Blissful Oblivion

Chapter 10 - Nightmare

Hermione's POV

Hermione walked through the castle. The black night crept silently around her. The only noise she heard was the sound of her own footsteps.

Suddenly, she was on the floor, pain writhing through her body. She had never wanted to die before, apart from in that moment. She cried out and her screams echoed through the hallways,

She looked up to see her attacker but their face was masked by darkness. She closed her eyes and her screams grew louder as she wished for death.

She snapped frantically, back into reality. Sitting up, she realised that Draco was beside her.

'It wasn't real' He said reassuringly.'It was just a dream.'

She concentrated on slowing her breathing and eventually, she calmed herself.

'Sorry.' She said. 'Did I wake you?'

She sat up in her bed.

'No, I couldn't get to sleep, I was up thinking about... things. It's alright, I get dreams like those too.'

Hermione grew curious as to what he was going to say, but she let the thought go. She was glad that she wasn't the only one who had such vivid dreams. It was hard to shake the overwhelming feeling of excruciating pain from her mind.

Draco was looking at her with a worried look on his face, which he seemed to be doing a lot lately. She felt safe in his presence.

'Do you want me to leave?' He asked, concerned.

'Can you stay?' She whispered, not wanting him to leave.

'Sure'. He said simply. He sat on top of the covers with his back against the headboard. She lay next to him, their bodies touching through the sheets. It only now occurred to her that Draco Malfoy, of all people, was in her bedroom. She smiled to herself, glad that he was with her. She fell asleep with ease into a dreamless slumber.

She woke the next morning. Slowly, the events of last night came into her mind as she realised that she was half on top of Draco and somehow, they had both ended up under the blanket, their legs intertwined together. Both of his arms were wrapped around her and hers around him.

She slowly raised her head to look up at his face. His eyes opened as she did so.

'You know, it's rude to stare.' He stated, smiling.

Hermione felt herself blush. She sat up after untangling their legs and Draco did the same.

'Morning.' She said awkwardly.

This just made him laugh. Hermione looked at the clock on her wall.

'It's 11am! We're late!' She panicked, jumping out of bed.

'Hermione! Slow down! It's Saturday!'

'Oh.' She said, feeling stupid. 'I'm going to go take a shower anyway.' She walked into the bathroom, leaving Draco alone in her bedroom.

After her shower, she returned to her room and went straight to the wardrobe to get her clothes and dropped her towel to get dressed.

'Hehm.' She heard the clearing of a throat from behind her. Hermione squealed, rushing to grab her towel and wrapped it tightly around herself. She had never felt so embarrassed in her whole life.

'Draco!' She yelled. 'What are you still doing in here?!'

'I had nothing better to do.' He stated simply, clearly trying his best not to laugh.

'GET OUT!' She shouted.

Draco just burst into uncontrollable laughter. As he walked across the room, he handed her a letter.

'This came while you were in the shower. Oh... and by the way... nice butt. He smirked and left.

Hermione got dressed quickly and sat on her bed, still shocked that Draco had just seen her with no clothes on, and read her letter.

Miss Granger,

Madame Pomfrey has informed me of recent events and I would like you to know that I will do everything in my power to find out who it was that attacked you. Meanwhile, make sure that you are not alone after nightfall. It had to have been someone from within the castle, as since the war, Hogwarts has been tightly secured. Set rules will be announced this evening, to prevent this from happening again.

Hermione felt better knowing that Professor McGonagall had been informed.