Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter books, nor ever will. All rights and most of my inspiration to JK Rowling and Warner Brothers.

Consequential Events

Chapter Four: The Consequences of Coming Clean

(Spring Term at Hogwarts. In the Seventh Year-HBP not taken into account)

Hermione

I smiled as I heard the door to the privet study room open, it could only be one person. Draco Malfoy.

Since that night at the Ball when he had revealed everything to me, we had been secret friends. I convinced him to go to Dumbledore, who readily believed him and said, "I had thought you would chose this side all along."

He told me more about himself, stuff which he said he had never told anyone. For example, he self harms, drinks far too much and thinks his father is an 'egotistical fuck-up' (his words not mine).

Since then we have been writing and when we came back to Hogwarts after the holidays we have been meeting in the Library. Ron and Harry have no idea yet and I don't really want to tell them.

"Hey, you alright?" I asked Draco as he sat across the table from me. He nodded and ran his hand though his hair; I knew from experience this wasn't a good sign. "What is it?"

"Mum is ill, she collapsed last night." He said trying desperately to keep his un-emotional mask up.

"How did it happen?" I asked feeling concerned. I mean Narcissa Malfoy isn't by any means a friend but I don't want her dead.

"She fell down some stairs and she seemed okay, but then later she just, just collapsed. At least that's what my Dad said." Draco said not meeting my gaze.

"So you don't believe him?" I asked feeling confused.

"It's not that, it's just…

I looked at Hermione beautiful, understanding Hermione. It was now or never, should I tell her everything or will that ruin any chances I have with her?

"…well, it's just that Dad is a physical man." I looked up she knew what I was talking about immediately. Of course she would I mean it is know-it-all Granger I am talking to.

"You think she didn't fall, she was pushed, don't you?" She said quietly her brown eyes pieces mine.

I nodded. Then looked down it was only a matter of time before she guessed that my cutting was a result of Dad…

"He hurt you didn't he." Bingo. She said as more of a statement than a question. I nodded, expecting, well I wasn't really sure what to expect but whatever it was it wasn't what she did as she sure as hell surprised me.

She got up and walked around the table her hands wrapping themselves around me in an embrace. She seemed to hesitate for a moment then she gently kissed me her lips brushing mine, and it took me less than a micro second to react, kissing her back more forcefully. I was just thinking about using tongue, when she pulled away and whispered in my ear "Why didn't you tell me before?"

Draco

A knock resounded though Grimmuald's murky halls a boy no more than eighteen got up from the dark kitchen and went to answer it. He stopped green eyes fixed on the figure though the glass window beside the door before opening it fully.

"Potter, trust you are well? Is Hermione in?" The tall pale boy asked.

"Just fine Malfoy, your self? She's upstairs in the girls room." The dark haired boy answered. As the boy known as Malfoy pushed in past him.

"Yes never better" Breathed Malfoy as he turned up the stairs.

"Wanker" Harry muttered on his way back to the kitchen.

The Malfoy strode down the narrow hallway and into the girls bedroom, he froze. Hermione stood in front of him shirtless. Blushing furiously he backed out of the room and closed the door cursing his stupidity.

"It's okay Draco, I am decent." Hermione called the other side of the door and Draco re-entered going though every apologies in his head.

"I am sorry." He offered. She threw a pillow at his head.

"You better be, punk." Hermione scolded as she scrambled around on the floor running her hand under her bed. She pulled out a scrabble board and the pair settled themselves on the floor playing.

It had been a while since, Draco had 'come clean' about everything and the pair had announced their friendship to the rest of the order, calling it the unity that they were fighting the war for. Dumbledore had welcomed Draco into the Order of the Phoenix with open arms.

Harry and Ron still often requested fistfights with Draco and the only reason they didn't go ahead was Hermione. Ron, Harry and Draco all loved Hermione as a sister but feared her as a force greater than Satan once scorned.

Hermione

They were well warned by Hermione the night she told them about Draco and her friendship. However things weren't as open as they seemed at Grimmauld. In fact Hermione herself had a secret a very big secret that could change her relationship with Draco immensely. She was head over heels completely and utterly in love with him.

She had been keeping this secret since she didn't know when. For it felt like it had been forever, it wasn't as if she woke up and there was this new feeling inside of her at all. She just loved him.

However it wasn't like anything would happen, it couldn't he was a pureblood-in fact he was about as pureblooded as it comes. Whether he felt the same way or not didn't matter because as long as Lucius Malfoy was hanging over them it would go no where, and no where is just where Hermione didn't want to be.

So Hermione settled for having him around her all the time, during the half terms and the holiday's he would either come over to her house or over to Grimmuald to see her. It was almost perfect, almost.

"Draco! That's not allowed!" Hermione yelled playfully.

"What, 'Merlin' is a word." He answers slyly.

"It's a name Draco, names aren't allowed. You know that." Hermione said checking the scoreboard for Draco's usual cheating.

"I am using it in the context of a swear word. As in 'Ouch, oh funking merlin my foot hurts!'" Draco said getting up and pretending to stub his toes.

Hermione bust into hysterics at the slight of the usually sombre boy, clutching his foot and hopping one legged around the bedroom. "Fine!" She declared hands held up in surrender "You get the points, purely on comic valve."

Draco grinned and dropped his foot, holding his right hand to his heart he said in a very formal voice "And justice is delivered again for Draco Malfoy Scrabble Champion."

"Yeah, yeah. Champion my arse now come back here so I can beat you." Hermione giggled.

Draco

Dear Diary,

These last couple of months have been bliss, school with her home with her and now with Graduation looming I feel strange at the possibility that I might never see her again. We grow closer each day and although I am no closer to knowing if she feels the same way, I know no matter what she won't forsake our friendship even if she is in love with someone else.

I know I shouldn't and I know I'll get cursed by Dad if he finds our but I am going to ask Hermione on a date. We could go somewhere expensive, and then when the moment is perfect I'll confess my love for her. Remember this night this is the last night I am going to truly be alone. I am going to come clean.

-Draco Malfoy

Draco

Stepping out of the shower Draco towel dried himself off. He was nervous and excited and terrified all at once. These feeling had seemed to take up residence in his gut and they were shifting and twisting making him feel quite ill.

He had sent her a note and she had replied almost immediately. He didn't want her to think that this was just a date so he said that he didn't want to be alone this bank holiday and his Parents had gone to Paris. Which of course was true, however Draco had a plan, a candle lit dinner and soft jazz music kind of plan.

Coming out of his en-suit adorned only in his towel he attempted to tidy up his room. About half way through he found his wand under the bed. He had only been out of school for bank holiday a couple of hours and he had managed to lose it down there. Calling himself an idiot he charmed his room tidy and proceeded to dress.

Suit? Too much. Robes? Too old fashion. Jean. Too causal. He decided on a pair of black trousers, white t-shirt underneath a faded cream shirt, which was carelessly left open. He regarded his appearance before pulling out his wooden bead necklace from under his t-shirt. 'Perfect' He thought as he tousled his hair.

He walked down stairs just in time to hear a telltale whoosh of the floo network.

"Hermione?" He called from the stairs.

"No it's Mum dear. Who is Hermione?" Draco's heart stopped. He hurried down the main stairs and came face to face with his mother. "I forgot my purse darling, and who's Hermione?"

"Err"

"Well you do look smart don't you." She said brushing imaginary dust off of him. "Are you going on a date perhaps?"

Draco nodded resigned to telling the truth now. "Oh," Narcissa said conspiratorially tapping her nose with a gloved hand. "Don't worry I won't tell Lucius and have you got protection?" She asked raisinga finely arched blond eyebrow.

"MUM!" Draco yelled.

"Have you, because it's always better to be safe. And I don't want grandchildren yet!" Narcissa said smiling. "Have a nice time love. We'll be back on Monday to take you back to school." She waved and left a thoughly embarrassed Draco in her wake.

Unfortunately fate it seems wasn't on his side that night as the moment his mother left him, Hermione arrived. Leaving him no time to hide those tinted pink cheeks.

I am loving every minute of writing this so don't lose interest please.

Thanks to SuperFreakk21 for spurring me on to write more for you guys!