This chapter is dedicated to Reiiiko! Thanks for the reviews! They mean a lot to me! xxx

Chapter 2

Draco's POV

I wish I hadn't kissed her but, I couldn't resist. She's so beautiful and innocent, yet strong. I love the fact that she respects herself and knows her limit. I pulled away, realizing what I'd done. She didn't say anything, but she blushed.

I smiled weakly, brushed her cheek with the tip of my tongue, and said 'good night' but she just nodded and sighed. I wished I hadn't kissed her, but I couldn't help it! She was biting her lip! I should be the one to do that! Stop it, Draco.

I went to bed early that night, but after tossing and turning for several hours, I grabbed my Defense against the Dark Arts textbook and stood up. I sat down on an armchair and drowned myself in my book. After almost ten minutes of reading I hear a slight snore. I stand up, and there's Hermione: sitting right in front of the fireplace, Ancient Runes textbook in hand. I stood up and swept a thick, white blanket of the arm of the couch, and wrapped it around her shoulders. I couldn't help but noticed how delicate and fragile she looks.

In just a brief moment of staring at Hermione I realize something: we are both broken, and we need each other. I've never been allowed to be who I want to be. I've always had a standard, an expectation to live up to. Nothing less than perfect was ever good enough for my parents, and now, more than anything, I fear rejection. I don't want to be tossed into the trash. What is Hermione uses me, makes me happy and fulfills my every desire, but gets bored of me and abandons me, filling me with despair? I don't want to give anyone that power over me: the power to hurt me.

Hermione's POV

I don't remember much of what happened after that blissful kiss with Draco. Of course I remember how he kissed me, how he touched me. Anything after that was just blurry in my mind. One thing's for sure though: I didn't go to bed last night. I had some studying to catch up with, so I picked up my textbook and started reading. So then how did I end up with a blanket over me?

I stretch and yawned, happy to see a new day. Noticing that the blanket was from the couch, I fold it and return it to its original position. I showered, brushed my teeth, and dressed preparing for the day. It was only 7:30am and we had an hour until school started, so I studied some more.

After 30 minutes of studying, Draco came out of his room. His platinum blonde hair was messy and disorganized. All he had on were some sweatpants, and no shirt, exposing his washboard abs. He stretched and yawned. He looks so sexy in a mysterious and mischievous kind of way…

He smiled at me. "Good morning, 'Mione," he mumbled, taking a seat at my side. I blushed and chuckled. He kissed me on the cheek, and then on the mouth and licked my bottom lip. I opened up to him, resting one hand on his rock-hard stomach and deepening the kiss. His tongue caressed mine and I gently sucked on it, but before things went further he pulled away, biting my bottom lip gently. He's so damn sexy.

"Draco," I said questioningly, "why are you being so nice to me? It's almost two days, and you've kissed me twice, not to mention that you're being unbelievably nice? What's up?"

"Well, Hermione the truth is… I've always had a crush on you. Well maybe not always, but definitely since the third year." I blushed at this. "You've so perfect, and if you're not, you're the closest thing there is to perfect. You're strong, and brave, unlike me, beautiful and determined, unlike me, not to mention that you're the brightest witch in our set.

"I could never tell you how I felt because, I'm a pureblood, and since you're a muggle-born, I could never have associated with you without ending up in the Daily Prophet. This war has changed so many people, and I realize now the consequences of my behavior." I didn't know what to say, so I just planted a kiss on his lips put I pulled back quickly.

"Morning breath! Ewwww!" I said and he chuckled. "Classes start in an hour, so get your butt into the shower and get dressed!"

"Alright, Mum," he said jokingly, and off he went to get ready.

I had nearly an hour left until class, so I read ahead for first period, and then went down to the Great Hall to eat breakfast. I sit my usual spot at the Gryffindor table, Ginny at my right-hand side. I served myself an orange, a fried egg and a sausage and dug in.

"So, Ginny," I said. "Guess what happened yesterday!"

"What?" she asks, enthusiastically, flipping her brilliant red hair.

"I kissed Draco."

"YOU WHAT?"

"I kissed him," I repeat, enunciating each syllable.

"But how?"

"He apologized to me for everything he's done in the past, and admitted he's liked me since the third year."

"But what about Ron?"

"I-" is all I could get out before the owls flew in. A white barn owl delivered my newspaper and I paid it 5 sickles. On the cover of the Daily Prophet in bold, black text was a news headline. "RON WEASLEY GETS DRUNK, KISSES A VEELA GIRL." What the fuck? Well, at least I've got the "Ron" issue sorted out. It hurts me so much, because even though I cheated on him first (or at least at the exact same time) at least I had a reason to! Ron loved me, he said so himself; so why?

"What is it, 'Mione?" I threw the newspaper at her and stormed off to my room feeling infuriated. I threw myself onto my bed and screamed. I screamed and screamed and screamed until I had no power left in me and the tears started to flow uncontrollably. I didn't fight it; I just let it out.

Draco's POV

I glanced up at the Gryffindor table, hoping to catch a glimpse of Hermione but instead all I see is a very confused looking Ginny. Hermione had disappeared, and I felt I needed to find her. I headed upstairs to check the library but when she wasn't there, I climbed the stairs to our dorm.

I gave the password (narglegargles) and when I didn't see Hermione in the common room, I entered her room without even bothering to knock. She sat up when she saw me, her face tear stained. She didn't say anything and neither did I. She just stood up, fell into my arms, and for a moment, I just held her, forgetting about everything and blocking out the world. I just held her. I guided her back onto her bed, and crawled into it with her, holding her once more. We lay there for what seemed like an eternity until she spoke. How did I come to love her so much? It's been two days, and now every second we're apart feels like forever.

"Ron cheated on me," she says.

"He's not worth you. I will make sure that I make him feel pain for what he's done," is all I say, and we lay there for longer than you can imagine.

Hermione's POV: (Sorry I keep switching, lol)

I love Ron, of course I do, but maybe just not in the way that he wanted me to. He's my brother, and you can't fall in love with your brother, can you? I was really surprised when Draco comforted me yesterday. Somehow, when he says that he'll make Ron feel pain, I believe him.

I'm growing rather fond of him. His kiss is so powerful, it overcomes me; his touch makes me feel a billion more things that Ronald's ever did. I feel protected and strong when I'm with him. I think maybe, just maybe, I love him, but I don't know what love is. It was almost two weeks since school started, but Draco has never asked me out. I think if he loved me, he would ask me out.

Instead of waiting, I decided to make the first move. So, after dinner one day after dinner, we cuddled up on the couch studying. "Draco?"

"Mmm?"

"You know… since we're in the 7th year, we get to go to Hogsmeade every weekend… so I was, um, wondering if you'd, um, come with me because-" I didn't get to finish because he interrupted me with a kiss. It was short and sweet, and not totally overcoming.

"It would be my pleasure," he whispers into my ear grinning widely.

So how was that? I still don't have a plot yet, so I need a bad guy! If anyone has any ideas, PM me! And don't forget, rate and review! xox