Author Note: I want to thank all of you who took the time to let me know if I should leave it end the way it did in the previous chapter or keep going. As you can see, I've decided to continue for another couple chapters. I hope this one meets everyone's expectations. Let me know what you think.

A special thanks goes to: LightofEvolution, Legolas' Girl 31, geowynpnn and penelope90 for the wonderful reviews.

Another special thanks goes to: Mom2WJD, luzhasswag, Candie7575 and spam3 for becoming followers to this story.

Chapter 10:

Holding onto Hermione's hand wasn't as awkward as Draco thought it was going to be. He eyed her, wondering what her face looked like the closer they got to the Great Hall. She seemed relaxed and her curls bounced with every step she took beside him. It was hard to think that just a few months ago she viewed him as the enemy and now everything was so very different.

She squeezed his hand a little tighter as the entryway came into view. He noticed her hesitation no matter how brief it had been. Stopping mid-step, he held onto her hand even tighter to stop her from continuing on. Hermione turned her head to look directly at him, only to see that his eyes were closed and a disconnected expression was all over his face. "Draco?" She questioned softly.

"Are you sure that you want to go in there like this...together?" He asked with his own question.

Closing the miniscule gap between them, she reached up to touch his face with the tips of her fingers lightly. His eyes opened almost instantly, allowing her to gaze into their cool gray features. Draco watched as her lips curved into a smile that continued to let his heart soar to another level of racing. In that moment, he didn't care what others thought of the pairing—if that was what they were. He would do anything to see that smile, that much he knew for sure. "I don't care what they think. They will say what they want, it doesn't mean that it's true. You told me that."

A low chuckle escaped his lips with a slight shake of his head. He leaned in and captured her lips for only a moment; but to them it seemed like forever. Her smile grew wider and brighter, the way he loved it. Turning to face the entryway, they continued forward bracing themselves for the backlash that was inevitably going to happen in the viewing of their hands.

They walked into the room and only a few people looked in their direction; but the more their classmates talked, the more the whispers progressed. Draco released Hermione's hand so she could sit within her house and he could sit with his. The difference between them was the fact there were people that still wanted to sit with her. He would no doubt be sitting alone.

Draco's eyes lingered on her retreating form. She sat down next to Ginny at the Gryffindor table. The youngest child of the Weasley family greeted her with a smile and a hug. However, it didn't take long before her smile vanished from her face. Ginny's brother Ron was speaking to her with hands moving all over the place, expressing whatever it was he wanted to get across.

Lavender, the new woman in Ron's life, did her best to diffuse the conversation. She placed her hand on Ron's arm, speaking one word phrases that Draco could easily read from where he was sitting. "So you decided to go against everything you ever spoke of and everything you parents believe in." A harsh female voice came to his ear.

Draco looked over to see Pansy sitting right next to him with her glare illuminating from her eyes. Her long dark hair was pulled to the side over her shoulder in a low ponytail. He could remember every moment they had ever shared over the years, including the intimate ones; but if he was honest with himself, they never meant anything close to the moments he had already shared with Hermione. "I don't think it's any of your business." He countered.

"You're willing to throw your life away for some mudblood."

Narrowing his eyes at her and the use of that word. The word that will be forever burned into his mind. The one that his own aunt carved into the woman in question's arm just for the sake having fun. He reached for Pansy's wrist and held tightly. The fire burning behind his eyes scared her. She had never seen such emotion from him in all the years she had known him. "You will not speak of that word. She deserves better than that. She is one of the reasons we are not under the control of that bastard Voldemort. You should have more respect."

"Draco...you've...changed..." Pansy whimpered under the pressure from his grasp.

"I've had to. You didn't see the things he did or things he made my family do just to survive. You didn't hear her screams when my aunt carved into her skin or see the tears rolling down her face...or feel the guilt that I do, because I didn't stop it even though I knew it was wrong."

Pansy looked up into his eyes, the unwavering emotions surging through him. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that her friend, a man she once though she loved, had feelings for Hermione Granger. Draco released her wrist and turned away from the searching gaze. She watched him look across the room at the Gryffindor table. "I didn't...and I guess I understand where these changes are coming from; but how do you expect your parents to accept this?"

"I honestly don't care what they say."

Hermione took another bite of her food in silence. Ron had asked her a million questions about Draco. Interrogating her as to what she was thinking. Lavender did her best to calm the angered man; but it took a lot of convincing from not only her, but Ginny and Harry as well to stop him. The only thing she asked for was their trust in her judgment, nothing more.

She wasn't deaf. She could hear all the whispers in close range about what their thoughts were on her sudden appearance with Draco. Headmistress McGongall gave her a warm smile and that was all the assurance she needed to continue this path of unity. To her, it wasn't really about the unity of houses. It was about her own personal path of forgiveness.

"May I have your attention please!" The Headmistress stated loudly.

It took several seconds before the entire hall fell silent, their eyes intently on the woman who had taken over for Dumbledore after his death. Hermione looked up from her plate to hear what announcement was to be made. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Draco looking at her and a smile tugged at her lips.

Harry noticed the small smile and turned his head to see Draco glancing in Hermione's direction with a look of admiration or even that of adoring. Not even him could hide the smile begging the be expressed. No matter how much damage Draco Malfoy did to him and his friends over the years, he couldn't ignore the fact that there were a lot of changes happening around him. He was pretty sure Ginny could see that to.

"I would like to express how happy I am with how this year has been going so far. You've all been doing such a wonderful job in your classes and there has been little fighting amongst yourselves. It's what Albus Dumbledore would have wanted to see." Minerva said fighting back some of the sadness that still held onto her heart.

Hagrid reached out to place a hand on her shoulder out of comfort. It's been a year since his death; but it still hit close to a lot of them, because he had been such a big part of their lives. Headmistress McGonagall held her hand out to assure him that she was fine and could continue with what was on her mind. "We are close to the holidays. In honor of that I would like to throw another ball in two days time."

There was a lot of cheers at the announcement. It really was a good way to send the students off home for the holiday season. Deep down she was afraid that after the students left for the holidays, they wouldn't return. At least with the ball, there was some excitement that could possibly make them want to return and not plead to their parents to never go back.

Hermione could hear all the girlie talk about dresses and such between Ginny and Lavender. She knew that Ginny was excited for this one, especially now that she was with Harry. Lavender was no better. Blocking all of that out, the only question on her mind was whether or not she would actually attend it. Of course, she wouldn't be going back home either. Her parents were in Australia with no memory of her at all.

"Hermione." A voice called, snapping her out of her own personal thoughts.

She turned to see Harry, Ginny, Lavender and Ron all looking at her with a questioning stare aimed directly at her. She supposed that it was to be expected now things have gotten a little more complex now that Draco had been added to her life. "Will you be attending this with Malfoy?" Ron asking trying so hard not to roll his eyes at the mention of the name.

"I don't know. I may not even attend..."

"Oh but you have to..." Ginny whined a little.

"You took everyone's breath away at the last one." Lavender compliment unexpectedly.

Hermione never expected to hear any kind of nice words to come out of the girl's mouth aimed at her; but it was nice to hear nonetheless. A slight smile appeared and vanished just as quickly. She got up from her seat and left her friends in confusion. There was a lot on her mind that she needed to sort out and maybe some fresh air would do her some good.

It was a nice thought anyway, until her name was called by none other than the Headmistress herself. The calm demeanor of the older woman set Hermione at easy a little more if it had been anyone else at that table. "May I speak with you?" She asked.

"Of course, Headmistress..."

She shifted her feet to start walking in her direction instead of the exit. The intention was to head for her sanctuary, the clock tower courtyard. A set of eyes were felt on her back with every movement she made. Turning her head slightly in the direction of the Slytherin table, she could see Draco's eyes following her along with Pansey's. That harsh glare sent a cold shiver up her spine.

Minerva McGonagall stepped down and started to walk towards a door to the side. Hermione simply followed, wondering that this conversation was going to be about. There was a million questions running through her mind all at one and it was beginning to get to be too much for her to handle. Her hands began to shake and swell with perspiration. Once the they were alone in the a private room that resembled a conference room, the older woman opened her mouth to speak.

"I've been meaning to talk to you Miss Granger."

"About?"

"How are you handling things now that you've been here for a couple months?"

The question came as no surprise. They had spoken before, right when she returned for the eighth year. She hadn't been doing very well then at all. The war had still been haunting. It still did, though not as bad. Maybe she had Draco to thank for that, she didn't know for sure. "I've been doing a lot better. The nightmares aren't as frequent. I appreciate you asking." Hermione answered honestly.

"I've been noticing that things have changed between you and the Malfoy heir. Has he been part of the reason for your recent happiness?"

Heat rushed to her cheek upon mentioning Draco. When she thought about him and all the things that happened between them over the last couple of months, she couldn't help but smile. If she was honest with herself, she did have him to thank for a lot of things. Not that he would ever accept a thanks. "I'm going to assume the blush to your cheeks is the answer to my question." The older woman stated with a smile of her own.

Draco walked out of the Great Hall with his hands in his pockets. He wondered what the Headmistress and Hermione were speaking of in that room. Walking up the stairs that lead straight to the third floor, he hoped that the courtyard was empty so he had time to think in peace. He had two days until he returned to the manor—to his family.

He knew that his mother was going to ask him all kinds of questions. Was he being treated okay? Was he learning? Was he getting all the top marks in his classes? Had he met anyone special yet? Of course the answer to the last question was a complicated matter, considering his parents beliefs were still intact. At least he believed that were anyway.

The sound of the flowing water drew him in closer and much to his relief, the courtyard was indeed empty. A flash of Hermione sitting against the edge of the fountain with her back against one of the statues appeared and then vanished, playing tricks on his mind. It was driving him crazy how much she was on his mind. He wanted to know how he was going to explain her to his mother. Could he really keep it hidden from them?

He sat down on the edge and stared into the water at his reflection. Pale blonde hair and cool gray blue eyes stared back him, mimicking every movement he made. The announcement of the ball got him thinking about her in the pink dress that caught everyone's attention in a matter of seconds in their fourth year. Even then, there was nothing he could say negative about her that night.

"Draco?" Her voice called.

Looking up from the water, he turned to see Hermione entering the courtyard with her hands clasped together in front of her. She walked slowly, taking her time in getting close to him. There was something different about her than a little over an hour ago. It made him think that the Headmistress had said something to her in regards to him. Breaking the glaze, he turned back to the water. "What did McGonagall want?" He asked bluntly.

"Relax, it wasn't anything bad about you. She was just asking how I was doing." Hermione answered sitting down next to him, taking a hand into her own.

"You do seem better than you were when you first got back here."

"I am better...and I have you to thank for some of that..."

Draco quickly pulled his hand from her touch, which immediately confused Hermione. He closed his hand into a fist at his side, on the concrete of the fountain. She stared at him, debating on asking what the problem was; but his mouth opened to speak before her words escaped. "I did nothing to deserve your thanks..."

"Of course you did. You talked to me, gave me the dreamless sleep potion to help me and you've...you've made me feel..."

"Feel what?"

"Alive..."

Her thanks was too much for him. He was the most undeserving person in the entire school. He wondered what would make her think that he did deserve such a word. Hermione reached for him again, this time using both hands instead of just one and pulled herself even closer to him. Just as they sat earlier on in the day, their knees touching. "Just because I'm thanking you...I don't...want you to push me away." She said almost choking on the words.

The glassy haze in her eyes, beckoned him to lean in closer. Relaxing the balled hand, he slipped it out of her grasp and cradled the side of her face with it. His fingers slightly in her soft curls. He knew that he didn't deserve her and the affection she was willing to give him; but he couldn't let it go either. His selfish nature was telling him to take it all and never let go. On the other hand, his realistic side was telling him to let her go. "Hermione...I don't want to drag you down with me. You have such a bright future..."

"Stop! Just stop thinking about what others say. It shouldn't matter."

"Hermione..."

She pushed herself up onto her knees and leaned closer to his face. Close enough that he could feel her warm breath against his lips. Lips that just wanted to taste hers again. There no further hesitation in what he wanted, so he closed the gap and captured her lips. A soft moan erupted from her throat, driving him crazy with sweet sound if it.

Her tongue brushed across his slightly parted lips. He pulled her back onto his lap and danced his tongue with hers. Draco held onto her waist softly, not wanting to scare her. With every kiss they shared he was growing more attached to her, which in his mind could be a bad thing in the end. He knew what his parents were like. They'd never accept her; but he didn't care. He needed her more than he needed anyone.

"Hermione..."

"Hmm..."

"You're welcome..."

She smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck. The scent of her hair intoxicated him. He didn't want to let her go; but knew that he had to. Curfew was approaching and tomorrow was another day. Maybe they would get a chance to talk about the ball and what they would be doing on the holiday break.

Draco lifted her up and placed her gently on her feet in front of him. They stood before one another for a moment before lacing their fingers through each others and walking forwards towards the exit. Upon walking the hallways, they passed several students trying to get back to their dorms. No words were exchanged upon seeing their linked hands.

Hermione stopped walking the second the stairs that lead straight to Gryffindor Tower were in view. Draco looked down at her, realizing that he really was going to have to let her go. "I'll see you tomorrow..." He said softly.

"Goodnight, Draco..." She said with a smile.

"Goodnight..." He replied leaning down to kiss her cheek.

He watched her walk up the stairs alone before continuing on towards his own dorm. There were a lot of glances in his direction as he walked. Some of them weren't as harsh as he expected them to be, which surprised him a great deal. Once he got to his room, he collapsed onto his bed and stared at the ceiling. Hermione's scent was all over him as he reached up to touch his bottom lip, in remembrance of their kisses. Falling asleep with her on his mind was the perfect way to end a night and start a new day without a nightmare.