled by her ankle and it made her skin itch. Her sensitive skin prickled from the morning air tingling the heavy air. In a haze she entered the bathroom, while trying to scratch her leg.

Caught off guard Draco stopped in his movement, the toothpaste still foaming. Toothbrush in hand and big eyes he watched the young woman maneuver about the sink. Does she not see me? he thought to himself in disbelief.

Hermione opened her mouth to brush her teeth while examining her curly mess. All though she did not stop any of her movements her mind seemed to have come to a complete halt when she met another person's reflection.

Draco spit, wiped his mouth, then stoop back up. Their reflection's eyes were locked. "Morning Granger"

Hermione, still with the toothbrush in her mouth grunted in respons.

"Not a morning person I see." with a smug smile Draco left the bathroom.

Hermione closed her eyes trying to collecting herself. Deep breaths.

She opened her eyes and tried a smile. It didn't fit, so she used the moment to inspect her teeth. Her front teeth were still on the large side, but not at all like before Malfoy had enchanted them. She made a mental note to thank him for that later. Should put him back in his place, she though smugly.

With a flick of her fine wand her hair strands unfolded. Although she may not be the best at beauty spells and potions, she still knew a few. The only issue was the time. Although it was magic, it was still time consuming to untangle. However, maybe not as bad as the muggle way.

Her curls fell ruggedly across her shoulders. It would have to do.

Hermione hastily changed into her uniform and pinned her head girl onto her sweater. Grabbing her sling bag on the way out she made to walk down to breakfast. She was hoping for french toast.

Malfoy seemed to have other plans for her it seemed, however.

"Walk with me."

Hermione looked questioningly up at the young man. "Okay" she mumbled and followed him out into the corridor. After a few minutes of walking in silence she finally lost her patience. "So?"

"So what?" Malfoy asked without taking eyes off of the end of the corridor they were now walking down.

"Why did you want me to walk with you?"

"Was it wrong of me to do so?"

Hermione was a bit baffled by the question. "No, I can't say it was."

"Then?"

"Was there no purpose?"

"Not everything needs to have a purpose, Granger" Still not taking his eyes off of the end of the hall he stopped and turned to her. "We are almost by the Great Hall." He looked at her now.

Hermione felt confused, yet entranced by the unending look in his eyes. A moment passed, and it gathered the tension to their surroundings.

"What?" she finally whispered.

The dire moment was laced with perplexity.

"If you tell a soul…"

"I won't."
She wished to confirm her words again, to make him feel at ease. She desired to feel trusted. Yet she had to accept the little she got. Her own insecurities were eating her from the inside out.

Draco closed his eyes. He hadn't realized he had started to squeeze Granger's shoulder until he felt her tiny little hand on his. He snapped his eyes open.

The look on his face was a turmoil of uncovered emotions. Doubt, dread, horror afflicted his face. Hermione could only but blink before his hand was pulled out of her gentle grasp.

Without looking her in the eyes he hurriedly walked through the big doors with great steps. Malfoy's hands were deep within his pockets.

Hermione's forehead was hurting from the intense furrow she was sporting.

"I guess I was the one to do something wrong then." Hermione mumbled to herself.

"Whatcha say?" Ginny's silky hair flared in the corner of her eye. Hermione quickly recollected herself and smiled brightly.

"Just talking to myself"

"As usual then. I miss havin' you in our dorm! There's no one to nag when we stay up too long! I barely get any sleep nowadays thanks to you!"

Hermione shook her head, laughing at her friend. When they walked into breakfast together she cast an eye to the Slytherin table. A pair of grey eyes looked back at her. As quickly as their eyes had met, the connection was broken.

AN: It's been a while. I'm in a much better place now and have been able to express my creativity. Hopefully you all enjoyed the chapter, although it was a bit short. Please give me your thoughts, they are highly valued! Love