Hermione woke up, feeling movement around her. She sat up, suddenly remembering the events of the night before. She peeked at herself beneath the covers. Yep, she was naked. A small chuckle from the other side of the room reminded her that she was not alone.

"Good morning, Hermione," said Draco. He sounded almost strained. Hermione realised then, he was worried she'd have changed her mind. It warmed her heart to know that he was worried about that.

"Good morning, my Slytherin Prince. I assume you slept well?" Hermione said, smiling naughtily at her… boyfriend. He smiled back, relieved that she was still willing to be his. He crossed the space between them and Hermione gazed up at him, finding that she was lost within his grey eyes. The duvet slipped down her chest as Draco climbed onto the bed, as naked as she was. He snickered, and she fell back out of her reverie. "What's so funny, Draco?"

"Nice rack," said Draco, still snickering. The bed shook with his laughter. Hermione looked down to find that her chest was covered in love bites. Godric's woolly socks, how did she get those? "That's not all, sweetheart, look what you did to my back!" Draco turned, and Hermione gasped as dozens of scratches came into view. They were in varying stages of healing, as some were deeper than others.

"Oh, Draco, I'm so sorry! Some of them are still bleeding!" Hermione was shaking as she picked up her wand and healed the deeper scratches, leaving the lesser ones there upon Draco's request. He explained that he liked it a little rough, and he wanted a reminder of this night. He also requested that she leave some of the love bites there, for him to see when they next met.

"Sweetheart, we'll have to go back to our dorms," whispered Draco as he lay with Hermione on the bed. "I need to change, and Blaise will expect me to explain where I've been. Of course, he'll know exactly what's happened. You don't mind if I fill him in? I know you'll want to tell Ginevra." Hermione snuggled into Draco's chest and he kissed her forehead.

Hermione sat up, quietly grumbling to herself. She didn't want to part ways with Draco just yet. She took a moment to think about their odd relationship. He was a Slytherin and she was a Gryffindor. Despite wanting to get along with all the houses in Hogwarts, a feeling of deep unease settled in her stomach to think of the Slytherins. She knew most of them had parents who were Death Eaters at some stage or another, and still held by their old values. Basically, they all hated anyone who was muggle born. It suddenly occurred to her that her boyfriend's parents were exactly those people. And so was he. She jumped as she felt his strong arms wind back around her body and he pulled her back against him.

"What's wrong, petal?" Draco interrupted her thoughts. He kissed her on the cheek. Hermione turned her head and smiled as he kissed her lips instead. His kiss awoke something inside her, something new and exciting. She felt like such a rebel.

"Mmm, nothing," murmured Hermione against Draco's lips. Her arms wound around his neck and she pulled him on top of her. Hermione felt Draco harden against her leg and she smiled once more…

…Thirty minutes later, Hermione felt fully sated. She grinned at Draco, who smiled sleepily back.

"Thank Slytherin's soul that it's Saturday. I need a very long sleep." Draco stretched, and Hermione couldn't help but stare as the muscles in his stomach rippled. Suddenly, Hermione whimpered. A feeling of dread settled within her, and her eyes welled with tears.

"Oh no, no, I can't. It can't… Draco!" Hermione gasped, her breath shuddering with the sudden onset of tears.

"Hermione, what's wrong, what is it? Hermione, tell me!" Draco's face had fallen, and it wore a mask of pure worry. He shook her gently when she didn't answer. Hermione felt faint and she was barely coherent when she answered him.

"Draco, we… so many times… I didn't cast the anti-conception spell. You… no, no, it can't happen. Draco…" Hermione was sobbing into her hands now, completely inconsolable, and she pinned Draco with a look of utmost loathing when he started to laugh. "It's not fucking funny!" Hermione hiccoughed and started beating Draco on his chest, each blow heavier and more painful than the last.

"Ouch, stop hitting me, woman! Hermione, for fuck's sake! Stop it, Hermione!" Draco took her wrists in his hands then, and refused to let them go. Recognising that her fight was useless, she gave him a look that said: I'm waiting. He continued, "Just because you were too horny to notice, doesn't mean I didn't cast it. I did it just before the first time. It lasts 12 hours. We've barely scraped 10. Merlin's beard, Hermione, you didn't have to go and attack me! You're lucky I didn't incarcerate you."

Hermione felt the shock on her face. When on earth had he cast it? Hermione had never felt so relieved in her life. She was trembling, and she clutched her boyfriend's neck and kissed him ferociously. "Draco, oh Draco, I can't believe you… Thank you, oh thank you so much! Oh you're wonderful. Why didn't you tell me? Oh thank you, you are fantastic!" She felt his chest rumble as he laughed into her hair and kissed her soft curls.

"Petal, you're swearing was really quite funny. We're going to have to start making a move. I for one know that the longer I am here, the more Zabini and Nott will rabbit on at me. I have a feeling that Ginny will react the same way. At least you don't have to go so far, you're only down the corridor!" Draco made a face and Hermione giggled.

"Yes, okay, I get it. When are we to meet next?" She asked, swiftly pulling on her clothes, watching as her beau did the same.

"I'll send Willafus, my owl, to you. I've thought of a clever little way for us to be able to talk at any time, but it will take time to make. I will send it to you, again, via my owl." Draco had a smug smile on his face and he gave her one last, lingering kiss as he opened the door. Hermione left first, casting a longing glance back at him. Her heels clicked, and she got admiring looks from a few third year boys as they passed her.

"Dilligrout," muttered Hermione when she approached the Fat Lady's portrait.

"Precisely," replied the Lady, swinging forward to reveal the entrance to the Gryffindor Common Room. She climbed through, making her way up to the dorms groggily. She saw a flash of red speeding towards her as Ginny leapt off of Hermione's bed.

"I can see someone had a good time last night. How was your little blonde ferret?" Ginny said, embracing her as she walked over to collapse on her bed.

"Do you know what, Ginny? He was great! He was so different! Well, not at first, because he was threatening to hex me and insulted you, Harry and Ron; but then he changed. He was so nervous, like he expected me to run out cursing him or something. It's very refreshing, however, to not be arguing with him. He confessed his feelings for me, while we sat in front of a fire, drinking butterbeer. And then he kissed me! It was wonderful, Ginny, so romantic. The whole night was just… perfect! Oh, can you get my pain relief potion for me? My head is pounding."

"Looks like you need something for bruises instead," Ginny snickered, pointing at her chest. She rooted around in the bedside cabinet and retrieved a small jar of blue cream. "It's for your love-bites." Ginny said, tossing it to Hermione, along with a small phial of painkilling potion.

"Thanks, Gin. Merlin's beard, I have that fantastic after-sex feeling. I feel so laid-back; I'm surprised I'm not horizontal. I haven't felt like this since I slept with Krum after the Yule Ball in fourth year." Hermione said, grinning.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. I get it with Blaise all the time. Now, please, what's going to happen with you and Malfoy now?" Ginny said excitedly, before calling Dobby to fetch some butterbeer and chocolate cake for both herself and Hermione.

Hermione smiled and shifted to make more room for Ginny. She got changed into a men's t-shirt and some cheap muggle jogging bottoms. She settled on the bed with a small sigh of contentment and said, "Well, Draco told me last night that he wanted to see me again. He then proceeded to asking me to 'be his' – as in his girlfriend." She stopped and grinned at her best friend when she gasped in shock. "Yeah, I know, Gin. I was as shocked as you, well, perhaps even more so as I found myself incapable of speech for a minute or two. Oh, and I almost bawled my eyes out. But I said yes. This morning, when we woke up together, he thought I'd have gone back on my agreement. He was so tense, but he really loosened up when I showed no sign of backing down."

"Let me take a minute: Draco Malfoy, biggest man-whore of Slytherin, asked you to be his girlfriend. As in, he will see you and only you exclusively." Ginny was shaking her head in bemusement, her red hair swinging across her back as she did so.

"Oh, Ginny, that's not even the worst of it. He wants me to be his – in public, in front of the whole school. He said he didn't want me to be ashamed."

Ginny lapsed into a fit of giggles so infectious, Hermione couldn't help but join in. "So, he wants you two to become public? Wow, Slytherin's biggest brat is pussy-whipped on a bookworm muggle-born Gryffindor."

Hermione was crying with laughter when her friend said that, and she took a swig of the butterbeer Dobby brought up, and then hiccoughed.

"I don't think he wants to go public just yet. He said he was going to make something, and owl it to me. I don't know what to think, Ginny. I'll sleep on it, I think, right now. I'll see you later Ginny?"

"Sure," she said, going toward the door. "Sleep tight."

"Oh, I almost forgot – don't tell anyone else, especially Harry and Ron!"

Ginny saluted, shut Hermione's curtains with a wave of her wand, and walked out of the dormitories. Hermione savoured the silence for a minute. She imagined Draco's arms around her, holding her to his muscular body and fell asleep.