*= A/N for special info

HOLA! sooo here it is :) finally! sorry guys i've been really busy and i had crazy writters block. also i was working on reading some books. just finished "mockingjay" from the hunger games trilogy, such great books! any of you read them? i'm sure some of you have and i'm sure you ALL love them. any who, soo in this chapter i mention butterbeer latte, it's real! and sooo delicious, here's the recipe= /archives/1809 yuumm :) well i should go now, places to go, people to see. (cuddle with my cats. ha, i'm a loner) i think you guys will like the ending of this chapter ;) ENJOY! hope all is well :) xoxox- Brooklyn

Hermione approached the small couch, one cup of Butterbeer Latte* in each hand. She didn't know what had made her come to Draco's room and ask him to stay awake with her. They weren't on good terms right now, not that they ever had been. However she had been awake for about half an hour before then, sitting up in bed, wishing her dear Crookshanks were there to comfort her and not at home with mum and dad for the year. Or wishing that at least she was still in the Gryffindor common room, where she could easily get to Ginny. Or even Harry or Ron, but no. She was in the head boy's and girl's dormitories, basically alone. So her strenuous, tormenting fear caused her to do the unthinkable and beg the only living thing within what would have felt like miles to Hermione, in all her fear.

She placed one mug on the table, in front of Draco, and one mug on the table, in front of where she sat down. She slowly lowered herself to sit on the couch, far from where Draco sat. She felt pretty foolish for waking him and practically demand he comfort her fear.

Draco leaned forward, then scowled at the odd looking beverage Hermione placed in front of him. "I thought you said we were going to have butterbeer…" he said, not lifting his eyes from the steaming mug.

"Oh, um yes well this is like butterbeer, it's called a latte" she said with a cracking voice.

"Latte?" asked Draco, moving his eyes to hers.

She thought by now she'd be used to his piercing stare, but that was obviously not the case as she felt her body tense when his eyes met hers, or maybe she tensed because he had caught her staring at him…

"Yes, latte. It's a muggle drink, I simply poured two bottles of butterbeer into the pot, added some milk and, well, uh, boiled it" she pushed some hair that slipped from her bun, behind her ear. She glanced up from her drink to see his eyes narrowed at her. She mentally slapped herself. Why bother making small talk with Draco Malfoy? He didn't care how she made the drink, he was probably about to get up and walk back to his room without another word.

"Interesting" he mumbled, shocking Hermione.

"I suppose," she mumbled back. She watched him lift the mug to his mouth and take a small slip. He licked his lips slowly after swallowing, trying to capture every taste. Something inside of Hermione fluttered, her eyes widened, what on earth…

Draco, surprisingly, liked the taste of the hot drink. It tasted a lot like butterbeer, only warm and actually quite comforting. He licked his lips, savoring the taste, he turned his head to lie and say he thought the drink "alright" when he noticed her staring at his… lips?

His stomach twisted. Usually, he would be more then glad to see Hermione interested in his tongue, but seeing as they couldn't really do anything about it, it made him a bit uneasy. He coughed into his fist, shifting awkwardly on the couch. Hermione's hand shot forward grabbing her mug and taking a quick gulp.

"Well?" she asked, or rather croaked as the large gulp of steaming drink burnt her throat.

"It's fine I suppose," he said. Hermione smiled, she knew it was delicious, and despite him not saying so, she knew he loved it. Years of experience of him pretending not to care clearly showed that.

Draco coughed again, "so, uh, you were scared right? That's why I'm here, why were you scared?"

"Oh… well as I said, I had a nightmare"

Draco hummed a sound of understanding as he took another sip. Then setting the mug on the table again, he turned his body to face Hermione.

"Dare I ask what about?" their eye contact stayed for what seemed like minutes, when Hermione shifted uncomfortably on the couch.

Draco heard her mumble something while taking a sip of her drink.

"What?" he asked leaning closer

"That's what I dreamt of" she said, her back straightening as if it were completely obvious.

"Really Hermione, you think I could hear you with that blasted mug at your mouth?"

"Right… um" he waited for her response. She just opened and closed her mouth over and over, like a fish. He rolled his eyes.

"Alright, I suppose you don't have to tell me then"

"The war" she said quickly. He tensed.

"The war?"

"Yes" her voice was shaken.

He felt extremely uncomfortable. He didn't really know what to say. He knew when she said "the war" she meant the war between, Voldemort's followers, and Potter's. The war that he and the rest of the death eaters knew was coming far to soon. The war that had begun this whole romance with Hermione, the war that then all too soon tore them apart… the war in which it came, the two of them would be on opposite sides. They both knew it, but in these moments, at Hogwarts, strangely, it's as if you're all on the same side. Of course, that's not the case, but here there are no parents, no pressure, so really it's all quite neutral. Perhaps that was why speaking of the war wouldn't be as awkward as he thought.

"I dreamt" Hermione began, shaking Draco from his confused thoughts "that we lost" Draco ignored the fact she said "we", again it didn't seem to matter right now, in her time of fear, what side he truly was on. "I dreamt that you-know-who won. He forced me to watch as he murdered my parents, and Harry, and Ron" her voice was very monotone, but still very shaken, her eyes locked on the cushion of the couch in front of her. "I begged him to kill me, he wouldn't do it. Then, something weird happened… I wasn't expecting it…" her voice grew quieter and Draco had to scoot closer to her in order to hear what she was saying. "He turned into someone" she glanced up at him and he felt uneasiness in his stomach.

Lord Voldemort turned to someone, and she was looking at him, he turned to him? He grew worried and now was very curious as to what happened in this dream. "Your… well your father" his eyes widened, his father? "Your father was, well he was angry at me. His mouth was moving as to tell me why he was so angry, but I couldn't hear what he was saying. It sounded more like a distant mumbling. He then looked next to me and well you were there," her stomach screamed uncomfortably "the same odd mumbling sound came though when he tried to speak to you. You looked at me, and then suddenly disappeared. Hearing came back to me then and I heard your father shout a spell I'm not totally familiar with, but I think it was some sort of memory charm, I fell to the ground, when Voldemort returned, grinned, then raised his wand, muttering the killing curse. That's when I woke. The light on my alarm clock, uh, muggle device, looked just like his eyes, and it scared me to the core. So without thinking, I guess I was drawn to your room… you weren't really doing anything bad in the dream so I suppose that's why… sorry"

Draco had no words. Not a single word could be found to say in his wide range of vocabulary. She dreamt of a twisted version of what happened that night in Malfoy Manor, that was obvious. But how? He felt some hope inside him along with all the pain and confusion. Maybe his father hadn't cast the charm properly? This was a good thing, he could feel it. He struggled to keep the smile from his lips, there was hope.

"Oh god" she said suddenly, he looked over at her as she lowered her head into her palms, just catching her bright cheeks as she went down. "I'm sorry, I should not have told you that, I'm such an idiot" he heard her mumble out of her hands.

"What? No, no it's fine. I asked didn't I? Really, Hermione it's fine" her head shot up.

"It's not fine! I am not one to tell these sort of things… stupid, that was stupid we aren't even friends! Oh god" her head went crashing down again into her hands.

Draco looked around the room, not sure what to do. He wanted to grab her in his arms and tell her it was all fine, that he loved her, that no one would ever hurt her as long as he was around, and most of all, that she was in no way, shape, or form, an idiot. But he couldn't do that, so he just stood, then sat again, now right next to her. He reached out and gently lifted her head from her hands, then noticing her tear stained face. His eyes narrowed.

"Why're you crying?" he asked, she grunted, then quickly wiped her face with the couch blanket.

"I'm not crying," she said quickly, sniffling. He arched his eyebrows.

"Nice try. You're face looks like it could be someone's freaking boggart" Hermione scowled at him. Then gave his arm a good slap.

"That's not very nice," she said. Draco grinned.

"Well then don't say you're not crying when it's actually very obvious" Hermione bit her lip. Then was quickly shocked as he reached up and wiped away a tear.

Draco scolded himself mentally, stop being so damn caring and kind you twit!

Hermione sniffed "well, I was crying because… well" she looked down then up again at Draco, turning her body so they both sat cross legged on the couch, facing each other. "It's just all so frightening, don't you think? I mean, what if we lose... we could all die, or worse"

Draco winced. He knew, again, when she said "we" he was not included. He was not on "their" side... this was awkward again. Draco decided to poke a little fun at her "or worse what? Get expelled? YOU would find something like that worse then being killed" he chuckled and watched as Hermione's eyes widen.

"Wow that's creepy" she said "I said something along those lines, first year" she grinned for a moment, looking down at the table.

"Really? That is kind of weird isn't it"

"Yeah…"

There was no need to frighten her further so he simply lied, in hopes to make her feel more comfortable. Plus he was going to have to get back to bed soon if he wanted to be well rested for classes the next day, or technically, later that day. Then again, sitting here all night with Hermione really didn't sound all that bad.

"Well I guarantee you have nothing to fear just yet. There is no war and we are safe"

"But he's back, and last year Harry fought-"

"Yes, yes I know" he cut her off "but there hasn't been any mention of him for a while now. Just live in the moment Hermione, it may not be years until he makes his next move"

The words, Hermione guessed, were supposed to be comforting, but they were not. Just because Voldemort was not acting now, didn't mean he was gone forever, the day would come soon that he would attack, and who knew who would be first. Hermione was definitely on the list, she was muggle-born, and a friend of Harry's. Though she still nodded her head.

"Yeah, I guess"

"Excellent, now we both need to head to bed" he stood up "I've missed a good hour of sleep due to some over-feared turd waking me for rubbish she calls 'butterbeer'" Hermione scrunched her nose.

"Turd? How mature Malfoy" she said standing "and whether you admit it or not, you enjoyed that butterbeer latte"

"Sure I did Granger, what ever helps you sleep at night"

"Oh stop being such a git!" she shouted, actually shocking him.

"No need to get snappy"

"Well I've had quite the crappy night if you haven't noticed! I wouldn't expect you to have heard a single word of what I've said the last hour!"

"Really? Really Granger? You're accusing me of not listening? I've sat here listening to your every word and even attempting to comfort you and you have the nerve to say that I wasn't listening to you?" He was actually a bit angry, he had been listening possibly TO intently, he hated that she didn't know how much he really cared, he really hated it.

"Well our past experiences wouldn't lead me to believe you when you say that would they?"

"PEOPLE CHANGE!" he hadn't meant to scream so loud, but she obviously didn't care as she screamed back.

"Oh I find that, HARD TO BELIEVE"

"You think if I was the same uncaring git I was years ago, I'd be standing here even wasting my time having this argument?"

"I suppose so seeing as you had to push it and accuse me of getting snappy, when I am very much allowed to get snappy when YOU call me rude names and won't admit to liking my latte!"

"This isn't about the fucking butterbeer!"

"No it's about you being so inconsiderate, and pushing my buttons to the point where I really just want to give you a good slap across the face!" she shouted as the two grew closer together.

"Then do it! I dare you" he sneered, his head spun. What was even happening? Where did this all come from? She just started yelling at him, but why was he yelling back? He knew he was being stupid and juvenile, but so was she!

"No, I am above that"

"Oh are you now"

"Yes" she stuck her nose in the air, they were so close together, their chests were nearly touching, and this made her uncomfortable. But backing down would only show weakness. And wasn't she trying to show him how much more superior she was?

"You better watch yourself Granger," he threatened. To her ears it sounded like a violent threat, but he meant it in a completely different sense. He liked her whole tough/mature act… a lot.

"You don't scare me"

"I know"

"So back. Down"

"You back down!"

"Make me!"

Hermione opened her mouth to say more when his lips came crashing down on hers. He grabbed her shoulders holding her in place, she was in shock, her body tensed and she simply stood, eyes wide. The kiss was forceful and desperate, somewhere deep in his throat was a moan, it sounded aggravated and as if he had been waiting for its release for a year.

His hands on her shoulders tightened slightly, wanting more. Her mouth slowly closed and she found herself… enjoying it. The kiss was familiar oddly, and as the few seconds passed where it began, it grew softer, less desperate and forceful, and more loving and passionate. A million emotions and questions rushed through her mind, but the amazing feeling and over-powering emotions she was getting from the kiss over ruled everything else. Her eyes closed and she lost herself. She was sad and frightened, and her hormones wouldn't calm down, and his lips, oh god his lips were so soft and comforting. She reached out and placed her hands on his sides.

Draco's eyes flew open, he noticed her eyes were closed and felt her hands on his sides. He pushed her away quickly and her eyes flew open. They stood, staring at each other, both gap mouthed.

Shit.

AAAHHHHH. kay i honestly wasn't even gonna write that. i was just gonna have them have some long boring conversation or whatever then i was like you know what NO. and the kiss was decided. i mean i've already decided how i'm going to end the story and what else is gonna happen in later chapters, but this was totally unexpected even for me. i hope you guys liked it! but unfotunatley as we all know, and as the preview is going to show, this kiss can only mean bad things... :( poor drakie /3 please review? :3

"You stupid naive little boy. I fret, you will never learn. so unfortunately, i must do this" he tisked, raising his wand.