Disclaimer: We obviously do not own the Harry Potter World, as much as we wish we did. That genius comes from the one and only J.K. Rowling.

A/N: Here is the finished chapter seven. Enjoy.

Chapter 7: The Questioning of Friendship

I woke up and turned in bed to see the clock flashing 6:42pm. I sat up quickly; realizing that wasn't my clock and this wasn't my room.

Then I was startled by a voice, "Do you ever feel like you're drowning?" I sat up and looked over at Hermione. She was turned away from me, sitting on a bench seat hugging her legs, staring out of her window.

I was shocked. Yes! All the time! "Sometimes." How would she know something that often haunts me? "It feels like someone has dropped me into the ocean with weights tied around my waist. There is no escaping." I saw her pull her legs closer, defense mechanism. People do it to try and feel comfort, but unfortunately it hardly ever works. However this meant that I had just put into words what she was feeling. So I continued, "it leaves me knowing what's coming, the full intensity of the pain. I'm forced to realize that I'm trapped." I took a deep breath and stared down at my hands. "I hit the ocean floor, expecting to die, but I don't. I'm still alive, experiencing enough pain to wish I was dead. But it never happens. I'm just stuck at the bottom of the ocean…drowning."

I looked back at Hermione. Her body shook as she tried to suppress a sob. She was clearly still torn up about the Weasley ordeal, and hadn't finished crying her feelings out yet.

I slowly walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're going to be okay."

"How can you know that?" she asked in a shaky voice, turning to face me.

I wiped a tear from her cheek. "Because you have me," I replied leaning down and placing a kiss on her forehead. "Are you hungry?"

"A bit."

I ordered pizza for us to eat and found a mostly full bottle of firewhiskey that Hermione had stashed below her sink. We sat down on her sofa and she put a "DVD" in for us to watch on a "TV." It was actually a pretty brilliant invention.

After we finished the pizza she snuggled up to me, glass in hand. It startled me, but who was I to refuse an emotional girl from using me as a pillow. I wrapped my arm around her and settled in as the main characters in the movie partook in some very funny shenanigans.

Halfway through the movie Hermione had finished the bottle of firewhiskey (I had only drank a glass and a half); she then ventured into the kitchen to find something else to drink. She came back triumphantly carrying the bottle of wine I had brought earlier that day. She poured herself a full glass of the deep red liquid and offered me some, but I declined. I wouldn't be able to take care of her if I was drunk too. And she needed taking care of, considering the emotional trauma she had relived a few hours previously.

Hermione was dangerously drunk after 4 or 5 glasses of the wine. She couldn't speak properly and she was stumbling around her flat. She turned on some music and tried to pull me up off the sofa.

"Dance with me, Draco." She pleaded.

I obliged and she immediately flung her arms around my neck, swaying happily to the music. Whereas I awkwardly placed my hands on her waist as she pulled me close.

"Draco…" she began as she leaned back and looked me in the eyes. I smiled. She looked beautiful with her curly brown hair and lively brown eyes.

"Granger?" I prompted when she didn't finish her sentence.

Rather than move her lips to speak, she pressed them against mine in a fiery kiss. I responded to her kiss by pulling her even closer. After a heated moment or two I came to my senses and pulled away quickly.

She looked up at me with pain in her eyes.

"I'm sorry. You're mad at me now, but you'll be mad at yourself later if you continue." I tried to reason with her, but she had consumed too much alcohol to really hear what I said or comprehend it.

"Please, Draco, please." She whimpered, trying to kiss me once more.

Hermione was drunk and wouldn't remember anything in the morning. Therefore I picked her up and carried her to her room. I tucked her into bed and she was fast asleep before I even left the room. I tidied up the living room and silently crept out the front door and apparated back to my flat.

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"Good morning, Granger," I said surprised to run into her the following morning at my favorite coffee shop.

She winced and held her head, "Morning, Malfoy."

"How are you feeling?" I questioned, taking the chair opposite her.

"Terrible. How much did I drink last night?"

"At least three quarters of a bottle of firewhiskey, and roughly the same amount of wine. How much do you remember?"

"The beginning and middle of the movie, but I don't remember seeing the ending."

I took a sip of my coffee. Just as I suspected, no recollection of what happened.

"I have this vague idea that I did something I shouldn't have after the movie, but I don't know what." Hermione said looking towards me for answers.

"Nothing bad happened. After the movie we listened to music. And then you went to bed, and I left. Anyways, I have to go. I have class in a few minutes. See you."

"Alright, bye."

I got up to leave but hesitated. "Are you doing anything this Friday? Because I have tickets for a Quidditch match, if you're interested."

"Quidditch has never really been my thing." She replied, causing my heart to sink a little. I had really hoped that she would come with me. "But perhaps it beats just sitting in my flat all alone. Sure, I'll come."

"Great! I'll catch you later." I winked at her and departed.

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My Dearest Draco,

Where have you been? It's been too long since I saw you last. Did you not enjoy our previous encounters? Are you avoiding me? Is something wrong? I miss being in your arms, Draco. Why won't you reply to my letters? Please just owl me back.

Love,

Mariah

I set the letter down on top of the pile of letters from Mariah. I hadn't replied to any of them because I simply hadn't had the time. I had been far too busy spending time with Hermione. I felt kind of bad for not sending a letter back or seeing Mariah within the last week, but after Hermione had divulged her secret about Weasley she wasn't up for spending time alone. Therefore being the Malfoy I am now, I could not abandon her in her time of need.

I was in fact just stopping by my flat to gather a few articles of clothing. Hermione had offered to let me stay in her spare room since I had been there so much anyways. I picked up my bag, glancing once more at the pile of letters, and then proceeded out the front door.

I really should have replied to Mariah, but I didn't see a reason to since I had no interest in pursuing her further. I closed the door, and left Mariah behind me.

A/N: "Read and Review: If you can read it, you can review it!"

I'm borrowing this from one of the authors I've come across on here. She is magnificent and I hope she doesn't mind me borrowing a phrase she always uses. Anyways check her out, she has such a great way with words and her stories are fantastic. SeanEmma4Evr. I especially recommend "Evil's Mistress"