[This chapter is so horrid. Ugh. I have no idea what I'm doing. And oh, this is where the deception part comes in.]

Disclaimer: [Do I really have to repeat myself?] I don't own Harry Potter. Although I wish I owned Draco.

Burn

Chapter 6: Spreading Fire

/ / indicate Draco's POV

Draco glanced at Hermione. His heart nearly broke at the look of sheer terror on her face. She was shaking uncontrollably, and he didn't think it was because of the cold.

Arthur Weasley's baby girl had caught them locked in a passionate embrace. The Weaselette had gasped so loudly and he figured it must have been so horrid a sight for one of his enemies.

The redhead was staring at them in disbelief. He had to admit, the entire situation was extremely unbelievable. Too much, even for him.

Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but Ginny beat her to it.

"You don't have to explain," she started, a biting tone in her voice. She paused to look at Draco. "You chose the Prince of Slytherin over Harry."

Hermione stared at Draco for a moment, before talking. "There is no choice to make, in the first place."

Weasel Junior simply rolled her eyes at this and snorted. "What sort of game are you playing, Hermione? You openly flirted with him over breakfast. Now you're snogging Malfoy! Will you stop playing around!"

"It's difficult to explain, Ginny," said Hermione in a strained voice.

"My brother will be absolutely livid when he finds out. And Harry will die. He won't be ably to take this. Our lives will fall apart, and it will be because of you."

Hermione reeled from the anger and accusation dripping from the younger girl's voice. "Maybe if I explain it to them, they will understand."

"That's right, Hermione, keep telling yourself that," Ginny retorted derisively. She turned to look away.

"Harry loves you, you know."

Draco was positive he saw tears in the Weaselette's eyes, but they were gone when she looked up again. All he saw was hate.

A strangled sob escaped Hermione's throat. He placed an arm around her shoulders, but she just swatted it away. He was a little hurt, and it must have shown in his face.

Ginny regarded him for a moment, and then her face broke into a smile.

"I won't tell them."

"What?!" It was the first time he spoke since the Weasel Junior came.

/She's up to something./

"So Malfoy has a voice," she murmured. "I'm not telling on you, so don't worry."

Draco was not too quick to trust, but they had no choice, as of the moment. He nodded and gave a tight-lipped smile.

"Thank you."

Granger stared at the redhead for a moment. "Why?"

Ginny shrugged. "Not worth my time." She turned around and left them.

/Not worth her time? I still don't trust her./

He looked at Hermione. She had her arms wrapped around her shaking body, eyes shut.

Draco placed his hands on each side of her head and kissed her lightly on the forehead. He hugged her, place his head on top of hers, and closed his eyes.

"You didn't even say something."

He reluctantly pulled away to look at her. She was looking at him accusingly.

/Please don't look at me like that./

He sighed. "I didn't know what to say."

There was something about her eyes at that moment. A whole lot of sadness, pain, worry, maybe a bit of anger. And something else.

/Love?/

That unidentifiable something in Hermione's eyes tugged at his heartstrings. He wasn't even sure he had a heart, until he felt it breaking slowly, little by little, at the hot tears brimming in the girl's chocolate eyes.

He wanted to hold her, shield her from misery, make all of the pain go away.

/What the hell are you doing to me Granger?/

Something about the look in her eyes made him want to say something he has never said before. Pride, arrogance, and everything else in his cold spirit stopped him from doing so, from saying so. But that look, that sorrowful look, shattered everything that was so bitter and apathetic in his heart.

"I'm sorry."

/There. I've said it. I can't believe I've said it./

Hermione's eyes widened, and tears tumbled down her cheeks. She fell into his embrace and buried her face against his neck.

"I don't know what to do, Draco. If Harry and Ron find out, it will all be over," came her muffled voice. "Something will go terribly wrong, I can feel it."

He stroked her hair and whispered softly into her ear.

"You're right here in my arms," he paused to take her chin and make her look him straight in the eyes.

"All is right in the world."

He leaned in to kiss her, and the moment their lips met, all their troubles went away.

/Nothing makes sense now. But I don't care anymore./

The softness of her lips, her scent drove him mad. Her beauty, her passion, filled his senses and made him feel like he was falling and flying at the same time.

She pulled away, looking happy and sad. An internal debate went through her head.

"Everything is happening so fast. It doesn't make sense," she murmured breathlessly.

She caressed his cheek, the one she had slapped earlier, and kissed it softly. "And yet I - -"

"Shh. . ." Draco broke in. "It doesn't have to make sense."

Hermione smiled wryly. "I know. It doesn't make sense that I'm in my worst enemy's arms right now, and that I actually want to be."

She paused to bury her face against his neck once more and inhale his scent. She sighed deeply. She pulled back and looked at him pointedly.

"And it doesn't make sense that after one very complicated day, I'm falling in love with him."

/Holy shit./

"I think I love you, Malfoy."

He grinned, threaded his fingers in her wet brown hair, pulled her close before he whispered softly.

"Good."

Hermione groaned and tried to disengage herself from his arms but he wrapped his arms around her waist, tighter than before.

Draco laughed. "You're not letting me finish, Granger."

She rolled her eyes and pouted a little.

"Look at me," he ordered with a playful tone.

She gingerly met his eyes.

"I love you, Hermione Granger."

/I must be crazy./

Their lips met in an explosive kiss. They were both exhausted, but what little energy they had in their bodies they poured into that powerful battle of lips against lips, tongue against tongue. Emotions were incorporated into it, raw and vibrant. Desire as thick and sweet as fresh honey coursed through their veins.

She moaned softly against his lips. Her tongue played with his, invading as much of his mouth as it could find. It was maddening.

/Oh Granger, what you do to me./

/I really must be crazy./

He smiled inwardly, kissing her more fervently than before.

/Crazy in love./