It seems like forever since anyone got any action! lol I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint. Thanks to Ultrasora, Abbylover18, drmsr4drmrs, HarryPGinnyW4eva, rec2527, xoRetributionox, Mr. Smee27 and Jasmineprnc for the great reviews and input. SO appreciated! In response: HG4eva- sorry but the Gryffindors aren't even in this chapter (except Hermione, of course) but I have plans for another chapter including them. drmsr4drmrs- I'll keep writing until I run out of ideas or people say it sucks. lol One thing I will tell you is that no one's contraception is going to fail in this story. sorry.

And before anyone points out that the song being played isn't from '98 or '99, I know. But I thought this song mirrored how Draco was feeling. Extra kudos and a shout out for anyone who can make the connection without Googling the song. It's kind of a stretch. One of those six degrees things :)

R & R


Pansy strolled in, her usual cheerful self. She was perceptive enough to know something was wrong and smart enough to guess who it was about. He filled her in on his investigative exploits with the Gryffindors. He also told her that Hermione was now speaking to Ron, and possibly more. Especially now that Lavender would be out of the picture. Unless Weasley was an absolute tosser.

Theo wandered in, oblivious of the nature of Draco and Pansy's conversation.

"Some of us are starting a game of poker in a bit. Care to ante up? Playing for money this time." Theo grinned.

Draco shook is head, but Pansy answered. "No, thanks."

Still ignorant of Draco's mood, Theo sat on his bed and began going through pockets and secret money hiding places.

"Come on, love. Let's go to my dormitory," Pansy suggested quietly. "No one will bother us there." She shot Theo an annoyed glance, which was lost on him.

As they passed by the common room, they saw Blaise sitting with a couple of other boys, setting up their game. He nodded to them. And Pansy mouthed the words 'he needs to be alone' while putting her fist up to her eye and twisted it, in the universal sign for crying.

Draco sat on the edge of Pansy's bed as she waved her wand to play some soft music. He held his head in his hands.

"The silly redhead was right. I just handed Hermione over to Weasley."

"If she goes back to him, then she doesn't deserve you anyway," Pansy said. She wanted to be supportive, but she couldn't help wanting to hex that little witch for leading Draco on.

"If she goes back to him, then she never really wanted me. I was just a fill-in. Like Theo."

"No. You're not like Theo. Draco, I'm worried. I've never seen you like this." Pansy was genuinely concerned for her friend. Even when it came to his parents, he was generally stoic and held himself together. He appeared close to tears now. She sat next to him and placed her arm around his shoulder, pulling his head to hers.

"I won't tell anyone if you want to cry."

"Malfoys don't cry," he informed her. But he closed his eyes and buried his face in her shoulder. She couldn't be certain that he was actually crying. His shoulders didn't heave and there were no sobs. Pansy supposed he had learned over the years to hide it well. The two stayed in place, for how long, neither knew, the only sound being the music.

Say, wasn't that a funny day?

Gee, you had a funny way - a way about you.

A kind of glow of something new

Sure-I'll admit that I'm the same

Another sucker for a game kids like to play

And the rules they like to use

Don't you want the way I feel?

Don't you want the way I feel?

Don't you want the way I feel for you?

The sun: telling me the night is done

Well I refuse to let it stop our fun

Close your eyes and we'll make it dark again

And kiss; there's a thought, so how 'bout this?

Let's pretend that both our lips are made of candy

After all, we need sweets every now and then

Don't you want the way I feel?

Don't you want the way I feel?

Don't you want the way I feel for you?

Here we are two strangers in a very different place

Who knows what could happen to us next?

Here we are with nothing but this little spark

It's too cold outside to lay this fire to rest

Go? How so very apropos:

A goodbye just as soon as I said 'Hello'

Well alright, I'll see you later

It's true-

"Turn that bloody song off!" Draco yelled, a bit louder than he intended. "Since when do you listen to muggle music anyway?"

Pansy waved her wand and the music stopped. "I guess I shouldn't have been playing sappy love songs." She scooted back on the bed and pulled him with her. She gently coaxed him into laying his head on the pillow.

"It'll be all right, love. Why don't you get some sleep?" She leaned down to kiss his forehead. That was when she saw that his eyelashes were glistening and stuck together. Pansy's heart broke for him.

hhhhhhhhhhddddddddddd

Hermione made her way down to Slytherin house, her stomach trembling with nerves. Having resolved her conflict with Ron, she was ready to sort things out with Draco.

Ginny and Ron both told her of their surprising conversations with Draco. Neither would elaborate with many details, but Ginny urged Hermione to talk to Draco before he 'did anything stupid'. And Ron mentioned that he may have inadvertently let Draco believe he and Hermione reconciled.

She entered the Slytherin common room to find Blaise, Theo, a boy named Harper and a third year playing poker and laughing. They stopped when they saw her.

"What's this? Surprise inspection?" Theo asked. "Or were you finished playing with little boys and come for some of what I got." He wriggled his eyebrows.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm not interested in your childish games. I came to speak to Draco. Is he here?"

"He's in the girl's dormitory. With Pansy," Blaise responded.

Hermione hesitated making a move. Did he mean with Pansy, or with Pansy? She debated going back to her own room.

Sensing her uncertainty, Blaise assured her, "It's okay. You can go in."

She couldn't decide if he was being sincere or setting her up. Not knowing Blaise at all and suspecting he was protective of Draco, it could go either way. She decided to follow his advice and walked into the combined 7th and 8th year girl's room.

She found Draco lying on his side, back to the door, on Pansy's bed. Pansy was perched up on the pillows, legs tucked under her, lovingly stroking Draco's hair.

Pansy looked up when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye.

"I suppose I should have knocked first," Hermione said.

Draco bolted up straight and jumped off the bed in a flash. Pansy calmly remained where she was, her hand still poised over where his head was previously.

"This isn't what it looks like," Draco lamely said, in a feeble attempt to explain. It was such a cliche thing to say, no matter how true.

"No?" Hermione questioned.

"Pansy, please, give us a minute?" Draco asked. She slid off the bed and walked past Draco on her way out, whispering, "Tell her."

As soon as Pansy was out the door, Draco began to plead his case again. "Please, Hermione, what you saw was nothing."

"It didn't look like nothing," She took a few steps closer. "It looked like your best friend was comforting you after your girlfriend stopped speaking to you. I suppose you could have gone to Blaise, but you wouldn't want to lead him on by letting him pet your hair."

Draco blinked at her perception. "How did you know?"

"I suspect he and I have the same look on our faces when we look at you. Although, he is a bit more subtle about it," she smiled.

She stepped closer still and noticed the slightest remnants of a tear in the corner of his right eye. Draco closed his eyes as she gently wiped it away.

"It's been brought to my attention that perhaps I've been unreasonable. A bit stubborn. And possibly a smidgen too proud," Hermione said.

Draco scratched his head. It sounded almost like she was apologizing to him. Then it occurred to him what she said about Pansy comforting him.

Girlfriend? he thought.

"I was under the impression . . . Weasley said . . ." He frowned and composed himself. "Weasley told me you spoke, and that you forgave him, even without any proof."

"I did," Hermione confirmed and shrugged. "If you can't trust your best friends, who can you trust? Ron told me what you did to try to set things right. I won't pretend that I wasn't angry-with both of you. And I have to admit, I did question your motives. Just for a split second."

Draco opened his mouth to speak, but she put her fingers to his lips.

"I was afraid," she continued. "I avoided you to prolong what I thought could be the inevitable. That sounds terrible, I know. It was cowardly. In my heart, I knew I could trust you, but you didn't defend yourself. You didn't contradict Ron's version. I needed reassurance, but you didn't give me any."

"Hermione, I'm sorry. I thought it would be easier on you. Who am I kidding? I thought it would be easier on me, if you were going to go back to Weasley anyway, just to have you cut me off. But I couldn't face you. I was fairly cowardly myself."

They stood in Pansy's room regarding each other, after saying only half of what need to be said. Hermione hadn't exactly said whether she was still his or not. And she hadn't said she'd forgiven him either. But she also said she trusted him. One of them was going to have to swallow their pride and take a chance.

Tell her, Pansy's words echoed in Draco's head.

Draco sat down on the bed. He sighed before beginning. "I didn't go along with Weasley to hurt you, or him. When he presented his solution, I went along with it because I thought it would cause you less pain in the long run. Though I was attracted to you, my aim was not to get you into my bed. At that point, I thought of you as a friend. And I hoped you were beginning to think of me as one. It wasn't until New Year's Eve that I allowed myself to hope we could be more." He swallowed audibly while Hermione sat down next to him but remained silent, permitting him to continue. "I told you that night that I may have been falling for you. That wasn't entirely the truth." Draco glanced quickly at Hermione to see her listening and watching intently. "The truth is, I'd already fallen in love with you by then."

A small gasp escaped Hermione's lips. Her mouth fell open, speechless. "I . . . don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything. Well, except to say you still want to be with me." Draco smiled nervously. "Unless I've just scared you away."

Hermione smiled back. If she had any doubts left, they were gone. She leaned in and captured his lips with hers, wrapping her fingers in his hair, as if he would try to get away. She kissed him deeply and passionately, trying to convey all the feelings she had for him without the words that did not come.

When she finally broke the kiss and released him, she knew what she wanted to say.

"Draco, it was never a choice between you and Ron. Ron and I have been through, for good, for a long time. You were my first choice, my only choice. It just took me a while to listen to my heart over other people's opinions."

"What about your friends?" What if they can't accept me. I can't be the one to break up the Golden Trio. Not after everything I've already done," he chuckled, but lowered his head in the shame of the truth.

"That won't happen. And you forget you've done some good things, as well. You know, both Ginny and Ron urged me to come and find you. Even Harry admitted he thought you were being sincere with me."

"Ugh. So I owe them some thanks?" he joked.

"You don't owe them anything. I came to that conclusion on my own," Hermione grinned. "But it's nice that they did too."

Draco wrapped his arms around her and gently caressed her lips with his own. Their hungry mouths, missing each other for so long, opened to explore further. Their tongues flexed and curled around each other, greedy and consuming. As they kissed, they slowly sank onto the bed, groping and pulling one another closer. Draco's hands skimmed the hem of Hermione's shirt and swiftly slipped under to feel her silky skin. She began to unbutton his shirt.

"This is Pansy's bed, you know," he said against her lips.

"Oh. Right."

They both laughed. "I guess it would be bad form to, um . . ." Hermione trailed off.

"We should go back to our room," he suggested. "That table's getting lonely I think."

Hermione grinned like a Cheshire cat. "I was thinking more along the lines of your satin sheets." She bit her lip. "Or the Astronomy Tower."

The pair walked out of the girl's dorm too distracted by each other to notice the scene in front of them until Theo spoke.

"Two girls in one night, eh Malfoy? That's good even for you."

"Sod off, Nott," Hermione said. It was then that she realized he was wearing only a pair of snug boxer briefs and one black sock.

As Draco and Hermione surveyed the group sitting at the table before them, they took note of their various states of undress. Blaise was missing his shirt and both socks, while the boy next to him, Harper, still had his shirt, but was missing his trousers. The other younger boy was very nearly down to as little as Theo. Pansy seemed to be the only one fully dressed.

"Should we bother asking?" Draco questioned.

"Pansy talked us into playing strip poker," Blaise smiled. Actually, it was more like a goofy lopsided grin. He nodded to Pansy for a card.

"Nott, if I didn't know better, I'd say you were losing on purpose," Draco observed. "Pansy, you haven't lost anything yet?"

"Just my knickers," she smiled brightly.

Draco shook his head. "That was the first thing you took off?" he asked in disbelief.

"Oops, I just lost another piece," Theo announced. "I fold." He bent down and stripped off his remaining sock and tossed it at Hermione. It hit her shoulder, then landed on the floor at her feet. She bent down to pick it up, intending to throw it back. Instead, she caught a glimpse under the table of the boy next to Blaise with his hand resting high on Blaise's inner thigh. Hermione understood the goofy grin, now.

Flinging the sock back at Theo, Hermione smirked. "Too chicken to take off the briefs?"

"Trying to get a look at my bits again, Granger?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "On that note, we'll be going."

"Oi Blaise, I'll be staying in my room tonight. I'll come get my things tomorrow," Draco said as he followed Hermione out. "Not too early, eh."

"Definitely not," Blaise answered.

Hermione and Draco walked in nervous silence on the way up through the castle to their rooms. Occasionally, one would sneak a look at the other as they gently brushed up against each other in narrow corridors. Hermione's belly was full of butterflies as if she and Draco were going to be alone for the first time. Which was ironic, considering their first time had made her anything but nervous. But then again, she hadn't known he was in love with her then. She suddenly wondered if she was worthy.

She gazed up at Draco. He really was a different person. The war had seemed ages ago. Now when she thought of him, it was the little moments that stood out: his enjoyment of a good book by the fire, the way he fed her chocolate on New Year's Eve, kissing her unashamedly in the Great Hall, the simple pleasure of a muggle dessert, giving flowers to a young admirer.

Those things were the real Draco. Those were the things she loved about him. Love? Hermione literally stumbled at the thought.

Draco quickly reached out and caught her.

"Be careful there. Wouldn't want you breaking a leg. It would be most inconvenient," he smiled.

When he righted her, he didn't let go of her waist. She beamed up at him.

"Good catch, Mr. Malfoy." McGonagall's voice came from behind the pair.

Both of their eyes widened as Draco promptly removed his hand. The couple stopped and turned to face her.

"Good evening professor," Hermione said. Draco nodded.

"Good evening Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy." McGonagall returned the acknowledgement. "Is there something you wish to tell me?"

"Um, to what are you referring?" Hermione asked, trying to keep her voice steady. Her heart began to pound. If McGonagall discovered the true nature of Draco and Hermione's relationship, she was sure they would be split up. Or worse, lose their privileges as Head Boy and Girl.

"I have yet to receive this week's report. You know it is due on my desk by five o'clock every Friday. How else will I know whom to expect at Saturday detention?" McGonagall queried. "I understand that sometimes it's difficult to keep up with your duties as well as school work . . ."

"No professor. We can handle it. I'll be happy to get that to you straightaway." Hermione offered. "And actually, we haven't given any detentions this week."

"I appreciate your enthusiasm, Miss Granger. Five o'clock tomorrow will be acceptable. Do not be late with it again or you may find yourselves in Saturday detention."

"Of course professor." Hermione relaxed a bit. She had forgotten all about the report. All the drama of the past week had overshadowed their duties regarding house points, detentions and prefect schedule.

"And I'm pleased the two of you seem to have resolved your differences."

Hermione and Draco glanced at each other. She had to fight to suppress her grin.

"Granger can be difficult at times, but we've come to an understanding," Draco teased.

"Perhaps fewer comments like that would lead to more understanding," McGonagall suggested.

Hermione grinned. "Yes, Mr. Malfoy. You can be very rigid yourself."

Draco's eyes went wide at the innuendo. Did she really say that in front of McGonagall?

"Well, maybe I wouldn't be so, if you would open up to me," Draco retorted. Two could play that game.

McGonagall cleared her throat. "It sounds as if you two still have some working out to do. I suggest you spend some time getting to know each other a little better. Do something . . . frivolous."

"Excellent idea, professor. We'll give it careful consideration," Draco told her.

"Good evening then," Professor McGonagall said and turned to go back to her office.

When she was out of sight, Hermione hit Draco across his shoulder with the back of her hand. "What were you thinking?" she asked. "Saying I needed to open up for you!"

Draco laughed. "Actually I said open up to me. Besides, you called me rigid. Not that I consider that an insult, but it took some bollocks to say that to McGonagall."

A devilish grin came across Hermione's face as she gave the password and they stepped into the room.

"I think we should follow her advice and spend the night together, working out, frivolously."

"Is that what she said? I think that's a rather loose interpretation."

"Do you have a better idea?" she asked.

"Fuck no," Draco said and took Hermione in his arms. He licked across her bottom lip, teasing her open mouth before darting his tongue inside, gently sliding his lips against hers.

Still entwined, Draco slowly led them step by step, closer to his door. His hand reached blindly for the knob, desperate to get inside. When he finally caught and turned it, they nearly tumbled to the floor.

Hermione turned them around so Draco had his back to the bed. She pushed him away and down onto the bed. When he started to sit up, she pushed her hand on his chest.

"Stay," she ordered. He propped himself on his elbows and grinned at her. She stood before him and slowly began unbuttoning her blouse. She let it fall to the ground, revealing an emerald green satin and lace bra.

"Oh, I hope there are knickers to match," he whispered.

Wordlessly, Hermione stripped down to said knickers and bra.

"I feel a bit overdressed," Draco said and began unbuttoning his own shirt.

"No, let me do that," she insisted. He lay back, letting her do as she pleased. She slid his shirt off his shoulders and down his arms displaying his pale, lean torso. Hermione pulled the shirt out from under his arching body. Draco raised his arms over his head and clasped his hands behind his head.

Hermione could see faint scars from the sectumsempra Harry did sixth year-a reminder of just how out of hand things had gotten. Harry had since apologized, but no amount of apologies could rid Draco of the scars completely. Physical and emotional. Though both appeared to be healing.

Lightly caressing his skin with fingertips, Hermione kissed each scar in an effort to demonstrate her appreciation for every part of him.

"Don't do that. They're ugly," he said uncomfortably. It was one thing for her to have seen them, it was another for her to draw attention to them. She hadn't even mentioned them before.

"They're not ugly, they're part of you. You're beautiful."

Few people had seen his scars, fewer still had touched them. And only one embraced them. Feeling a bit less self conscious, Draco relaxed and enjoyed Hermione's touch.

Her hands trailed down his chest, over his taut abs, fingering the tip of his dragon tattoo, then the light blond hairs that began to grow just below his belly button. The trail of fine hairs disappeared into his trousers, which were also hiding his arousal.

"Mr. Malfoy, you're being rigid again," she teased as she unbuttoned and unzipped his trousers at an excruciatingly slow pace.

"I can be flexible, too, you know,Granger," he retorted.

Hooking her thumbs into the waistband of his trousers and pants, Hermione eased them down all at once. When Draco was free at last from his clothing, she took a moment to admire his lithe form. She touched the forest green, gold and black tattoo on his left hip. He twitched. The dragon appeared to be diving to catch some sort of prey. Hermione would be the prey.

"As much as I love those knickers, they'll have to go," he told her. "The top as well."

Hermione complied with his request and proceeded to crawl over him, hovering. She wrapped her small fingers around his rock hard cock and guided him inside. They both groaned at the sensation.

"I've missed this," he breathed.

"I've missed you," she whispered back. She steadily raised and lowered herself on him, building up a rhythm. He pulled her shoulders toward him as he raised his mouth to hers. She rolled her hips forward as they kissed, moaning into his mouth. She couldn't help rubbing herself against him, it has been so long and it felt so good. The sensation quickly escalated and she realized she was leaving him behind.

She pushed off his shoulders and tried to straighten herself back up in order to ride him more effectively.

"No, do what you were doing," he told her, pulling her back down to him. "Mmm, grind yourself into me. Make yourself cum. I want to feel you cum."

He kissed her again, cupping and massaging her breasts. He enjoyed having his hands free to explore her soft skin. His mouth groped for and found one of her erect nipples, swirling his tongue and gently biting.

Draco could tell Hermione was close by the high pitched whines she was making. "Cum for me," he said against her breast.

Her body suddenly jerked and she let out a long moan. She continued to grind into him as she rode out the wave of pleasure. When it was over, she steeled her legs preparing to give him his turn. Instead of thrusting into her as she expected, he removed himself and began to slide out from under her. She was left straddling nothing.

"Stay just like that," he whispered.

"What are you doing?"

"Change of scenery," he growled. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, humming contentedly. She sighed, enjoying being held by him, but very aware that he had not yet been satisfied.

After a few moments, she finally asked him, "Draco? Aren't you going to fuck me?" It was a crass thing to say but she said it so lovingly, he had to chuckle.

"No. I'm going to make love to you," he told her.

She closed her eyes. She loved the way that sounded. She loved being there with him, his arms around her. She loved- her eyes opened abruptly. There was that word again.

He loosened his grip on her and ran his fingers lightly down her back. His left hand grazed her tattoo.

"I love your tattoo." Rubbing his hands along her bottom, he whispered, "I love your arse."

Bringing his hands around front to cup her breasts, "I love these especially," he laughed. His right hand trailed down her belly to the neatly trimmed thicket of tight curls. "But this," he dipped a finger between her folds spreading the thick wetness up to her already sensitized nub, "This is my favorite."

Hermione giggled reflexively at his touch. "I wonder if I can make you cum again so soon," he said as his finger rubbed over her with quick flitting movement. He hooked his finger and tugged at the hooded skin surrounding her fleshy pearl as he had seen her do to herself.

"Oh, Merlin," she breathed. "Yes, Draco, I believe you can."

With a few more strokes and some well placed pinches on her left nipple, Hermione came again. Her legs trembled and she struggled to keep herself from collapsing.

Still panting, she allowed herself to sink into the sheets and roll onto her back. "I want to please you," she said.

"That did please me."

"I mean it. I want to make you feel as good as you make me feel." Hermione pulled him down to her, rolling him next to her. She ran her hands through his slightly sweaty hair. Her hand moved down the side of his face to his lightly stubbled chin. Moving further down, she traced the line of his collar bone, then further still, marveling at the muscles beneath his fair skin. Hermione could have spent hours exploring every inch of him. She knew, however, that he must have been in dire need of release.

He moaned at the feel of her hand grasping his enduring hard on. She gave it a few teasing strokes before leaning down and wrapping her lips around the tip. Hermione hummed happily while she bobbed up and down.

"Oh fuck, Hermione," Draco groaned.

She took that as a sign he was enjoying her efforts and picked up the pace, cupping his balls and rolling them in her hand. In short order and nearly at his breaking point, he grabbed at her hair and pulled her up and off him. "Wait, I'm too close. I want to cum in you, but not in your mouth."

She nodded and lay back on the bed ready to take him. He poised himself above her, kissing her fiercely, tongues swirling and pushing and pulling.

"Now, Draco. I want you now," she said into his mouth.

"I know, love, but I have a reputation to maintain," he whispered.

Draco licked his way down her body, from her neck to the wiry patch between her legs. He thrust his tongue through the grooved skin and delved inside.

"But Draco . . ." she tried to protest. But his wickedly talented muscle made her soon forget her protestations. His efforts were rewarded with moans and murmurs.

He slid his hands beneath her, massaging her bottom as he continued his ministrations.

"Oh, Draco," she panted.

"Touch yourself, love," he begged, briefly pausing.

Hermione let her fingers graze her breasts while Draco returned his attentions to her lower region. She circled her pert nipples, bringing extra sensation to her already overstimulated body. Draco opened his eyes and shifted his gaze to watch her fondle herself.

"Unnnggg." Draco could feel himself harden further. He knew he wouldn't be able to hold out much longer.

"Draco. . .oh . . .oh." Hermione abandoned her breasts and gripped the sheets. Her toes began to curl and every muscle in her lower body contracted.

"Draco!" she gasped and held her breath, coming violently in waves. She let out her breath and panted heavily, forcing her muscles to relax. "Good Godrick, that was fantastic."

Unable to contain himself any longer, Draco took Hermione by the ankles and slid her to the edge of the bed. He wrapped her legs around him and carried her to the nearest wall, slamming her up against it. She cried out in surprise. But it didn't hurt and she found it incredibly sexy. He lowered her enough to enter her quickly and began to pump his hips into hers. She held onto him, running her fingers through his hair and sucking on his neck. He thrust hard into her in a frenzy to find relief. It was rough and aggressive and Hermione found that she enjoyed it immensely-a far cry from the gentle love making they reveled in earlier. With every push he grunted and groaned coming closer to climax.

"Fuck me, Draco. Fuck me hard. I want to feel you cum inside me."

"Hermione." He bit her neck hard, then sucked to soothe it. He breathed a quick "Sorry."

"Hermione . . .ah . . .Hermione!" Draco erupted forcefully deep within Hermione. With every thrust, he spewed more of himself into her until he was finally spent, jelly-legged and dizzy. Hermione lowered herself to the floor and guided Draco to the bed where they both collapsed.

"That was the best fucking orgasm I've ever had!" he proclaimed when he caught his breath.

Hermione laughed. "And do you remember them all?"

"No, but I'll remember that one," he grinned.

"Then I guess it was worth the wait. But I really thought you were going to hurt yourself," she giggled.

"You tell me if it was worth it," he smirked. "Three times, that's pretty good." He verbally patted himself on the back.

"It was better than pretty good." She blushed.

He gazed into Hermione's eyes. "Merlin, what you do to me, Hermione."

She leaned up closer to him. "And what do I do to you?"

"You make me . . . happy."

"I thought Malfoys didn't do happy," she teased.

"I guess I'm starting all sorts of new Malfoy traditions. None that my father would approve."

"Like me?"

"Almost everything I've done this year. When my father finds out, he'll be furious with me."

"That's what makes you so brave," Hermione cooed.

"Me? Brave? I think you'd get quite a few arguments over that one," he snorted.

"Yes, going against your father's wishes is brave. It's one of the things I love most about you. Choosing your own way despite the risk, making personal sacrifices in order to do the right thing. Even small things cost you. It's easy for most of us to do the right thing. It's what's expected of us. Your family was riddled with self-serving, weak-minded, cruel . . . oh, Draco, I didn't mean you." He had an expression on his face Hermione couldn't quite read, his mouth slightly agape. What was the matter with her-trashing his family like that? He was still part of that family.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that about your family."

"I don't give a fuck about my family. Did you just say . . . one of the things you love most about me?"

It was Hermione's turn to look like a deer in the headlights. "Did I say that one out loud?"

He anxiously waited for her to continue, afraid to say anything himself.

"It seems my inner monologue has been keeping a tally of things I love about you all night." She swallowed, suddenly parched. "Apparently, it's everything," she laughed nervously.

Draco waited for her to spell it out for him.

"So, really, there's only one logical conclusion," Hermione finally said.

"Say it." His expression softened. "Please?" he whispered.

Hermione briefly looked down, unable to bear the weight of Draco's stare. He reached out and lifted her chin up, forcing her eyes to meet his.

"I'm in love with you, Draco."


* So, what do you think? I wanted it to be sweet and sexy and humorous all at the same time. I hope I'm not turning Draco into too much of a wuss. It's hard to have a happy ending without being cliche sometimes.