Disclaimer: _______________________.

Well here you have it. I finally updated with a brand new chapter. I hope it's satisfactory. :) Thanks to everyone who kept up with me--chapter 16 is your reward. Enjoy!

(Sorry it's a little short. Next chapter is longer.)

Chapter 15 - Details

Hermione sighed and stood up, then dusted herself off. “I hate today.”

Draco laughed outright. “Granger, you hate everything.”

“No, Malfoy, that’s you, if I recall correctly.”

He rolled his eyes and stood too. “At least we know what it is and what to be careful about.” A ripping sound caught his attention and he averted his eyes to Hermione. “What are you doing?”

“I’m going to get fined for this, I just know it.” She ripped out the two pages about the Levier and folded them up carefully. “Just in case.”

Draco felt a smile tug at his lips. “My, Granger, I think I’ve rubbed off on you.”

Hermione shoved his arm gently. “Yeah, right.” She slipped the book back into the old chest and closed it, then motioned for Draco to follow her out.

He grabbed the torch from it’s resting spot in the floor and did so. This would be a long night of planning things out.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Chapter 16 - Hunger

"No, that's an awful idea. Those are all awful ideas. You can't just lure it in here and expect it to fall into some amateur trap, Malfoy." Hermione scolded.

Draco leaned back in the leather armchair and groaned, kicking his foot off the ground. "Well then what do you propose we do about it? Since you know everything, I mean."

Hermione opened her mouth. Then closed it. She saw Draco's smirk tug at the corner of his mouth and racked her brain for a good idea--any idea. But there she sat, staring and in complete silence. She had no clue. "Why don't we just think about getting food first?"

He snorted. Of course. "Yeah, alright."

The common room was of course no place to easily find food. They had water in the bathrooms and warmth and safety in front of the fireplace. They also had each other, which was more than either could ask for, despite their stubborn desire to hide it.

"Well we can't just start desperately lifting cushions and pulling aside books. Where could we find food?" She tapped her finger against the floor.

"Is there some sort of secret passageway to-"

"Again with the secret passageways? How many times do I have to tell you that there aren't any!"

Draco glared at her. "Calm yourself, muggleborn. I won't tolerate you yelling at me. It was only a suggestion." He was being very calm with someone who had just back-talked him. Again.

She sighed. "Look, just think of logical things, alright?"

He threw his arms up. "This is Hogwarts, Granger! Anything is logical."

That was a good point. But there were no secret ways anywhere in the Gryffindor commons. She knew that. "Nevermind..." She waved it aside. "Just think of something else."

Draco rolled his eyes at her, crossing his arms and leaning to stare into the fireplace. What could they do? Where could they look? He tensed with realization.

"Weasley."

Hermione blinked at first. Then her grin reappeared at his sudden outburst. "Are you seeing things too?"

He scoffed. "Yes, Granger. I'm seeing a boggart. Weasely scares the hell out of me."

"I knew it." The smile widened.

"That wild red hair, those dangerous freckles. Forget Voldemort." He smiled back, losing interest in making fun of her. She was becoming very hard to stay angry with.

She laughed. "Right. What about Ron?"

"His trunk. It has to have food in it. Weasley could eat a giant and still have room for seco- oomph. What now?!"

Hermione's arms tightened around his waist as a laugh of relief burst from her lungs. "Malfoy, you're a genius!" She was starving to death, she was certain. And he just saved her.

He gave a cocky grin, forgetting that she was hugging him. His arm lowered to rest on the small of her back. "Why yes; yes I am. Good of you to finally notice, Granger."

Hermione rolled her eyes and jumped away, running towards the boy's dorm. "Come on!"

Draco took a deep breath. She was driving him crazy. Hermione leaped at any chance to make him mad, it seemed, but then she'd go and turn it all around with her affection and her intimacy. It bewildered him. Did she mean it? Or was she touchy-feely unconsciously? He shook his head and followed her.

Hermione stepped back into the room they'd read about the Levier. It sent relentless shivers up and down her spine. She had to stop and wait for Draco to catch up before going any further. How she hated to be alone lately. It was embarrassing.

"Granger, you alright? Go find the damn food already, I'm bloody starving." He complained as he strode past her. She was really becoming insensitive to his needs.

"Malfoy," She began, lifting the lid to Ron's chest. "Being here makes me nervous. And sleeping will be hard. I don't want to risk anything happening while we're unconscious."

He nodded. He'd thought about that already, and it made him sick to think that they had already slept peacefully before without any kind of protection. At least now they knew, before it was too late. "We can take turns."

Hermione dug through the random assortment of items Ron piled in his chest. Among the many Quidditch books and handmade scarves, Hermione found a box of Every Flavor Beans and a package of Chocoballs. Of course he wouldn't have any healthy form of sustenance with him. "Turns? Isn't that being a bit paranoid?"

Draco hungrily eyed the Chocoballs, swallowing the large amount of saliva that had gathered in his mouth. "What, then, do you suggest? Either we sleep in shifts so we know if something happens, or we don't sleep at all. Take your pick, Granger."

Hermione huffed. "Alright, alright. We'll take turns." She sighed. If possible, Hermione was even more terrified now. Draco wanted to take turns sleeping. It was a lose-lose situation for her. She would be the only one awake, tensely staring at every dark corner and jumping at ever flicker of firelight for hours while he slept. All bad thoughts would come to her head. She would probably end up crying half her shift. Then when it was Draco's turn, she would have to put all her trust in him, praying silently that he would not fall asleep nor would he allow the hatred he had for her to get in his way of protecting the both of them.

Without saying another word about the topic, Draco practically lunged himself onto the floor next to her, landing partially on her ankle causing Hermione to cry out.

Guilt flashed across his eyes for a fraction of a second before his cold demeanor once again took over. "It's not that bad. I barely touched you."

Hermione scoffed. "Right. Just eat something before you sprain my other ankle."

"Do you ever stop complaining?"

"Do you ever shut up?"

Draco held back a smile at her sass. No other girl ever talked back to him, and even though he found her annoying, it was refreshing. He shook his head slightly. All these thoughts were proof that he was very hungry indeed. "Just give me that bag there." He nodded toward the chocolate morsels she held in her left hand.

Hermione grinned slyly, still upset with him for nearly crushing her good foot. Slowly, she opened the bag. "You want one?"

Draco cocked his head forward. "No, I want to watch you eat them." Sarcasm dripped from every word.

She shrugged. "Suit yourself, Malfoy." She pulled out a Chocoball and plopped it in her mouth, closing her eyes to show the immense pleasure she was getting from just the taste of it. Mostly, her expression was exaggerated. She just wanted to annoy him.

He glowered. Really? Was she really going to take it that far?

She pulled out a second one and stuck it out at him, beckoning him to take it.

Finally, he thought. And he did reach for it. But Hermione stuffed it in her mouth before he got too close, pulling a wide smile.

Draco gaped at her. He was getting frustrated, and he did not like to be teased. "Granger. Hand it over."

Hermione pulled out another one and batted her lashes at him, taking a small bite out of it.

Draco's heart lurched suddenly and unexpectedly as Hermione did so. His eyes followed her tongue as it darted from between her lips to remove the cocoa powder residue. He found it hard to blink as his eyes stayed glued to her mouth.

Hermione took this as a sign of strong, strong wanting for the Chocoballs. She was enjoying herself greatly at the moment, and continued. His pain and hunger was more than enough to bring comfort to her in a time where fear violated all of her comfortable thoughts.

Another small bite; another skipped heartbeat. Why was she making him feel like this? Why couldn't he stop staring at her godforsaken lips? She now had chocolate on her lower lip. Even though Hermione tried to lick it clean, that one quick swipe was not enough, and left the powder just sitting there, practically calling out his name. He unconsciously shifted closer.

Hermione took a third bite, leaving just a bite-sized piece left in between her fingers. Torture never tasted so good, she mused. She felt a crumb on the corner of her mouth and moved a finger up to delicately pick it off.

Draco watched as she did this. He watched with wide eyes as she wiped the chocolate crumb from the corner of her mouth and slipped the tip of her finger ever so slightly into her mouth. His heart jumped in his chest and his hands clenched.

The last bit was plopped into her mouth, chocolate sticking to chocolate as the powder on her lip grew bigger.

He wanted to help take it away. He mentally groaned at himself.

It was when Hermione pulled her lower lip into her mouth to remove the cocoa with her teeth that Draco lost control of his actions. Leaning forward, he pressed his lips against her sweet ones. Slowly, relishing the taste, he enveloped her bottom lip, desperately sucking off the remaining chocolate. Draco could taste not only the dessert, but Hermione herself. His tongue darted out to caress the skin of her mouth lip gently and his teeth grazed over her lip.

Hermione sat there, shocked out of her mind. Her eyes bored holes into his face, but he wasn't in clear focus. She couldn't blink; she couldn't talk; she couldn't think. Her heart, breathing, even movement halted the moment their lips touched. Sparks shot off. Draco Malfoy was kissing her? The seconds seemed endless. All she could think about was the softness of his lips, the feeling of them against hers, and who they belonged to.

He didn't quite realize what it was he started until, in the heat of the moment, he leaned his forehead closer, pressing his nose to the side of hers, their breathing mingling. That added feeling of passion brought him back. He jerked away, eyes open wide and filled with surprise, shame, and something else. He stammered quietly as his face darkened with a blush.

If Hermione hadn't have been so shocked, she would've noticed the blush, and surely she would've grinned at him mercilessly.

He swallowed hard and cleared his throat, taking a deep breath. He reached out and grabbed the bag of Chocoballs from her hand, feeling he had more than deserved them. Licking his lips hesitantly, he shoved a couple in his mouth, chewing forcefully. Well what now?

Hermione blushed madly as soon as she snapped out of her reverie. She tilted her head down and grabbed the Every Flavored Beans. She quickly ripped the box open and slid one into her mouth. Pumpkin pie. Should they just pretend it never happened. Did it happen? Why did it happen? Oh dear.

"So..."

He had spoken! Her head snapped up to meet his eyes. "So?"

"Are you keeping watch first, or am I?"

TBC