A/N: Thanks to everyone that has taken an interest in this story, I think I have a really good idea of where it's going and of course some smutty goodness. And for my favorite review of the last chapter…

This chapter is dedicated to loveroffelton (

Hermione awoke to a tapping at the window next to her bed. Her body was tingly all over, her body still entranced by the boy in her dream. She was very angry to have been woken up. Her face was flush; she had rather enjoyed that dream.

She pulled the red and gold covers away from her body. She hated leaving the warmth of her bed; she would give anything to just drift back into her dream of him, under his fiery touch. As she made her way over to the window she saw a black owl carrying a package. She opened up the window only to have the owl drop the package at her feet. It was wrapped in simple brown paper but tied with green and silver string in a nice little bow. Hermione made her way back to the warmth of her bed, package in hand. She pulled at the green and silver string bow, and saw a piece of parchment starring up at her.

Hermione,

This was a gift from my aunt Andromeda, I would guess you unlike me, would know her and my cousin Nymphadora. She sent it to me on my eleventh birthday. No one knows I have this. I believe you would know how my parents would react to any contact with this part of my family. I would like you to have it; I think you will enjoy it as I have. Consider it a peace offering.

-DM.

Hermione starred down at Draco's letter. She re-read every line. Am I still dreaming? She thought to herself. He trusts me with a secret of his; he's giving me something of his that obviously means something to him. She placed the letter next to her and picked up a book. It was old, extremely so. It was hard cover in a beautiful emerald green shade with shimmery gold binding. She eagerly opened the cover to see beautiful writing on the first worn page.

To my nephew,

Draco I do hope that this makes its way to you, without the prying eyes of your father. I am your aunt and I am sorry I am forced to miss out on your life as you grow into a man. This belonged to my Husband it was in his family. I give it to you in the hope that you will be able to form your own opinions of the world outside the walls of the Malfoy Manor. It pains me that I am estranged from my family, and it pains me greater to know that you will no doubt soon know why this has happened. Being born into a pureblood family has its difficulties; your father will surely put pressure on you to conform to his beliefs, no matter your own. You will be forced to make difficult decisions, and I hope that you never have to make the choice between someone you love and your family. Be safe. Be strong. And I hope that one day you won't have to worry about blood.

~~Love&Hope always, Aunt Meda~~

Hermione stared at the page in shock; in her friendship she had made with Tonks it had never once occurred to her that she was Draco's cousin. It was rare that something escaped her knowledge. She laughed at him calling her Nymphadora. She would slap him if she saw his letter. And then suddenly she realized how very sad it was that she would know his own flesh and blood immensely better than he did. His use of her given first name truly showed that he didn't know his cousin whatsoever, she suddenly felt overwhelmingly sad for him. He's been kept from his own family because of the choices his aunt had made to marry a muggle born. How sad it must have been to have not known her, and to receive this note in this beautiful book. How horrible that Andromeda had to worry about Lucius seeing it before Draco could hide it away, like her family hid her away. He was forced to act like he didn't have an Aunt Andromeda, of course he was she married a muggle born.

It seems silly that suddenly she would realize that Draco never really had a choice of how he behaved towards her, if he didn't he would wind up like Andromeda. Cut off from his family, the only family he ever knew. Rejected by everyone he grew up around, treated like dirt himself. And just like Andromeda before him stripped of the chance to get to know his growing family. She had to admit to herself that she wasn't sure that if she was in either of their positions, if she could just follow her heart with everything that was at risk. It suddenly became clear how hard his life must be. Below all the aristocracy of the Malfoy name, all the bluster and the rubbish, there clearly was pain.

Her mind flashed to their kiss, would Draco face the same fate as his aunt if anyone had found out that he had kissed her. She felt very scared for him, she didn't want to be the reason Draco was cut off from everything he knew. She knew that much; even if she loathed everything he had been taught and everything he followed, she didn't want to cause him pain. Her heart knew that.

She turned the page of the book and was surprised to see that it was a muggle book. Her eyes lit up as she stared at the page in disbelief, it was old practically an antique by the looks of it. Her childhood favorite, Beauty & the Beast, it blew her mind that Draco would have ever read this. Her heart jumped at the prospect that maybe Draco, the real Draco, could be buried underneath a façade of pureblood bluster. The Draco that she and everyone else at Hogwarts knew would have never kept anything from a known blood traitor. He's hiding his real self; deep beneath THE Draco he projects out to the world.

He must be. She thought to herself.

But what does him giving this to her mean? Does he just want her to know that there is more to him than meets the eye? Was he simply regretting their earlier meeting in that empty classroom, and he was offering this up to shut her up.

He's smarter than that; this would be more of a reason for me to speak to him. Perhaps he just wants peace between them. Maybe that's what he was attempting earlier; he's just tired of keeping up the façade of fighting.

He probably gets his fill of fighting in his house. She thought to herself with a grimace on her face.

She wanted to talk to him, but could she talk to him without jumping his bones after having that dream? She didn't know, but she knew she didn't fully understand Draco. She wondered if any one truly did. She needed to speak to him and keep her hormones under control.

Easier said than done with that guy, she thought silently. Especially now.

Draco had managed to fall asleep after conjuring a pillow case that smelled of white roses. He found that the scent both comforted him, as well as got his blood going. He tossed and turned slightly, his mind wondering yet again. He hoped she appreciated him sending that book to her, it meant a great deal to him. He also really hoped it would make a difference in their relationship. Maybe she'll get it a little, or just hate me a little less. It was hard for him to allow people in. Yet somehow he felt he had no other option with her. It was odd to him. He knew none of his efforts with her would ever amount to anything real. Still he felt compelled to let her in a little, only a little.

Suddenly he heard a tapping at the window, he glanced over through his bleary sleep deprived eyes, to see an owl, an all too familiar owl.

TBC