Disclaimer: I totally own Harry Potter. Ok, no not really. If I did, Sirius wouldn't be dead. Or Dumbledore, or Snape, or Fred, or Remus, Tonks, Dobby, Cedric, etc. etc. You get the picture.

Chapter Thirteen: Declarations

Hermione entered Draco's cell just before lunch the next day carrying her usual picnic basket and two copies of the Daily Prophet. Draco was sitting in bed, holding a book but not really reading it, instead just staring blankly at the pages. He looked up when she arrived, flashing a brilliant smile and rising to greet her with a hug and a brief kiss.

Hermione returned his embrace and sighed into the kiss, lifting up onto her toes as he pulled back to drag it out a bit longer. He smiled wider at her response, but quickly picked up on the anxiety underlying her features.

"Everything alright, love?"

Hermione noted the term of endearment and was so busy contemplating its meaning that she forgot to respond.

Draco's brows furrowed in concern while he took in her vague, thoughtful expression. He lifted her chin so she was looking at him. "Hermione, what is it?"

She finally shook herself out of her silent contemplation and responded with slight embarrassment. "Oh, sorry. Nothing, it's nothing."

Draco just quirked an eyebrow at her in disbelief and sat down on the bed, pulling her down onto his lap. His hand worked its way through her thick hair to cup the back of her neck, rubbing gentle circles with his thumb. "You can talk to me, you know."

She sighed and leaned into his touch, closing her eyes and breathing deeply. "Ron knows."

Draco stiffened slightly, but quickly resumed his movements. "Oh? How did that go?" When she just shrugged, turning her head away so he could no longer see her face, he started to worry. "Did he hurt you?"

That got her facing him again. "No! No, of course not. He was just upset, is all. He was really very kind about the whole thing. Look, nothing happened, so there's really no point discussing it."

"Okay."

"Good. Thank you."

She looked so uncomfortable, and Draco could feel the tension in her neck and shoulders, so he turned them both and maneuvered Hermione until she was lying face-down on the bed. Just as she was about to ask him what on earth he was doing, he started massaging the muscles in her neck and back, loosening and plying them with sure fingers. She moaned softly at his touch, relaxing further into the bed and letting her eyes slip shut.

Draco continued to work on her, feeling only slightly guilty about the feelings of arousal her sounds of appreciation were stirring in him. After a few moments he decided to take his mother's advice from the night before.

"Hermione, what do you want to be?"

She was quiet a minute before responding. "I'm not really sure. I know I'd like to help people, so maybe I could work with charities, or go into social work. I've considered working for the ministry, seeing if I can't change the system a bit from the inside and all." Draco nodded; he could see her doing any of those things, and quite successfully at that.

"First, though…" she propped herself up enough to grab one of the papers she'd brought, handing it to Draco. He opened it, seeing a picture of Hogwarts on the front page. He quickly scanned the article, stopping when he read the bit about returning seventh years.

"You'll be finishing school, then?" Of course. Where else would she be?

"Yes. I was actually wondering if you would be going back…once you're freed, that is."

Draco was silent for a moment, during which he started working on her back again. "I hadn't thought about it. We don't actually know that I'll have the option of going back, you know."

Hermione just sighed. "You will." No room for argument, just the way it is.

He thought about Hogwarts, about going back, about second chances. "Hermione, I'd go wherever you are."

"Really?" Her voice was small and laced with insecurities.

He leaned over her until his mouth was hovering just above her ear. "Really."

She shivered lightly at the feel of his warm breath in her hair and the soft cadence of his voice. Draco still had one hand on her lower back, just touching the waist of her jeans. The other was positioned on the bed by her shoulder, holding himself above her. He lowered his mouth to her shoulder, kissing her softly through the thin material of her shirt. He shifted his body until he was lying on his side next to her and continued rubbing her back with his free hand.

She turned her head to face him and was stunned by the heat in his gaze. He leaned in, taking her lips in a slow burning kiss. She could feel his gentle movements reverberating through every bone in her body, heating her skin and making her limbs tremble.

Draco grasped the shoulder that was opposite him and turned her until her back was pressed tightly against his chest. He smoothed her hair back off of her neck so he could gently lick and suckle at the soft skin there, while his hand caressed from her shoulder down her arm, her waist and hips and back again. He made this route several times before moving his hand to explore her stomach, dipping under her shirt and sliding up to cup her breasts.

Hermione felt exposed and oddly aroused by their position. When Draco moved to unbutton her jeans she let out a soft gasp, allowing her eyes to travel down to watch as he touched her. He had stopped kissing her neck and was now focusing all his attention on the hand currently exploring her body. She could feel his hot, heavy breaths against her ear and his hard length pressed against her from behind as he slid his very talented hand into her now undone pants, slipping beneath the silky material of her knickers.

When he started stroking her, she turned her head so she could see his face. His expression took her breath away. His eyes were traveling over her body, focusing on his hand between her legs for a few minutes before roaming once again to take in every minute detail of her appearance. His expression was intense with need and affection and appreciation, and Hermione felt herself shaking beneath it.

Draco noticed her trembling and responded by slipping first one, then two fingers inside her while his thumb continued stroking her clit. She gasped and shuddered at the added sensation, trying to turn herself to face him, to press her body against his and hide herself from his view, but Draco was unrelenting. He was watching her body react to his with intense scrutiny and refused to relinquish his position until he had seen her fall apart against him.

When she began making the little mewling sounds he knew so well, he knew she was close and doubled his efforts. Soon she was shaking hard, body tense and eyes screwed hut, holding herself from falling off the edge with determination. Draco sensed her struggle and leaned in until his mouth was barely touching her ear so he could whisper to her. "God, you're so beautiful, so beautiful…I want you to come for me, Hermione, come for me now." At his words, she raggedly gasped out his name while her body clenched and seized beneath him. He kissed her neck and shoulder gently while she caught her breath and relaxed against him.

"You're evil." The big, goofy grin on her face took all the heat out of the words, and Draco chuckled softly in response.

"Am I?" She nodded enthusiastically against his chest, so he bit her lightly on the shoulder, earning an indignant little yelp. She tried to swat at him, but he simply caught her wrist and held it while nuzzling his nose into her hair with a groan of appreciation.

"Mmm…you smell so good, why must you always smell so good?"

She shrugged. "Good personal hygiene? Blame my parents."

He laughed softly into her honey-brown hair, breathing in her soft, citrus scent.

"So, what do you want to be, Draco Malfoy? I was going to ask you earlier, but you distracted me."

"Yes, I am a fan of distractions. Maybe that's what I should do with myself; spend the rest of my life distracting you. Sounds promising."

He finally allowed her to turn and face him, and once she did she was studying his expression carefully. He went over what he'd just said and cursed himself mentally. Hadn't his mother just warned him against moving too fast, accused him of being over committed to Hermione? And here he was talking about the rest of his life as though he'd promised it to her already. With a slight shock, he realized just how sincerely he meant what he'd said. It appeared he had inherited the Malfoy premature commitment gene along with his grey eyes and blond hair.

Hermione was still studying him, but he was unable to read her expression. He thought she might look hopeful, or possibly just confused. In an attempt to lighten the mood and shift her focus, he rested his mouth against her still flushed cheek and blew a loud, wet raspberry, earning a round of laughter and a definite shift in her mood.

"What was that for?" She looked puzzled, yet amused, and she slapped him playfully on the chest.

Draco just shrugged and did it again, spurring a brief tickling war that had them both gasping for breath after a few moments. Just as he was commending himself on his excellent diversionary tactics and starting to relax again, he opened his mouth and, without a moment's thought or hesitation, said the one thing he absolutely did not mean to say.

"I love you, Hermione Granger."

A/N: Review? I'll love you forever!