March 23rd

Malfoy,

Meet me after class.

Granger

Draco's hands start to shake as he stares at the chicken scratch handwriting. Slowly he looks up, his eyes meeting hers. Having no idea what else to do, he winks at her, getting a look of disgust in return. He replays exactly what he is going to say to her in his head the rest of class.

"That didn't take long" Draco answers, leaning against the wall "Guess the body knows what the mind wants."

"Excuse me?"

How does this sentimental thing work? "Look Granger, I know you want this." Draco tries again, pointing at his chest. "The sooner you give in to yourself, the better."

"Hate to burst your bubble Malfoy, but you're not the sex god you think you are." OUCH! Where did she hear that? Hermione starts to walk away, Draco running in front of her. This is my last chance.

"Wait!" Draco runs in front of Hermione, his eyes begging her. "Will you follow me?"

"What? Why?"

Maybe honesty was the best policy, "Look, I need to show you something and I'm scared if I don't do it now, I never will." He can't help but beg, "Please?" Hermione stands there thinking, he had kept so much a secret from everyone. The Dark Mark, the Vanishing Cabinet, and now he was wanting to tell her something. How bad could this be?

"Fine." Hermione mummers, Draco suddenly grabbing her arm dragging her down the hall and out of Hogwarts. "Where are we going?"

"Don't worry about it, just follow me." Draco replies, pulling her down towards a thicket. He holds the twigs back, allowing Hermione to walk past. Pulling the weeds aside, he exposes the pond he had spent so much time preparing.

"Oh my...Draco, it's beautiful."

"You're beautiful." Hermione blushes looking down "anyway, I figured this would be a safe place for you to hide and study away from Pansy."

"What's the catch?"

"I wanted my tree back" Draco laughs, "Actually, I thought you would enjoy the quiet." Putting his hand lightly on Hermione's lower back, he pushes her towards the pond. "Look in the water." Holding his breath, Draco hopes he got it right.

"Koi" Hermione whispers, looking at the fish. "My mum used to always tell me they were the fish of affection, of love."

"They are." He answers, sighing. It's now or never. "Have you ever wanted to defy gravity Granger?" He whispers, putting his hand on the back of her neck, running his fingers through her tangled hair.

"What?"

"I want to defy gravity. I want to go against everything everyone has ever taught me." Draco takes a deep breath in, holding it to keep himself from fainting. He had never been this nervous in his life. "I want to kiss you Granger." Ever so gently Draco set his lips on Hermione's, his world standing still, hers spinning faster and faster out of control. Draco smirks, pulling away then braces himself for the impact. For the smack he probably deserved for making a move like that.

"Malfoy, did you just.." Draco nods, never taking his eyes of Hermione's right hand. If she punched him, he deserved it. He hoped she would simply smack him, she had a hell of a right hook, but he braced himself for a punch. "You kissed me?" Draco nods again.

"You can hit me now," Was all Draco could get out before he hit the ground. Laying on his back, he couldn't think. He couldn't breathe. All he knew was that Hermione's mouth was on his. She was kissing him, and not just a kiss. Hermione Granger, muggle-born bookworm, was snogging him. Draco allowed himself to put his hands on her, feeling the silky touch of her skin. He breathed her in as she kissed on his neck, an unfamiliar gentle smell surrounding her.

"Malfoy" She whispers onto his lips as he pulls her in for another kiss, gently nibbling her bottom lip.

"I have waited so long for this Granger, your touch is electrifying." Getting wrapped up in the moment, Draco tugs at the bottom of Hermione's shirt, midkiss, causing her to stop.

"Don't Malfoy." She stops kissing him and just stares. "I'm not that kind of girl."

"Granger, no." He whispers back, "I didn't mean to. I...I'm sorry. I just..I got caught up in the moment. I got caught up in you."

"It's fine just please don't do it again."

"I promise." Draco answers, putting his hand on top of hers. They sit like that, staring at the pond until the sun starts to set, talking about their home lives, their parents, everything except what they are going to face going back into Hogwarts.

"We have to go back." Hermione whispers, disappointed.

"Do we have to?" Draco groans, "Can't we just stay here tonight?"

"No, we have to go back."

Draco lays back, looking up at the sky. "Lay here with me for a few more minutes, Granger. Let's forget about everything."

Hermione lays beside him, the stars starting to show through the darkness.

"What are we doing, Malfoy?"

Draco smirks, not taking his eyes off the sky. "I have no idea, but I have nothing else I'd rather be doing."

"What are we going to tell people"

"Granger." Hermione turns her head, looking at him. She couldn't help the warm feeling deep inside her stomach as she looked into his eyes. "Stop thinking" With that, he kisses her again ever so gently on the lips.