A/N: I know its been forever...
Hermione turned a corner in the dungeons corridor, just her luck. Pansy was waiting at the end of the hall, almost as if she expected Hermione to show.
"What do you want Granger?" she asked somewhat moodily.
"Nothing, Pansy. Draco and I have rounds." Hermione was amazed at how quick the lie came to her. "Could you remind him?" she finished politely.
Pansy's face showed her disappointment. "He's not here. Hasn't been all evening." And even though Hermione wanted this to be a lie, she saw on Pansy's face that it was true.
"Oh. Well if you see him.." Turning quickly, she marched back up the corridor and up the stairs into the entrance hall. When she reached it, she saw Neville.
Smiling happily she walked over to him. "Hi Neville!"
"Hi Hermione, I thought you'd be outside." Neville said slightly confused.
"What? Why would I be outside? Its too late for a walk." Hermione said.
"Well Draco said you had promised to meet him by the lake for a late picnic."
"Oh, right, I almost forgot!" Hermione faked her forgetfulness, in truth this was a surprise to her. Why would he say something like that to Neville? "I best go meet him then. Thanks Neville" She hugged him and walked to the huge front doors. She pulled one open and stepped onto the large stone patio that surrounded the entrance to the castle.
To her surprise, there was what looked like a tiki lamp, on the edge of the patio. Attached to it was a slip of parchment. She grabbed it and read "I'm sorry, follow the torches and let me show you how much." sighing, she slipped the parchment in her pocket and looked out onto the grounds for the next tiki torch. It was about 25 feet off the right corner of the porch.
I shouldn't do this. She told herself as she started toward the second torch. As she neared it, she saw another piece of parchment attached to the pole. Pulling it off she read it. "I know you're having doubts about coming following my torches, but please continue." Smiling wryly, she looked around, from where she stood, she could see the doors to the castle, but the first torch had gone. She glanced to her left and saw, in the distance, another glow of light.
Knowing she wasn't going to stop following them, she walked it the direction of the next torch. There was a note here too. "Thank you." she slipped this one in her pocket as well and looked for the next torch. She spotted it down by the lake, so she went to it. No note, but out of habit she glanced around. About halfway around, between her and the other side of the lake, was a gathering of several torches. Knowing that was her destination, she didn't hesitate to make her way over.
When she reached the gathering, there was a blanket with a basket on top, but nobody in sight. Feeling a little confused, she scanned the trees and bushes around her for any sign of movement but didn't see any.
"Look up" Draco said. Hermione was startled, but she looked up, and saw Draco sitting on a low branch in a tree a few feet away.
"You scared me half to death you creep." she said with embarrassed anger. "Get down here so I can hit you."
Instead of jumping, Draco actually climbed down out of the tree. He sauntered forward and stopped about two feet away. "Go ahead, I deserve it. I was a jerk this afternoon. I'm sorry."
Before he could say another word, Hermione had thrown her arms around him and kissed him full on the mouth.
A/N: Kissy Kissy :-p -- Malinda Lanning