There was a weird feeling in Hermione's stomach; the feeling you get when you're about to be sick. Draco was right last night. She didn't love Ron, no matter how much she wanted to. Their relationship was more of a...crush. But why couldn't Hermione just admit that?

I probably made a fool of myself last night. He's probably laughing at me. Hermione thought. Last night, she couldn't bring herself to hug Draco, and after all that, she muttered, of all things, that she might get the wrong idea. But there was a lot more going on here. After all, Hermione revealed her bloody secret last night! What if Draco was disgusted with her just like she was with herself? What if he told Ron?

And there was still another thing. Hermione couldn't deny how good it felt when he gave her that bear hug. She couldn't deny the shivers it sent down her spine when she accidently landed in Draco's lap.

Those were what people would call...sparks.

No. There is no possible way I could ever like Draco Malfoy, even if we're somewhat friends now. He's Draco Malfoy, for the love of Merlin!

"What are you thinking about?" Hermione nearly jumped when she saw Draco standing at the top of the stairs, looking at her. She thought everyone was at breakfast. She quickly wrapped herself in the sheets; she had taken her shirt off because she was about to get in the shower. Draco laughed to himself.

"Nothing." Hermione breathed. "I wasn't thinking about anything."

"Has anyone ever told you that you're the shittiest liar on the planet?"

"Gee, thanks, Draco." Hermione said sarcastically.

Draco walked over and sat down on the end of Hermione's bed. She felt awkward, considering she was still holding the sheets around her chest to cover herself.

"I just wanted to say...you know, thanks. I'm not really good at this nicey-nice stuff, but I don't recall saying it last night, so..." Draco said slowly.

"For what?"

"For letting me stay at your house over the summer. That is, if you haven't changed your mind already."

"Oh. Why would I change my mind?"

"Because...I'm still Draco Malfoy. Me connecting with you doesn't change that. There's parts of myself that I can't change."

Hermione sighed. "I don't want you to change...I like you for you."

Draco looked up at her. Did she really just say that, or is my imagination getting to me?

Hermione looked away from Draco, wide-eyed. Did I really just say that?

"Uh, I mean-" Hermione tried to correct herself.

"Anyways, I, um, I'm very grateful." Draco interrupted her. "Now, I'm going to shower." He threw off his shirt and headed for the door. Hermione jumped for the door too when she saw this. She wasn't about to let Draco shower first.

"Uh-uh. I don't think so. Haven't you ever heard of ladies first?"

"Well, I don't see any ladies around here, so I'll be going in now."

Hermione was quick to punch him square in the chest. She had to admit, it hurt. She clenched her fist, released and shook her hand. To make matters worse, she tripped right into him, knocking him over, causing her to land right on top of him. Draco was smirking at her.

"How's your hand feel?" Draco said, still smirking.

"It feels fine, thank you." Hermione answered dryly.

"So are you going to get off me, or are we going to stay in this position all day?"

"Oh, ah, sorry." Hermione mumbled as she stood up, getting off of him. She then noticed Draco eyeing her up and down and remembered.

Shit, I'm still in my bra and shorts.

"Stop gaping, will you? If your mouth drops any lower, it'll hit the floor." Hermione mocked him, quoting him from the day before.

Was it just Hermione's imagination taking over, or did Draco turn slightly red?

"Touche." Draco said, smirking at her.

"So if you don't mind, I'll be taking my shower now."

Draco was faster than her. He stood in front of the bathroom door, blocking it. It was then that Hermione noticed something on Draco's arm. Not his right arm, where the Dark Mark was tattooed into his skin, but his left arm. Scars of all sizes and shapes ran up and down his arm.

"Draco," Hermione said softly, "where did you get those?"

Draco was quick to hide his arm behind his back. "It's nothing. I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't lie to me."

Draco obviously wasn't going to give in to Hermione, so she had no choice but to approach him herself. She was inches away from him as she reached for his arm. Draco was breathing deeply, not even looking at her. She slowly touched the skin of the scars, and gently caressed them, her fingers smoothly running up and down Draco's arm. There was a pained expression on Draco's face, as if he were remembering something.

"Please." He said. His voice cracked. His bottom lip was quivering.

"Draco, did you do this to yourself?" Hermione asked softly.

Draco clenched his jaw. Why was this happening? He didn't want to tell her this.

"I trust you, Draco. I trust you with my deepest, darkest secret of all." Hermione said, her voice now merely a whisper. "So you have to trust me."

He seemed to relax a bit after hearing this. He took a deep breath and managed to get one word out. "Yes."

Hermione took a deep breath as she tried to take this in. "Why? Why would you do this to yourself, Draco?"

"You don't understand, Granger. I wouldn't expect you to." He said, starting to raise his voice. "People think I'm pure evil. They hate my family. They hate me. I hate me."

"I don't hate you." Hermione moved her hand down from Draco's arm and to his hand, and held on to it. "But I know what it feels like to be hated. For most of my years, I've been made fun of. At least you have the entire Slytherin House that respects you."

"I don't know why people would hate you. With me, it's understandable. I'm a Malfoy. But you? You're just...you."

Hermione sighed. "Please don't do it again. Please. Promise me." She said.
"I promise." He said quietly, but strongly.

The next thing caught Hermione off guard. Draco pulled her into a hug. A big hug, even bigger than the one last night. She curled her toes as he lifted her off the ground. "Put me back down, put me back down!" Hermione squealed.

Instead, Draco lifted her even higher. Soon, he was holding her above his head and spinning her around. She was laughing and screaming.

"Draco! I'm scared of heights!"

Draco slowly began to put her down. He pulled her to him once more, holding her at the small of her back and whispered in her ear, "You have to trust me."

For a moment, just a moment, Hermione thought she might kiss him. But she ran behind him and locked the bathroom door.