This is my favorite of all the fanfics I've ever written. Hopefully what you're about to read will give you a small idea as to why...

Chapter 1—A Conversation

Hermione Granger sat back in her chair and took a deep breath. "Draco…Draco, I really do have to talk to you about something."

Draco Malfoy sighed. Hermione had a tendency to do that. Whenever things would start to get hot and heavy between them, she would often panic, pull away, and start talking. It was annoying yet amusing to him at the same time. Annoying because she would always pull away when it was just starting to get really good; amusing because she was always so cute when she was disconcerted. He leaned back in his chair, smirking at her and taking in her disheveled appearance while she attempted to conduct herself in as dignified a manner as possible, every inch the Head Girl. He knew better, though. He knew that the Head Girl was the best kisser he'd ever managed to get his hands on.

"…we always have to be alone, we never get to hang out with anyone else," she was saying.

Damn. This sounded like one of those conversations that he'd actually have to listen to instead of checking out how good she looked in her school skirt. He ran a hand through his hair to clear his head. "Say that again?"

She was beginning to look a might perturbed. "Are you even listening to me?" she said in an acerbic tone.

He gave her his best evil leer. "You really want me to answer that question?"

She wrinkled her nose at him. She really was cute when she was annoyed at him, which was quite often. "As I was saying…" she went on as if he hadn't answered, "I was just wondering why whenever we spend time together, we always have to be alone, how come we—"

Granger, Granger, Granger. Always worrying about things that didn't matter. He interrupted her with a deep kiss. For about a tenth of a second she resisted, then fell into her characteristically enthusiastic response. He slid his hand up her neck and began to entwine it in her curls as his lips moved to her ear. "Because when we're alone, I can do this," he whispered in her ear just before he gently nipped her earlobe.

She shivered for a moment, but then gave him a gentle push. "I'm serious about this, Draco. We've been dating for almost a month now and this skulking about in hallways and empty classrooms all the time is getting a bit tiresome, don't you think?"

Not really. I can get away with a lot more if I don't have to worry about an audience. But he knew that saying that would not go over well at all. He let out a slow sigh of frustration, hesitating before he said something that would inevitably put his foot in his mouth.

His hesitation was making her self-conscious. She was looking down at her hands as she twisted them in her lap. "I would just like us to maybe meet up with some friends from time to time," she said in a small voice. "So they could see how happy I am." Color rose in her cheeks.

She always managed to do that to him. Without any pretense whatsoever, she could melt his heart with a few chosen words. She was the only person he had ever known who had never manipulated him in any way, yet made him feel more vulnerable than he had ever felt in his entire life. It was still taking some getting used to.

Draco sighed. He knew he was going to have to give in on this one; it obviously meant a lot to her. "What friends are you talking about? Potter and the Weasels?" he said in a voice that was harder than he had intended.

Hermione was still looking at her hands. "Well, yes, eventually…but it wouldn't have to be right away. I guess we could start with your friends first if that would make you more comfortable..?" She looked up at him hopefully.

Ugh. Bad idea. Any of the old crew that he used to hang out with wouldn't have anything to do with Hermione if their life depended on it. They still clung to their old pureblood prejudices, in spite of all that had happened in the great wizarding War. As for him, Hermione had slowly cured him of that. When he came back to Hogwarts to complete his final year after the War, he was a bit of an outcast due to his former Death Eater status. Everyone had pretty much avoided him except for Hermione. She seemed to understand him when no one else did, mainly due to the fact that she had seen as much betrayal and death as he had, and was trying to pick up the pieces of her life just as he was. She was brave, caring and true, and he would be damned if he was going to let anybody treat her like troll fodder.

He waved her suggestion away. "Might as well jump right into the fire and get the whole blasted thing over with. Potter and the Weasels it is," he grumbled. He knew this was going to happen sooner or later, but he was not at all looking forward to it.

"Really? You mean it?" Hermione's face lit up.

"Yeah…I guess so…" he finished reluctantly.

"Thank you so much Draco, it really means a lot to me." She looked buoyant and a great deal more relaxed now. Just the kind of mood he was hoping to put her back into. He wound his hand back in her hair and slid the other over her hip as she hugged him. Not quite was he was hoping for, but pleasant nonetheless. He pulled her in close.

"So, Granger, feel free to show your gratitude for my magnanimous gesture," he said as the hand he had on her hip started to creep towards her bum.

She gave him a tart little smile. "Is that the only reason you agreed to do it?" she asked as his hand reached his intended destination and gave her a little squeeze.

"You know me, Granger. I'm an opportunist."

"You aren't as bad as you make yourself out to be. You're a lot nicer than—"

He silenced her with another deep kiss, finally succeeding in distracting her from conversation. He couldn't let her finish what she had started to say, anyway. After all, his reputation as the biggest prat at Hogwarts was at stake, and there were some things in one's life that you should always be able to depend on.

Yeah! Written from Malfoy's point of view, which means he's going to be in every part of this story! I just love getting into this character's head...hope everybody is enjoying it so far. Thanks so much to all of you who are following Hogwarts Revisited into this one-I will especially appreciate reviews from those of you who reviewed that story as well.
Purpleheart72