All characters belong to JKR

Chapter 34 –

Present Day:

"Summer squash? It looks orange to me," Hermione told her mother as she looked at the paint in the can.

"It's not orange! Do you think I would paint my dining room orange?" she asked her daughter.

"I think you ARE painting your dining room orange," Hermione stated, as she poured some of the paint into the tray. "So, you are okay if I use magic you said, right?"

"Since your father bailed on us, by all means, use magic," her mother laughed.

Hermione began to 'magic' rollers and brushes to paint every spare corner of all four walls of the dining room. She sat down on a chair, which was covered in plastic, to supervise.

"How is the election going, darling?' her mum asked.

"Oh, it's a tight race. Only a point separating us the last time I heard," she said. She did not want to bother her mother with all the other news, for example, Percy's health, Anthony duplicity, Blaise Zabini. Her mum did not need all the sordid details.

"I think that Draco Malfoy is so handsome," Mrs. Granger said.

Hermione could not help but smile. She looked at the ground and said, "Well, I do too."

"He's so nice, too," her mother said.

Hermione looked at her mother thoughtfully and asked, "How would you know? When did you meet him?"

"I met him several times, once at the restaurant after graduation, once when you took me to the Ministry, remember? He was there that day, and when was the other time?" Her mother looked confused for a moment and then said, "Oh, yes, that time he brought that birthday present to you, on your last birthday."

"What birthday present?" Hermione asked, standing up.

"Hermione dear, watch the brushes and rollers please," her mother scolded. Hermione sat back down to watch the painting.

She repeated, "What are you talking about, Mother?"

"I believe it was this past September, and he knocked on the door, introduced himself, and he said that he had a birthday present for you. I told him he could take it to your house, and started to give him the address, and he told me knew where you lived, but he wanted to leave it here. I told him that was fine, for you would be here for your birthday," her mother said.

"What was it?" Hermione asked, trying hard to remember. "I don't recall getting a present from him a last September."

"It was that music box that played that song you love from the Nutcracker Suite," her mother said. "Dear, if you have this taken care of, I think I will go get the living room ready for painting." Her mother bent down, took the roll of plastic, and went to the other room.

Hermione remembered that music box. She also remembered there being no card, and at first, she thought it might be from Draco, because they had discussed the fact that she loved the music from 'The Nutcracker', but she also knew that Anthony told her it was from him. Her anger began to boil over, when she thought of all the times in the past when she started to feel like she might have feelings for Draco, and Anthony would come and ruin it for her, by making her feel guilty, thus forcing her to get back together with him. However, lying about the music box, that was too much. Draco probably thought she did not like it, since she never thanked him for it.

Oh, someday, Anthony Goldstein was going to pay!

Flashback:

Hermione was on her way to lunch, when she felt something hit her on the back. It was a windy September day, so when she turned around and did not see anything, she was not surprised. She figured the wind blew something at her. She turned to walk back the same direction, when something hit her in the head the second time.

She turned again, and besides seeing a few people walking behind her, she did not see anything suspicious. She turned back again, and yet again, something hit her for the third time. When she turned this time, she saw Draco Malfoy, throwing a peanut, fully shelled, up in the air. "Hey, Granger," he said. He held out a bag of the same peanuts toward her and said, "Peanut?"

"Are you throwing those at me," she asked.

"Why, yes I am, why?" he asked.

She was about to say something scathing to him, but instead had to smile. "Why are you throwing peanuts at me?'

"It never dawned on me that you wouldn't like that sort of thing," he said with a laugh. "Shall I stop?'

"Yes, stop," she said. He walked along beside her and crushed a peanut shell in his hand, took out the nut within, and threw the shell on the ground.

"You need a nutcracker," she said.

"My hand works on peanuts, and I don't really like other nuts that much," he said. He crushed another shell, and popped the nut in his mouth. He said, "You know, when I was young, we had a magical nutcracker, and he would march around the table, and I would throw nut after nut at him, and he would go crazy trying to shell all the nuts that I threw."

"Leave it to you to torment a magic nutcracker," Hermione said with a smile. "I can't even begin to fathom a magical nutcracker. Just like in the ballet, 'The Nutcracker Suite', when the nutcracker comes to life. Are you familiar with that? It's a Muggle story," she asked.

"Yes, I know it," he said.

"I loved it when I was young. I loved all the songs, and I would hum them all. I wanted to take ballet lessons when I was young just so I could dance in that ballet at Christmas, but alas, I was born with two left feet. My ballet teacher told my parents to take me away and never bring me back," she laughed.

He smiled because her smile was so wide it was contagious. The September wind made her hair fly all around her face. Without thinking, he reached up to smooth her hair down, and to remove it from in front of her face. She put her own hand in her hair. She said, "Certainly is windy, today."

"Yes, it is," he answered her. "That's the thing about September; you never know what the weather will be like. Sometimes its windy, sometimes its cold, sometimes its still warm. A lot like March."

"I know it was hard having a birthday in September. It never failed that my parents would plan an outside party, and it would be cold and windy, and the next year they would plan an indoor party, and it would be sunny and warm," she explained. She went to stand under an awning, in front of a store window. He stood beside her.

"Ah, yes, you have a September birthday, don't you?" he asked.

"Yes, I have one in three days. My parents are planning a surprise party for me," she tried to joke. "But don't tell anyone, because it's a surprise."

He did not know what was different about her today, but she seemed so open and amenable to him. He liked it. He said, "How do you know about it if it's a surprise?"

"My dad told me. He can't keep a secret," she smiled. "Well, I have to go to lunch, because I don't want to be late getting back to work."

"Well, if I don't see you again before your actual birthday, let me wish you a happy one now," he said. He threw the bag of peanuts toward a trash bin, and held out his hand to her. She put her hand in his. He said, "A birthday handshake."

"Some people prefer birthday kisses," she said. As soon as she said it, she felt embarrassed. What was wrong with her? It was almost as if she were flirting with him. She quickly looked down. She was well aware that he still had her hand. He pulled on her hand, so that she was up against his body.

"Which do you prefer?" he asked. She looked up into his grey eyes, and they were so bright and daring, they almost seemed to dance. His lips were parted and tilted up in a slight smile. His right hand still held her right hand. His left hand went to her left shoulder, and then down to cup her elbow. She was so close to him, and he was so tall, that she had to crane her neck upwards to look at him.

She thought he was very handsome. It felt like they were in that position for ten minutes, but in truth, perhaps a minute or two passed. Finally, she said, "I don't mind birthday kisses, as long as they aren't unwelcome."

"What would make a birthday kiss welcomed?" he asked. His right hand, still grasping her right hand, placed both of their hands on his chest. His left hand went to her back. She almost froze. Was he going to kiss her? They had kissed before, but not a real kiss. He gave her that short and brutal kiss at Harry's house that time, but that was certainly, what she would have described, as an 'unwelcome' kiss. She knew he had kissed her that time she was under the influence of the codeine. She was not as 'out of things' as she let on that night. However, did he mean to give her a real and proper kiss, right now?

"Granger, did you hear my question?" he asked, smiling.

"No, I really didn't. My thoughts were elsewhere," she said truthfully.

The hand that was over hers on his chest, moved to stroke her windblown hair, and then joined his other hand on her back. She put both of her hands on his chest. "I asked what would make a birthday kiss welcomed."

"If it was from someone you wanted to kiss, of course," she said plain as day.

He did not ask her if that meant him. Instead, he leaned down, his mouth coming ever closer to hers, but then he drew away quickly, to look at her again. When it was apparent that she was not flinching, she was not screaming, and she was not telling him that she hated him, he decided to kiss her. He was going to kiss her the way he wanted to at Potter's house that summer. He was going to kiss her the way he wanted to at St Mungos when she had the hives. He was going to kiss her the way he wanted to when she was sleeping that day at her house, when she took too much medicine. He was finally going to kiss her the way he had dreamt of kissing her every night and everyday for years and years.

Draco Malfoy was going to kiss Hermione Granger the way her wanted to, no one was going to stop him, and it was welcomed, dammit!

With his left hand still firmly on her back, in case she tried to escape, his right hand came around and cupped her cheek. His thumb moved back and forth across her face. He brought his head slowly close to hers. The wind picked up and her hair blew in his face. He laughed and took the hand that was on her face, and put it in her hair.

His lips hovered close to hers, and he said, "Happy Birthday, Hermione," and she felt the gentle pressure of his lips against hers. He awoke a yearning in her; truthfulness emerged, in which she had long denied. His lips moved so softly against her own, that she was not sure he had moved them at all, except that her lips had parted somehow.

He pulled at her bottom lip slightly, before putting his mouth full against her mouth. His tongue timidly left his mouth, to circle hers. She felt lightheaded, and in deed, felt flushed. As if sensing this, he put his arms tighter around her. His tongue felt the silky wetness of her mouth, and when her tongue came out to touch the tip of his, he felt an immediate jolt to his groin.

He wanted to deepen the kiss, and push her against the wall, and kiss her brains out, which meant something with a brain like hers, but instead, he pulled away slightly, only to go back in for the finishing touch. He kissed her lips once more, not just once, but small, consecutive kisses, no more than five or six in a row, before he lifted his head from hers. Her eyes remained on his, as she touched her fingertips to her lips. He removed her hand from her lips, bent down and gave them one more kiss, very quickly, and then he kissed her fingertips. He released her, and this time he looked down. He was waiting for the onslaught. 'Let the hate begin!' he thought to himself.

Instead, she said, "That was a welcomed birthday kiss, thank you." She felt stupid for saying 'thank you', so she quickly ran from him and ran toward the diner. He remained by the picture window for a moment. At that exact moment, he turned to look in the window, there was a display of music boxes, and he got an idea. An idea of what he could get her for her birthday.

After ordering her food, Hermione sat alone in the diner in Diagon Alley where many Ministry employees ate their lunches. Usually, she sat with Harry or Ron, or one of her staff members, and sometimes with Anthony, but today, she sat by herself. She had a lot of thinking to do. Mainly, she had to think about that kiss.

She had been thinking a lot lately about her feelings toward Draco Malfoy. She was beginning to recognize the fact that she liked him; maybe even more than liked him. He seemed to like her as well. He still infuriated her so much, but she liked him, and more than just as a friend. She was currently no longer seeing Anthony, so she decided she needed to work up the courage to go see Draco, right after lunch, and perhaps invited him to coffee, or dinner, or something. What would he think of that? She thought he might be receptive. He seemed like he liked her in return. He had kissed her after all, and it was a bloody good kiss. Not too much, not too little, but just right.

Moreover, look at all he had done for her over the years. He had bought her things, and taken care of her. Even before the kiss today, she had mentioned the fact that she was thinking of asking him out to Harry and he laughed at first, but then told her to go for it. She also mentioned it to Ron. He did not seem overjoyed at first, but he too finally told her to follow her heart. Therefore, she had just resigned herself to ask him out the next time she saw him, when Anthony walked in the diner. Hermione tried to hide behind a menu, but it was too late, he saw her.
He waved and walked over. Hermione said, "Hello, Anthony, how are you today?"

"Great, really. Did you hear that Percy's been a bit under the weather?" he asked.

"Everyone knows that Anthony, that's why he's giving up his post as Minister, remember?" Hermione said, somewhat peeved.

"No, I know that, but he went home really sick today," Anthony said, sliding into the booth next to Hermione.

"Anthony, if you are going to invite yourself to sit down with me, than at least sit on the other side," Hermione stated.

"I can't stay," he said. "I actually have something I wanted to ask you."

"Go ahead," she said.

"Well, I know that Percy asked you to consider taking over as Minister, and I also know you said yes, so I wanted to know if I could run your campaign," he said.

"Why do I need to run a campaign? It's not like I am running against anyone," Hermione said. At that moment, the server brought her food to her. Anthony began to eat off her plate. She always hated that.

"Well, that's not true anymore," Anthony said with his mouth full of her food. "By the way, Ron mentioned to me that you are thinking of asking Draco Malfoy out on a date."

Hermione made a mental note to kill Ron. She said, "I might be, and I'm not sure that's your business anymore."

"That's why you need me, Hermione, you are so imperceptive," Anthony laboured. "You see, you are under the erroneous belief that Draco Malfoy fancies you, but if you ask him out, you will just be making a fool of yourself. He does not like you, not at all. In fact, he is probably using you."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"You really haven't heard have you?" he asked. He stood back up and said, "Be at the Ministry in an hour. There is a press conference being held. I think you will find it enlightening. After the press conference, let me know if you want me to run your campaign. Goodbye, Hermione." He bent down and kissed the top of her head.

She finished eating in a hurry, so she could get to the Ministry in time for the press conference. After the press conference, she could ask Draco out on a date!

Present Day:

"Malfoy, you should let us call Hermione," Harry said.

Draco lay in a hospital bed, at St Mungos, and he looked up at Harry. "No, Potter, I don't want to worry her, and besides, it would look suspicious if she came to visit me." Draco winced in pain as he adjusted himself on the bed. "Damn hospital beds. I think they make them uncomfortable to make you want to leave!" Draco tried to sit up.

"Lay back down, Malfoy," Harry said, but not kindly. "I think I have all the information that I need from you. I still cannot believe you were not discovered until this morning! I am going to station two Aurors outside your room at all times."

"Just make sure she's safe," Draco said.

"She will be, and we will find Anthony. He has to know that there's nowhere to hide now," Harry said.

"If only I had remembered to pick up my tie!" Draco said. "He didn't believe her at all when she said it was Zabini's tie. After he cursed me, and I lay on the floor in pain, he told me that the minute he saw me come in the room without a tie on, he knew it was my tie, so that was when he decided to wait for me in the stairs. We should have been more careful, like you said."

Harry looked amused and said, "Is Draco Malfoy actually saying that Harry Potter was right and that he was wrong?"

"Shove it, Potter," Draco said. "Leave now, I'm tired. It's not every day someone lives through that sort of curse."

"You are such a big baby. It's third year and Buckbeak all over again," Harry said. "If Anthony had wanted to kill you, or even hurt you badly, he would have, so that's what I don't understand. Nothing about this case is making sense. Well, I really do have to go. The healers said you will only be here a day at the most."

"Thanks for finding me this morning. Now, get out of here and find Goldstein," Draco said.

With the dining room all painted, Hermione moved to the living room. Her mother had picked sage green for that room. She actually thought the dining room turned out nice. She would have to let her mother know that. Her mum was in the kitchen, fixing some lunch for them. There was a knock at the door. She told her mother that she would answer it. She answered the door and said, "Anthony, what are you doing here?"

Chapter End Notes:

I am no longer going to post the results of the poll so the election results can be a surprise. I will keep the poll open on however. Also, I will take into account any votes that people have left in their reviews on this site. I will let everyone know who won at the end of the story. Thank You!