AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you to all who review and favorite and follow this story. It really means a lot! Per usual, I do not own anything Harry Potter. Enjoy the chapter!

Hermione made her way downstairs to meet and mingle with her fellow housemates, Pansy following closely behind her. A few of the boys were gathered in a circle talking and enjoying the firewhiskey they managed to smuggle past Filch. Upon seeing Hermione descend the stairs into the common area, Draco's eyes widened and he gave a sharp intake of breath. The girl he saw in front of him looked like Hermione, yet somehow she looked different. 'Maybe it's my mind playing tricks on me' Draco thought.

Theo, noticing Draco's reaction, also looked up and saw Hermione. However, not fully knowing who she was, he gave a loud wolf-whistle and a cat-call which drew the attention of all the other males in the room who equally shared their appreciation.

Hermione, blushing and not quite knowing what to do, looked over at Pansy.

"Settle down, boys. It's not like you haven't seen her before." Said Pansy, plopping herself down on one of the regal-looking leather armchairs.

"Oh, I'd remember if I'd have seen a beauty like this one." Replied Theo, making eye contact with and winking at Hermione.

"Theo, you bint, it's Priscilla-er Hermione." Countered Pansy.

At the mention of Hermione's name, Draco visibly tensed and stared at Priscilla/Hermione more intently than before.

"What do you mean Priscilla and Hermione? Which one is it?" asked Theo.

"Yeah, Pans. What's going on?" asked Blaise.

In an attempt to settle their questions, Hermione cleared her throat and spoke up. With the help of Pansy, she dove into all the details of the recent events and who Hermione really was.

"So you're really Hermione, but you're actually Priscilla, who's changing her name back to Hermione?" asked Theo

"That is correct." Replied Hermione

"Well, welcome to Slytherin, Hermione. I'd always had respect for you even when you were the bushy-haired know-it-all. Now you're the sexy Slytherin Princess, Mia." Said Blaise as he walked up to Hermione and once again, took her hand in his own like he did on the train, slowly brought it up to his lips, and kissed it.

Hermione once again felt her blush creep up and she couldn't suppress the small giggle that escaped her.

"Oh, Salazar, get a room you two!" exclaimed Pansy, giving Hermione a playful wink.

"Or don't. That works equally as well." Replied Draco, finally speaking up after staying quiet during the whole speech. It was Draco's voice that snapped her out of her daze as she looked over at him.

"Relax, mate. It's just some good-hearted fun. Are we not allowed to have fun anymore?" Draco only scoffed at his friend, Blaise. Deciding that now was as good a time as ever, Draco got up from one of the armchairs and made his way towards Hermione.

"Can I talk to you in private?" asked Draco. How could Hermione say no when his entrancing gray eyes were staring into her own and his velvety voice was beckoning her to say yes? Hermione only nodded. Draco took her by the hand and led her through the portrait and out of the common room. Both of them decided to sit on the staircase.

"Where do I start?" asked Draco

"You can start by-"

"I'm sorry. I am so sorry." Interrupted Draco.

"Draco I-"

"No, Hermione, listen. I need to say this. I have been an incredibly foul git to you all these years. For the first few years here, I had always despised you. Not only because you were a muggle-born, but also because you always beat me in every subject and that wasn't good enough for my father. He wanted me to be the best. I was also taught to believe that anyone who isn't a pureblood was inferior. I later learned that after the war, my father treated me the way he did and taught me the things that he did because Voldemort was breathing down everyone's back. For Merlin's sake, he was living in our home for quite some time. It was sickening and I hated all of it. I learned that even my father wasn't the blood supremacist that everyone thought he was. We just needed to continue on acting the way we always had in order to keep the Dark Lord happy and not get ourselves killed. It wasn't until you punched me in the face third year that I saw you in a completely different light. Of course, I was furious that someone such as yourself had the audacity to punch me, but that fury morphed into respect and admiration, which later then turned into fondness. I couldn't express any of that because at the time I didn't know how I felt about my newfound admiration and I couldn't admit any of this to my father because I would've received a beating. I developed a crush for you that only got stronger every year. I had to still act like a git because of appearances and the Dark Lord, but I would also go out of my way to tease you and your friends because that was the only way I knew I would have any interaction with you. Part of the teasing was because I liked you and the other half was because I was so frustrated that I couldn't tell you how I really felt. I know that wasn't the best way of dealing with this, but that's how I dealt with it and for that, I apologize. You shouldn't have had to deal years of all of the name-calling, the bullying, and the hell that I put you through."

Hermione was stunned to say the least at Draco's outpour of an apology and explanation. She looked up into his eyes, but it seemed he was not finished saying what he needed to say.

"Hermione, will you do me the pleasure of going out with me? I know I don't deserve it after how I've treated you, but I would really like a chance to start over with you and-"

"I'll think about it." Even though Hermione knew the answer to his question was 'yes', she wanted to make him squirm for a bit. Hermione got up, dusted off her school skirt and started back towards the commons before turning around and saying, "Draco? I forgive you."

Draco still sat on the steps contemplating and going over what had just happened. Hermione forgave him. That was excellent news. She still hadn't agreed to go out with him, but she didn't say no. Draco still remained hopeful as he got up, dusted himself off and returned to the common room to turn in for the night.

*Sorry if this chapter seemed a bit uneventful, but I wanted the main chunk of this chapter to consist of Draco's apology/confession. *