Books
The only thing Hermione seeks shelter in. The feeling of turning the thin pages, letters all combined to create a magical story. The hard covers, especially the smell. The smell of books, it's not a smell that goes around 24/7, it's a smell that combs your nostrils when you sniff, a smell that is unique and special, a smell that reminds someone of how beautiful a small thing is.

Hermione loves small things, she was never one for big gestures. She always seeks shelter in her books, no matter if the book was small or large, she didn't care, she only cared about what was inside, even though it may be her imagination, it was worth it.

"Hermione?" A knock followed a voice calling out for her, it startled Hermione that she jumped, spilling her cup of tea on the book in her lap.

"Shoot!" Hermione says as she puts the cup down on her bedside table and starts to try and wipe the spilled tea off the pages of the book. The pages start to turn a light brown, the words start to fade.

"Hermione?" The voice came again, but this time her bedroom door opened, Blaise stood there with his left hand still on the door knob. Hermione looks up at Blaise while still trying to wipe the spilled tea off the book.

"Blaise you startled me, I spilled my tea on this book" Hermione says, she gets up and grabs her wand to dry off the book.

"Sorry, I just came to apologise about earlier, I didn't mean to make you feel awkward or upset about the whole Draco liking you situation" Blaise says as he leans against the door frame watching the book dry.

"It's alright don't worry about it, I have completely forgot about it as I've been shocked with the task I was just given"

"Are you going to do it? I mean it's a big task, and you know Dumbledore well" Blaise asks

"I have too, the dark Lord put his trust in me to complete this task, I have to do it" Hermione says

"Hermione, don't you think it's too much, look at it this way, your a Muggleborn, the dark Lord has never allowed a Muggleborn to be a death eater, you're the first, don't you think there is a reason for this?" Blaise says coming into Hermiones room and sitting on her bed next to her.

"He says he needs me because I'm the brightest witch of my age, plus I know information about Harry" Hermione says

"No I mean other reason" Blaise says

"What other reasons Blaise?" Hermione asks, Blaise looks at Hermione then looks down at his hands.

"What if Voldemort is planning to kil-"

"- Hey sorry can I speak to Granger for a second Blaise?" Draco says interrupting Blaise. Blaise looks at Draco then at Hermione, Hermione nods at Blaise to go.

"We can continue this later Blaise" Hermione says, Blaise gets up and leaves the room as Draco enters and sits down on Hermiones bed, where Blaise sat seconds before.

"What is it Malfoy?" Hermione asks, Draco looks up at Hermione and takes a deep breath in.

"I'm worried for you do this this task, we don't know why the dark Lord wants you out of all members to do this."

"You don't want me to do this task because I'm a Muggleborn right? Because that's what Blaise said"

"No of course not, I think your capable of doing anything no matter your blood status. What I mean is, I think Voldemort is making you do this task because in his eyes, you're the easiest to manipulate" Draco says, Hermione looks up at Draco confused.

"When you do kill Dumbledore, I think Voldemort will kill you, for one reason only, the Elder wand" Draco says.

"The elder wand? You mean the most powerful wand in the world? From the tale of the three brothers" Hermione asks

"Yes, the dark Lord has been speaking about the elder wand for months, Dumbledore has it, and the only way of getting the possession of the wand is to defeat its owner, which is where you come in."

"I will kill Dumbledore so I will be the next owner"

"Yes, then Voldemort will kill you, leaving him as the owner" Draco says, Hermione looks away and stands up.

"No, this is stupid, he probably just wants me to do this task to show I am loyal" Hermione says

"Even if he is just don't do it, it's too dangerous, you are the brightest witch of your age Granger, you know that deep down." Draco says, Draco stands up and starts to walk to the door but stops.

"I don't want you to get hurt either, being a death eater is a lot worse than you think, you don't deserve to be hurt anymore. I want to protect you, push you away from all this but I can't, I know you want this and that's okay that's your decision, but I care about you, even if I suck at showing it, that's why I'm here in your bedroom telling you all this. If I didn't care, I wouldn't of warned you" Draco says, his voice shaken, while speaking he made sure he was fully facing Hermione, he wanted to see her reaction, he wanted her to believe him.

Everything went silent, Hermione was staring at Draco in the doorframe, his heart beat fast, faster and faster every second went by and no words were spoken, like time stopped. Hermione stepped forward and cupped Draco's cheeks as she pulled him down and kissed him, Draco put his arms around her and kissed her back, softly at first, and then his fingers reached her hair, then her neck, pulling her in closer. Hermione pulls away, looking at Draco and her hands fell from his cheeks, she steps back.

They stare again, silence, shock, Draco acts this time, he puts his arm around Hermiones waist and pulls her in again, his other hand on her cheek, her soft cheek. She kisses back. Draco pushes Hermione backwards onto the bed, lying down, making out in front of her books where Hermione would only read about this stuff happening. But she didn't care about that right now, she cared about Draco, Draco Malfoy, the guy who she once hated, now kissing her. The weight of his body on top of hers is extraordinarily. The feelings of him - all of him - pressed against her little body, the smell of apples mixed with hers: vanilla and chocolate. Books used to be her favourite smell, but now it's apples.

Footsteps echoes from the stairs, Draco jumps off Hermiones bed as fast as he could, Hermione sits up fixing her hair.

"Hermione, Snape is here to speak to you." Narcissa says, Hermione gives a nod and a smile as she stands up. Narcissa notices Draco and looks at him, then looks at Hermione, then back at Draco with a smile.

Hermione walks out her room, followed by Draco seconds later who is stopped by his mother.

"Sorry I interrupted things" She says as she smiles and follows Hermione down the stairs.