A/N: Wow, it feels good to be back in the business of writing this fanfic! I am sorry for such a long break between chapters but I have had the worst case of fanfiction writer's block combined with university. I will be updating more frequently starting this weekend because Friday will be my last exam for first year of university! (insert three cheers here!) I just want to say thank you to all who have reviewed, read, and added my story to their reading alerts with hope that I would update. I will never fail on updating, even if it means you need to wait a bit. Thank you all and I love you! Hope this chapter will satisfy your needs. xx C. Rose

Chapter 9: I'll Never Hurt You

(Hpov)

I pushed myself away from Spencer so fast I fell out of my bed. When I landed I just kept moving and scooted into my closet, burrowing myself in clothing and junk until my back hit the back wall. I didn't want to be hurt again; especially by Spencer. Huddling into myself I heard the bed squeak and Spencer walk across the floor towards my hiding spot.

"Hermione, please come out." Spencer whispered to me. I could see him crouching in the doorway trying to wiggle into the closet next to me. "I'm not going to hurt you."

I started to cry, softly, and leaned into my boyfriend holding onto him for comfort. "I know and I am sorry for acting like I have."

"No," Spencer told me, wrapping his arms around me and tucked my head under his chin. Rubbing my arm, he continued. "You don't need to be sorry. I understand that what happened has changed you and now you and I have to deal with it." Running his fingers through my hair, he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

I took a deep breath and began to talk. I told Spencer everything; from what happened at school when Ron had found our letters and read them, to the confrontation on the train which ended with Ron and I fighting then me landing unconscious. As I spoke I brought my wand up and removed the glamour charm which George had administered before he let me off of the train.

"He wouldn't let me pass by him before putting it on me." I told Spencer as I lifted my head so my throat was exposed to his gentle fingers and sorrowful eyes. Spencer's gentle breath was making me lose my train of thought.

Pulling back, Spencer removed his gentle fingers and placed them on my arms. "I will have to thank him," he told me. "George has done a lot for you, when it comes to Ron, in the past little while." Lifting me up he sat me in his lap, immediately my arms flew around him and I clung onto him, sobbing, as the shock began to wear off of what happened on the train. "I love you Hermione," Spencer whispered as we cuddled.

I looked up at him, barely able to see because of my tears, my heart pounding. "Really? You love me?" I hate to admit it but the concept of love felt so foreign, or at least the type of love Spencer meant, to me.

"Yes you," Spencer remarked, tapping me on the nose like he did when we were younger. "Who else would I be talking about?" I shrugged and laid my head against his chest again. l I could feel him press his lips against my head and pull me closer. "I'm just glad you're safe." We sat there silently for a few more minutes before Spencer began to gather me up in his arms. By this point I couldn't care about what he was doing. I let my body slump into him, completely drained of all my energy.

"I'm sleepy, Spen." I told him as he brought me, once again, to my bed.

"I know sweetie," Spencer whispered as he held up my comforter so I could snuggle into it. "You just go to sleep and I'll wake you up later."

I reached over to him. "Don't leave me." The thought of being left alone just terrified me, after what happened with Ron. "Please." I watched as Spencer silently grabbed a book from one of the piles in my room and sat down in the easy chair by the window. Closing my eyes, I finally slept, knowing that I would not be harmed while Spencer was in the room with me.

(SPOV)

It had been an hour since I put Hermione down for another nap, and I realized that it would be time for supper soon. Shifting the book in my hands I decided to give her another twenty minutes before getting her up. I glanced back at the book before closing it and standing up. Walking over to her bookcase I put it back properly, with knowledge that I would not be allowed to touch it again if something happened.

Just as I was about to sit back down in the chair, with hopes of catching a light snooze, something tapped against the window. I looked up to see a large, drenched, eagle owl looking at me with piercing eyes. Hastily I unlocked the window when a streak of lightning flashed through the sky.

"Whoah," I gasped as the huge bird landed on my shoulder, something I was not used to nor expecting, as I quickly locked up the window again. "Who are you from?" Immediately the owl stuck his foot out and there stuck two pieces of paper, surprisingly dry. Gently I untied the letters and the owl hooted happily. I patted the owl before settling back into the chair. One letter had Hermione written in silver on it while the other had Spencer written on it. I winced as the owl dug his talons into my shoulder as it settled down, and tucked his head under his wing, presumably wanting to sleep. "Easy big fella," I said, stroking his feathers. "I understand you want to sleep but maybe you could lighten up with the claws a bit? Or better yet wait till Hermione is awake. I'm certain she would have something for you to roost on." The only response I got was a face full of feathers as the owl cuddled closer.

"What in the world?"

I looked over to see Hermione rubbing her eyes and yawning. "He knocked on your window, and he is wet because of the rain, plus he brought letters for both of us."

"Well then Mr Owl," Hermione said as she climbed out of bed. "Come here and let me dry you off." She held her arm out and the large owl looked at her before hopping off my shoulder, spreading its wings just enough so it could be airborne, and glided over to her. "Hmmm...I recognize you. Oh well, let me get you warm and dry." I could hear her rummaging around in a drawer before pulling out her hair dryer. Plugging it in, she switched it on and turned it towards the owl.

"Hoot!" I laughed as the surprised owl nearly toppled off her arm. After a moment, and trying to take a bite out of the dryer, it seemed to enjoy the hot air blowing onto it. Soon the owl regained its fluffy feathers and to be honest he seemed to be much happier now that he was warm, dry, and well, fluffy.

"Do you have a perch or something for him?" I asked, eyeing the large bird perched daintily on Hermione's arm. I couldn't believe how her arm wasn't even dropping. "He looks pretty heavy."

Hermione laughed as she and the owl made their way towards the bedroom door. "He isn't heavy and yes, he will share Tony's perch down in the living room." Hand on the door knob she turned and smiled at me. "Coming for supper?"

I grinned. "You bet. Wouldn't miss your mum's cooking for the world," Grabbing the letters I followed my girlfriend and our mysterious owl guest.

"As usual, your mum's cooking is brilliant." I told Hermione as I flopped down on the couch with my head in her lap.

"I'm sure you did," Hermione giggled as she stroked my hair. "You had two helpings."

"I'm a hungry boy," I playfully pulled on one of the curls dangling above me. "Have I told you lately that I love your hair?"

"Nope, but thank you." Hermione laughed as she handed me the paper with my name on it. "C'mon, let's open our letters. I'm curious to see who sent them and our new friend." I grinned at her while taking the paper from her fingers.

Dear Spencer,

First I want to reintroduce myself, since our brief introduction earlier was disturbed by Weasley and his stupidity. My name is Draco Malfoy and the owl who I am sending these letters with is Halcyon. Please keep him as a token of my friendship with you. I am unsure if you have heard of me prior to our meeting but I will admit I have been a right prat to your girlfriend. I am sorry for causing Hermione pain. As a Malfoy it is not easy to apologize nor is it a normal thing for anyone in my family to apologize to a muggle born witch or wizard. If you don't mind, I would greatly appreciate it if you don't mention this to anyone in my family; if you ever have the unfortunate experience of meeting them.

You are probably wondering, if not suspicious, of my sudden interest in striking up a friendship with yourself and Hermione. My reasoning is simple. After finding out what happened to Hermione on the train earlier today and I realized I had been wrong to treat her like that, not to mention I do not wish to be anything like the Weasel.

I started laughing. "Draco calls Ron a weasel." I looked over to Hermione and instantly pulled her into a hug when I saw that she was crying. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

"He's apologized to me for his attitude towards me," she sniffed and gave me a teary smile.

"That's great," I smiled and kissed her curly hair. "He's given me the own and his name is Halcyon." Surprise flashed across her face before she shrugged. "Are you okay though?"

She nodded, curls bouncing as she moved. "It's just shock," she bit her lip as she fingered the paper in her fingers. "I would have never imagined him, Draco Malfoy, mudlblood hater, would be apologizing to me."

"I'm sorry but why does mudblood keep popping up?"

"Magic, when found in a person who has no family history of magic is considered to be dirty or 'muddy'," Hermione informed me. "I'll find you a copy of a history book on the subject. I really do not like talking about it, in the last three years I've heard the name from so many lips that, well, I just don't want to talk about it."

I kissed her on the lips, fireworks going off, and I smiled. "I get it, Hermione. You don't need to explain to me." I tapped her letter. "Why don't we finish these and then you relax. Read a book and have a nice long bath." Silently we turned back to our individual letters.

Anyways I wanted to get to know you more. Do you have any siblings? What is your favorite colour? Such things like that. I realize that it may seem silly but how else will we get to know each other?

Oh dear, I hear father coming. I had better send your letters off before he finds out that I am communicating with yourself and Hermione. I hope you like Halcyon, he will be faithful to you and do no wrong.

Draco Malfoy

I smiled and folded my letter back up and looked over at the quiet Hermione to see she had fallen asleep, with her head back, against the couch. Taking her letter from her fingers I gently picked her up again and walked up the stairs to her room. Leaving her room I went to find Stephanie.

"Hey Stephanie, would it be alright with you if I stay the night?" I asked her while I sat down across from her at the kitchen table.

Stephanie smiled as she looked up from the newspaper. "Spencer, you don't have to ask! Of course you can." She looked at me worriedly. "Is everything alright at home?"

I couldn't lie to Stephanie. "I don't think so," I confided in her, looking at my hands. "Mum and Dad have been arguing and honestly its getting to the point where I absolutely do not want to be at home."

Stephanie got up and walked around the kitchen table and pulled me into a warm embrace. "You know what? I'll call your mum and invite her over for tea next week and talk to her. Now, did you want some tea?"

I hugged her back. "That sounds wonderful," I got up to help her but she pushed me back into my seat. "So Stephanie, how is work?" Both of Hermione's parents are dentists and some of the stories they have are ridiculous.

Stephanie took one look at me while pouring the boiling water into my mug and began giggling. "Oh you know, when you see one set of teeth you've seen them all." Bringing my mug over to the table she set it down before sitting herself. "I am interested in the owl that appeared earlier. Whose owl is he?"

I grinned, taking a sip of the delicious tea. "He's mine. I was given him from Draco Malfoy as a token of friendship."

"Wow," Stephanie commented. "I'm sorry but its getting late and I need to get to bed but you're welcome to stay up. I guess Hermione is asleep?" I nodded and she smiled. "Don't worry, give her another day and she will be back to normal. Goodnight Spencer, have a great sleep and see you in the morning." Stephanie gave me another bug before disappearing up the stairs. Finishing my tea I followed suite, checking in on Hermione, before calling Halcyon into my room. Patting my owl's feathery head I wished him goodnight.