This ones a short chapter but just as important. I haven't finished the next chapter yet, and might not for a while, but I'll try not to be too long. Thanks for your support. Read and Review please. It works magic on me and therefore magic on my chapters!

Chapter 5

Stepping out of the shower Draco ran a towel over his head, then his body in a quick movement. The steam was relieving to his senses. Sighing he slipped into his boxers and left the bathroom, heading into his room. Picking up his wand and giving it a swish he ignited the fireplace in the far corner of his room, and stood by it for a moment, enjoying the heat. His eyes glued to the flame until he had to close them and look away from the intense heat.

Something about him was off tonight. Something he had never expected, but he couldn't bring himself to answer his own question of what that something was. It would be his undoing.

Walking towards his bed he couldn't stop the smile that tinted his lips. Laying in his bed, in a fine silk dress which was now slid up to her knees, with all jewelry still attached, was Hermione Granger. Surely he was trying to torture himself.

The bloody girl had fallen asleep during one of their little silences. When he rolled over to speak to her again, she was completely out cold, so he decided to leave her there.

Now he leaned down and sat on the bed beside her. Somehow, in her beautiful dress with her long curly hair, and even her dainty feet, she looked like she belonged in his bed. In his world even. He smiled down at her, though it was a small smile and reached down to feel the fabric of her dress, running his hand over the side of her thigh. She was curled up in a little ball, with her knees almost to her chest. There was something about that pose that didn't fit Granger. The two didn't mesh. She was loud and bossy, brilliant and brave, he could go on for hours. But this, this pose was meek and far too self aware. It forced him to close his eyes and squeeze his temples to keep himself under control.

Standing, he slipped his right hand beneath her knees, and his left behind her small shoulders and lifted her as slowly as possible, trying not to wake her. She'd probably curse the living hell out of him if she awoke to see him holding her in his boxers. Taking the lightest steps he could, he walked her around to the opposite side of his bed, the side he didn't sleep in, and sat her down. He tried to slowly pry the blankets from beneath her and surprisingly succeeded to do so without even stirring her.

That's when he did something that he knew would most certainly get him killed. He actually took his wand and removed her earrings and bracelets magically, before moving on to her dress. She couldn't very well sleep in it now could she? At least that's how he tried to reason it with himself.

He considered closing his eyes, but immediately sided against it. He wasn't a five year old. His wand pushed the press slowly down from top to bottom before he levitated it over to a chair in the corner, draping it over the back. With his back now to a half naked Granger he had the ultimate decision to make. Leave her the way she was and allow his night to continue unhindered, or turn around and see her, then leave the rest of the night to his imagination. He decided on the harder of the two choice, turning around.

For the first time in his life his stomach betrayed him. It did a plummet that he couldn't understand why. Granger was currently laying on his bed, in a strapless white bra and white lacy panties that he was certain their soul reason was to be invisible beneath clothing. He audibly gulped. Stepping closer to her he gazed down at her, reassuring himself that it wasn't creepy to be standing beside the bed staring at a woman while she slept. He paused there for a long moment.

Closing his eyes he reassured himself again, more firmly this time, before returning to the rare opportunity he was being offered. He noted that Granger's freckles were not covering her entire body like he used to joke, and secretly wonder, about. They simply misted across her shoulders and arms, and faded where the rise of her breasts began. He sucked in a breath as he took in the appearance of her tummy, and her hips.

All in all Hermione Granger was not a curvy woman. Her hips and chest were not large. Her thighs were not shapely. However, he had never seen a more beautiful specimen in his life. Her chest was not big, it never had been and he knew that, but when seen in their natural beauty, they still held just as much power over him as any woman who was well endowed ever had. Her tummy was flat and creamy, and for a moment he had the absurd impulse to lean down and smell how her skin smelt there. He imagined it'd smell something like her neck did. Like her body wash and shampoo mixed. A wonderful smell. Much more preferable to women who bathed in perfume.

He wanted to do so many things, but what he settled for, was more than enough for his fevered imagination to run wild for the whole night. He leaned down and kissed her cheek before pulling the blanket up and over her.

With a defeated sigh- defeated by his own libido -he walked to his side of the bed and laid down, turning his back towards the woman he would never have.

Hermione awoke earlier than usual the next morning, stretching in bed and staring up at the ceiling. She hadn't slept that good in what felt like years. She sighed happily content never to move again.

Funny, that doesn't look like my ceiling. Her eyes gazed up at the ceiling through the gauzy fabric. This doesn't feel, or look, like my bed either. The suspicion hit her like a splash of water to the face before she suddenly realized where she must be. She sprung up, looking first to her right, seeing her dress draped over the back of a beautifully upholstered chair. This isn't the time to notice something like that Hermione. With a start she looked down, seeing only her bra. She gasped and yanked the covers to her chest. Oh God. Her eyes immediately searched the opposite direction, finding her culprit. She squinted. Draco Malfoy was laying beside her, his bare chest gleaming slightly as the sun cast a bright beam across it. However, before she could feel her anger properly rise, she noticed something. Something that was, well, decent. He wasn't under the covers. He was laying on top of them. Her eyes went soft. Did he stay like that all night?

She slipped out of the covers a quietly as she could, sliding into her dress and tip-toeing across the floor. She bit her lip, doing her best impression of a stealthy walk.

"You look ridiculous." Yelping she turned to see Draco Malfoy's smug smile, sitting up in bed with his hands behind his head. He seemed to be enjoying himself.

"You're awake." She pointed out dumbly, turning to face him. She rocked back and forth on her toes like a child who was caught doing something she wasn't supposed to be doing.

He nodded. "It seems you were trying to leave without saying goodbye. Well," A smile spread across his smile, reminding her of a time she dropped a drop of ink on her bed and it spread out into a large black stain across her lilac covers. His smile came across the same way. Slow spreading, but still as impressive. "How rude."

She rolled her eyes. "It isn't like I need your permission Malfoy."

He didn't attempt to move from the bed as she searched for her shoes, only spotting one. She was still searching when his voice broke her concentration. "It's under the bed. And if you feel that you owe me nothing you may leave, otherwise, you're free to at least stay for breakfast."

She paused and gazed at him before walking over and rustling around for her shoe beneath his bed. Running over hand over it, she picked it up by the heel, holding it like a bludgeon. She pointed it at him. "What are you doing here Malfoy?"

He looked surprised, then questioning. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Why are you being civil with me. What are your intentions!"

He shrugged. "I don't know what you mean."

He stood, disappearing behind a door and reappearing a moment later fully dressed in a fine gray robe.

She sighed. "Are you sure you wouldn't mind me staying for breakfast?"

With a chuckle he walked towards his door, opening it and motioning for her to come. "I make no decisions unless I am certain I've gone over all the possible outcomes."

"And this one? How do you predict this to turn out." She asked, stepping through his door and out into the dark but stunning hallway of the Malfoy Manor. The dark marble floor, and rich eggplant purple. She felt all warm and cozy just looking around.

"Swimmingly." His eyes danced in silvery gray circles around her faster beating heart as he looked down at her, shutting the door behind them and motioning for them to walk on.

As they walked on, the beautiful interior was only enhanced by the eloquent and striking faces they past. Portraits of past Malfoy's looked down at her with a sea of different reactions. Approval, curiosity, some looked strangely suspicious. She could only gaze up at them in awe as she followed Malfoy where ever he was leading her. Down to breakfast like he had said he would she hoped.