a/n just a brief warning that this chapter is where this story really changes to the rating M. If you don't like that sort of stuff don't read it. If you do read please enjoy. :)

xxx.:.x.

Books. They were everywhere. In piles at her feet, lying three opened on top of each other on the table top and to on her lap. One securely pushed up against the table and one hugged tightly to her chest. Now was not the time for interruptions but she had little control over it. On top of her smothering load of homework, reviews and test prep she had an added dilemma. It was one that had been hanging over her head and shooting painful reminders at her every time her brain took a breath. It was one of the reasons that she'd refused to allow herself to slow down over the previous month. Exams were almost upon them but they were just school exams. Not like the previous year when they were official ministry exams. Although she had made it so that she was busy now then she was a year previous. What she was trying to block was her stupidity.

The night after she and Draco had resumed their testy relationship she had done something that made her blush to this day, a month later. Sometimes she still found it hard to look directly in his eyes. It would have been wonderful for her to pass her stupidity as having to much to drink, because that was what it sure looked like. Sadly that was not the case.

Ever since Draco had not commented on Hermione's erratic behavior. He had simply gone on as if nothing had happened. That bothered Hermione. If anything she wanted him to talk about it, get it out in the open and be done with it. She was a guilty child who knew that confessing to eating the last cookie would be easier than lying.

Every night thoughts of why she'd done what she did haunted her and she didn't have to dig to deeply to understand her motive. It still plagued her every night and Ginny hadn't been all that willing to talk. Something else that had bothered Hermione. While she was back with Draco and happy about that she was regretting what it had cost her. Her evenings were once again spent in the Room of Requirement curled up in a snog session with her blond haired boyfriend. The rest of her spare time was devoted to studying. Causing her to not have had a good time with her friends in a very long time. She was going to change that. Friends had to come before boyfriends right?

Her mind told her yes so because it was a Friday night and she had told Draco she had to catch up on all the weeks homework that she'd already pushed aside to see him she wouldn't be able to meet up with him. A perfect time to make up with her friends. Her homework could wait another night. As she was cleaning up her rather large occupation of the library a brightness caught her attention skirting between the bookshelves. He appeared on the opposite end of the table and quickly mouthed an invitation to her. One that he thought she wouldn't be able to ignore. What he didn't know was that she had her mind set to do something else and nothing or nobody was going to change that. She abruptly turned him down which drew a hurt expression. Voices began getting louder as their hosts drew nearer. Draco shook his head and then was gone.

Hermione sighed, just what she needed an angry boyfriend would make this day so worthwhile.

Ten minutes later she was making her way through the intricate maze of the Hogwart's corridor system to the Gryffindor Tower. She knew that Harry and Ginny were probably off in a broom closet somewhere doing more than just snogging but Ron would most likely be in the Common Room. To her surprise and delight she walked in to see Harry and Ron in the middle of an intense battle between their white and black chess pieces and which Ginny was watching intently.

"Hey guys," Hermione greeted.

Her friends faces all registered looks of shock as their heads shot up at the sound of her voice. It was a voice they'd heard very little of lately and had passed it off as Hermione's usual pre exam paranoia. Even Ginny didn't know that Hermione's absence was once again attributed to her secret relationship. Hermione had not felt any need to tell her after being denied the most exciting news of Ginny's life.

"What are you guy's up to tonight?"

"Relaxing," Ron said as he commanded one of his men to move across the chess board in a pattern that Hermione didn't bother to try and understand. Chess simply annoyed her.

"Mind if I join you in the spectator section?" Hermione asked Ginny.

"One day we'll figure out a way to teach you how to play," Ron shook his head in defeat, "Until then it's a hopeless cause."

"Thanks a lot."

The night wore on and half and hour before curfew Harry and Ron came to the combined decision that they were hungry and a trip to the kitchen's was in order. The four Gryffindors packed up their belongings and headed downstairs. Their laughter echoed back at them as it bounced off the stone walls. They didn't meet up with anybody on their trip down, it was on the way back up. They'd just rounded the corner on the landing where they had to transfer over from the marble staircase to one of the smaller back staircases. The Marble Staircase would take them all the way back up to the Gryffindor Tower but it was a longer trip. Hermione instantly stopped when she saw who it was and she wasn't alone. Harry and Ron stopped so abruptly that poor Ginny he was following closely behind them ran into the back of her brother and went flying backwards.

Great just what she needed right now, another confrontation.

"Evening Potter, since you aren't a Prefect I'd like to remind you that while the other three here are permitted to be outside their dorms after curfew you are in fact not allowed."

"Thanks for the reminder Malfoy, but I think it would do you some good to..." Harry shot back but was cut off by Hermione.

"Come on guys let's just go."

Ginny looked over at Hermione sadly. From the looks of things Hermione wasn't taking this encounter to badly considering they'd had a history together.

Malfoy saw her and made eye contact with her. It was then that Hermione knew she was in for some trouble, there was no way that Malfoy was going to let her get out of this one without a hitch.

"I thought you had homework to do Granger," he resorted back to her last name making her cringe. She hadn't realized how much she liked hearing her name roll of his tongue until it was gone.

"Why does that concern you Malfoy? If I were you I'd be thinking a bit more about my own work instead of somebody else's," she hoped that he would get the hint that this was neither the time or the place.

"Oh you know Granger, when you turn a guy down because you say you have homework at least follow through with it. Instead of running off on the brink of curfew with your friends."

Her shoulders sagged as everyone spun to look at her and then back to Malfoy, confusion etched on their faces.

"And again why does it concern you what I'm doing."

"I don't know, maybe it has something to do with when you're sleeping with me it starts to concern..."

Hermione was over to him in a second and her hand was raised. She could normally contain her anger and always had been able to come up with some witty reply but now words failed her. She couldn't tell if he was acting and she was supposed to act along or if he was trying to make her life difficult. All she knew was that she needed to save face and so the only way to do that was to...

"Bitch," he seethed as his hand grasped his face where a hand print was already forming. He grabbed her robes and pulled her close making it look like he was whispering a warning in her ear. Instead he murmured, "Same time, the offer still stands. Nice work there. I must say you do have some acting ability," he let go of her and sent her reeling backwards and Harry caught her. Everyone's wand was out but Hermione scolded them and then went on her way back to the Gryffindor Tower.

Harry, Ginny and Ron followed close behind her as she stormed through the deserted corridors. Harry was the first to comment on their encounter, "What does he think he'll gain by doing that?"

"He's Malfoy, what more of an excuse does he need," Ron commented.

"You know I've seen him hanging our around the Room of Requirement a lot lately. He's up to something."

"Harry there must be more than one reason that he's been their. It's probably completely coincidental."

"Hermione you can't honestly believe that he's not up to something. Innocent people don't go to the same place every night. Besides he's Malfoy, that's reason enough to suspect him."

"Harry," she sighed, "If you saw him all those times you must have been there as well. He's most likely saying the same thing about you right now. I've told you this exact same thing before. Get over it. You thought he was the Heir to Slytherin and he wasn't now you think this, what's next?"

"Hermione-"

"Enough, nothings happening this year. We're going to have a completely uneventful final few weeks. Understood?"

Harry stopped in his tracks and pulled them into a huddle as he quietly whispered, "No we're not."

"Okay mate what's going on?" Ron asked.

"Just stuff that Dumbledore's been telling me. Bad stuff is happening and going to happen and we won't be immune from it. Well you might be but I won't be. I never am."

"What? Harry what's happening? Why didn't you tell me this before?" Ginny asked, terror rippling through her voice.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you that," he said as he turned and scurried off towards the Fat Lady.

Ginny looked over at Hermione briefly before hastily running after her raven haired boyfriend.

"Well I guess it's just you and me," Ron said.

"Yeah, I guess."

With Harry and Ginny gone their evening didn't get much more exciting and so after sitting around in the noisy common room catching up for a little while Ron stood up and said that it was time for him to turn in.

"Goodnight," Hermione said and then she jumped up and gave her friend and crushing hug.

"Wow, what's that for? You've never done that before?"

That was entirely right. Before she wouldn't dare go anywhere near him like that because her emotions were to strong. Now she was over him and saw him only as what he was, an amazing friend, "Thanks, I needed that."

"Okay then, well night," he said awkwardly before he retreated up the boy's staircase.

Once the coast was clear Hermione ducked out of the portrait hole and hurried through the castle. After walking three time in front of the hidden door a door knob appeared and she reached out and spun it. Into the cozy room she walked and she heard the door softly seal behind her.

"Can you not do anything about Potter? He's been following me around a lot lately. He's also sitting right outside the door."

"Well does he have reason to follow you?" she wanted to get it out before anything else could get in the way. Maybe Harry was right for once.

"What? Why would he...?"

Hermione shrugged animatedly.

"Besides your cover is completely blown. Did you not just hear what I said."

"I'm not deaf," she tried to reason.

"Really because I told you Potters sitting out there watching this corridor. You are now officially on his 'up to something' list. Better watch out."

"No, I'm not."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm smarter than you. I have my ways of getting around him. Did you not think I wouldn't see him and Ginny disappear up into his dorm and then minutes later the portrait hole open for no reason. Sure they're good, but I'm going to brag here, I'm better."

"Okay then, moving on," he muttered as he took a step towards her. He was dying to hold her close. He wouldn't lie, their relationship had become quite physical and they were talking less and less at their nightly meetings. Probably because talking turned to yelling and it was easier to by pass all that by letting their passion out other ways.

"No why did you tell everyone that I was sleeping with you?" she demanded, anger seeping into her voice and she knew she had to start calming down or she would later regret it. They could only take so much strain in one day.

"Well it got the right reaction. What else could I have said that would have provoked you enough to slap me? Face it you're amazing at controlling your emotions and I mean that in the nicest possible way except sometimes I say things that push you overboard. That I figured and now it's my turn to brag correctly. If I'm correct you didn't want to reveal what we are doing again and I think that left little doubt. You don't usually slap somebody let alone your boyfriend like that."

"I guess you're right, but what if they had have taken it the wrong way? What if it didn't work out?"

was

"It didn't so be happy," he took another step closer to her. Closing the gap drastically.

Hermione's breath quickened and her eagerness growing as she closed the cab between them in one swift movement. She began by placing tender kisses on his lips, across his jaw line, down his neck. With each kiss her hands twisted farther into his hair. Ahh so silky smooth. She paused for a second, just long enough for him to gain the upper hand. He reached out and grabbed her hands and enclosed them in his as his lips pressed gently against hers. He flicked his tongue over her lips and she willingly granted him entry.

It was at this time that Draco glanced up and saw a new addition to the room. Hermione had not yet seen it so he ignored it and went back to pleasing his girlfriend.

As their kisses grew more hurried Draco's hands began to wander. They started at her waist and worked their way upwards. Finally settling gently underneath her breasts. She didn't flinch, she was used to it by now. The first time his hands had begun to wander she had jumped back in surprise and scolded him with her eyes. His fingers began to massage each breast until even through her bra he could feel her nipples become erect. Her hands that were once draped loosely around his neck now tightened as a moaned seeped out from between her rosy lips.

"Draco."

It was again not the first time he'd heard his names dripping with such passion come out of her mouth.

She took the lead by unbuttoning her white school issue blouse. He was surprised by what she was wearing underneath. A lazy black bra which lifted and accented in all the right places. His erection began to grow as he stood and admired her ample chest. One that not so long ago she had tried to mask with ugly, baggy clothes. What lay under the bra was new to him. Although he had stripped her top she had never allowed him to go much farther.

He closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh. It was taking all of his will power to stand their and stare at her when all he wanted to do was feel his skin against hers.

Reading his thoughts by the expression on his face she stepped up to him and reached behind her back and unclasped her bra. It fell away to the floor and she closed the rest of the gap, "I think I'm ready. I know you are so don't tell me otherwise," she whispered as she began to unbutton his buttons. His cloak had already been discarded. He'd been undressed by girls numerous times but nothing quite compared to Hermione. She did it painfully slow but amazingly. Her breasts bobbed as she stretched out her arms and he had to admit the view was pretty damn good. You sure know how to pick 'em he congratulated himself. Once his shirt was safely kicked to the side he scooped Hermione up and carried her across the room and to the new addition.

"What?" she asked.

"Shhh," he said as he laid her down on the puffy bed. Startled at the sudden softness but satisfied she looked up and admired her boyfriends toned chest.

"Are you coming or what?" she demanded.

He didn't need to be asked twice.

Her lips connected with his and they lay their entwined, naked from the waist up. Eagerly but with restrain his hands at what he felt to be the right time began to inch towards her skirt. WIth his hands on the zipper Hermione tensed causing Draco to draw back. Seeing the look that he sent her she quickly stuttered, "No I'm ready."

"Hermione I don't want to do this unless you're more than sure."

"I am, please."

He hated it but his hormones had taken over long before and so he didn't need much more convincing. Her skirt came off followed quickly by her panties and then she was lying before him completely naked. He reached for his belt and hastily unclasped it. His pants were off seconds later until he was lying only in his boxers.

"Draco," Hermione whispered.

'What?"

She didn't say anything for a minute and then whispered something so quietly he didn't hear what she had said, "Sorry you'll have to speak a little louder."

"Draco I don't know what I'm doing."

He closed his eyes. She wasn't the first girl who's virginity he'd taken but she was the first to admit her inexperience. All the other girls had faked experience and then sorrily disappointed him, "Everyone's new once," he didn't know what else to say to her. He would never admit that his first time he'd been scared out of his mind. She was coping much better than he had. Maybe it had something to do with being a girl versus a guy.

Ending her hesitation he began to kiss her once again and fondle her breasts, things he knew she was comfortable with. When he felt the time was right-and he couldn't take it much longer-his hands trailed lower down to her inner thighs where he traced his fingers softly up the soft flesh of her thigh. Her hips moved up towards him and he took that as his que. His boxers were off and they were both lying their with nothing left between them.

"Are you sure?" he asked one last time, but he bit his tongue as he did so. He didn't know what he'd do if she backed out now. He'd have to leave right away.

A quick nod was all it took as he positioned himself at her entrance and thrust into her as gently as he good. Even despite his efforts she still cringed but she quickly masked it. He was very gentle at first but soon began to speed up. She was a bit awkward at times, not knowing what to do with her limbs but she quickly got the rhythm. Her body knew what it was supposed to and so her hips rocked back and forth in time with his. His biggest fear was the she wouldn't climax, he'd feel horrible if she didn't but it was her first time. His fears were shot down though when her muscles tightened around him and she cried out. The feeling of her taunt muscles around his aroused member send him over the edge and he climaxed, spraying himself into her.

Sweaty and exhausted he pulled himself out of her and she curled up next to him. He really had never been much of a cuddly person after sex but with her he was different. He allowed her to mold herself into him and they clung to each other.

"That was rather awkward," she admitted sadly.

It was but he would never tell her that. This was as much a milestone for him as it was for her. While it was her first time, it was his first time that it actually meant something. He wrapped his arms around he skin and said, "No, you were great."

She smiled and fell back into silence. Neither of them wanted to leave but their prefect's curfew was rapidly approaching and so they untangled themselves and slowly dressed. Hermione felt self conscience as she searched the room for her cloths. She knew that she had not been that good, Draco said she was but it was blatantly obvious that he had been lying.

"Well night," she said as she stood posed at the doorway.

"Yeah, night."

The click of the door was all that told him she was gone.

There was only three minutes until curfew so Hermione flew through the corridors. Making it to the portrait of the Fat Lady with only seconds to spare.

"Just made it," she said.

"Yeah," Hermione told her the password and the hold opened, "night."

Through the deserted Common Room Hermione trekked slower this time and up the stairs. In the darkness of her dorm she let her grin emerge. It was washed away soon after when she pulled back the hangings of her four poster to see...

xxx.:.x.

a/n finally, at last!! A cliff hanger. I don't think I've had one yet in this story but now seemed like the perfect time. You guys are great with your reviews and all I ask is that you keep it up. They are great to see. Again another apology. I was away for a week and then all last week involved a lot of catch up stuff so I am now back to normal and hoping to be writing more often and so I'll end with please please please review and tell me what you thought. I really want to know you opinion and even if it is bad. I can deal with it-i think-yeah it helps me write better. thank you.