Hey Guys! Sorry this is a quick update. Promise the next chapter will be longer. Thanks again for sticking with me and the story! Love all the reviews! Keep it up! :)

**Again, I do not own anything!**

Chapter 11: One could only hope


He stomped through the halls, trying to calm himself. The sweets he stuffed in his mouth down in the kitchens did nothing to lighten his mood. He was angry, bloody pissed! Malfoy…Draco Malfoy?! Why did it have to be him? Of all the people Mione could be with. It was bad enough she didn't love him, but to turn around and fall for Malfoy! Even if it was the berry….he knew better. That berry caused more than just lust in some people. And dammit! He was going to find out if it was more.

Before he knew it, he found himself in front of the heads common room painting. The lovely Cassiopeia was the portrait protecting the heads common room.

"Password?" the portrait asked beautifully.

"I need Hermione now, open up!" Ron yelled at the painting. His face flushing to match the color of his red hair.

"And I said you need a password, you rude boy!" Cassiopeia shrieked in return, appalled at the boy's uncouthness.

He growled and began banging on the painting, "HERMIONE OPEN THIS DAMN DOOR!"

Cassiopeia screamed and ran into the hills of her painting, fearful of the boy's constant hammering of his fists against her picture frame.

Suddenly the door opened wide, and a ruffled, irritated and shirtless Draco Malfoy appeared. Thank god for magic. He had wandlessly redressed the lower part of himself before opening the door. Though he was 99% sure he knew who was on the other side.

"What do you want Weasley?" Draco growled out.

"Where is Hermione? What have you done to her?" Ron interrogated.

Draco couldn't help but chuckle ruefully. As if this whole thing was planned and his fault?

"Seriously Weasley? What have I done to her?! What I have done is my best to keep her out of pain by any means and comfortable. Both she and I are trying to handle this whole debacle without overreacting, like some people." Draco explained, though finding that the red headed git didn't deserve to hear it. All he wanted was to slam the door in his face, but knew Hermione would be angry.

"You don't love her…you can't, you can't just walk away from this in the end. You know that." Ron whispered venomously.

"What was that Weaslebee- I don't love her? How the fuck would you know?" Draco retaliated, his anger rising. He stepped out of the doorway, pushing Ron back into the hallway.

"You know she will be pregnant by the end of the week, with your spawn of course. Merlin it makes me want to vomit. I don't even know if I will be able to look at her again…and you will be bonded for life. If you leave, she will die!" Ron complained.

Draco saw red. All too quickly he had Weasley up against the stone wall with brutal force of his forearm against Ron's throat.

"First, don't think for one moment Weasel that you know anything about my feelings for Hermione. It's none of your damn business. Second, don't you think I know all of this? Don't you think that this is terrifying trying to explain to her when the only thing she can think about is sex!? It's bad enough we just got over a damn war, she doesn't deserve this, any of it! But Weasel if you think I don't love her, you're wrong. But I don't have to prove that to you. The only one that matters is in that room over there, and in 4 days, if she is pregnant, I will be the happiness man alive, because like it or not I am not going anywhere Weasel. She will not die on my watch. Unlike you I don't run away with my tail between my legs when times get rough. Now, I suggest you go back to your common room, get the 2 hours of sleep you can before catching the train home. I will take care of her. She is mine to take care of. Not yours." Draco said heatedly, punctuating his last statement with a hard push of his arm against Ron's neck, making him struggle for air for just a moment before Draco quickly released his hold-causing Ron to gasp and fall to the ground.

Draco backed away slowly, eyeing Weasley as he sputtered on the floor.

"I'll kill you if you hurt her. That's a promise." Ron maliciously wheezed out.

"Ha! Seriously? Well, there won't ever be a need to, because I'm going to be there for her. Just you watch." Draco sneered. And watching Weasley still on the floor, Draco walked backwards through the open portrait door, and slammed it shut, and as he spun around inside he collided with his tricky witch.

"AHhh! Blimey Granger!" Draco shouted, while trying to grasp onto her to prevent her from falling over.

"Who was that, was that Ronald?" Hermione queried as she wrapped her arms around Draco's neck for support, concern showing on her face.

"It doesn't matter…are you okay? Do you –how do you feel?" Draco questioned nervously, checking her. He left her for minutes, thinking she would be crying out in heat by the time he returned. She seemed almost normal.

"No, no I'm trembling on the inside…Draco tell me what you told Ron outside" Hermione whispered, playing with the wisps of hair on the back of his neck. He shuddered. She stared intently into his eyes.

He quickly picked her up in one swoop, grabbing her bottom to have her wrap her legs around his waist.

"What did you hear?" Draco whispered as he went to kiss her.

She accepted his kiss, as he pulled her body closer to his and made their way to the couch.

She quickly pulled back, "I heard 'she will die…and love.' I heard the word love. Tell me Draco" Hermione prodded as he sat down with her on his lap.

He sighed "Hermione I love you. I have for a long time. This is ludicrous that I have to tell you this way. I was planning on keeping it hidden till I was in the grave…but now the book and Snape says it would help. You would feel better. Then Weasley and his bloody attitude. I won't leave you. I already told you that." Draco rambled nervously, hopelessly trying to avoid her eyes.

Hermione was beaming. She felt her heart swell and warmth traveled all throughout her veins.

"Oh Draco…" She whispered and smiled, showing off her bright white teeth. "Look at me"

"What Mina, tell me I'm wrong and this can't work. Tell me now. I am sorry for telling you like this but for once in my life I am not afraid of my feelings and if your frie-" Draco stopped as Hermione's hand covered his mouth in hope to stop him.

"DRACO! Shush!" Hermione interrupted his rambling. She giggled "I like you too. Well it must be more than just like, because otherwise I don't think this whole thing would be making us react this strongly. I mean I not only want you ummm well physically, but I want us to be together. I want your heart. And I want to give you mine." Hermione finished and slowly removed her hand. The moment she did she was pulled forward as Draco's lips crashed against hers again.

His hands tangled themselves in her hair, bringing her as close as physically possible. She smiled into the kiss, her body tingling all over.

He released her lips, both panting for oxygen. "How do you feel Mina…what do you need?"

"I need you…but it doesn't hurt anymore. The tingling is still there but it's not painful as it was before when I wasn't satisfied. Draco, do you think I'll be pregnant by the end of this?" Hermione bluntly questioned.

He sighed. "I don't know, I think we can only take this one step at a time. Christ, it's been barely a day and you have become an insatiable sex fiend, lost your virginity and we have admitted our feelings for one another…I would say we have had enough for the day. Do you think we could try to sleep for a little while? I'm knackered. You wore me out." Draco finished salaciously with a wink and smirk. On the inside his mind was racing with thoughts of possible babies...but also the magical bonding, did she even realize what this all meant?

She couldn't help but laugh at his attempt to lighten the mood. She could tell he was just as frightened as she was, but he seemed to be better at hiding it. So she just giggled in response and nodded.

Maybe when the sun came up she wouldn't feel so sensitive…maybe she was getting better. Maybe all they did need to do was admit their feelings and all this craziness would just disappear. One could only hope.


A/N- Ahh sorry it's so short. Like i said it will be longer next time. Thanks again for the reviews and support. You guys are fabulous! Love ya'll!