One Step at a Time Chapter 1, a harry potter fanfic

Author's Note: This was originally a one-shot that is now a short story, about 5 chapters long. This is set after 6th year, and during 7th year of the Golden Trio. The battle of Hogwarts is constructed differently from what is in the book and movie, I've put my own special twist on it but it follows more closely to the movie because I enjoyed it very much.

Disclaimer: I own nothing that you may recognize! I make no profit from this story or any others posted on this site.

Rated Mature for a reason! Chapter 3 contains SMUT if you are not old enough, don't read. I'll let you be the judge of that.

Summary: Draco and Hermione are Heads. Harry and Ron have gone in search of the horcruxes, Hermione chose to complete her seventh year. Snape is Headmaster of Hogwarts, changes have been implemented, the school is under Voldemort's careful watch, but he doesn't see everything. Draco's harbored feelings for our favorite Gryffindor for years, and this year he's decided to do something about it.

One Step at a Time

Click. Click. Click.

Lynndsey's heels made the only noise in the silent corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was the Golden Trio's last year at Hogwarts. Well, it would be if Harry and Ron were here to finish their classes, but they were off searching for the horcruxes. Hermione had wanted to come back to school, something about not wanting to miss her NEWTs. The young woman was now the Head Girl of the school, appointed the position by the new Headmaster Severus Snape. She just so happened to be unlucky and get Draco Malfoy as her Head Boy. Let's just say, it's been quite a year so far.

Lynndsey turned at the next juncture, going toward the courtyard. She had received a letter from Draco at breakfast, asking her to meet him after his last class. She saw him just up ahead, back lounging against the stone pillar at the nearest entrance. His foot was placed firmly on the same pillar his back rested on, curving his leg in a triangular shape. His alabaster skin was lit by the early afternoon sun, his grey eyes looking at the students sitting around in the courtyard, talking and laughing after a day of classes. It was unusually warm for a mid-October day, but the students were taking full advantage of the nice weather. Lynndsey approached Draco from behind, turning swiftly once she was in front of him and rested her back on the opposite pillar, looking up at her great-great-great – let's just say a long time – nephew. "Draco, darling, to what do I owe this invitation?" Lynndsey's voice dripped with honey, her voice sweet and small, just like her. Lynndsey hadn't heard from the Malfoy family since Abraxas – Draco's grandfather – joined forces with the Dark Lord. They'd had a sort of, falling out.

Draco turned his head slightly, staring at her out of the corner of his eye, his brows furrowed, noting the underlying unease in her voice. "I just wanted to catch up with you. I haven't seen you around much since last year."

Draco was referring to the night that Dumbledore died, the night that the young Malfoy had been supposed to kill his Headmaster, but failed, resulting in Severus killing Dumbledore instead. She had made herself very scarce after that, only showing up for the funeral a few days later, and hadn't been around the school much this year. Things had changed around Hogwarts as Draco was well aware, being a student. Voldemort's presence was slightly clinging to the walls, making Lynndsey's skin crawl, as though the foul snake-like man were standing next to her. Snape had kept the school reasonably guarded from the Dark Lord – as part of his plan – to make the students feel more comfortable. The teachers were all being watched, Death Eaters in disguise roamed the halls periodically, watching, waiting. They were all out of masked uniform though, blending in with the populace. Some of them were even teaching classes.

"What do you want Malfoy?" Lynndsey's voice was cold, calculating, as she watched Draco shift his upper body slightly, angling towards hers. "Like I just said, to catch up." Draco eyed Lynndsey as she stared holes into him; he never once flinched under her scrutiny.

Lynndsey could very well see that the young Malfoy had grown up this summer. He was no longer the scared little boy from his younger school days. No, he was a man. He was sure of himself as a person and was very comfortable standing here in the courtyard eyeing Lynndsey just like she was him. Lynndsey smirked, "You've grown, Draco that much I can see. I'm sure that I haven't changed much to you, so stop with the bullshit and just say what you want."

Draco smirked, his infamous smirk that had all the girls swoon whenever he happened to grace them with it, and all the boys cower in the corner when it was directed that them. He didn't know much about his great-great-great – and so on – aunt. His father never mentioned her except to turn Weasley red and shout "She is not allowed in this house, EVER!" Draco had heard that a lot growing up, any time he so happened to mention how he saw, aunt Lynndsey in Diagon Alley or the Leaky Cauldron with his mum. She was pleasant to him as a child, but then when Hogwarts came and Draco had had all that crap stuffed into his head about Mudbloods and blood purity, Lynndsey had grown distant. At age eleven, Draco didn't understand exactly what it all meant, but now at seventeen, Draco had his own mind and his own opinion. He learned exactly how much he'd missed out on as a child and young teen that he was just beginning to discover. Lynndsey, as an important part of his life, was one of those things. He missed her, though his pride wouldn't allow him to outright admit it, she'd been very clear last year the extent of her disappointment in him.

"Don't be so touchy, you act as though I'll bite your head off."

Lynndsey narrowed her eyes at him. He was being a prick that much he knew, but it was second nature to him when people started to mouth him. "You're a Slytherin, Draco, and a Malfoy."

Draco nodded as though she'd merely just stated a fact. Lynndsey could see the wheels turning in his head as he contemplated his next words. So she decided to grate on his nerves a little bit. "How is it being Head Boy with the famous Gryffindor Princess and Muggleborn."

Draco's jaw tensed and his soft grey eyes changed to steel. He was smart and kept his mouth shut, though. "Touchy subject still? Sorry, didn't mean to." Lynndsey smirked, a smirk to rival Draco's own, her blue-green eyes turning greener in her delight at getting under Draco's skin. "Why don't you just go find your friends, and maybe dangle her by her legs out the Astronomy-" Lynndsey never finished her sentence as Draco lunged for her his strong hand wrapping around her throat, cutting off her next words.

"Don't. You. Ever. Insult her again, in my presence." Draco was fuming; his cheeks turning bright pink his eyes hard. Lynndsey glared back at Draco, her eyes quickly turning a molten-gold as she hissed, "Get your hands off of me."

Draco's hand flexed, getting tighter. He debated whether or not he should let her go, but he let her go anyway, stepping away from her and resuming his previous calm pose opposite her.

"So, Hermione's a touchy subject. Not that I didn't already know that, but-" Lynndsey paused, eyes roaming over Draco's tense posture. "-I can obviously see that you care for her more than I had thought."

Draco snorted, and rolled his eyes. "Why would you come to me for this?" This was the question Lynndsey had wanted to ask Draco since receiving his letter. Hermione had owled her many times telling her about his sudden new interest in her while they were alone in their shared common room. The Head Girl was deeply disturbed by the long silence that would ensue when Draco and she sat on their respective couches in comfortable silence while they studied.

Draco heaved a heavy sigh, his shoulders drooping in what Lynndsey interpreted to be an awkward shrug. "I don't know. I just don't know what else to do, or who else to talk to."

Hermione had never seen the young man before her look so lost and tormented inside. His walls had come down, and Hermione was seeing Draco for who he still was – the scared little boy who had cried out her name many times after having a nightmare when he was younger. When she would respond to the whimpers and cries that neither his parents heard, Lynndsey would hold the young Malfoy as he clutched on to her robes sobbing his eyes out as she cooed to him and promised everything would be alright.

"If you really want her," Lynndsey said, shifting away from the pillar. "Then we have a lot of work to do."

"Malfoy, I swear I won't let you get away with this, this time!" Hermione shouted down the hall, at the laughing Slytherin. "Come back here now and face it like the ferret you are!"

"Hate to break it to you, Granger," he replied, still laughing. "I wish I could take credit for that, actually, but I am not the one that caused your embarrassment this time."

Hermione fumed, "If you didn't do it, then who did?" Her eyes raked across the students assembled along both walls, all looking eager to see what the Head Girl was going to do to the Head Boy. Her eyes rested on Ginny, who just shrugged. Ginny mouthed, 'Sorry 'Mione' and shook her head.

Hermione's eyes returned to Malfoy and she raised an eyebrow in challenge.

Lynndsey and Draco had laughed over that one for days. All it took was a simple spell for rotten eggs and getting Hermione away from her friends so that no one else would be within target range. Hermione hand fumed for days, not speaking to Draco for days, which had by default made the young Slytherin mope about his room and cause Lynndsey to scowl at him. "She has to think about you Draco, just stick to the plan soon she won't be able to resist your strange way of making her like you."

"I thought this was your idea?" Draco stopped pacing the length of his room to stare at Lynndsey, lounging across his king sized four poster bed.

"It's nothing you haven't done for years. Besides, if you go from tormenter to 'baby, please forgive me' in a heartbeat, you'll only make Hermione run in the other direction."

Passing by the Transfiguration classroom, Lynndsey heard students standing up and gathering their books. Ah, yes, show time once again. Picking up the pace and turning the corner, Lynndsey relaxed against the cool stone and waited for the fun to begin. It didn't take long.

"Malfoy, what the hell has gotten into you? Have you lost a bet recently?" Hermione's voice carried as she hurriedly walked out of the classroom and down the corridor towards Lynndsey.

"Actually, Granger, I've recently just lost a bet, but that's none of your business. At least not for now, but it will become your business eventually," Malfoy's smooth cool voice joined the chatter from the students, only slightly louder due to the fact that Malfoy was headed in the opposite direction of the students going to lunch.

"Well then, Malfoy, I highly suggest that you go back to that person and beg for a new bet, because you will get nothing, and I repeat nothing, from me involving some bet," Hermione spat, absolutely disgusted with the idea of being apart of something potentially horrible and – or – expulsion worthy. Well, Lynndsey mused – only if they were caught – not that I'd turn them in.

"Aw, don't worry; something of that much importance is going to take one step at a time with the two of us."

Hermione stopped in her tracks, and turned to face him; her face as red as any Weasley's hair. "What in the hell is that supposed to mean to me, ferret?"

It was meant to be a statement, for Hermione didn't expect an honest answer – if any. Even Lynndsey was smart enough to figure that out, but Malfoy either didn't care or didn't catch it.

"Well, it's supposed to mean that you and I are overdue to shag, Granger."

Lynndsey didn't need to see Hermione's face to know that it was twisted in fury and embarrassment. Lynndsey's own eyes had widened, and her jaw had gone slack – she could barely contain her fury as she flung herself from the wall as if it had burned her and around the corner she went, gesturing wildly at Malfoy and mouthing swear words that would make anyone flinch, even the Prince of Slytherin himself. Draco just ignored her and her cussing; his grey eyes were solely focused on the flustered Head Girl in front of him.

Hermione was floundering for an answer; her hands twisting as her eyes darted around, looking for an escape or some distraction. She found nothing. She was utterly alone with the Head Boy, she had stupidly gone in the opposite direction of the Great Hall hoping to escape Malfoy and his foul comments in the girls bathroom down the corridor.

Malfoy was smirking now, watching her flounder. "What's the matter?" He asked stalking smoothly closer to her. "Cat got your tongue? Or is it something a bit bigger that has you looking like that? I promise that you'll enjoy every minute that I fuck you into my mattress."

Lynndsey was – if possible – fuming, with steam coming out of her ears and nose. She was royally pissed at Malfoy for going off book, though the Slytherin didn't seem to notice – as he was too busy watching the Gryffindor in front of him flounder and grasp for straws as she backed away on shaky legs.

"I-I do-don't know wh-what you mm-mean, Mal-Malfoy," Hermione stuttered backing away more hurriedly as she noticed that for every one of her steps back, he took one step forward.

Come on, Hermione, where's that Gryffindor courage? She thought silently. Truth was, she'd left it back in the Gryffindor common room . . . last year . . . where she'd thought she would most likely be going back to, only she actually got the Head Girl badge instead, and she never went back to claim it.

Hermione looked at Malfoy from under her lashes. He had a look in his eyes that Hermione couldn't place, but it didn't seem like a look she wanted to witness again – at least not directed at her. It sent shivers down her spine.

Lynndsey observed the entire exchange, taking note of the sexual tension that was building up the closer they got to each other. Well, that seems to be going well enough. Turning around, walking down the corridor, with a spring in her step and swaying her hips, as she hummed One Step at a Time.

Hurry up and wait
So close, but so far away
Everything that you've always dreamed of
Close enough for you to taste
But you just can't touch

You wanna show the world, but no one knows your name yet
Wonder when and where and how you're gonna make it
You know you can if you get the chance
In your face as the door keeps slamming
Now you're feeling more and more frustrated
And you're getting all kind of impatient waiting

Malfoy had backed Hermione into the cool stone wall as Lynndsey retreated, leaving the 'happy couple' to their own business. He was utterly oblivious to everything around him. All he cared about was now trapped between the wall and his solid body. Hermione stared up at him her chocolate eyes turning a more whiskey color the closer he got to her. He saw the flecks of gold around her pupils and the dusting of freckles across her nose.

"I think it's time that you and I sort out some things," he whispered, leaning in and stealing a kiss from the Gryffindor Princess, the Head Girl, and his thought-to-be long time enemy.

Guess they were all wrong.

We live and we learn to take
One step at a time
There's no need to rush
It's like learning to fly
Or falling in love
It's gonna happen and it's
Supposed to happen and we
Find the reasons why
One step at a time

You believe and you doubt
You're confused, you got it all figured out
Everything that you always wished for
Could be yours, should be yours, would be yours
If they only knew

Lynndsey was still humming quietly to herself as she made her way out onto the sunny grounds of Hogwarts and down the path where a shiny new silver Ducati awaited her. A young man was leaning casually against it, observing his surroundings. His dark sunglasses hiding his piercing blue eyes; and bronze sun-kissed hair was blowing softly in the wind. The black Ducati, parked a few feet away from the silver one glinted, in the midday sun.

Lynndsey approached the young man with a smile on her lips as she stopped humming, coming to a halt a few feet from him.

"You know, Jamie, you have your own, right over there," she said, pointing to the black one.

Jamie looked over at the black one as well, nodding as his lips curled up into a smile, "So it seems, doesn't it?"

"Get your arse off my bike, James, before I hex you in the bollocks," Lynndsey threatened in a whisper, a smile playing around her lips.

Jamie wolf whistled, "You sure know how to turn a guy on, Lynnds," he said, removing himself from her bike and waltzing over to his own.

"So . . . how did your plan with Malfoy go?"

Lynndsey rolled her eyes and walked over to her bike. "He ruined it, what else? He's a Malfoy after all, I mean, they all screw up somehow." She shrugged on her black leather jacket. "At least it's with a girl and not something bigger." She smiled over at Jamie, putting on her riding gloves. "That's something I can fix . . . if he asks politely."

"What makes you think he'll mess it up?"

Lynndsey smirked, eyeing Jamie out of the corner of her eye, "Not exactly, but he might need help smoothing out the kinks."

"So you think it will work out, then?" Jamie asked as he climbed onto his bike and revved the engine.

Lynndsey countered Jamie's actions before answering him, "One step at a time." She pulled her sunglasses from inside her jacket pocket to put them on before speeding off down the dirt road, Jamie following close behind.

When you can't wait any longer
But there's no end in sight
when you need to find the strength
It's your faith that makes you stronger
The only way you get there
Is one step at a time

Draco broke the kiss breathing heavily and opened his eyes to stare at Granger. His lips brushing her kiss swollen lips, he said, "So Granger, what do you say, to giving us shot?"

Hermione opened her eyes and stared up at Malfoy through her lashes a coy smile playing around her lips. "Well, we'll just have to see about that, yeah?"

Grey eyes flashed stormy as Draco smirked down at small brown haired girl trapped between his body and the wall. "Yes, Granger, we will." Hermione grinned and pulled Draco back down to kiss her again, everything was forgotten between the two Heads as they discovered a whole new side to each other they never thought could exist.