Chapter 4 - Backwards

Hermione woke to the sun shining on her face. Yawning, she opened her eyes, covering them with her hand to block the light. Sitting up, she saw a sleeping Draco facing her, his hand upon her stomach falling onto the mattress.

Having a good nights sleep, she gently found her way off the bed, walking towards the kitchen and finding a wooden cup, filling it with water and sipping attempting to hydrate herself. As she tilted her head back, trying to get every last drop, she saw movement in the corner of her eye.

"Morning," said Draco, seeing her jump before he spoke.

"You scared me," she wiped the droplets of water from her chin.

"Sorry," he responded, finding another wooden cup and also filling it with water.

Hermione placed hers down, leaning against the lopsided counter top, "what are we going to do? We have to find..."

"Hermione," he placed his cup down interrupting her. "You have to find the others, did you forget who I am?"

Hermione looked at him, crossing her arms. "If you are a Death Eater, why didn't you just let me die?" She asked, "if you are truly a follower of Voldemort, why do you seem to care so much?"

Draco couldn't look at her, he couldn't even find a correct response to reply.

She dropped her arms, raising one to his face. "I don't believe you are really a Death Eater, Draco. I think you were only marked because you are your Father's son."

Draco looked into her eyes, obviously they were filled with tears. "Hermione, I..." He started, but couldn't find himself to say more.

"Draco, please, tell me your feelings, not the tattoo on your arm."

He couldn't stop looking at her, but found himself slowly moving closer to her. "You are right, Hermione. You are right. I did not choose this, I was pushed into it between family and their friends." He continued, "I hate who I am, Hermione. I don't want this."

His nose touched hers as she opened her mouth to whisper, "I don't want you to be like this. Please..." she was interrupted by his lips gently falling upon hers. His arms found their way around her waist, gently holding her in place.

When he parted from her, she looked at him with confusion. He pulled her into his chest, one of his arms sliding up to her neck and head where he gently massaged over her mess of curly hair.

"Draco... you've always hated me," she whispered, his usual smell still present, intoxicating her as it always did but kept it a secret to herself.

"Not always."

She took a few breaths, having to force herself to breathe.

"Are you afraid?"

She barely moved, "No, not afraid. I'm mostly confused as to how this world is turning upside-down."

He rubbed her mid-back, "It has quite changed extremely. But I know I've thought you were... quite beautiful since fifth year."

Hermione continued to force her breathing, her chest rising and falling even more than usual making her light-headed.

"Hermione?" He asked worriedly, "Are you alright?"

"...Dizzy." She breathed.

He guided her to the mattress, lying her down.

Smiling slightly, he brushed her piece of hair to the side, "Relax. If I knew you were going to tense because of this, I would have kept it a secret."

"No."

Draco's smile widened enough to express happiness during this dark time. Leaning forward, his lips met hers longer and heavier, her arms finding their way around his neck. Slipping one hand behind her head and the other behind her lower back, he pulled her into his lap while cradling the back of her skull. Her hands slid down to gently caress his chest and neck. And when they ran out of breath, their lips parted while they took a second to breathe and join once more. An hour passed but the two had only laid together without separating. Over their clothing, their hands explored, only going under as much as a fingertip.

As they approached their limits of no breath again, Hermione placed her head on his shoulder instead. Their gasps of breath scattered quickly, both holding each other closely.

She felt a kiss upon her forehead, her muscles seeming to relax with him caressing her gently.

"If this had ever happened with anyone else, I don't think I'd be as safe as I am with you," he said, squeezing her body gently.

She felt her lips curve upwards very little, "I could say the same."

As Hermione sat up, she reached over Draco for the crackers, first offering him one.

After eating, they scanned the rest of the house, attempting to find anything that might be useful. An old cantine was found, as well as a bottle of cherry wine from 1877.

Draco popped off the plug on the wine, sitting on the bed and taking a sip. Hermione sat next to him, looking at him and silently asking for him to pass the bottle.

"Merlin, this is good." Hermione passed him back the bottle and leaned back onto the wall, closing her eyes.

Draco looked at her, "do you get drunk off a sip?"

She looked at him with a questioning look, "not exactly."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm just sitting back to relax. I've had drinks before, Draco."

Draco gave her his own version of the odd stare, taking another sip.

Hermione sat forward, tracing her ankle bone. "So, what are we going to do? I have no idea where we are and I don't know where everyone else is."

Draco swallowed the alcohol, "we're going to have to walk at random and hope we are close by something familiar."

She took a deep breath, taking the bottle and gulping a few more sips, then lying on her side.

Draco looked down at her, "don't be scared, Hermione. We can do it together."

Hermione looked back at him, "I know we can."

He stood up, reaching out for her hand, "so, lets go."