Disclaimer: Don't own them….just another attempt to answer the question-what if….?"

Warning: Post War Hogwarts, Mild Violence, Aghast, Lime… all that other good stuff.

Pairing: HGXDM, LMXNM

Author's Note: I just want to thank the people who've read, reviewed, and added my story to their story alerts and also in their favorite story listing. You guys don't realize just how much….. You inspire me. Your responses are so overwhelming…. I'm in awe of it all. So thank you.

To the old readers as well as the new, Enjoy! =D

Part Twenty One

Hermione was sure she was dreaming- or at the very least dying. The jolt of electricity that shot up her spine when the Slytherin prince pressed his lips against hers was near painful, but so pleasurable that it made her head spin. Her mind was reeling as all at once a flash of blinding light exploded from behind her eyes, and Hermione was thankful that he was holding her cheek as her head felt too heavy from the onslaught of emotions. Her body was on fire, and Hermione found her hands tightly gripping the back of the blonde's locks, searching for some kind of anchor, a channel of release from the intensity of the moment.

Suddenly, everything made sense to the Head Girl; why everyone their age made such a big deal about snogging. As the blonde tentatively applied just the barest of pressure upon her lips, Hermione experienced another burst of light- yes, she mused. If kissing someone felt this good, she could definitely see why everyone was so keen to do it- the memory of consoling a much frazzled Harry after he had snogged Cho Chang in their fifth year flashing across her mind for a second. As she returned the pressure softly, shyly, she found that she wanted more- this feeling, this rush that seemed to overcome her entire being. It was addicting, the Gryffindor realized, as their lips continued to graze each other in the most innocent caresses. This- kissing Draco- sensation was something Hermione found herself giving into completely and getting lost in. She felt as though she was drowning, and the only thing saving her was having the lips of the Slytherin prince brush against her time and time again- something she hadn't felt in her kiss with her redhead friend.

The Malfoy heir was in a frenzy as his mind fought over his body for control. From the moment his lips pecked Hermione's the animal within him roared and seemed want to burst out of his cage, demanding that he take the bookworm here in and now in a fit of passion. His mind, the only part of him that seemed to be working properly at the moment, struggled to contain his tide of emotions- to show no outward display of just how much the girl in his arms was affecting him. The blonde's lungs were on fire from the lack of air almost as though he had run a thousand miles nonstop, though breathing was the last thing on his mind as he felt the Head Girl return his kiss with one of her own, albeit a very shy peck.

It was heaven and it was hell, Draco couldn't help but think as he fought the urge to groan in hunger for the girl, his fingers nearly itching with the desire to bury themselves within her cascading locks of honey chocolate silk. The blonde faintly registered her fingers tugging almost desperately on the hair in the back of his head, the sensation only adding to his mounting appetite for the fiery Gryffindor. How one could be so tempting and not be aware of it was beyond the Slytherin prince's comprehension, though he took comfort in knowing that she would not be like most girls he knew; using their charms and wit to meet their goals. This moment, these outward displays of the girl's feelings- they were real, genuine, and so very raw, that it nearly tore him apart at how natural it all was. He was losing his mind, the blonde decided as he bestowed another barely controlled kiss upon the princess's lips- so soft, so plush, and so perfect against his own. Draco felt as though he would be content spend forever memorizing the feel of her lips as it brushed his- her lips, as well as the rest of her, as the blonde pressed her ever closer to his body. The desire rushing through his veins and throughout his body was driving him to the point of madness, and it was with great strength that the blonde wrenched himself away from the lips that he was sure to be the end of him; the need to breathe so painful he found he couldn't ignore it any longer.

As the blonde pulled away, Hermione found herself rising to her toes in an effort to follow and draw him into another kiss. She was reluctant to relinquish the touches from the blonde, though she was stopped when he merely rested his forehead against hers. Hermione could feel his ragged breathing fanning her face as his breaths came out in short spurts of air, almost as though he had been put through the ringer. The Gryffindor herself was rather breathless as she tried to ground herself, her vice-like grip on the blonde's locks loosening until she was no longer pulling on anything, her hands clasped together around the nape of his neck instead.

The music had changed into something more soothing, and Hermione glanced around to see many of the couples were still dancing, though most were content with just swaying side to side in time with the piano piece. Turning to the blonde, she gave him a shy smile, to which he returned, his arm around her waist rising up to cup her other cheek, so that her face was cradled in his palms, his thumbs gently rubbing her cheeks.

The blonde took in her appearance- her lips red and puffy from their early devices, the thought that it had been his own lips that had done that causing a shiver of desire to run down his spine, her cheeks, so flushed and giving off an iridescent glow in the candle light. And her eyes, oh her shining coffee eyes- Draco could see the fire burning within its depths, a passion burning so brightly, so alive he was tempted to ravage the unsuspecting girl that was absolutely beaming up at him from within his embrace. The image of waking up to this every morning and returning to bed every night in the same fashion flitted into his mind, and the blonde couldn't help but smile at the thought. But as he continued to look into the chocolate orbs alight with such happiness and life, more images flashed across his mind of a future of him and Hermione- him always having to work as he father did, rarely ever being home. Hermione so lonely, trapped in a stone house, confined to the life and duties of a proper pureblood wife.

Duty.

The word was like a poison in the blonde's mind, a reminder of his own duty, not only to his family, but to the whole pureblood society as well. The weight of it was like a shackle around his ankle, and he berated himself for ever thinking he could drag this girl- this happy , pure, and just plain good person, into the life that had been carved out for him from the moment his mother had found out she was expecting a son. A life full of rules, expectations, lies, scandal - everything that was corrupted, everything that Hermione had fought against in the war- Draco couldn't ask that of her. He couldn't ask her to bear the weight of such a thing- let alone become a part of it. The people of his world would pounce on her like a wolf to a lamb, eating her out and spitting her back out when there was nothing but the empty shell left. The thought of seeing that fire shining as bright and clear as it was now as she looked at him, going out- Draco couldn't bear the thought of it happening. Especially by his own hand. He didn't think he'd be able to live with himself.

Subconsciously, the blonde took a step back, away from the brunette as his arm fell away to his side. He closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, completely missing the confused look that Hermione fixed him with, as she tried to take hold of his sleeve. She was somewhat alarmed by his sudden change in demeanor. "Draco? What's-?"

"This- I shouldn't have-." The Malfoy heir found that the words were stuck in his throat. Clearing his throat, he tried once more to utter the words he did not wish to say. "That shouldn't have happened. I'm sorry." He opened his eyes and gave her a glance, before turning on his heel and walking away from the Gryffindor, leaving the girl's heart torn into two.

Hermione was speechless, the initial shock slowly fading as the Slytherin prince's words echoed in her mind. The room suddenly felt as though it was caging in on her, the wall appearing to close in on her, and she suddenly felt the urge to run far, far away as the back of her eyes began to sting. Bunching up her dress, she began to make her way off the dance floor, wanting nothing more than to be alone. She gasped as a hand grabbed her arm and spun her around, bringing her face to face with a worried looking Blaise.

"Hey, I saw Draco leave. Is everything ok?" The Italian's eyes grew more alarmed as he watched Hermione's lips begin to tremble as she shook her head vehemently. "Hermione? What's wrong? Did something happen? Hey- wait?" He called after her as the Gryffindor pried his hand off her and dashed up the staircase leading to the girl's dormitories.

Hermione pushed her legs faster, her breaths coming out as harsh sobs the further and further she climbed. The feelings of euphoria that she felt earlier was now replaced with a deep seated pain, that had her heart clenching painfully with each beat. The feeling could only be described as heartache had Hermione gasping for breath, as everything just seemed like too much at the moment.

Blaise couldn't help but marvel at the speed of the Gryffindor as he trailed behind her, taking care to avoid the snakes that were rapidly appearing with every step he took. He had thought everything between the blonde and the bookworm was going well, if the kiss the two had shared was an indication of anything, but then the Italian had noticed the blonde leaving the common room without the brunette. His sharp eyes had watched her make her way off the dance floor, taken in the tension in her body and her drawn face, and the Zabini had sensed that something just wasn't right. And now with the way the girl was running away, he hoped that whatever damage the blonde had caused was repairable.

Catching a flash of her gold and white dress disappearing at the next turn, the Zabini leaped just as the staircase faded into a slide, his arms holding him up as he grunted from the pressure. Throwing his body weight into the archway, he stumbled before righting himself quickly, his eyes searching for the Gryffindor princess. He didn't have to search long.

Sitting on pair of steps leading to one of the star gazing windows used for Astronomy homework, sat the bookworm, the perfect picture of sad princess with her dress fanned out about the steps and her hair cascading down her shoulders as the moon from outside bathed her in its light. She hadn't shed any tears, though Blaise could tell from the way her hands were clenched tightly in her lap that she was close to breaking down. Staring at her, the Italian was in awe at how much strength the girl possessed.

He made his way slowly towards the girl, not wanting to startle her. Blaise took a seat on a step a little way away under the one she was sitting on and waited. It wasn't long before she spoke. "He- said he was sorry." She whispered brokenly, making the Zabini heir turn and look at her in question.

"For kissing me. He apologized." Pressing her fingers to her forehead, Hermione let out a humorless laugh that had Blaise unnerved by the sound. "I feel like such a fool for letting myself get carried away, Blaise."

"Hermione, you're many things. But a fool isn't one of them." Blaise said, softly, resting a hand lightly on her knee in comfort. Inside he was cursing the very ground the Slytherin prince walked upon.

"Then why did he just leave then? Why, Blaise?" She asked the Italian, her voice rising in pitch. She couldn't understand how it had happened. How, what should have been the perfect day, turned out to become complete rubbish. Had it been her? Was it him? She didn't know, didn't understand-not understanding was something that Hermione hated to feel, and now was no exception.

"I… don't know." The Zabini heir was feeling helpless, not sure how to comfort the brunette. Figuring that maybe she was the type that would feel better if she talked it out, he stayed silent.

"It hurts so much." She whispered softly as she placed her hand over her heart and closed her eyes, the Italian's obsidian eyes following the movement. "And all because I had to go and fall in love with him."

At the admission, the Zabini froze, his eyes widening as he stared at the heart broken girl. The words from his previous discussion with the Greengrass heiress flitting through his mind. But I think we should think a bit before acting so rashly in regards to their relationship. I mean, we don't even know the extent of her feelings for him. We know that Draco has come to terms with it, but has she? She had, Blaise realized belatedly, his mind wrapping around just how royally the blonde had messed things up. Grabbing her by her forearms, he gave her a slight shake, waiting until the Gryffindor looked up at him with wide eyes. "Hermione- did I hear you correctly? Did you just say that you've fallen in love with Draco?"

"I- y-yes? But what does that-" She was cut short when the Zabini heir suddenly stood, with his fists clenched at his sides. This was all the Italian needed to go and make good on his promise to Potter to kick the Slytherin prince's arse for acting so stupid.

"Don't worry. I'm going to go knock some sense into that thick skull of his Hermione." Giving the confused girl a smile accompanied by a wink, he threw himself onto the staircase, readying himself as it shifted into a stone slide and skating down to the common room. Hermione, who despite was very hurt by the blonde's sudden withdrawal and departure, as very concerned about the Zabini's heir intentions, and rushed down the steps after him.

The Italian made a dash for the entrance leading into the commons, his hurried departure from the party having been intercepted by a very put off Pansy. "Blaise? Where have you been this whole time? And- hey! Where do you think you're going?" The bob headed brunette stomped her feet furiously at the thought that the Zabini heir was trying to skive off helping out cleaning the commons now that the party was over. The only other occupants in the room, Daphne, Theodore and Adrian, who had also got roped into helping by their fellow Slytherin, stopped their own tasks to stare at their friend.

"No time, Pans! Granger's admitted that she's in love with him and Draco's gone a made a prat of himself!" Was all the boy said as he waved an arm behind him, before dashing out of the portrait home.

"WHAT?" Screeched the brunette, promptly dropping the bag full of decoration she had shrunk and stored for later use, onto the ground. Just as she turned to the others, who had given up their cleaning as well, the sound of Hermione entering the room from the staircase had them turning their attention on her.

The Gryffindor was panting as she held a hand to steady herself on the wall next to her. Her next words coming out in broken breaths. "Where… did… he… go?" She watched as all four of the Slytherin pointed out the open entryway, before giving them a nod and gathering her dress as she once more made after the Zabini heir.

There was a moment of silence as all four Slytherins simply stared at one another, each processing what had just happened. "Oh bloody hell." The Parkinson debutante muttered, before she too made after the Gryffindor, Theodore following close on her heels. For a second deep emerald eyes clashed with forest green orbs, before the Daphne turned and made her way out at a hurried yet still somewhat graceful pace after the pair. Adrian merely sighed, loosening his fists that had he had been unconsciously clenching, and following suit.

The Malfoy heir had let his feet guide him to a place he had often frequented in the past whenever he need to clear his head or simply escape from it all- a small meadow on the other side of Black lake facing away from the castle and toward the mountains. Lying down on the ground with his legs spread out and his arms stretched out, palms faced down over the patch of slightly over grown grass, Draco closed his eyes. The tension that had built up from the time he had turned from the Gryffindor and walked away to the time he had realized just where his feet had taken him slowly ebbed out of his body.

He didn't want to think. He didn't want to feel. He didn't want to do anything at the moment, because the Slytherin prince knew that it all lead back to her- the one that had stolen his heart, his fiery Gryffindor. Though since he had never formally asked her, the blonde presumed she had never really been his to begin with, the thought saddening him a great deal. Just as he was about to contemplate the matter further, the sound of rapid footsteps coming closer to where he lay made him stand to see who it was. Seeing that it was the Zabini heir, Draco raised his hand, about to ask him what he was doing outside running about in the middle of the night. The blonde never got the words out, for right when he was about to open his mouth as the Italian finally reached him, he was greeted by the Slytherin's fist.

"Bloody hell, Zabini!" Draco yelled, as he placed a hand on his rapidly bruised cheek. Glaring at the panting Italian, the blonde clenched his fist. "What the hell was that for?"

"That... was for Hermione, you arse!" The dark haired teen spat out, a feeling of satisfaction arising in him as he watched the Slytherin's narrowed eyes suddenly widen at the name.

"Hermione?" He asked confusedly, the mere mention of her name causing his heart to clench tightly in his chest.

"Yeah, Hermione! Remember her? The girl you've fancied for ages? The girl that you took out for a date today? The girl that you've completely hurt by acting like a prat? Ring any bells?" The Zabini continued, watching as his best mate lowered his eyes to the ground.

"I didn't mean to hurt her, Blaise." The blonde said softly, the feeling in his cheek having gone completely numb. The wind had picked up, and the only other sound between the two Slytherins was the rustle of the bare branches from the tress around them.

"Yeah, well you did, mate! But what I don't get is why? And I know for sure that Hermione, who's feeling like fool up there, sure as hell doesn't get it either. So start talking." Blaise crossed his arms with his lips set in a line, the two gestures letting the Malfoy heir just how serious his fellow Slytherin was.

Draco slumped his shoulders, and threw himself down on the ground, nestling his back against the curving trunk of a tree, before beginning. "Tonight, I realized just how naïve and selfish I've been concerning her Blaise." Placing his arms on his knees, he waited until the dark haired teen took a seat next to him before continuing. "After we kissed, I looked into her eyes and I just-. The weight of everything just came crashing down on me!"

He stood up and began pacing, his hand running though his platinum locks all the while. The Zabini heir watched it all, but said nothing, knowing that the blonde needed to sort out his thoughts. "She contradicts everything I've- we've been brought up to know and learn. She was raised in a world so much simpler than ours- with a future that isn't so restricted, so set in stone, Blaise. Hermione, after this year ends, she can be whoever she wanted to be. Hell, she could even leave the wizarding world for the muggle world and never come back. It would be so easy for her! But us? You and me?"

The blonde stopped, his arms gesturing between himself and the dark haired teen. Blaise for the most part was beginning to see where this had all come from, and he turned sympathetic eyes toward his friend, as he continued.

"Daphne, Pans, and Theo? It's not as simple as that for us, and you know that. We don't have that same kind of freedom. And while we're all fighting for it, it will be some time before any of us is even close to grasping what Hermione has so readily at her disposal. That being said, how could I ask her to give that up? That taste of freedom that she's known all her life for a life that's very foundation is laid upon image and furthering one's ambition? Century upon century of mindless corruption and prejudice? Where her every move will be watched and weighed against her, not only by our kind, but by the wizarding world as a whole, should I ask her and should she be obliging to be mine? How can I ask her to lower herself to our society's standards? How could I live with myself should I further pursue her, knowing it would be like placing a songbird within a gilded cage? I don't want that, Blaise. Not for her. "

The Slytherin prince had long since stopped pacing, his body looking out toward the mountains and the starry heavens above morosely with his steely grey eyes. The Italian placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder, to which the blonde did not shrug away. He was grateful for the comfort.

"I get what you're saying mate, I do. I really do." Blaise responded gently, giving the shoulder his hand was placed upon a little squeeze. "But like I told you before- this is Hermione we're talking about here. If there's anyone that can handle all that pureblood bullshite we had to grow up with and not let it get to them, it would be our bookworm don't you think? Unless of course, you don't have any faith in her?"

At the question, the blonde whipped around, his eyes glinting like a flash of lightning at his fellow Slytherin. "Of course I have faith in her! How dare-"

"If that's true, then there's nothing else to stop you from being with her then, right?" Blaise cut in, effectively cutting off the blonde from his rant. "Because I can tell you now, if only to remove any lingering doubts floating inside that fluff filled blonde head of yours, she feels exactly the same way about you that you do for her, Draco. In fact, she admitted it to me herself, not too long ago."

Draco's eyes lit up with curiosity and hope- hope that what Blaise was implying, something that he had only longed for since he had come to terms with his feeling toward the Gryffindor girl, was in alignment with what he had in mind. Feeling slight dread and not too sure about whether he really wanted to know or not, the blonde asked the question. "Admitted what to you exactly, Blaise?"

Rolling his eyes as his mouth curved into a slight smirk, Blaise was amused as the blonde held his forearms just as he had earlier with the Gryffindor princess. Seeing his friend's eyes alight with so much eagerness, he decided to put the Slytherin prince out of his misery. He had after all gotten a rather good punch in. "Nothing really, just that she's fallen in love you is all." He answered, putting as much of a nonchalant tone in his voice as he could as he shrugged. Dark eyes filled with mirth as the blonde's jaw dropped, his eyes widening to comical proportions as his hands falling away from the Zabini's arms to hang limply from his sides.

The Malfoy heir couldn't believe it. The Gryffindor princess, Hermione had fallen in love? With him? A tingling feeling spread throughout his body, and yet the blonde felt compelled to have the information confirmed as true, lest he get his hopes up for nothing- the blow to his heart from such a letdown being something the blonde was sure he'd never recover from. "A-are you sure? She really said that? Her exact words? S-She's fallen in love? With me?" He asked, pointing a finger to his chest.

Blaise, who had never thought he'd see the day the Slytherin prince freak out and stuttered like some firstie, let out a laugh that went completely ignored by the blonde. Draco glared at him, making the dark haired Slytherin to put his hands up in defense. Just as he was about to answer, a voice from some feet away rang out in response.

"It's true! I have!"

The boys stared at each other, before simultaneously turning their heads just in time to catch none other than Hermione herself stepping out from the shadows.

"I- I have."

Author's Note: hey everyone… gotcha there for a second didn't i? lmao. Sorry if you guys saw this coming! But it was needed to advance the plot… and if you didn't see it coming… you may now restart your hearts. another note, I'd like to ask out of curiosity if any of you have watched an anime called Uta no Prince sama? I just finished watching and catching up with the anime and all I have to say is WOW! I am like so in love with it/ (o_o) lmao. Yeah…. Ok. Moving on.

I'd also like to say that I wanted to get this chapter out before tomorrow which is= Tom Felton's birthday! For those of you who know who he is- yay! Aren't you excited? For those of you who don't… what are you still doing here? Go and look him up! Hahah.

Um last one! I'd just like to say thank you for everyone's support and encouragement from chapter to chapter . You guys really give me the drive to continue telling the story! So yeah, big kudos and much love to you, my readers! 3

Like always, hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and are looking forward to the next one!