Chapter7

Hermione woke up to a pounding head and an empty room that she didn't recognize. She was confused as to how she had landed here but thinking hurt her head so much that she decided that maybe she'd investigate that part later, first she needed to find another occupant in this unfamiliar house.

She felt woozy as she managed to get up from the bed and walked to the door. When she opened the door, she found the person she had least expected to see here; a half naked Draco Malfoy.

/SLASH SCENE/

After breakfast, Luna decided to go and get Hermione's things before she woke up. Luna had decided to go alone but Blaise wanted to tag along just in case Ron created some problem. Luna had been very frustrated with him and had plainly refused to let him come along.

"You are not coming with me Blaise and that is final. I can take care of myself", she had said.

Blaise had argued," I know you can take care of yourself, but I just want to be there just in case Weasley loses his temper."

" I am not afraid of him", Luna had fumed.

Blaise had replied," I know you are not afraid of him, but I just need to go."

Draco had interrupted by saying," please Luna, take him with you or he'll keep whining while you are gone."

Luna had sighed and then mumbled something that had sounded, "overprotective fool." while looking at Blaise. They had then side along apparated to Hermione and Ron's apartment leaving Draco to take care of Hermione.

Draco had decided to take a shower as there was still time for Hermione to wake up. So Draco had taken a much needed shower where he contemplated how he would convince Hermione to stay in his house. He knew it was not going to be easy, but Hermione Granger was never easy. This thought brought a smile on his face, her stubbornness was one of the things he admired the most about her.

With this thought in mind he stopped the shower, wrapped a towel around his waist and moved into his bed room. He suddenly remembered that he had to floo his mother to inform her that he had settled in; he found it unnecessary but she had insisted. Narcissa Malfoy was not the kind of women you could refuse. He walked out of his room to floo his mother when the door of the guest room opened and out came a shocked Hermione Granger. Looking at her expression he had just one thought in his mind ,' here we go'.

/slash scene/

Hermione was speechless for one minute as she didn't know what to say to Malfoy. She started thinking of the reason why Malfoy was here but winced as her head throbbed.

Draco saw her wincing and asked," how are you feeling now?"

Hermione managed to reply," my head is pounding".

Draco ran over to her as she looked like she would faint any minute and led her to the couch in his living room; he ran to his bedroom and got a hangover potion for her. He stared at her as she quickly gulped the potion and closed her eyes.

Hermione felt instant relief as soon as she gulped the potion, her head stopped throbbing and now she could think. Then in a rush she remembered finding Ron cheating, their fight, she also remembered getting drunk in Luna's club, which had been stupid. After that she didn't remember much though she got a few flashes of going to her beach and then jumping.

Draco had been watching Hermione's face as it relaxed after taking the potion, then he saw the play of emotions on her very expressive face; first pain, then anger then guilt and then suddenly she sat upright and gripped the couch so hard that her knuckles turned white.

Tears filled her eyes as her shock subsided and then she started crying in the earnest. Draco watched helplessly as Hermione sobbed uncontrollably; he didn't know what to say or do but he knew she needed someone. He sat on her side and put a comforting arm around her shoulder. Seeking comfort, Hermione turned into his arms and wept in his arms. Draco hugged her tighter, while all the time murmuring comforting words in her ears.

After 15 minutes Hermione's sobs reduced into small sniffs and she finally realized that she had wept on Draco Malfoy's naked shoulder. Embarrassed, she moved out of his arms and created some distance between them.

She finally said," did you save me; I think I remember seeing your face. I can't remember everything but I keep getting flashes of my memories."

Draco sighed and said," Luna came to Blaise and me for help; I just found you in time."

Hermione looked ashamed and said," poor Luna; I can't believe I did that to her. I can't believe I did that to myself. Thank you so much Malfoy; for saving me."

Draco smiled and said," its ok Granger. I know you wouldn't do something like that in your right mind; you are too strong for that; too brave."

Hermione looked in his eyes and said," I don't feel very strong at the moment and brave people don't try to kill themselves."

Draco sighed and said," you were drunk Granger, don't beat yourself over it; it was a mistake. In time you'll feel strong and brave again. Trust me on that."

Hermione took in his sincere face and nodded, then looking around, she asked," Is this your house? When did you return to England?"

Draco replied," I just came back yesterday and yes this is my house. Blaise got it ready for me before my arrival; looking at the interiors, I think Luna had more to do with it than he admits. That guy is smitten."

Hermione got the first genuine smile on her face and said," that, he is. I have grown to like Blaise a lot, though I am not very open about it. He makes Luna very happy and that is what makes him perfect in my eyes. Well, where are they?"

Draco knew that the time had come so he said," they have gone to your old apartment to get your things moved."

Hermione got a pained look on remembering the reason why she needed a new accommodation and said," I am not moving in with both of them; they have a life and even though they won't complain, I know that I will bother them.

Draco smiled thinking how Luna had said that Hermione would say this, he looked at her and asked," though Luna would love it if you would live with them, but she anticipated your reaction to that so we came up with another solution."

Hermione looked at Draco suspiciously as he started fidgeting,' what is he nervous about' she thought.

Hermione casually asked," what solution did you come up with?"

Draco stammered," well I thought, I mean we all thought that you shouldn't live alone and you know how difficult it is to find an apartment in London, so I proposed and well everyone agreed that maybe you could live here."

Draco said that while looking anywhere but Hermione's face. He started a mental countdown, waiting for the explosion; ' 1…2…3…4…5…6…'

And then Hermione exploded,"You thought that you can make decisions for me. I am not a child; I can take care of myself. And why would you agree to that; no, you yourself proposed that. I haven't seen you in 3 years and now suddenly you want me to live with you. I don't hate you, I merely acknowledge that you have changed and you helped during the war; but we are not friends and I am not going to just move in with you."

Draco waited patiently for Hermione to catch her breath and then calmly said," listen Granger, no one is making any decision for you; it is just a suggestion. You are free to do whatever you want to do. I know we are not friends and I appreciate the fact that you have accepted my change and don't deem me as pure evil, but I am not telling you to move in with me; you'll be like a roommate. I have come back home after 3 years and I don't want to live alone, I was about to tell Blaise to look for a roommate for me. "he came up with the roommate crap just to convince her; she didn't need to know that it was a lie.

Before Hermione could say anything he continued," you can help in the house and pay half the rent. I am just looking for company, nothing else. I have 4 bedrooms in this place; there is plenty of room for 2 people. You could either live here or you could roam around London for months, looking for a suitable apartment."

Hermione didn't reply but was in a deep thought,' he is a nice enough company and god knows I need that. And it doesn't hurt that the apartment was just the way she liked; spacious, open and filled with light. She could pay the rent and help with household chores so it won't be like she was taking favors. But he was still Draco Malfoy, could she really live with her childhood enemy; well it was time to take risks. It was time to build up the famous Gryffindor courage and accept the challenge of the situation.

She looked at Draco who was staring at her, waiting for an answer," well I don't have many choices. I need a place to live, and I like your house. I will live here but there are some ground rules that you'll have to follow. Like we will divide all the expenses including rent, I get 2 rooms, one for me one for my guests. This is not a permanent settlement, as soon as I get a suitable apartment, I'll move. You will never enter my room without my permission and last but not the least; I have a cat that will live with me."

Draco paled a little, he was scared of cats, once as a child he had been bitten by a cat and since then he avoided them at all costs. He decided to not say anything about the cat or else Hermione would never agree to live here.

So he said," I agree to all your conditions but I just have one favor to ask."

Hermione looked at him suspiciously and asked," and what is that?"

Draco replied," well if you could just bear my mother sometimes."

" what do you mean by bear her? If you think that she can call me a mudblood and I will bear that then you are mistaken." Hermione replied.

Draco sighed and explained," you don't know my mother; the person you knew was the wife of a deatheater who had to remain cold to protect herself. What I meant was that my mother always wanted a daughter, she loves me but she wished that she had another child who was a girl. So she might get a little enthusiastic when she meets you."

Hermione gulped,' why did it sound like a warning?' She couldn't imagine the cold and calm Narcissa Malfoy as a over enthusiastic mother. She wasn't sure she could handle that but said," it's ok, I think I can bear that."

Draco chuckled," make yourself comfortable, feel like home, well it is your home."

Hermione replied," I am not sure I can feel like home and make myself comfortable if you stay half naked all day."

Draco blushed, in his hurry to convince Hermione he had totally forgotten that he was still clad in only a towel. He scampered off to his room, the whole time mumbling his apologies. He was back in 5 minutes wearing a blue t-shirt and black slacks.

Hermione thought that Draco had grown into quite a handsome man, and he did have a killer body. She berated herself for having such thoughts.

They stood in an awkward silence then Draco said," you go take a shower and I'll just floo my mother and then I'll get you something to eat."

Hermione nodded and then asked," can I stay in the room I woke up in ?"

Draco smiled and said," yes you can stay there."

She nodded and then both went on with their work; Draco flooed his mother while Hermione showered and then both of them sat while Hermione ate the peanut butter sandwiches Draco had prepared. They made small talks and Draco noticed that Hermione avoided the topic of Ron Weasley at all costs. They could get comfortable in each other's company, they had a lot in common. They had been discussing the rent when suddenly the main door opened with a bang and in came an upset Luna lovegood and a fuming Blaise Zabini.

They dropped Hermione's stuff in the living room and then Blaise shouted," I'll kill that bastard."

A/n: I am very sorry for the late update but I tried to compensate by making the chapter longer. I was having some personal issues and couldn't get my heart in my writing.

I'll try to update faster, please be patient.

I feel that I am not getting enough reviews. Reviews motivate me to write so please review.

This chapter is not betaed as my beta is still grounded.

Please tell me how you want the story to go from here and give some tips.I hope to update very soon.

Lots of Love

Ash