The silence carried on and Draco looked away from her. His eyes landed on the window but he couldn't see anything because of the darkness. He still didn't look to Hermione. She was standing staring at Draco. Why was he sneering?

"Draco." whispered Hermione before she could stop herself.

He didn't look at her and Hermione mentally slapped herself. She took a deep breath and walked forward, his eye widened slightly as she put her arms around him, awkwardly.

"I missed you and worried about you so much..." she confessed, still hugging him.

"Um..." Draco pulled back uncomfortably, "I need somewhere to stay... Is it okay if I... I'll take the sofa?"

Hermione's jaw nearly dropped as he pulled away but she regain herself and turned around, not looking at him, she poured the coffee down the sink.

"There's a... um... guest room upstairs." said Hermione, avoiding eye contact.

"That'd be great, thanks."

Hermione placed the cup down and took her wand, gesturing him to follow, she took him upstairs and into the guest room.

"It's not made. I'll do that in two seconds." Hermione made to leave the room but Draco grabbed her wrist. She looked up at him and his grey eyes were clouded over, she immediately looked Dow as he let go of her hand.

"I'll take the sofa." said Draco, "Thanks. I'll be gone tomorrow."

This time, Hermione grabbed his hand and he looked at her. Hermione shook her head frantically.

"Please, Draco. Don't leave me." a tear fell out of Hermione's eye and Draco wiped it away, leaning down.

"I'm sorry. I only need a place to stay for tonight then I'll be gone," he added as Hermione began to protest, "Let's wait till the morning to talk."

He quickly walked downstairs and into the living room. Lying on the sofa, he waited until a door closed upstairs to close his eyes. His breathing got even and heavier and tiredness over took him. He fell into a deep sleep.

---

His wellie boots kicked in the white substance and he giggled in pleasure as it rose up and fell back down.

Snow.

The one thing he remembered off his childhood was playing in the cold, comfortable, soothing snow. It felt smooth and hard at the same time. He giggled once more as he ran through the snow.

He must've been about five years old when he had been innocently playing in the snow. His ashen hair the same colour as the present time and his grey eyes had an innocence surrounding them.

He lay in the snow and moved his arms and legs to make a snow angel.

"That's pretty." a distant voice sounded in his ears.

He got up, feeling the snow drip off his back, and looked around for the sound. Finally his eyes found her. Her face was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Her brown eyes contrasted the snow, making it look ugly compared to her beauty.

Hermione Granger stood in front of Draco Malfoy. He felt himself grow taller and suddenly a 20 year old man stood and the snow angel stayed the same shape of a five year old.

"Draco! Get in here!" a voice yelled and before he could take his eyes away from Hermione, he was getting dragged away by his collar.

He was sat down in a chair and his father stood in front of him. His mother stood a little behind him. Draco looked up at his father for a second before lowering his gaze. His father's face was red and a vein pulsed as his anger grew. His grey eyes seemed to harden at the sight of his son.

"We do not approve!" yelled Lucius.

He grabbed Draco by the neck and Draco hung limp, not daring to look up as he could feel his father shake of anger. Draco's eyes stayed at his father's feet and this made Lucius force Draco to look at him. Lucius grabbed Draco's chin and jerked upward. Pain shot through Draco's jaw but he dared not announce this.

Lucius' face was the pinnacle of anger. His eyes, the same colour of Draco's, bulged out at the stupidness and shame that his son had put upon them. The vein pulsed more angrier than usual and his mouth was turned into a sneer of hatred for his son.

Sweat trickled his face and Draco couldn't keep his eyes up so he lowered them. Lucius screamed and threw Draco onto the ground. Draco hurt his ribs as he lay stomach first, hitting his face too but Lucius took no notice. He whipped out his wand and pointed it straight at Draco, yelling the word that Draco so desperately didn't want to hear. He begged him not to say it but it was too late.

"Crucio!"

Draco let out a scream of pain and anger and hatred but no pain hit him.

"It's okay! It was just a nightmare!"

The voice calmed him down. His hands, that shook, calmed down as they found the softness of her hands. She held him and he felt her. He was safe. His father was not hear to tell him off. He wanted to see her and he will.

Slowly, he opened his clenched eyes and found her face looking down on him. How beauty touched her face and the shine in her eyes seemed never to take a rest. She was absolutely beautiful. His eyes lowered to her full, red lips. He slapped himself mentally and looked up to her eyes.

He lay down, pulling Hermione with him, she didn't object at all.  

----

The next morning, Draco woke up as Hermione stretched. She looked up to him and he smiled at her, tiredness evident on both their faces. Draco suddenly chuckled and Hermione smiled. It was great hearing Draco laugh and watching as the small smile grew on his red lips.

"What?" Hermione asked in a quiet voice, laying on her stomach, she watched him.

"You know..." Draco started, "I'm a very healthy 20 year old man and you are a very attractive 19 year old girl and we're in the same bed. Doesn't that ring warning bells in your head?"

Hermione's cheeks filled with colour as she understood what he was talking about. She averted his gaze, looking down at his chest. She felt his six pack last night as she lay beside him. She couldn't help but wonder how many girls would love to be in her place. Although, she wondered how many girls had been in her place before her...

"Well?" Draco asked.

Hermione looked up and shrugged.

"If you want me to go, I will. You don't have to beat around the bush, Draco." Hermione joked.

"No, stay here." Draco grabbed her as she made to get up.

"We should have breakfast." Hermione said, getting up, ignoring Draco as he pulled her down.

"Hmm. Okay." Draco got up too and sat in bed.

His eyes gazed over to Hermione as she got up. She only wore a sleeping dress. Her long legs were visible and her waist-

Draco shook his head. He shouldn't have thoughts like that! How did he know Hermione liked him? She could just be saying that because... Because she didn't like anyone else or maybe because of Weasley? She must miss him and think that she loves Draco but really, she has no feelings for him. She only thinks she does.

"The showers through there." Hermione said, breaking his thoughts, she threw him a towel, "I'll get changer and make breakfast. Don't take too long."

She left after a small smile and Draco sighed heavily. She was too damn attractive, she didn't have a clue what she made Draco feel for her.

Draco got up and grabbed the towel. He did a quick shower and changed into some clean clothes. Shoving the sleeves of his shirt up, he exited the room and went downstairs to see Hermione making breakfast.

"What's for breakfast?" Draco asked.

"Egg and toast, sorry, thats all I have." Hermione sat down, placing a plate of eggs on the table.

They started eating and Draco glanced up at her. She had tied her hair back and was looking at her food, deep in thought.

"I'm leaving after this." said Draco.

"Shut up." Hermione didn't even look up.

"Sorry?" Draco asked, did she just tell him to shut up?

"I said," Hermione looked up, "Shut... Up. You are not leaving. You know how long I've waited for you?! I love you, Dr-"

"No you don't love me." Draco yelled, forgetting his food, "You only THINK you love me but, really, you miss Weasley and you're lonely! You don't love me and I... I don't love you either."

The last part was a lie and it nearly broke Draco's heart as Hermione's face fell but he couldn't keep this going. She was in danger because of him.

"I can't do this. I'm sorry. You're in danger because of me." Draco muttered.

"Do not make up excuses just because you're scared of the future." Hermione said, quietly, "You're coward, Draco."

Draco looked up at her as a tear fell down her soft skin. Her lips looked so full they looked like they could crack easily. She was beautiful but he couldn't put her in danger. He was doing this for her not because he was a coward.

"Let's take things slow, Draco." Hermione took his hand, from across the table, "We don't have to love each other. We can get to know each other and spend time together."

She stood up and came across the table, so she stood in front of him. She pulled him up and they stood face to face.

"I feel safe with you, Draco," she muttered, hugging him.

Reluctantly, Draco hugged her back.