Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Miss Munchk1n, I can assure you there is no evil plot twist in this one! :) Just cute fluffiness and some smut.

Once again, I won't say much for this, so you guys can start reading. Sit back and enjoy!

Love always,

Avoline

Draco walked into the cottage and gently closed the door behind him. It had been a long first day at St. Mungo's, and he learned very quickly that he would be expected to do much more than just watch and answer questions as an intern. He set his bag on the floor next to the couch and collapsed onto the couch. He closed his eyes and smiled at the memory of the nervous girl who would be his partner in the internship.

He didn't hear Hermione wheeling herself into the livingroom.

"Have a good day," she asked softly. He simply nodded in response. "Anything worth telling about?" He chuckled.

"Just some silly red-head that'll be my intern partner," he answered. "She kept dropping stuff all day."

"Let me guess, she's pretty and has that dreamy voice?" His eyes popped open.

Oh, shit, shit, shit!

This was probably how the crap with Ron started. And he was doing nothing to sooth her insecurities. He sat up and met her gaze.

"Hermione, don't assume anything," he began.

"Yeah, that's what they always say," she spat back, her voice dripping with venom. "If you wanted to live the bachelor life, all you had to do was say so." She began wheeling her way out, and he leapt to his feet. He had just spent the last week trying to make her feel like the only girl in the world, and here he was letting his mouth get him in more trouble than he thought.

"Hermione, wait," he called, shocked at how good she had gotten at moving herself around. "It's not like that!" He heard a door slam, and cursed himself a thousand times for not thinking first.

"Go away," she shouted through the closed door. He grabbed the knob and found it locked.

She's probably used the strongest locking spell she can.

Coax her out. Prove that you're different.

"Hermione, come out and talk," he instructed. "It's not what you think at all." He heard drawers being opened.

Oh, Merlin, she's packing her things.

"I actually thought you were different." Her words were laced with hurt, and he kicked himself again.

"Hermione, I am different," he replied, placing a hand on the door. "I'm not even interested in the girl from the internship."

"Prove it," she snapped. He closed his eyes and bit his lower lip.

"How about the fact that I'm here, begging you to talk to me," he pleaded. "How about the fact that I'm doing this cause I can't stand the thought of you being alone?" He listened for a responce, and was somewhat pleased when he was greeted with silence. "Hermione, I would never hurt you. All those years in school, when I could have been making you feel like the best girl in the whole school, I was being an idiot and trying to convince myself that I didn't feel what I do about you. I've cared about you for longer than you even realize." He began tracing circles in the wood.

"I can still remember that month or so, when the Basalisk had petrified you... Oh, Hermione, if you only knew how much it hurt. I couldn't let my housemates see it, but I spent more time alone in that month than our whole sixth year. I didn't want to accept that my father had triggered the chain of events that lead up to that." He felt the flood of emotions building up inside of him. "You were so focused on debating with Father in Flourish and Botts that you didn't even notice me." He opened his eyes and stared at the wood.

"Please, Hermione, I know you're insecure, and you've got every right to be... but don't shut me out..."

He heard her mutter a few incantations, and he reached for the knob again. The door opened, granting him access to the only girl he cared about. He saw the suitcase on the bed, then saw her, still in her wheele chair, sitting in the middle of the room.

"Do you mean it, Draco," she whispered. He kneeled in front of her and wiped away her tears.

"Every word of it, Hermione," he soothed. "Every single word. And if I ever say anything to make you think differently, just remember this," he lifted her face and met her gaze, "I would never intentionally hurt you like that. Ever." She smiled, and he vowed to make her smile more often.

"Thank you," she murmured. He tenderly kissed her lips and laughed.

"No, I should be the one thanking you," he countered. "No one has made me face up to my emotions in ages. Plus I have the honor of loving the brightest witch of our age." She giggled, then sobered up quickly.

"What about your parents," she inquired. His smiled grew.

"Mother will love you to pieces," he answered. "Father won't admit it, but he'd be thrilled. Not many Muggle-borns can debate with him at twelve years old and come that close to winning." She smiled again, making his heart swell. "Even if he doesn't seem too happy about us, don't let him get you down."

"Oh, I'll just start a debate with him and show him what I can do now since I've had a few years to practice," she joked. He laughed at her cheekiness.

"Only Hermione Granger," he stated.

My Hermione. No one can take me away from her.

But what if someone can take her away from me...