Author's Note: This is sort of a macho chapter compared to the others, but I didn't feel like cutting it in half because of the repeated scenes. And it was because I combined two other chapters earlier on, and I had to smooth over the bump that that created.

I'm not sure how convincing Hermione is in this chapter… you have no idea how many times I have rewritten her thoughts for these scenes.

That said, I hope you guys like the chapter!

Chapter 39

Bored.

So, so bored.

I'm bored out of my mind.

Why couldn't Malfoy have thought to leave me a book or something before he left?

I don't have a wand either, so I can't just summon one. I spent a long time today practicing wandless magic, when I had the energy. But I'm still so drained from my injury that I haven't made much progress. I've managed to open the door and slam it shut again, and I can Summon the empty glass to me from the nightstand.

I can now sit up all right, but I'm not willing to give walking a try. It's going to be awful if I fall, can't get up, and have to wait until Malfoy comes back.

He's been gone for hours. What can he possibly be doing?

I hope everyone at Grimmauld Place is all right.

My mind wanders, and I find myself thinking about Malfoy again. I still haven't quite figured him out. I remember his steely gaze and the stone-cold-killer face that he put on when he was torturing me. Was that the real him?

My intuition tells me that it can't be the real him. And then my mind launches into a series of memories, as though to convince me that Malfoy would never hurt me intentionally.

I see the way his eyes flamed when he stormed into the cell and saw Montague sitting in the chair with me hovering above him.

I see that concerned expression on his face, the night that he offered to make peace. I hadn't ever seen that look on his face before. It proves that he does care about my well-being, doesn't it?

I see his long lashes, the image that I saw when my eyes flew open in a shocked response to his kiss. My whole mouth tingles as I relive the feeling of his lips and tongue against mine. I've never felt that kind of passion before.

I see the tenderness that escaped during a rare lapse in his cold visage as he pulled the covers over me this morning.

I see the mask, the one that I now recognize as his, facing me deep in the Forbidden Forest. It surfaced in several of my dreams when it was still something I fretted about on a daily basis. He would have died if he got caught setting me free. Especially if they found out that he killed those Death Eaters...

And then he risked his life again, breaking me out of prison. I wonder if he even had any help. I have to get the details from him when he gets back.

This all seems like incontrovertible proof that he…

I can't seem to finish the thought, and it becomes harder for me to swallow.

Does he have feelings for me?

Oh god, I can't imagine speaking those words aloud. I don't think I can ask him. Damn all that so-called Gryffindor bravery to hell—I'm afraid of his reaction.

If he doesn't care for me, which is far more likely, he'll probably scoff and be insulted that I would ever assume something as stupid as that about him. I suppose I can handle that sort of reaction. But if he does care for me… I don't know what I'd do if he admitted to it just like that.

But in all likelihood, I'm worrying myself over nothing. He probably doesn't feel a thing when he looks at me. Except disdain, of course. I'm probably still Mudblood scum to him.

But that's the problem. Probably. I hate this uncertainty! I'm usually so straightforward. I say what I mean, and I don't beat around the bush. I just… I don't know if I can do it this time.

I heave a sigh and tell myself to stop thinking about him.

Then I hear a popping sound from the other room.

Finally!

"Malfoy, is it you?" I call out.

A moment later, the door opens. "Yeah, it's me," he says, walking inside.

I roll my eyes. "I can see that now. What took you so long?"

He only shakes his head. "Don't ask."

I try to force the question out—it's like pulling off a bandage, right? Just gotta do it quick. But the words seem to get jammed in my throat, and instead, I blurt out some inconsequential question that doesn't even cross through my mind before slipping out of my mouth.

"I didn't see everyone," he replies.

What did I ask him?

"Just Blaise, Potter, and your deal weasel."

At these words, I'm instantly irritated. "Will you stop associating me with Ron?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, does it bother you?" he asks, smirking.

I sigh. "Yes!" I say, exasperated.

He laughs. "All right, I'll leave it alone."

There's a brief silence, during which I resume my struggle with that stupid question. I want to ask it so badly, but I just can't. I'm afraid that he'll think he's giving me the wrong impression. Strangely enough, I've grown to like this new Malfoy—as a friend, of course—and I don't want him to revert to his old way of treating me, just because I asked a stupid question.

"What did they say?" I ask him.

Wrong question, wrong question, wrong question! Ugh!

He shrugs, seeming to understand that I mean the boys at Grimmauld Place. "I don't remember," he says. "I didn't care much for whatever they said, anyway."

I sigh. Why am I so pathetic?

"They did protest when they heard that I was going to keep you with me," he says.

I look up at him. "Will you bring me back, then?" I ask.

If he gets me out of here, maybe I'll be able to clear my head. If I spend some time not thinking about him, then maybe I'll be able to ask him the next time I see him, like a normal person.

"No."

The set of his jaw tells me that he won't budge on this issue.

Well, there goes that idea. I sigh again.

"They did ask to visit," he adds a moment later.

I smile at the thought of seeing Harry, Ron, and Blaise again. I don't know exactly how long I was in that cell, but it feels as though it's been forever.

Then I realize that he mentioned that Blaise was at Grimmauld Place. I open my mouth, prepared to thank Malfoy for rescuing Blaise along with me. But upon remembering his reaction the last time I mentioned Blaise in front of him, I swallow my expression of gratitude before I can voice it.

"Can they, Malfoy?" I ask him.

"No."

"Please?" I say, trying to catch his eye. "I feel like I haven't seen them in ages."

He doesn't respond, and I think up a new approach. If he won't respond when I ask nicely, so be it. I'll guilt-trip him into doing it. The old Malfoy would never be susceptible to this, but with this new Malfoy… I think I have a chance.

"You owe it to me, Malfoy," I say, trying to sound angry. "You tortured me."

A flicker of emotion shows in his eyes, but it's gone before I can identify it. All I know is that my words have had some sort of effect on him. Well, that doesn't help me much.

"If I bring them here, you can't use that on me anymore," he says.

It actually worked. I guessed that it might, but the fact that it really did work still surprises me.

"So you'll do it?" I say, smiling hopefully.

There's a pause.

"You did that on purpose."

I ignore his sullen expression. "Will you?" I ask.

He glares at me. "Fine."

I expect him to Disapparate, but he doesn't move. I frown. He has a conflicted look on his face, and I wonder what's going on in that pretty head of his.

"Malfoy, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm about to let a weasel come into my home. I'm bloody fantastic," he says shortly.

I laugh at the tone in his voice—he sounds like a petulant child who's just been told to go to his room.

"Shut up, Granger," he says.

He Disapparates.

A smile lingers on my face as I picture the look on his face just before his Disapparition.

Who knew that Draco Malfoy could be so adorable?

Not three minutes later, I hear the pop of Apparition outside, followed by some muffled voices. They're here! I sit up and scoot back, leaning against the headboard.

Then the bedroom door opens, and my best friends enter.

"Harry! Ron!" I exclaim, holding out my arms.

Harry leans down and pulls me into a tight hug before backing out of the way so Ron can give me a hug as well.

"I thought I'd never see you two again," I say, trying to blink away the tears of joy that well up in my eyes.

"I'm so glad to see that you're okay," Harry says, sitting on the bed.

Ron perches next to him. "Yeah, Hermione, we were all worried sick. And when Zabini showed up without you—"

"Hey, don't you be talking about me behind my back," Blaise says.

I smile brightly. "Blaise!"

"Outta my way, you two," he says, giving Harry and Ron each a gentle shove.

They stand up to give Blaise room to hug me, and there's a twinge in my chest as I run my hands up and down his back and find that his spine protrudes slightly. He can't have spent much more than a week and a half in the dungeons, yet he's so much thinner. This realization makes me worried for Alicia, Lee, and Lupin.

When he finally releases me, he stays where Harry had been sitting before.

"You stole my spot, Blaise," Harry says in mock anger.

"Yeah well, Hermione doesn't mind."

I laugh. "I missed you, all of you. It's felt like forever."

"It really has," Harry says.

"What happened to you?" Ron asks. "How did you get caught? All Blaise said was that Mundungus betrayed you—he didn't have any details."

"And Lupin… do you know where he is?" Harry chimes in.

"I already told you, she doesn't know," Blaise says.

I shake my head. "Blaise is right. I haven't seen Lupin since I got taken by the Death Eaters. There isn't really much to tell about how I got caught. Mundungus told the Death Eaters where we'd put Rowle and when we were going to interrogate him."

Harry clenches his fist. "Hearing this makes me want to pummel him."

"It won't help," I say.

"Yeah, but it'll make me feel better."

We all share a laugh.

"Hermione, you should come back with us," Ron says.

I smile. "I don't think Malfoy's going to let me."

Blaise looks at me oddly, but he doesn't comment.

"Well, he can't stop us from taking you. Come with us," Ron says.

"Wait a second, Ron," Harry says. He turns to me and asks, "How injured are you?"

"I'm all right," I say. "I'm just weak from blood loss."

"Blood loss?" Blaise says, frowning. "What happened this morning?"

I sigh. "I'm still a little hazy on the details myself. I just remember Malfoy…"

I stop myself. If I say that Malfoy came to torture me, how will the boys react?

"What about Malfoy?" Harry asks suspiciously.

"Did he hurt you?" Ron demands.

"No," I say.

I don't really know why I'm defending him, but it just feels like the right thing to do. I suppose it's because I owe him, after all the things that he's done for me. Then I notice that Blaise is watching me closely and realize that he might know it was Malfoy who was torturing me. From the look on his face, he does. Oh, damn it.

"What happened, then?" he asks. "All I know is that there were sounds of a really short fight outside, and then my cell was open. Malfoy unchained me, tossed me a wand, and told me to get out of there."

I'm surprised that he doesn't call me out. But of course, he's probably going to grill me about it later. No, looking at his expression, he's definitely going to question me about this.

"I really don't remember much. I do know that Bellatrix used a curse to… to sever my carotid artery, and that's how I lost so much blood."

"I'll kill her," Ron mutters. "First Dad, and now this…"

"She'll get what she deserves, Ron. Don't worry," Harry says.

"The next thing I remember is waking up here," I say. "Malfoy gave me some strengthened Blood Replenishing Potion, and then—"

"Don't you need fresh blood for that?" Blaise asks.

Harry and Ron look at him questioningly before turning their attention to me. "Do you?" they ask in unison.

"Yes," I say. I hadn't thought of that when he gave me the potion. Does that mean…

"You drank his blood," Blaise says, finishing my thought.

"Whoa. He'd spill some of that pureblood juice of his for you, of all people?" Ron says. He shakes his head. "I'd sooner believe that Malfoy was dancing ballet."

I laugh uneasily.

It's hard to imagine that he's completely overcome his prejudice against Muggle-borns. Then again, this didn't require him to drink any of my blood, so his pure blood wouldn't have been tainted.

Then I realize that all three men are staring at me and that the room is suddenly very quiet.

Harry breaks the silence.

"So… where is this place?" he asks.

"This is Draco's home," Blaise answers. "Not the Manor. That's not really a home—I've been there. Trust me, I know."

"Yeah, we've been there too," Ron says.

"Then you know what I mean."

"So, what then? Malfoy just decided to buy a place for himself?" Harry asks.

I'm curious to know this as well.

"Yeah, that was pretty much it. He got the money from his dad," Blaise says. "Thing is, he wouldn't take any of us here. Said it was only his."

"Bloody blabbermouth, you are."

We look over to see Malfoy standing in the doorway, casually leaning against the doorframe.

"How long have you been standing there?" Ron asks.

He shrugs. "Not long."

Blaise catches my eye, and I give him a small nod.

"Boys?" I say.

Harry and Ron know that I'm referring to them.

"Could you go outside, for a few minutes? I want to talk to Blaise alone."

Malfoy snorts. "Am I one of the boys now? Or am I just invisible?"

"Shove it, Malfoy," Ron says. He turns to look at me. "Why—"

"Don't ask," Harry says, pulling him toward the door.

"Why's it always Zabini?" Ron mutters just loudly enough for everyone to hear.

Blaise looks at me with an amused expression on his face as we wait for them to clear out.

"It's better than leaving her alone with Malfoy, at least," are Harry's words as he exits the room.

"Yeah, thanks," I hear Malfoy say just before the door closes.

"Probably not a good idea to send those three out there together," Blaise comments with a small smile.

"They're big boys," I reply.

It's silent for a moment.

"You know that Malfoy was the one who tortured me, don't you?" I say.

He smiles grimly. "Why are you protecting him?"

"I… I'm not sure," I say.

"Or you don't want to tell me. You can say that. It's fine."

I sigh. "I can't keep anything from you, can I?"

He grins. "Nope, you can't. So you might as well stop trying."

"It'd be unlike me to give up that easily, wouldn't it?"

"True."

I wonder if I could learn more about Malfoy through Blaise. But Blaise hasn't been around this new, civil Malfoy much… would he know much about him? Then again, of course he would. They were best friends for years, so Malfoy must have always treated him civilly. Malfoy only seems new to me because he never treated me as anything more than dirt.

"Are you going to ask me a question or not?" Blaise prods.

I roll my eyes at him. Maybe I'll give it a try. "Has Malfoy changed a lot?" I ask.

"What do you mean?"

"Has he changed a lot since you last saw him?"

"I assume you mean the last time I saw him, before the three years when we had no contact."

I nod.

"Well, let's see. The last time I saw him, he was trying to kill me, and now, he's not. So I'd say yeah, he's changed quite a bit since then."

"Oh Blaise, quit teasing me. You know what I mean."

"Honestly, I haven't spoken much with him since he came back into our lives. But… no, I wouldn't say that he's changed drastically," he says.

Well, if he hasn't changed much, then he probably doesn't feel anything for me, and I'm just making a big deal out of nothing.

"Mind telling me what's got you wondering?"

I shake my head. "I might have just… imagined some things," I say. "I felt like he was um… like he'd changed a lot. I guess I was wrong."

"You look disappointed," Blaise observes.

"What?" I say, surprised. I flash him a smile. "No. No, I'm not."

Blaise smiles back. "So defensive," he comments. "But you're not wrong, Hermione. You're just seeing a side of him that you hadn't seen before. Actually, it's probably one that not many of us have seen before. I think that seeing you, after all this time, has had more of an effect on him than he would have liked."

I frown and drop my gaze to my hands, which are clasped in my lap.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He looks at me pointedly. "I think you know."

I do feel like I know what he's trying to say. But I shake my head. It can't be. I can feel his eyes on me, analyzing me, trying to get me to meet his gaze. He always does this. He doesn't even need Legilimency to see right through me. It's not fair.

"I think you know," he says, "but you're too afraid to confirm that it's true. You'd rather be in denial. In fact, I'm willing to bet you've been in denial for a while already."

Sometimes I suspect that he knows me better than I know myself.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I say.

"This is weak, Hermione. Come on, you're better than this. You know you are. I know you are. So just be honest. You know exactly what I'm talking about."

I finally meet his eyes, and my voice comes out in a whisper.

"Blaise… what do I do?"

He opens his mouth to respond, but the door bangs open, interrupting him.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot stay in the same room as that bloody ferret," Ron says, storming into the room furiously. Harry's right behind him—I can see that he'd been trying to calm him down, but clearly, that hadn't worked out.

Goddamn it, Ron! He couldn't have waited just another five seconds before barging in here?

"Last time I checked, this was still my house," Malfoy's voice floats in from the living room.

He enters the room, lifts his left arm, and makes a swift beckoning motion with two fingers. In an instant, Ron, Harry, and Blaise's wands fly into his outstretched hand.

I can't take my eyes away from his face—it looks so devastatingly beautiful. He radiates confidence, authority… just raw power. Yet somehow, there's none of that arrogance that I've become so accustomed to seeing on his face over the years. It's hard to believe that he was such a coward back at school. How can Blaise say that he hasn't changed?

"If anyone gets to lose their temper here, it's me," he finishes.

"I didn't do anything, Malfoy. Give me back my wand," Harry says.

"I don't care, Potter. At the end of the day, if it comes to a choice between me and Weasley, you'll all choose Weasley. So excuse me if I decide to consider my own safety first."

Blaise sighs and gets to his feet, turning toward Malfoy.

"Yes, you'd pick him, too," Malfoy says before Blaise can speak. "Don't lie to me."

I expect Blaise to say something that would refute that, but the room falls into an uncomfortable silence. Would Blaise really choose to fight for Ron rather than Malfoy? I suppose Malfoy is more of an enemy than Ron is. His Dark Mark is more than enough proof.

But if I want to be honest with myself, I really don't know if I'd choose Ron over Malfoy.

Malfoy's saved my life once—no, twice, including the incident in the Forbidden Forest. And that's not even counting how many times the heart charm helped me. If Dolohov's curse had gotten me at Bristol… I highly doubt that George and I would have survived. And while the torture that Malfoy put me through was terrible, it could have been worse if I hadn't had that charm—then the other Death Eaters could have gotten creative with knives or other tools and spells.

Ron, on the other hand… I don't know if he's saved me from anything life-threatening. I do know that I've saved his life on more than one occasion with quickly applied healing spells—he's too reckless in battle.

It feels nice to be rescued now and then. I strongly believe that I can take care of myself, and I typically find damsel-in-distress stories distasteful because of how weak said damsels are portrayed, but it just feels good to know that someone is willing to risk so much to save my life.

However, I have to admit that the fact that this someone is Malfoy scares me, more than a little bit. Especially after Blaise's implication that Malfoy may truly have feelings for me. What scares me even more is that I… that I'm not the slightest bit repulsed by the idea.

Heat surges through my body as I remember how it felt to be stroked by him in the most intimate of places. Farther back, I recall the fiery impulses that he ignited in me when we kissed… oh Merlin, I want to kiss him again, to remind myself of what he tastes like.

I force myself to take slower, deeper breaths as I try to restore my heart rate to normal—it spiked as I was focusing on the sensations that Malfoy stirred up inside me.

I realize that the men are already talking again—Harry and Blaise are trying to convince Malfoy to give back their wands. Ron's sulking a few feet away from the bed, arms folded across his chest. It's not hard to guess that Harry and Blaise told him to shut up and let them handle it.

"Maybe you three should go," I say.

Ron looks at me, astonished. "Hermione… are you… well won't you be coming with us?"

"Look at her. She's so much paler than usual," Blaise says. "Do you really think she ought to be going anywhere?"

Ron glares at Blaise.

"Hermione, do you want to come back with us?" Harry asks me.

Thank you, Harry, for asking my opinion.

"I don't mind staying," I reply.

"Hermione, are you mad? This is Malfoy we're talking about," Ron says.

"In case you hadn't noticed, I'm still standing right here," Malfoy says.

I hush him with a look and turn my attention back to Ron. "If Malfoy was going to kill me, he would have done it this morning, or any other times when he was with me. He's had so many chances to do it. He wouldn't have waited until now."

Ron looks at me as though I've betrayed him. I hate that he obviously still sees me as his.

"Draco, give us our wands," Blaise says. "We'll need them to Apparate back."

Malfoy opens his hand, and the wands float back to their owners. As soon as Ron's wand is back in his hand, he seems tempted to attack Malfoy. Fortunately, Harry knows Ron as well as I do, and is prepared. He grabs Ron's arm and tugs him out of the room.

"Bye, Hermione!" he shouts back at me.

"Bye, Harry!" I respond.

Blaise follows them out of the room, grabbing Malfoy's arm on the way out.

"I'll borrow him for just a second, and then you can have him back. All right, Hermione?" he says.

Without waiting for my response, he pulls the door closed. Well, they cleared out quickly enough.

I bite my lip and pray that Blaise won't say anything about our conversation to Malfoy.

Author's Note: As always, I'm anxious to hear your thoughts, so please review!