A/N: This is a mature chapter...for readers that are of age...18+! Hope you like... (it was my very first love scene lol)

Chapter 10

Apologies and Love

That night when Hermione got home, she went directly to the study to check on Draco. Knocking on the door, she said, "Lucky? Is everything all right in there?"

Lucky popped out into the hallway. "Things are fine, Miss. Lucky is still watching Master sleep. Master can be waking up any time now, Miss. I made you some food, Miss, it is waiting for you in the kitchen."

She smiled at him. "Thank you, Lucky. I am fairly hungry after all that walking. I'll probably try to get some sleep afterward, but please wake me up when he wakes, okay?"

"Yes, Miss. Lucky will do so." With that, Lucky popped back into the room with Draco as Hermione headed for the kitchen.

Once she was done eating, she headed upstairs, intending to take a bubble bath. I have got to relax and figure out what I'm going to say to Draco, she thought to herself. She had spent all the time she was shopping unable to get her mind off the kiss. As she started the water and added the bubbles, she continued the never-ending conversation with herself.

Slipping into the wonderfully warm, lavender-scented bubbles, she asked herself time and again, Why did I kiss him back? What am I going to say to him? Would he believe me even if I lied to him? Why did I have to give in? Will this ruin our friendship? I don't want to lose him, but how can I face him again and not remember the kiss? How could I have been so stupid as to forget to have Lucky to lock the study door? Oh, that's right, I was busy picturing myself dancing with Draco, holding him close. Him telling me how much he loved me, too. Merlin, you are so stupid, Hermione!

When Draco woke up, Lucky said he would let Hermione know Draco was awake.

"No, I'll go tell her myself, Lucky," Draco replied. "But thank you. Please, don't disturb us for the rest of the night."

"If Sir or Miss need me, just call. Thank you, sir. There is more pain-relieving potion on that table if you should be needing it, sir."

"Thank you, Lucky." Draco grabbed the little vial and put it into his pocket as he watched Lucky leave the room. I can't believe that happened. I went too far; with my luck, she'll be waiting around to tell me she'll leaving. I can't lose her, I can't. Maybe I should just tell her that that's how I really feel. She won't believe me, and even if she did, she wouldn't feel the same way. It would ruin everything. No—I have to tell her; I can't keep lying. Friendships should be full of trust. If I lie about my feelings, I'm not being true to myself or our friendship. Merlin, I hope she can still be friends with someone who is in love with her, because I HAVE TO TELL HER.

All of this went through his head as he made his way to Hermione's room. When he got to her door, he paused before knocking. Hearing no answer, he quietly opened the door and walked into the room. Looking around, he wondered where she was. Just as he was about to turn and leave, she walked out of the bathroom, wearing nothing but a fluffy robe. He clenched his jaw hard to keep it from dropping, knowing he would more than likely drool a little if it did.

She was breathtaking. The bathrobe was a pale blue with fluffy white clouds all over. Finally looking at her face, he saw that she was shocked at his presence. "I'm sorry to barge in, but I wanted to speak to you about what happened earlier."

She was still just staring at him, at a loss for words. She searched her mind for something to say in return, something to change the subject. She didn't think she could handle a discussion just yet.

"How is your arm? D-did the Mark go away?" She flushed lightly in the face, embarrassed about the stuttering and her obvious need to take refuge in a change of subject. At her question, he rolled up his sleeve. She walked over to him. Both of them looked at his arm sadly, thinking the same thing: The damn Mark is STILL THERE. But, seeing it there, her regret that their second attempt had failed pushed away her fear. She wrapped her arms around him, leaning her head on his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, Draco. We still have the last potion to think about. Amortentia

has got to work; it's the most powerful love potion in the world."

He hugged her more tightly. "Thank you for helping me, Hermione. I won't give up hope. How can I, when I've got you here cheering me on?" She pulled away from him, but before she could get far, he grabbed her hand. "Let's sit down on your little couch. We need to talk; that is, I need to tell you something." Her face paled, but she followed him to the couch in her room. Sitting down, she continued to look at her feet, too afraid to look into his eyes.

When Draco realised she wasn't going to look up, he reached his hand over and gently tilted her chin until she was looking at him. "Hermione, first off, I want to apologise for what happened earlier. I don't blame you, I blame me." She looked at him with a confused expression.

"But Draco, it was my fault. I didn't get Lucky to seal the room—besides, you were under the influence!" He grabbed her hand again and looked at their hands for a moment, measuring his words. When he finally looked up, there was the faintest hint of fear and longing in his eyes.

"Hermione, I—I love you. I'm sorry, but I do. I wish I didn't, and I don't want to ruin our friendship, but I need to be honest with you. You're the best thing that's ever happened in my life. Ever since you found me, I've come to love you more and more. I'm sorry if my revealing this to you ruins things. I hope you'll give me a chance to get over these strong feelings, because I don't want to lose you!"

She was looking at him with utter shock, and when she failed to say something after a moment, he started to rise off the couch, a look of deep sadness on his face. "I'm sorry, I'll—"

But he never got to finish what he was saying or even take a step away from the couch. Hermione stood up and pressed her lips against his so fast that it took him a second to register what was happening.

After kissing each other till they could hardly breathe, she pulled away just far enough to look at him. Gasping for air, she said, "I love you too…so much." A few tears fell from her eyes as she looked at him, willing him to look in her eyes and see the truth.

"Hermione!" was all he said in a raspy voice before he descended onto her lips again, his tongue asking entry this time. She opened her mouth and her soul to him without hesitation. Her hands wound themselves into his hair, bringing his head closer to her, deepening the kiss. His hands explored her body, loving the feel of her shape. He slowly grabbed her hips, pressing her close to him. Suddenly, he stopped and started to push her away.

"Draco?" She was looking at him inquiringly.

"I don't want to push you, not if you're not ready. And if we don't stop now, I'm afraid I won't be able to stop at all," he said as she gazed into his passion-filled eyes.

"Draco, shut up and kiss me. I can't stop either—and I don't want to!" With that she grabbed his head and pulled him in. She saw him smirk just before their lips met. He started with her lips and slowly started to kiss across her cheek, her neck, until he reached her ear.

He whispered ever so quietly, "I'm going to lead you to the bed, and on the way, I'm going to undress you. Then I'm going to love you." He leaned back after that, looking into her eyes, wanting to make sure he could see understanding on her face before he continued. She didn't say anything, but she didn't have to. She just smiled, and started to slowly unbutton his shirt. She never took her eyes away from his until she lowered the shirt.

She took her time looking at his well defined chest. She ran her hands slowly over his skin, loving the feel of his muscles. As her hands roamed lower, she briefly looked into his eyes again, blushing before she looked away and started to undo his jeans. She began to kiss his neck, then his chest, as she lowered the jeans over his hips. When they were low enough for him to kick off, he brought her up and started ravishing her lips, not able to take anymore.

He untied the belt keeping her robe closed as he backed her toward the bed. When he had the belt undone, he pulled away from her. He looked at her as he pulled the robe open, and pushed it over her shoulders and off her body.

She heard his intake of breath and blushed at the same time that he saw her in her naked beauty. He looked at her in awe. She slowly hooked her fingers in the waistband of his boxers and slid them off him. Standing up, she looked him over with a growing longing in her eyes. She sat on the bed and started to scoot herself back to lie down. He smiled at her, loving the deepening of desire he saw in her eyes as she looked at him. Slowly he crawled onto the bed, taking his time and kissing her body as he moved. When he was on his side, right beside her, he stopped. "Are you sure?" he asked as his hands roamed over her stomach, touching her lightly.

"Yes," she said. He lowered his head to kiss her again as he covered her body with his. Slowly he maneuvered himself between her legs. Kissing her lips and trailing down her neck, he paused again to whisper into her ear.

"Is this your first time?" he questioned. She was grateful he wasn't looking at her face as a deep blush suffused it.

"It is," was all she said.

"Then I'll go very slowly. If you want me to stop, just tell me. I won't move until you tell me, okay?" He felt her nod of agreement. He brought his face back to kiss her. As their kiss deepened again, he slowly entered her, breaking through her innocence. His kiss covered her sudden intake of breath. He pulled his face away to gaze at her, hating the tear that slid down her cheek. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "Are you all right?"

She opened her eyes. "Yes, I'll be fine. It doesn't hurt anymore." To show him how much she wanted him to continue, she kissed him while grabbing his hips and pulling him closer very slowly. He answered her with a deep moan and started to move within her. Moments later she started to moan with him, both of them feeling as if they couldn't get close enough. They both reached the peak, they leaped as one into the abyss, lost to everything but each other.

A few moments later, Draco collapsed onto her, laying his head beside her neck, gasping for air. When he felt he could talk again and wasn't trembling as much, he lifted himself off to lie beside her, still holding her in his arms.

"You are so beautiful. I love you so much, Hermione," he said after he tilted her chin so he could look into her eyes.

"I love you too, Draco," she said, smiling at him, clasping his hand. "How about we go take a bath? I'm a little sore, but I don't want to leave you right now. How does that sound?"

In answer, he got off the bed and picked her up. Before leaving for the bathroom, he muttered a spell and flicked his wand at the bed, Vanishing the telltale sign of her first time. He took her to the bathroom and lowered her into the tub. Filling it with warm water and bubbles, he got in the tub with her. They lay there for a while, holding each other. When she nearly fell asleep in his arms, they got out of the tub and dried each other off. Slipping into bed, they both drifted off to sleep, holding one another, reveling in their newfound love.

PLEASE READ REVIEW!