Author's Note:

To everyone that has been waiting patiently, I apologize for taking so long to update. I hope that this chapter helps make up for it a little. I promise it will get more energy in later chapters.

I would love reviews! I am trying to take into account where the readers want the story to go so please make suggestions! You can also check my original pieces on u/967214/p-m-e-black. My tumblr is .com. Feel free to message me. Thanks.

New and repeat Thank you's: Thanks to all of those who have taken the time to favorite this story and to review it.

u/4315530/dorothymalfoy

u/2348694/LiesbethDM

Chapter 13-

Hermione had been held up inside Malfoy manor for about a week. She had made it a point to avoid Draco as much as possible. He kept to his room while she would wander the manor hoping to find some secret passage out. She wasn't surprised to find that the only way anything secret could be accessed was with a wand. She cursed herself for allowing the blonde to get a hold of it when he had. She had been so trusting in him with her magical instrument after all of the times that he could demonstrate restraint. She shouldn't have been shocked that he had done what he did though, but the kiss? That was something that really threw her off. Why would he go and kiss her in front of her friends? Was he just doing that to get to Ron or was it more? She couldn't allow herself to flood her thoughts with the idea that Draco could feel anything for her. He after all tormented her unmercifully in school, his actions now were only self serving. And why did he imply that he had put her under the Imperius curse? Was he doing that to save her the guilt of breaking up with Ron? She was so confused. Everything seemed so jumbled.

After walking the south end of the manor for what seemed like the upteenth time she concluded that the only thing left to do was go to the library closer to Draco's room. How funny that he would be so close to it.

The night air had seemed to seep into the corridor as she finally reached her destination. She turned the familiar serpentine handle and found the one thing she had been avoiding.

There sat Draco, his long lean body sprawled in an antique black leather chair, one of his legs hanging over the arm while his black leather shoe dangled off the tip of his toes. The moment the door open his shoe dropped with a thud as his gray eyes found her. Hermione bit her lip and took a step back ready to leave.

"Please...stay...I'll go." He stammered as he gathered a few books in his hands and picked up his forgotten shoe.

"No...it's your home. I'll go." She argued and made to retreat again.

"I insist Hermione." He said and waved his arm toward the now vacant chair.

"Why are you calling me that? What happened to 'mudblood' or 'Granger'?" She asked, tension evident in her tone. Draco took a deep breath.

"Why have you been calling me Draco?" He asked, his eyebrow slightly raised.

"I like Draco better." Did she just say that outloud? Draco blinked a few times at the admission.

"Well...I like Hermione better." He slightly smiled. Hermione could feel the corners of her mouth slightly twitch. Don't smile! DON'T SMILE!

"When are you going to let me leave?" She quickly changed the topic, replacing any hints of flirtation with acid.

"I...I can't let you leave. Not...not quite yet." Draco said as he looked at the floor.

"You can't or you won't?!" Hermione demanded. She stomped over toward the tall blonde.

"I don't want to!" He yelled out and then quickly shut his mouth. Did he just admit something he had been trying to keep inside? Hermione looked at him in confusion as Draco sat back down in the chair with a thud.

"What?" Hermione asked as she looked down at him.

"I...um...I don't want you to leave yet...I...I have to...uh...I have to get my parent's out." Draco was quickly trying to cover up his original intent.

"Do you think this is a game Malfoy?!" Hermione yelled.

"Please don't call me that...please." Draco almost whimpered. Hermione was taken aback by his vulnerable tremor.

"I...I don't get it. I don't understand you?" She watched as the lost young man placed his blonde head in his hands.

"I...I know you don't. I...I don't expect you to."

"You do realize they are going to come for me...they will kill you." Hermione finally muttered as she found herself kneeling in front of him, her trembling hand finding his.

"I know they will." Draco replied and looked up, locking eyes with her. Hermione's mouth went dry as she looked at the beautiful young man sitting in front of her. The pain and anguish leaked out of him.

"I'm going to send an owl to the ministry telling them that I have you. I will tell them that I will give you over safely in exchange for my parents...and then…then you won't see me again." That seemed more heart wrenching than anything. Though it was hard to admit, Hermione never wanted it to be like that. A part of her yearned to keep in contact with him. She didn't want to think there could be a possibility that he could be killed in all of this...because of her.

"Get rest Hermione. Tomorrow will be a new day." Draco attempted a grin and then placed his hand gently on her cheek. The contact of his skin made her amber eyes well. She knew it that moment when his eyes met hers. Something was definitely there, she was falling for him. Through all of the misplaced hatred there was something that had been deep down between the two, she had just been too blind to see through it. It wasn't that Draco actual felt the horrible things he said were true, he was programmed to say them. It was out of admiration for his father and then it morphed into a means of survival. There was no way that he hated her with the way he was looking at her right there in then. But if she weren't careful, she would be the death of him.

"Goodnight Draco." Hermione wrenched herself away from his touch, her skin feeling cold at the lack of his warmth. She quickly made her way out of the library, her eyes never turning back to look at the young man sitting in the library.

She couldn't let him do it. She couldn't be the reason for him ultimately committing suicide. At least if he were in Azkaban he would be alive. She had to find a way out of the manor no matter the cost.

That night, Hermione made her way down into the kitchens as silently as possible. Daisy was wringing out a mop as Hermione hid behind the door. She looked cautiously around for any signs of Kritter. She didn't see anything and decided it was safe to appear.

"Good evening Daisy." Hermione said as she appeared in the doorway. The little elf dropped the mop with a watery slosh at the sound of Hermione's voice. She quickly picked up the sopping wet cleaning tool and turned to Hermione.

"Sorry." Hermione smiled. She hated that she made the young elf so jumpy.

"Miss." Daisy answered as she began to clean the floor next to her feet. Hermione couldn't tell if the elf was doing it because she had to or to avoid speaking to her.

"Daisy may I ask you a favor?" Hermione asked as she walked over toward a bucket she was assuming Daisy was using for her cleaning.

"Miss wants to ask Daisy a favor?" The young elf seemed confused.

"That's what friends do. I don't just tell you what to do." Hermione smiled and lifted the bucket closer for the elf.

"Friends? We're friends Miss?" The little elfs cheeks began to flush and a tiny smile began to tug at her lips.

"I hope we are. The favor I ask is kind of big though." Hermione replied awkwardly. The little elf just blinked at her.

"Could you apparate me out of here?" Hermione asked as she looked into the little elfs eyes. Daisy blinked again rapidly.

"Would master's son be angry if Daisy did that?" She was a smart little elf, Hermione had to give her that.

"Um...yes...I suppose he would be." With that answer, Daisy cast her eyes down and continued to mop the floor, never answering Hermione's request.

If the elf wasn't going to help her, Hermione would have to use extreme measures to leave the manor.