It didn't seem right to end on a cliffhanger and then make you all wait until Monday for the next chapter. So, I'm breaking my rule (how Draco of me!) and posting chapter 11 for you!


Chapter 11
Landing on solid ground, Hermione struggled to release his grip on her hand. Finally extricating it, she took several steps back as she glowered at Draco. "What is wrong with you?" she demanded, her voice shrill.

"It's called manners, Granger," he retorted. "Respectable folk don't snog in public."

"So kidnapping me seemed like the right way to teach me this lesson?" she inquired. "Honestly, Draco. I don't understand."

"I don't either!" he shouted. His fingers ran through his hair as he turned his back to her. He breathed heavily as she tentatively approached him. "This isn't working," he mumbled as her hand gingerly touched his back.

"What's not working?" she asked softly.

He stepped forward as if her touch burned. His arms dropped to his sides defeatedly, as he replied, "This. Us."

Now Hermione stepped back. Confusion replaced her anger as she tried to work out what he was saying. When he gave no further explanation, she sunk down onto the sofa and stared at him, waiting for him to face her once more. "You're mad about Marcus?" she guessed.

A mirthless laugh passed his lips. "I don't give a damn about Flint," he responded. "He's not good enough for you, but I don't give a damn about him."

"But he's your friend," she said. "Why would you say you don't care?"

Slowly, he turned to face her with a blank expression. If there was one thing Draco could do better than anyone else, it was to barricade his emotions behind a blank expression. He stripped off his jacket and tossed it over the arm of a nearby chair. Then he left the room, left her. She made no move to follow, deciding instead to await his return.

But he didn't come back.

Hermione waited, not moving, staring as far down the hall that led to his bedroom as possible. Her patience was thinning though the longer she sat there. Deciding she needed resolution, she left the living room and entered his bedroom. The lights were off, and before she could turn them on, she tripped over a shoe near the door. Her foot smarting from the contact, she used her other foot to kick it away.

The bathroom door opened, and Draco entered the bedroom with his face flushed and damp. "Oh," he said before walking past her to leave the room.

Hermione caught his arm before he could put much distance between them. "Please, Draco, don't walk away from me again," she pleaded. "Talk to me. Tell me what's bothering you."

Draco snorted. "That would be against the rules, wouldn't it," he replied, attempting to break contact with her.

"Hang the rules," she said, tightening her hold on him. "I don't care about them. You said we didn't have to be friends, that the rules helped to keep distance between us. But I can't stand here, thinking I've hurt you, and not care."

With his free hand, he pulled hers from his wrist and linked their fingers together. "They were my idea," he muttered, staring at their hands. "This whole stupid thing was my idea. I shouldn't have-"

"What?" she urged. "Shouldn't have asked me? Should have found someone you cared about even less than me?"

Draco shook his head. "I shouldn't have started to care about you," he mumbled, a blush rising in his cheeks when he realized it was said louder than he intended.

Her mouth hung open in shock. Surely she hadn't heard him correctly. Malfoy could never care for her. Draco, though, was always a different story. He said nothing, as if waiting for her to process the words he knew she heard. Finally, she closed her mouth and blinked several times. "When?" she wondered.

His shoulders rose and fell once as he mulled over her question. "The poker game," he finally decided. "You...you fell asleep on my shoulder, and Blaise teased me relentlessly for allowing it. He said that's something only a boyfriend would do. You know, let their girlfriend do that. I purposely folded the next hand even though I had great cards because all I could think about was that the noise would disturb you. So, I folded and put you to bed."

"And then we fought the next morning," she added.

Draco nodded. "Marcus had to tell me that the two of you made plans," he replied. "I know I've been with other girls. I completely understood our arrangement. But knowing you were going to do to me what I've done to you...I couldn't handle it."

She smiled. "You were jealous," she pointed out. Draco scowled, but nodded. "I didn't think you'd be the one to like me first," she admitted.

"Me neither," he agreed.

They stood together in silence for a long time. Neither knew what to say next or how to proceed. Was she supposed to stay now that she had heard his confession? Or would Draco expect her to leave, too embarrassed by what she now knew? Still attached at the hands, there was little she could do, as he seemed intent on not letting her go. Perhaps that meant "stay".

She took a step closer to him and placed her hand on his side. "What do we do now?" she asked.

Draco removed her hand from his waist and held it tightly. "I can think of two things," he said. "We end this now. Completely sever ties with each other, because I honestly don't think I can be around you when I feel like this way."

Hermione frowned. "I don't like that option."

A soft chuckle passed his lips. "Okay, then option two - we try being together," he suggested. "It's been...too long since I've done anything like this. I might need some help."

"I've had some practice," Hermione replied, smiling as she wrapped his arms around her waist. Their fingers remained locked behind her back. "First things first - no shagging."

Draco balked, seemingly ready to take back all he had said. If only he had a time-turner. He began to pull away when Hermione tightened her hands around his. "You have to take me out first," she informed him. "Like on a proper date."

"You really want to do this?" he asked, unsure himself if it was what he wanted. "What about Flint? I thought you liked him."

Hermione nodded in agreement. "I do like him," she told him. "And sometimes I don't know if you really like me. I think if we take it slow, this might work."

A smile crested on Draco's lips. Leaning forward, he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. "We take it slow?" he confirmed. In response, Hermione kissed him.