Finally, some Dramione action :D

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that looks familiar to the world of Harry Potter.

Draco paced the corridor connecting one tower to another. He was restless after lunch when Blaise went off to catch up with some other Slytherins. His thoughts were back to Hermione once again. Where was she? As he rounded the corner, he heard hurried footsteps coming his way. In fact, it sounded as if there were several people headed his way.

He slipped into the nearest alcove and peered out from behind the tapestry. Harry and Ginny, followed by Luna, were speed-walking and passed his hiding place. Coming up at the rear was Hermione who looked as if she had exerted so much effort trying to keep up with the others. Draco broke into a grin as he aimed a trip jinx just as she passed by his hiding place before smoothly stepping out to catch her from the back.

Hermione yelped in shock, first as she stumbled from the jinx and once more at the suddenness of being grabbed around her waist. Draco straightened her and she turned to meet his eyes.

"Draco!" she gasped. Then her cheeks flushed. "Thank you."

"My pleasure," said Draco as he gave her what he thought was a charming smile. "Where are the lot of you headed off to?"

The others had already gone too far ahead to notice that Hermione was not with them. Or that Draco had accosted their dear friend.

She was still a bit flustered as she answered him. "No idea, actually. Well, I think I do know. I might know. But Harry didn't say where so I don't really know. We were just going after him."

"He's got all the girls chasing after him, huh."

Hermione swatted his arm. "Not like that."

Draco pulled her into the alcove and she squealed as he wrapped his arms around her. "I've been looking for you all day."

"Really?"

"Of course. I've missed you."

"Yeah? I was too busy to think about you."

His heart dropped.

"Just kidding," said Hermione as she slipped her arms around his body.

Draco's breath caught in his throat as relief washed over him. She rested her head against his chest.

"I can hear your heartbeat."

"Can't you just ignore it?" he growled in her ear.

She laughed a delightful laugh that sounded like wind chimes to him. He rested his chin on top of her head; their heights matched perfectly. A delightful smell of vanilla, quite similar to the pudding he had been eating earlier, tickled his nose and he breathed in deeply, trying to catch every bit of her scent.

"This seems like a dream. You and I, together like this," said Hermione. "I thought we'd only be having secret dates in that room with the mirror."

Draco felt her grip tighten on him as she snuggled closer into him. He concentrated on breathing in and out rhythmically, and making sure their bodies were not touching below the waist. He didn't think he'd be able to look her in the eye if she came to know how all his blood had rushed southwards.

He rubbed her back absent-mindedly. "I'd take you wherever you want. Who says dreams can't be turned into reality? Like whatever we see in the mirror."

She lifted her head and smiled. Even in the dimness of the alcove, Draco could make out the two glittering orbs of her eyes and the sweet outlines of her lips. He leaned down and captured her as she sighed into his mouth, her breath sending shivers down his spine.

She broke off the kiss midway. "I can't believe we're kissing in an alcove! We shouldn't be doing this here. We could get caught."

"Oh, yeah?" Draco leaned in.

She pushed him back. "There might be prefects or the professors."

"Oh, yeah." He kissed her again.

"Draco!"

"There's something I want to ask you," said Draco, as he nipped the spot under her ear.

Hermione's eyelashes fluttered as she took in a deep breath. "Yeah?"

"Well," he said, finding her lips again, "I need to form the question first."

She nodded. "Mhmm. So we should stop first."

"Oh, shut it, Granger."

If brains could turn into pudding, Draco's sure did. They stayed like that for awhile more, communicating through their actions rather than words, interspaced with soft sighs and moans when either of them dared to venture some place beyond the lips. Eventually, when he lifted her onto a ledge at the far corner of the alcove, she pulled him close against her in a way he never would have imagined she'd allow him to. He could literally feel the core of her against him. He hadn't realised she wanted him just as badly. Maybe he would be able to look her in the eyes after all.

"I don't mind spending my entire day like this," said Draco, nuzzling Hermione's neck as she let out a gasp. His traitorous hands continued plying certain areas that he yearned to see one day. If she would let him. For now, he would have to content himself with imagining how they looked from the way they fell easily into the contours of his hands.

"Me too," she breathed out. "But I should really get going. They'd be wondering where I am."

Draco paused. "I highly doubt that."

He continued nipping at her throat but Hermione grabbed his wrist and pulled back from him. "Really."

He was a little disappointed but wasn't going to force her to do something she wasn't ready for. "Fine."

Draco straightened up and set Hermione on the ground. Both of them did their best to rectify the messy state of their uniforms.

"Actually, what I wanted to ask was if you were going to the Halloween party." Draco finished re-tying his tie.

She laughed as she smacked the creases out of her skirt. "That was a big build-up to the question."

Draco felt his face heating up. "Hey!" He gave her a playful shove. "As if you weren't enjoying every bit of it."

She shoved him back. "Yeah, yeah. I can't believe we just did all that! In a bloody alcove! How embarrassing!"

"I wouldn't mind doing it all over again."

"Draco!"

"Fine, fine."

"And I will be going to the party if you are."

"That's settled then. I'll be going."

"Great. The others are going too, I guess."

"All the more exciting," he deadpanned. "Can't wait to waltz with dear Harry. What a dream come true."

She laughed. "Oh, come on. You know they are not so bad."

"I'll agree as long as I don't have to do the polka with Weasley."

They both broke down laughing at the idea, wiping tears from their eyes.

"Are you involved in the planning? Being the eighth-year rep and all?" Draco began pacing around the alcove, still trying to control his laughter.

Hermione shook her head. "It's not a big role, actually. I'm supposed to monitor how the eighth-years are coping in general. So far there's been no incidents. Makes my job easy. Not much responsibilities."

Draco nodded. "I see."

Hermione smiled. "I'll see how it goes. My responsibilities as the rep comes first before other things."

"Like what?"

"Like the stuff we did just now."

"Damn. And here I thought we were making progress."

"Let's take it slowly, okay? I'm not used to this."

"As you wish. I hope you will save me at least one dance. We can't go any slower than that, can we?"

"Prat!" She hit him on the arm. "That dance will be yours if you can find me at the party."

"I'm sure I will."

Draco met Hermione's eyes and she turned away, a flush forming in her cheeks. Then she jerked suddenly and fished out a galleon before slipping it back into her pocket. "I really have to go now. They're looking for me."

"Alright."

Hermione peeped out of the alcove to check if the coast was clear. "Do you want to come with me? I'm sure they won't mind."

Draco shook his head. "Not now. It's been quite an intense discussion for me."

She gave him an odd look. "We hardly talked much this time."

"All the more reason." He raked his fingers through his hair and let out a loud breath. He doubted he could keep his wits about him until he took a long, cold shower.

Hermione shook her head and muttered something that sounded like 'boys'. Then she stepped out of the alcove and gave him a little wave. Draco flicked his wand at her hair and it settled back into a neater state. She gave an "oh" of surprise and seemed to be deliberating something.

"What?" He tilted his head.

She rushed up to him, pressed her lips to his cheek and ran off while patting her hair down.

Draco stared at her retreating form in a daze as he touched his cheek. He could feel a twitch in the southern areas again and willed himself to think of all the house elves in the Hogwarts kitchen. Hermione Granger was going to be the death of him.