Even though they'd planned an early night, Draco and Hermione spent hours talking, before they both finally fell asleep some time before midnight. Draco awoke mid-morning and the first thing he saw once he'd opened his eyes was Hermione sleeping soundly beside him.

He couldn't help but to smile at her and reach out and gently caressed her cheek, being careful not to wake her. Draco thought she looked beautiful asleep, not that he didn't think she was when awake, but there was something about the way her long eyelashes brushed against her cheeks, the way her lips were slightly upturned, the way her right hand clutched the pillow, the way her hair fell about her face and the way she was curled up, her legs crossing over his own.

Draco then gently kissed the top of her head, causing her to wriggle nearer to him, still asleep, so close that her whole body was almost crossing over his. He smiled to himself and put an arm around her, while using the other to reach behind his own pillow and pull out one of his diaries he'd brought back with him.

He opened a page at random and started laughing at what he'd written about a certain Pansy Parkinson:

Took pugface to that stupid Yule Ball last night. She kept begging me to take her, so in the end I gave in. She looked like a fucking meringue in this disgusting pink dress(and that's not a good thing!) with stupid poofy sleeves…but that person I shan't mention, my oh my, she looked like a goddess in her periwinkle blue dress…why couldn't I of taken her instead of that Viktor Krum ninny taking her…but then again, she'd never accept because I have to be horrible to her… Anyway, somehow I ended up snogging Pansy at one point of the event and merlin her lips are sticky from the stupid flavoured lipgloss stuff she always smears on her lips –shudder-. So, now she's my girlfriend. Great. I'm now dating a girl that looks like a dog…but it was my plan to do it a while back to get over my feelings for a certain someone whom I won't name. Oh, whatever…she'll do for now.

'What's so funny?'

Draco looked down to see Hermione staring at him, rubbing her eyes.

'Oh, I didn't mean to wake you.' Draco said, quietly. 'It's just this diary entry.'

'Let's see.' Hermione said, sitting up.

'Go ahead.' Draco said, as he smiled and passed the diary to her.

He watched Hermione's face crack into a smile before she started giggling, which set him off laughing again.

'Goddess, hey?' she said, once she stopped laughing.

'Yeah well, it's true.'

Hermione smiled before saying 'You know it's not nice to refer to your girlfriend as a dog.'

'But it's Pansy.' Draco simply said. 'And obviously she's my ex-girlfriend now, my current girlfriend, however, always looks like a goddess and looks like an angel when she sleeps.'

'But she wasn't at the time.' Hermione stated, raising her eyebrows. 'Anyway, thanks, Draco. At least you aren't harsh about the way I look.'

'Oh come on, Mione.' Draco said, laughing slightly. 'Like I said, it's Pansy. You can understand, can't you?'

'Yeah, I'm only messing with you.' Hermione grinned, as she closed his old diary and handed it back to him, before laying back down and letting out a groan. 'I'm tired, can we go back to sleep for a bit?'

'We?'

'Yes, we.' Hermione, murmured, her eyes closed.

'But what if I don't want to go back to sleep?'

'Then at least let me.'

'Hermione, it's almost half past ten.'

'How do you even know?'

'I have a watch.'

'But you're not wearing a watch.'

'Yeah, but I still have one.'

Hermione sighed and pulled the pillow over her head.

'Oh, that's nice.' Draco said, jokingly. 'Just block me out why don't you?'

'Shh!'

'So nice to your boyfriend, aren't you?'

'Shhh, I'm trying to sleep here.'

'So, so, nice.'

'For Merlin's sake!' Hermione hissed in a joking way, trying not to laugh. 'Be quiet!'

'Make me.'

'Fine.' Hermione said, opening her eyes and smiling slightly. 'Come here, then.'

Draco shook his head, a grin spreading across his face.

'Draco, come here!'

'Nope, I'm not moving.'

'Fine, then you leave me no choice.' Hermione smirked, grabbing his arms and pulling him downwards. Once she'd succeeded, she smacked her lips against his, but pulled away after a few seconds, her face screwed up. 'Ew, morning breath!'

'Well that's what you get for pulling me over and kissing me.' Draco laughed.

'Shut up!' Hermione giggled, before closing her eyes and burying her head in his chest and whispering in a babyish voice. 'Sleep time.'

'Nope.' Draco chuckled, tickling her, causing Hermione to let out a muffled giggle, before kissing her hair, forehead, cheek and neck. Hermione started giggling again.

'You're mean.' she said, putting on a fake whine and finally sitting up again.

'I know.' Draco said, with a wink. 'But you know you like it.'

'Oh, shut up, you.'

'You know I'm right though, come on, admit it.' Draco grinned.

'Never.' Hermione said, flashing a smile back at him.

Draco raised his eyebrows at her.

'Alright, putting this nonsense aside, I'm going to get up.' he said. 'I have a date to prepare for.'

'Okay, I think I will as well, actually.' Hermione told him. 'I'm getting rather hungry and am in need of a good shower.'

'As am I.' Draco said. 'We can meet for breakfast if you'd like.'

'Sure.'

'Alright, I'll just check if Weasley is still in here.'

'Knowing him, he will be.' Hermione smirked.

Draco looked at her, before poking his head out from the canopy tent.

'Nope, he's not here.' He told her. 'You leave first, and I'll leave about ten minutes later.'

'Alright.' Hermione said. 'What time are we meeting for breakfast?'

'Hm, I'd say twenty minutes.' Draco said. 'I mean, we don't want to end up missing it, do we?'

'No.' she agreed. 'I'll be quick then.'

'You'd better be.' He teased.

Hermione rolled her eyes before kissing him on the cheek.

'I'll see you soon.' She said, before departing.

Almost as soon as she'd left the bathroom, Hermione was approached by Padma and Parvati who both had smiles on their faces.

'Hi.' Hermione said to them.

'Hi.' They said back, grinning. Padma then nudged Parvati and she looked at her twin before whispering something.

'So how come you weren't in our room last night?' Padma asked, trying not to smile too much.

'I, er, I fell asleep in the Gryffindor Common Room.' Hermione lied. 'Now, er, if you'll excuse me, I need to go and have some breakfast.'

Just as she started walking off, Parvati started talking again.

'Only we saw you going into the spare room last night.' She said, sounding as though she was holding back a giggle.

Hermione spun around on her heel.

'What?'

'Yeah and we know Ron's in there.' Padma grinned.

'Yeah, what did you get up to?' Parvati giggled.

'Nothing. I have nothing to do with him anymore.' Hermione stated.

'But why?' the twins asked.

Hermione was about to explain to the girls about the fact he cheated on her, which she didn't understand why they didn't already know, since they'd always been good friends with Lavender, when someone else cut her off.

'Because she's been too busy fooling around with, Draco, that's why!'

It was Pansy. Hermione rolled her eyes and turned around to face her. Of course, she had Millicent standing beside her. She heard the twins gasp behind her.

'Really?' she heard Padma ask as Pansy was giving her a dirty look and Millicent looked rather pleased.

'Yeah, really.' Pansy said, folding her arms, before speaking to Hermione. 'It's been going on for a few days hasn't it? Hm, let's see…five now isn't it?'

Hermione glared at her. How did she know that? Then Hermione remembered she must have said it while under the effect of truth potion.

'What? Hermione! Are you really seeing Malfoy?' Parvati exclaimed.

Hermione ignored her and continued to glare at Pansy and Millicent.

'You see, she's not denying it.' Millicent smirked. 'Go spread the word. I mean, it's been going around already, hasn't it Pansy?'

'It sure has.' Pansy agreed.

Suddenly anger over came Hermione and she charged over to them.

'You've been spreading stuff?' she cried. 'I thought you couldn't be any more pathetic, but I guess I was wrong!'

Pansy and Millicent looked at each other and burst out laughing.

'Temper, temper.' Pansy said, trying to keep a straight face. 'And it's not like it's not true, is it?'

'Yeah, so no need to get so angry.' Millicent added sarcastically, chuckling once she'd finished speaking.

'Oh, I have plenty to be angry about.' Hermione snapped, before sneering at Pansy. 'Especially at you, Pansy!'

Hermione watched as the Patils quickly left the scene and turned back to the other two girls when she heard Pansy shriek with laughter.

'Oh, I'm so scared!' she laughed. 'What exactly, may I ask, has gotten you so angry at me, hm, Granger?'

'You know perfectly well what!' Hermione hissed, folding her arms and narrowing her eyes.

'No, I don't.' Pansy spat. 'You better explain yourself.'

'Yeah, you're crazy!' Millicent cried.

'Alright.' Hermione said. 'For staters, I know you gave me truth serum…'

'Okay, Mil, I agree, she's crazy.'

'You're the crazy ones!' Hermione cried. 'Forcing truth serum down my throat like that and Pansy, spiking Draco's drink with a love potion two years ago so he'd sleep with you!'

Pansy looked at Millicent, mouth opened slightly before turning back to Hermione and scowling at her.

'How dare you accuse me of such things!' she shrieked. 'He came on to me! I never gave him a damn love potion! If that's what he's told you, then believe me, he's lying!'

'Yeah, I was there!' Millicent snapped. 'Being Pansy's best friend, I think I'd know if she spiked his drink…she definitely didn't.'

'Well, I don't believe you.' Hermione said, firmly, scowling at them.

'Fine, just don't come crying to us when the same thing happens to you.' Pansy snapped, storming off, Millicent following.

'Grow up!' Hermione shouted after them. They both stopped and glared at her, before Millicent charged towards her and pushed her to the ground, causing Pansy to shriek with laughter. They both then ran out of the common room, laughing loudly.

Hermione sighed and stood up, brushing her knees, before heading down to the Great Hall to meet Draco for breakfast.

He stood up when he saw her.

'What's up with you?' he asked, noticing the irritated expression on her face.

'Guess.' Hermione muttered as they both sat down.

'My ex and her doormat?'

'Yep.'

'What have they done now?' Draco asked her, sounding slightly annoyed.

'We just had a bit of an argument, that's all.' Hermione told him, helping herself to some toast. 'And then Millicent pushed me over.'

'For merlin's sake!' Draco spat, as Hermione spread her toast with some jam. 'They are really pushing it. If they do something to you one more time, I swear I'll put them in the hospital wing!'

'No, don't do that!' Hermione cried, before taking a bite of toast.

'Why not?' Draco asked her, as he tipped some cereal into a bowl and poured milk over it. 'They deserve it.'

'Because you'll only get yourself in trouble.' She told him. 'And I'm not letting that happen.'

He sighed.

'You're right.' he said, tucking into his cereal. 'But you tell me if they keep bothering you, okay? And we can go and report them or something.'

'Okay.'

They sat in silence for several seconds, eating their breakfast, before Hermione spoke once more.

'So, what time is this date happening?' she asked him, in a hushed tone, making sure no one would overhear.

'Hm, well we could do something in a moment, then something tonight.' Draco told her.

'Cool, where are we going?'

'You'll see.'

After, they'd finished their breakfast, Draco took Hermione down to the quidditch pitch.

'Why are we here?' she asked him.

'I thought we could muck about on brooms or something.' Draco told her, before adding with a cheeky grin. 'Maybe do some snogging up in the air.'

'But I'm not a keen flyer.' Hermione told him.

'You'll be fine, Mione.' Draco reassured her. 'We can share a broom to start and you can hold onto me, until you feel confident to ride on your own broom.'

Hermione nodded as she watched him pick up a spare broom. He made it hover, before sitting on it.

'Come on, then.' He said to her, patting the spot on the broom behind him.

Hermione sighed and got on the broom behind him, wrapping her arms around his middle.

'I don't think this is a good IDEA!' Hermione said, screaming the word 'idea' and gripping onto him tighter as he took off the ground without warning. 'Draco!'

Draco stopped the broom, causing it to hover in mid-air.

'Aw, I'm sorry, beautiful, I didn't mean to scare you.' He said, looking at her over his shoulder.

Hermione noticed the sheer drop beneath them and gasped, burying her head into his back.

'Mione?'

'Can we go back down, please?' she asked him, in a shaky whisper.

'Of course.'

Draco immediately slowly flew the broom back down to the ground, where he helped Hermione off it and immediately pulled her into a hug.

'I'm sorry, I didn't know you were that afraid of flying.'

'Yeah.' She said, quietly, breathing still slightly shaky.

'You alright?'

'Yeah.' Hermione said, again, her breathing returning to normal. 'Sorry for being such a pain.'

'No, don't you start apologising.' Draco said, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. 'If it's anyone's fault, it's mine.'

'No, don't start blaming yourself.' Hermione told him. 'Let's just forget about it and do something else.'

'Okay, what do you suggest?'

'I don't know, I'm not good at this kind of thing.'

'Wow, there was me thinking you were good at everything.'

Hermione playfully hit in the arm at this point.

'Ow, okay! Kidding.' Draco laughed. 'Well, to be honest, I'm not really good at this kind of thing either.'

'But you're the one who said you had a few ideas up your sleeve!'

'I know.'

'Well, then.'

'Just because I have some ideas, doesn't mean they're good.' Draco stated.

'I'm sure they are.' Hermione said, reassuringly.

'Doubt it.' He said, flatly.

'Well, I'm not going to know until I find out, am I?'

'True, but the only other idea I currently have, I was saving for tonight.' He told her.

'Why?' Hermione asked him.

'You'll see.' Draco simply told her. 'But as for right now, what do you suggest?'

'Hmm.' Hermione began, thinking for a moment. 'Well, we could go to that secluded spot at the lake and have a picnic or something?'

'A picnic?'

'Yeah.' Hermione said, with a smile. 'Why, is there something wrong with that?'

'No, it's just-'

'Just what?'

'Nothing.' Draco said, smiling at her, before muttering. 'I'll just save that for Thursday, instead of patrolling.'

'Save what?'

'Nothing, beautiful.'

'So, I just thought, how are we going to get the food for this picnic?'

'We can just conjure it.' Draco told her, lifting up one of her hands and entwining his fingers with hers, before playfully swinging their joined hands about.

'You can't make food appear out of thin air.' Hermione reminded him, as he released her hand.

'You can if you know its whereabouts.'

'And do you?'

'Yes.'

Once down at the lake, Draco and Hermione sat beside each other, with a variety of food spread about in front of them.

'Where exactly did you summon this from?' Hermione asked him, picking up a tasty looking sausage roll.

'From the Hogwarts kitchens of course.' Draco answered, with a smirk as he also helped himself to a sausage roll.

'Draco!' she gasped. 'You can't! What if someone finds out?'

'Relax, beautiful, no one will notice.' He reassured her. Hermione noticed he was calling her beautiful a lot today, and figured it must be his chosen pet name for her. She smiled to herself just as Draco started speaking again. 'Those house elves will soon make more anyway.'

Hermione's smile died and she stared at him.

'That's cruel, Draco.' She said, firmly, putting down her sausage roll, which she hadn't even taken a single bite from yet. 'Those poor house elves.'

'Well, they don't know any different.'

Hermione frowned at him, before turning away, sitting with her back to him.

Draco sighed, hoping she wasn't too mad at him.

'Mione?' he called, quietly, placing a hand on her shoulder. Hermione didn't move. 'Hermione, please don't be mad at me. I can take it all back myself if you'd like…I just wanted to treat you for our first date. Oh, Mione, beautiful, I'm sorry, I'm so stupid. Please, talk to me!'

He removed his hand from her shoulder and she heard him sighing. At this point, Hermione finally turned around to face him and noticed from his expression, he looked a bit sad and really sorry.

'I'm sor-'

'Fine.'

Draco frowned.

'You're not mad at me, are you?' he asked, sadly.

'You should know how I feel about house elves.' She said, flatly, avoiding eye contact.

He sighed again.

'Like, I said, I'm stupid.' Draco muttered, feeling annoyed at himself. 'God dammit!'

Hermione saw him stand up and kick the plates into the air, sending them flying , some smashing on the ground, others landing in the lake with a splash. She then watched him disappear behind the tree trunk, as he cursed under his breath.

Hermione sighed and got up, going behind the tree herself, where Draco was sat, face in his hands. She knelt down in front of him and stared at him, concerned.

'Draco?'

He didn't move.

'Draco.' She said, again reaching out and removing his hands from his face and holding them. 'Look, I'm sorry for reacting like that.'

Draco just stared at her.

'And you're not stupid.' Hermione continued, holding his hands a bit tighter. 'It was a really nice idea.'

'I am.' Draco said, glumly. 'I've ruined our first date, I just really wanted it to be special for you and now…'

He turned his head to look at the plates and food, floating in the lake and scattered on the ground.

Hermione also looked, before turning back to him.

'Hey, don't beat yourself up over it.' Hermione said, flashing him a small smile once he turned back to her. 'It really doesn't matter.'

'It does.' Draco sighed, breaking eye contact.

'No.' Hermione whispered, removing her hands from his and wrapping them around his neck. 'It doesn't.'

She then leaned in and kissed him. Draco kissed back, his arms wrapping around her waist and pulled her to him, deepening the kiss. He leant back slightly, causing Hermione to lean into him, still locked in an open mouthed kiss.

They stayed like this for a few more seconds, before they broke apart and laid down, facing each other.

'Okay, so that was the best apology I've ever had.' he said, softly, as he brushed his thumb over her lips, smirking slightly.

'Who said that was an apology?'

'Me.' Draco smirked, wrapping his arms around her. 'What a disaster.'

'Mmm, but both of us said that we're not good at this sort of thing, so it kind of figures.' Hermione reminded him, snuggling up to him. 'But you know, I think we can start visiting Hogsmeade today.'

'Oh, now you tell me!'

'Sorry.' Hermione said, with a small grin. 'Want to go?'

'May as well.' Draco said, as he released her and stood up. He held out his hand to Hermione and helped her up, but didn't let go once she was off the ground.

'Well, shall we go then?' Hermione asked, brightly.

'Sure.'

Draco held onto her hand until they got around the corner, due to them nearing where other students would be and they began making their way down to Hogsmeade.

'Shit!' Draco suddenly cried, once they were halfway there.

'What?' Hermione asked.

'I just realised my father could come here.' he told her in a hushed tone.

'Oh.'

'You sure you still want to go?'

'Yeah, I mean, there's people around, so I doubt anything could happen.'

'Okay.'

They continued walking until they reached the Three Broomsticks. The two then entered, and Hermione sighed slightly as she saw that amongst the people already sitting in there, was Harry and Ginny.

Harry had his arm around Ginny, who looked on the verge of tears.

'Hey, cheer up, Gin.' Hermione heard him say as she began passing them by with Draco.

'I'm trying, it's just it would have been five months now.' Ginny sniffed as they walked right by, causing the couple to stop talking and glare at them.

Hermione wondered for a moment, what Ginny had meant, but then she recalled that Ginny would have been about five months pregnant now, had she kept the baby.

'What's up with her?' Draco wondered, sounding amused as they sat down at a table, slightly hidden from view.

'No idea.' Hermione lied.

Draco raised his eyebrows as Madam Rosmerta approached.

'You.' She hissed, addressing Draco. 'You're not welcome here.'

'But why?' Hermione asked her.

'He used the Imperious Curse on me, he did.' She stated. Hermione looked over at him, now remembering that incident which happened during their 6th year. Draco frowned.

'Look, please, just give him another chance.' Hermione said. 'He's different now and-'

'I don't want to hear it, now get out!' she snapped. 'That goes for you as well, missy!'

The two sighed and immediately left, causing Harry and even Ginny to snigger as they passed them by once more.

'This is just getting worse and worse.' Draco moaned. 'I'm sorry this has turned out so bad, beautiful.'

'Stop apologising.' Hermione told him. 'Now, come on, why don't we go to Honeydukes, buy some sweets and take them back up to the castle. There, we can have our picnic with whatever we purchase.'

'Alright.'

Hermione's plan went quite well and nothing went wrong. The two returned to the common room in the late afternoon and stopped outside the dorm Hermione shared with the Patils.

'Well, this is where I leave you, I guess.' He said, before adding. 'Even though I'm pretty sure I'll be seeing you later.'

'I'm sure you will.' Hermione agreed, with a small smile.

'Damn, I wish I could kiss you goodbye.' Draco uttered to her.

'Well, you can as of next week.' Hermione reminded him. 'It's only a week until we go public.'

'Ah, hurry up.' Draco groaned before saying softly. 'Well, see you later, beautiful.'

He waved and then departed. Hermione watched him leave, before going into the room to collect some things that she'd need for the Potions essay she still hadn't done, before heading down to the library, hoping not to be disturbed.