Breakfast was almost over when Hermione entered the Great Hall. She was aware of the increase in whispering as she took a spot at the Fifth House table. Draco was not present and she had just started to wonder about him when Ginny joined her.

"You spent the night with him?" Ginny asked in a low voice.

Hermione glanced around; there were too many eyes and ears.

"We'll talk later," she replied, summoning tea and toast.

"The entire school already knows," Ginny said.

Hermione rolled her eyes; "There's nothing to know."

"Nothing, huh?" Ginny pried, eyes narrow and analytic.

"Later," Hermione repeated and ate her toast.

A hoot signaled the arrival of owl post and Ginny finally left Hermione in peace. Two owls landed in front of Hermione and she froze to see that one dropped a howler. She stared at the red envelope, smoking on the table. Who, in Dumbledore's name, would send her a howler? Hermione took the scroll from the remaining owl and it flew away in a hurry.

The second Ron's voice boomed out of the howler, Hermione drew her wand and destroyed the envelope.

"How dare he?" she exclaimed, staring at the scorch mark on the table. Irritated beyond caring that she'd damaged school property, Hermione caught Ginny's eye. She saw that the entirety of Hogwarts was watching her. Wand in one hand, unread letter in the other, she stormed out of the Great Hall onto the grounds. Perhaps the chilly air would cool her temper.

Hermione was perched on her favorite rock, incinerating Harry's letter when Ginny caught up to her.

"My brother's an idiot."

"Agreed," Hermione sighed.

"Was that from Harry?"

"It was."

"What did McGonagall say?"

Hermione wished she'd thought to shower and grab her robes or at least her cloak; it was a cold morning!

"She told me how disappointed she was in me," Hermione finally replied. "She said I should be a role model to the other students."

"Are you alright?"

"I am. It's strange, actually. I'm not as upset by Minerva's opinion as I thought I would be."

"It's a bit narrow-minded," Ginny supplied.

"Precisely," Hermione nodded, glad that Ginny understood. "It's as though I've exceeded her."

"And, what about Malfoy?"

Hermione felt her cheeks warm and she shrugged.

"You really spent the night with him?"

"Yes, but we didn't do that."

"You did other stuff?" Ginny correctly guessed with a wide grin.

Hermione smiled.

"Don't you have class?" Hermione asked, changing the subject.

"For this, I'll be late. What about you?"

"Nothing until this afternoon. How the hell did Harry and Ron hear?"

Ginny shrugged; "They have their fans."

"I'm not giving you details. You may as well head to class," Hermione said, getting up. She wanted a shower and bath and to be alone.

"Please, don't be angry," Ginny asked, hurrying to walk with Hermione back to the castle.

"I'm not angry… I can't think around him and I can't stop thinking about him. I can't even eat! I just haven't processed everything and I'm not ready to talk about it."

For some reason Ginny burst into laughter. Hermione stopped in her tracks.

"Hermione!" she said, still smiling broadly. "You're in love!"

Hermione made a face. She liked Draco but she didn't… Love him. …Did she? When she came out of her thoughts, Ginny was blessedly gone.

Feeling better having showered and dressed in clean robes over her uniform, Hermione joined the Fifth House for lunch. Draco did not appear and she wondered if she should be worried. Perhaps he'd had a change of heart. Ginny sat down with Hermione and whispered a story designed to melt any witch's heart.

After leaving Hermione, Ginny had overheard a handful of younger Slytherins badgering Draco. They demanded he explain himself and, among other things, called Hermione a Mudblood. Apparently, Draco lost it and hexed the lot of them. He said he'd date whom he liked and Hermione was worth all of Slytherin House put together.

"You look surprised," Ginny commented.

Hermione thought her friend must be imagining great romance to be so interested.

"How a person behaves in private might be different from how they behave around others," she explained.

She added in a whisper, "It's… It's enough to turn a witch's head. I had no idea he thought so highly of me."

"He's kind to you?" Ginny asked as though she'd been wanting it confirmed.

Hermione nodded, "Quite. And, considerate."

"Then, you have my support. And, I can get Harry and Ron off my back."

Hermione shot Ginny a distressed glance. Harry and Ron had never been stellar letter-writers but she had expected, at the least, a birthday card. She'd been furious that a rumor of her spending the night with Draco Malfoy prompted them to finally contact her. Who did they think they were? How could they assume their lack of replies to her owls would retain her friendship, let alone a right to give input on her life choices?

"They care. They're imbeciles and terrible friends but they care about you," Ginny explained.

Despite her annoyance with the two, Hermione knew it to be true.

In Arithmancy, Hermione's heart skipped to find Draco seated in the back row. She took the chair beside him and flashed him a smile. His face and shoulders had been tense; when he relaxed, it was apparent.

"Hi," she said.

"Hi, yourself," he purred, obviously pleased to see her.

Hermione forced herself to look away from him and open her textbook. How did he do that? How did he make her brain stop just by looking at her? Hermione realized that she felt a little breathless and took a couple of deep, slow breaths. Perhaps, she shouldn't have sat with him.

"I wasn't sure if you'd be happy to see me," Draco whispered.

"Why ever not?" Hermione asked, ignoring the other students filing into the room.

"Did you get into trouble?" he asked.

"No. Why? Did you?"

"Not- no." Draco corrected himself.

"Students giving you a hard time?" Hermione guessed.

"Don't worry about me. It's nothing I can't handle," His pale eyes were amused.

Hermione swallowed a smile. Could she like him more?

Professor Vector welcomed the students and sent homework scrolls soaring around the room to each of them. As she began explaining the lesson, Hermione jumped to feel Draco's hand on her knee. She gave him a fierce look and he mimicked the expression. Hermione bit her lip to keep from laughing aloud. His hand felt heavy and warm on her and she was utterly distracted. She'd be damned if she'd let him know, though, the prat.

Draco's hand moved a little higher on her thigh and Hermione did her best to ignore him; she felt him watching her. Desperately, she tried to focus on the lesson. His hand slipped higher and she gave a silent gasp.

"Don't make me draw my wand," she hissed between her teeth. As subtly as possible, she pulled his hand up and gave it a shove under their work bench.

"I'll behave conditionally," he whispered back.

Hermione looked at him with lifted brows.

"This weekend, come to Hogsmeade with me."

"Alright, just keep your hands to yourself," Hermione promised. She tore herself from Draco's gaze to discover that they had the attention of everyone in the classroom.

"If you're quite through, I'll continue the lesson," Professor Vector announced.

Hermione felt her cheeks warm and apologized. Draco just sat there, looking smug.

After class, Draco took Hermoine's hand and led her out onto the grounds. Dusk was falling and the air already held a chill.

"Do you want to get me into trouble?" Hermoine asked without any conviction.

"That's part of the fun!" Draco replied, pushing Hermoine's satchel to the ground and swinging her into his arms as if to dance.

"Really? Can't keep your hands off me for the length of a class?"

Draco turned her, guiding her through an unfamiliar dance. "No, I can't. I just want to touch you all of the time… Like now."

He stopped dancing and pulled her close. He kissed her and Hermoine felt it to her toes. It wasn't like their first kisses. This was Draco guiding her through a whole other dance. His hands slipped low and he worked her mouth as if he was a dying man and she was his cure. Hermione's wanted him to keep going; she wanted him to keep touching her. She wanted it all. She let his hands travel and set hers to explore, as well.

"Oi, Malfoy?"

Hermoine blinked up at Draco. Were they on the ground? When had that happened? Who was that?

"Damn it," he cursed.

They were behind some decorative foliage near the castle door but they wouldn't remain hidden if the wizards came too near.

"Merlin," Hermoine breathed.

"Sorry, Luv," Draco whispered. He hopped up and brushed himself off.

"Hair," Hermoine grinned, enjoying watching him. His hair was sticking out in every direction. Had she done that?

"I've got Astronomy tonight," he said, running a hand over his hair and blew her a kiss.

Hermoine remained on the grass, listening to Draco hail his friends. If she didn't know better, she thought they sounded like Neville and Dean. And, maybe Zacharias.

When Hermoine had fixed her clothes and hair, she reentered the castle to find a fourth-year Gryffindor prefect waiting for her.

"Headmistress McGonagall wants to see you."

Again?

"Ms. Granger, ordinarily, I would not concern myself with students so personally but I suspect that Mr. Malfoy might abuse your favor. He might use you to improve his reputation."

Hermoine considered Minerva's words and that she'd felt the need to see her about the situation for a second time.

"With all due respect, Professor, I disagree."

Hermoine met Minerva's stare and wondered what the headmistress must think of her. The older witch must have to come to a decision because she dropped Hermoine's gaze and began unfurling a scroll.

"Fine, then. I'll just remind you that I expect you to be a role model to the younger students."

"Of course," Hermoine replied and left. She wasn't angry; in fact, she saw it as a mark of how much McGonagall must care about her. She was wrong and a bit narrow-minded with regards to Draco Malfoy but, honestly, she didn't blame her. The Malfoy and Black families had long histories of dark magic.

Upon reaching the Fifth House common area, Hermione set out her Arithmancy homework to see if she could figure it out. Within a couple of hours, she had fallen asleep, lulled by conversation and the warmth of the fire.

Hermione felt something clamp onto her arm and jerked awake, reaching for her wand.

"It's just me," said Draco, gently releasing her arm and sitting beside her.

"You startled me," Hermione admonished, feeling shaken. She passed a weary hand down her face.

"What'd McGonagall want?"

Hermione yawned, "Honestly, I'd rather not talk about it."

"She told you, didn't she?" Draco asked blackly.

"Told me what?" Hermione asked, confused. Her mind was struggling to keep up.

"Why I'm here. Why I came back this year."

Why did Draco sound so sad? Bewildered, Hermione blinked at him; "Not at all!"

"…She didn't?"

"Of course, not," Hermione retorted, finally waking some and catching up with the conversation. She gathered her books and notes. Pleased, she saw that she'd figured out her Arithmancy and got most of it done.

"…Well, aren't you going to ask?" Draco hedged.

"Not if you don't want to tell me," Hermione said, understanding that he was ashamed of the reason he was at Hogwarts and did not want anyone to know. Hermione summoned her belongings and stowed them neatly away. She found Draco staring at her.

"What? Have I got something on my face?"

Draco rather tackled her, enveloping her in a tight embrace. Hermione hugged him and then gave the universal quick pat on his back, hoping to be released. She giggled as he only tightened his arms but her face was pressed against his chest.

"Draco!" she admonished. It worked. He let her up but kept his arm around her shoulders.

"You knocked over my work!" she muttered, summoning it all back.

"Why do you like me?" Draco asked quietly.

Hermione considered the coy answers she could give but it wasn't in her to play games or be anything but transparent.

"You make me feel desirable," she answered simply. "I'm usually sexless to wizards. There's more but I can't really put it into words… What about you? Why do you like me?"

Draco tilted his head, thinking about his answer.

"You know my past and that lets me set it aside – I don't have to talk about it. And I can just be me with you."

Hermione felt her chest swell with emotion and she fought against showing it. Merlin love a duck, she was in love with him.

"I was going to wait – I'm trying to move slowly for you but I just can't do it. I can't stand the idea of some other wizard thinking you're available. Hermione, I want you to be mine. Just mine."

Hermione's eyes searched Draco's face; he was serious. Her heart leapt with joy. He'd actually said those words.

"I want to say yes," she began.

"Then, say yes," Draco hissed, gaze on her lips.

"We're so different," she added. She had one question but didn't want to spoil everything by asking it. If she didn't it would haunt her.

"And?"

"And, I'm Muggle-born," Hermione said in a clear voice.

"That hasn't stopped you from anything, before. Say 'yes.'"

He didn't care. He didn't even realize she was asking if he still felt that Muggle-born were lesser beings. An enormous weight lifted from her.

Hermione smiled and her heart soared. "Yes," she replied.