It had been a little over a month since Hermione had been attacked. She had spent her weekends with her friends and was still doing research on the snake issue and her crazy stalker dude. She was thankful that he hadn't appeared since her last encounter. Draco and Travis never left her side, to her disappointment, and the more time she spent with them the more she found them to be freakishly similar in personality. What disturbed her the most is their past. She was in fact scared of them, though she never let either of them know, why should she? Why should she tell them she was scared of them when they are supposed to be the two things that should mean the most to her? Her boyfriend and her brother, her last family member… she was so confused.

"…without the greatest concentration the Black Crane snake cannot be controlled… What is that supposed to mean? Bloody hell, why can't I concentrate?" She rubbed her neck as she read the sentence over for the fifth time. She slammed the book closed and stood up from her desk. It was well after seventh hour and she was still in her classroom. Hermione had finally found time to be alone and away from Draco and Travis. She sighed as she looked towards the door, but why was she missing them so much if they bugged her?

Just to her luck the door flew open and there they stood out of breath and worry in their eyes. "Hermione Ann Chantry, why in the bloody hell would you still be in here at this ungodly hour instead of at dinner."

"Yeah, you gave us quite a scare," her brother added.

She smiled at them. "I'm sorry I was just doing research but I couldn't concentrate."

Draco walked into the room and over to her desk where he leaned down to look at the book she had slammed shut just moments ago. "Creatures of the Dark, huh? Sounds interesting. Did you find anything?"

She shook her head. "Not really just the same old stuff as usual. It lives in caves, near water, dark witches and wizards are the only ones known to be able to control them, but they have to constantly stay concentrated on the snake and the purpose. Most of the time these snakes stay to themselves, though. They don't attack people they mainly eat fish but occasionally they'll eat other snakes, lizards, birds, things around that size." she paused and looked up at Travis who was sitting on one of the student desks. "Oh, Travis, the guy who is trying to get me was controlling that snake that attacked Dumbledore, I just know it. He must have known that Draco and I would be in there when we got back so he sent it for me, but because we got back late the snake was early and it attacked Dumbledore instead." Tears tumbled down her cheeks. "It's my fault what happened to Dumbledore."

Draco wrapped his arm around her and ran his fingers through her hair. "Shh… It'll all be ok, 'Mione. We will find him. He's not going to get you."

She looked up at him. "But you can't be sure of that. You can't promise it because he could get me and then it would be like you broke a promise."

He shook his head. "Listen to me. Neither Travis nor I will let anything happen to you. Nothing has happened in a month maybe he's backed off."

Travis clicked his tongue in a disapproving way. "Don't bet on it. He's probably planning. That trick he pulled a month ago was juvenile and practice. He was testing you to see how easy it would be to get to you, and he found out that even if he could lure you to him he couldn't get you to give up your charm. The next time will be worse and harder than last time. You'll have to be on your guard all of the time now."

Sobs flowed from her as her body shook with emotion. "I can't do this! I just can't! I give up!"

"No!" Draco shook her. "No! Do you hear me? No! I do not care if you feel like shit right now because you have not been sleeping because you have had more nightmares you will not give up, do you understand me? I will not let you give up!"

Travis stepped up to the desk and put his hand on Draco's shoulder, who stepped aside. Travis knelt down and took Hermione's face in his hands. "If you think this is hard then you have apparently forgotten the final battle and Todd. You've survived those things and you can survive this. Draco and I are here to help you so don't take all of this onto your shoulders." he paused. "Please, Herms don't give up. If not for me or Draco then for Mum and Dad. I promised them I wouldn't let him get you, Hermione, and if you give up then I'll be unintentionally braking that promise. Please, please, just hold on. We'll find him and put an end to this, I promise."

She shook her head in his hands and closed her eyes, willing the tears to stop. "I'll try." She reached forward and hugged him. "Why didn't you just slap me or something? Knock some sense into me?"

He laughed and pulled away from her. "I would never hit a girl, much less my sister, no matter how stupid she was being."

She smiled back at him and looked up at Draco. "I'm sorry."

He shook his head and reached for her as she stood up. "Don't be, I understand how hard it must be for you." He hugged her and held her close like it was their last time to see each other.

"Let's go back to the room, I need some sleep."

He nodded and took her hand leading her back to the room with Travis on the other side of her. When they got to their rooms Draco let go of her hand. "Go ahead and go in I need to talk to Travis for a minute." She nodded and walked into the room without a word, leaving the men to their talk. Draco and Travis walked into his room and Draco started pacing. "We have to do something to calm her nerves."

Travis sat down on his bed. "Yeah but what can we do. I've never seen her like this, have you?"

"Once during fourth year but she was more pissed than worried about anything. Harry and Ron just gave her space and let her deal with it, but that was only because she was mad at them and didn't want her to hex them."

Travis gave a short laugh. "Don't blame them."

"But this is how she operates, she puts everything on her shoulders. In a month holidays will be here and we'll make sure that she relaxes." He reached for the door.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Draco smirked and turned back to look at his old friend. "Never."

Travis stood up and clapped Draco hard on the shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "I know you've had sex with my sister."

Draco audibly gulped. "Oh."

"Don't worry mate, I'm not mad. You both need it."

Draco sighed. "Alright mate, I'll see you in the morning."

Travis laughed as Draco walked out and shut the door behind him. "As long as their happy and safe."

Draco walked into his room to see Hermione already in pajamas and asleep. He sighed and walked into the bathroom to shower. His mind kept wondering how he could help ease the burden that seemed to love nestling on her graceful shoulders. He ran a shaky hand through his wet hair as he rinsed the shampoo out. When he was finished he walked out of the bathroom dried and walked over to the dresser to get a pair of boxers.

"You don't have to wear boxers to bed if you don't want," Hermione said, with a little bit of sleep smudging the words.

He turned to see her sitting up in bed. "Did I wake you?"

She shook her head. "No, I've been awake since I came in. I'm afraid to sleep."

Draco walked over to the bed still in the nude. "Because of your nightmares?" she nodded. "And how does me sleeping in the nude keep you from having those aforementioned nightmares?"

She giggled. "Because that is at least one thing that's good in my life right now."

"What me or my pride?" he asked motioning toward his nature.

She giggled again. "Both I suppose. Would you just come to bed?"

He shook his head. "Not unless you sleep, which means I'll have to put on boxers for that to happened because I know you can't keep your hands off me otherwise."

Hermione gave him her best puppy dog pout. "Please just come to bed like you are. I just want to feel you beside me."

He sighed and climbed into bed beside her and she curled up against him. He wrapped his arm around her waist. "I love you so much Hermione."

"And I love you, Draco." She became silent for a moment, lost in thought over something. "Do you think he is causing me to have these nightmares?"

Draco shrugged. "Maybe, but let's not think about it. Just sleep, love."

She closed her eyes and let his heartbeat lull her to sleep just like the first night she had been there.