A/N: Oh Merlin, someone actually deleted the file of this chapter! I mean, I was almost finished, and then the next day, it was gone. Oh well, I still need to write for you guys. : That's how I love my readers! Thank you to the following who reviewed: lemurqueen247 (Glad I made ya laugh.), julescapulet (Ha-ha, I'll try my best.), wolvesdrinktea (Your review brightened up my day!), and 37KMV (I'll do my best to update soon!). And to those I failed to mention here, there's only one thing I wanna tell you guys: I LOVE YOU ALL. Okay, now continue reading.

Can't Have Me – Chapter 10: It's Time

Draco's POV

I couldn't sleep. It's already been two days that this was happening to me.

Was it because my time of leaving Hogwarts was getting nearer and nearer?

Pssh, my mind snorted. You're just overreacting again. I wanted to believe that part of my mind. I didn't want to think a lot. I was Draco Malfoy, for Merlin's sake! I shouldn't have a need to think this way.

But...still. What could be another reason?

The Mudblood? My mind asked incredulously. I shook my head mentally. Impossible. I just defended her a couple of days ago because I thought Pansy crossed the line, that's all! I didn't have those...feelings...for her. She was still the know-it-all I know.

Why are you getting all defensive? My mind started to ask quietly. I groaned at that. I wasn't getting all that defensive, right? I was just trying to prove my point that I didn't have a single feeling that's other than hate to her.

I sighed. Only four days before I leave Hogwarts.

Then something lurched in my stomach. Was it because of something I ate? No, it wasn't. It was...pain. A pain of doing something I knew I would regret doing. It was as if I wanted to go back in time and stop the event from happening.

I stared at the ceiling. Why am I feeling emotions like this?

I tossed and turned. I have to sleep. I have to savour every single day I have in Hogwarts.

I have to savour everything before it's too late.

...

"She wants me to leave...But she also doesn't?" I muttered to myself when I was in the library. I had to get more Potions work done, but I couldn't think straight. The library was empty, except for a couple of third years and me. I walked past the shelf about magical creatures, which I thought a person like Hagrid would only think of reading. I laughed at that. The guy's addicted to them. As if they're some kind of collection.

The library doors opened, and I felt the warm wind from outside. When I saw the person who went in, my knees almost wobbled.

She smiled sweetly to Madam Pince, who ignored her and continued to stamp on books. Hermione walked briskly to the shelf behind me, still not noticing my presence. She stroked a spine of a large book, entitled "The Magical World of Magic, Volume I".

"Hmm..." she hummed quietly, probably thinking whether she should borrow it or not.

I took the time to gaze at her, before she would be able to see me. Yes, her curly chestnut hair was definitely a little more tamer now, and actually, it was quite...nice. Better than first year, I guess. She hardly had any bust, but they were okay. At least not oversized, unlike Pansy's. Brr. Slender body, yes, but not that skinny...And her legs, well, they were okay, I guess...Long, but did not resemble thin sticks—

"Draco? What the hell do you think you're doing here?"

I looked up at her face, which had embarrassment mixed with anger. Her chocolate-brown eyes were wide and scared, and her mouth was slightly open.

"Well," I replied, putting on the best poker face I could do, "I have a right to be here, Granger. Oh, and for your information, I was already here when you came in. You just didn't notice me."

This seemed to calm her down. But the funny thing was, her cheeks still had that tomato color.

"Oh," she said quietly. "I thought...No, I just...Oh, never mind."

She turned her head away from me and continued to browse the shelf, although I had a feeling she was just pretending.

Taking a deep breath, I stood up and walked up behind her. I need to do this. It's now or never. She needs to know I love her, I said to myself. She won't be there forever, Ginny spoke in my mind.

She froze, feeling my presence, and getting uncomfortable with our small distance. And, if I'm not mistaken, I also heard her gulp.

"Er...What do you want from me, Malfoy?" she said meekly, not daring to face me.

I stepped closer, making her feel more uncomfortable. I looked sideways, checking if there was anyone looking at us. When there wasn't any, I turned back to her.

"Draco?"

"I..." I started to say. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you for quite some time."

I heard her hold her breath.

"You see...I..."

"Yes?"

"Er...I...I just..."

"Blurt it out, Draco."

"I...I think I'm in love with you."

There was silence.

Slowly, she turned around. She was still staring at the ground, but she was blushing furiously. "I beg your pardon, Draco?"

I gritted my teeth. "I said, Hermione, that I'm hopelessly and painfully in love with you, and you've been on my mind for quite some time."

She bravely looked up. Her eyes were dazzling, and it sparkled in the light. I did my best not to fall on my knees.

"And..." I continued. "Your friend Ginny told me you feel the same way. Please tell me you still feel the same way."

She blushed again, but was redder than ever.

"Well?" I asked quietly. "I don't want to make a fool of myself here. Please answer me, Hermione."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Draco," she muttered, "you know I love you. I had a crush on you since first year. But I couldn't bring myself to say it. I said to myself that if you felt the same way, you'd make a move. To my disappointment, you never did for years." She paused, opened her eyes, and looked at me. "Until now."

I couldn't stand it anymore. I quickly grabbed both sides of her head and leaned in to kiss her.

I kissed her roughly. I needed her to feel the thing I had for her that I kept from her for seven years. I wanted to make her see that I loved her so much, and make her see how much I had gone through in order for this secret to be kept a secret. I wanted her to see that I have changed, and that I would do anything for her.

She didn't protest. Instead, she let me treat her lips that way. It was like she understood me. We made small noises, but tried our best to tone down everything so as not to be interrupted by Madam Pince.

I didn't know how long we snogged, but I knew it was lengthy. We paused for a few moments to control our breathing, and then dived in to kiss again.

And when we stopped, our lips were quite swollen and our hair was messed up. Hermione pressed her forehead on mine, and we just stayed that way for a long time. It felt...relaxing.

"I...I love you," she said quietly.

I breathed in. "I love you, too."

We kissed one last time, smiled to one another, and stalked out of the library with our hands tangled together.

A/N: YAY. I'm so sorry for this chapter's delay! I have a lot of homework going on, and...yeah. But continue reviewing and liking this story! Love you all!