Word count: 800

He finds her by the lakeside, waiting for him so patiently. Draco can't help but smile when he sees that familiar head of bushy curls. It's strange to think the two of them were once enemies. Now, he can't imagine his life without Hermione Granger.

"You're late," she says.

"Had to pack a picnic," he tells her, lifting the basket as proof. "There's nothing like sharing a meal together."

She doesn't look impressed. It's only then that Draco realizes that she might actually be upset with him. It doesn't make a lot of sense, really. Hermione is punctual, but she's never been one to nag others for not showing up on time. Still, there's no denying the irritation in her brown eyes.

Draco sits beside her, pulling out a bottle from the basket. "I brought champagne." No reaction. "What's wrong?"

He wonders if it should be obvious. Judging by the way she looks at him now, he thinks maybe so. It's not his fault, really. Draco has never been the best at figuring things out; it had taken him nearly two years to realize Pansy had fancied him. Women are… complicated, to say the least.

When she speaks, she doesn't sound angry; Draco takes that as a good sign. "Don't you ever get tired of this?" she asks, gesturing around the secluded area by the lake. "Don't you ever want this to be real, and not some big secret?"

"It is real," he says defensively, and he's a little hurt she would imply it's not. "At least it is for me."

"And it is for me," she assures him quickly. "But Draco, let's be honest… I'm just some dirty little secret because you're afraid your father will disown you."

He wants to tell her she's wrong. After all, his father is in Azkaban. Why should Draco worry about what he would do? But, deep down, though he struggles to admit it, even to himself, he knows she's right. For years, Draco was taught that Muggleborns are filthy, that even associating with one would destroy his reputation. It had taken a lot of work to unlearn those things when he finally managed to admit his feelings to himself.

"That's rich coming from someone whose friends would be pissed if they knew," he says instead of actually addressing her concerns. That's just what he does; he snaps back and fights because he's lost and scared, and what else is he supposed to do? "Don't give me that face! Bet you haven't told Potter and Weasley, have you?"

Hermione huffs, cheeks a bright red. "As it happens," she snaps, "I have! They were a bit shocked, to say the least, but they just want me to be happy."

Her words hit him, and it feels like a punch to the gut. For a moment, Draco forgets how to breathe. "You… told them?"

"Yes."

"And they were really okay with it?"

She nods, her expression softening. "I know we agreed to wait before we told anyone, but they're my best friends. How could I not share the happiest news with them?"

Draco sighs and shakes his head. He really is terrible at this. Maybe he's only made things worse. If he's honest, he wouldn't blame Hermione at all if she decided to leave him for making such an ass of himself. "I don't know what to say…"

"You don't have to say anything."

"No. Don't be ridiculous. You're right. I want to share this with the world," he tells her. "I was scared, but if my father hates me for this? I don't need him. My mother will love you."

"Are you sure?"

With a smile, Draco nods and takes her hand, pulling her closer and pressing a chaste kiss to her lips. "I've never been more sure about anything in my life," he says. "We'll tell them. Hell, if you want, I'll take out a full-page ad in the Prophet to announce it to the world."

Hermione laughs, affectionately brushing her fingers across his cheek. "That won't be necessary," she assures him. "We can just start with telling your mother. If you want, we can have her over for dinner tomorrow night."

"That sounds perfect."

Truthfully, it sounds terrifying. Part of him is afraid he'll never be ready, that the potential backlash might be too much for him. In the end, though, as he watches sunlight dance across his girlfriend's skin as she fixes her plate, he knows he can make it through this.

He is in love with Hermione Granger, and he has never felt this way about anyone else, and will probably never experience this sort of love again. With her by his side, no matter how scary the world may be, he knows in his heart that anything is possible.