CHAPTER 6

Hermione stood up in a rush.

Oh my god what is he doing here? It's too soon. No no no. I haven't thought of what to say to him. No no no.

Draco's face appeared at the back door. He found Hermione at the backyard of her house. Sunlight was shining down at her face, her mess of curls was tied into a ponytail, stray tendrils framing her face. Even with the frown that she wore he thought she never looked more beautiful in a sweater and faded jeans.

Focus Draco focus. You came here to apologise. You're overwhelmed by what happened. There's no time for feelings and and.. Love. You don't deserve love Draco. No. Now go give the apology you came here for.

He started walking towards her. His face too wore a frown. Hermione's heart started to beat, harder with every step that Draco took.

And suddenly he was increasing his pace. He ran towards her and enveloped her in an embrace. He held her for a long time before he found his voice.

"Hermione, I - I'm sorry about what happened yesterday. I shouldn't have done what I did. It was wrong I shouldn't have. I'm sorry I've used you. I really sorry, I hope we can still be friends. Will you forgive me?"

Hermione's heart ached at the word friends but somehow it gave her courage to tell him about the arrangement. Draco had ignited something within her, she had to feel him again. His arms felt so warm and comforting. Despite everything she felt compelled to not lose him. Even if Draco sees himself as a cold creature, he was always a symbol of warmth to her. She was getting addicted to his touch.

"You don't have to apologise. What happened yesterday was.. confusing to say the least but it's okay. I gave you consent. You don't have to feel sorry. I'm fine. Really. How are you though, are you doing ok?"

Draco stared at her in disbelief.

She's incredible. How can someone be so forgiving?

"I'm okay. Lucius's funeral gna be at 3pm this afternoon. Mother's going over the arrangement as we speak.." He let go of her and kept his eyes on the ground. He can't lose his control now. He felt a hand on his arm, he looked up and saw her. She was so worried about him.

Hermione decided it was now or never. "Draco, I have a suggestion.." He gave a nod, encouraging her to continue.

"I think we should come up with an arrangement for us." She let out her words slowly. Draco looked confused.

She took a deep breath and continued. "When we're together, I feel things that I've never.. felt before. It's liberating for me. I believe it is for you too. Do you think we could continue with what we did last night? There's no feelings involved of course.. it's just something that we do for each other. To reduce whatever it is that's affecting us in our lives.. What do you say to that?"

Draco felt his jaw dropped. He had never expected this to come from Hermione. Not today not ever. Is she real?

"So you want us to continue sleeping with each other as a form of release? Like a fuck buddy?"

Hermione frowned. What a way to simplify things. Boys.

"Yes like a fuck buddy though I would prefer friends with benefits. Sounds less crude to me. So do you want to..? With me?" Her eyes were focused on Draco now, waiting for his response.

Draco was still confused with the suggestion. He had plenty of booty-calls, Hermione wasn't supposed to part of that world. She belonged to the light, a genuine friend who was not involved with him. But he couldn't forget how she had made him feel. She was right, being with Hermione last night did help him with handling the pain of losing his father. Just being around her had helped him forget about his troubles, touching her was another feeling altogether. But can he separate her from his world? Why they be able to prevent this arrangement from growing to something more?

He stared at her, pondering still. She did say that there's no feeling involved.. And Hermione would never want to be with me. I'm too fucked up for her. She deserves someone better, someone who belongs in the light like her. Besides I have Cassie.

Draco failed to realise he had considered the possibility of Hermione wanting him, by thinking that did he mean that he wanted her too?

He took a step forward and held onto her hands, "Okay why not let's give it a try Hermione."

Hermione swallowed her saliva as she looked her blonde friend.

This is it.

Draco shifted uncomfortably in his seat, the funeral was held at the Malfoy Manor. Lucius's coffin was being lowered slowly into the ground. It turns out he had died due to natural death in his cell. It was about an hour being the prison guard had found his limp body in the corner of his cell, his hand holding onto two letters, one written for his wife and one for his beloved son. Narcissa had of course read her letter and that could explain her break down, Draco was hesitant on reading his letter. He would do it in the future, there was no rush. It was kept in a box that held the Malfoy crest, a part of the family heirloom.

A hand reached out and rested on his hand giving it a comforting squeeze. His eyes looked up to meet hazel brown eyes. He gave her a little smile and his attention went back to the funeral.

"We are gathered here to remember a great wizard..." The Pastor's voice was all Draco could hear before he tuned out and got lost in his thoughts again.

"Draco Malfoy? Draco?" A hand was waving in his face, he blinked. The funeral was over, people were starting to move out. He blinked again when he saw who was currently standing in front of him.

Cassiopeia Winsland. His Cassie.

"I'm sorry for your loss. I hope you're doing okay. Our families were quite close when your parents were younger so we're here to send him off too." Her beautiful face stared back at him, a soft smile hanging on her lips.

Draco composed himself before he replied her, "I'm okay. Thanks for the concern Cassiopeia." He tried to return a smile before she placed a hand on his arm and said "Call me Cassie. Em I think this would come off as weird but would you like to have dinner tonight..? With me?" He thought she looked so adorable when she's nervous. He has never seen her so unsure of herself. He was smiling now, "Sure Cassie. I'll come pick you up at 8 tonight?" She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before she looked at Draco. Crystal blue eyes forced their way through to pools of silver and grey. Draco's heart was racing now. "I'll see you tonight, Draco." She replied softly and she let go of his arm.

As she walked away to join her family, Hermione thought she could have died on the spot if Narcissa Malfoy weren't standing next to her. The two of them had bonded over the friendship that Draco had with Hermione. "Hermione dear, stop looking so defeated. My son is blind, he doesn't know what his heart really wants. All he knows is she is who he thinks he should be with. Lucius would have approved of her, but I like you better. You know what's good for Draco. And I'm his mother so that's saying alot." Hermione stared at the Malfoy Matriarch, she couldn't think of a respond to that.

"I know how you feel about Draco Hermione. Don't worry he'll come around soon." She too walked away, saying her goodbyes to the guests that came today.

Am I that transparent?

Hermione decided she was done being non-existent, she left the manor without saying a word to Draco and apparated home. Opening a bottle of red wine, she sat in her bathtub and allowed the steam from the water to consume her. If only Ginny were here, she will have the answers to this.

Ginny had gone to Rome with her new beau, the guy from the club who shared the same love for Quidditch. She won't be back for a least another two weeks.

She gulped down another glass of wine before she realised she was almost done with the bottle. How fast am I drinking? The wine was getting to her but she didn't care. Reaching over to the counter to finish pouring the rest of her wine, she heard a voice outside of her bathroom.

"Hermione, are you in there?"

She was so surprised she let go of her glass and it shattered against the marble floor tiles, cutting herself along the process. "Ouch my -"

Upon hearing the crash, the door was flung open to reveal a very flustered looking Draco Malfoy, looking at a bleeding and very naked Hermione Granger.

AN: Thank you everyone for the reviews! They're really encouraging, i was never a writer so all the kind words meant alot to me. End of 6! I'm sorry Cassie has to be back in the picture, I had to before she's forgotten in the plot haha. Wait for 7! :)