A/N thank you for all the lovely reviews! This story is coming to a lose unfortunately though. Including this chapter, there is three chapters left. And en epilogue. But thank you all for all the support and for those who have stuck with this from the beginning!

Hermione sighed and glanced out the window. The sky was clear blue and the air was warm for mid April. Hermione tried to focus in her notes, but her eyes kept straying to the window and the warm spring sun outside. She shook her head firmly.

"Focus." She told herself.

She clenched the book tighter in her grasp and turned away from the window. But it was open and she could hear Andromeda and Teddy laughing and playing outside. She ran over and closed the window. And just for good measure, shut the curtains. She flipped on the desk light and re-read her notes in the semi-darkness. But she still couldn't concentrate. She groaned in frustration. She felt like a first year at exam time. Wanting to study, but not being able to focus. She never had this problem at Hogwarts.

"Are you okay, Hermione?" Draco asked as he walked into the library.

"Nooo." She moaned, burying her face in her hands.

"What's wrong?" He asked as he sat next to her.

"I have spring fever and can't concentrate!" She cried.

He laughed, "Then maybe you need a break."

She mock gasped, "What? Is Draco Malfoy suggesting I stop working and actually relax?"

He smirked, "Shocking, I know. Why don't you take a walk with me?"

"Okay!" She shouted as she pretty much leaped away from the desk.

He led her outside, past his aunt and cousin. Andromeda smirked at them as they passed by, "You two have fun!" She called. Hermione waved at her but Draco scowled.

He led her down a little path through the gardens of the Black Castle. The farther along the got, the wilder the plants got. Soon it was if there was nothing else in the world but Draco, Hermione and the beautiful foliage.

"It's incredible back here." Hermione whispered as she pushed aside a low hanging branch. The scent of the flowers was heavy in the air and everything was such a vibrant colour, Hermione felt as if she was in a dream.

"I just thought you deserved to see more of the castle then just the library." Draco smirked.

Hermione laughed, "I never would've guessed that I would one day be taking a walk through a lush garden with Draco Malfoy of all people! You're different then you were at Hogwarts."

Suddenly Draco seemed to be nervous. He kept his eyes to the ground and licked his lips nervously. "Hermione," He said softly, "There is something I haven't told you."

The serious tone in his voice scared Hermione a little. He was staring at her intently and her mouth had suddenly gone dry.

"Hermione..." Draco said and then groaned in frustration. "Okay, I don't quite know how to say this, but please promise me you won't think any differently of me!"

"Draco, what's going on?" Hermione nearly cried.

They were standing in a clearing with the blue sky above them and exotic flowers all around them. The breeze was still warm but Hermione felt frozen.

"I-I haven't been completely honest with you..." He whispered.

She took a step away from him. She stared at him with a guarded expression and crossed her arms. "What do you mean?" She said suspiciously.

He opened his mouth then shut it. His eyes were wild and desperate and he wouldn't stop wringing his hands. His brows were furrowed with desperation and he took a gulp of air then swallowed. He didn't say anything for a few minutes. Clouds were rolling across the sky, turning it from blue to grey. The wind was stronger and colder now.

"Draco?" She said, pushing a strand of hair away from her face, the wind was really picking up, "What were you going to say?"

"I..." He trailed off as his silver eyes met her cinnamon ones. The panic in his eyes faded away to be replaced by gentle fondness and maybe a little guilt.

"Draco?" Hermione said again.

"Nothing." He said softly. "Just that you look really pretty."

She knew that that wasn't what he was originally going to say but didn't want to push him.

She just smiled and took his hand, "Thank you."

He smiled back at her and picked up her other hand and placed it on his shoulder. He then out his other hand on her waist.

Hermione laughed, "What are you doing?"

He didn't answer, just started to hum under his breath. He led her around the garden as a few droplets of rain fell on them. The wind was really picking up and it was nearly as dark as night now. But he still danced her around, never breaking eye-contact and smiling as if everything he had ever wanted was in his arms.

All of a sudden Hermione felt this great rush of emotion flow through her. She gasped with realization. She cared of Draco – cared more for him than anyone else. She wasn't sure what to call this new emotion, but she knew that she would do anything to spend forever in his arms and wanted to be near him always.

The rain was falling down harder now and within seconds, Hermione and Draco were drenched. She threw her head back and laughed. Laughed at the joy she was feeling. She had never acted so recklessly, never slow danced in the pouring rain, never felt so strongly for someone before now.

When her eyes met Draco's again, he was staring at her with great happiness. She couldn't help but grin at him, and he smiled right back. Suddenly, she was moving her face closer to his, she was leaning up towards him and he was bending down towards her. As he moved closer, he whispered to her, "Hermione, I know it's crazy, but I think I l-"

But he was cut off by a sudden gust of wind which brought a great wave of water over them. Hermione shrieked and Draco took off his cloak and held it over her, protecting her from the rain.

"Come on!" He shouted over the storm. "Let's go back!"

She nodded and followed as he ran back to the Black Castle. She was filled with bitter disappointment and an aching longing. What was he going to say?

He held the door open for her and she ran in behind him. They were soaking wet right through their clothes. Hermione's long thick hair stuck to her head and her clothes clung to her body. Draco had a drip of water run down the side of his face and he was panting from the exertion of running. He opened his mouth as if to say something when he was interrupted by his aunt.

"Oh you two must have got caught in the storm!" She cried and rushed over to them. "You're soaked right to the bone!"

Hermione nodded mutely and Draco didn't say anything at all. Hermione handed Draco back his cloak and stepped away from the door.

"What you two need is a hot bath and some tea." Andromeda commanded. She ushered Hermione out of the hallway and upstairs to her room. Andromeda turned the faucet on and Hermione stood shivering in the doorway.

"There now." Andromeda said quietly. "You just rest and I'll be up with your tea shortly."

She shut the door behind her and Hermione stripped out of her clinging, wet clothes and slipped into the bath. The hot water attacked her freezing skin, but soon got used to the temperature. She leaned against the back of the tub and stared out the window at the dark evening sky. She sighed and shut her eyes, imagining herself back in the clearing in the garden. Draco was holding her and was about to tell her something important. And then he pulled her into that crazy dance. And what else? He was going to say something else. Was it just hopeful dreaming that she wished he was going to say he loved her?

The bath water was starting to turn cold so she drained it and got out. She pulled on track pants and a plain t-shirt. She wrapped herself up in her fuzzy blue bathrobe and ran a bush through her messy hair. She stepped into her slippers and left the bathroom to enter her bedroom. Andromeda had left her a cup of tea, charmed so it would never grow cold. Hermione took a sip and felt the heat slither through her body. She collapsed into the armchair by the window and drank as her tea as she watched the storm.

A/N this one is a little short but i hope you like it anyways! Please review! Ps, i have a new story called 'The Secret Life of Astoria Greengrass' and is about Astoria Greengrass (obviously) and her life and how she grew up.