"I promise, I'll get you something better for breakfast tomorrow," said Draco, handing her the fruit bowl.

Hermione took it and decided whether to eat it or not. Could she really trust Draco?

"No, you have to eat it," said Draco, sensing her hesitation, "Don't even bother throwing it away."

"Malfoy, you-"

"Call me Draco."

Draco stopped to look at her. She stared back. Hermione knew she shouldn't trust him but something hidden deep inside of her wanted her to believe and trust him. He went back to sorting out her mattress.

Hermione stared at his back, willing him to turn around. She didn't understand her feelings for Draco. All she knew was that he made her feel safe. Like they couldn't touch her because he would stand up for her. Hermione can tell that Draco loves her.

But does she love Draco?

"Eat," ordered Draco, without turning around.

Hermione slowly lifted the spoon to her mouth and ate the fruit. Apple. Her favourite. The taste danced across her tongue. She hadn't ate for a whole day and hadn't had any water. She wanted to thank Draco for bringing her food and water but found herself shovelling spoonfuls into her mouth.

"Done, hopefully you'll be comfy tonight," said Draco, admiring his handiwork.

Hermione looked up, still eating her fruit, to see that the matters had no horrible and intimidating blood stains on them. The pillows and the duvet looked so comfy.

"Thank you," said Hermione, looking down.

Draco must have an ulterior motive behind this. Hermione just had to figure out what the motive was. He wouldn't be doing this because he set her up. She wasn't too thankful for his actions.

Draco roamed the ceiling and he walked around the room. He looks really tired. It was really dark under his eyes, Hermione could see him clearly since his wand was lit up.

"Hmm, I'll think about it," muttered Draco to himself.

"Think about what?" asked Hermione, placing her empty bowl down.

"Some sort of way that you can communicate with me."

Hermione nodded and took a long drink of her water. She finished the glass quickly and placed it beside the bowl. Hermione stood up and yawned.

"Get some sleep, I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" muttered Draco, walking towards the door.

"Wait!" yelled Hermione. Draco shushed her, listening for any noises from above, "sorry... I don't really want to... It's dark."

Draco looked at her unbelievably and chuckled, shaking his head.

"You're seriously scared of the dark?" whispered Draco, walking towards her.

"I'm in an unfamiliar place and it's scary here," Hermione whispered back.

Hermione knew she was being silly but she really could not stay here alone. She trusts Draco to stay with her. She looked into his eyes, searching for something in there. Something different was shining deep in his eyes. She could see her reflection. She smiled at him.

"I'll stay with you. I won't do anything. Go to sleep," Draco led her to the mattress.

Hermione lay down, wrapping herself tight in the duvet and sinking into the incredibly comfortable mattress. She yawned again, closing her eyes.

"Thank you, Draco," whispered Hermione, "You're not like them at all and I love that about you."

Draco looked shocked as Hermione opened her eyes to look at him. He smiled softly and took her hand.

"Go to sleep. I'll guard you from them."

Hermione smiled and closed her eyes, getting sucked into a free from nightmare sleep. She drifted off pretty quickly. She could sense Draco's hand running through her hair and his lips pressed onto hers as she slept.

Probably just her imagination or a dream.

---

Draco's POV

"Thank you, Draco, you're not like them and I love that about you," she whispered, opening her eyes again though he could see how tired she was.

Draco's heart stopped. Just for a second. Before it started beating again. Truly, he was surprised at her words. Did she really think he wasn't like that? Draco didn't want to be like them.

"Go to sleep, I'll guard you from them," he whispered.

A smile flickered on her face and she closed her eyes. Draco stared at her until she breathed evenly and slept like she was on a cotton cloud floating away.

He wished he could take her out of here. He will. He just has to think it out properly. Without thinking, he ran a hand through her hair, taking it away from her face. He slowly leaned down, hoping she wouldn't wake from her blissful sleep, he pressed his lips to hers, tasting the fruit she had ate before. Apples. His favourite.

"Draco, stand up." a voice came from behind the metal locked door.

"I was wondering when you were going to speak," stated Draco, keeping his eyes trained on the sleeping girl.

"This is wrong, Draco!" yelled the person.

"Shhhhh!" shushed Draco as Hermione moved slightly, "You'll wake her."

"You can not do this to us, Draco. Remember where your priorities lie. She isn't yours. She never will be. Stand up, Draco."

Draco looked up and behind the metal door, his mother stood, her jaw in a perfect lock which, Draco knew from experience, meant she was angry. She was rarely angry.

Draco stood up and placed Hermione's hand onto the bed, careful not to wake her. He walked over to the door but did not open it.

"We can't keep her here, mother, it's not right." whispered Draco, looking back at her.

"Think reasonably, Draco. If it was that Weasley boy or Harry, would you be saying that?" his mother took Draco's hand.

She was right. He wouldn't be saying any of this. He wouldn't lift a finger to help them but it wasn't them. It was Hermione.

"I love her too much," whispered Draco.

"But you can't be with her and you know that. Let her go, Draco. She isn't yours..." Narcissa knew she wouldn't get anywhere with saying that so she sighed and said, "I loved someone too. Not your father, before him. The man I loved was not a pureblood. Not even half blood. He was a muggle. I was sixteen and he was seventeen."

Draco teared his eyes away from Hermione to look at his mother. He felt her hand clench around his.

"I loved him so much. Of course, I only saw him at summer but I saw him every chance I could get. Even for a little while. He said he loved me. We spent countless summers planning our future..." Narcissa looked at Draco.

He could see her eyes darken. Something in them flashed up. Barriers. She had never told anyone this story before, Draco could tell. He clenched his mothers hand tighter, encouraging her to go on.

"One day in the summer... I was looking for him... He... I... I saw him with that... muggle girl. He cheated on me," a tear fell out of her eye and she looked down, breathing heavily as she tried not to cry.

Draco's heart felt like it was on fire. Most people would hate to see their mother cry. Draco was on of them people. He had hardly ever seen his mother cry. He had heard her countless times, in a room, because of his father's beatings.

"I'm sorry, mother." muttered Draco.

"But..." she looked up, wiping the tear away with her hand, "That happened for a reason. We weren't supposed to be together. My whole life would be so different if I had married him. You wouldn't have been born. What I mean is that no matter how much you think you love someone, sometimes it just won't happen. Even if it is true love. It won't happen for a reason."

Draco could understand and relate to his mother. He knew what she was getting at but he shook his head.

"It will happen as long as the love is strong enough and-"

His mother shook her head.

"You're so naïve, son. You have to hide your feelings. If you truly love her, you must let her go. She won't have a good life with you, Draco. You won't have a goo life with her. Both of you will be looking over your shoulder constantly and... Just let her go." his mother sighed, dropping their hands, "Go to bed, Draco and think about what I said."

Narcissa sighed heavily and walked away after a glance in Hermione's direction. Draco watched his mother leave and could swear he heard a sob as she went.

To Draco, Narcissa was not only his mother but someone who he looked up to. He could do anything if his mother believed in him.

And now she didn't like his feelings for Hermione. Draco felt like no one really understood him anymore. Not his mother, who didn't understand how much it hurt his heart that she didn't believe him. Not Hermione, who didn't understand his love towards her.

"No one understands," muttered Draco, leaving Hermione as she slept soundlessly.