the Summer after Voldemort returned...

The grass was damp, squelching underneath his feet and despite the morning sun, the air was misty and cool.

"I still don't understand why I had to come," grumbled Draco.

His father regarded him evenly. "I thought you were a fan of Viktor Krum."

Draco, for reasons he couldn't understand, had failed to mention to his father that Viktor Krum was a good-for-nothing Mudblood lover. Every time he allowed himself to think about the revolting intimacy he and Granger had displayed at the Yule Ball he wanted to vomit. He'd had his hands all over her filthy body while they danced and only Merlin knew what depraved thoughts delved inside that thick Bulgarian skull of his.

Just then Krum, who'd been flying above Durmstrangs large Quidditch pitch, began to descend. As he reached the ground he jumped off his broom.

His father smiled tightlipped as he approached and offered his hand. "Viktor Krum. I am Lucius Malfoy. I work closely with those at the British Ministry of Magic."

Krum frowned, furrowing his thick eyebrows as he eyed the hand with distaste. After a moment he took it.

"Vat is this about?"

Draco couldn't stand the boy's accent. Honestly, why did he have to come?

"It concerns your former headmaster. Igor Karkaroff—"

"I do not know vare he is," said Krum abruptly. "Vhy vould I?"

"Well, we at the Ministry are concerned about his disappearance. In fact, he and I are… old friends. I have it on good authority that you two were quite close, that he even doted on you. Perhaps he confided as to—"

"He did not."

Draco was growing tired of this conversation and his stupid bloody face. He wanted to go home already.

"I see," his father replied pursing his lips.

There was a pregnant pause, where only the wind could be heard.

"Oh," his father said breaking the silence. "This is my son, Draco Malfoy."

Krum's eyes narrowed in recognition. "Ve have met at Hogvarts."

Just then a man Draco didn't recognize emerged from the castle waiting near the large front doors.

"Excuse me," said his father civilly. "I have an appointment to keep—Draco, take a tour of the grounds—don't go near the lake."

Then he understood why he'd been dragged along. Well, his father had greatly overestimated his acquaintance with Viktor Krum if he thought he'd be able to get answers from him about Karkaroff's whereabouts.

Once his father was no longer within earshot Krum turned to him and spoke in a surly manner.

"How do you like Durmstrang?" he asked.

Draco gave a half-hearted shrug. "I haven't seen the inside of the castle but the grounds are impressive, perhaps even more than ours," he answered honestly.

Looking around in admiration of his country's landscape Krum said, "I have invited Herm-own-ninny to view the beauty of the mountains and lakes."

He grimaced at the mention of Granger. Disgusting blood-traitor couldn't even pronounce her name.

"You have, have you?"

"Yes."

Draco felt sick to his stomach.

"You know," Krum continued with a measure of uncertainty. "She has mentioned you."

He raised an eyebrow questioningly. "She has, has she?"

"Yes," he snorted. "She has said to me, that you are vile—like vat do you call it—a roach."

Draco clenched his fists but his lips tugged into a scathing smile. "I don't take notice of what Mudbloods say. They're beneath me."

The Bulgarian's eyes flashed, flicking his broom from one hand to the other.

"She does not take notice of you either Drago Malfoy."

With those parting words, Krum went into the broom shed to put his Firebolt away and then tromped back to the castle, leaving Draco stewing in fury. He stood there for some minutes with his gaze fixed on the door to the broom shed as he decided something.

The trip ended up being his first and last visit to Bulgaria.

The next week went by in a blur. Hermione had met Draco on Tuesday as they'd planned. She had brought some homework with her which he wasn't altogether pleased about so she'd done a little and put it away. Then he'd demanded that she bring the 'muggle picture thing' to the Room of Requirement and after having repeatedly refused to do so, she was forced to explain to him, in excruciatingly painful detail, the end of The Lord of the Rings movie, which he'd missed.

The most surprising thing about being with Draco Malfoy was that she wasn't entirely sure if she was with a petulant, excitable child, a snarky, brooding teenager or a quiet, contemplative man. There were brief moments where he'd become lost, staring at nothing with a frighteningly meditative appearance. Even more terrifying was when that gaze drifted to hers and softened with a look of undying adoration.

It was proving very difficult not to think about him, especially now while she was brewing Amortentia. Professor Slughorn had surprised the class by announcing that since it was Valentine's day, it was fitting for students to try their hand at concocting an imitation of love.

Fumes wafted from all the cauldrons, filling the room.

Ron chuckled as he spoke to Harry.

"He'll be fine," he drawled. "Just a broken arm. Not like the time you fell and had to regrow your bones."

"What's that?" asked Hermione, drawn into the conversation by her curiosity.

"McLaggen fell off his broom during practice," Ron snorted happily. "It was hilarious."

Hermione clucked her tongue at him reproachfully. Deep down, however, there was a part of her that thought he deserved it a little. Cormac was always handsy with her ever since Slughorn's Christmas party. He'd approached her a few times after and made suggestive remarks on how they might spend their time together. The last time she'd spoken to him was in the courtyard where thankfully Harry had intervened with a fib about needing to go see Hagrid.

Shrugging Ron said, "Not the first time someone's fallen. It is Quidditch after all. Just saying it was funny."

Slughorn was making the rounds in the classroom looking to see how everyone was progressing with the potion. He was just coming over to the Gryffindor table when Hermione accidentally knocked over her vial of pearl dust, sprinkling it all over the floor.

"Sorry sir," she said cleaning the mess with her wand. "I've been an absolute klutz all day."

"That's quite alright, just get some more from the storeroom and be careful the second time around."

She walked toward the back, past the Slytherin table and stole a glimpse of Draco who was concentrating on his potion.

Entering the small dimly lit room, she skimmed the odd ingredients on the shelves, stopping to look closely at the ones she'd never heard of until her eyes landed on what she was looking for.

Pearl dust!

It was placed on a high shelf and just as she was reaching for it, someone caught her around her waist.

"Draco," she gasped. He nuzzled her cheek moving down her jaw to her neck.

She turned in his arms. "What are you doing?" she hissed. "We're in the middle of potions."

He ignored her, covering his mouth with hers.

She sighed into it.

"Potter's cheating again," he murmured in between kisses.

"He is," she breathed.

Draco flicked his tongue out to trace her lips. They were snogging each other senseless. She whimpered as her back struck the shelves. Then she was pulling him closer and his hands were—

"Having trouble with the potion?" Came Professor Slughorn's voice as the door opened. They broke apart, turning their backs to each other, both looking disheveled and flushed.

"Not to worry," he hummed browsing the shelves. "Tricky business Amortentia… most dangerous…"

With a grand "Ah-ha!", Slughorn presented them with a vial of pearl dust and an ashwinder egg. Taking the potion ingredients, they both thanked the professor and hurried out of the supply room, either unable to look him in the eye.

Hermione could die of embarrassment. She didn't know what was wrong with her. It was the potion, this entire room was filled with the scent of him and her head was filled with all the things she had yet done to him. She wanted to press her nose against the skin of his neck, like when she'd woken next to him, but now she wanted to kiss him there, taste him, mark him.

"You alright?" asked Harry tearing her away from her daydream. "You seem—"

"I'm fine," she snapped. "Not all of us have the Half-Blood Prince to help us."

He looked taken aback.

"I'm sorry," she groaned apologetically. "I'm not feeling well. I think I'm coming down with something."

His forehead creased with concern and she declined when he offered to take her to Madam Pomfrey's.

"I can take you," Ron chimed in. "Harry's right, you're looking a little flushed. It could be serious."

"It's not that bad, really," said Hermione dismissively.

Just as things couldn't seem to get worse, Professor Slughorn had wandered over.

"What seems to be the problem, Harry?"

"Hermione isn't feeling well sir—"

"No, no, I'm fine."

"Better go see Pomfrey then—Mister Malfoy," he said calling Draco over. "Yes, come here—Escort Miss Granger to—"

"I'll go," Harry interjected sharply, coming to stand next to her.

Professor Slughorn waved him away. "Quite alright, you must stay here my boy, finish the potion. You're my star student after all."

Harry's eyes were narrowed on Draco.

"I can go, sir," Ron piped up.

"No, no, you need much improvement, my dear Wendell."

Everyone was looking at them.

"It's really fine," Hermione tried to explain. "I'm fine."

"Nonsense!" The Professor said smacking his stomach with a cheery smile. "Off you go, the two of you, don't dawdle now." He practically pushed Hermione along, Draco trailing behind looking confused. As the door closed she heard Slughorn say, "No boys, not you two. Concentrate now..."

Her heart began to race. Professor Slughorn knew. He'd definitely seen them.

"You're not feeling well?" asked Draco spinning her to him. He pressed the back of his palm to feel her forehead. She batted his hand away irritated with him.

"I'm not sick, they just think I am."

"Why?"

"They were saying I was acting funny, said I looked flushed, I panicked, I told him I was ill."

Draco let out a laugh.

"It's not funny!" she admonished stomping her foot. "And Professor Slughorn saw us—"

"Well I told you we would get caught," he tutted reproachfully.

Hermione gaped at him. He burst out laughing again, finding the entire thing amusing.

"You're intolerable Draco Malfoy! Half the time I'm with you, I want to kill you."

Ignoring her he pulled her into him and pressed a kiss on her forehead muttering something about adorable. She tore away.

"Someone will see us! Aren't you the one who wanted to keep this a secret?"

"Sorry," he said pursing his lips trying to look serious. "I'm just feeling a little lightheaded… Shall we go to the lake?"

She gaped at him as if he'd lost his mind.

"We can't just—put me down!" she screamed because without any warning Draco had hoisted her over his shoulder and started walking. He gave her a light tap on the bum and told her to be quiet unless she wanted the whole castle to hear them.

Despite her best efforts, Hermione began to smile at the absurdity of being carried around like a sack of potatoes with her bright red knickers showing for the world to see. How would he explain himself if someone saw them? "We're going to get into trouble!" She giggled, kicking her legs out.

"Stop squirming," he ordered smacking her bum again.

She yelped. "Do that again and I'll hex you!"

"I love it when you talk dirty to me," he drawled.

"What's with you today?" she asked incredulously. "I've never seen you like this before."

"It's Valentine's Day, alright," Draco whined. "Slughorn's given us the perfect opportunity and we're not going to waste it."

Hermione fought to suppress a grin. Draco Malfoy wanted to spend Valentine's day with her.

"Okay," she said already beginning to regret it. "But let me walk myself there, my knickers are showing in midair!"

"Yes," he hummed. "True Gryffindor through and through."

"Draco!" she gasped, kicking her legs out again.

He put her down with a smug look on his face.

Hermione cast a disillusionment charm on them both and they walked down to the lake together. It wasn't as effective as having Harry's invisibility cloak so at one point they had to sneak past Professor Sprout by creating a diversion. She had clamped a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing when Draco made the stack of papers in her hand fly out in a whirlwind and she ran around the corridor in alarm trying to gather them.

"You're terrible," she giggled as they reached the fringe of the lake. Draco conjured a blanket and set it down on the ground while Hermione cast a warming charm.

They flopped down laying beside each other.

After some moments of staring out at the lake in silence, Draco demanded she tell him a secret. "It's only fair," he insisted.

Hermione made him pinky promise to never tell anyone. She smiled at him when he offered his little finger readily.

Draco's expression turned somber as she explained that only Harry and Ron knew, how she hadn't even had the courage to tell her parents.

"Okay," she said drawing a deep breath. "I got an Exceeds Expectations on my O.W.L's for DADA…. there… I said it."

He pursed his lips. Looking at her with a grave tone he asked, "Hermione, didn't you study?"

"I did!" she exclaimed, hiding her face behind her hands. "I don't know where it all went so wrong."

Then she heard muffled laughing.

"Draco Malfoy!" she yelled. "You're a wicked, wicked boy! It's really not funny."

"Hermione, please, you sat nine O.W.L's and I'm guessing you got Outstanding in everything else."

She huffed. "Well, what did you get?"

He shrugged, feigning as if he couldn't remember.

"Tell me!"

Rolling his eyes, he said he'd tell her but she wasn't allowed to get all riled up. Her eyes widened and she imagined that perhaps he'd done really badly.

"I sat eight subjects and I got all Outstanding's."

Hermione stopped breathing.

"Don't worry, you've still got me beat… as usual."

Her mouth fell on his in a heated kiss, pushing him onto the ground. He was absolutely brilliant. Her tongue brushed against his and she moaned imagining all the possibilities. Maybe after their N.E.W.T.S they'd both become world-renowned potion masters or join the Ministry or—"

"Merlin," he said coming up for air. "I knew you'd get all weird. It's disgusting really. I don't think you've ever been so hot for me."

She laughed against his mouth placing small pecks all over his face.

"I'm in awe of you, silly."

He smirked. "Well, it's thanks to you really. Father was always on my back about being beaten by a Mud—Muggle-born so I studied with Theo—he got all Outstanding's too. Spent more time helping me than studying himself."

"Theodore Nott?" she clarified, unable to hide her astonishment.

Draco wore a look of smug satisfaction. "You know there is a reason we were chosen as Prefects."

"I just—really—I can't believe it. He's so…"

Draco chuckled. "Going to drop me for him now, are you?"

Hermione tilted her head as if to consider it. She burst into a fit of giggles when he flipped her over effectively trapping her.

"Well you can't," he said quickly. "So don't get any bright ideas."

"I'm just surprised there are so many smart Slytherins," she teased. "Crabbe and Goyle are doing your house a real disservice."

Draco smiled rolling off of her to lie by her side. "Those two do themselves a disservice but seriously— Theo's probably the second smartest person I know."

Considering Hermione had been the only student to sit nine O.W.L's she assumed the first would be her.

Biting her lip, she asked who the smartest was.

"Me, of course," he grinned as if it should be obvious.

Hermione rolled her eyes and smacked him on the arm.

"It's true!" he insisted raising his hands to protect himself. "I mean… I chose you didn't I?"

Hermione's lips cracked into a smile. She buried her face in his chest to hide the blush suffusing her cheeks. Cocky, charming Slytherin. It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her.

How dare he.

She pursed her lips, giddy with happiness.

"Tell me another secret," she said quickly, afraid of another compliment that would turn her into a gushing schoolgirl. "It's your turn again."

He angled his head to look at her, a crooked smile on his face. "Okay, I have one but you're not going to like it… and I really shouldn't be telling you but…"

Hermione turned onto her stomach and gave him her full attention.

"Blaise was secretly seeing that jumped up Weasley girl you're always with."

She scoffed. "No they weren't—and don't be mean, Ginny's wonderful!"

"Well, I don't know about her being wonderful but I do know she used to snog Blaise while she was still dating that Corner bloke."

Hermione couldn't believe that they'd both kept such big secrets from one another, couldn't believe that Ginny had lied.

She shook her head in disbelief. "I refuse to believe that," she announced.

Draco shrugged as if the truth of it all had no consequence to him.

Looking out into the lake she murmured, "But she hates Blaise Zabini."

Folding his arms under his head, Draco looked to the sky thoughtfully. "You hated me."

"That's different," she retorted quickly. "She was mad about Michael and—"

"You were mad about Weasley."

An awkward silence followed his comment. Hermione opened her mouth to deny it but wavered. It was true. She really had been mad about Ron.

"Do you still…?"

"Wait," she sighed sitting up. "Are you asking me if I still have feelings for Ron?"

Draco avoided meeting her eyes as he began tugging on little blades of grass. Hermione slowly climbed to straddle him, her hands on his chest. He was looking up at her anxiously and she couldn't imagine how he still hadn't figured it out by now. Granted, she hadn't told him, but hadn't her actions spoken for her?

"I thought you already knew."

"Knew what?" he asked, wrenching the grass right out of the soil.

She licked her lips.

"That I—" The words stuck in her throat. "—don't feel that way about Ron anymore. We're just friends."

Draco deflated. "Right..."

Hermione frowned sensing that something was wrong, that perhaps she'd said the wrong thing but decided not to spend the little time they had together trying to figure it out.

For ten minutes they laid there, languid and in each other's arms before it began to drizzle.