A/N: Here's my chapter 10. Sorry it took so long; I was having writer's block during half of it. I hate writer's block! It's sooo annoying! And I had so much work, and no time!

Thanks to my two Beta Readers: Professor Cortex and Professor Hullabub! Huge dedication section at the bottom!

Disclaimer: Plot's mine, anything you don't know or think is in the HP books is mine. Everything else is JKR's.

Chapter 10: Releasing Secrets

The next few weeks were rather fun for Draco and Hermione. In the morning they would steal smiles and sometimes blow kisses in the Great Hall and Care of Magical Creatures. They would secretly hold hands in Potions and Arithmancy. When passing each other in the halls, they would lightly brush each other. And before going to bed, they would kiss each other goodnight.

Harry and Ron were getting suspicious at Hermione's constant happiness. There was nothing wrong with being happy, sure, but when you're overly happy then there could be a problem. They were starting to notice how close Hermione and Malfoy were sitting next to each other in Potions, and how they were constantly "bumping" into each other in the corridors. In Care of Magical Creatures she was looking over at the Slytherins more often and looking up at them during meals. One day they had to know what was up so they cornered her in the Gryffindor Common Room when she came to talk to Ginny. "Hello Herm. What's up? Nothing new happening?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, nothing different happen lately? Nothing you'd like to tell us?" Harry loomed in.

"Um. No. Nothing really guys." She said slowly, trying to see what they were getting at.

"OK Herm. 'Cause we wouldn't want one of our best friends to be keeping secrets. Would we Ron?"

"No friend Harry. No secrets." Grinned Ron.

"OK what's up guys? What are you two playing at?" said Hermione sternly.

"You've been acting fishy Herm. So tell us if something bothering you." Said Ron.

"Nothing's bothering me! I'm OK really!"

"Good. You can tell us stuff you know. We're here for you Herm." Said Harry.

"I know. Thanks guys." Hermione smiled and gave them both a hug.

She plopped in front of Ginny who was sitting in front of the fire. "Hi Gin. When you started going out with Harry, you told me right away right?"

"Yeah I did. You're my friend. I wasted no time before telling you." Smiled Ginny.

Hermione smiled. "Good, because I have something to tell you. Promise not to tell anyone?"

Ginny gasped at being told a secret. She leaned forward grinning, "Promise! Witches honour! What's the big secret?"

"Well, I'm seeing…"cough, "Draco Malfoy," cough. She grinned.

Ginny gasped again and covered her mouth with surprise. "Really! Since when!" she squealed.

Laughing, Hermione shushed Ginny, "Shh, this is a secret. Harry and Ron already suspect something. Since about three weeks ago. I had to tell someone. But don't tell anyone, Harry and Ron will have a fit! I'll tell them eventually."

"This is so awesome! I knew you two would get together! He's so cute! I won't tell a soul!"

"Thanks Gin! I gotta go now! Bye!" Hermione got up and went through the secret door to her room.

She went outside and found Draco working at his desk, with his back turned. She silently snuck behind him and slid her hands around him and put her forehead on the back of his head. Then she whispered in his ear, "Have I told you how much I love you?"

"No not lately." He grinned.

"Well I love you this much," kiss on the ear, "and this much," kiss on the cheek, "and this much." She walked in front of him and sat on him so she was facing him. She kissed him on the lips gently. She pulled away and put her forehead on his.

"You're amazing you know that?" he said and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Yeah I know." She said.

They laughed and she turned and continued to sit on him the right way. "You do know we can't keep this a secret forever right?" she said.

"I know. What do you propose we do then?"

"Well, the Yule Ball is soon so I was thinking…we could go together and then everyone would know. People didn't care at the Halloween one, so why should they now?"

"They didn't care because they thought we were under the potion. And now they know it's over so we have no excuse."

"We don't need an excuse! We'll go together and that's it. What's the worst people can do?"

"Pansy would kill you, then tell me father, who would then kill me!"

"Pansy we can deal with, and what if…someone told Dumbledore about a certain father and got them in a wizard prison." She grinned wickedly.

"Oh no. If you're thinking about telling Dumbledore about my father, not only will he get away, but come storming into the castle and killing me here and now about letting information loose."

"But if you told him, Dumbledore would keep you safe! Doing this will not only protect you and your mother, but everyone who is in danger from him and Voldemort!"

"What do you know about my mother?" Draco glared, those familiar eyes turning cold again.

"Enough to know that doing this is the right thing to do! And you told me about that stuff on the train the first day back."

"I'll think about it then." He said.

"Fine. Thanks. And is it OK that I tell someone about us?"

"Whom did you tell?" he growled.

"Ginny," she said simply, "She swore she wouldn't tell. And Harry and Ron are noticing my acting strange. I'll tell them soon enough."

"Potter and Weasley'll think I'm making you see me. Probably kill me once you've told." He mumbled.

"And we wouldn't want you dead now would we?" she said, "I'm going to bed now. G'night."

He gave her a goodnight kiss. "Goodnight. Sweet dreams."

The next morning Hermione woke up just in time for breakfast. She took a shower, got dressed and went down to the Great Hall. She quickly glanced at the Slytherin table and flashed Draco a small smile, one that he hastily returned. She sat with Ginny, Harry and Ron. Ron smiled widely and said, "Guess who's going to be making as surprise appearance at the beginning of the Yule Ball?"

"Dunno who?" Hermione said while eating.

"Fred and George! They're helping with some decorating and the food." Ginny said.

They all looked at each other before laughing. It was common sense to not accept any food that could have been in either of the Weasley Twins' hands. And they all remembered the incident in fourth year with Neville and a concealed canary cream.

They conversed some more before heading to their first class of the day. Potions started and Draco hadn't shown up. Hermione didn't think much of it. "Probably had another boil attack or something." She thought before starting on her Water Purifying Potion.

He showed up in Arithmancy and sat down next to Hermione. "Where were you during Potions?" she hissed, "I thought you had another boil incident."

He seemed happy at her concern and grinned. "Nah, nothing like that. I thought over what you said last night and I said to myself, 'It's the best for the rest of the world. I'll stuff my self-pride and tell Dumbledore in the morning.' So I told him after breakfast."

Hermione gasped in astonishment, then squealed in delight, then hugged him, and finally pecked him on the cheek. Several heads turned. They blushed and Draco quickly said with a smirk, "Sheesh Granger, I know I'm irresistible, you don't have to state the obvious. I guess you just couldn't control yourself against my astonishingly handsome charm."

She played along and retorted, "Like I chose to do that?! Yeah right! I guess now Ginny owes me a few galleons now that I did that." She pulled a disgusted face and tried not to laugh as people turned around, convinced by their act.

Draco continued to whisper to Hermione, "I told him about how he hits my mother and I and how he puts the Cruciatus Curse on me loads of times. And that he was secretly giving Voldemort information about some stuff the ministry was doing." Hermione smiled and squeezed his hand.

She whispered to him, "Oh you did the right thing! I'm so proud of you! What's Dumbledore going to do now?"

"He said he'd tell the ministry. I don't know what else."

All Hermione could then do was squeeze his hand again and smile. Then they both continued to listen to Professor Vector.

The rest of the day went well. Draco was in slightly high spirits. After all, he had betrayed his father. The father who taught him naught but lies, dark arts, and beat him for simple mess-ups. But he was happy he had done the right thing. And even happier that Hermione still loved him for his anything-but-perfect home life. Hermione was in high-spirits too. Draco had done the right thing, turned against his evil father, not caring about what happened to himself. She continued to be in high spirits when she went to Gryffindor Common Room with a silly smile on her face. "Hello Ms Cheerful, what's got you so happy?" asked Ron.

"Oh that reminds me, can I talk to you and Harry in private now?" Hermione said.

"Sure. I'll get him. He's upstairs."

Ron ran to get him and came back minutes later with Harry in tow. They sat with Hermione in front of the fire. "So what's so important Herm?" asked Harry.

"You guys know I can look out for myself right? And I know what's the best right?"

They nodded. "And you guys agree with me when I make a decision?"

"Usually yeah." Said Ron.

"And you won't get really mad when I make a decision?"

"Sometimes." Harry said.

"Well I have something to tell you. Please don't get mad or angry, or tell me I'm making the biggest mistake of my life, because I'm not. Harry, Ron, I'm in love with…with…Draco Malfoy."

The two boys stared wide-eyed, with their mouths hanging open. "You're not serious are you? You're joking right?" Ron stammered.

She shook her head. "Nope. I'm as sure as your hair is red Ron. I'm in love with him and we're dating."

Harry regained himself.. "Herm, I'm not going to say anything against you, but if he does anything to hurt you, tell us immediately OK?"

She nodded. Ron added, "Yeah. We're your best friends Herm. We're here for you. Slimy git hurts you, you tell us so we can stick his wand up his slimy—"

"Ron! I will tell you guys if something happens, I love you guys like brothers I've never had. Thanks so much!" she hugged them both tightly.

"Herm, you're choking us. That's better. We're OK with this but don't expect us to be all chummy with him.. We'll tolerate him…slightly." Harry added.

"Good. And I expect to go to Hogsmeade with all three of you next time for some Christmas shopping!" she left smiling to go back to her room.

~ End of Chapter 10 ~

A/N. Phew! There we go! Chapter 10 done! I already have Chapter 11 written, and its HILARIOUS! ABSOLUTELY HILARIOUS! And it's Yule Ball time! And we have surprise guests! Here is my big big big thanks section!

First I wanna say im soooooo sorry for the stupid thing that Jackson did. I got him to say sorry to you ~confused nellie~. Hope that makes you feel a lot better! I'm sorry everyone!

MY WONDERFUL BETAS Prof. Cortex and Prof. Hullabub!

Myra Candelberry: No Robbie's not my Beta, he's another friend of mine from school. And yeah, Jackson is Gawain's codename, lol. He was being a butt.

Robbie: HEY ROBBIE! THANKS FOR REVIEWING! Yeah and "Jackson" is full of it once in a while!

Poopsie Malfoy: Um…er…sorry but I plan on sticking to the PG-13 rating. So sorry, no sex in this story! Thanks for reviewing though!!!!

~Lady Devil~ Pansy Parkinson: Yeah, I forgive ya. I guess it's cuz Hr/D is just so sweet, a classic Beauty and the Beast. I loved that movie…but thanks for apologizing!

Sarah M.: Thanks for saying that! I love reviews! No I hope its not bad! :S I'd hate that. Yeah the jackson guy said some gay stuff, and all my lovely readers out there stuck up for my story! *Muah!*

Moon: Yeah that was a bit OOC, but I needed her to stay there longer…you'll find out when the story's done! I have it all planned out!

YAY! All my thanks and dedications are done! I'll get cracking on my chapter 11 ASAP! READ AND REVIEW ALL MY LUVLIES! MUAH! MUAH!

**Icy Stormz**