"Mother, wake up," muttered Draco, once again laying his hand on her forehead to find it blazing hot.

A book was open in front of him. A book about home remedies and basic diseases. He sighed, flicking over each page with his eyes, his heart dropped when he couldn't find anything in the book. Waste of money, indeed.

Draco took out his wand and managed to bring the fever down with some spells. He just had to wait for her to wake up. If she would just open her eyes or whisper or even squeeze his hand a little, he would be reassured.

"Make sure she gets up in the next hour. I'm off to get your Aunt and Uncle," Lucius said, opening the door without even knocking.

He came in and laid a hand on Narcissa's forehead. Draco held back thinking it wasn't a good idea to fight with his father. Who would look after his mother if something happened to him?

Finally Lucius went, slamming the door on his way. Draco waited, distinctly hearing his father give orders to Coal and Amadeus and then finally leaving from the front door.

"Mother?" Draco whispered and shook her slightly.

It didn't look like she was getting up anytime soon. Draco got up and went out of his room. He left the door open a little so he could hear if his mother woke up or called for him. Draco then took off down the stairs and noticed Coal and Amadeus playing cards in the living room.

Draco went through the kitchen and downstairs to the basement. He peeked in through the door and saw that Hermione sat with her back against the wall, clutching her stomach.

"Hermione," whispered Draco, through the bars.

She looked up and relief spread across her face. She stood up and came to the door looking behind him.

"You shouldn't be here... Your mother..."

"What did my mother say to you?" asked Draco, watching her hands clutch the bars, "What did she say?"

"She told me to stay away from you," said Hermione, she looked up and leaned in closer to Draco, "Draco, please let me go..."

"Hermione, I can't and you know that. He'll kill me and my mother..."

Hermione glared at him and walked away from the door. She reached the wall again and sat down. Draco sighed and opened the door, letting himself in. He walked over to Hermione and sat down next to her.

"I'll let you go but not now. Please trust me." whispered Draco.

"I don't trust you, Malfoy. What game are you playing? My life is not a game," Hermione turned to him furiously, "They'll kill me and-"

"Shhh!" Draco took her hand, "No one will harm you. If they try, I'll protect you."

"No you won't. I just want to get out of here!" Hermione stood up and glanced at the door, "Just open the door and let me leave. You always say that you love me and then your mum tells me to stay away from you! How can I, when you always come to see me here? If you let me leave, I'll stay away from you and-"

"Do you love me? Do you feel anything for me?" asked Draco, getting up to stand in front of her.

Hermione looked into his eyes, calculating her feelings for him. Finally she shook her head, turning away from him and muttering, "I don't feel anything for you, Malfoy."

Draco felt his heart become heavy and drop to the ground, probably breaking in half because of her statement. She didn't turn around 

and Draco was glad. He just had to stay strong and not let his feelings show. If she had no feelings for him, they couldn't be together. That was the only thing he wanted.

"I'll get you some food," muttered Draco, walking towards the door.

He opened it and let himself out, locking it behind him. Making his way into the kitchen, he leaned on the counter, thoughts pressing themselves against his skull.

Was she lying? Usually Draco could tell when she was lying. He could tell by her eyes but she sounded like she was sure. He wished he hadn't asked her. Draco had never really experienced heartbreak. He hated it.

Draco made his hands work. He pulled a bottle of water from the fridge and some sandwhiches that were probably Coal's. He tookthen anyway and set them on a tray. Bracing himself, he went down to the basement.

Hermione was walking back and forth across the room, deep in thought. Draco winced as his heart jumped when she looked at him. He avoided her eyes and opened the door. Setting the tray down onto the table, he went out again and stopped at the door to glance at her.

"Eat it and I'll be back soon," muttered Draco.

Hermione nodded, looking to her food as Draco walked away. He went up to his room after passing Coal and Amadeus still playing cards. His mother's fever stayed down and Draco guessed he had to wait for her to wake up.

Draco magicked a chair and sat down. Waiting meant a lot of free time. Which meant thinking of his one true love who didn't even love him back.

---

Hermione's POV

Hermione glanced at the food just to avoid his grey eyes. She senses him walking away.

Hermione felt horrible. She knew she had purposefully broke his heart but she had to! She couldn't admit his feelings for Draco, that would make everything a lot more complicated. Narcissa warned her to stay away from him or else he would get in serious harm because of her. She didn't want that.

Hermione sat down on her mattress and looked at the water and sandwiches. A lump formed in her throat as she pictured Draco's face. His gorgeous eyes which would light up at the sight of her. Now they would only be filled with pain.

Wetness formed on her hand and she realised she was crying. She buried her face in her hands as more tears fell. After she had stopped crying, she lay on her mattress and curled up into her duvet, which she hoped would block out the thought of Draco.

It didn't work. She thought of Draco every time she closed her eyes.

----

"Lucius..." Draco jumped at the whisper.

His mother was finally awake. Draco moved closer to her and clutched her hand. Her eyes found his and a tear escaped down her pale cheek.

"Draco, my son..." she cried, holding a shivering hand on his head, she smoothed down his hair, "You have to leave... You have to... Run."

"Mother, when I go, I'm taking you with me," muttered Draco, his heart was filled with so much emotion that he was surprised he hadn't burst yet.

Narcissa searched her son's eyes and Draco felt that she knew his deepest darkest secrets, his love for Hermione and all the bad deeds and decisions he had made.

"What did she say to you?" whispered Narcissa, "Hermione... What did... she..."

Narcissa's eyes fluttered and Draco clutched her hand tighter. Finally, she fell into a deep sleep once again and Draco sighed, leaning back. His mother knew he was hurting. In fact she could probably sense his broken heart a mile away.

A tap tap at the window made Draco stand up. An owl was perched on the window sill. He opened the window and let the owl in but it just stuck it's foot out. Draco took the note and it flew off again.

"Make sure she's awake. I'll be home in an hour. We're going to have lunch. 

Get the mudblood some clean clothes. 

L.M"

The elegant and surprisingly familiar handwriting made Draco growl. Sure, they could have lunch while Narcissa was lying unconscious or in a deep sleep on Draco's bed.

Draco read the last line again and wondered why he would care if Hermione had clean clothes or not. He then thought that it'd be good for his reputation. He wouldn't be considered a savage.

Draco glanced at his mother, who probably wouldn't wake up in the next hour. Sighing, he made sure she was comfortable and left the room to go down to the basement.

It hurt as he saw Hermione lying on the mattress covered by her duvet. The untouched food still lay on the table.

"You didn't eat," muttered Draco, knowing she wasn't asleep.

She glanced out of her duvet and Draco saw that her eyes were red. He made no comment and she said nothing as Draco came into the room and held his wand at her. Suddenly her face grew red and she was petrified as Draco muttered a spell.

"I'm not going to hurt you," muttered Draco.

A thin rope flew out of his wand and tied itself around Hermione's wrists. Draco gestured for her to stand up and she did.

"I need to get you some clean clothes so just follow me,"

Draco walked, keeping his wand held high and Hermione walked beside him. She glanced at Draco but he kept his face straight and showed no emotion.

They went up the stairs and Draco paused. Where was he meant to get clothes for her? He looked up the stairs which lead to the third floor and decided to go up there.

"Just here. Have a shower. Don't do anything stupid. I'll get you a towel and clothes," said Draco.

Hermione simply nodded and went into the bathroom. Draco found a clean towel and laid it on the floor in front of the bathroom door. He rummaged to find some sort of clothes. Dresses, shorts, jeans, tops. He picked a blue top and some jeans for her and also laid them in front of the door.

Then he waited. Staring at the oak door, knowing her thoughts would be of home. A home that Draco promised himself that she would get to. Even if it killed him.

"Who the hell is taking a shower in there?" the voice made him jump and he looked up to see Amadeus.

"Granger," said Draco simply.

"The mudblood? Why did you let her out? What-" he advanced on Draco.

Draco simply handed him his fathers note, not bothering to get up from the floor. Amadeus' ugly eyes scanned through it and he growled at Draco and threw the note on the ground, stomping away as Draco rolled his eyes and turned towards the door, where the shower went off.

Draco got up and picked up the towel. He knocked on the door and waited.

"Granger?" he knocked on the door again, "take your towel."

The door opened a little and a hand came out. Her hand. He handed her the towel and she took it, closing the door quickly.

"Your clothes are out here, want me to hand them to you aswell?" asked Draco, knowing he should've handed her the clothes before.

"Yes, please," she muttered through the oak door.

Draco handed her the clothes and she closed the door. He waited again and finally she came out. He tried not to look at her but couldn't help it. Her top fit her just right, emphasising her small stomach and hips. Her jeans hugged her legs and Draco noticed how beautiful she looked.

He should've got something not so... inviting.

"What?" she asked, wondering why Draco was staring at her.

Draco racked his brain for some sort of reason or lie. But his mouth opened and before he could stop it, he said, "You look really good."

Hermione blushed red and looked down. Draco smirked, even though he knew they had no future he still loved her.

"Thank you," she whispered, glancing up, she held up the dirty clothes that Draco hadn't noticed, "Here. I don't want them so you can burn them or whatever you do with a mudblood's clothes."

That hurt. Draco's heart twanged in his chest like an elastic band that had been pulled too far. He walked towards her and took the clothes. She looked up at him and he looked down at her. For a moment they stood, staring into each others eyes, wishing they could get lost in them.

"Draco," she whispered, her hands travelled to his face.

"Shh," muttered Draco as he leaned down, "don't speak."

Hermione closed her eyes as Draco leaned closer and closer. His lips a centimetre away from her's. Her heart beat faster and faster. Draco didn't close his eyes. He stared at her, wondering if she wanted him to kiss her. He let the dirty clothes fall to the ground and caught her face in his hands.

Just lean down a centimetre more and kiss her, his heart shouted at him.

He pressed his lips to her's for the briefest second and then he pulled back. Hermione opened her eyes to look at him.

"You don't love me. Why the hell do you want me to kiss you?" Draco yelled angrily, "You're supposed to stop and push me away!"

Anger built up inside him and he pushed her against the wall. Hermione shook with fear as Draco growled, growing angrier by the second.

"Why do you want me to kiss you?!" shouted Draco again, holding her shoulders.

No reply which made Draco grab Hermione's face. He looked to her lips and Hermione was frozen. Draco pulled away, running a hand through his hair.

"The sooner you're out of here, the better." he muttered, grabbing her wrist.

He led her down the stairs angrily and Hermione winced as his grasp got tighter.

"Draco, you're hurting me," she whispered as they got to the kitchen.

"Hurting YOU?!" yelled Draco, stopping and grabbing her other wrist tightly, making her gasp in pain, "Shut up and don't say a word. Don't complain! Don't say my name!"

He led her down to the basement and sat her down on the mattress. Angrily he walked out and locked the door. He didn't look back. He reached the kitchen and punched the wall, repeatedly.