Disclaimer; I own nothing!
A/N Sorry for the late update everyone! My hubby was in the hospital all day yesterday. He was having chest pains but luckily it turned out to only be a pulled muscle thank god, but they kept him all day doing cardiac tests anyway.
So right now this is the last chapter I have fully written of this story. I am working on the next chapter,(thanks for all the ideas everyone) but I don't know if it will be finished by next week. I will work realy hard to get it done though. Happy reading and don't forget to review. And if you have any ideas put them in your reviews. Thanks.
Watched
The four of them slowly made their way back to Hogwart's castle after breakfast. The sparkling diamond snow only slightly impeding their journey. Hermione and Draco had been comfortably quiet since they exchanged feelings for each other in the cabin. They held hands and smiled at each other as they walked slightly behind Blaise and Lavender who were also holding hands and grinning madly. By the time they reached the castle it was nearly noon. Students were outside having snowball fights and playing quidditch on the snow covered pitch. They were all frozen to the bone as they entered the warm castle. Blaise and Lavender kissed each other good-by as he headed for the dungeons and she for the seventh floor tower. Hermione and Draco were walking off towards their fifth floor common room when Harry caught up with them.
"Can I steal Hermione for a moment mate?" he asked. Draco nodded and kissed Hermione on the cheek before ascending the huge staircase.
"Hey Harry." she smiled and hugged him. She had totally forgiven him for acting like an ass.
"Did you have a good time? We heard you got stuck in Hogsmeade." he said knowingly.
"It was ok." she blushed. "Can we go somewhere private and talk?" she asked.
"Sure, like where?"
"How about the astronomy tower." she replied.
"Alright. Let's go." he grabbed her hand and pulled her up the stairs. They seemed to climb forever and finally they reached the tower. Harry locked the door behind them.
"What's up Hermione?" he asked in a concerned voice.
"Something happened this weekend and I'm not sure how to feel about it." she said biting her lip.
"Do I even want to know?" he asked somewhat disgusted.
"It's not that." she blushed giving more away than she realized. "Draco told me he loves me."
Harry's eyes widened.
"And?" he asked.
"And I love him."
"What?" Harry asked shocked.
"I never thought I would say those words about anyone other than Ron. But I do love him. I just wanted my best friend to know." Harry walked over and hugged her.
"I am happy for you 'Mione. I just hope he is treating you right."
"He is. Thank you for understanding Harry. I love you Harry." Harry blushed.
"I love you too 'Mione." he replied.
Hermione made her way back to her common room smiling from ear to ear. She knew that Harry didn't really accept her relationship, but at least he didn't attempt to hex Draco at every given opportunity. Ron on the other hand was a completely different matter. He was out of control and she had an ominous feeling that he would do something stupid to try to get her back. By the time she reached the portrait hole she had a feeling of being watched. She muttered the password quietly and entered her common room. Draco was sitting on the couch reading over some homework.
"Hey." he called.
"Hey." she said plopping down next to him.
"What did Potter want?" he asked.
"Nothing." Hermione replied.
"Oh."
"Well, I'm going to go shower." she said heading up the stairs.
"Alright."
Draco felt somewhat awkward around her now. She had confessed his feelings to him, and even though he had reciprocated he still felt as though he was out on a limb, waiting for the other shoe to fall as some would say. He sat staring into the fire and pondered his actions. This was only supposed to be an act. And yet he had fallen for her. How could he not have? She was everything he had ever hoped or dreamed of in a woman. His intellectual equal.
"Love sucks." he said aloud.
Upstairs Hermione got undressed and prepared for her shower. She tossed her clothes into the hamper and turned on the hot water. Suddenly a chill went down her spine. Hermione turned around quickly.
'That's odd.' she thought. 'I swear I closed that door.' Hermione walked back to the bathroom door and closed it again, this time locking it with her wand. She walked back to the shower and got in. She lathered up and washed her hair but she just couldn't kick the feeling of apprehension.
Minutes later Hermione came down from her shower drying her hair as she walked. She had learned a nifty new hair drying charm that saved her loads of time.
"That's better." she said smiling at Draco.
"Yeah, you were beginning to stink." he smirked. She pushed his arm playfully.
"You didn't come in the bathroom while I was up there did you?" she asked.
"Uh…no." he said looking at her oddly. "Why?"
"No reason, the door must have blown open that's all." she said lying her head on his chest. He put his arm around her and sighed.
"What's the matter?" she asked.
"I don't know." he said slightly embarrassed.
"You can tell me." she said.
"Well, when you asked me to pretend to be your boyfriend to make the weasel jealous I thought you were insane, and now…"
"And now you know I am insane right?" she giggled.
"Well yes, but I guess I never thought it would lead to this." he said.
"Is it not what you want?" she asked.
"No, that's the thing. It is exactly what I want. What I have always wanted. Someone just like you." he smiled. Hermione returned the smile warmly.
"Awww…" Hermione said. Draco blushed deeply.
"So have you made any holiday plans yet?" Hermione asked him.
"No, just going to stay here." he replied.
"Why don't you come home with me?" she asked. "My family would love to meet you."
"Uh…I don't know." he said scratching his head in a nervous fashion.
"Come on." she prodded. "We won't bite, I promise." Draco laughed.
"I just don't know how to act around…you know." he said.
"Muggles?" she said finishing his thought. "My family is not that different from wizard families, well maybe from yours."
"I'll think about it okay?'
"Okay." she said before the both of them drifted off to sleep.
By the next day Draco had given in and decided to go to Hermione's house for the holidays. It was just as good of a place as any to spend Christmas he thought. As the couple entered the great hall for breakfast they got more than a few odd looks.
"What is going on?" Hermione whispered to Draco who just shrugged his shoulders and looked for an empty seat. A low buzz of whispering continued making Hermione very uncomfortable. Harry was glaring at her and Ron was telling him something.
"Something is going on." she said to Draco who was steadily becoming uneasy. Harry stood up and walked over to the couple.
"Hi Harry." Hermione said. Draco nodded politely.
"I can't believe you Hermione." he said with some sadness in his voice.
"What?"
"You paid Malfoy to be your boyfriend to make Ron jealous?"
"What?" she shouted.
"Come on admit it!" Harry yelled. The school had gone deafly quiet trying to listen in.
"No, I will not admit something that is a complete lie!" she said standing to meet Harry's gaze.
Draco stood up quietly and stood next to Hermione putting his arm around her waist. He could feel her shaking with anger and fear.
"Hermione! I can't believe you would lie to my face." his voice trailed off slightly at the end.
"Harry I don't even know what you are talking about." Hermione sniffed blushing slightly.
"You do." he stated. "It's all over the school. I wondered why your grades had fallen behind his." Harry said pointing at Draco who stood tall.
"Who is saying these things?" she asked.
"Everyone." he told her.
"Everyone as in Ronald?" she asked seething.
"Everyone as in everyone Hermione. I know Ron acted like a prat but to put us through all this for revenge, to make Ron jealous? I didn't think you would do something like this."
"Harry!" she called but he had turned his back on her and walked away. She tried to stop it but tears fell fast and silent from her cinnamon eyes. She turned away from the crowd of staring eyes and hid her face in Draco's chest. His face turned slightly pink at all the attention.
"Let's go." he said pulling her hand out the great hall doors.
When they reached the entrance hall Hermione sat on the steps and cried out loud.
"What happened?" he asked. "How did the weasel know about our deal?"
"I don't know." she sobbed. "I didn't tell anyone did you?"
"No. No one." he replied.
"Then how…wait right here." she said running back into the hall.
Hermione marched right up to Harry and grabbed him by the arm pulling him out the doors.
"What the…?" Harry said resisting Hermione's urgent tugging. Draco looked shocked when he saw her pulling Potter out of the hall.
"Harry, did Ron tell you this?" she said hands on her hips.
"So what if he did?" Harry spat.
"Where is your cloak?" she asked.
"My what?" he asked looking directly at Draco.
"Your cloak…need I say more?" she asked raising her eyebrows.
"Oh, uh, up in my trunk I suspect."
"Better look again." Hermione said. "I think Ronald may have borrowed it."
"Ron? No, he wouldn't take that."
"He would. I felt like someone was watching me all day yesterday. I think he took your cloak and snuck into our common room." she said.
"WHAT?" Draco yelled.
"Stay out of this Malfoy." Harry snapped.
"NO! It is my common room too; I don't want the weasel watching what we do."
"It's all fake anyway." Harry said "What does it matter?"
"It may have started out that way, but not anymore." Draco said blushing slightly.
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT HARRY!" Hermione finally piped up. "I think he watched me shower, and then he overheard our conversation."
"HE WATCHED YOU SHOWER?" Draco yelled.
"I think so; remember I asked if you came into the bathroom? The door was open when I was getting undressed. I had a weird feeling. Like I was being watched." she said covering her chest with her arms.
"I'm going to fucking kill him." Draco swore under his breath.
"Look Harry I didn't want to lie to you and at first it was to make him jealous, to get revenge for what he did with Lavender, but now…now I love him." she said. Draco loved hearing that from her.
"Hermione, why?" Harry asked looking very hurt.
"I didn't mean to hurt you. But now I need your help. Go back in there and tell everyone that what Ron said was a mistake. Please."
"No, if it was true then let it go."
"I will go to McGonagall and tell him what Ron did. He will be expelled. So tell him to recant his story or else." she said eyes blazing.
"Fine. But he won't do it." Harry said storming back into the great hall. One moment later Ginny came running out.
"Hermione is it true?" she asked wide eyed.
"What Ginny? That your brother is a prat? Yeah, that's true."
"No, that you and Malfoy aren't really dating."
"We are." Draco said putting his arm around Hermione protectively.
"Oh, that's what I told everyone. I said there is no way to fake the passion between the two of you." Hermione felt like hugging her.
"Thanks Ginny."
"No problem 'Mione." she said smiling sweetly. Harry came back out as Ginny was going in.
"So?" she asked.
"I told him."
"And?"
"And he said that he would take it back, but I gotta tell you 'Mione, he is just short of losing it."
"Good." Hermione huffed. "Serves him right acting like such a jerk. Mrs. Weasley needs to have a good long talk with him. None of the other boys act like that."
"I would just steer clear of him if I were you." Harry told her.
"I will, and you keep that cloak out of his reach." Hermione replied.
"Done." Harry said before walking away.
Hermione turned to Draco and buried her head into his chest.
"Why is he doing this?" Hermione sobbed.
"Maybe he finally realizes what he threw away, but I am not about to give you back." Draco smiled.
"I can't wait to introduce you to my family and get away from this school for a while." she sniffed.
"Just a week more." he said leading her away towards class.
