Winter was the best season of all, I decided. Yes, some might find it rather odd, I suppose, for everything dies in the winter. Life is long lost within the depths of the cold, endless nights. No hope for return, no forgiveness, only the swarming darkness which can lead to insanity. Yet, there was something magical about it. Only with silence can sound be appreciated. Only with nothingness can anything be seen with its true value. Yes, only when you truly were without anything can something so small as a random act of kindness turn into a noble deed.

"Mate, wake up now."

Innocence is born from winter. Without it, there would only be continual growth. To some, this may seem a good thing, but not to me. If something lasts forever, how can its worth be assessed? How many times a day does a person think of how glad he or she is that he/she has the same hair? The same eyes? The same smile? Nobody. If everyone did, plastic surgeons would be out of business. There is a word used to describe something continuous: boring. Death is an essential part of life.

"Come on, don't do this to me. Where's the fighter I know so well?"

Those who die benefit from winter's embrace as well. They achieve a state of rest; a state where there is no pain, no uneasiness, no decisions. Never again shall they have to struggle through life. They have done their duty. Fulfilled their purpose. Now, they get to reap the benefits of their lifetime fight. Eternal peace.

I furrowed my eyebrows. Something was disturbing my weightless feeling, or rather, someone. Whoever it was was urgently shaking my shoulders, but not enough to make me wake up. No, I would enjoy this state of being.

Ahh, that's better. The shaking stopped. Now what felt like small soft pillows were caressing the side of my neck. A masculine, woody aroma hit my senses and helped to further deepen my trance.

Ouch!

Okay, that did the trick. Whoever was bothering me won the moment two sharp fangs pierced my skin. The glass-like trance shattered, and now I was blinking, trying to shield my eyes from the invasive light. When I was able to fully open my eyes, I saw two blue-grey orbs staring down at me with worry. They were flooded with relief when they met mine. I stared in awe at how they shone when the owner spoke softly,

"You're awake."

He let out a sigh of relief and smiled. I merely watched as cupped my cheek with his hand and rubbed his thumb soothingly along my cheek. Leaning forward, I felt a comforting pressure on my forehead as he kissed it tenderly. I smiled back at him, thinking of how nice he was. I wondered if he was always this nice, and how he knew me. I guess the eternal winter can wait.

He grinned. The trademark grin which was passed down from generation to generation in only one family.

Malfoy.

Suddenly, all of the prior events of the fight flashed before my eyes. The escape. The werewolf. The fight. The black eyes.

Click

Nevermind. I wish the eternal night had swallowed me whole.

I reached up to push him away only to find that my hands were tied to the headboard of the bed I was on. I then opted to using my legs. I slammed my left leg as hard as I could into his side, only to have him avoid it and catch my ankle.

Pain filled my vision as shocking agony coursed up the side of my body. I cried out as I felt my leg pulse, the fresh bandage wrapped around my calf staining red as my wound started bleeding again. Malfoy watched me in horror as he carefully set my leg back down on top of the sheets, trying his best not to jostle me or make any sudden moves. I bit my lip in an effort to not scream, tears silently streaming down my face. I was used to pain: a sliced arm, a broken bone, a bloody face. However, this was a pain I had only just now encountered, and I wish I hadn't.

"Why did you do that, you stupid twat? Do you want to never heal from this or leave an even bigger scar when it heals? This would have never happened had you obeyed me in the first place. I warned you, but you wouldn't listen. Oh, no, not Hermione Granger. Granger is a wonder-witch, she can handle anything."

I stopped listening as he kept ranting and raving about my stupidity, how much in debt I was to him, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. I stopped him short with a question.

"Why don't you just heal me?"

He stopped and raised an eyebrow, "Would you call that a minor wound, Granger?"

"No."

"Okay then. Do you not remember when I said specifically that my saliva is potentially venomous, except in small quantities?"

"Shut up, git."

"Watch your tongue, mudblood."

"You drink that muddy blood, arse."

"Ah, but I like it dirty." He winked.

I closed my eyes and turned my head. He chuckled and held my face in his hands, making me look at him.

"Honestly Granger, I'm glad you'll be alright."

A/N

It's out. Finally. I know, I know, you're all more than welcome to throw rotten fruit at my terrible timing, but it's here. I haven't forgotten about this story, I promise. IT. WILL. BE. FINISHED. Keep in mind I don't have a beta because of how it's been over a year. Yes. I know. I know exactly how the story is going to go though. The only excuse I have is life. Yup. Just life kicking my butt. This is just a short little chappie to get the ball rolling again, and to give you guys (and gals) a well-deserved update. ENJOY! ^-^