-1As soon as the attack had happened, Hermione had her wand pointed at Malfoy's heart and had him begging for mercy before Dumbledore even knew what was going on. Silence filled the hall, waiting for something else to happen. When it did, it was McGonagall shouting at Malfoy for uncalled violence and the feud ended in a severe, but well deserved, sixty points from Slytherin.

All that night, the school filled with rumors as to why Malfoy would punch Ron for kissing Hermione. The Gryffindor common room was buzzing with opinions.

"Does he like her?"

"No way!"

"He calls her mud blood ALL the time! Don't you listen, Ginny?"

"Maybe he's just putting on an act…"

"I think he just got sick from watching them snog in front of all of us. I almost did."

"They weren't snogging, Dean!"

"Oh yeah? What do you call it then?"

"Padma, it was a quick kiss!"

"No way Lavender! It lasted like, 5 minutes!"

"Merlin, Fred, you were timing them?"'

"Notice the use of the word like, it was an estimate! Gods, you can be so stupid sometimes, Gin!"
"It's about time though, really. I mean, they've liked each other for years!"

"Liked? Try loved!"

"Or obsessed…"

"Oh, come off it, Seamus!"

"You didn't have to listen to Ron go on about her at Quidditch practice, did you?"

Hermione couldn't stand listening to the constant squabbling and had taken to confining herself to her room, where only Ginny was allowed to talk to her. Ginny had been prodding Hermione for over an hour, and Hermione looked close to an emotional breakdown.

"Ginny, I hate him! I really do! I know why he punched Ron and it's all my fault for letting it happen! I mean, if I hadn't gotten ice cream, or maybe if I ignored him -"

"What are you talking about?!?" demanded Ginny.

"Well, I was in Diagon Alley a week before school started…" and Hermione told Ginny the whole story, every word, every moment, every want and need in her mind and her body… everything.

"Oh Merlin… oh no. No no no no no no no."

"Thanks, Gin. Your are helping so much."

"Erm, well. It's just… you made out with Malfoy."

"Thank you, Miss Obvious."

"Well, that makes you his."

"Excuse me? I am not property to be bought or called for."

"I know, I didn't mean it like that. I meant you didn't smack him, or say no. You just, sorta, well… you kissed him back. And that makes you his."

"No, I really like Ron. I wouldn't go so far as to say love, but it's definitely more than I've got for the-guy-who-never-lets-me-live-down-my-muggle-born-status Draco Malfoy. Granted, he is hot, and a great kisser… but Ron's the only one for me. He sweet, and caring, and I mean he just ke-"

"Yuck! That's my brother. Keep the mush to a minimum puh-lease!" Ginny exclaimed..

"Okay. No need for the dramatics. I just, I hope that this all blows over."

That night, Hermione lie in bed thinking about the recent events- Draco's kiss in particular. She could've swore her lips tingled at the thought of, as though some electrical pulse (or magical current, perhaps) was running through them. It was indescribable, and made her feel slightly dizzy just reminiscing about it. She wasn't sure she liked it, but she knew she didn't hate it. Why else would she think about it so much?

A/N - I am SUCH a horrible person. I honestly thought I had posted this chapter forever ago, and had given up on this story because I didn't get anymore reviews. This is explains why. I was just going back through my stories ( you guys should review my other two, beings as no one else has, if you love me enough to do that ) and found that I failed to post this chapter. cries Please don't hate me! I will update if you review! I love you guys… please forgive me for this tragic error. I won't blame you if you flame me just because of it. (Please don't flame) lol. Hugs!