Hermione decided it was time to go back to the Muggle world to her Mum and Dad when she realized she was getting to close with Draco, and she realized that she didn't even fully trust him. When he approached her in the bathroom, she was genuinely scared. She couldn't sleep that night either, and unfortunately, neither could Draco. He crouched down next to her and leaned against the bookshelf, just like the previous night.

"Nox." Hermione said quickly, putting her light out as she stood up to go back to her bed. Draco grabbed her arm and pulled her back down.

"You're one strange puzzle to put together, Granger. Every time I think I've solved you, I find out one of the pieces is in the wrong spot, making the whole puzzle appear to be something that it's not."

"English please?" Hermione didn't have time for this.

"Why don't you trust me?"

"What?"

"I saw that look you gave me in the bathroom this morning. What did you think I was going to do to you?"

"I don't know, okay? It was completely logical for me to be scared. If you were in my position, you would've been frightened as well."

"That's the hardest thing to figure out about you. What it would be like in your position."

Hermione wasn't sure how to answer this.

"Look," Draco whispered, "I'm sorry I scared you today. That wasn't what I was trying to do."

"Well let me ask you this." Hermione said. "What were you trying to do?"

Draco scratched his arm awkwardly. "I don't exactly know. But, Hermione, I would never do anything to you. I would never hurt you. Look..." He grabbed her hand and placed it against his naked chest. "This is my heart. Yes, I have one. That alone would stop me from ever hurting you. And for some reason, it's beating curiously hard right now..." Draco let go of Hermione, but her hand lingered there for a few moments longer than necessary.

"Well, sorry." Hermione whispered. "I guess I tend to...overreact to things."

"That's the understatement of the Century."

"Hey!" Hermione playfully whacked his arm.

"So...what do you say we continue our Truth or Dare?" Draco said.

"Do you plan on making me kiss you without my consent?"

"Hmm...probably not." Draco smirked at Hermione.

"Then yes."

"Alright, truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Why don't you trust me?"

Hermione bit her lip. "I barely, know you, Draco. As much as I want to trust you, I just can't yet. Not completely, at least. You need to prove yourself to me."

"How can I prove to you that you can trust me?"

"You'll have to figure that one out on your own."

Draco groaned and shook his head. "Another puzzle!"

Hermione grinned. "Truth or dare?"

Draco smirked. "Dare."

"Ah, at last, a dare. What shall I make you do?" Hermione teased.

"Please don't make me kiss Harry on the cheek. Even with me trying to be friends with him, that would be quite uncomfortable." Draco said.

Hermione laughed. "Give me a big bear hug."

Draco cocked his head to one side, seemingly considering if he were to follow through. Without warning, Draco tightly wrapped him arms around Hermione's waist and pulled her close to him. She wrapped her face in his neck. He smelled like a bar of soap and expensive cologne. She slowly wrapped her arms around his neck and found out something almost frightening when she did.

She didn't want to let go.

When she pulled away and sat back down on the ground, he hit her head on the bookshelf and stumbled backwards, landing in Draco's lap. She giggled embarrassedly and apologized. Draco smirked and lifted her out of him lap by her arms.

Hermione sighed. "That was a nice hug."

"I thought so too. So, do you trust me yet?"

"Maybe...you did catch my fall. But it won't be that easy. You need to find your own way to earn my trust." Hermione said quietly.

"So I guess it would be really weird if I asked to come live with you and your family during the summer?" Draco blurted.

Hermione's mouth dropped.

"Well, yes, that's a little weird. Draco, that's a huge request. And if I decide that the answer is yes, you have to promise you won't try anything funny and you'll always be on your best behaviour. My Mum and Dad have the authority to kick you out otherwise." Hermione said sternly.

"I promise."

Hermione looked up at him. She fought against herself, trying to say no. But she couldn't. In a matter of days, she'd grown to care for Malfoy. And Malfoy had grown to care for her.

"Well...well...then I guess the answer is...yes."

Draco smiled at her. The toothiest smile she'd ever seen from Draco Malfoy. Draco just kept smiling, like an idiot. He didn't know what to say, how to express his gratitude.

"Do you think Hogwarts will be repaired in two months, when it's time to go back to school?" Hermione asked, suddenly serious.

"I hope so."

"It'll be sad, all of us graduating. I don't know what I'll do once I do. Maybe become a teacher...or get a job at Flourish and Blotts. Maybe I'll even write a book of some sort." Said Hermione.

"I have no clue what I'll do. I've maintained good grades, but I don't see myself becoming a teacher. I rather despise small children."

"Oh, what an awful thing to say! Don't you plan on having and children of your own?" Hermione asked.

"With who, Granger? I haven't exactly met the woman of my dreams! Do you plan on marrying Ron, losing your virginity to him, and bearing his children?"

Hermione's face instantly scrunched up, as if she'd just eaten something horribly sour. "I'd rather not discuss those things with you, Malfoy. What makes you say that I'm a virgin anyway?"

"Oh, come on! It's not hard to tell."

Hermione scoffed at him, but she was more frustrated with herself for letting this get to her. She choked on tears.

"...Wait." Draco said slowly. "Why are you crying?"

Hermione just shook her head, looking away from him. He lifted up her chin so she was facing him, but she still wouldn't look him in the eye. Tears slid down her cheeks. "Don't cry, please. I didn't mean anything bad by it."

"It's not you." Hermione croaked.

"Then...what is it?" Draco asked, perplexed.

"I'm...I'm...I'm..."

"Come on, spit it out." Draco said, trying to get her to smile.

"I'm...not...a...v-vir-I'm not a virgin..." She finally managed to get out as she cried.

"There's nothing wrong with that either, Granger..."

"You don't understand."

"Then help me to!"

"I've never told anyone before." Hermione admitted. She wiped her eyes, but more tears fell.

What Draco did next surprised him. He was never known to be kind, especially to a mudblood. He grabbed her arm gently, letting her know it was okay. She oddly flinched at his touch.

"Fifth year. It was my birthday. I went out for ice cream at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour and somehow ended up in some bar in London. I didn't get drunk or anything, maybe a little bit tipsy, but I was really just dancing and having fun. I noticed a couple of guys staring at me from across the bar. One of them came over first. I thought he was going to ask me to dance..." she looked up, shocked, as Draco wiped away a tear sliding down her face with his thumb.

"Go on." Draco whispered.

"I thought he was going to ask me to dance...but he started touching my hair and whispering things in my ear, like, 'Aren't you a little bit young to be here? How bout I help you out?' and I pulled away from him and told him he'd better leave me alone. But then he gestured for his three friends to come over and I knew I was outnumbered. I almost drew out my wand, but I was in a Muggle town." Hermione took a deep breath. "They got me out of there pretty fast. I didn't scream. I was too scared. Before I knew it, I was in an alleyway somewhere. They were taking turns caressing me, touching me...I tried fighting back, but it was useless. The guy that had originally walked over to me in the bar told his friends that he wanted me to himself. So the others left. I begged and screamed and cried. I told him that he should just kill me."

Draco flinched.

"But he didn't. He said he wasn't a murderer; he wasn't a bad person. He just 'wanted to have some fun.' I spat in his face. And then he punched me. And that's all I remember. When I woke up, I was naked except for my coat and the men were nowhere to be found. I didn't know what to do. I buttoned up my coat and ran as fast as I could to any kind of familiar territory. I was so relieved when I made it back to Hogwarts. I showered, and I stayed in that shower for hours. I felt like filth. So after that, I showered again. And then took a bath. I just felt...horrible. And I knew what people would say if they found out, so I kept it to myself...And I can't believe I'm telling you now. I can't imagine what you think of me...knowing that it was my fault; I was practically asking for it." Tears were still flowing down her face.

Draco stared at her, not knowing what to say.

"Oh, I should've known!" She stood up and raced to get to her bed, but for the second time that night, Draco grabbed her arm and pulled her down.

"It's not your fault. You weren't asking for it. Bloody hell, Granger, those guys were sick jerks and you just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Come here." Draco opened his arms wide, gesturing for her to let him hug her.

She shook her head. "Draco, I can't."

"You can't hug me? That's the silliest thing I've heard all night, even sillier than you blaming yourself."

"If Ron were up here...he'd get the wrong idea."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I assume I was right earlier. You don't want to marry him and bear his children."

"So what if I don't? I have plenty of time to think about that. I'm only seventeen. The important thing is, I love him."

"Yeah you love him, as a friend."

"No!"

"Yes! You're in denial."

"I'm not in denial."

"You're not always right, Granger."

Hermione sighed. "Hermione...my name is Hermione."

"Ah, we're on a first name basis, now, are we?" Draco teased.

Hermione fell quiet. No one spoke.

Finally, someone did.

"Draco...my name is Draco."

Hermione looked up at him with wide eyes.

"So, do you trust me yet?"

"...yeah."

"Well, are you going to hug me or not?"

"...no."

"Why not? And don't tell me it's because 'Ron will get the wrong idea.' He's not here, haven't you noticed?" Draco whispered still, even though he was getting frustrated.

"...I might get the wrong idea." Hermione squeaked.