The next few weeks seemed to go by painfully slowly for Malfoy. He still spent as much time as he could with Hermione, but he was always wary of her parents and of the fact that every time Drake was mentioned Hermione's eyes seemed to get just that little bit mistier. He had expected her to move on, yes…but watching it happen right before his eyes was unbearable torture.

It didn't help that Drake was actually a pretty decent guy. As much as Malfoy wanted to hate him for stealing away the love of his life he was finding it a hard task to do so. Drake often invited Malfoy to go out with the two of them, and while he appreciated the gesture it was becoming increasingly difficult to be near Hermione. She didn't treat him any differently, but it was just the look on her face when she looked at Drake…the look.

A plus, at least, was that after his unpleasant conversation with Jean, she had turned out to be a really lovely, warm person. A few days after their run in she had pulled him aside under the pretence of asking him which juice he would prefer to accompany his lunch and had apologised profusely for the way she had acted.

'Honestly, I don't know what came over me!' she had insisted, seeming on the verge of tears. 'I never say things like that!'

'It's fine, really,' Malfoy told her. 'I completely understand.'

'Well, I'm so glad that you and I can still be friends. And I know that you really are going to be good for Hermione, because otherwise you wouldn't have come back!' Jean laughed and Malfoy managed a weak smile. He knew she meant this as a compliment but he found it painful to hear. It was as if she was unwittingly rubbing his face in the fact that he was too weak to walk away from Hermione for good, even though he knew it was hopeless.

'You won't scare me off that easily,' he joked to her, and she beamed at him.

'I really enjoy having you around, Draco,' she said.

'That's good to hear,' he replied courteously, and that was the end of their conversation. Malfoy had felt like knocking her on the side of the head for her last comment. If she likes having me around so much why can't I be with her daughter?! he asked himself in frustration. Apart from that, though, Malfoy found that he actually quite liked being in Jean's company as well. It was worth it to see the squirminess that came over Hermione whenever an embarrassing topic was brought up, which was rather frequently.

Paul had also turned out to be a lot of fun. After some initial suspicion about why Hermione seemed to suddenly be best friends with her former enemy, he warmed up to Malfoy and was always inviting him around to show him some funny muggle machine. Malfoy believed that he was doing this so that he could in turn ask questions about the wizarding world, which seemed to fascinate him. He didn't really mind; although it was a fool's hope, he imagined that knowing more about the muggle world would make him more popular with Hermione. Also, surely it didn't help that he was best buddies with her father, who she seemed to adore unquestioningly.

But as Hermione and Drake began to spend more time together it became obvious to everyone involved that there was definitely something between them, and Malfoy began to slowly drift away from her. He just couldn't stand by and watch any longer. There were only two weeks until school started again, and he supposed he should try and have a bit of fun before he had to go back to Hogwarts. Unfortunately, this wasn't so easy for him; he now despised every moment that was spent at his own house. It simply didn't have enough rooms to distract him. In desperation, Malfoy got in touch with his Slytherin friends and organised for them to come over one night when he knew that Hermione was out on a fancy dinner date with Drake. He was determined to forget her - at least for the night.

It wasn't an awkward reunion between the Slytherins at all. Unlike Hermione's friends, they didn't consider what he had done a crime at all, but instead spent quite a long time praising him for finally breaking up the trio that had been on the top of their hatred list for their entire school life. Determined not to talk about her for another second, Malfoy demanded that they get drunk immediately. Hours later, once this had been thoroughly accomplished, Zabini made the suggestion that they invite over the girls and everyone agreed at once.

Malfoy was well on his way to reaching the passing out stage when they arrived, led of course by the despicable Pansy Parkinson. She made a beeline straight for him and he was much too out of it to argue as she plonked herself in his lap.

'Draco, baby, I've been waiting to hear from you all summer,' she purred into his ear. Malfoy snorted in disgust.

'Perhaps you should have considered getting a life instead?' he replied, his words slurring into one incomprehensible mumble. He laughed hysterically at this as Pansy looked on in confusion, not having heard what he said. After several more attempts to talk to him she gave up and went to join the others, who had just began another tournament of wizard's pool.

'Not having any luck with Draco?' Zabini asked Pansy, noting the sour looks she kept shooting in his direction.

'No,' she said sulkily. 'What's wrong with him, anyway?'

'He seems fine to me,' Zabini shrugged. Both of them watched as Malfoy's head slumped down onto his chest and he let out a snore. 'Well, mostly fine.'

'I didn't hear from him once all summer,' Pansy said. 'Did you?'

'Nope. Who cares?' Zabini refused to be interested by the subject. Discussing his friends wasn't really a big thing for him.

'I care,' Pansy pouted. 'Is he seeing some other girl? You can tell me.'

'I don't know, Pansy,' he replied, exasperated. 'Why don't you stop being so clingy for once?' and with that he walked off. Pansy glared after him and moved to sit down so that she could sulk in a more obvious position.

It was well into the night by the time that somebody suggested that they go swimming in the Malfoy's pool, and the next thing Malfoy knew he was standing by the water's edge, somersaulting in. He was having a great time now that he was awake again; his mind was lovely and fuzzy, barely able to form a thought about anything. He didn't care that he was in his pool in the middle of the night, naked. He didn't remember taking his clothes off but it didn't particularly bother him - everyone else appeared to have done the same.

It also didn't bother him that the next thing he knew he was pushed up against the side of the pool and Pansy was forcing her tongue into his mouth. He kissed her back lazily, sloppily, and slowly his senses began to come back to him. He had a vague memory of everybody leaving and of Pansy leading up to his bedroom. He definitely remembered her straddling him, and leaning towards his face.

He remembered a few more things after that, too, but he kept trying to forget.

Hermione, on the other hand, had not forgotten her friend. She had certainly noticed that he had stopped coming around lately and she wanted to know why. She wanted to let him know that for the last week of the holidays she was heading off to France with her parents for a quick, back-to-school holiday. She wanted him to know that just because she was with Drake now, she hadn't forgotten him. Had he forgotten her?

It had been almost a week now since she'd seen him. She was leaving on Monday for Paris and it was now Friday - what if he didn't come by before the weekend was over? She wouldn't get to see him until they went back to school, and he might think that she hadn't even cared enough to tell him that she was going away. Would he even care, though? Suddenly it was hard to tell.

Hermione tossed around the idea of sending him an owl but she didn't know what to say. And what if one of his parents read it? She couldn't imagine parents that would read their child's mail, but if they were out there they were certainly the Malfoys. Finally, as Friday night approached she sat down at her desk to begin writing.

Dear Draco,

Hi. How's it going?

I was just wondering why you hadn't been around lately?

Is there a problem? Did I do something wrong?

Also, I'm going away to France on Monday. Just wanted to let you know in case you stopped by and I was gone. So I guess I'll see you back at Hogwarts?

Sincerely,

Hermione

Hermione stared at the parchment for a long time and at last scrunched it up in a ball. She couldn't send it. It sounded so stupid and formal, and weren't they good friends? What was the problem, really? She should be able to just go over there and speak to him, face to face.

And then Hermione had it. She would go over and see him! It was so obvious, but it hadn't even crossed her mind until now. She had his address, she knew she could floo right into his bedroom. She would carry a handful of floo powder in her hand so that just in case she ran into someone she didn't want to see she could floo straight back out.

She quickly tidied herself up, patting down her hair nervously, and crept downstairs to the fireplace. She hadn't realised how late it had gotten - how long had she been staring at that stupid letter? She took two handfuls of floo powder just in case, and tossed one into the flames. Stepping forwards, she clearly cried out his address.

'Draco Malfoy's bedroom, Malfoy Manor, number 1 Lycan's Lane!'

She felt herself begin to move and held her arms tightly against her body. When she felt herself slowing down, she clumsily drew a leg forwards to stop from falling over, and surprisingly she ended up landing daintily on Malfoy's hearth. She quickly searched the room and found that it was empty.

'Damn it,' she muttered, looking for somewhere to deposit her handful of floo powder. She found a suitable pot on the mantle and dusted off her hands, moving over to his desk chair to sit down and think.

It had been a stupid idea, just flooing over. What if he didn't come home all night? Who knew how long she would be sitting there for? Should she just leave again? Should she leave a note? Going looking for him was out of the question - she didn't dare venture out into the Malfoy Manor.

Sighing, Hermione decided to wait for half an hour and then just leave. After forty-five minutes she was getting restless, and promising herself that this time she would really leave in another five, when finally the door opened and Malfoy walked in.

It took him a moment to focus on her, and when he did he seemed confused.

'Hermione?' he said at last, moving forwards to see her better. Hermione stood up and smiled.

'Hi,' she said, suddenly feeling awkward.

'What are you doing here?' Malfoy asked. Hermione couldn't tell if he was happy to see her or not.

'I just wanted to know what you've been up to. You haven't come over in a while.'

'So you come here?' Malfoy asked, and Hermione hesitated, her smile failing.

'Oh…I can leave…'

'No,' Malfoy shook his head. 'Sorry - I'm just surprised to see you. 'Course you can stay.'

'Cool,' Hermione said, and then they were both silent. It had never felt so awkward between them.

'So…' she said at last. 'What have you been up to?'

'Not much,' Malfoy replied, moving to sit on the end of his bed. Hermione went to sit next to him and was puzzled when he subtly tried to inch away from her. Something was definitely wrong. 'How about you?'

'Same,' she said, shrugging. 'I'm going to France on Monday with my parents, just for the end of the holidays.'

'Oh,' Malfoy said.

'Yeah.'

'Cool.'

'Yeah.'

Another silence followed, in which Hermione surveyed Malfoy's face. He seemed to be avoiding her gaze so this was easy to do without being noticed. After neither of them spoke for at least another minute, Malfoy finally opened her mouth.

'Well, I guess I'll be going to bed now…' he trailed off, and Hermione stood up, unable to believe it.

'Are you serious?' she exclaimed, and Malfoy looked up at her warily. 'Are we really not going to talk?'

'Talk about what?' Malfoy said irritably, standing too so that he towered over her.

'About why you don't come around anymore? About why you're acting so distant? About why you can't even look at me right now?'

'Hermione…' Malfoy began, but she cut him off angrily.

'Go on, what did I do? Tell me!'

Malfoy sighed and regarded her emotionlessly. 'Nothing. You did nothing.'

'Then why are you acting like this?' Hermione demanded, mortified to find that she was close to tears. 'Don't you want to be friends anymore?'

Malfoy didn't answer immediately, and before he could think of an answer there was the sound of footsteps outside the door and a panic look crossed each of their faces. Without a word, Hermione dashed behind the floor length velvet curtain that hung by the side of his window. She was immediately concealed right down to her toes by the heavy, dark fabric.

Malfoy turned just as his bedroom door flew open and found Pansy standing before him. His heart sank inside his chest as she approached him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.

'Hi, baby,' she leaned forwards to plant a wet kiss on his lips and Malfoy shrugged her off in annoyance.

'What are you doing here, Pansy?' he said, trying to say it quietly but knowing full well that Hermione had already heard her voice loudly and clearly.

'Just thought you might like a midnight snack,' Pansy said suggestively, head eyes flickering down his body. Malfoy gnashed his teeth together and ducked his head out of her grasp, stepping well away from her.

'You thought wrong,' he replied curtly, nodding towards the door. 'I'm busy tonight.'

'Oh yes, because you look so busy,' Pansy simpered sarcastically.

'Not tonight,' Malfoy said in his most commanding voice, and Pansy frowned.

'That's not what you said the other night,' she said, moving towards his bed and sitting down on it. 'Remember?'

Malfoy felt his heart sink even lower as he glanced over to the curtains.

'Get out now,' he growled, turning his back on her. After a moment her footsteps slammed across the floor as she stamped her way out of the room and apparently right off through the house. There was a long wait as he listened to her go, and with a deep dread he turned back to find Hermione waiting for him, her face registering something he couldn't quite read.

'So, you and Pansy back on then?' she said in a false cheery voice. 'Can't say I'm surprised, but you really could do better, you know.'

'It's not like that,' Malfoy began in a low voice, but she didn't want to hear it.

'So just a one night thing? That would be right - you're good at that if you remember,' Hermione snapped, unable to keep the anger from her voice. She couldn't believe what she had just heard - he had just fallen right back into his old Slytherin habits, just like that! Without even a word to her!

'You don't know,' Malfoy tried again, an urgency to his tone now. He had to make her understand what had happened before she left and never came back.

'And I don't think I really want to know,' Hermione said shortly, and moved towards the fireplace. Malfoy grabbed her roughly by the arm, desperate to keep her from leaving, and pulled her back to the bed. He pushed her down onto it and before she could rise again he placed his hands firmly on her shoulders.

'Hear me out,' he pleaded, 'then you can leave.'

Hermione glared at him, but finding herself completely stuck, she nodded.

'I had some friends over the other night, just for a few drinks. And don't look at me like that,' he added, seeing her sour expression. 'I still have to go to school and live with these people. I'm not going to just cut them out entirely. And besides, you were busy with your Drake. Am I supposed to sit around every night waiting for your owl?'

'I never said that,' Hermione cut in angrily.

'I know you didn't,' Malfoy said soothingly. 'But anyway. I was…pretty drunk,' he admitted, and Hermione scoffed.

'What a surprise,' she muttered, but Malfoy ignored her.

'One of the boys suggested we invite the girls over, so they came. I had nothing to do with it - I mean I was really drunk,' Malfoy said again, making sure she understood just how out of it he had been.

'Anyway…Pansy was being a bit of a whore -'

'Which she is,' Hermione cut in again. Malfoy shrugged.

'Well…yeah. And then…everyone else was gone and it was just me and her and -'

'Stop!' Hermione shrieked. Malfoy blinked at her. 'I don't want to hear anymore!'

'I'm trying to explain!' Malfoy said in frustration, but Hermione shook her head.

'I don't want to hear it!' she shoved him off of her and stood up, storming away from him. She paused halfway across the room and turned back.

'Just tell me - do you still want to be friends?' she demanded furiously. Malfoy stared at her. 'Well? Do - you - want - to - be - my - friend?' she said slowly, emphasising the word.

And Malfoy couldn't lie. He didn't want to be her friend. So, sighing, knowing that she wouldn't understand, he shook his head. And with that Hermione was gone in a fury and a sob.

He wanted to go after her. But really, what good would it do? He couldn't tell her the truth because he had promised her mother. And besides that, she was with Drake now. This was probably for the best anyway - it was easier to watch from afar than to be with her and not to be able to have her. Yes…it was for the best.

Saturday morning loomed, and Hermione woke still in a fury. She wasn't quite sure what she was so angry about. What did it really matter who Malfoy slept with? It wasn't as if they were a couple. She was dating Drake, for Merlin's sake, and he was wonderful! She was meant to be having lunch with him today, in fact. So why did she care so much about losing Malfoy?

Although she tried all day, Hermione couldn't get their fight out of her head. She kept hearing Pansy's voice in her head over and over: that's not what you said the other night…that's not what you said the other night…that's not what you said the other night…

'Hermione, are you ok?' Drake asked her in the middle of their meal.

'Oh, yes, fine!' she squeaked, and turned her attention towards him instead.

'So…you're going away on Monday, then?' Drake went on, and she nodded.

'Yes, first thing Monday morning,' she confirmed, and planted a smile on her face. 'France, woo!'

'Yeah, that'll be exciting,' Drake said. He leaned forwards and planted his hand over hers on the table. 'So…I was just wondering if maybe you'd like to come over tomorrow night? And I can give you a…proper goodbye?'

Hermione choked on the cherry tomato she had been chewing on and her hand flew to her mouth to cover it. She looked up at him in shock - she hadn't expected that.

'Really?' she said lamely, unable to think of something better. He grinned at her.

'Well, sure, why not? I mean, I leave on Friday for school so I won't get to see you again until we're both back home for Christmas. So I just thought maybe…we could do something nice on our last night together.'

Hermione hesitated, a brief image of cool, grey eyes momentarily clouding her vision. But then she was staring at Drake again and he was waiting for her answer, so she smiled.

'Yeah. Let's do it.'

Now that it was Sunday Hermione suddenly became aware of the fact that she hadn't packed and felt an unnecessary panic over this fact. She also realised, feeling very stupid, that she hadn't yet visited Diagon Alley to buy all of her new school things, although her letter had arrived days and days ago. She made a very rushed trip to Flourish and Blotts by herself, with a few other stop offs on the way, and then she was home again to pack. She spent the entire day locked away in her room, throwing things in and out of her case over and over again. She had decided to pack for Hogwarts as well, assuming that she would be too tired to do it when she got home.

As the night approached she found herself alone in the house, her parents having gone out for dinner with some old friends. Her packing now done, Hermione no longer had an activity to distract herself from her thoughts and her fears for the night that lay ahead of her. She sat down with a school book and began to read but she couldn't concentrate on the words at all. After ten frustrating minutes she slammed it down and let out a moan of frustration.

She should just go over there. She should do it now, so that she could stop thinking about it. She just couldn't leave things like this with him because it was eating her alive. She wanted to know why he didn't want to be her friend anymore, what had changed between them. She had only just begun to trust him, was he really going to turn around and become that awful Slytherin again? And Pansy? Why, oh why, did it have to be her than had showed up? She just couldn't get those words out of her head.

Slowly her confusion turned to anger, and before she knew it Hermione was furious at him again. How dare he treat her like that? Just trying to cut her out like that without even an explanation? Well, she didn't need him, anyway. She had Drake, and she was going to have a great time with him tonight. Really, she really really was.

Suddenly smiling at the idea, Hermione decided that she would send Malfoy a letter after all. She sat down to begin writing and the words flowed into her mind effortlessly.

Hello,

Just letting you know that I certainly don't care who you fool around with, and that I'm just thankful that you did it after me so that I didn't catch anything nasty which you surely have by now. Also, I don't care that you don't want to be friends anymore, because you're an asshole anyway and my boyfriend is a much better version of you than you are. So, goodbye and -

'Hermione.'

Hermione's quill trailed off the parchment as she jumped out of her skin at the sudden appearance of somebody behind her. She jumped to her feet and turned to find him standing before her. It was Malfoy. Of course it was Malfoy.

'What are you doing in my house?' she snarled at him viciously. Malfoy looked taken aback by her anger and held his arms out in a peace gesture.

'Just came to talk,' he said, scanning her face for any sign of gladness to see him. Suddenly she smiled radiantly at him and he was taken aback once more.

'Oh, well in that case, maybe you'd like to hear the letter I just wrote to you?' she turned back to the table to pick it up, but Malfoy cut her off before she could get started.

'No, I'd much rather if you'd just listen to me,' he said shortly, and Hermione turned back to him angrily.

'Oh really?' she knew that her tone was unnecessary but she couldn't help herself. Seeing him suddenly had made her hysterical and she couldn't quite bring herself to calm down. Malfoy ignored all of this, however, and just kept talking.

'I didn't sleep with Pansy, ok?' he said quickly before she could interrupt again. 'It's true, I kissed her, but I was so drunk I can barely remember it. But what I do remember is that I was in my bed with her, and she was on top of me, and I turned her down. Ok? I promise you, I turned her down.'

Hermione let this information sink in, a sudden wave of relief flooding through her. Why did she care so much about this anyway?

'Why did you do that?' she asked him at last. Malfoy raised an exasperated eyebrow at her.

'Because I have changed now, even if you doubted me for a minute there. I didn't want to just go off and sleep with some slutty girl who I don't even like.'

'Oh,' Hermione said, lost for better words.

'And I do still want to be your friend, ok? I'm sorry that I was being a dickhead the other night, but to be honest, sometimes men are dickheads! That's what we do! So I'm sorry about that, too.'

Hermione couldn't help but laugh at that. Suddenly she found that all of the anger she had been feeling just minutes earlier was completely gone and she felt foolish for having doubted him so deeply. She really hadn't given him the chance to explain himself the other night.

'Well, great, then,' she said, and smiled. Malfoy smiled back at her.

'Friends?' he asked, and she nodded. He moved forwards to hug her and she hugged him back, breathing in the calming smell that seemed to emanate from his chest.

After a long moment she pulled back. 'Sorry to sound rude, but…I kind of have to go now.'

'Oh, really?' Malfoy grinned at her. 'Got a hot date or something?' he joked. Hermione didn't answer, and his face quickly fell back to its usual blank mask.

'Of course you do,' he said quickly. 'Sorry about that.'

'It's not a problem,' Hermione said, and bit her lip. Suddenly she had the desperate urge to tell him about what her apparent plans were for the rest of the night. As if he sensed this, Malfoy moved over to the couch and sat down.

'Tell me what's on your mind,' he demanded, and Hermione didn't bother to hide it from him. Sighing, she went and sat down beside him.

'Well…I'm meant to be going over to Drake's house to…say our final goodbyes,' she finished lamely, hoping this would be a clear enough meaning. Apparently not, because Malfoy just looked at her blankly. She tried again.

'He wants to…you know.' She felt herself blushing and looked away. Malfoy suddenly understood, and he didn't know what to say. He just stared at her for a long time until finally she looked back at him and shrugged.

'Say something?' she suggested, and he pulled himself out of his reverie.

'Um…so you're going to…?' he asked, his voice suddenly quite croaky.

'Yes,' Hermione nodded, not sure exactly why she was sharing this with him. She also wasn't sure why the look on his face was giving her such joy, but all the knew right then was that she didn't want to stop talking.

'So you two are quite serious, then?' Malfoy said tonelessly.

'Guess so,' Hermione replied. Malfoy nodded.

'I see…' was all he said. Hermione found this reply extremely frustrating, and she suddenly wanted to shake him. She was studying his face rather closely to see if she could read his reaction but she couldn't decipher him. Why did she care so much? Did she really care that much about what he thought about her? Was it just that she wanted his approval, from one friend to another?

Whatever it was, she was growing frustrated with his useless responses, and her anger was quite quickly returning. Abruptly she stood.

'Well, if that's all then, I think I might head off. Drake is waiting,' she said, her voice now cold. She moved over to the door and held it open for him, but Malfoy had not moved from the couch.

'Malfoy? Malfoy!' she said sharply, but he did not look up at her. He seemed to be having some silent war with himself, and realising that he wasn't about to go anywhere, Hermione closed the door once more and approached him carefully.

'Draco?' she tried again, and at last he looked up at her.

'Hermione,' he whispered back, his voice coming out unusually low and hoarse. Hermione was positively startled by the look in his eyes, and almost wanted to back away from him. Seeing this, Malfoy stood up and approached her. He stopped right in front of her, Hermione's back pressed up against her living room wall, and looked straight into her eyes.

'Hermione,' he said again. 'I don't want you to sleep with him.'

Hermione blinked up at him in surprise. 'I'm sorry?' she said, thinking she'd misheard him. Did he say that he didn't want to sleep with him? Well, that was just ridiculous. No one was forcing him to…

'Don't sleep with him,' Malfoy repeated, and Hermione sucked in her breath in shock. Yes, she had definitely heard him that time. But still she didn't understand.

'Why not?' she asked him slowly, wondering what kind of crazy scheme he was pulling on her now. But this was no scheme, and this was no joke. Now all Malfoy had left to say was the truth, and he didn't care anymore about who didn't want him to tell it.

'Because I'm in love with you.'

The words seemed to echo about the room, filling the silence that followed and refusing to die away. Hermione felt them reverberating about her head and she thought that she might collapse in shock. She couldn't draw her eyes away from his, they were pulling her in. She didn't want to look away, she could never look away…

'I don't care if your mother wants to kill me for it, or if Drake wants to beat me to a pulp, or if any of my friends know. They can all go to hell - because I don't care about any of them as much as I care about you. I want to fight for you, and I'm not going to let anything stop me this time. I don't care if you need me as a friend. I don't care if I promised your mother that I'd stay away. I don't care how many ridiculously good-looking football players try to steal you away. I just had to tell you before it was too late.'

Malfoy finished speaking and breathed heavily, his entire body numb. He stared into her eyes for some sign of happiness of relief, but she was just staring blankly back at him. His heart began to sink, all his worst fears had been realised…

'Hermione?' he whispered. He had to know her answer. He reached up with one delicate hand and placed it against her cheek…

And instantly she was upon him, her lips seeking out his own and moulding themselves against his. Her arms were around him, pulling him closer, and he was right there with her, pressing her tightly against the wall. It was pure bliss, everything he had ever wanted, and at last he could have it without worrying about anything else. She was his again, and this time he wasn't going to let her go.

Malfoy wrapped his hands around her thighs and picked her up, pulling her legs tightly around his waist. Their lips never parted as he carried her from the room and up the stairs, pushing open her bedroom door and slamming it behind them. He carried her right over to the bed and placed her down as gently as possible, the whimper that escaped from her mouth when their lips pulled apart lighting a new fire inside of him.

He lay his body down on top of hers and immediately she pulled him towards her, planting kisses all over his face. Malfoy breathed heavily against the soft skin of her neck and Hermione shivered. She had been missing the closeness of his body the entire summer, and now that she had it she was so overwhelmed by the feelings he was pulling out of her. She wanted him to be inside of her once more, and she couldn't wait any longer for it. She arched her back, pressing her breasts against his chest and causing Malfoy to groan against her skin. Hermione grinded her hips against his, feeling his rock hard package press into her thigh.

Sensing her urgency, Malfoy pulled away and gently hushed her eagerly panting body.

'Patient,' he whispered into her ear, and Hermione whined in reply. She didn't want to wait any longer for him. She arched her back once more and Malfoy growled in agony. She was torturing him so, he could barely restrain himself any longer. But he wanted it to be special, he wanted to memorise every detail of her. Hermione was making this impossible for him to do, his body was roaring for hers. He wanted to take her, to own her once more.

'Draco, please,' Hermione panted, practically in tears. 'Make love to me now!'

This was too much for Malfoy to bear; he tugged at her top, pulling it desperately over her head. Hermione followed suit, clawing at his chest so furiously she could barely calm herself enough to undo the buttons of his shirt. Once he was freed Malfoy reached down to slip her out of her skirt, and Hermione obliged by lifting her hips free of the bed. She kicked the skirt away from her ankles, her hands already lashing at his shorts, taking his underwear with them. Malfoy slid one of her bra straps from her shoulder, kissing every inch of skin that followed. Hermione moaned, her head flailing back against her pillow, as his lips encircled one of her engorged nipples. It all felt so familiar, but so much better at the same time.

It still wasn't enough, so Hermione raised her back from the mattress and Malfoy slipped his hands behind her back to undo her bra. His hands found their way back to her chest and closed softly around each of her breasts, feeling them tenderly. Hermione's hands danced their way down his back and around to his front, finding him hard and ready for her. She gripped him hard and Malfoy groaned once more, his hands reaching down to tear her underwear away from her.

At last they were both naked, skin on skin, and Hermione was desperate for him to take her. She whimpered as Malfoy paused to look at her, and slowly her breathing slowed and she relaxed, looking up into his eyes. She had never felt so connected with him as he placed himself between her legs and slowly began to bury himself inside of her. Malfoy watched as she helplessly rolled her eyes into the back of her head, a tiny gasp escaping her lips as he slid deep inside of her. Her insides were sleek and tight, wrapping themselves around him and causing him to grit his teeth. Her arms gripped his back, digging tightly into his skin and he did the same, trying not to hurt her with his body weight.

As he began to slowly thrust in and out of her he leaned in to kiss her softly on the lips and Hermione began to moan into his mouth with every move. Malfoy was unable to stop himself from watching her, taking in every expression on her face and the way her cheeks had flushed a beautiful pink. She was just as innocent as she had been that first time; he hadn't corrupted her. As he began to pick up speed Hermione's moans became louder and louder to match, and soon her nails were clawing down his back and he had to kiss her to keep her from screaming out in pleasure. The sound of her orgasm made him unable to hold on any longer, and with a low groan his body began to shudder on top of hers.

Together their pace slowed and then stopped completely, but he could still feel her pulsing around him in the aftershock. He looked at her again and took in the look in her eyes; he never wanted to forget it. He kissed her softly and she let out one last moan against his mouth. He didn't want to move away from her, but he was conscious suddenly of his weight on her tiny frame so he pulled himself out and rolled over to her side. Immediately she turned to face him and wrapped her arms around him once more. Neither of them spoke; they didn't need to. That moment, right then, was perfect.

So, firstly, yay! Feels good to get them back together at last, I dunno about you guys but I hated when they were apart! Now, to answer a few questions that have been popping up...

I'm pretty sure that I mentioned a few chapters back that Hermione is on the PILL, so to everyone who has been thinking that I've just left that detail out, she certainly does have protection. That said, sometimes people can forget to take their pills... If you can't remember the reference, I think it's right at the start of the summer when her mum comes up to her room to talk to her. Also, a few people mentioned the reference waaay back in the story to when the nurse was suspicious? That was more of an, I-know-you're-hiding-SOMETHING-tell-me-now kind of suspicion rather than a pregnancy suspicion, though I did leave it kind of open ended so sorry if that upset people. All part of my tangled web of secrets! Also, I didn't mean for Jean to come off as such a massive bitch in the last chapter! Please don't hate her, she's lovely and she means well.

I hope that you're as relieved as I am to see them back together, and I promise you that you should keep reading because the story is about to get lot more interesting! xx