Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. I would love to own Tom Felton though!

It's been three months since my last update, I apologize. I'm in college now, so school is my top priority. I'm a pre-nursing student. Ahh. I'd love to write for a living but I guess you can say the medical field is my other passion. thank you for continuing to show your support by reviewing! You guys keep me going! Continue reading and continue reviewing!

Here I go!


Chapter Nine:

His footsteps were thunderous-

Terrified, at least Zabini was, the caught Slytherins looked over to the grand staircases; Hermione and Malfoy had individual staircases to their Heads suites.

The Head Boy, eyeing his housemates venomously, was descending from the left staircase. The silk emerald robe loosely wrapped around his amazing Seeker's body billowed behind him with every step he took.

"Who the fuck do you two think you are?" Malfoy lividly asked through gritted teeth, finally reaching them, at once shoving Zabini roughly; shoving him away from the desk, away his Pensieve, away from his memories. Knowing he was at fault, Zabini did not react. "I expected this type of bullshit from you Parkinson..." The seething Slytherin busied himself with angrily returning the displaced vials back into the cabinet before he spoke again. "…but not from you, Blaise."

He then came across the empty April eighteenth vial, the memory Pansy and Zabini just finished viewing

"-this is a fucking joke, right?"

Suddenly Zabini was ashamed, but the feeling was only momentary. He had no time to feel shame; at the sight of an empty vial clutched in his right hand, Zabini quickly realized Malfoy knew the intimate memories of April eighteenth were no longer shared between two people, but four.

Anticipating his best friend's reaction, Zabini roughly seized Pansy's arm, with his eyes silently demanding that she leave, not wanting her to become an outlet for Malfoy's oncoming rage. She was not given an opportunity to reply-

"Zabini, tell me you didn't watch me fucking my girlfriend." Malfoy requested quietly, he turned to face the pair. Zabini's eyes left Pansy's, only to meet a pair of cold, betrayed silver eyes.

"Draco…" Pansy desperately intervened-

"You think it's wise of you to speak to me right now, Parkinson? Of course you devised that quest into my Pensieve, being the conniving bitch you are." He spat, disgusted. "BLAISE! Tell me you didn't watch us fucking in the showers… Fuck, tell me you didn't. You wouldn't do that to me, mate…"

Again, Zabini felt shame attacking his conscience, although he knew they only watched the prelude to the sex. He did not know how to explain what actually occurred, knowing Malfoy would not listen. He decided to say nothing-

The silence was deafening to Malfoy, in the silence he heard betrayal being shouted repeatedly.

He scoffed bitterly, taking a dangerous step towards them. "So for getting her into the Heads Common Room, your reward is what, Blaise? A reenactment of what you witnessed in my Pensieve perhaps?" His sarcasm was deadly.

"Don't go there, Malfoy, it's not fucking like that and you know it!" Zabini snarled furiously, angered by his insinuation.

Instead of continuing to approach his housemates, Malfoy spun around, walking towards the staircases; finished with the discussion. "Nevertheless, if sex isn't your reward, a pissed off best mate should suffice." He climbed the stairs he previously descended from.

"We've got to discuss this, Malfoy-" He called after him; Pansy had already exited the Heads Common Room. She was leant against the corridor wall beside the portrait of the former Head Boy and Head Girl, waiting for Zabini .

"Leave!" Malfoy demanded over his shoulder before he entered his Heads suite.

000

Malfoy's Heads suite was dim, merely lit by a lone antique lamp, its partner unlit on the opposing nightstand. Lazily tossing his robe on a nearby armchair, he joined a dormant Hermione on his extravagantly dressed bed. Before switching off the suite's only source of light, Malfoy glanced at his wristwatch on his nightstand; it was only ten. Shrugging indifferently, he extinguished the little amount of light left in the room. The Slytherin then shifted closer to his undressed girlfriend, her bare back was to him. Positioning himself on his side comfortably, he wrapped a chiseled arm around her naked waist as she continued to sleep.

He recalled his behavior towards Zabini, his best friend, just minutes ago. They understood one another, conflict between the two Slytherins a rarity. Malfoy could only hope Zabini recognized the reason for his reaction...

"…being in love with you is entirely unbecoming on me sometimes, Granger." Malfoy muttered, faintly grinning to himself before allowing sleep to claim him.

000

"Has he gone completely mad? His accusations were ludicrous!" Pansy paused. "Not to mention horribly random…" Subtly, her eyes flickered to him, steadily treading beside her. Pansy was confident she wasn't imagining what she felt…and she was even more confident Zabini felt it too.

It seemed Malfoy's mention of sex, between herself and Blaise Zabini, created what some would call sexual tension between the two Slytherins. Or had it always been there and they've finally taken notice? The topic of whether or not the sexual tension existed before their confrontation with Malfoy was not going to be discussed, at least not by Zabini and Pansy.

Together, she and Zabini walked through a deserted Hogwarts corridor, en route to the Slytherin Common Room in the dungeons.

Quickly glancing at her with definite annoyance, Zabini openly rolled his eyes. "Of course he's gone mad, Parkinson! The bloody bloke's madly in love!"

She sighed loudly. "I suppose you're right. But knowing that did not stop you from letting him think we watched the entire shower scene…"

"The thought of his ex-girlfriend and best mate, a guy with hormones, watching him be intimate with his gloriously NAKED girlfriend-" Pansy smacked his arm at the statement. "Hormones! Like I said, guy with hormones!"

"But we saw no 'gloriously naked girlfriend'! I mean, I don't know what went on inside that perverted little mind of yours after I extracted us from the Pensieve…"

"Silence, Parkinson! As I was saying, the thought of us seeing the very intimate side of their relationship, the side that involves nudity, drove dear Malfoy insane. He saw the empty vial, Pansy. After seeing that, he was no longer thinking intelligently. Malfoy was thinking with his heart, strange as that sounds. You heard him, he said he knew I wouldn't do that to him, his brain knew that." As Malfoy hoped, Zabini did recognize the reason for his reaction. "He'll be willing to listen tomorrow when the use of his brain is revived."

A silence fell upon them as they walked.

"I was with him more than a year… why don't I know him the way you do?" Pansy asked in whisper.

"Difficult as it is to hear, Pans, you hardly knew him during the time you two were together."

000

Grabbing her overstuffed book bag from the foot of her bed, a Hogwarts uniform clad Hermione was ready for the morning. Although she still needed to fully complete her morning routine before heading down to the Great Hall. Normally, the Granger morning routine was completed by waiting for her boyfriend in their Heads Common Room, or he'd be waiting for her. They never walked to breakfast together, but Malfoy and Hermione made certain to include their meetings at the Heads Common Room part of their morning routines. Unfortunately, Hermione volunteered herself to oversee breakfast preparation at the kitchens, professors usually took shifts doing this. But much like muggle teachers, the professors of Hogwarts had faculty meetings from time to time. Heads responsibilities came before their little rituals.

Hermione partially entered their adjoined lavatory, the shower was still running. "Draco?"

"Yes?" He called over roar of the running water.

"I'm overseeing breakfast preparation at the kitchens this morning. I've got to head out already."

"I'll see you in a bit then." Malfoy replied loudly, continuing to bathe.

Nodding mostly to herself, she almost closed her door to the lavatory-

"-Hermione!…"

There was a long pause. Knowing what his pause meant, Hermione was surprised.

"I know." She assured him, understanding everything he conveyed through the silence of his pause. "I love you too, Draco."

Nearly a week had passed since the last time they had that particular exchange, Hermione hated herself for counting the days, but she still did. Malfoy always surprised her each time he initiated the exchange, he surprised her even more when he's vocalized how he felt, saying "I love you". But love was very new to Malfoy's vocabulary, Hermione understood. The actuality that he felt it was what mattered to her, and he's made his feelings very clear to her.

000

The Head Girl arrived for breakfast earlier than she usually did, a professor had relieved Hermione of kitchen duty twenty minutes after she arrived. All four tables were almost full, she noticed as she walked to the Gryffindor table. Both Ron and Harry were already at their typical seats, eyeing Hermione as she approached.

"Good morning." She greeted softly, taking her seat beside Ron.

"'Good morning'?" Ron nearly shouted. "'Good morning' is all you've got to say to us after you completely disappeared yesterday! You were gone the entire morning, Hermione!"

Hermione sighed loudly, meeting the redhead's angry gaze. "I apologize if I worried either of you. I was up with Heads business the night before. I couldn't muster the strength to attend my morning classes." She then met the concerned emerald eyes of Harry Potter. "And Harry, I really am sorry for my behavior at the Infirmary. In that situation, I had to be Head Girl before being your best friend. When I'm dealing with disciplinary matters you've got to understand that being friends with me does not exclude you from the rules."

He gave a slight smile. "Don't apologize for doing what you had to do. I blew the Slytherin win entirely out of proportion… How is Malfoy doing anyhow?"

Before she could respond, an enormous flock of owls flew into the Great Hall, most were delivering copies of the Daily Prophet to their owners, from what Hermione could see.

A fresh copy of the Daily Prophet landed on Ron's empty plate.

Turning her attention back to Harry, Hermione carried on their conversation while Ron began skimming the front page. "Pardon? What was it you asked, Harry?"

Harry was piling his not so empty plate with even more food. "Oh…" He began distractedly. "How's Malfoy doing?"

"Pretty damn well!" Ron answered for Hermione, sounding rather impressed. The Daily Prophet's front page article seemed to awaken the young Weasley's love of reading, normally Ron detested reading .

Harry and Hermione exchanged very intrigued looks before questioning how Ron, of all people, knew of Malfoy's condition.

"How do I know this, you ask?" Ron continued before either of his best friends could speak a word. "Listen to this:

"Every year, the Daily Prophet names a seventeen year old young man to reign as the Wizarding World's most eligible underage bachelor until he's turned eighteen. Now that Harry Potter is eighteen, Draco Malfoy (seventeen!) has assumed the position of the Wizarding World's most eligible underage bachelor. He's devastatingly handsome, intelligent (Head Boy of Hogwarts), and he's the outrageously wealthy heir to the Malfoy Empire! But will we need to skip bestowing the honor to Draco and go on to the now second most eligible bachelor, Blaise Zabini, also seventeen and Draco's best mate. Why skip the Hogwarts heartthrob and rumored sex god, Draco Malfoy, you ask? In an exclusive interview with the ever lovely Madame Narcissa Malfoy, the subject of her marriage to her late husband Lucius Malfoy led to the question of marriage for young Draco. She very lightly implied her only son and heir to the Malfoy riches may have already found a bride! Mrs. Malfoy promptly added, with grace of course, that Draco and his potential bride are NOT engaged, but she can see the relationship continuing to progress towards marriage, especially after they've graduated. Most eligible bachelor may not be so fitting for him since it seems he's got himself a girlfriend! A girlfriend that may very well become young Malfoy's fiancée sometime after his graduation. Oh, did I mention his mother highly approves of his mystery girl? Sighs. For now, we'll let Draco Malfoy have his cake and eat it as well. He will be given the Daily Prophet's title of the Wizarding World's most eligible underage bachelor until he's turned eighteen and he'll continue to be a complete contradiction to his title by having, what it seems, a serious girlfriend."

000

While Zabini poured himself a glass of orange juice, he glanced down the newly delivered issue of the Daily Prophet before him.

"Holy shit…" He contained chuckle. A photograph of his best mate arrogantly stared up at him from the front page of the newspaper. Then his dark eyes grazed over the headline.

'Hogwarts Heartthrob Taken!'

"Oh Rita, your articles are never trivial-"

"Blaise!" Pansy grabbed the glass pitcher from his grasp as she seated herself, his goblet was overflowing with orange juice. "Are you awake?" She questioned, laughing softly.

Zabini displayed the front page article to her.

"He's tremendously photogenic. I hate him for it."

"Yes, his ability to photograph well is what we should be focusing on right now. Let's totally disregard the bit about his relationship being revealed!" The annoyed Slytherin shook his head at Pansy's lack of concern for the situation. He quickly began to read the article, eager to learn how the relationship was exposed. Zabini gave no reaction to what he read, knowing she would craft an assumption about the content of the article based on his reaction.

As she observed her housemate, waiting for some sort of a response to the piece written about his best friend and her ex-boyfriend, Pansy realized- when he was silent- Zabini was quite good-looking. She nearly slapped herself for having such a thought.

"Give me that!" Pansy snapped, yanking the paper from her housemate's hands when she noticed he was already through reading it. "…This won't inflate his ego at all …" Revolted, she continued to read. "Wow… I knew Draco introduced her to Narcissa but I wasn't aware she 'highly approved' and I certainly didn't know she expects them 'to progress towards marriage'…"

Zabini scoffed. "You mean to tell me you don't agree with Lady Malfoy?"

"I fit the Malfoy bride criteria more than she does and Narcissa could hardly tolerate me!"

"It's not your lack of credentials, perhaps she can't stand you for the same reason why many can't tolerate you…" Zabini cautiously offered.

"And what reason is that?" She inquired through gritted teeth.

Already wincing, he answered. "You're somewhat of a bitch--" A bitch I'm very stupidly attracted to.

000

The Head Boy walked through the Great Hall, his deadly expression a challenge to those wishing to begin their morning off with a brutal Malfoy pummeling.

Having read the article after his shower, Malfoy decided during his walk to breakfast, he was not angry at his mother. Honestly he was pleased his relationship status was announced to all Daily Prophet subscribers, who in turn would spread the news to those who had no access to the hottest piece of gossip to hit the papers in weeks. He pleased his mother openly approved of his girlfriend. He was pleased his girlfriend's identity was not revealed in the article. He was also pleased with his new title as the Wizarding World's most eligible underage bachelor, Malfoy had a few months left until he celebrated his eighteenth birthday. He was pleased the article gave only enough to inform the public, but because it was only enough to inform, many would be pestering him for more information. This did not please Malfoy, the thought brought an absolutely terrifying gleam to his eyes. And the terrifying gleam in his silver eyes certainly seemed to discourage many from ever pestering him.

Smirking at the fear he skillfully produced, Malfoy swaggered to his seat at the Slytherin table, beside Pansy and across Zabini.

"Blaise-" He sat, completely disregarding his ex-girlfriend's presence. "Once you've finished your breakfast, I'd like to talk to you… privately." Malfoy turned to Pansy as he placed great emphasis on 'privately'.

"It's too late, Malfoy." Zabini drawled, shrugging loosely. "I already know you've got girlfriend…shit, I think everyone already knows you've got a girlfriend." He finished grinning. The surrounding Slytherins, having heard Zabini's comment, waited for Malfoy's vicious reaction.

He gave a surprised laugh, not expecting the reply. "You read the article. Did you notice you were mentioned as second to me, as always?" The remark elicited snickers from nearby Slytherins.

Zabini stood, still grinning at the exchange he was having with his best mate. "I'm second to you, you second to Potter. Or did you not realize you were only given the title because he turned eighteen?"

Malfoy stood as well. "Fuck Potter! Or should we leave the honors to Parkinson?" Many howled at the suggestion as Zabini and Malfoy left the table.

"Funny as that was, Malfoy, I have to say it was rather harsh--" Zabini confessed after calming his laughter.

"You think so? Maybe she'll cry again so you can once more gallantly comfort her."

The two Slytherins shared amused grins as they exited the Great Hall, heading to the Infirmary. Malfoy had a brief checkup with Madame Pomfrey before class began.

"Have I really been that awful to her?"

"Well considering what you've done to her in the past and how you treated her last night… and this morning… I'd have to say yes, you've been incredibly awful to her."

Zabini's mention of the previous night changed the subject of their conversation entirely-

"I was an asshole last night… to both of you." Malfoy paused, only their footsteps against the stone floors kept his pause from becoming an uncomfortable silence. "I'm sorry, Blaise."

"It's fine, mate. We completely invaded your privacy. I was told we were going to see how you were…and once we got in Parkinson went straight to your desk. She's a conniving bitch at times, which would scare off the average male… strangely, I like her even more because of it." Zabini gave an exaggerated shudder.

"And you claim my relationship with Granger is fucked up…"

"Moving on, I really apologize for viewing those memories. And Pansy… she really isn't too horrible. She extracted us from the shower scene before any nudity was shown. It doesn't justify what we did, but you need to know we didn't betray you as much as you thought we did."

Zabini, from the corner of his eyes, saw Malfoy nod in response to his testimony. They silently agreed the subject no longer needed further discussion.

"Oh, before I forget, I'd like to request a memory I'd like to hear, if I may."

Knowing what Zabini was going to say next, Malfoy sighed noisily. "Go on."

"I'd like to hear about the introduction of your girlfriend to your beloved mother, I find it fitting, considering the article published about you today."

The blond briefly glanced at his wristwatch, they had more or less forty-five minutes left until classes started. Entering an empty Infirmary, Malfoy decided to grant his housemate the request. They seated themselves on snug armchairs usually reserved for parents or students waiting to see a patient.

"I can't acquiesce to your request just yet. You need to hear the prologue. There was huge obstacle I had to overcome before Hermione could step a foot onto the grounds of Malfoy Manor, in turn meet my mother…

"…I had to meet her parents first."

Flashback:

A platinum blond Slytherin sat in a sleek black Malfoy limo, his mother took a liking to muggle vehicles, but naturally Lady Malfoy had all their muggle vehicles modified with magical enchantments. The Malfoy limo had the same capabilities as the Knights Bus, able to weave through traffic unnoticed in amazing speeds.

After getting off the Hogwarts Express, Malfoy hesitantly stepped through what seemed to be solid wall, as Hermione instructed him to do. Realizing he did not collide with the wall like he feared, he then found himself in Kings Cross Station, a muggle train station. His girlfriend could not coach him through the experience, she met with her parents after exiting the train. How would it look to their schoolmates if Draco Malfoy left with the non-magical Grangers and their mudblood daughter. Instead of meeting with his mother, as he had done the past five years upon returning from Hogwarts, Malfoy was taking a limo to a French muggle restaurant in downtown London called Antoinette's. He was having lunch with the Grangers. Before heading home to Malfoy Manor with Hermione, the Slytherin was spending the weekend with his girlfriend at her family's home in the London district of Maida Vale.

Three weeks before the Hogwarts school year concluded, Malfoy invited Hermione to spend the summer holidays with him at Malfoy Manor. He learned for the past three summers, Hermione's parents traveled to underdeveloped countries for two months to help the less fortunate who could not afford to maintain their dental hygiene. The Grangers traveled with an entire medical team, some were dentists like the Grangers but most were various types of specialized physicians, all devoting their summer to helping those seeking medical attention they could not afford. Hermione told Malfoy she would be spending her summer with the Weasleys and Harry at the Burrow while her parents were away.

It was nearly two o'clock in the morning. Taking a break from studying for their finals, Malfoy and Hermione found themselevs alone in the Prefects study lounge, discussing their plans for the summer holidays.

"An entire summer with Potter and the Weasel in that shithole the Weasleys call home, sounds fantastic." Malfoy was absently massaging her thigh under the table, he was leaned back on his chair, watching her continue to study even after she suggested taking a break.

Hermione openly rolled her hazel eyes at his remark. "I suppose you've got an extravagant vacation planned for the holidays then?"

"I'd much rather spend the summer with you at the manor, really…"

Hermione accepted her boyfriend's invitation, of course. And after much persuasion from Hermione's mother and dozens of letters from Hermione for three days straight, her father finally allowed his only beloved daughter to spend the summer with Malfoy. But under one condition, he wanted to meet Malfoy first. And upon learning her husband's one condition, Jacqueline Granger decided it was only appropriate to have Hermione ask Malfoy to stay overnight, in order to really acquaint himself with Jacqueline and Alexander.

Standing up, one of the enchantments on the Malfoy limo was its added roominess, occupants as tall as Malfoy could stand comfortably inside, he studied his attractive reflection in the full-length mirror he summoned. He had changed into the outfit Hermione selected for him, she had transfigured some of his robes into muggle clothes. Clad in a fitted sapphire collared top paired with typical not too tight muggle jeans, Malfoy had to admit he was a good-looking muggle. He then frowned slightly, knowing the ride to Antoinette's was nearly over. Malfoy was actually nervous, understandably. His past relationships never reached the level he and Hermione were on, thus he's never had to "meet the parents" before.

Soon enough, the limo stopped. His chauffeur then opened the door for him, Malfoy stepped out. "Make yourself scarce, you'll know when I'm finished here." He told the driver as he took in the sights of downtown London. Crowds of people were moving all directions on the sidewalks, vehicles of all sorts congested the streets, the amount of high-priced shops and boutiques seemed endless. And in the middle of all the madness was the restaurant known as Antoinette's.

Walking in, Malfoy was greeted by a sleekly dressed woman, he found her rather attractive for a muggle. "Welcome to Antoinette's, sir. Do you have a reservation?" The restaurant reminded Malfoy of his family's estate in France, very inviting yet sophisticated as well.

"I'm meeting a party here listed under Granger, I believe." He watched her saunter over to a large dark wooden counter.

"Granger… ah, yes. Follow me."

As he walked through the restaurant, Malfoy noticed he was receiving a great amount of attention from the female diners, he smirked.

'It doesn't matter if a woman is a witch, a muggle, or if she's part man… they're all desperately attracted to me.'

Just as he finished the thought, he caught sight of his girlfriend, animatedly conversing with two understandably unfamiliar people sitting across her.

Shortly, they reached the table. The hostess cleared her throat lightly, politely announcing her presence. All three Grangers looked up.

"The last member of your party has arrived!" Smiling, the hostess then left.

"Draco!" Hermione stood, eager to greet him. Reluctantly, he bent down slightly, giving her a brief but thorough kiss. They both inwardly relished their freedom to act as a couple in public.

"Mum, Daddy…" She laced her hands with his, pulling him down to sit on the chair beside hers. "This is my boyfriend Draco Malfoy."

Sitting, he gave them an uneasy smile as he respectfully shook their hands.

"I'm Jacqueline Granger." She smiled warmly. Jacqueline was gorgeous for a woman in her mid-forties, Hermione had her smile.

"Alexander Granger, pleasure to meet you, son."

End Flashback.

"After our meals arrived, the interrogation began-" Malfoy was interrupted.

"Mr. Malfoy! Let's have that checkup I promised you, I apologize for being late." Madame Pomfrey had returned to the Infirmary; both completely engrossed with the story, neither Malfoy or Zabini had taken notice. She turned to the other Slytherin. "Go to class, Mr. Zabini."

"Oh for fuck's sake!" He threw his arms into the air as he stood, wishing badly to hear the rest of the story.

"Guess you'll have to wait for the rest!" Malfoy called after him as he left.


Guess you guys will have to wait for the rest too! What'd you think? Review please! I'll try to update again before Christmas!