The Littlest Things (DxH)

Disclaimer: Even though I haven't updated this story in the longest time, it does not mean that I spent my time trying to wrest the rights to Harry Potter (and Draco Malfoy and his yummy goodness) away from J.K. Rowling and WB.

Author's Note – I'm so sorry for this long hiatus, but I'm back! Thanks for all the reads and reviews! (rano, heytheredalaila, Missy Muggle Witch, superfragile, ChasingStarlight, Rambina, xNikkixMasscurex, Trignifty, LilBitzer, Sincerely Izi, firebirdflame, bookworm-bianca, evilcrossedwithgood, IreadDrSeuss, dee-dee142, IrethFalassion, YellowFang's Loyalty, missMANNEQUINx, honestlyybailee, LlamaPhi, Uber-l33t Rabid Ninja Squirrel, Haddaleyferret, Querida Goddess, reader101, ILOVERWHPDM, erii-baby, wildchild1017, ALottaRandomnessInMe, Forks-and-knives, ELM-tree10, Bella's-Choice, Vinwinz, selenehekate, purplekitten7, SCaRoL, xblackdragonx, PeanutluvsHP, FelizNavidad, DracosLover1313, iceprincess800, magdalena2122, October Addums, svfiction101, Tainted Halo Lao Ma Tatsu, hsmprincess, xoxo chocolatelover xoxo, Heartless ArchAngel1895, turbyhurby288, hermy permy, RandomObsessivePsychoFangirl, red flamie, lexilex, Gemma Legend, IZIBELLE, tears85, RollingBubbles, TomCruiseIsInTheToiletAgain, MilkMustache, ..Bethii, FieldHockeyLover17, star in the rain, rainbowrows,and burnin4Christ!) Enjoy! (Bold and italics indicate writing.)

Prologue:

Hello, my lovies. Remember me? Yes, yes, I know that I took a rather long vacation from our dear Hermione and Draco, but still, that gives you no excuse to forget me. Alright, fine, I see your puzzled faces, so I will introduce myself one last time. I'm the narrator of this convoluted, confusing, and altogether unique love story. But it is really a love story? Beats me. I just tell it like it is – how could you expect me to know what is going to happen? Anyway, for those of you who are new, don't read this. Start from the beginning. Trust me. And now, for those of you who are up to date on our adorable couple, Draco is a sly little devil, isn't he? I can't believe him, teasing Hermione like that? How is she going to react to this now? Read on, my dears. We'll find out together.

Ch. 26:

Hermione didn't know what to do with herself as she lay in her bed trying – in vain – to go to sleep after all that happened. He came on so strong. He came on so forcefully that she was almost powerless to stop it. But she couldn't let herself fall to temptation because if she did, Merlin only would know what would happen. Pull yourself together Hermione. Honestly, a witch as smart as you should be doing much better against a ferret. However, no matter how much she tried to forget the almost-kiss, she couldn't and it was driving her mad. Finally, she could bear it no longer, put on some warm clothes, and went for a walk around the lake.

It was beautiful that night. If Hermione had one thing, she had an extreme appreciation of beauty. The moon sparkling on the lake, one or two tentacles of the giant squid just breaking the surface every now and then, the Forbidden Forest throwing shadows that seemed alive when you looked away for the slightest second. Hermione loved all of it. It almost made her forget that the wizarding world was locked in a deadly war.

She continued walking until she came to a tree. It was a quite unimportant, boring tree, yet Hermione loved it dearly. She came here when she needed to cry, read, remember, think. It was her tree. She knew it was special even if no one else did. She saw its intricate knots, the twisting limbs, the fluttering leaves, and appreciated all of it. Under this tree did she commence to try to organize her very muddled, very bewildered thoughts.

Well, Hermione, here you are, out at night at your tree to think about Malfoy. MALFOY, for goodness sake! What has gotten into you? He never paid attention to you before and all of a sudden, he is set on seducing you. Ewww, I don't even want to think about it. Malfoy and me? What an unsavory combination. But…no, NO, Hermione, don't even go down that road! Oh, bother, it's too late. Do I want this, this whatever it is, to happen? Do I like the guy? GOD, no! I think I just like the attention; it's nice to know I'm the reason he's being driven mad with desire. Oh dear, those crappy romance novels are creeping into my head – Crap, did I just think that out loud?! No, no I didn't, whew. Okay, so I don't like him – that's a relief – but I like the attention. Okay, that is fair enough. I mean, who wouldn't? The most eligible bachelor – not to mention prick, ferret, brat, jerk, but I guess that is beside the point right now – is after me. Me! There has got to be a reason. He cannot go from loathing me to wanting me overnight. I need to figure it out and I will.

Hermione smiled – she knew what she had to do. However, what she did not know was how much time had passed. She looked at her watch and gave a little squeak. "It's two o'clock already! I have class tomorrow!" She jumped up and started jogging back to the school.

"Class really isn't that important, is it, Granger?"

She stopped cold. She knew that voice. It was the voice of the man – no, Hermione, boy, ferret! – who had been plaguing her thoughts for the last hour – and for a lot longer than that too, but he doesn't know that.

"What do you want, Malfoy?"

"I think you know the answer to that question yourself, Granger."

"Me, yeah, I get it, Malfoy. What I do not get is why."

"Why? Why is that question even important?"

"Because, Malfoy, you just don't go from hating to wanting someone overnight!" Hermione turned away from Hogwarts to face him. He was at her tree, staring at her with those intense eyes that she could still make out in the darkness, but somehow she wasn't surprised.

"You were watching me." It wasn't a statement. Malfoy nodded his head. "You're quite the charmer, you know. You stalk the girl you supposedly want – well, isn't that romantic, Lothario?"

"Don't mock me, Granger." He took a step closer to her; that small gesture was menacing and made Hermione shudder slightly. "Lothario does get the girl in the end." He took another step. And then another.

"Oh, but I am telling the truth. Lothario betrays Calista in the end, doesn't he? And that's exactly what you are going to do to me, aren't you? I know you, Malfoy. There is no way you would ever genuinely fall for me. "

Another step. "And how would you know that, Granger? You don't know me. You have no idea who I am." Another step. Then another.

"I know you well enough. You hate witches and wizards like me. You think you're so much better because you have pure blood. That's all I need to know. You're faking this whole thing."

Another step. "You have no proof of that, Granger." Another step. Now he was right next to her, looking down into her face. He leaned closer; Hermione thought she was going to combust. "You have no cards to play."

"You bastard! Stop playing around with me!" Hermione slapped him hard in the face, the slap making a reverberating whack that echoed for what seemed like forever. Then it went quiet.

Hermione never had felt such a charged, oppressive quietness. She thought she was going to go insane from just standing there, Malfoy towering over her, boring his eyes into hers –

"But I have all the cards."

He smirked. And then he kissed her.

PS- You guys finally got the kiss! You all deserved it after waiting for so long. Reviews welcome.