It didn't take the two glasses of fire whiskey long to effect me. I was stumbling a little by the time I got halfway through my third glass. I entered the kitchen to find him standing there waiting for me. I took a moment to take in his appearance. His six foot two frame towered over my five foot three. His silvery blonde hair hung down in his gray eyes, and his full lips were parted slightly, as he looked at me. "You look just as stunning in that dress as you did nine years ago. Why did you disappear? And how old is your daughter?" His questions swam around in my head and I did my best to keep my composure.

"She is going on nine years old. What does it matter how old she is? It's none of your business, Draco!" I snapped, but I knew he wasn't going to let it go. He looked at me and I frowned. I looked down at my glass and downed the rest of it. "And I disappeared because…because I had to, okay? I couldn't stay." My voice cracked and I looked down at my feet, feeling dizzy. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths. I felt his arms slide around my waist and the feeling felt wonderfully, distantly familiar. I gave in to my feelings and leaned into him as all of the tears started to fall. He just stood there and held me, kissing the top of my head. I felt so comfortable there, crying in his arms. I looked up into his eyes and my heart shattered from the look in his eyes. "I love you Draco" I murmured, and pressed my lips to his.

He automatically pulled me closer, running his tongue over my lower lip. It was like second nature to us. Every action had a reaction and it was always automatic. My arms snaked up around his neck and I laced my fingers into his hair. He groaned as I tugged lightly and my whole body reacted. It was just like it had been nine years ago. He picked me up by my thighs and set me on the counter, and I wrapped my legs around his waist as his fingers started to creep up my thigh. I was so lost in the feeling, that I didn't notice Ginny enter the kitchen. He started to kiss down my neck and I tilted my head to the side. My eyes peeked open and the moment I saw Ginny, I shoved him away.

"Ginny, oh my god! Please don't tell Harry or Ron!" I pleaded, jumping down from the counter. She shook her head and smiled.

"I won't, I promise. Just…I was thinking that Danielle should sleep over tonight? I will bring her home tomorrow afternoon for Christmas dinner. I've noticed lately that the closer it gets to her birthday, the more you get distracted. I just want you to have a little time to yourself to work out your….demons." Her face split into a huge grin as she finished her sentence.

I groaned and fixed myself, avoiding her eyes. My eyes fell on Draco, where they were met with his stormy gray ones.

He had a smile on his face, but it was faint. I frowned grumpily, looking away. I felt dizzy, but I had to get away from him for a minute. I stumbled, but he caught me. I whimpered and looked up at him. "It's okay, Hermione. Let Malfoy take you home. I know you don't want Harry or anyone else to see you like this. I'll bring Danielle in here to say goodbye." Ginny left the room and came back a moment later with Danielle.

"Mommy, Aunt Ginny said I could stay the night? Can I really?" Her face was lit up with excitement.

"Of course, baby. That's fine. But Mommy is going to go home, she doesn't feel well. I will see you tomorrow. You be good for Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry though, okay? I love you sweetie." I kissed her forehead and she wrapped her little arms around my neck, hugging me tight.

"I love you too mommy." She then looked up at Draco. "Mister, take care of my mommy. Don't hurt her. I need her." Draco leaned down on her level.

"Don't worry, sweetie. I will take real good care of her. Your mommy means a lot to me." His words shocked me and I just watched as Danielle hugged him tight around his neck. It pained my hear to see it. I whimpered softly and leaned against the counter, tilting my head as I watched. I could see the instant connection between the two of them. It was obvious. I could tell that Ginny saw it too, because when I looked up, she was staring at me. I quickly looked away and hid my face, my eyes welling up in tears.

"Good night mommy!" Danielle called to me as she ran off in the other direction. I groaned and stumbled my way back to the bar for another drink. I was almost finished downing it, when it was taken from me. I glared up at the thief in frustration. My eyes softened slightly when I saw that it was Draco. He took my hand and guided me to the fireplace, where we flooed back to my house. As soon as I was in the safety of my own, empty home, I pushed away from him. That was when he started bombing me with questions.

"She's mine, isn't she? Don't deny the obvious, Hermione! Why didn't you tell me? Why did you stop talking to me? Why did you stop loving me?" The last question filled me with rage. I turned and threw my clutch at him, barely missing his head.

"Don't you EVER say that! I never stopped loving you! You never stopped being the one on my mind! Even now, nine years later, I still can't get over you! I just didn't want to give you the chance to run out on me! To leave me alone with a child!" I screamed at him, tears streaming down my cheeks. I couldn't stop, now that I had started. "Draco Malfoy, I have loved you since the day that I left. Since before that. I was not ready to let you hurt me the way Ron had. I would rather hurt myself than let you walk out on me." My voice was cracking, but I didn't care.

"Hermione, I never would have done that. I was ready to tell people about us. When you started giving me the cold shoulder and avoiding me, I was heartbroken. I have never felt that way before. All those years in school, I hated you and your friends, but after that night in detention, I wanted nothing more than to be with you. Then the war came, and I fought along side you…I've loved you ever since." The memory of that first night came back to me in a flood of emotions.

I was on the other side of the storage room, trying to steer clear of Malfoy. I had gotten detention because Snape was being a douche again. Nothing new. I jumped as something flew past my head and landed to rest on the shelf in front of me. I turned around in anger. "Why don't you watch what you're doing, you rotten ferret?! That could have smashed into my head!" He rolled his eyes and turned away from me. That angered me even more. "Don't just ignore me! That is so rude! You need to apologize!" I stormed up behind him and shoved him. Clearly that was a mistake.

He spun around and slammed me up against the wall. "Don't touch me, Granger. I don't want to have to hurt you." A whimper escaped my lips and I squeezed my eyes shut. I didn't bother to act tough, because he scared me. He had me pinned there for a while and I kept my eyes shut. Suddenly, I felt a hand softly tuck my hair behind my ear. I opened my eyes and his expression was soft. My jaw dropped in surprise, and in an instant, he was kissing me fiercely and passionately.

The memory felt so strongly, that I had to take a seat on my couch. I let the tears flow freely. "I won't let you get to me, Draco. I won't let you hurt me." The words were barely audible from my lips, but I knew he heard them because he came and sat next to me. I didn't push him away. I just leaned against him, letting the tears fall. It didn't take me long to fall asleep against him, right there on the couch.

A/N: read&review please? let me know what you think. i'm so nervous.