Author's note : Hey, here's chapter 10. Firstly, I owe you all an apology. I was busy with my other story so I didn't really pay attention to this one. Now that the other one is complete, I'm going to update as frequently as possible. I'm so sorry to keep you all waiting!

Anyway, enjoy this chapter. Things will move on much faster from the next chapter. I hope you like it!

Listen to : Darkening sky by Peter Bradley Adams.

Disclaimer : Not mine.

'No way' she yelled, trying to move away from him, shaking her head furiously. She was scared as hell. She hadn't flown a broom since her first year and that had been an experience she never wanted to revisit.

'C'mon! I'm just taking you for a ride. It's fun I assure you' said Draco, trying to convince her.

'No! I'm sure it's fun for you and Harry and all the other boys but I'm not one for flying. Especially when the temperature is this low. Maybe we should just get back to the castle...' she trailed off hopefully, knowing too well that her pleading was for nothing. The gleam in his eyes told her that he was going to have his way whether she liked it or not.

Sure enough, he caught hold of her wrist and without waiting for explanations, mounted the broom and pulled her onto it.

'If we die of cold, my parents are going to sue yours' she whispered to him annoyed.

'I think I'm willing to risk that' he said with a smirk and kicked off.

She wanted to scream but her voice wouldn't come out. Her eyes had shut themselves of their own accord, knowing that she was too scared to see what was below.

The cold air was biting her, rushing through her hair and making her shiver violently. Her teeth were chattering and she could feel her hands growing cold.

'Jeez, Granger. One would think you had no endurance for cold at all! This is nothing at all. I think if you open your eyes you'll see that the earth is still visible' he said playfully.

'Don'ttt make fuuun of meee, Drrraco!' she managed to say through her clattering teeth, 'you know how I loathe flying!'

'Well open you eyes then Granger and see for yourself what lies beneath. I promise you, it's beautiful' he whispered in her ear but she still kept her eyes shut, vowing to open them only when she would feel the safety of the earth beneath her feet.

'Granger...'

'Nnno...'

'Please..'

'No!'

'Hermione...'

Her eyes flew open. And what she saw took her breath away just as Draco had promised.

They were flying over the lake which was as still as a mirror. The stars and the moon shone below them as well as above them. The whole of Hogwarts looked so beautiful that she just stared, not even noticing when Draco suddenly plunged them downwards so that they were nearing the ground. Her breath caught as her shoes skimmed over the water. She realised that she wasn't even shivering anymore.

About half an hour later they landed in the Quidditch pitch. She was still breathless though Draco looked completely unfazed. She wondered why she had been so scared of flying earlier. This had been one of the most wonderful experiences of her life.

'That was brilliant!' she said to him as he put away his broom in the broom cupboard. He was smirking as usual and his hair was ruffled from the flight and she felt a sudden desire to run her fingers through the silver strands. And then he turned. And caught her staring at him.

She blushed involuntarily and he put his arm around her again, leading her back to the castle.

'Wasn't it? And to think you used to be so scared of flying just because it couldn't be learnt from a book!' he laughed and she joined in.

They walked to the castle, talking animatedly about all sorts of things and she was surprised to find how completely at ease she was. A few months ago, if someone had told her that she'd be stroll across the Hogwarts grounds at midnight, she'd say the person had had too much firewhiskey. And yet here she was, walking with him, hands intertwined and all.

They reached the Entrance Hall too soon for her liking and he decided to walk her to the Gryffindor tower after she looked at him beseechingly.

'That's me' she said to him, her voice falsely cheery as they reached the foot of the tower.

'Right' he said nonchalantly.

'Thank you for the ride, I had an amazing time' she said quietly.

And then he was suddenly leaning in, just like that night two months ago, but this time she was intoxicated not by Butterbeer, but by his presence.

Her eyes fluttered shut and she felt his lips lightly touch the corner of her mouth.

To say that she was disappointed would've been an understatement.

She looked at him and pouted and he laughed before giving her a peck on the lips.

'Goodnight, Granger' was all he said before walking away.

She walked upto the portrait hole in a daze and entered the dark common room only to see a dishevelled looking redhead in an armchair glaring at her.

Ron.

A/n : Like it? Hate it?

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Love you all.

Aditi xoxoxo