Thank you for the Reviews! I love them! and I wasn't at all a bit annoyed, Claire. I did try to fix what I could. Sorry if there is any GE's.

I hope you all like this new chapter. I will be gone for about a week or so, so i'll try to get another chapter up by the time I leave.

R&R if will. :)


Chapter 11: Ready as Ever


After a week of being left alone by everyone in the castle, even Snape, Hermione felt that she needed to talk to one twinkly eyed Headmaster. The only thing was, she didn't want to go alone. Harry and Ron hadn't spoken to her ever since she broke Ron's nose and yelled at them both the night she found out about her parents and Ginny always looked like she was busy, her and Luna were always off doing something. The only person left was Draco. She smiled at the very thought of him. He was there for her, everyday that week. She would sometimes break down and he'd remind her that her parents would want her to be happy. She was proud to call him her boyfriend.

They're first official date was when they chaperoned the Hogsmead outing, during the middle of the week. They sort of forgot to watch over the other students and went into The Three Broomsticks. They talked about everything. Favorite Colors. Of course Draco's was green and Hermione's was red. Quidditch. Draco couldn't believe Hermione didn't like the sport. Flying. He was even more shocked that she hated flying. Classes. Draco almost fell asleep with Hermione's talk about all the different subjects. And when the talk of Potions came around. They both found themselves engulfed with the different kind of ingredients potions needed. They talked about Hermione being Snape's Apprentice and he told her that he wanted to maybe see about being an Auror after graduating from Hogwarts.They talked about the tiniest things like their favorite foods to the biggest things like what they thought about the Ministry and the Order.

Hermione thinking back to that day, also remembered when she had told Ginny about herself and Draco. She didn't expect the reaction that came from Ginny. She was happy and it looked as if she were on the verge of tears with all the happiness that was radiating off of her. But, even though Hermione didn't suspect such a reaction, she was happy that Ginny didn't go ballistic, like Harry and Ron would when she told them. If she'd even tell them. They weren't basically her friends anymore. With them not talking to her and her trying to ignore them as good as possible. She came to the conclusion that they'd find out after word got around.

Walking into the portrait hole, Hermione saw Draco at the table, books scattered around. 'Damn it, he's doing homework.' She thought and she sat in a chair next to him.

Draco looked up and gave her a smile that made her legs turn into jelly. "Hey." He said.

"Hi." She smiled and then looked away looking back at him as he pushed his chair back a little to look at her more clearly. He gave her the look that told her that he knew there was more, "Are you really busy?" She asked.

"No, just finishing up the essay Professor Snape gave us about the Healing drought." He told her.

"Could you come with me to see Professor Dumbledore." She asked.

"You made up your mind?" He asked and she nodded her head.

Draco stood up and held out his hand to her. She looked at it and then took it. He gave her a smile and a kiss on the cheek, "Lets go see the Wizard of Oz." He said sarcastically as they walked towards the portrait hole.

Hermione stopped dead in her tracks the look of surprise present on her face, "You know about the Wizard of Oz?"

Draco smiled, "It is only the most famous Wizarding Tale." He told her and she looked even more shocked at that, "What? You thought a muggle came up with that story?"

Hermione gave him glare, but when he gave her a look of apology she couldn't help but smile.

-

They stood in front of the Gargoyle. Both had forgot the password. Hermione had thought it was 'Lemondrops', but it wasn't and Draco had thought it was 'Sherbert Lemon', but again it wasn't.

They started naming things off by random, Draco even said 'Harry Potter' and got a laugh from Hermione. Then after about a hundred or more guesses of what the password was, Hermione said, "Milk Duds". And surprising the gargoyle moved off to the side and the stair case began to rise up.

"What are Milk Duds?" Draco asked.

"A muggle candy." Hermione said shocked that 'Milk Duds' was the password. "Well, lets go." She said grabbing Draco's arm and dragging him up the stairs and to the doors that led into Dumbledore's Office.

She lightly knocked and then the booming, yet soft voice of Albus Dumbledore said, "Enter."

Once they walked in and closed the door behind them, they made their way up to his desk. He smiled at the both of them. Looking at their hands and seeing that they were intertwined, Dumbledore's smile grew even wider if that was possible. 'Ms. Weasley was right.' He thought, 'Kaytrina will be so pleased.'

"What gives me the pleasure of seeing you two fine students, here today?" Dumbledore asked with that twinkle in his eye.

"Um, it's about the letter you sent me a week ago. Um...You know when my parents..." Hermione felt the tears prick the corners and she closed her eyes, but when she felt Draco squeeze her hand she opened them and gave him a smile.

"Yes, the letter." Dumbledore said bringing his hands together, "So have you chosen where you shall live?"

Hermione gave a nod, "Yes, I have." Hermione stated, "I would like to stay here at Hogwarts, if that is still alright?"

Dumbledore's twinkly eyes grew even more bright, "Yes, Ms. Granger. Hogwarts may still be your home. I am glad that you have chosen Hogwarts." He told her and stood up.

"Also, I'd like you give my parents estate to the Order." Hermione told him and Dumbledore nodded, "As a Safe House or another Head Quarters, perhaps."

"That's very generous, Ms. Granger. I'm sure the rest of the Order will be very pleased." Dumbledore stated and Hermione gave a small smile. "Since Hogwarts will now be your permanent home, Ms. Granger, maybe living quarters for yourself should be provided?"

Hermione looked at Draco and he just looked at Dumbledore, his face expressionless. Hermione looked to her Headmaster, "I'm still a student and Head Girl at that, I think maybe until after Graduation, we could hold off on the separate living quarters." She stated.

Dumbledore gave a nod, "Very well, I deeply respect your decision."

"Thank you." Hermione said with a soft smile.

"Now, if you will excuse me. I have a meeting to attend to with the staff." Dumbledore said and led them out of his office. Closing the door behind them all. "Many of the staff, think Van living in Kaytrina's quarters is unsuitable and Hagrid is trying to get me to let him give you a lesson upon unicorns, which I think that is not such a good idea since they are almost extinct and there is only a small sum of unicorns in the Forbidden Forest."

Draco and Hermione just gave each other a look, wondering if Dumbledore was off his rocker, with telling them about some of the staff meeting discussions.

Then Hermione thought about what Dumbledore said about Van. "Wait." She said stopping, "Van is still here and living with Professor Kay?"

Dumbledore turned to her with a smile, "Yes, it seems that they are sort of in an engagement."

"But, he's a vampire." Draco said with a look of slight disgust.

"Half-Vampire, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore corrected.

Draco just rolled his eyes.

"They're engaged?" Hermione said rather shocked.

"Yes, it seems so." Dumbledore said.

"To be married?" Hermione asked.

"Yes." Dumbledore stated.

Hermione, 'hmpfed' and started to walk again. 'Well, she did say he was a good friend.' Hermione thought and then a laugh escaped her lips. 'A friend with benefits, I'm guessing.'

Draco and Dumbledore were now the ones to share a look.

-

Hermione and Draco made their way back into the Head Common Room. And sat down on the green couch. Hermione's head in Draco's lap and Draco's hand combing threw her hair.

"It's kind of weird, you know?" Hermione said.

"What's weird?" Draco asked.

"Professor Kay and Van. I mean who would've thought?"

"I get what your saying." Draco said with a small laugh and bent down and kissed Hermione's head.

Hermione sat and brought her knees to her chin, "Draco?" She asked.

"Yes, luv."

"I have to tell you something." She told him.

"What's that?" He asked.

"Well, I've known...I've known I've liked you since our first year." She said and Draco just stared at her, "even though you called me names and stuff and now I know you really didn't mean it and over the past few week, maybe even before, I've found that I...well I..."She stumbled over her word. 'It's too soon to tell him.' She thought.

"I love you too, Hermione." Draco said and Hermione just gapped at him.

Draco smiled and then put a hand on either side of her face and kissed her lips softly. Pulling back, Hermione said, "I love you, Draco Malfoy." And she kissed him back.

Both, getting caught in the moment, started to feeling each other bodies and Draco trailed kisses down Hermione neck, making a moan escape Hermione's lips. Each pulling back for air looked into the others eyes, seeing want and desire. Draco's eyes asked her the question she knew was coming and Hermione swallowed. A week ago they had both confirmed that they weren't ready, but know Hermione felt as if she were as ready as ever. Hermione kissed Draco's lips softly and nodded her head. Draco then, stood up, picking Hermione up at the same time. He walked up the stairs and into his room.