Chapter 4:: To Be Young and In Love...

Hermione woke up in her bed. her clothes were in a tangle, and her hair was a mess. She tasted the raunchy taste of morning breath and alcohol mingled together with an odd taste that was familiar yet nearly impossible to taste. It was bitter and salty but the morning breath and alcohol were tainting her ability to figure it out so she passed it up. Her head was pounding and she was, for the first time in her life, grateful she didn't have classes. Her stomach was in knots, and it was very displeased with her.

Hermione pulled out her wanted pointed it to a cup of water and conjured a perfect relief potion. It worked almost instantaneously. That was the last time she would ever stay up late drinking again. She stood to get out of bed, making her way towards the bathroom. That's when she felt it. She felt somehow different in her lower region. She was beginning to become paranoid. What exactly happened last night? She was looking on her bed, scanning every spot possible for a hint of blood. After all, they do say you generally bleed your first time, right?

There were no signs on her bed, so she rushed downstairs to check the couch and chairs. Nothing. She dropped the pillows to the couch, sighing in relief. Her imagination was running wild. She had no visible blood, no pain, she could walk normally, and she woke up alone. If we were both drunk and had sex, he wouldn't have woken yet to get a chance to run away. She went to the bathroom, content with what she believed to be true. It never even passed her mind that the events could have happened on his bed.

She walked into the bathroom, disrobing herself for her shower. After she had adjusted the water to start heating to her desired temperature, she decided to check out her face and see what mess she was going to have to face. She saw them. Five deep, dark hickeys. Her eyes were wide, horrified and scared. Without thinking, her mind sent the order to scream.

Draco heard a murderous high pitched scream coming from the adjoining bathroom. Ignoring his light hangover (and that he was only in his boxers), he darted into the bathroom, wand at the ready.

Once he realized she was screaming to her reflection and hadn't noticed him yet, he put his wand away. "GRANGER! WHAT IN MERLIN'S NAME ARE YOU SCREAMING FOR!"

Her shocked expression met his eyes for a split second before her eyes changed to murder. He was scared now. He probably should have thought the hickeys through a little better.

"Now... now... Granger..." He was backing into his bedroom, Hermione slowly stepping towards him.

"What... did you do... to me!" Her voice was low. She was infuriated. Her eyes, her voice, her slow steps to him, all of it frightened him. He would, obviously, never admit to being frightened, but if he ever were to, now would be the perfect situation.

Hermione let out a loud screech. She leaped in the air, her fingers outstretched like a lioness who has just trapped its prey. She landed on him with a hard thud to the ground. She had him pinned by his shoulders, her lower half straddling his waist.

"What... did we do... last night? If you don't tell me... I will remove your fellas by hand... so help me, Merlin, I will feed them to the Thestrals." Her voice was low still. He almost was convinced she is 100% serious about doing this.

"Honestly, Granger, nothing bad happened."

"I want to know WHAT happened, good or bad... you decide how much your fellas mean to you." Her fingers were digging into his shoulders, breaking the skin.

"Well, you got drunk..."

"AND..."

"... we had a nice snog session ..... when you got those..." He was pointing to the hickeys. The more he talked, the harder her nails dug in.

"AND!"

"You told me to take you to my room..."

"You LIE! I would NEVER want to be one of the whores in your bed!"

"Granger, you were drunk, please don't tell me you actually think you can control yourself, because you really ca-" she slapped him, hard and fast.

"I will not have you calling me a liar! I would never consciously give in to you!"

"Hermione, please... you weren't of sane mind... it's not something you could control... but I promise... oral was all..."

Her fingers released from his shoulders, and she sat up - tears forming in her eyes. There was no way he could be lying with that look on his face.

"I'm sorry... for hitting you."

This was the time that Draco finally realized that the girl of his dreams was sitting on his stomach naked. To top that, she was crying. He hated the morbid thought, but he found her beautiful when she cried. He sat up, taking the naked girl into his arms and chest, cradling her in his lap. She cried into his neck, her arms wrapped around his broad shoulders.

He was so lean and built from years of quidditch. He seemed much more physically in shape than Ron ever was. She felt much safer in his arms too. How could she have never found this before?

Draco had started brushing her hair out of her face and kissed her forehead. Her eyes opened wide and she looked up to Draco. He was drowning in her eyes. They were deep and warm. He regretted it. Last night was a mistake for him, but it was such a great mistake and he wanted to repeat it again; but the next time, he vowed, will not be a drunken encounter. He looked down at the beautiful girl in his arms. She looked so vulnerable, her eyes looked scared, her body trembling from the cold. He could feel her nipples on his chest. Her smooth skin rubbing on him was igniting his body.

Her eyes grew big. She could feel it under her. It was poking her even though she knew he couldn't control it., she watched him. He turned away, not wanting her to see his face, the embarrassment he had over it coming up at a time like this.

Water was puddling all around the two as they sat in each other. The pair just realized what was actually happening. Hermione squeaked when she realized why he got the boner. She had forgotten her bath, and her panties floating on the puddle from the bathroom reminded her of her nudity.

She jumped up quickly and ran into the bathroom. After robing herself in a pink towel, she drained a quarter of the water out of the tub, and cleaned up the mess that had overflowed into both of their rooms and the common room.

She locked herself in the bathroom and sank into the neglected water. It wasn't pleasant now. She was upset and a nice bath wasn't going to fix it at this moment.

After cleaning herself and dressing she went into the common room and found Draco surrounded by his goons who looked at her and snickered. She could only hope he didn't tell them about her drunken escapades. She breezed past them, and headed out the portrait.

She got to the library and found the farthest back corner. This was her favorite personal table and loved being away from the others, yet easily accessible to the back exit should trouble occur. She was occupying her worry and memory by reading and correcting an essay for a fellow housemate when she was interrupted by a polite greeting.

"Good afternoon, Miss Granger."

She turned to see who it was, and was shocked to see Professor Sid standing there, a warm smile on his face and twinkle to his eyes. She swooned inwardly. He was very good looking.

"Uh... Yes, Professor?"

"Well, you seemed troubled, and I need some assistance grading papers. I was going to offer you some time to vent if you'd be willing to help with the first through third year essays."

She was taken back by the abrupt offer, but he was a nice guy that she had opened a little to before, and he gave her honest and true advice. "I'd be happy to help, Professor."

"Oh thank you, you are a tremendous help. There's so many of them its a mess."

She packed her things into a small side bag and followed Professor Sid through the Dungeon classroom into his office. She sat on the opposite side of a large oak table from him and read over essays. She could grade them in about twice the time with precision and accuracy. They were soon finished and just chatting away about the ball when he brought up the topic she desperately wanted to not tell a teacher.

"So, what is bothering you?"

"Well, really... it isn't anything big... I'm just overreacting to something petty."

"Overreacting can be a good thing and a bad thing, but in this case, it seems you're distracted. Did something happen after the ball?"

She was weary of the topic. If she mentioned alcohol, both her and Draco could be expelled or have their badges removed. She was so worried for this, but also for Draco. Word could get out about them being somewhat intimate. His father would find out. He'd be killed. Or arrested at most for drunken sexual assault. This could never get out.

"Miss Granger, you don't have to worry about getting in trouble. I was young once, too. And, looking at the other professors here, I still am young. I know young people do some less than brilliant things, and we all make mistakes so tell me the whole story."

Hermione was uneasy, but now was the time to test her trust. She recounted the entire story, and stopped before mentioning the overflowing tub, or the "moment" her and Draco had that morning. She proceeded to tell Professor Sid the concerns and consequences of their actions should this get out.

"Are you unsure of what to do?"

"I'm torn between the logical option and my selfish option. Assuming that my selfish option is his goal as well."

"Well, Miss Granger, I can honestly tell you a guy like him would not do something like this if it was someone he didn't care about. After all, why go to the extents of having you drunk but in the end stopping before something gets too far. A typically horny guy would keep going. I'm willing to bet Mr. Malfoy has feelings for you, and if you offered to him, he'd accept and protect you over everything he owns."

"I doubt it. Besides. He'd be killed if he were to get with me."

"We can't always choose who we fall in love with, Miss Granger. May I remind you of the chorus of a muggle play::

Two households, both alike in dignity,

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

From forth the fatal loins of these two foes 5

A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;

Whole misadventured piteous overthrows

Do with their death bury their parents' strife...." He trailed off there. She knew what he was talking about.

"Professor, are you telling me to date Draco and if things get bad for us to plot our suicides together?" She was dumbfounded as to what Romeo and Juliet could possibly have to do with her and Draco. Her blunt question made Professor Sid chuckle a little.

"Merlin no! I was simply saying that you have to choose for yourself who you wish to be with. If it works, great; if not, move on. There's no reason to be so confused if you like each other."

She stood and took her bag. "I guess you're right, Professor. I'll talk to him. Goodnight!" She walked out of the dungeon, Professor Sid nonchalantly watched until she was out of sight then chuckled again. Ahhh... To be young and in love again. I would never wish to return to that state of perpetual confusion.

~ - ~ - ~ - ~

Hey guys~!

Been a while, ne? I'm really sorry about the long hiatus. I wrote a rather long chapter to hopefully make up for it. Hopefully in my absence, my writing has substantially improved? Please let me know what you think? I'm going to try to get the next chapter out sometime today (Monday, August 17th) but it's 4 A.M and I'm kind of sleepy.

I'm sorry I've been really distracted by Asian dramas and getting swept up in the J-Love of Arashi 3 I love them so much and have been fangirling non-stop and making fanvideos out the wazoo~ anyways. I hope you liked this chapter, and I hope you can forgive me for such a long, unannounced hiatus. Gomen 3