In the castle, the clock began counting till midnight.

Hermione broke the kiss, but Draco refused to let go of her, resting his forehead against hers instead. Her breathing just as troubled as his, she looked up to see him observing her through half-open eyes.

He smiled and raised one hand to tuck her hair behind her ear. His fingers rubbed across her jaw line and she leaned into the touch. His smile widened.

Draco placed a light kiss on the tip of her nose. "I've been waiting to do this."

Her heart leaped in her chest, but she didn't trusting her ability to speak. Instead, she stood on tiptoe and pecked him on the lips.

The last ring of the clock echoed in the night. For a second, silence reigned, and then the sky burst into an explosion of bright lights.

"Fireworks!" Hermione cried out.

Draco hummed against her temple, apparently more interested in leaving a trail of light kisses on her hairline.

Hermione tried to laugh, but her breath hitched in her throat. She pushed him back. "Look!" she insisted while she pointed at the sky, where flowers of red and gold spread their sparkling petals.

She attempted to step away, but he still clung to her hand. He pulled her back towards his chest, so that her back pressed against him and his arms snaked around her. "You're not going anywhere," he murmured into her hair.

"I don't want to," she replied. In His embrace tightened in response.

Several minutes passed before the fireworks died down. The two of them remained still and silent for a while; eventually, Hermione stirred. She turned around and wrapped her hands around the blonde boy's neck. Pulling him down, she said, "Happy New Year, Draco."

"Happy New Year, Hermione," he whispered against his lips, and a thrill ran through her body.

Whatever she wanted to tell him was overwhelmed by a soft moan when he kissed her again.

x-x-x

They didn't return to the castle until after the Ball had ended. They preferred the peaceful night, the quiet away from the students' eyes.

"Now what?" Hermione asked eventually.

"Hmm?" He turned to look at her and she thought she saw him raise a brow.

She licked her lips. "Well… Do we keep this a secret, or make it public?"

"This?" Amusement tinted his voice.

She pointed between the two of them. "This. Us."

"There's an 'us' now?"

Hermione stopped mid-step and turned around to look at him. Anger flushing her cheeks, she opened her mouth to snap at him.

His laughter cut her out. Before she could ask him what's so funny, he pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry," he whispered in her ear, "but you're really cute when you're angry."

"Yes, thanks a lot."

Her deadpan reply caused another chuckle. "To answer your question," he said when once he'd calmed down, "I don't care about the opinions of others. If it would make you feel uncomfortable, though…"

"No, no," she replied, pushing back to look at him. "But don't you worry what people would say? 'The Pureblood and the Mud—'"

"Shh," he cut her out again. "Please, don't say that word. I hate being reminded how much of a moron I've been."

"So you admit it?" It was her turn to smirk.

"Of course I do. Now hold your tongue and kiss me, Granger."

"Do you want me to hold my tongue or kiss you?"

"Oh, just—" He growled and seized her lips in a hungry kiss.

Before the last shred of rationality could abandon her, Hermione broke the kiss. "So we're together now?"

He gazed into her eyes. "Yes. Yes, we are."

x-x-x

"Hermione!" Ginny exclaimed when the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open and the red-haired girl burst into the Common Room.

"Hello, Gi—" Hermione started replying, but that was as far as she got before her friend tackled her into a hug, knocking the air out of her lungs.

The two girls laughed. Grinning, Ginny pulled the brunette up; Hermione returned the smile before she turned towards Harry and Ron, who'd come after the girl.

"Hi, guys!" she greeted them. In the next second, she found herself in Harry's tight hug.

"We missed you, 'Mione!" The spectacled boy ruffled her hair fondly.

"Yeah, you should have come," Ron cried out, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "The second semi-final was so exciting. It lasted for more than five bloody hours, can you imagine…!" He droned on, but Hermione lost the thread as soon as he started analysing the tactics of the teams.

Ginny reached over and pressed a firm hand to her brother's mouth, successfully cutting him mid-sentence.

His indignant grumble was drowned by the girl's voice. "Anyway, Hermione! How was the Ball?"

"It was… very nice." She tried to look unruffled. Their curious gazes urged her to add, "Not as grand as the Yule Ball. There were only a handful of students and—"

"Yes, but," she could virtually see the glint in Ginny's eyes as she inquired, "Who did you dance with?"

Hermione gulped down, her stomach tightening in panic. Her eyes travelled between her three friends. Ron's arm dropped from her shoulders as even he turned to look at her in interest.

"Oh," she began while she weighed her options. As dreadful a prospect telling them the truth was, she knew they would learn it sooner or later – it was some of the hottest gossip in Hogwarts. And hearing it from someone other than her was bound to turn out ugly.

So, bracing herself for their reactions, she said, "Draco Malfoy."

Silence.

She was too busy praying that the earth would swallow her to risk a look at her friends. Yet, their reaction – or lack thereof – was a lead that dragged her slowly but steadily down to the bottom at the sea. Someone had to say something before she drowned.

"What?" Ron spat out.

Hermione's eyes shot up to look at the ginger. His mouth agape and face flushed a bright purple, he looked as if he was struck by apoplexy. "You have to be kidding me!"

She shook her head, peeved by his reaction, but not at all surprised by it.

"Hermione?" Harry's voice was soft, but one look at him told her he questioned her mental faculties.

"Yes," she sighed. "I'm serious. And no, Harry, I'm not out of my mind." She made an attempt to smile. "Promise."

The shock in his green eyes gave way to anger and Hermione became aware that she had mere seconds to defuse the situation before he snapped. "Listen," she urged him, "Give me a chance to explain, all right?"

She glanced at Ginny for support. The girl had blanched, but now a sly smile bloomed on her lips. "Yes," she piped in, "Let's hear what Hermione has to say before we decide if we should send her to St Mungo's."

Squeezing her girl friend's hand in gratitude, Hermione motioned the rest to go and sit in one of the more secluded corners of the Common Room. Then she started her story. She told them about the nightmares, her discovery that Draco was not a Death Eater, and underlined that it was all a part of Dumbledore's plans. The Slytherin's plans she only touched on, pointing out he didn't intend to carry them out. She also omitted their more intimate moments – she didn't deem it smart to divulge such information, especially not now when it seemed that the vein on Ron's temple would burst.

It didn't take her long to tell them everything, but when she was done, her throat was hoarse, as if she'd been talking for hours.

Her knees trembling, she awaited their verdict.

"So… He's not a Death Eater?" The rage in Harry's eyes had died down; now he seemed curious.

"No."

"But you said he was scheming something," he pointed out.

"Yes, but he doesn't want to do it any more."

"How do you know he isn't lying through his teeth?" Ron asked.

She knew someone would ask this question sooner or later. She also knew her answer would probably be what tipped the balance in one direction or the other. So, she mustered all her confidence and said, "I trust him."

It took them a second to process her words.

"Are you sure, Hermione?" Harry's eyes bored into her. "I mean… He could have hexed you, or used the Imperius Curse on you, or…"

Now a bit amused, Hermione shook her head again. "I don't have any inexplicable gaps in my memory, so I'm fairly sure he hasn't done anything of the sort. I'm acting by my own volition." She hesitated. "All I'm asking you is to respect my decision."

"So," Ginny said loudly, making everyone look at her. "What it all boils down to is that you're dating Draco Malfoy."

Hermione hid a smile. The redhead was not one to beat about the bush. "Yes."

"And you're happy?"

"Yes, I am," she nodded again.

"Then of course I'll support you!" Ginny announced and pulled her into a bone-crushing hug.

Tears of relief welled up in Hermione's eyes. She squeezed them shut, willing herself to remain calm.

A moment later, when she felt the two boys joining the group hug, her heart leaped in joy. "Thank you, guys," she whispered.

x-x-x

The next day marked the end of the Christmas break. Classes resumed and life seemed to have returned to the status quo.

Except, not quite.

Somehow, the relationship between a Gryffindor – none other than Hermione Granger, and the Slytherin Prince Draco Malfoy had become an open secret; there seemed to be no one in the school who hadn't heard the rumour.

Hermione found herself the object of countless glances – some curious, some downright hateful – and she could only pretend not to hear the whispers behind her back. In the hallways, everyone pointed at her; in the classrooms, people turned around in their chairs to steal a look at the girl who'd captured Malfoy's heart. Even the teachers looked at her more intensely than usual.

All this unwanted attention made Hermione's blood boil. Once again, she was reminded that people would just not mind their own business. This sort of curiosity, bordering on insolence, had always irked her. Now, when it was her in the limelight, the temptation to jinx the annoying busybodies became almost unbearable.

The loud chime of the bell filled the classroom. The Arithmancy teacher let them know they're free to go, opening the floodgates for the chatter of the students.

Hermione gave the Gryffindor crowd a head start before she left the classroom.

She hadn't had a chance to talk to Draco about this interest in their personal lives – in fact, she hadn't talked to him after her conversation with Harry, Ron and Ginny - but she supposed it didn't annoy him half as much as it did her. She knew how much the Slytherin relished attention.

Deciding not to think about how much the stares bothered her, she picked up her pace. She thought she would have time to dwell on it once she'd returned to the Common Room.

However, the first thing she saw when she entered her bedroom was a scroll of parchment lying on her bed. Her brows shot up in confusion, but she immediately took and unfolded it.

Hermione,

I reached a decision. Meet me at the Room of R at 11 o'clock.

-Draco

She folded the note again and placed it on her bedside table, a smile grazing her lips. Short as it was, it was enough to please her. He probably needed her support before his conversation with Dumbledore – she had little doubt that was the decision he'd reached.

Why so late, though?

She guessed he didn't want anyone to notice his leaving the Slytherin Rooms, which made sense. After all, he was about to join forces with his housemates' biggest foes against the Dark Lord. Still, he was already openly dating her, so what difference would it make? The rest of the Slytherins had likely already rallied against him.

The girl shook her head, dismissing her questions. There was no use over-thinking it, as she could ask Draco himself soon.

A glance at her wristwatch let her know she had a couple of hours to spare before their rendezvous.

While she was excited she would talk to the boy so soon, she couldn't shake off the nagging sense of alarm at the back of her mind.

x-x-x

Every time I publish a new chapter, I feel both excited and anxious. It's a great feeling! I'd love to hear what you think, you know reviews make my day.

As for the next chapter, I think it will be the most interesting in this story so far - at least, it's a blast to write. So, stay tuned!