I'm not writing to say that how I behaved with Potter was wrong or I'm sorry that I did it. In my opinion, Potter is an arse and a walking pile of tosh and nothing in this world, not even you, would be able to change my opinion.

The letter had started with, as usual, without any addressing word to her. That was the thing she loved about him, Hermione remembered as she touched the letter with her fingertips, his ability to just ignore everything else and come directly to the matter in hand. For others, Draco Malfoy's way of writing would have been comparable to as if writing to a nameless stranger whom you've never met, and even quite formal or aloof, but Hermione loved it. She didn't feel the need to write dear this or dear that before the starting of a letter, the lack of the word or even her name made the whole thing intimate, as if the people knew each other so much that they didn't need to perform any addressing start to each other, as if they already knew that whatever they had was meant for each other.

I am writing because I want us to resume talking again. I don't think we should let anyone, nor your gryffindors nor the slytherins I spend my time with, let effect our behaviour with each other because I think even you are aware how difficult it has been.

What, Hermione had thought at the time, what has been difficult? She knew the answer now, the relationship they had achieved; it had been very difficult to achieve that.

I value the times we spend together more than that moronic gryffindor of yours and do not want to let it all go waste. Thus I am writing to say sorry if I have hurt your feelings in any way possible by my actions. I am not sorry of my behaviour with Potter at the quidditch match, but I will be sorry if you did not speak to me. And I know you will too.

Though Hermione had not admitted to herself at that time, the letter had looked like Draco had a crush on her. Things which happened later evidently pointed in that direction in the following months, and much later, Hermione spent the whole of sixth year controlling herself from getting tempted by him, and there were some times when she came dangerously close of letting herself go, but at the same time she had been battling with her feelings for Ron (who was being a complete arsehole at the time, just like now).

And so, nine years later, when Hermione had thought that the past was a past and all it did was haunt you occasionally and that too just in your dreams, irony set in work again and the past came back (or maybe forward) to become her present again. And thus, nine years later, Hermione Granger found herself sitting in the office of the person which could bring potential disasters in her life (as he himself was a disaster, ready to ruin her), as she thought deep thoughts such as 'your past catches up with you' and the like when suddenly, after a knock, her past entered the room hurriedly.

"Sorry, I'm late." Draco Malfoy said, half breathless.

Hermione did not look up in anger at him, as she had done in fifth year when he had asked her to meet him in the library for the first time and he had not arrived on time.

"I just came," She lied, suddenly feeling like running away from the room. Draco Malfoy, still panting a little, came into her view as he went round the table to seat himself. Hermione still did not look up, and Draco did not speak till she did. And when she did, she caught that look in his eyes before it went away with a blink, the look that told her his eyes feasted on her.

"Hudson told me you have been here for twenty minutes." He said, quietly contradicting her.

"It doesn't feel like that," Hermione countered.

For a moment, after he had sat down, he just panted or breathed deeply or whatever staring at her folded hands all the while and she focused on the table, trying to ignore the pounding of blood in her ears. She wondered whether it was the same for him, before he spoke.

"So," His voice came out in a rasp. Hermione looked up immediately. He cleared his throat once before speaking again.

"So, what did Brusly tell you?" He asked, wishing not to sound breathless.

"He told me to see you," Hermione said, then coloured slightly. "Because you had all the information."

"Well, yes," Draco said, unable to take his eyes off her. "I do, I do have the information but, but you need to tell me what you know of the case."

Hermione sat up straighter and opened the folder on her lap. "I collected all the information I could, which mostly comes from newspaper clippings about Belinda Baker, and the half-blood husband she had left, which had been published before and after the date of the crime."

She looked up to see him staring at her. She looked down again, her ears starting to feel hotter.

"Apart from the information that I have gathered about Baker, there is nothing else that I have been told."

"What do you want?" Draco asked, his voice rasping again.

Hermione answered immediately, trying to ignore his reaction. "I want all the case details that Mr. Brusly said you would be having, Mr. Malfoy-"

Draco let out a shaky laugh. Hermione stopped speaking apprehensively.

"Back to square one?" He said smilingly, and leaned back in his chair. Hermione looked down to her notes before looking up again, trying to keep herself from getting affected by him or at least not let it show that she was getting affected.

"I have to build a report on this case till the week end, Mr. Malfoy." Hermione said, refusing to look up. And when she did, she saw the way he was looking at her. Those blue-gray eyes, so intense and speaking on their own that his silence also seemed to be telling her that I see through you........

Hermione got up immediately, unable to sit there anymore.

"I will be in my office,"

As Hermione Granger left him again, this time for a completely different reason than the usual irritation she experienced with him, she remembered that night after the day he had sent her the letter. She had not been speaking to him after he had misbehaved with Harry and the Weasleys at the quidditch game, and though in the beginning he tried to show that he didn't give a damn about it, but of course, by the time the week came to an end, his resolve was over.

She had been doing the rounds that night as it was gryffindor's duty that week. It was ten in the night, and she was on the fourth floor, just a few minutes away from the room of requirement. Up till now, she had not seen anyone save for a snogging hufflepuff sixth year couple who scarpered when she opened the broom cupboard. Draco had sent her a letter, but she had not responded, and she had ignored him the whole day. He had tried to catch her eye during Potions, during Care of Magical Creatures, and even during lunch, but she ignored him nevertheless.

Hermione looked at the watch. It was ten-thirty now. Deciding to get back to Gryffindor tower, she turned back to take the stairs only to find Draco right behind her. She squealed lightly before stumbling back a few steps.

"Hi," He said cheerfully.

Hermione glared at him.

"Why do you do this?" She asked angrily.

"Do what?"

"Sneak up on me like that," She answered, side-stepping him. "One day I will end up hexing you in reflex action."

"Why have you been ignoring me the whole day?" Draco asked, walking beside her now.

"I am still ignoring you, Malfoy," Hermione said coolly. "I spoke now just to warn you."

"Oh come on, Hermione." Draco said, stopping in his tracks and taking her arm. "How can you be still ticked off at me?"

"And how can you ask me this stupid question?"

"Listen I'm sorry if I have hurt you in any way!" Draco called after her as she snatched her arm free and resumed walking.

Hermione did not answer but just kept on walking. This, however, just angered him further.

"Listen," He said, catching up with her again. "Why are you so intent on spoiling everything because of one moron-"

"You are the moron!" Hermione turned fiercely. "Harry did not start this! You started this! And now you come to me and you're not even sorry about-"

"Listen-" He put up his hands urgently.

"No you listen!" She cut across him. "How can you come to me expecting me to just welcome you with open arms-"

"Listen!" He said, again, his voice more urgent and low.

"I don't want to listen to anything-" Hermione said, turning around to leave but Draco didn't let her. He snatched her hand and pulled, Hermione squealed again at the force but that was all she could do as he pulled open the door of a classroom, pushed her in, and shut the door swiftly.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked, seriously scared now.

"Shut up," He said roughly, tapping the door once with his wand.

"Draco, you cannot-" Hermione started in a slightly higher voice, but he moved quickly. He seized her arm, and as she tried to move away, took hold of her waist and pushed her against the door. She tried to protest and opened her mouth but he covered her mouth with his palm and pushed himself bodily against her shoulders.

"Shh," He said.

Hermione waited with baited breath, cursing herself for ever being able to trust Draco Malfoy completely. He was a boy, after all, and boys could be...............well, hormonal or something. Hermione blushed, just thinking about it.

At that very moment it became clear why Draco had behaved like that when she heard voices. It seemed to be a couple, speaking softly to each other. Then the girl let out a laugh and Hermione realised with a jolt that it was Ginny, with that boy she had just started going out with.

Draco had also seemed to recognise her as he was looking at the door with his eyebrows raised. What is it with guys, Hermione thought, looking at his expression, that they cannot see any girl whom they have seen grow up with, get romantic with anyone. Would it be the same for him with me, she wondered, looking at his eyelashes, if he ever saw me with Ron, or was this why Ron was acting so stupid at the Yule ball last year when she was there with Viktor..............wow, Draco had really pretty eyelashes..........

"Merlin!" He exclaimed suddenly, looking at the door.

Hermione raised her eyebrows to say- what? as Draco looked at her with eyes full of disbelief.

"Don't you listen?" He whispered. But Hermione couldn't listen to anything, how he managed to listen to intricate sound when she didn't, did he have bat ears- and then she heard it.

It was a small moan.

Hermione's face, under Draco's hand, went hot.

Apparently, Ginny and her new boyfriend had decided to halt in the middle of the corridor, to snog, and they couldn't have chosen any other place to do that, but the very door of the classroom where Hermione was hidden with Malfoy.

Though she didn't want too, but her eyes automatically looked up in reflex, to find Draco looking down on her. He had the same look like the night of the Yule ball, and from what she could see the dim light, he was staring at her lips.

And then, almost automatically, Hermione, too, parted her lips.


I know, I know, you're wondering where have I been? Sorry for updating after such a long period, but I couldn't help it, I was busy studying. My twelfth std boards are coming - they're like NEWTS. I would love to hear from you of what you think of my progress so far. Toodles!