Draco grinned and motioned for Blaise to be quiet as he carefully shifted away from Hermione so as not to wake her. He paused, looking at her lovingly, then leaned to kiss her softly. She sighed and squirmed in her sleep, rolling over and burrowing into his pillow.

Draco quietly followed Blaise into the hallway, carefully closing the door behind him. Blaise waited until they got into the common room before he turned to Draco and smirked. "Well?" he said, snickering, "Are you going to tell me how you managed that? Not that it could have been so difficult since she has been in love with you for months now." Malfoy blushed and smirked back at him, saying nothing.

"Well that's a first. I don't think I've ever seen you get red over a girl before. It must have been some night." Blaise narrowed his eyes and added, "You didn't…"

Malfoy held up his hand. "Don't worry, Zabini, I would never do anything she didn't want me to do. And no, we haven't…yet." Malfoy flopped down on the couch and closed his eyes, smiling as he thought of the previous night. Blaise sat down in the armchair across from him and stared at him expectantly.

"I'm waiting, Malfoy. At least tell me something. It looked like you two were awfully comfortable in there, all tangled up with one another," Blaise said, smiling. "And you should really thank me for helping it along. You may also want to thank the lovely Leila Ackerley too, who is now recovering in Ravenclaw tower, no doubt replaying the most amazing night of her young life." Draco burst out laughing.

"Hermione said she doesn't ever want to sleep in there again, you know. She called you gross," he told Blaise and the two laughed.

"Well, when our little Gryffindor finds out what sex is all about, she won't think it's so gross,." Blaise said, a slight edge in his voice. Malfoy shot him a warning look.

"Zabini…" he said seriously, "Don't start with me. It's obvious she is inexperienced, I'm aware of that. I don't just want to shag her." Blaise looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "Well, I do want to, but I'm interested in more than that," Draco added, his voice dropping to a whisper, "I…I'm in love with her." The statement hung in the air, and as Malfoy looked at Blaise cautiously, he saw his friend's expression soften.

"Are you certain?" Blaise said, something unreadable in his black eyes. "Because I have to tell you, Malfoy, you better be bloody sure about that before you tell her. Hermione is…not like other girls. She's got a very fierce heart, one that has been yours for quite some time now, whether or not you were aware of it. I love her. She's very important to me. Do you get what I'm saying, Draco?" Malfoy stared back at him, nodding.

"Yes. Yes, I understand. And yes, I'm sure. I just want to make her happy, Blaise. I promise I won't hurt her." Blaise's face relaxed somewhat, and he nodded.

"And," Blaise said, sounding like a protective older brother, "You're willing to be kind and patient with her, when she is bound to be scared and vulnerable and unsure of what to do in an intimate situation?" He looked at Draco kindly. "I don't think you would intentionally hurt her, Malfoy. I just want you to understand what you are getting yourself into. Hermione isn't just some easy slag. She is going to want to make you happy because she loves you."

Malfoy sighed. "Yes, Blaise. I know all that, I really do. I'm going to be gentle and patient with her." He smiled at Blaise, and for the first time in years, Blaise noticed that the smile reached his eyes. Draco's whole face seemed to light up. "I've never felt so happy as when I'm with her. She belongs with me," Malfoy finished firmly. Blaise finally managed a smile.

"Well, congratulations. Sorry, mate, but she's sort of like my sister. You understand, don't you?" Malfoy nodded, smiling back at him.

"Yes, I understand. But you're not going to kill me when we do have sex, are you? When she's ready, of course?" he asked a bit nervously. Blaise sighed.

"No, I have to let go sometime, I suppose. She is a grown woman, after all. I trust her to make the right choices." Blaise laughed suddenly and confided, "You know, I actually offered to teach her everything she needs to know about sex personally. And she had the cutest response: she insisted that she could figure it out as she went along." Draco laughed softly, feeling a rush of love for her travel through his body.

"I'm more than happy to teach her," he said, winking. Blaise rolled his eyes.

"Oh, I'll bet you are, Malfoy. Not to put a damper on this sickeningly sweet heart-to-heart, but you do realize it is now past 8:00 am and you have Quidditch practice in less than an hour, do you not?" Malfoy groaned, stretching.

"Yes, I'm aware of that, Zabini. But thanks for the wake-up call. Will you give Hermione a message for me? Tell her that I didn't want to wake her and I'll see her later?" Blaise nodded.

"Yes, I will tell her. I'm taking her to Hogsmeade today to celebrate this…development." Draco grinned at him. "We'll see you when you're through with practice, mate."

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Hermione opened her eyes as she felt someone lie down next to her. "Blaise," she said blearily, sitting up and looking around.

He grinned at her, propping himself up on his elbow next to her on Draco's bed. "He went to Quidditch practice. Don't worry, he told me that he'll see you later. I want to know what you did to him. I have never seen him quite like this before. He looked like he had just won the House cup and been made Minister of Magic all in the same day." Hermione stared at him, her eyes filled with an emotion that Blaise couldn't quite decipher.

"Hermione? Are you alright, love?" he asked , sitting up and reaching for her hand. She continued to just look at him, and as he stared back at her, he realized that her mouth was starting to tremble. His face fell as the tears started to run down her cheeks and she let out a sob. He grabbed her in a hug and started rocking her, rubbing her back. "Shhh, it's ok, it's ok," he whispered, sighing. As her sobs started to subside and she pulled away from him and wiped her tears with the back of her hand, he looked at her and sighed.

"Do you want to tell me why you're crying?" He smiled at the look of confusion in her eyes. "Do you even know why you're crying?" he said, laughing. She smiled through her tears and giggled.

"Not really," she sniffled. Blaise slid behind her and began to massage her shoulders. She let out a long breath as if she had been holding it in for hours.

As Blaise worked at the knots in her neck and shoulders, he said to her quietly, "Well if I may venture a guess, I'd say you are crying because you're feeling overwhelmed with emotions, feelings…happiness? Does that sound about right?" She nodded.

"Yes," she whispered, looking down. He moved so that he was facing her again and put his hand under her chin so that she was looking at him.

"Hermione, I think that's just part of falling in love," he said to her. "I'm really happy for both of you." He grinned. "And I think you forgot to thank me for making your room unavailable last night." She grabbed a pillow and hit him in his face with it.

"Thank you? For shagging some…ewww…in my…ewww! How could you, Blaise?" she said, trying not to laugh. "I hope you cleaned up in there," she added, unable to stop her giggles. He smirked at her, leaning back on the bed.

"It is just the way you left it, my dear," he said lazily. "I just wish I could have seen the look on your face when you realized that you'd be spending the night with Malfoy." He snickered. "You must have been terrified," he said, laughing. Hermione reached over and grabbed him by his shirt collar, her face inches from his, her eyes wide, an expression of awe on her face.

"Oh, Blaise," she breathed, "I was so scared, but he was just so nice and sweet, and…and… I love him so much!" she said, positively shaking with excitement. "I love him. Why didn't you tell me it was like this?" She shook her head disbelievingly. "You never told me…" she said in a hushed voice. He smiled at her a little sadly.

"Hermione, I never told you because…I don't really know. I've never been in love." He reached over and touched her cheek. "He is a very lucky man, Hermione. I hope you realize that." She threw her arms around him.

"Oh, Blaise, do you think he feels the same way about me? I'll just die if he doesn't, I'll just die…" she whimpered, and Blaise held her as she started sobbing again. He suddenly felt cold. I can't save her from anything that might happen, he realized. Malfoy, you better be good to her. You better be good to her or so help me, I'll make you regret it. Blaise held her tighter as she cried, stroking her head and murmuring comforting words to her.

And the thought that kept crowding its way into his head was, surprisingly, Why do I feel so sad?

It was six hours and several drinks later that he began to feel like himself again.

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"Are you sure you're done being sick?" Hermione asked Blaise gently, as she patted his back. They were both kneeling on the floor by the toilet in the Head dorm lavatory, Blaise a lovely shade of Slytherin green and Hermione pale and worried. He nodded, wiping his mouth with the towel that Hermione handed him.

"Blaise, why did you feel the need to get drunk so early on a Saturday? Is there anything bothering you?" she asked quietly, looking at him sympathetically. He shook his head and sniffled.

"No," he croaked, "I feel great." He tried to smile at her, but his smile turned into a groan as he slid to the floor, holding his head. "Hermione, you're very skilled at movement counter-charms, please make the room stop spinning…please make it stop." Hermione looked at him helplessly, feeling his forehead.

"Blaise, there is no counter-charm for it because the room isn't spinning: you are, dear," she said, biting her lip nervously. "Potions isn't my best subject, but if you just let me go get my textbook I think there's one in there for…"

"No…don't leave me, please, Hermione, I don't want to die alone," he moaned, grabbing her hand. She snickered.

"Oh, Blaise, don't be so dramatic. You are quite far from dying," she said, trying not to laugh. She looked up as she heard someone open the door to the lavatory. Her heart stopped as she locked eyes with Draco.

He smiled at her, and as they looked in each other's eyes for the first time since the night before, it was as if an electric current passed between them, so strong you could almost hear it crackle.

"Hey," he said to her softly. He paused a moment and then walked quickly over to her, dropping to his knees and grabbing her. Before she knew it, she was lying on her back on the bathroom floor being kissed by Draco, neither one seeming to mind that their best friend was groaning on the floor next to them, nor that they were snogging on the bathroom rug.

"Great friends you are," Blaise moaned, sounding in dire agony. "You can still do that when your best friend is dying?" Still kissing Hermione, Draco dug into his robes and pulled out a small bottle filled with purple liquid.

"Drink this," he mumbled as he held it out in Blaise's general direction, now kissing Hermione's neck as she gasped and squirmed beneath him. "I ran into some people downstairs and they told me you were up here pissed and puking." Malfoy pulled back to catch his breath and looked down at Hermione, her face flushed and her eyes shining. He grinned at her, then leaned to whisper in her ear. "Did you miss me, baby?" he breathed, feeling her shiver under him.

"Yes," she whispered, wrapping her arms around him, loving the feel of his lips on her ear, her neck. "I missed you so much."

"Wow, what was that stuff, Malfoy?" Blaise asked, now standing up and looking as if he had never had a drink in his life. "I feel a hundred percent better. No wonder you always get top marks in Potions." He raised an eyebrow as he sniffed the empty bottle.

"Never mind what it was, Zabini, what the hell were you doing getting so pissed on a Saturday afternoon?" Malfoy stood up, helping Hermione to her feet, still unable to take his eyes off of her. "That's not like you. I've always known you to at least wait until after dinner." He leaned to kiss Hermione, wanting nothing more than to drag her into the bedroom and kiss her all over. He grinned down at her expression, loving how her eyes were shining up at him.

"Oh, I don't know," Blaise said, sighing heavily. "I guess I was just feeling a bit angst-ridden today. I'm entitled, aren't I?" Hermione and Draco looked at him, then looked at each other meaningfully. Draco grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him, making her gasp. Blaise rolled his eyes as they began kissing each other again.

"For Heaven's sake, you two, at least take it into the bedroom. I'll see you bastards at dinner. If you ever make it there," he said irritably, stalking out of the bathroom.

"I wonder what's got his wand in a knot?" Draco murmured as he pulled Hermione out into the hallway, still managing to kiss her as he was doing it. Hermione giggled and allowed herself to be tugged into the closest bedroom, which happened to be Draco's, where he clumsily fell back onto his bed, pulling her with him.

Draco gently pushed her down and leaned over her, his hands pinning her shoulders to the bed, and bent his head to kiss her, stopping just before his lips touched hers. When Hermione leaned forward to kiss him, he smirked and moved back out of her reach, his hands still trapping her shoulders. She gasped. He carefully watched her face heat up with excitement as he repeated the action: he leaned to kiss her and when she struggled to meet his lips he held her so that she couldn't reach him.

"What do you want, Granger? Tell me what you want. I want to hear you say it." He was enjoying himself immensely. Who knew a couple of years ago that teasing Hermione this way could be so much more fun than being mean to her? he thought to himself as his own body started to heat up with excitement. He loved how she was struggling to get to his lips.

"Draco, please…" she whispered, to his delight. "Please let me kiss you," she said, a fresh blush creeping up her neck to her cheeks. He smiled, leaning down again and brushing her lips with his lightly. She gasped at the brief contact and he grinned.

"Mmm," he murmured, running his hand down her side to her hip, feeling her squirm against him. "You are so sweet. Tell me, Granger, are you as excited as I am right now?" he said, leaning down again and kissing her on her neck. He felt her shiver. He bit her gently and heard her whimper. He moaned and found her mouth with his, finally giving her another real kiss, pressing his lips to hers firmly, his mouth slightly opened, tasting her. Her arms went around him as she returned the kiss appreciatively. She pulled away to gasp for breath and looked up at him in wonder.

"Probably more than you," she whispered. He laughed and grabbed her around the waist, flipping her over so that she was on top of him. He loved the expression of surprise on her face. Everything is so new to her, he thought with excitement. Amazing.

"No way," he whispered, reaching up to touch her lips, "How could you possibly be more excited than I am?" She giggled and blushed, sliding down so that she was lying next to him. He smiled as she wrapped her arms around him, hiding her face against his neck.

"Oh, I don't know," Hermione said, her words muffled. "Because you know what you're doing and I don't?" Draco sighed and hugged her tightly before taking her face in his hands and looking into her eyes. She looked back at him shyly.

"You're doing everything perfectly," he whispered, leaning to kiss her gently. "I love you exactly the way you are." She gasped, looking back at him in shock.

"You…did you…" she stammered. "Are you talking to me?" she asked so seriously that he laughed, leaning to kiss her again. He looked around, grinning, then looked back at her.

"I don't see anyone else in the room, do you?" he asked. He laughed as she actually glanced around quickly. She stared at him, her eyes still disbelieving.

"You love me?" He could tell it was a genuine question, and he shook his head at her.

"Can't you see how much I love you when I look at you?" he asked breathlessly. Their eyes searched each other as he slid his hand into her hair. "Yes. I love you, Hermione. I love you because you're amazing. You make me so happy." He paused, a look of confusion on his face. "Not to put you on the spot or anything, but…do you love me too?" He felt his heart drop suddenly when she didn't answer right away. But then she rolled her eyes and grinned at him shyly.

"Well of course I love you. I…I've loved you ever since the first day of school when you helped me get my trunk down from the rack." He laughed.

"Have you really?" he said, leaning to kiss her, grabbing her hand and lacing his fingers through hers. "That's so sweet." Hermione reached to touch his hair and sighed, feeling as if her heart would burst with happiness. Draco smiled at her, thinking how exciting it was that they had so much left to learn about each other. He pulled her to him firmly, kissing her deeply. He felt he could never get close enough to her, as his hands gently slid over her body.

Blaise had been quite right about one thing: the two never made it to dinner that night.