It took a bit longer to write this chapter but I hope I delivered well. It is unbeta'd but my beta is catching up. Real life creeps up unexpectedly and her computer crashed not too long ago. I'm not upset, of course. Completely understandable. Hope y'all will understand.

Also, you may have noticed the change in dates -.- I didn't realize it until recently. I will rectify that mistake tomorrow as well as posted the most recent beta'd chapters. (3-6) and make sure that chapter 7-9 are as clean and edited as they can be. I'll still have my beta look over them.

Sorry about that!

Note: Chapter ten will have explicit content ;) Not the full, highly anticipated scene but enough to satisfy your needs. Hope that meets expectations. More early relationship scenes to come as well, as you will see.

As always, enjoy!

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Chapter Nine

x-X-x

*~ Fated to be ours ~*

Ci credi nel destino

Monday December sixteenth, 1996

The weekend had proven to be uneventful for Hermione. Between essays and homework, she had very little free time to spend gathered by the fire and reading. Much to her surprise, she didn't see Draco or Blaise. She immediately assumed that they had other things to do. As much as it bothered her, she felt incredibly relaxed and more confident in herself than she had been in the last couple of weeks. For once, she felt secure and her standing with them could not have been better. At least, that's what she made herself believe.

"I swear, Slughorn is going to be the death of me," grumbled Harry as they made their way down the Great Hall for breakfast. For the last several weeks, Harry has been dreading the upcoming party that was to be held by their Potion's Master. Only the select few would attend, of course but he saw no point in going, especially when his own girlfriend had her own reservations about attending. "The man keeps asking me who I'm taking to the Yule Party. I'm not even sure I want to attend, given the last time I attended a gathering with him."

"The dinner party wasn't so bad," offered Hermione with a smile.

"Oh, yes." Harry agreed sarcastically. "Between McLaggen sending suggestive glances at you to the drunkard of a Professor proclaiming his life's accomplishments and tripping over the wine table- Hermione, if it weren't for Katie and you, I wouldn't even bother."

"Speaking of Katie," she said cheerfully. "Has she told you when she wanted to go to Hogsmeade? She wanted to go before the rush. You know, to get the best dresses."

He shook his head, took a seat and grabbed a piece of toast. "No, she hasn't. Haven't seen her since Friday night, why? I thought you weren't going?"

"I… uh, changed my mind."

"Who's taking you, Hermione?"

"J-just a friend." She suddenly felt nervous. She knew that Harry had his suspicions and she couldn't possibly get into a deep debate about who she was going with, especially not so early in the damn morning and around so many people. If she was going to tell him, it would be on her terms but she knew she had to do it quickly. The longer she stretched out telling him, the nastier and grave it could become. She definitely didn't want that. "You'll see on Saturday."

"Is it Draco?"

A deep blush settled unpleasantly on both her cheeks. It took a lot of self-control not to acknowledge the fact that her cheeks were burning so intensely that she could feel the heat spread down her neck and across her chest. Even her fingers began to tremble a little. With one of her lover's names, she melted like snow in the sun. She was utterly hopeless, and she hasn't even talked to them about attending the Yule Party!

"No, I-I haven't spoken to him about it." She lied, even though it was the solid truth. In fact, she didn't think she would speak to them about it. The night that they shared together was marked by not just the semblance of their future but the mirrored erosion of their hearts. Even as she fallen asleep, she felt a considerable shift between all of them. It all began the moment that she promised Draco that she would do anything for him and Blaise was when darkness had taken control. After his projected promise of giving her anything as well, it was almost the darkness had sealed some sort of deal with her. Hermione hadn't spoken to either of them about it, but she felt incredibly sick afterwards. Up until now, she's been hiding that secret fairly well. Even now, as she reached for a bowl and poured herself some oatmeal, she was fighting the urge to skip breakfast altogether.

Harry leaned back a little and shrugged. "Well, whether or not you ask him is no concern of mine. Just be careful."

She almost stopped herself from rolling her eyes. "There you go again- how many times must I remind you that I am more than capable of handling myself?"

"Hermione, I-"

"Shush! I am sick and tired of you trying to dictate my life." She suddenly stood and glared at him, forgetting all about forcing herself to eat. "And, as I have told you before, Draco and I are friends and if I want to ask him to the party then I have every right to do so. You're not my father, Harry. Sometimes," she sighed at this," sometimes you sound like Ron."

"I'm only looking out for you." He said in his defense. "And, don't compare me to Ron. I'm nothing like him."

Behind her, she could hear Lavender's obnoxious voice carry down the length of the Hall. Without turning back, Hermione caught Harry's eye.

"I can handle myself. I'm not as weak as you think I am."

"I never said that." He hissed. "Look, just be careful, alright? I don't want him hurting you."

"Draco could never hurt me."

She would never know just how persistently ominous that sounded to Harry's ears.

From where she sat, Hermione could just make out the green and silver dots of her lovers colors. During this time, while the rest of the school was racing to finish last minute assignments, the Slytherin Quidditch team was engaged in a brutal practice tournament before the high anticipated game with the Gryffindor's. It was literally the only thing that the school could talk about; games between the rival houses were always a joy to watch. Well, for most.

"I don't understand what the big deal is." said Hermione, ditching her homework for Slughorn so she could focus on the practice. Even where she sat, she was able to see the movements of each player, engage each of them and even make out who was getting a scolding by Harry. She was never the one for sports, and she was deathly afraid of heights but she at least had the decency to pretend she cared. She had to when her two best friends were completely wrapped up in the entire affair that was Quidditch. Five years of it and she still didn't understand what was so fascinating about it.

In front of her sat Lavender brown. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that she would be sharing a table or find herself deeply engaged in conversation with her. It took some considerable amount of willpower, but Hermione finally let go of whatever grudge that she had for the girl and put her differences aside. Granted, it was one of the hardest things to do; Lavender wasn't the easiest person to get along with but at least she was easy to talk to. After spending some time with her, Hermione came to realize that she wasn't so bad. She was exactly quite literate and was someone she could easily get caught up talking to. If it wasn't for her boyfriend, she would have spoken to her ages ago.

Lavender dared a look out the window and sighed. "I don't know. Same reason we find makeup and boys fascinating, yeah?"

Hermione giggled. Out of all the things she could have compared it to, she had to choose that. "I suppose so." she agreed and they found themselves sharing a good-natured laugh. "Though, I can't possibly begin to understand their fascination with something that can easily kill you."

"They said the same thing about makeup and charms but hasn't stopped be from doing either," laughed Lavender before focusing her attention back her notes.

Their laughter dwindled down and they found themselves faced with silence that they were all too familiar with.

"Speaking of Charms, Lavender?" a small, gentle voice said.

Katie Bell sat right across from them and hadn't paid a single ounce of attention to either of them. It took them quite a lot of effort to pry the poor girl from Harry and now that they finally had her, she wasn't talking. It's as if she was mad at them from pulling her away from her boyfriend but that was entirely her problem. She needed some fresh air and what better way than spend some quality time in a stuffy library with a whole motley of other students? Although it wasn't her idealistic location, Katie had slowly grown comfortable enough to at least engage them about her notes.

Lavender huffed. "If this is about that damn spell, Katie I swear to Merlin-"

"It's not about Charms." Her voice lowered a bit, threateningly. "I'm talking about charms."

She obviously didn't understand what she was talking about and it took every bit of restraint for Hermione not to blurt out the answer.

Of course she would be talking about the charms decorating every available surface on campus. The entire school had been blanketed in a crisp sheet of white. From enchanted Christmas trees to levitating candles that flickered from red to green and gold every thirty seconds and carolers. A cheerful vibe had swept through the halls and filled the corridors with sensory delight and merriment. Christmas was truly the most wonderful time of the year and like a child on Christmas day, Hermione was smitten with the very idea of curiosity and generosity. She had always loved the season especially when the holiday was meant to bring people then tear them apart.

Before Hermione could speak, Lavender broke the silence first.

"So," she began, plastering a smile on her face. Hermione could see the immense difference between the ones that she forced to present prior to the reconciliation to the one she shared now. It was remarkable how two people could aside their differences and how quickly a friendship can form. She didn't have many girlfriends and the last friend she spoke to hadn't been entirely friendly. Hermione has yet to speak to her and still refused to do so since the incident. Ginny would have to come to her if she ever wanted to apologize for what she did. "The Yule Party is coming up. Has anyone asked you yet?"

It was the question of being asked but if they were ever going to ask her. She still had yet to discuss it with them and now that she mentioned it, Hermione was scared of what they would say. For weeks she's been stressing over the party, figuring that they'd eventually convene together and ask her. Even to go with one of them, Hermione was open to any sort of plan or possibility that they had planned. Sure, it would mean that one of them would be left to watch the other enjoy their evening together. To be honest, she didn't think she had the heart to do that to either of her Slytherins. Maybe it was for the best. Maybe she could just stay in the head's room or catch up on some much needed studying. That way, no one gets hurt.

"No one has asked me."

Katie just rolled her eyes and went back to her notes. Obviously, she had been asked and her little idea of entertainment hadn't gone according to plan.

Lavender quirked her eyebrow before another mysterious smile appeared on her lips. "Oh, come on. Don't be bashful."

"Why on earth would I be- "

"I've heard the rumors, Hermione." There was a hint of warning in her voice. "Admit it, someone's asked you!"

"No one has asked me!" There was nothing that she hated more than Lavender's persistence. The girl could talk and she could get anyone to spill their darkest secrets; like she needed her to spread some false rumor about Draco or Blaise. Hermione had no grievances about keeping her mouth shut until Lavender affronted her with the most scandalized thing she's ever heard.

"Come on, I know Cormac asked you to the party." she flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder and winked. "I find it rather sweet that he's asked you, Hermione. Katie and I have been wondering when he would locate his balls and ask you. It was getting annoying watch him follow you around and back out at the last moment."

This was when the third member of their study group chose to speak. Harry's girlfriend had kept her mouth shut, in fear that she would say something wrong. Katie was known to voice more than just her opinions and found Lavender more than just infuriating. Instead of speaking up until this point, she had pressed her nose firmly against her Potion's book and remained silent.

"She's got a point," she shut her book, ditched her notes and gazed at the curly-haired witch. "He has been itching to ask you since the dinner party. Merlin knows he could use all the luck he needed. Told him he'd have better luck asking out a Hippogriff than getting you to attend the part with him."

"Why would you say that?"

"Don't take this offensively but you aren't exactly… approachable. You make boys want to stay clear of you because your arrogance and self-riotousness."

"And, a Hippogriff wouldn't be as domineering. Just temperamental."

This really didn't stun her as much as she thought it would. Though, she had to inquire. "My self-riotousness?" she held back a retort as well an egocentric laugh. Among the hilarious things that came out of their mouths, this had to be the funniest thing that she has heard.

Katie frowned at her boldness.

"I'm s-sorry." She tried to right herself but couldn't. It was literally the funniest thing that they could have said to her. Of course she knew that boys found her a little bit hard to handle; she wasn't exactly the easiest person to speak to, and her intelligence did more harm than good. Even Harry and Ron found her intrusively annoying. Not that their small, menial opinions mattered. She just found other ways to cope with other's average-leveled abilities. "I- just find the entire thing amusing, that's all."

Lavender just stared at her, defeated while Katie twisted her lips to the side of her face. Clearly they've been found out. "Alright, you got us. It wasn't Cormac that wanted to ask you to the party. It couldn't have hurt you to go along with it, though."

"Did you honestly think that I would believe that?" she giggled hysterically. Never in her life did her sides hurt more than they did now. "Cormac is positively disgusting. No one in their rightful mind would go out with him."

"It's not the personality that we're attracted to, Granger." suggested Katie. "It's-"

Hermione stopped her before she could finish. She really didn't want her to finish that sentence nor did she want to know what her suggestions could have brought her to. "Do not finish that remark."

She grinned cynically at her. "Or what? Afraid of what lies below the waist of a hot, sensual male specimen?"

"Merlin," she breathed," you did not just say that." Hermione looked disgusted. "And, if you're not going to tell me who you're talking about then I vote we choose another topic to discuss." Her eyes darted to the unfinished notes before her. She would very much like to get back to review her Charms notes than talk about the impressive appendages of a male.

When neither of them motioned to speak, Hermione took it upon herself to open her textbook back up. Before she could re-read the first line of her notes, Katie spoke again, starling her out of her educational reverie.

"Rumor has it that a certain Slytherin Prince was planning on asking you to the party."

Lavender just wiggled her eyes admonishingly at her.

Blushing, Hermione turned her attention away from her textbook and notes and to her two house mates.

How they came across the absurdity was beyond her but she wasn't going to allow them to sit there and tease her about it! Who she went out with was no concern of theirs and if she was in fact going to be asked by one of her boys then she was going to sit and wait for one of them to find the courage to ask her. They weren't going to get away with using other's as resources for their nefarious needs.

Sure, deep down she wanted them to take her or find some way that they could all spend the upcoming night together. Those were just whimsical wishes that she longed to make true.

"You're being stupid. Slytherins would rather be caught dead than ask a Gryffindor out." Hermione waved her had dismissively. "But, for recreational purposes, which Slytherin was it?"

Katie's smile widened, stretching charmingly across her face. It quickly became apparent that Lavender and Katie knew more than they have led on.

"Oh, I think you know which one," she winked as Lavender giggled.

Hermione frowned. "No, I don't actually."

"Come on, Hermione. We've seen the two of you. Ever since you've became Head girl, you two have been inseparable."

Draco then.

"Not to mention he's absolutely smitten by you, too." Lavender chimed in rather cheerfully. "Top of the class and going out. Impressive, if I say so myself."

"Bookworms do attract other bookworms," agreed Katie, thoughtfully though Hermione didn't acknowledge her friend's attempt at a joke. "Who knew that the blonde-haired Slytherin Prince would fancy the Gryffindor Princess?"

She tried to fix her face as to not show astonishment but failed. Katie and Lavender chortled playfully as the heat of Hermione's cheeks rose. They were taking great advantage of the situation!

"I don't know who told you that but it isn't true. And, of course we've grown close. We do share a dorm, you know and we share a majority of our classes- "

"This has nothing to do with what classes you share, Granger. We already know how indecisive you can be about picking which courses to take and Malfoy just so happened to pick the same ones you did."

"If this isn't about that then what is this about?" she asked nervously, almost reluctant to hear what they had to say.

"You fancy him!" Lavender whispered loudly, beaming with excitement. Her voice may have been a soft, unnoticed buzz but somehow it drew the attention of several students studying just a few feet away. Hermione's cheeks reddened even more. She tried to keep them from exploding and blowing things out of proportion.

"You've got it wrong," she told them earnestly. "I-I don't fancy him." It wasn't a lie, just a veiled truth.

Hermione didn't just fancy him, she loved him. There was no way she would ever admit that to them, no matter how absolutely true the statement was.

She didn't fancy him; she loved him.

Everything about him made her heart speed up and her stomach flutter with butterflies. Just a simple smile of graze of their shoulders sent reverberating shivers to course through her body. A day didn't go by that she didn't think about him. Every time she did, an erotic spark would set off inside of her and would usher a whole new level of a radiance to channel between them. A simple glance, an oeillade penetrated her very soul and exposed her to the most innocent yet sinfully imploring callings. Exposed to such gorgeous eyes left her more vulnerable each day and she wished that he wouldn't look at her as if he knew exactly what she was think, feeling or going to say. It was a secret of hers; she was a sucker for his eyes.

His eyes weren't the only things that she loved. His smile, hidden kindness and not to mention his humor and intelligence. The only thing she couldn't understand is what they saw in her.

It didn't take her long to realize something she never thought of, let alone admitted to herself. The answer was right in front of her; other's found her annoyingly knowledgeable, bossy and

"Alright, I fancy him." she admitted after some time, her heart hammering away in her chest. She looked at them and frowned. "Wipe those smirks off your faces!"

They just continued to stare at her as if she said the most astounding thing. "Y-you what?"

A blush rose from her chest and blossomed across her face. "I fancy him." Hermione said, reiterating the statement. "I have for a while and… come on, like you said we have gotten close over the last couple of months and we do spend quite a lot of time together. It was hard not to fall for the bloke."

Lavender and Katie appeared to be bursting with a million and one questions, all ranging from the most sensible of inquiries to the downright personal. During the last hour of sunlight, they had gotten her to answer the most burning questions, all the satisfy their need to know how their relationship started and where they both saw it going in the next several months. It was their sixth year and it would be adorable to have their relationship exceed well into their adult life, and beyond that. Hermione nearly choked on her smuggled pumpkin juice. Clearly, she hadn't thought that far into the future but to think that she had some kind of chance of being with both of them was heartwarming.

"When did the love set in?" Lavender asked, trying to conceal her overzealous need to know.

"She means," corrected Katie hastily, "when did you realize that you loved him."

Truth be told, Hermione knew for a while. If she was completely honest with herself, she imagined that the she knew she loved him before she was even able to comprehend the concept. During their early years, she would have completely fell head over heels if he even glanced at her. Now, that feeling of weightlessness and captivated serenity was amplified by a thousand. Comparing her relationship now and with the past, she could see an immense difference in how they both acted with each other. With respect that only comes from posed gentlemen, Draco treated her the way a man ought to tree a woman.

"I don't know," she didn't want to open herself up and tell them exactly when she realized it, fearing that they would ridicule her.

"Come on, Granger," Katie urged with a wink. "Tell us."

Blushing slightly, Hermione took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. "Alright, I'll tell you." She paused, looking at both of them as she fought to tell them. "I fell in love with him before I realized what love was."

They sat there for a minute or so before Katie sat back in her chair. The atmosphere changed from tense speculation to downright unnerving blather. Her former housemates spoke in such loud, hushed tones that it forced the surrounding groups to move from their spots and seek refuge elsewhere. Hermione had never been so mortified in her entire life.

After some time, the topic of her romance with the Slytherin turned back to the Yule party. Secretly, they both wished that he would, as they put it so kindly and vividly, find his courage and ask her already. It was less than a week away and with a decent amount of channeling and charms, the girls were sure that they'd be able find something half-suitable for the evening. Even if they had to pry it from someone's cold, dead hands, they vowed that they would be the most well-dressed ladies of the evening.

"I'm telling you. If anyone even thinks they can up one me they have another thing coming." Katie said, a bit of overconfidence in her voice.

Hermione only laughed at her comic remark while Lavender agreed with her.

"Malfoy better ask you soon, or someone else will." Lavender chided in happily as she gathered her belongings and giggled humorously. "I'm very much looking forward to seeing you two there, Hermione. I can only imagine how beautiful you will look. You two really do balance each other out remarkably well."

The girls bid her farewell sometime after that and for a good hour, Hermione was left to contemplate the conversation she shared with them.

She wasn't at all surprised that they would be interested in who took her to the party; though, it was wrong of her to even suggest that Draco was her only consort. Despite the past, she not only had him to think of but Blaise as well. There were qualities that she loved about him, too. Like the way he would stare knowingly at her and not say a word. Like a private oasis shared only between them, it made a lot of their time together serenely wonderful.

There was a lot that she loved about them both, but it was hard to put into context exactly what she loved the most about them. Perhaps, it was the way they all seemed to intertwine. Like perfect pieces of a final picture, they fit each other well. Woven by the same intricately complex wine thread, they shared something others just wouldn't understand and could only wish upon a falling star that they could share it with someone they loved.

This drew to some haunting conclusions.

Making sure that no one was watching her, Hermione stood and walked away from the cozy little table. The scent of pumpkin followed her, only vastly reminding her of Katie's mastery of eluding the librarian.

Why was it that they knew so much when she knew so little? Hadn't they once thought that she would be interested in knowing about their past lives. As she had said before, their past didn't matter when they had a whole new lifetime to think about. In the course of three years, he had changed from the rude, arrogant little boy to a well refined man. His view of the world changed so significantly that he stopped using the one derogatory word that he had come to appraise with sick approval. Even Blaise had changed. After the Yule Ball, from what she was able to see, he had changed as well.

Draco had years to perfect what she could only imagine was the most conflicting source to his sanity. Born from a brush of her skin, he had been opened to a whole world that was quite the opposite to what he had grown up knowing and was used to. It was then that she realized that he changed because of her. Blaise was another example to the workings that of their connection. If it hadn't been for her, neither of them would have found her and she wouldn't have found them. She looked forward to what was to come.

With all her heart she wanted that future. The one where they all could be together, happy, and basking in the light of life and welcoming whatever blessings that were given to them. Hermione didn't believe in anything that she couldn't explain, and even the notion of soulmates had not only been completely unrealistic but totally improbable. To think that two individuals, let alone three, were connected by a single red thread that couldn't even be damaged by the Fate's shears was preposterous. Of all things that Trelawney had predicted, foreshadowed, and prophesized during Divination, she did not mention a single instance of Soulmates of Three. They were not only a rarity, but among the handful of Aphrodite's children that have come to prove that love can be shared between more than two people.

There was more that she wanted to know. How was it possible for a Goddess that advocated love and sexuality to detest the shared compassion of other's? Wasn't her sole purpose in life to spread the good-natured teachings of love and the many forms that blossomed from the its mother seed?

Hermione has been contemplating these questions ever since finding the page within her old tome. Nights wasted away, trying to come up with a reasonable explanation to something that she just couldn't understand.

Perhaps it was best to not think about it. She had just proven to herself that she was more than accepting of love and even more so worthy of being loved. That's all she wanted; to be loved by someone who she shared the same alluring feelings was more than she could ever ask for. For two people to find nothing but the highest respect and adoration for her wasn't something that she ever thought she would receive. Hermione owed them her gratitude.

With a smile, she walked back to the table. Being surrounded by the volumes of the ages had been more than enough to settle her intrusive thoughts and reconcile any conflicts she may have had. Her boys may have their feelings and thoughts sorted but it had taken a little bit longer for her to do the same. Both, as she suspected, didn't think it would take this long for her to establish herself in their relationship. Although anxious, she felt a lot better than she had when they first began seeing each other.

Monday, November Twelve, 1996

A callously wicked vibe ran down her back as she trotted across the Common Room for the third time. Sitting casually on the couch, dressed in tailored black slacks, white dress shirt and loose tie was Draco. He seemed relatively calm compared to his unique counterpart, who had been told the startling news that the third member of their companionship would arrive some time before the stroke of nine. This information hadn't been last minute, but it might as well have been. All day Hermione stressed about talking to the dark-skinned Slytherin. She was particularly interested in how he had taken the news of… well, their situation. A lot of questions bombarded her, begging her to pick them to ask first but only one had won and she literally prayed that he would be able to answer.

"Calm down, Granger." drawled Draco, a little bit too calmly. He acted as if meeting Zabini was an everyday occurrence and that she shouldn't be worried about talking to someone she ought to know wouldn't intentionally hurt her. For the past several days, he has eased her into the idea of them all sitting down to talk and now that he coaxed her into it, he feared that she would back out at the last possible moment. That would be calamitous to say the least; she was not the only one nervous about meeting up. Blaise had been harder to convince. "You're making me anxious by walking back and forth."

"It's the only thing keeping me from running away."

Draco frowned at that before sighing. This was not how he imagined their first meeting. Sure, he knew that she wouldn't immediately accept him; Zabini and Hermione didn't exactly see eye to eye but he knew that if he at least got them in the same room, they would eventually put their differences aside and talk. If not, then he thought reluctantly, he was in for a long arse night.

"Then, should I suggest something less stressful?" he asked just as she passed by him.

Before she could answer, Draco reached out and grabbed her wrist and swung her to face him. With a stolid expression, he brought his lips to hers. She fought for a moment, unsure on how to act or move before she melted into the almost too chaste kiss. He could feel her relax in his grip; she opened her mouth slightly and whimpered with his tongue breeched the softness of her lips.

All too quickly, they pulled away, gasping.

Draco smirked arrogantly. "Better?"

She nodded slowly. "Much better."

"Good, now take a seat." he nodded to the space between them. "Blaise will never forgive me if he thought that I couldn't console you properly."

"And, why would he do that?"

He gave her a sideways glance and sighed. "He's very observant. Everything he sees and hears is all because he's able to take in his surroundings better than anyone else I know. You can't tell me you haven't noticed."

Hermione thought for a moment, fidgeting with her shirt. He eyed the nervous habit and instantly put a stop to it.

"I can't say I've noticed…" she admitted softly. Truth be told, she never really paid much attention to him. He was just another blurred face to her… until now.

"Trust me," Draco rubbed his wrist thoughtfully," he'd know if there was something wrong."

Hermione nodded, understanding somewhat what he meant.

They sat like the for some time before the woman in the portrait appeared and announced the arrival of their guest. With a polite thank you from Draco, they stood and waited for her frame to swing open. When it did, Hermione's breath caught in her throat and for the briefest moment she forgot how to breath.

Blaise Zabini was not how she remembered him.

Sometime after eight, Hermione arrived back at the Head' room. She dumped her books onto the small coffee table and proceeded to undress, knowing that Draco was off doing Merlin knows what. It was unlike him to leave without telling her where he would be, not that he ever did that in past. He was a spontaneous young man and drifted wherever he very well pleased. Knowing him as well as she did, he was probably still in the locker room with Blaise or on his way back.

With an audible sigh, Hermione pulled her cloak off her body, paying no mind to the hurried footsteps just outside the portrait door. No doubt the Gryffindors were on their way back from scooping out the competition. When will the rivalry end?

Giggling, Hermione turned around, her eyes narrowing on something distinctively green and silver. Draco was always so tidy and organized, but seeing one of his Quidditch sweaters lying out of the open gave her some very devious ideas what to do with it. His sweater looked comfortable enough and he had plenty of them to support the entire team; the man was very generous with his money as well as his exceptional outlook and leadership. There was a reason why he had been chosen as Slytherin's Captain. In fact, she saw no repercussions in stealing his shirt.

With that resolved, Hermione walked over and snatched the green piece off the back of the couch. She shivered at the softness as she held it up to her nose and took a deep intake of air. It smelled just like him, of amber and wood. She longed to see him. The thought of him coming back to their dorms and seeing her in his shirt excited her.

Holding Draco's shirt tightly against her chest, Hermione dashed toward her chambers without a second thought as to what she was about to do.