Mysterious Encounters

A/N: REVIEWS! My first 7 reviews were great and I promised myself I'd give them a mention in the newest chapter. I got three before I went to bed and 3 just when I woke up! Eliza: my first, thanks! I was blushing like crazy while reading yours! Lisa: thanks for the advice, I hope I've put them into good use. Hebz: no comment! :D, Lemonade and Luthién: THANKS! U guys r awesome. Sheedy: Haha, thanks.. Hopefully you'll like this chapter. And finally, white dragon, the last review I've read b4 I posted this chapter up (a present to myself): I don't know if she'll do the dating thing more, but hopefully you'll give me advice on how to put it up to fit with where the idea of this story is going, I don’t think there'll be many more chapters to go. I’ll probably do less individual shout outs.. or I’ll open an LJ. Depends on if I can continue writing and actually rite a good story!

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Once upon a time, I was not so dateless. It was definitely not normal, but I still had a boyfriend --I don't know-- or a partner, friend with benefits, you might call him.

When I was 18, the war began. It was dark and dangerous. You had to sleep with your wand in your hand for fear that a Death Eater would appear while you were asleep. During the 7 months of war I was restless. How can you feel safe when wherever you turn, a wand is directly pointed at you? I'd lived a very sheltered life until that moment and have learned much more during that war than all that I have learned in my 7 years at Hogwarts.

Ron and I stood with Harry until the very last moment where he killed Voldemort. It was harder for Harry than it was on anyone I knew. He was always weary and anxious. The Boy Who Was Meant To Kill. He hated Voldemort with every fiber of his being but still could not bring himself to kill anyone. I guess his childish dreams were for him to Stupefy Him, and then let the Aurors take Him away to Azkaban.

We all had possessions that kept us sane. Harry had his broom, which he would take out mostly when we had meetings with the Order in Grimmauld Place. Ron had his chess. And I had Draco Malfoy.

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"Where were you yesterday Hermione? I cannot believe you just went off without saying goodbye! I mean, sure, you got lucky, but I am your friend!"

What time is it? I look next to me at the clock on my nightstand and see the big hand on the 9 and the little hand on the six. It's Saturday, for Merlin's sake!

"Ginny! It's too early for this!" Oh God, I'm so tired.

"I was surprised I found you at home now, anyway. Thought you would have at least had the courtesy to be there when he woke up. Oh well, he might've been another nose-picker. Best to have gotten out while you did…"

She's ranting, again. I hate it when she does that. She completely forgets she is actually talking to someone in the first place and continues spiting out her speculations.

I'll ignore her.

I'm on the brink of falling asleep when all of a sudden Ginny's voice level boosts up another octave.

"HOW DARE YOU GO TO SOME WEIRD PLACE, WITH SOME WEIRD MAN? He could've been a drug addict, or a rapist! Did you go through some weird sex involving a whip and drugs? Brightest witch of her age, without a doubt! I could've woken up this morning to a call from St. Mungo's! I said D-A-T-I-N-G Hermione, not sleeping around like some common whore… don't want people talking about you… won't get married…"

What the fu-

"GINNY!" Silence. Oh, sweet, heavenly silence.

"Hermione, I am quite disappointed."

"Ginny, I have no bloody knowledge of what in the name of all that is magical you are talking about. I did NOT go home with ANYONE yesterday. My dress was ruined and I was in no mood to go out, so I decided I wanted to go home."

"Oh- but why? Something must've happened. Surly it wasn't our teasing. Oh Hermione, you knew we were joking. We are all so happy you want to go back to dating…"

"Malfoy."

I know this will shut her up.

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I don't know how it started. He was a spy for the Order after his father, Lucius Malfoy, was put into Azkaban. Narcissa had a heart attack and died shortly after her husbands' trial. There was nothing left for him, so he joined the Light side.

We were civil towards each other, but I could never bring myself to trust him. Harry and Ron believed he had changed, and although you could not have called them friends per se, they were acquaintances.

He was undeniably very handsome. As he grew older, his sharp features softened. His hair was no longer gelled to his scalp, but left loose and slightly messy. It was the same metallic blonde and looked as smooth as silk, but somehow, he looked much more human.

We sat across each other during breakfast when we spent the nights at Grimmauld Place, and sometimes I'd feel his eyes on me. It wasn't a very uncomfortable feeling, but it was weird. Because when I would look up there wouldn't be that signature scowl on his face. It would just be blank and unreadable.

What we are not used and do not know is always abnormal. Always weird. And always uncomfortable. But I wasn't uncomfortable. I was just... anxious.

After Hogwarts, almost immediately, the war began. I'd sleep wherever there was shelter and wherever I could be close to Harry and Ron. They were the only people I cared about. They were my family.

Every moment alive and "safe" was a moment spent with them.

But when the war got to harsh, we were constantly trying to separate ourselves from each other. We hadn't split up, we were just more apart. We'd never talk like we used to. Our conversations surrounded that of war. Very little was said on our emotions and our fears. Maybe, subconsciously we divided out of fear of losing each other, making it easier to let each other go, but I don't know. We were just more alone. Things got harder and there was no long an "us".

*

I'd been running away from Crabbe Senior and fell. I hit my head on the floor and then everything was black. Next thing I knew I was in someone's arms and entering a dark tent. It was far from where the war was in the region of, but I could still see the colours of all the spells that were being thrown around in the distance.

I didn't know who I was in the arms of, but as I looked up, I could see that my knight in shining armor was wearing a dark, menacing robe. And a Death Eater mask.

I started to panic. I jumped off of him, grabbed him by the mask, pushed him to the floor, and screamed my lungs out.

He got up, shouted the word "Hermione!" over and over again until he tore his mask off.

I took a shuddering breath and hugged him. I couldn't help it. My mind was wandering with thoughts of "What if it was someone else? What if I had died? What if I had never seen Ron and Harry again?" that I was so happy I hugged him.

It was the first time we had one of our trysts.

I could tell he was shocked, but a few moments later he put his arms around me and let me cry into his chest.

It was blissful silence. We were no longer two enemies, no longer mudblood and pureblood, no longer Light and Dark. We were equals.

I felt safe. Scared, tired, and worried, but safe.

"Hermione."

He broke the silence. Broke what little peace I had and broke the moment of civility between us. We broke apart hastily and I stared at the floor as he studied my shoulder.

"I'm sorry. You were hurt and I didn't know what to do with you, so I brought you here."

"It's ok, I'm glad. Thanks."

I wipe the tears off my face and look up. In the same moment, so does he. Grey and hazel clash.

I can trust this man. I can befriend this man. I feel safe with this man. Draco Malfoy.

All of a sudden we’re kissing and he's pulling my shirt up and my hands are on his smooth chest, raking my nails against his pale skin.

"You're beautiful."

I've got tears in my eyes and he pulls my knickers down.

"You're beautiful," he breathes. Our breathing is erratic and we're panting.

My mind screams "This is wrong! This is wrong!" But I can't help it. I'm safe.

Everything happens so fast and I don't know what we're doing but it just feels so right.

He thrusts into me and breaks through my virginal barrier. I scream in pain, but soon it turns into pleasure and we're moaning and I don't want this to end.

But everything good must come to an end. Especially during War.

When it's over we lie in a tangle of limbs trying to get our breathing back to normal.

"I- I'm sorry. I couldn't help it," Draco says. His face betrays no emotion but I can see the guilt in his eyes.

"It's OK, we both played equal parts." I smirk. He looks up in surprise then smiles. I blush. I have never before seen him smile.

*

We continued doing this, whatever this is.

The only place I felt safe was in his arms. Being with him was the only way I could stay calm. I was still scared, but at peace with myself. How cliché, I know, but there's only one way to explain what we were doing.

It wasn't romantic. It wasn't nice. It wasn't calming. It just was.

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A/N: Hahaha.. *blushes* OK, sex scene, horrible, boring, I know, but I am not good with sex scenes. LOL. Anyway, I know it was really fast paced but it was meant to be that way. In Hermione's mind everything is moving so fast and her thoughts are just running wild. I'm trying to make it all through Hermione's perspective and the story is more about her immediate thoughts, rather than what everyone is saying. Hope you enjoyed, this was quite a bit longer. If not, please review and tell me what I can do better. Reviews are a drug, and I am completely addicted.