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A Sequel to 'Study Break'

A/N Well, ladies and gentlemen, here is my sought after sequel… I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy this. Hope you do, too! And before I continue, so you don't get confused, note these points:

-If you havn't read Study Break (by me) I suggest you do so before reading this... trust me, you'll love it.

- Book Six did happen: D. is dead (I'm sorry, but it had to be) (I think I cried the first time I read that…)

- Snape was (shudder) killed trying to save Harry (Order of Merlin, first class)… (yes, I liked Snape)

-Voldemort is dead, and the war is over: it ended during the (post supposerd-to-be-7th-year) summer (all horcruxes were found), and the students returned to Hogwarts a year late

- The Golden Trio survived… (Unlikely in JKR's world, but not in mine!)

- Hogwarts was closed the year after V. rose in power (our heroes' 7th year), but opened the year later – ie. Our favorite Trio is now eighteen (technically, this would be their eighth year of school).

-I own nothing to do with Harry Potter (except for the two sets of books, and the odd collectors items I bought…), and I would never want to… JKR's doing too good a job.

Other than that, you'll just have to read to find out who died, who lived, and what else happened to your favorite (and not-so-favorite) characters!

So enjoy, and review svp. Oh, and, uhm, sorry if they're short… I just want to update asap so no one wants to hurt me… heh heh…

(note for future reference: svp is French for (this is the phonetic) 's'il vous plai' if you please)

R&R!! Kisses, JM

Flashback...

That night, when we finally were ready to fall asleep in each others' arms, we had such a connection. We lay quietly on the couch, him drawing small circles around my navel, and me resting my head on his smooth chest. He inhaled deeply and said to me, 'Well, I suppose our little study break is over, shall we get back to it?' as if we had just gotten a glass of water and a snack. I smacked him softly, and he chuckled into my hair. Kissing the crown of my head, he told me, 'You know, Hermione, when Slughorn handed us that assignment, and I saw that look of utter repulsion on your face -' I could practically feel his insolent smirk ' – I knew that it was only because you knew if you didn't hate me, you'd love me. I was right, wasn't I?'

'Maybe,' I told him, stroking his torso, 'but what if I'm just using you for your body?'

He looked down at me, and laughed. 'Well, if you are, I suppose I shouldn't spoil a good thing, should I? And if you're not, which is much more likely, I do believe you owe me an apology.'

'An apology? For what, prey tell.'

'Well, you called me stupid earlier, and I would like you to take it back.'

'I did not!' I replied indignantly. 'I said I could agree that you were not.'

'As far as I recall, you agreed with me that you found me unbelievably handsome.' I gaped at him like a fish for a moment, until he laughed at my absurd expression. 'Go to sleep Granger,' he ordered me, 'but tomorrow morning, I expect a proper apology.'

Grinning obscenely, he kissed the tip of my nose and, with a swish of his wand, extinguished all the lights.

When I woke up, I was alone on the couch. Great. I was covered up with a fluffy green blanket (haha, Draco, haha), but I was alone. Where did he go?

My question was answered, however, when the portal opened, and there he was in all his (green silk) robed glory.

'Ah, Granger, you're up. Finally. Do all muggleborns sleep in longer, or is it just after they have an exceptional lay?' Smirking, he set down a covered tray beside me and sat on the edge of the couch.

As he brushed my excessively bushy hair out of my face, I retorted, 'Well, I wouldn't say exceptional…'

Sarcastically taken aback, he replied, 'Oh, not exceptional? What then? Amazing? Unbelievably unbeatable? Orgasmic?'

I pretended to ponder for a moment. 'Well… maybe… what I was going to say before you interrupted was, to quote Ron, brilliant… but all yours work too, I suppose.'

'You suppose? You suppose? Well then, maybe I should just take my tray and leave, then.' Feigning rejection, he started to get up, but before he could grab the tray, I pulled him back down by the scruff of his robe.

'You're not going anywhere.' As he smirked and moved in, I sat up and continued. 'I'm positively famished. What's under tray number one, anyways?'

Still leaning into my chest, lips puckered, he chuckled, shook his head, and stood up. 'Well,' he said, lifting one silver lid, 'under here there are pancakes with sausage and banana,' he dropped it, and reached for another, 'here, there are oranges and apple quarters,' and picking up the last one, he finished, 'but I figured you would enjoy this the most… I just got everything else so the platter would look legit.'

Under this final lid, was a tureen of… oh… well, then…

Melted chocolate and strawberries.

This just might be the most brilliant breakfast ever…

'Okay, now that we're done that, we should probably get up…' I said, wiping one final chocolaty smear off my cheek (hazard a guess at which I'm referring to – you just might be wrong).

'Oh, wait. One more thing…'

Still leaning over me, he kissed my forehead, and smiled. 'There. Now we can get up.' He stood, and pulled my up beside his chiseled figure.

I checked my watch. 'Hm. If I go right now, I can fit in a shower before actual breakfast. And no you're not invited. You have your own. Make sure it's cold, too, we've got class.' Dragging the blanket behind me, I headed to the shower, and locked the door behind me.

That is, after taking one last laughing, lingering look at his mock-hurt expression.

Before we left for the Dining Hall, I told him that it might not be the best idea if we walked in together.

His reply was, of course, predictable.

'What! Why? If you think I give a damn as to what the other two of your trio think –!'

'Draco! Stop! Look… if we just waltz in, holding hands and being all… all.. couple-y, what do you think is going to happen? Hm? Will they just shrug it off, and just… just… say, 'well, there goes Hermione, too bad. If she's seeing that prat, we'll just have to deal with it'? No! They're going to want blood, Draco, and I don't want you getting into a catfight in the middle of the Dining Hall!'

He shot me a venomous look. Finally, something characteristically recognizable. 'I don't want to hide from precious Potter and Weasley, Granger, I want to-'

'To what? What? Show them that you, their supposed enemy, managed to shag their best friend, and that you're just that sort of pompous ass that would throw it in their face? If you want me, Malfoy, you'll want them. 'Cause if you don't have them, no matter how orgasmic the sex is, you don't have me.'

We squared off for what seemed like ages, until his expression softened, he closed his eyes, and he took a deep, calming breath. 'Okay… okay… you have your wish… but, if you don't tell them by potions, then I can't be held accountable for what they do when I kiss you in class.'

Chuckling, I replied, 'Okay, fine. Before potions, then – oh, no… oh no, oh no… how could I have been so stupid!'

'What? Hermione, what?' With my sudden change in demeanor, he looked positively frightened.

'Potions! We completely forgot about our potions assignment!' I started pacing, but stopped when I saw he had the audacity to laugh. 'What are you laughing at? It's due today, isn't it?'

'Potions!' he started, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. 'I thought it was something desperate! Potions? That's what you're worried about?'

'Yes, that's what I'm worried about! It's a class assignment! Professor Slughorn wanted it in today! We've barely started, and…and it's all your fault we didn't get it done!'

'My fault? It takes more than one to do what we did last night, Hermione… and besides, you say it like you've never handed anything in late!' I shot him a poisonous look. 'Wait, you've never -? Well, I suppose I should've known. But don't worry, Hermione. We'll just have to do it at lunch. Besides, it's Slughorn. He'd give us an extra week if we asked him.'

I paused, and finally said, 'I suppose you're right.'

'There now. Trust me. I may not be the son of a favored governor anymore, but the name Malfoy still demands respect, whether you like it or not.' I started to chuckle, then, and after a moment I could barely breathe. 'What? What's so funny?' he asked, hugging me to his chest.

'I'm dating Draco Malfoy.'

That made us both burst with exhausted, happy laughter.

As we walked into the dining hall, we feigned disinterest. I walked over to the Gryffindor table to join Harry and Ron, and Draco went to join his remaining Slytherin friends. That is, the ones who weren't arrested after Voldemort's fall.

''Morning, Harry, Ron,' I greeted them, sitting on Harry's right (so I wouldn't be next to Ron when I broke the news).

''Morning Hermione.' Harry replied, pouring me a glass of pumpkin juice. 'How did yesterday afternoon go?'

'Yesterday afternoon…?'

'You were partnered with Malfoy.'

'The amazing bouncing ferret,' Ron supplied, reaching for a sausage.

'Oh, that…' I started, mentally shaking myself for doing this in the Dining Hall. (Where there are sharp objects…) 'It, um, wasn't so bad, after all.'

'Well, that's good,' Ron said, mercilessly sawing at the piece of meat in front of him, 'because if he's a prat to you, Hermione, we're here for you, yea?'

'Yea, about that. Could I talk to you about something?' I turned slightly to face them, and subtly magic'd all sharp objects away from Ron's grabbing area.

'Sure, Hermione.' Harry replied, just as Ron offered, 'Did Malfoy do something?'

'Well… now, don't be angry, okay? Ron? Don't do anything rash-'

'What!' Ron cried loudly, bumping the table as he jumped.

I looked across the Hall to see Draco's eyes flash in my direction, smiling amusedly. Thanks for that. Real helpful. 'Now, Ronald, don't get like this-'

'Like this? What d'you mean, like this?'

'You didn't even let me finish my sentence, Ron, please. For all you know I could just be telling you he's a good partner.'

'Well, are you?'

I stopped, and realized my pun. 'In a way…'

Harry was now looking at me, mouth slightly agape. 'Hermione… you didn't… you don't mean partner as in… well, partner?'

'Well... well, yes, Harry, I did.' I was gaining confidence here. 'You know, you three just don't like each other because you can't get past our history-'

'Hermione!' Harry cried, 'Our history includes that prat calling you all sorts of… of… horrible names! Don't you remember, or did he Imperious you or something?'

'No, Harry, he did not Imperious me! But I, unlike you, it seems, can see the good in reformed personalities!' I took a deep breath, and continued. 'Look. We've been fighting each other for so long, why continue? All that negative energy just got recycled into something... amazing.'

I knew something was wrong when Ron didn't yell. 'You mean, you two have already…'

'Ron,' I started in a warning tone, 'don't kill him, no, Ron! I mean it. It was my choice as much as it was his.'

'But, Hermione… he was… touching you, and…'

'No, Ron!'

'Hermione, he's Draco Malfoy! You know, blond hair, son of Lucius Malfoy? The guy who killed –' Harry stopped as the memories hit him.

How could I be so insensitive? 'Harry... Ron, look… I'm sorry about what happened to Ginny, you know that. She was just about my best girlfriend, but you've got to understand that Draco isn't Lucius, no matter how much he might look like him! He saved lives after he switched sides, don't you remember? You just need to see past the fact that he just happens to have the surname Malfoy! Please!' I paused, and continued quietly, 'Please, you two. For me?'

There was a long, tense silence as Ron and Harry exchanged meaningful glances. After what seemed like an eternity, Harry finally spoke.

'Alright. But, if he hurts you, Hermione, we reserve the right to kill him. Okay?'

Despite my best efforts, I started crying with relief. 'Yeah. Okay. If he hurts me, you two will be the first to know. I promise.' At that moment, we did the cliché'd group hug, me in the middle, laughing and crying at the same time.

Once he sensed it was safe, I suppose, Draco made his way over to our table.

'Potter, Weasley. After that heart wrenching display of cuteness, I suppose Hermione's told you?' He stood behind me, far enough back that Harry could stand up if he wanted to (and, I noticed, out of Ron's reach).

'Yeah, she did.' Harry replied, standing up. 'And… we're… okay with it.' He extended his arm to shake Draco's hand, and I could have kissed him.

Looking him straight in the eye, Draco replied, 'Thanks, Potter.' After a pause, he looked at me, and continued. 'You should know Hermione told me that if you two didn't approve, she and I would have to call it quits.' Another look, a deep breath, and again, 'And… I'm sorry, Potter, Weasley, about what my… my father did. I know what it feels like to loose someone you love.'

Ron stepped up, looked Draco over, and told him, 'Thanks, Malfoy. But just so you know…. if you hurt her, and I mean physically, emotionally, financially, socially… you'll have us to answer to.' He, too, extended his hand, and I felt a great wave of relief wash over me.

'Don't worry, Weasley. If anyone's going to hurt anyone, it's her. I'm the innocent victim here. I would be crazy to let her go.'

'Indeed you would, mate. Indeed you would.'

A/N again… so, what'd you thiiiink? A worthy sequel? REVIEW and I just might update!