I haven't updated in about a year and a half, but I haven't forgotten this story, I've just been so busy with life that I haven't had much time for writing or anything. But I am determined to finish this story and the other chapter stories I have started. I hope you like this chapter.

Disclaimer: I…don't…own…Harry Potter…..*tear*

They knocked on Megan's front door, hoping she hadn't gone to bed yet, for good measure they knocked loudly again, relieved to hear a disgruntled response.

The door was yanked open and a green faced Megan stared at them, "What are you guys doing here?"

"You told me if I ever needed anything, to come to you…" Hermione trailed off uncertainly.

Megan appeared confused for a minute, before she grinned and replied, "Oh yea, sorry, I just woke up from an unplanned nap and I'm a little muddled. Come on in…"

As their hostess moved back, the two entered the spacious apartment. Hermione said, "Wow, this place is gorgeous."

"Thanks, I like it," Megan replied, shutting the door and motioning the two to follow her, "Now, I only have one spare room, so one of you will have to sleep on the couch, unless you don't mind sharing."

"I'll sleep on the couch," Draco said.

"Ok, then I'll go get you some blankets," Megan said, leaving to rummage in the linen closet.

"Are you sure you want to sleep on the couch?" Hermione asked quietly.

"I'll be fine, believe it or not, but I've slept on a couch plenty of times," Draco said ruefully.

"Oh," Hermione said, lowering her head.

Looking at her carefully, Draco asked hesitantly, "Don't you want me to sleep on the couch?"

Hermione gulped, she wasn't sure what she wanted, but she felt safer when she was around Draco. So summoning up her supposed Gryffindor courage, she said, "Not really, I'd feel better if you slept with me."

"Really," Draco teased lightly, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, causing Hermione to blush slightly.

"Not like that, you pervert!"

"You're no fun," Draco pouted, "But alright, just sleeping it is…"

At that moment Megan came back with an armful of blankets and said, "Okay, finally found these bad boys. Who's ready to go to bed?"

"Actually Megan, Draco is going to sleep in the bedroom, sorry to cause you the trouble," Hermione said.

Curious, Megan looked between Hermione and Draco, a speculative look in her eye, "Oh, no trouble…no trouble at all…goodnight you two, sweet dreams!"

Shaking his head, Draco said, "I don't understand her…"

"Don't worry, she's American, I don't think we're supposed to…" Hermione replied, walking into the spare bedroom. (A/N: Not hating on Americans here, I am one after all…)

The room was cozy, with warm beige colored walls, and a bed that was draped in a colorful comforter. The lamps were on and they cast a warming glow on Draco and Hermione as they set their things down. Hermione dug around in her bag and pulled out a nightgown, "I'm going to go change in the bathroom, you can change here."

When Hermione left, Draco quickly changed into a pair of pajama pants and then proceeded to pull his shirt over his head. Absent-mindedly scratching a spot on his shoulder, right above his heart, Draco mulled over the fact that Hermione had asked him to stay with her. After their heated kisses earlier that night, she had withdrawn from him, as if she was afraid to be alone with him. But before he could dwell on it more, the door closed and Hermione stood there looking vulnerable and slightly nervous.

"Hi…" Hermione said.

"Hey," Draco said, his eyes roving over her. He thought she was breathtaking in her prim and proper nightgown, and he wanted her. Looking in her eyes, he realized that passion was not what she needed right now, so pushing all thoughts of that kind out of his head, he said, "Ready to go to bed…?"

"Um, sure," Hermione said slightly awkwardly, walking to the side opposite of Draco and climbing under the covers. Draco turned the lights off and proceeded to crawl under the blankets as well. As he lay there, Draco found he was unable to relax with Hermione not even an arms length away.

"Draco…" Hermione said quietly, rolling over to face his back.

"Yea…"

"Can you face me, its weird talking to your back," Hermione said, speaking again after Draco had turned, "What was it like being a Death Eater…?"

"What?"

"You heard me, I asked…"

"I heard you," Draco interrupted her, "But I don't get why you're asking me that…"

"Well…I figured that since we're being forced to run for our lives together, that we should get to know each other better."

Draco sighed, not sure how to answer, the real facts weren't very pretty and he wasn't proud of himself for what he had done.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"Its not that I don't want to tell you," Draco replied, "But it's not exactly a bedtime story, I don't want you to think of me differently."

"Draco, I promise I won't…"

"Don't promise something like that," Draco said bitterly, suggesting others had and not kept it, "Well, regardless of how I acted in school, it was never my dream to become a Death Eater. I was a mean and cruel kid in school, I still am sometimes. But the stories that my father told about himself and his fellow Death Eaters scared the crap out of me. That didn't matter to my father though, I was a Malfoy, and Malfoys had always been loyal to Voldemort. So in 5th year, Father started to pressure me into becoming a Death Eater, promising that I wouldn't be hurt if I did, but he couldn't promise I wouldn't be if I didn't. Eventually, when I refused, he used the Cruciatus Curse on me. Finally, in 6th year I couldn't stand the pain anymore, so I agreed, and I became a Death Eater."

Hermione didn't say anything but reached out and touched Draco's arm, which he shrugged off.

"Well…what I didn't know was that I had jumped from one torture to another. Voldemort would often torture a Death Eater when something hadn't gone right, and I was often chosen, since I was the youngest and the least devoted. The torture wasn't the worst part, I was taught the Unforgivable Curses and forced to use them. Often times against innocent people, men, women…and children. I wish I could say I had been under the Imperius Curse, but I wasn't. Then I had to kill Dumbledore, the man that had treated me warmly despite the fact that I was a total git, and I couldn't get myself to do it. I was punished of course, but for once I felt human, not fearful of the pain I knew would come from disobeying orders. Then the final battle happened and I didn't have to be fearful anymore, well I was of the Dementors for awhile but I wasn't at Azkaban for long. But to answer your original question, being a Death Eater was pure hell, sometimes I wondered if I was even human anymore."

After Draco had finished talking, Hermione was silent, the tears welling up in her eyes. She knew she should say something, but she didn't want Draco to hear her tears, in case he mistook them for pity or the like.

"I told you you'd think of me different, it's obvious by your silence," Draco remarked cynically.

Hermione swiped the tears away, hoping her voice would stay steady and said, "You're wrong…"

"Am I?" Draco said, hearing a sniffle, "Hey, what's wrong?"

"You, you bloody git, I don't think of you different, at least not how you think I do, but whatever, think what you want," Hermione said angrily.

Draco caught her before she rolled over, "What else do you think I'd think, you always accused me of being a monster in school and now you know for sure that I am one."

Hermione clenched her teeth at his cruel tone of voice, "I thought you were a prick at school, but I never thought you were a monster. You may not have been my favorite person, but I never thought that of you."

Holding her arms tightly, "Then how do you think of me?"

"I think you were a scared boy with no other options…"

"But I did have a choice, I could have said no…" Draco said sardonically, his grip tightening.

"Ow, Draco you're hurting me," Hermione whimpered.

"Sorry," he said, his hold loosening instantly.

"Its okay," Hermione said, rubbing her arms a bit, "And it's easy to say that now, when not facing death, but it's not that easy. There were times I felt like giving up on our goal to beat Voldemort, because giving in would have been easier. You were human, Draco, and you've paid for what you did and you're no longer the same person you were."

"Aren't I though? I can't even control myself enough not to hurt you," Draco replied, referring to Hermione's arms.

"Yes, but you let go of me as soon as you realized you were hurting me, which lets me know you didn't purposely hurt me, there's a difference," Hermione argued back.

Draco was silent, causing Hermione to wonder if he was ignoring what she had said. Edging closer, she brought her face closer, only to find Draco's gray eyes moist with unshed tears. Before she had a chance to say anything, Draco grabbed her and buried his face in her hair, his body shaking with silent sobs. Unsure what to do, Hermione simply let him hold her tightly and return his embrace. After a few minutes his shaking subsided, but he continued to hold her, his breathing deep and even. Realizing that he was asleep, Hermione tried to pull of of his arms, but his arms tightened making it impossible. Sighing, she stopped fighting and snuggled closer, closing her eyes.

Awww, mushy moments, I hope you guys like this chapter. :) Review!