Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I still own nothing. Everything still belongs to our queen JK Rowling, from the devilishly handsome Draco Malfoy to the littlest house elf.

And now onto the good stuff!

Draco watched as Hermione raced from the Great Hall, as the pride he felt for piquing her curiosity transformed into angry, petrified butterflies danced in his stomach, putting him off the food before him as ants crept up his legs making it nearly impossible to sit still. Yet he commanded himself to, unwilling to show any notice of Hermione's departure to everyone, he did not feel like making himself into any more of a laughing stock then he already felt like. Nibbling anxiously he fought against his nervous tick of chewing on his upper lip, an action most of the dimwitted girls at Hogwarts thought of as being an enticing or sexy move when really he was just stressed or concentrating, leaving as soon as the house elves magically vanished the food he managed to be the first out the doors.

Blowing off first his first class before instantly sending an owl to report himself as too ill to attend class he settled in for a less than productive day of pacing and nervous wondering – wondering he knew would never end if she just chose to ignore the memory or if she ended up being too angry with him still to care. He more than half expected she would pull herself out of the memory as soon as she saw it was him and dump it down the drain, kick the bird to the curb and smash the vial into a million pieces. He just hoped that was all idle, fearful speculation. He just hoped he was wrong.

…..

It was nearing the end of the first class when he became even more frustrated. He had already looked at the clock 1,497 times, walked the perimeter of the room 576 times, cursed loud enough to make the bloody baron (who had taken a liking to sleeping on his ceiling, saying something between deep sighs about how beneath the blood they were kindred souls) to threaten to take him out and beat him like the miserable cur he was 98,762 times and counting. He was about to lose his bloody mind. And just when insanity seemed neigh a light tapping lit on his window. His gift owl.

Steeling himself he pried open the thin window to allow the tiny creature in, unsure whether it had returned with a message or if it returned merely as it had nowhere else to go. Insistant the small creature puffed itself up as big as it could (still being able to fit neatly into the palm of Draco's hand despite and despite its best efforts looking like an adorable little featherball) and gripped his sleeve tight as it could by beak and talon, miniature wings struggling to propel him to the door. The small creature was not at all pleased to see its new mistress in tears, but knew from her request that Draco was the one to fix it.

"I'm coming, I'm coming. Relax lil' guy." He muttered, detaching the small creature before it gave itself a heart attack, while trying to wipe the wide grin from a face not accustomed to it. She saw it. And even more than that she saw it and sent for him. Maybe things were looking up after all.

…..

Finding herself pacing her room again Hermione could not help but curse her haste in sending out the bird. What if he regretted sending that to her? Or if he was actually clever enough to forge a memory to trick her. Despite the improbability conspiracy theories ran rampant in her mind. What was taking them so long?

…..

Managing the halls while everyone was in class was the easy part, it was the breaking into the Gryffindor common room that proved to be the more difficult feat. Pleading and cajoling gave way to threats and mild curses before it was the owl that truly managed to be the charmer, cooing and cuddling up to the Fat Lady until she agreed to let them past, even throwing in the hint that Hermione had not left since she returned from breakfast that morning.

The Gryffindor tower also turned out to be far more of a maze than he had quite realized, thankful again that all the other students were in class as he made one wrong turn after another. Landing himself in the female showers, the female loo before finally stumbling before the Gryffindor Prefect Girl's door where muffled sobs could be heard on the other side even as the owl pecked ruthlessly at the door as though attempting to bust it open all by itself. Even if that meant chipping it away sliver by sliver.

Chewing anxiously on that lower lip again, trying to stop himself before it bled, he knocked tentatively on the door, pausing a moment before calling out her name softly so as to not frighten her. He hadn't realized that he could get any more concerned than he was before, but he was horribly wrong as her sobs turned his insides to jello covered in angry bees. He had no way to tell why she cried, not from his position on the other side of the door. Unable to tell if she was happy, furious, if she would hex is balls off the moment that door was flung open, he was just stuck. Waiting on her. Like he had been ever since he saw that stupid mirror. "Hermione… Hermione, its Draco… and well that blasted bird is here as well. Can we… can we come in?"

No answer.

Gingerly he grasped the door knob, half expecting a shock when he did before ignoring her silence, or at least hoping she didn't mean it in a "I just really don't want to talk to you right now" kind of way. Opening the door inch by inch he peeled open enough space to slip in, wary for a sudden attack from the brilliant witch for whom it would be no challenge to hex him into oblivion. "Hermione?" He called again, seeing she had sunk down at some point to sit on the edge of her scarlet bed, head in her hands as she just continued to sob though her tears seemed to have run out a long time ago. Her chest heaved with the effort as she seemed entirely unaware of his presence, welcome or otherwise. Gathering his courage was easier now, seeing her like this as he set all thoughts of self defense aside to set down next to her, one arm sneaking around her as he pulled her close, resting her rather damp face against his shoulder.

"You know, Granger," he murmered against her hair as he held her close, rubbing gentle circles into her back with the wide palm of his hand in an effort to calm her, "you really aren't all that pretty when you cry."

Shocked and a little out raged at first she looked up at Draco suddenly, irritation startling her from her sobs just as he intended it to. "You're an ass, Draco, you know that right?" She said, giving him a playful smack to the back of the head.

"Yeah, Hermione, I know."

Ok so still maybe not as long as it could be but it is getting late, I really wanted to post today for you guys, and this was just such a beautiful place to stop that I could not help it!

Thanks for all the reviews and the support, I really appreciate each and every one of you out there. And also, if you would like to help me name the new owl that would be fabulous as I am drawing a blank so just tack on a name on a review or something so I can pick my favorite for the lil guy.

Xoxo

a-stranger-angel