A/N: Happy Saturday! I hope you're enjoying the story thus far. Thank you to everyone who's reading/reviewing/following/favoriting, y'all are amazing! I hope you enjoy this new chapter. As always, thank you to Mcal for her beta'ing and unwavering support through the writing process.

Harry Potter and his crew belongs to JK Rowling.

Chapter 6

Draco caught up with Hermione in the hallway as they left Arithmancy. She smiled in greeting and bumped his shoulder with hers. Their friendship was easier than Draco could have imagined. Hermione was as challenging as she was easy going and could be as vibrant as she could quiet.

Draco leaned down to speak into her ear, "I have a surprise for you." His voice almost a pur. The blush on her cheeks did not disappoint. "Meet me by the Black Lake after dinner." They arrived at charms and each took a seat, Draco sitting with Theo and Daphne and Hermione with Neville.

Draco peeked over his shoulder at the still blushing witch and leveled her with a proud smirk, the quirk of his eyebrows asking his question. Rolling her eyes, she smiled back and nodded her acceptance.

The day seemed to drag, but finally it was time for dinner. Draco filled his plate and tried to eat at a leisurely pace, his training in manners and etiquette not going to waste, but he was anxious to meet Granger.

Laughter from the Gryffindor table drew his attention to her once more. Her smile was bright and her face was flushed from amusement at the story one of her housemates was telling. No doubt some fool hearted shenanigans.

She caught his eye and smiled shyly, that plump bottom lip tucking beneath her top teeth. He tilted his head towards the door, but she held up one finger to delay their exit.

"Could you be staring at her any harder?" Blaise nudged him in the ribs.

Clearing his throat, Draco began to cut into his chicken. He put on his most unaffected air. "Mind your own business, Zabini. We are friends, and as such have an appointment after dinner."

"An appointment? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?" Theo piped in, "Luna and I just call it-"

"Theo!" Draco cut him off, "I beg you not to finish that sentence."

Waggling his brows, Theo returned to his meal with a wicked smile on his face.

Looking back toward the Gryffindor table, Draco saw Hermione gather her bag, bid her friends goodbye and walk toward the exit. Draco quickly, but gently released his knife and fork and did the same.

Theo called out, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

Not turning around, Draco shook his head, all the while smiling at his impish friend.

When Draco arrived, Hermione was standing close to the shore, her eyes fixed on the sky above and her arms wrapped around her as the chilly air drifted off the lake.

Coming to stand next to her, his shoulder just a breath from hers, he looked up following her gaze. The sky was a rich velvety black and the stars blinked at them, constant as always. Gossamer clouds floated on ethereal currents: it was a serene evening, the only sounds the light splash of the lake lapping at the shore and the soft rustle of the leaves as the breeze tickled the trees.

"There you are." Her voice a whisper, almost swallowed by the air.

"Of course," he matched her tone, "I wouldn't stand you up after all."

He saw her lips quirk at the corners in his peripheral vision, but their eyes stayed fixed on the sky above. Standing so close he felt her shiver beside him and looked down to see her rubbing her hands over her upper arms. Without a word, he removed his cloak and fixed it around her delicate shoulders.

"You're just like your name sake," she motioned toward the sky, the Draco constellation faint, but visible, "Always here for me it seems."

"That is the general idea of friendship."

She hummed in agreement, biting her lip as was her habit, and looking at him for the first time since his arrival, her eyes holding a shyness to them he had not noticed before.

Reaching into his pocket. Draco removed a handkerchief and transfigured it into a plush blanket. "Milady." He gestured grandly for her to take a seat and she did so, with a silent shake of her head, but an amused smile. Draco settled beside her and they reclined to watch the stars once more.

"Do you want your surprise?" Draco finally asked.

She turned her head, a soft smile on her face and nodded silently.

Draco sat up and Hermione followed suit. He reached into his pocket, but hesitated in removing her surprise. "Close your eyes."

She narrowed her eyes in a playful dubious gesture. "Please?" He added after a moment, then with an approving nod, she complied with his request.

Working quickly, he removed a small cloth bag from his pocket, enlarged it to its original size and removed its contents. He dug his thumb into the top of the offering and began to peel back the outer layer. The rich, bright scent carried on the breeze and he heard her intake of breath as it met her nostrils.

Draco could see the anticipation on her face, her tongue darting out to lick her lips, those plump pink lips pursed to fight the smile evident in her cheeks. Finally, putting her out of her misery, he touched the blood red wedge to her lips. She gasped at the first touch, but eagerly accepted the bite of orange.

She moaned. A wholly feminine sound that came from a place deep in her throat and went straight into Draco's soul. Pulling his hand back, he licked the bit of sweet juice from his thumb just as her eyes opened. Her breath caught and her lips parted, the starlight shown in her blown pupils. "More?" he whispered.

"Yes," She breathed, but before Draco could retrieve another orange wedge Hermione surged forward, her lips connecting with his.

Her full soft lips pillowed against his own as her riotous curls blew around their faces. The taste of orange was still fresh on her lips as Draco sat stunned by her actions. He felt her pressure retreat and thought better of his surprise as he leaned into her and returned the kiss.

Her energy melted into his as he brought his right hand to her cheek, brushing tenderly over the lush skin. His hand migrated into her curls as he felt the pressure of her palms on his chest. His left hand found the curve of her waist and drew her closer still as she brought her hands to his neck, the soft pads of her fingers toying with the wisps of hair at his nape.

With a gasp she pulled back, Hermione's arms still around his neck and her face burning with shock. "Draco… I'm… I didn't…" Draco pulled her closer and quieted her stammering with his lips. This one was short and almost chaste, aside from the light nip to her bottom lip as he pulled away. He leaned into her, his forehead resting on hers, their noses brushing each other, their lips just out of reach.

"Never…" he closed the distance placing a soft peck on her lips, "be sorry…" another peck, this one reciprocated with more pressure, "for the best first kiss of my life."

Hermione's hands tightened around his neck, as she relaxed into him again, their eyes locked as hers shone with mischief and delight, "Just the best first kiss huh? Seems I have my work cut out for me."

With a playful growl, Draco began to tickle the cheeky witch until, consumed by giggles, she fell back onto the blanket; her arms around his neck pulling him half over her. His eyes softened at the mess of curls fanned out around her blushing face, and pushing a few rebel curls from her cheek kissed her once more.

The quiet of the lake, the whisper of the wind, and the steadfast stars bore witness to the budding of new romance as the pair shared kiss after kiss laced with the sweet essence of blood orange and rich anticipation of the future.

Pansy watched Draco leave to follow that mudblood again. If not for years of practice at schooling her features and reactions, her face would have been a distorted mask as she screamed in rage, but alas, she was a properly bred pureblood lady and she did no such thing.

She politely bid adieu to her classmates and they waved distractedly as they listened to Looney tell some far-fetched tale of a clearly fictional creature. Picking up a green apple she calmly walked from the hall.

How could Draco chase after someone as disgusting as the mudblood? She'd not missed the looks they'd begun to share during meals and in class. And the way she had inserted herself into Draco life, dragging him to the library, making him ridiculous study charts. Abominable.

Of course she found them by the lake… again. There they sat on a ratty blanket, on the hard ground, both looking up at the sky as if there was anything truly interesting to be seen up there.

A small copse provided her with the ideal observation platform and a sudden gust of wind swallowed her gasp of horror; for there was the Malfoy Prince - a pureblood legacy worthy of fear, respect, and admiration - kissing a lowly, filthy, mudblood.

Pansy watched in utter silence, her nails digging into the firm flesh of the apple she still held, the tart juice dripping at her feet. She trembled with unchecked rage, the fire of her loathing stoked from a steady glowing ember into lashing tongues of fiendfyre, as the wretched spectacle ended and the revolting couple slunk back to the castle.

Stepping from the cover of the trees she shakily inhaled to right her nerves before returning to the castle; there was much to be done to rectify this situation and it would never do to give oneself away with such outward emotion, but she would save Draco from the Mudblood swot's unworthy clutches.

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