Who's fault was it any way?

Draco: 11

Hermione: 0

Both: 11

Others: 3

Reference to Draco needing to grow balls: 3

Sympathy for what the students are going through: 3

I love debates!

My faves were from:

In Dreams

HarryPGinnyW4eva

xXblackheartzXx

My opinion?

Hermione is the one to blame. Draco may have made up Rebecca, but if you go back through the chapters you'll notice that he never once thought of the mistake he made by giving his crush a name. most of that crap about Rebecca was all in her head and so, Draco had no idea that she was even thinking of Rebecca as an obstacle in their relationship.

If he'd have known what she was thinking, or that she cared so much, he would have told Hermione that he broke things off with Rebecca and that he was single.

Hermione was the one pushing him away when ever he made her feel things that she was convinced she shouldn't feel for him. He gave it his all and even if he wasn't being straight forward, (which he was, but she didn't get it,) I cant blame him because he was trying from beginning to end. He just didn't want to get hurt.

Hermione did exactly what he was doing but worse. She wasn't being straight forward, and she was protecting her own emotions every time he got too close. She ignored how she felt about Rebecca and didn't bother to examine her jealousy and what it could mean.

She blinded herself and didn't try hard enough. There's only so far being naïve can take you before you really should get the message.

It's a double standard. She get sympathy for being dumb and he gets yelled at. He's a man, he should grow balls, chase after her and tell her what's going on, when in real life, he's the one who deserves to be told what's happening. He's the one missing out on half the story because she'd keeping to herself.

Or maybe we are all just so used to the normal fanfictions.

Okay, if you even took the time to read all that then I hope I swayed you a bit. ^_^

New Question!

My mother was on my aol account reading my reviews to me because I don't have internet at my house. She does that mom thing and starts telling me that she's so proud and what not. So she calls my grandma into the room to have her read them. She does the grandma thing too.

So my mom says "This story sounds so good, it makes me want to read it." She's also intrigued because her name (Rebecca) is mentioned quite a bit. My grandmother agrees.

So I'm super embarrassed to have my conservative granny and my not so conservative mom read my sexual story. I tell them "You wouldn't get it because you've never read Harry Potter."

My granny who's a super big fan of the movies says "but I know that Draco is that little bad kid isn't he? I'll get it."

Finally I convince my granny that she doesn't want to read it because there's sex in it.

My mom on the other hand wants to read it. She says "What ever you wrote, I've been through it and know worse. I wont find it raunchy."

I know this is true, after all, I'm the pervert I am today, because of her. I told her that I'd ask my fans and she thought that was a great idea.

So the question is…

Should I let my 40 something year old mom read this story and leave a review with all her momness in it?

Don't worry about what you say in the reviews, my mom will eat it up. So be honest.

Innerhouse Relations

Chapter 14

Hermione got up the next morning feeling refreshed. She'd had a good dream, something about traveling and teaching in other countries. She couldn't remember the details but was glad that her subconscious hadn't eaten away at her in her sleep, like it normally would when she was stressed.

She looked at the red lit numbers on the digital clock beside her and was shocked with the time. It was already one in the afternoon. She couldn't remember sleeping in this late since the summer of fifth year before life had started to become hard. She missed her childhood.

Sighing and deciding not to ruin her excellent mood with the facts of life, she stood from the bed and set to work on having a normal, uneventful, muggle day of solitude.

Hermione had a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, with 2% milk while sitting on the sofa channel surfing. She settled on watching a soap and cringed at the awful acting, but found it more amusing the longer she watched.

"How can you not understand Isabella?" the man said dramatically. The woman looked at him confused and then anger sparked in her.

"How can I understand? You're the one that wants to be my friend one moment and then my enemy the next Edward." she said crossing her arms over her chest. Edward looked at her in disbelief.

"How much more clear can I make it?" he said grabbing her by the shoulders, "You idiot, I can't be your friend because I want more." He said staring deep into Isabelle's eyes.

She looked up at him dumfounded and confused.

"What more can we have Edward?" she asked slowly.

Hermione sighed. This lady was seriously stupid. Throughout the whole show, he'd been practically yelling 'I love you' and all she could think of him as, was a friend. Hermione shook her head at the two of them.

Edward moved away from her and she looked up at him feeling disappointed at their loss of contact.

Hermione laughed. The girl liked him in return. Why couldn't she see that?

"I'm sorry Isabella." Edward began with his back to her, "You're right. What more can we have?"

Isabella turned away clutching her heart at his words. Then looked thoughtfully confused as to why what he said had bothered her so much.

"I should go." Edward said and began to walk out the door.

Isabella turned, with an arm outstretched. About to ask him to stay but then she caught herself in time and lowered her raised hand.

Without another word between the two he was gone.

Hermione sat on the couch rolling her eyes. Who wrote this stuff. He could have just told her the damn truth and all of this would have been over. Or better yet, the girl should have realized her feelings for him and told him how she felt instead of making him do all the chasing.

It was the double standard, she supposed. The man is supposed to be all manly and confess to the one he loves risking heart break and still taking it like a bloke. But it wasn't his fault that the girl didn't understand her own attraction to the guy when he was giving it his all. She was the one who should chase after him and set things right.

Instead the drama would continue until he gave into her completely, risking everything and lowering his pride even more. It was all for the ratings (reviews lol) of course. And it even had Hermione hooked, so how could she complain about how ridiculous the situation was?

She turned her attention back to the TV and watched as Isabella sat on the couch defeated, trying to sort out her feelings.

"What's wrong with me," she whispered aloud.

Then the door slammed open and she jumped up from the couch in shock.

"Edward?" she asked surprised with his return. He closed the distance between them and held her hands in his.

"Isabella, there's more. So much more that we could be." he said.

"Edward…" she began softly, pulling her hands from him. "I just don't understand."

"Then I'll show you," he said before claiming her lips in a desperate kiss. Isabella was at first shocked, but then realization washed over her and she closed her eyes and deepened the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck.

When finally the kiss was broken, Edward looked down at her out of breath.

"Do you see now?" he began holding her close, "Isabella, I love you."

Isabella's eye's filled with tears.

"Oh Edward, I love you too." she said and they kissed once more.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?" a voice shouted, and the two lovers parted, facing the door.

"Jacob," Isabella started, "It's not what you think."

Dramatic music played as they showed a stream of face caps before rolling the credits.

Hermione laughed, getting up from the couch. How silly to watch these things. So unrealistic. Who would want a life like that anyway. She turned off the TV having had enough of that for today.

She went into the kitchen and rinsed her bowl deciding, with a glance at the washer, that she'd wash her clothes from camp. Even though Harry had offered his clothing, she found the idea of wearing his things too intimate a thing for her to do.

Hermione visited the hallway closet and found a towel, then after getting undressed and using it to cover up, she loaded all her things into the washer and headed for the bathroom.

She ran a bath for herself, having not had time for a nice bath in a while. She would have used her wand to magic up some bubbles, when she suddenly remembered that she hadn't gotten it back from McGonagall. She sighed knowing the old woman was probably well aware that Hermione would have to go back to Hogwarts for her wand. Infact, McGonagall probably purposely hadn't given it back to her when Hermione resigned to ensure Hermione's return.

Hermione slid into the water, unable to be angry with McGonagall. After all, it was her own lack of responsibility that had led to this in the first place. She should never have let herself get out of hand that way. Quitting her job over something so stupid.

Hermione laughed, it was like something that would happen in that stupid soap she'd been watching Next thing you know, Draco would show up here, telling her that he left Rebecca and that he loved her.

She stopped laughing…

It wasn't so funny after all. Maybe she did wish her life was like that drama. She wanted Draco to come after her. But this was real life and he wouldn't be here.

Hermione relaxed into the water trying to think of other things. She wondered how things were going with Damien. If he'd managed to get over himself and befriend Danielle. She smiled at the thought. Would that have been Draco and herself, had they had a chance like this in school? Would they be together even now? Would he have met Rebecca? She could just imagine the scenarios that would take place if they had been together in school. Perhaps they would be Headboy and Headgirl like Tiffany and Nate…

She shook her head in frustration. He would never have liked her back then. Just like he couldn't like her now. Not to mention that Ron wouldn't let Malfoy within talking distance in school. She laughed, just like Tanner. But then, Tanner and Damien ended up becoming friends, along with Spencer who, now that she thought about it, would be their group's Blaise…

What was she thinking. The point was that it was impossible.

Not because of them, but because of herself. Even if Draco would have tried to talk to her during school, she would have let Ron and Harry come between them easily, not wanting to lose their friendship. She wouldn't have even given Draco a chance.

Draco sat behind his desk, wishing that this period would hurry and end. He didn't know if he could survive any more of this. From around the room angry students watched his every move. Even with all the busy work he was giving everyone and the unfair deadlines he was asking them to meet, they just didn't mind wasting time they needed to get that assignment done, on glaring at him all class period.

He looked up at the clock, ticking away unbearably slow.

Draco sighed when innocent little Emon raised his hand and he had no choice but to break this deafening silence to address him.

"Yes?" he asked slowly and all the student looked up from their work.

"Why wont you just go get her?" Emon asked and the heaviest looks shot at Draco.

What the hell? Is that what this was about? They all wanted him to go after her, even if it meant leaving Hogwarts and his responsibilities behind? Even if it wasn't his fault and he had no idea why she'd left?

The longer he waited to answer, the more foul the collected moods in the room became. He cleared his throat and answered honestly, without thinking, and hoping that word would spread and he could walk down the halls without having to watch for curses at his back.

"I want to go but I have a job to do here." he answered and the faces all lightened up.

"Who cares," a girl said.

The class agreed, but they didn't seem to understand adulthood. What they don't tell you in the romance novels, is that the guy goes back to work the next day after missing that extremely important meeting, to chase a girl to a portkey before she was gone for good. Well, the guy got fired for neglecting his duties.

But the story always ends with the happy part. The reconciliation, confession and then a kiss of acceptance. In Draco's story, he'd chase her, reconcile, confess and then get a slap in the face when she turned him down saying that he was her best friend.

It was the double standard. He was the man, so he had to take the chance. Prove he loved her by losing all his dignity while she sits back and waits for love to come to her so she can finally lift the weight of denial off her shoulders. It wasn't fare, but it was true.

"I'm going to get her this weekend," he said with a sigh.

"That's not soon enough," one of them whined. Draco shrugged.

"That's just life, now get back to work," he said and the sound of quills scratching parchment filled the room for the last long portion of the double period.

"So that's what he said," a third year told her friend, who told her friend, who mentioned it to his girlfriend, who told her big brother, who told his best friend, who then told his whole class and eventually everyone in Hogwarts knew.

Hermione put her clothes in the dryer and sat on the couch in her towel waiting for her clothes to finish. She'd turned on the heater and the room was feeling really comfy. Hermione looked at the clock and with a sigh started to brush out her hair. It was four and Harry said he wouldn't be home until six. She was out of things to do. She didn't even feel like reading.

She was at that point where the excitement of a vacation was wearing off, which had happened a lot quicker than it usually did, and she wanted to go back to school. Maybe she'd make dinner. Actually that was a great idea. Something to say thank you to Harry and Blaise for not being upset by her presence.

Hermione yawned, sitting back on the couch. It was so warm, maybe she'd just rest her eyes a bit while her clothes dried. Then she'd start on dinner.

Blaise waved goodbye to Harry and made his way to the floo network with a letter in his hands feeling annoyed. What did Draco mean by waiting for the weeks end? What kind of a bloke in love does that? He had to know that McGonagall wouldn't be mad at him for skipping a bit of work to get Granger.

Maybe he ought to just go and drag him to her. Blaise knew that wouldn't work. Draco had one hell of a sense of obligation. Maybe he should ask McGonagall to let Draco have a few days off, vacation was around the corner anyway. But then, if McGonagall wanted Draco gone, she'd have made it happen by now.

He huffed in aggravation. He was an impatient person by nature and couldn't resist trying to make things move faster if possible. But it looked like he was going to have to just sit back and wait on this one.

He entered the floo network and headed home.

Classes were finally over and Draco was glad to see that the word had spread about his retrieving Granger soon. The students wanted their professor back by the end of the holidays and they weren't messing around. As the students exited they all gave him poker faced nods, like mob bosses ensuring that he knew what to do.

He thought about what Hermione could be doing right now. Probably stuck in a book he thought with a smile. Then a sudden realization hit him and hard. Blaise would be coming back from training around this time and he and Hermione would be in the house alone together.

Blaise was constantly writing to him about how annoyed he was for those hours before Harry got home at six to cook food and such. They were like a sick couple Draco thought. But now he had something to worry about.

Blaise was his mate and all, that was true, but if he so much as had an inkling of how naive or attractive Granger was, well lets just say that his and Blaise's relationship would definitely take a back seat to Blaise's affinity for women.

Ugh, and knowing Blaise he'd blame Draco for having not come to get her sooner. Telling him that he should have made a claim. Draco was angry just thinking about it. What were they doing right now? God Hermione was so stupid that if he invited her to his room for a pillow fight, she'd probably think him an innocent 'friend.'

Hadn't Potter thought of that? He knew Blaise almost as well as Draco did.

Draco calmed a bit. Of course Potter would have thought of that. There was no need to worry. Besides what were the chances that Blaise would see Granger looking attractive. Draco laughed.

Yeah, he found Granger attractive because of personality and besides that, yes she was extremely hot, but as long as she was fully clothed, you could hardly tell. It's not like she'd be prancing around Potter's house half naked or anything.

Blaise came through the fire place feeling exhausted. He was on his way to his room when he noticed the most peculiar thing and was stopped in his tracks.

"Hello…" he said quietly. "what do we have here?"

Staring at the couch he noticed that there was an outrageously sexy, half naked, woman with beautifully damp hair asleep wearing nothing but a towel. Now where had this lovely lady come from? He stepped closer to the couch wide eyed that this luscious thing with extraordinarily long legs, was indeed the same boring Granger he'd just met last night.

Impossible.

He pinched himself but her slightly parted full lips were still as sexy as they had been a second ago. It was just so wrong. So deliciously wrong. He couldn't hit on Harry's best friend in Harry's apartment. That was horrible. Almost as horrible as trying to bed the woman your best mate is in love with.

He really wanted to walk away from this situation and lock himself in his room until Harry came home but he looked down at her one more time and just couldn't do it. That would be like slapping the gods in the face. They'd gone out of their way and made her irresistible and who was he to defy the gods intentions?

That's right, it would be committing blasphemy to not come on to her. Besides Harry should have known this would happen with a friend this beautiful. He didn't even allow Ginny over lest Blaise some how find her enticing. He needn't worry about that one Blaise laughed. But could it be that he was unaware of how amazing Hermione looked.

Well that was his loss.

Blaise called out to her.

"Granger," he said and when she didn't wake, he put a soft hand on her shoulder and shook lightly. "Granger."

Her eye's fluttered open looking up at him. Then she realized her situation and blushed furiously.

"Oh is it six already?" she asked and Blaise smiled.

"No, I get home before Harry." he said with a laugh, "I guess he forgot to tell you."

"Oh," she said looking somewhat angry, then seeing him eye her she continued, "My clothes are all in the drier."

Blaise nodded his understanding and then put a hand out to help her up, "Come on, you can borrow something of mine for now."

Hermione didn't know what to do. She didn't want to say yes but this was so embarrassing she just wanted it to end. She put her hand in his and he took her to his room. He opened the closet and pulled out a button down.

"Here," he said tossing it to her and then he pulled out some shorts from a cubby in the closet. He handed them to her and before he could say a word, she ran from the room and he heard the bathroom door shut.

He smirked. Now that he thought about it, she was pretty cute. Draco should have come to get her sooner.

Draco sat at the dinner table unable to think about anything but what he knew Blaise was trying to attempt right now. It had dawned on him that Harry was too thick to realize the danger he'd put Granger into, because he too was unaware of just how attractive his bookish best friend was. He wouldn't think of her in that fashion.

He was going crazy thinking of Blaise laying a finger on her with no one there to stop him. He just hoped that Hermione could take care of herself. He sighed at the thought and began to worry more.

He couldn't take it any more. He got up from his seat and headed for McGonagall.

Hermione stood in the bathroom dieing of embarrassment. She would kill Harry when he got home. Now she was wearing Zabini's clothes. This was way worse than wearing her best friend's stuff, ten fold. The point was to not make things awkward.

This was a successful fail. As soon as her clothes were done she was going to change out of these and get back to Hogwarts. She needed to get her wand back anyway. Then she'd decide what to do from there, but for sure she needed to get back to her job whether she was ready to face Draco or not.

For now though, she was stuck here with Blaise. Not that she didn't trust him, but being discovered like that by anyone, would make her want to run and hide. She was again overreacting of course. It's not like Blaise was the kind of guy who'd try anything with her.

She sighed and opened the door to the bathroom bracing herself for humiliation. It never failed.

"What do you mean no?" Draco asked McGonagall incredulously.

"That's what I said Mr. Malfoy," she replied unfazed by his rudeness, "I can't afford to lose another professor at this time," she said sternly.

"At, what time?" Draco asked angrily, "It's four days before break, nothings going on. There's no war." he said and she faced him raising an eyebrow.

"My answer is final Professor," she said and Draco closed his mouth unable to argue with this stubborn old woman. He looked out over the hall and all eyes were on him, the faces beaming at his new found dedication to retrieving their history professor.

Draco returned to his seat defeated and the students booed until McGonagall sternly looked out at all of them and they went back to eating.

Blaise watched as Hermione fooled around in the kitchen.

"Making dinner?" he asked, and without facing him she nodded. "What are you making?" he asked coming up behind her and looking over her shoulder. Hermione froze at the contact then she laughed.

"You remind me of Ron," she said and Blaise was taken aback by her choice of words. He moved back offended and quickly smiled at her when she turned around.

"You should teach me to use this thing, Harry says that I may burn the place down," Blaise laughed and Hermione smiled up at him.

"Sure," she replied happily, "It's not all that hard."

Blaise frowned at her natural trust in him. It was a bit disappointing that she didn't even sense his intentions.

"Here," she said handing him a knife. "It's kind of like potions. Can you chop these up?" she asked handing him some onions.

"Sure" he said and set to work while she pulled out more ingredients and heated a pan.

When he finished what he was doing he pulled her over by the waist and in front of him.

"How's this?" he asked and though she was trapped between him and the counter she didn't think anything of his gesture.

"These look great." she said turning, looking up at him and smiling a friendly smile. It kind of irked him that she didn't realize what the close contact meant.

"Now's the tricky part." she said with a laugh and picked up the onions moving back to the lit pan on the stove.

She started to slowly push the onions into the oiled pan with other things already in it and they sizzled. Then she stopped and handed the cutting board to him.

"Go ahead and try, but go slow because the oil pops and might burn you." she said with that annoying smile on her face that was like a force field to his charms.

He took the board and did as was told. It was kind of fun and it only hurt for a second when the grease jumped.

"Okay," she started, handing him the things that she'd cut up. "Go ahead and do those too."

He slowly added the rest of the ingredients enjoying himself.

"What's next?" He asked after he was done with that. She moved to stand close beside him and with a spatula in hand she mixed the vegetables. Then she handed it to him.

"Do that for a bit okay." she said.

He took the spatula and stirred. When he wasn't doing it right, she placed her hand on his and moved his hand properly, "Like this," she said.

"Hermione?" he asked and she looked up at him. "Did you treat Draco this way?" he asked and she blushed.

"Yes," she said slowly, "Why?"

"No reason," he said and then suddenly felt really quit bad for his mate. Blaise could snog this girl senseless and she'd find some way to deny that it meant anything. Then continue to be uncomfortably close to him.

She leaned close to him again and then with a smile lowered the fire and put a lid on the pan.

"Now we let it sit for a bit," she said and she sat herself on the counter top.

Blaise watched her and thought that maybe he ought to try harder before giving up. He stood between her legs and watched as her face finally looked surprised. He put his hands on her hips and with the sexiest voice spoke.

"You looked quite stunning in that towel by the way, but perhaps even more so in my clothes," He said figuring that he was better off being straight forward with her or she'd miss it.

She looked at him confused for a moment, then began laughing.

"Thanks," she started and he wished she would have stopped there, "I know I look ridiculous in this stuff, no need to make fun of me." he couldn't believe it but then it got worse, "I'm glad that you and Harry are friends and I'm glad that you're being so nice to me even though I'm a bother." and when he thought his attempts couldn't be belittled any more then it already had been, she gave him a friendly tap on the arm, "I hope that we can become friends too."

Blaise backed away from her clutching what was left of his pride before she completely trampled it. How could Draco have put up with this? Oh gods, he needed to lie down and replenish his ego before she took what was left of his balls and turned it into a vagina.

She hopped down from the counter and turned off the stove.

"Looks like it's done." she said happily, stirring the pans contents with a giddy smile. "Did you enjoy your first stove experience?" she asked him and smiled.

"Yeah, I learned a lot." he answered and she looked ecstatic.

Hermione set the table and was glad that Blaise hadn't made things awkward. By the time Harry got home, she was back in her own clothing and had dinner ready.

"Wow Hermione." Harry said sitting at the table. "You didn't have to.'

"No, it was the least I could do," she said and then looked at Blaise, "Blaise helped me out with the stir fry," she mentioned and Harry paused.

"Is it safe?" he asked and Hermione laughed.

"He did a good job," she smiled and Blaise laughed.

After dinner Hermione hugged Harry and then Blaise and they both looked confused.

"I've decided to go back to Hogwarts tonight," she said and Harry smiled at her.

"That's great. Are you going to tell him how you feel?" Harry asked and Hermione froze at that.

"No," she said sheepishly, "McGonagall has my wand and I have to go back to get it, so I decided that a should just stay and do my job while I'm at it." she explained and Harry's face fell.

"Oh," he said and Blaise laughed.

"Harry's right," Blaise said and Hermione blushed, "You should just tell him and get it out of the way."

"But what about Rebecca?" she asked, "It wouldn't be right."

Blaise rolled his eyes.

"You want things to go back to normal between the two of you don't you?" he asked and she nodded, "Well then just tell him the truth and you'll get past and then everything will be fine."

Harry shot him an angry look and Blaise nudged him.

"I was just going to ignore it," Hermione pondered, "Do you think that telling him would really work?"

"Sure it will," Blaise said reassuringly. "You told him about that dream you had about him and it helped right?" he asked and her face turned red as she blushed.

"Maybe your right," she sighed and Blaise smiled.

"Besides, even if he doesn't feel the same, you should tell him and take the weight off of your own shoulders, don't you think?" he said and she thought that over.

"Well," she started, "I guess it's not hurting anyone for me to tell him what I'm thinking. And it wasn't fair how I just ran away without saying anything. I kind of feel like I owe him an explanation." Hermione said realized that it was true.

It was that double standard thing again, where she would expect an explanation from him if he did something like that to her, but as a woman she didn't have to explain herself if she didn't want to. Infact, there was nothing wrong with her telling him how she felt at all. She wanted to take the chance and whatever came of it, she was sure she'd feel better with herself for having told the truth.

Wasn't that what he admired about her? Doing what she believed in and not being afraid of embarrassing herself.

When the look of determination came over her face Blaise smirked and Harry smiled at him while shaking his head disapprovingly.

"You're right Blaise." she said confidently. "I should just tell him. I know that we'll still be friends after."

The two men looked at each other. Harry spoke.

"That's great Hermione. I'm sure it'll work out." He said with a laugh.

Hermione packed her things and thanked the both of them repeatedly before apparating out of the room.

Harry turned to Blaise.

"So how was your time alone with Hermione?" he asked with a smile and Blaise looked at him shocked then he smirked. He should have known that Harry suspected him from the beginning.

"A serious blow to the ego is what it was." he answered and Harry laughed.

"Figured it would be," He said, "I guess you owe me twenty galleons if I'm not mistaken."

Blaise looked at him confused, "Twenty? For what?"

"It was last month that you bet me that I couldn't find a girl resistant to your 'charms' I believe." Harry said and shrugged.

"I don't remember that, so it doesn't count," he said flippantly.

"All the same, it's payment enough to know that you got turned down by Hermione." he laughed and left Blaise fuming in the living room.

Blaise sat on the couch wondering how Hermione could be so thick. It wasn't his charms it was her.

"Good luck mate," Blaise whispered his regards to his best friend. If he managed to mess this up, then nothing could save them.

Hermione arrived in Hogsmead and was freezing. She looked at the castle up the hill. She wasn't ready just yet. She went into the Three Broom Sticks to warm up. It would be closing soon and would give her just enough time to settled herself or maybe work up some courage.

Hermione entered and sat at the bar when Madam Rosmerta smiled at her.

"How are you dear?" Rosmerta asked with a bright smile.

"All right, I suppose," Hermione said with a sigh. The bartender looked at her knowingly.

"Here," she said sliding a shot down the bar, "It'll help warm you up," she said and Hermione looked at it, a short debate taking place in her head, before she downed the drink. Hermione shut her eyes tight as the burn spread through her. This didn't taste like the fire whisky she'd had before.

"Thanks," Hermione said feeling suddenly warm and fuzzy, "What is this stuff?" she asked smelling the empty shot glass.

"A bit of something for the nerves drear," she said with a smile, "One more and you'll be set to deal with anything," she said and with expert movements that Hermione could barely follow, she mixed another one and slid it to Hermione.

Hermione looked down at the amber liquid feeling wary of it's contents but at the look on Rosmerta's face she felt confident that it would be okay. She braced for the burn and threw the shot back.

Hermione coughed and hacked and the bartender smiled.

"That ought to do it," she said going around the counter and helping Hermione up from the bar. "Closing time dear, I'll help you out."

Hermione nodded, unable to really focus on forming words.

"It's a bit stronger than the normal bit of liquor, but I bet you have a good night." she said walking Hermione to the door. "come on by and I'll make you another anytime you need it."

Hermione waved goodbye and started on her way up the castle feeling extraordinarily up beat. She was a bit dizzy but she was walking fine and her brain was working perfectly normal.

Well almost perfectly normal. Right now the thought of going to Draco's room and telling him about her feelings was seeming like a great idea, where as normally she was sure she'd be fighting it the whole way, or thinking about the fact that it was far too late at night to pay him a visit.

She laughed felling like it was silly to think that he'd care what time of night she showed up. She wanted to remember to be worried about what he would say, but she just couldn't bring herself down out of the strange cloud she was in.

She reached the gates to the castle in no time what with her chipper skipping pace. As soon as she stepped into the castle, her feet moved her toward him and she wanted them to stop. She wasn't ready for this, she thought and her mind wouldn't believe her. It kept up it's optimistic view and pushed her forward.

Hermione was going to kill Rosmerta. Well with the mind set she was in right now, all she could think of doing was giving hugs. And when she thought of Draco, she wanted to give a whole lot more…

Draco lay in his room trying to sleep. Blaise had better not lay a finger on her. He grunted unable to stop thinking of the possibilities. Turning over with a sigh he decided that tomorrow he would leave whether McGonagall liked it or not. She could fire him if she liked. He didn't need a job, he was rich.

Feeling contented with that, he turned over one more time, getting comfortable and drifting to sleep.

Knock, knock, knock.

Who the hell could that be at this late hour? Draco thought, probably some student sneaking out to tell him what he was doing wrong.

Read the new question and give me an opinion will you? ^_^