The morning came not too long. She was woken up by the chirping of the birds by her window sill. Then there was a knock on her door. She sat up and said "come in". The door opened and a blond hair was seen. Then it opened wider and reveled Narcissa.

"Hello, dear. I hope I didn't wake you." She said as she entered the room. It has only been a day and she already grew fond of Hermione. They just clicked.

"No. You didn't." She smiled at the older witch. "Do you need something, "Cissa?"

"Oh no, dear. I just wanted to call you. Breakfast is ready."

"Oh, ok. I'll just get ready."She said getting up.

"Non-sense. You can wear that. It's only breakfast."

"Ok. I'll just wash my face then." She just wanted to make sure that she doesn't have any morning glory that was put by the sandman.

After washing her face, she saw Narcissa waiting for her in her room. They went downstairs together, Narcissa asked how was her sleep and she said that it was wonderful. They have arrived at the dining room. Breakfast was already prepared on top of the table. They sat down at their usual seats. Hermione has been seating for that same seat for the last four meals she has been at the Malfoy Manor.

They were already eating when they were greeted with the presence of the grumpy Draco. He sat down at his usual seat, across Hermione.

"Hey? Why the bad mood?" Hermione said when she noticed him frowning.

"None of your business." He said not looking back at her. He wasn't mad. He was just... Hurt? Disappointed? A little bit angry? What? He doesn't even know.

"Oh, ok. I'm sorry for asking."

"Why? You don't even care."

"In case you haven't noticed, Draco, I do care." She snapped.

Draco twitched at this and Narcissa noticed. Hermione cared?

"Really now?" Draco said. He was in a bad mood.

"Yes. Anyway, it's none of my business as you said. I guess I'll be just going. I lost my appetite." She said standing up. She was confused. Just yesterday, Draco has nothing but sweet to her. Then today, he's what? Back to being an arrogant prick? She went back to her room and went straight to her bathroom.

"Draco. I know you're mad..."

"I'm not mad Mum. Just wasn't able to sleep."

"Why?"

"Mum. I told you last night. I told her, I confessed my feelings. And what? She thought it was just a practice. I was up all night, thinking what I did wrong. If I said it all wrong."

"Why don't you go to her, talk to her? Clear things up?"

"No. I don't think so."

"You're still as stubborn as ever. You've lost her once because you didn't tell her. Don't make the same mistake."

"But..."

"No buts. I've already came to love her, Draco. If you lost her again, I'll loose her too."

"And that'll make you sad."

"Yes."

"Fine." He said and stood up. He went to Hermione's room and knock. He heard a faint "come in" and he did. He saw Hermione in a blue sun dress. It has a square neckline and a yellow ribbon at the waist line. It flows freely at the skirt part and hugs her torso perfectly. She was sitting at her vanity, she had just finished on combing her hair.

"Hey." He began.

"Hey." She gave him a half smile. She was still hurt on how Draco has treated her earlier.

"Can we talk?"

"Yeah sure."

They then sat on the sitting area where they have talked last night. They were silent at first but it was broken by Draco when he decided that it was time for him to speak.

"I'm sorry, for, you know, earlier." He was nervous. He didn't know why, but he was.

"And I'm sorry for bothering you. I know it's none of my business and I have no right to ask you."

"No. No. It's fine if you ask. I just wasn't able to sleep last night and thus, the grumpy mood."

"Oh. Was it because of what we talked about last night? I'm sorry if I have insisted on talking about that. It's just Cissa. It has only been a day and she's been the mother I have missed for two years. It was only a day and I already care for her. It's like we are now connected." Draco smiled at this. Earlier, she said that she cared, for him. And now, she's telling him that she cared for his mother too. She's right. They (Narcissa and Hermione) had only spent a day but they have already grew fond for each other.

"Hermione?"

"Yes? Oh. Right. You were about to talk to me. Sorry if I keep on babbling..." She wasn't about to stop any time soon so Draco decided to stop her.

"Hermione." He said scootching closer to her.

"Yes?" She said and looked at her.

"I love you." He said smiling at her.

"Excuse me? What?"

"Last night?" Hermione lifted her eyebrows as if to say 'go on' "I wasn't. It wasn't a practice."

"What do you mean?"

"I meant all words. I love you Hermione. I've always loved you."

"You... You lo..." She was shocked. Last night, Draco wasn't practicing on her. He was telling her the truth. He was confessing and she thought it was just a practice. "Oh my... Draco..." She clasped her mouth with both of her hands.

"Yeah."

"I... I don't know what to say..." Her eyes now was tearing up.

"Just... Don't cry." He said leaning closer. He stretched his hands out and cupped Hermione's cheeks. He wiped away the tear that has fallen. "Please." He added.

"Oh, Draco." She hugged him. Her face on the crook of his neck. She can't help it. She was crying.

"Please. Stop crying. Please."

It's just... Oh my... I'm sorry. I really thought you were just practicing." She said in between sobs.

"Yeah." He said as he run his fingers through his hair. Hermione's face buried onto his chest. She's still shocked. Draco Malfoy, the boy-man that had tortured her all their years at Hogwarts, loves her.

Her cries had now stopped. She looked up to him. Her honey brown ones met with his stormy silver ones. "How long, Draco?"

"Hmm?"

"How long have you loved me?"

"Very long…" he smiled at her.

"Really?"

"Yes. I still remember that day though." His smile grew even wider.

"Can you tell me?"

"Oh. Ok." She smiled at him and snuggled closer to his chest. "Well, I had a crush on you the very first day I had laid my eyes on you. You were this bushy-haired, bucked-tooth girl. I still never knew that you're a know-it-all or a muggle born. But you have captured my attention that day when you came in our train compartment looking for Longbottom's frog. You were kind enough to help him and you didn't even know him that long."

"Then you became friends with Potter and Weasel. It hurts to know that you became friends with them after what Weasel had said. Then I kinda researched on your blood line. To my disappointment, you're a muggle born. I sent a letter to my mum, she seems fine with it. When I got home during the summer, I got beaten up by my father. Somehow, he learned that I was fancying a muggle born."

"Remember the day on Diagon alley?" He asked her and she gave him a quizzical look. "My father told you that I have told him about you and your parents."

"Oh, yeah. That day." She said.

"Yeah. Then days passed. The day I called you a mudblood was one of my regretted day. I sent a letter to my mother, asking what I should do. She told me to go on and apologize but if my father found out that I did that, he'll beat me up senselessly again. He was lurking about the castle and I knew he was on to me and my every move. That's when I wished you were dead. Just to prove to him that I no longer fancied you. But inside me, it was eating me up. I visited you once, in the Hospital wing. I never came back because somehow, I feel that it was my fault that it happened to you. I was really glad when I learned that you have been unpetrified and you came through the Great Hall. But then, jealousy formed into the pit of my stomach when you ran and hugged Potter. I know, they were your friends. But still."

"Then on our third year. I still remember that day, the day that you slapped me. It was really… well, it hurts. But that was awesome. I have to admit, no one had ever stand up to me before. And you seem to amaze me every time. Oh and yeah. I remember when I was got hit by that hippogriff, you were the one that said that I should be taken to the hospital."

"Oh? Did I really?" she said blushing.

"Yes you did. And don't you go denying it. You made my heart go beat faster when you said that. I, well, I wished you were always like that. Always cared about me… anyway, on our fourth year, you were the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. I would have killed Krum by then. If it was the way to get you."

"Then on our fifth year, well, I regret what I have done that year. You know, I joined the inquisitorial squad. Then I help Umbridge bust you. She hurt you. She scared this beautiful hands." He said while rubbing his thumb onto the back of her palm then he kissed it. Hermione was watching him with awe. She never knew that it was so long that he had cared for her, not only that, but he also loved her.

"Then on our sixth year, well, Voldemort gave me the mission to kill Dumbledore. I hesitated on killing him. I knew that if I have done it, you wouldn't be able to forgive me. Good thing though, professor Snape came and he did it for me. Then on our seventh year, well, I never got to see you. I heard that you were with Potter and Weasel searching for hocruxes. Well, let's just say that I was worried for you and hoped that you'll be able to come back safe."

"Then, we came back to Hogwarts to finish our studies. You were made head girl along with that from Ravenclaw. Potter and Weasel wasn't around so I thought, by then, I'll get a chance to tell you, but the Weasel visits you often, so yeah."

"Then we worked at the ministry but then one day, you just... Disappeared. Then years later, there you were, running. And fate brought you to me."

By the end of his story, Hermione was speechless. Never did she think that Draco Malfoy would be capable of doing so. Before this, anyone who said that Draco Malfoy had loved her during their Hogwarts years, she'll recommend that they'd go to St. Mungos and get their head checked.

"Then why did you torture me all this years." She said breaking the silence between them.

"Ah. I believe that is because of my father. And besides, isn't it the muggles' saying that when a boy likes a girl, he does bad things to her to gain her attention."

"Uh-hu. So… all this time…" she said with a teasing smile.

"Yeah. All this time."

"And you told your Mum that?"

"Yeah."

"She knows that you love me?"

"Yup. And she also knows every single detail of the story."

"And that's supposed to impress me?"

"Well no, but are you?"

"Pretty much."

"Oh, ok. So what happens now?"

"You tell me."

"Why me?"

"You're the guy. You're supposed to ask me if I feel the same. Then you're supposed to…"

"Hermione, do shut up." He said and then he kissed her. He didn't have to ask those questions. It was already obvious. She loved his mother and she loved him too. The kiss was sweet and gentle but passionate and hot. And after a while they broke apart panting.

"You, Hermione Granger, don't know how happy I am. How happy you make me." He said smiling at her.

"I think I know." She smiled back at him.

"I love you, Hermione Jean Granger."

"I think I love you too."

Little did they know that there was a blond woman on the other side of the door listening happily to the couple.