Disclaimer: Please don't sue; I didn't steal anything. I'm just borrowing these wonderful people because I'm lazy. It's not like you'd get much if you sued anyway. "I find you, Mandy, Author of Flames of Ecstasy, guilty of plagiarism and charge you everything you own. That's fifteen dollars and thirty three cents in small bills, please"



CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Lust for Abscondment

It was a week after Hermione had discovered what had unnerved her, and she was thinking of what to do about it. Draco was in the common room with her, and was looking a little nervous. Hermione had noticed this, but as of yet had not said anything; Draco had many strange emotions and sometimes, she had decided, it was better not to ask. If he wished to tell her, she would listen, but she knew when and when not to interrogate him.

Hermione was sitting backwards on one of the sofas, legs over the top and head hanging near the floor. She'd been sitting like that for a while and her face was getting red. Draco thought to ask is she was okay, but decided against it; he didn't know why, it just didn't feel right. Hermione was chewing gum, something he had never seen her do before, very quickly with her arms folded over her breasts.

It was very surreal, and a little creepy. Draco was unintentionally staring at her and Hermione felt him watching. She stopped her rapid chewing and looked up at him. Draco was sitting calmly in the chair next to her sofa, an open book and parchment on his lap, fingers twisted around a loaded quill. He didn't notice her eyes on him, or his on her for that matter, until she spoke and brought him back from a world of thoughts.

"What?" she asked him. She did not sound angry or annoyed, or exactly concerned. Her voice held a dead tone, sounding lifeless. Draco took a deep breath; he had given himself away again. It was somewhat unnerving how she could read him like that.

"Are you alright?" he asked, giving in. "You're acting rather strange." She smiled quickly and shrugged her shoulders.

"Yep," she said, turning back to stare at nothing, jaw beginning to contract again. **Blasted muggle candy,** Draco thought, not really mad, just worried. He didn't stop staring and decided he had to talk to her about this.

"I don't believe you," he said sternly. To his surprise, she said nothing and merely shrugged her shoulders, not even looking at him. "Hermione..." he said warningly, but with obvious concern. She sighed, giving in as well. Hermione knew she would have to eventually, she couldn't keep things from Draco; it just was insurmountable.

"I'm just sick of this. This stupid castle, this room, everything. I don't think I can make it through this year; everything I see makes me mad. I've got like, severe cabin fever or something...I have to get out of here; how can you not feel it? It's like waves of annoyance radiating from the walls, I hate it!" she sighed, "It doesn't matter, I can't go anywhere. I'm stuck here. I'm sorry, just forget I said anything..." she trailed off sadly. A thought crossed Draco's mind, then unwillingly his lips.

"Are you sick of me?" he asked before realizing it. She looked at him, eyes wide. **That, is a very bad habit, dammit. ** he cursed himself. "No, wait, don't answer that. I don't want to know; I'm sorry."

"Draco!" she yelled in surprise, then twirled around to sit up. "How can you even think that?" she asked, very serious. Draco looked at her and couldn't help but smile. The serious look on her face combined with her red skin and wild hair was utterly laughable. Then his smile fell and he looked away.

"I know, I'm sorry. I have this terrible habit of blurting out things before I fully contemplate them." Hermione noticed how regretful he looked and smiled. She loved him, maybe more now than ever before. She stood and walked over to him. Draco looked up at her and Hermione settled herself gently on his lap, facing him.

"Of course I'm not sick of you; I wouldn't trade the last few weeks for anything." She smiled and laughed a short little laugh. "And even if I was, I'm stuck with you now, aren't I?"

Draco was about to protest and say that he loved her but he didn't own her and that she could leave anytime she wanted, but he didn't. He knew she was joking and he didn't want Hermione to misinterpret his words into thinking he wanted her to leave, plus there was the matter of her overreacting to things. ** This has to stop. ** Only a brief moment after Hermione had spoken, Draco answered her.

"Yep," he said and kissed her before she could react. Hermione kissed back, hard. Draco let her lead him, trying to catch up. When the kiss ended, Draco spoke again, this time smiling.

"Are you sick of that?" he asked with a smirk.

"Very," she answered, but she was not smirking, nor smiling; she was serious. Draco felt suddenly very self conscious.

"What?" he asked, trying to sound outraged but managing only hurt and disbelief. Now she smiled and Draco was confused.

"Sick of it ending," she whispered, moments before their lips touched again. Draco pulled away from her kiss unexpectedly, leaving her in the middle. "Hey!" she said after regaining herself, "What was that for?" Draco looked at her mock innocently.

"Just double checking," he said and smirked. Hermione looked at him warningly, but she was smiling. Then Draco decided to finish what he had started by kissing her again. Hermione was hesitant at first, expecting another abrupt ending, but realized soon that one was not coming and let Draco go, kissing back enough to keep him going.

"Don't do that again or you'll regret it, Mr. Malfoy," she warned him.

"You didn't seem to mind when I was doing it," he said smartly, one again twisting her words.

"What, wait...you know what I meant! Honestly!" Draco only smirked innocently. Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled. She planted a gentle kiss on the corner of his mouth, then stood from Draco's lap. She moved as if to go back to her sofa, then paused. She turned to face the blonde boy with curiosity and suspicion.

"Where's my gum?" she asked suspiciously. Draco beamed. He paused a moment before extracting a small green ball from his mouth with an index finger and thumb. "Ew..." she said, not really meaning it, before taking the ball and popping it back into her mouth.

"Ew..." Draco repeated her, almost mockingly. Hermione looked at him with more warning, and smiled. He shrugged, "I was already there, just figured I'd pick up a souvenir."

Hermione shook her head at him; hiding how good things like that made her feel. The unpredictability of Draco's speech was the main reason she noticed him, apart from his sudden care for her. Whenever he said something like that, she felt as if she were falling in love with him all over again. Hermione didn't take her eyes off the pale 17-year-old she cared so deeply for and let his image echo through her brain, waiting for that familiar wave of adrenaline flecked emotion to course through her. That it did, and she smiled. She loved that feeling; it made her feel alive and happy, and Draco was the only one to ever make her feel that way. It an instant, she knew what it was: Love.

Hermione had told Draco that she loved him and believed it herself, but unbeknownst to her, she really did love him. She had had this feeling for years, only for Draco, but never associated it with the small four letter word that meant so much. That's what it was, she was sure of it. The realization was mind blowing and Hermione had no choice but to sink to the cold stone floor. Draco was by her side in an instant.

"Hermione!?" he said, alarmed and fearing the worst. The girl was staring blankly ahead and smiling, but turned to him at the sound of his voice. She looked into his eyes; the deep grey eyes that were of only Draco Malfoy. Hermione had more than once gotten caught up in those eyes, fallen into them, hoping to be lost forever and never have to leave. An end always came.

There was something in those eyes tonight that she had never seen in them before. Something warm and smooth, rich and rare... love. Hermione knew that he, like herself, had just realized the meaning of the words I love you. An urge she couldn't control led Hermione to jump into his arms and hold on tight. Draco was a little unnerved by this, confused as to what was going on.

"Hermione..." he asked as she held him tighter.

"I love you," she said without missing a beat. "I really do, Draco. I have for as long as I can remember; before this, before Percy and this summer... even before you changed. I have always loved you; I just didn't know it until you loved me back."

Hermione wasn't crying... just speaking and that really agitated Draco. She always cried, but not now...not after she had said something so important to him. His heart rejoiced as his mind listened to her words. She loved him, and he wanted to make sure she knew that he loved her back.

"Hermione," he whispered, "I've always loved you back." The couple stayed silent for a while, enjoying each other's presence. Hermione still wasn't crying, she was just too happy. Everything was perfect, she needed nothing else but to be here in his arms. Both Hermione and Draco had temporarily blocked both Harry and the entire Weasley family from their minds, focusing only on their paramour. Then, Draco pulled away. Inside Hermione was screaming; she never wanted to let go... but she smiled as sweetly as possible on the outside, knowing he was going to say something.

Draco leaned in to kiss her and Hermione smiled genuinely. This was better than any embrace. As their lips met, Draco felt the love bubble inside him and pushed it out through his lips, working it to his will. Hermione noticed the difference and felt the adrenaline pump her heart faster. She gave in and let her hormones take over, kissing him back like she had never done so before.

The kiss was better than even their first, which had been mind-blowing, and both took comfort in knowing it wouldn't be their last. They broke apart gasping and embraced again. When Draco pulled away again, Hermione smiled, expecting another kiss. He had fooled her again, however. This time, he spoke.

"Wait here for a second...I have to show you something," he told her. Hermione couldn't help but feel a little disappointed; he was leaving. She smiled and nodded however; the importance of the situation implied. Draco beamed and jumped up, heading to his room. Hermione sighed at his departure, but didn't have time to feel much, as Draco was back before she could do anything. Hermione smiled as he entered the room, happy to have her Draco close to her again. **Damn am I possessive,** she thought to herself as the came nearer.

"What?" he asked as if he hadn't heard her say something. Hermione looked confused, then gasped silently **Did I just say that out loud?** Hermione tried to look like she didn't understand and shook her head. Draco shrugged, then smiled. He didn't say anything, just looked at her affectionately. Hermione's smile wouldn't leave her face, but it was not as if she tried very hard to rid herself of it. She sighed blissfully and spoke, sounding expectant.

"You wanted to show me something?" Draco seemed to snap out of a daze and smiled.

"Oh, right," he said, kneeling next to her on the floor. "Look," he continued, handing her a folded piece of paper. The paper was old and crinkled, as if it had been opened and folded too many times. Hermione looked at him a bit suspiciously before taking it, searching his eyes for warning. Draco smiled reassuringly and Hermione took the paper, hesitating before opening it. Draco watched her as she looked at the item, and read surprised in her eyes, then a bit of confusion before she finally smiled. Hermione looked up at him, then back to the parchment.

It was a picture, obviously taken with a wizard camera as the pictures were moving. Hermione looked over the photo, trying to take in everything. It was of her, at a Quidditch game, and Draco in the background, holding the snitch. She looked at the picture form of herself, surprised at how happy she seemed.

Hermione looked from her smiling profile, following her own gaze to the picture Draco, hovering a few feet in front of her, looking very happy. Everyone around her, mostly Gryffindors, seemed to be relatively disappointed at the Slytherin win, but not Hermione.

Now, the brown haired girl looked to the real Draco, wearing an identical smirk to his picture self.

"Where did you get this?" she asked, curious. Draco's smile fell a fraction, but he was not upset, nor surprised.

"Creevy. He dropped it in the hall and I picked it up; I just never gave it back," he said and shrugged. Hermione smiled, looking thoughtful. Draco settled down next to her and she looked to him.

"Why did you want to show me this?" she asked calmly, not suspicious, gesturing to the photo. Draco smiled widely.

"That picture was taken in second year, Hermione. Just before you were, ah..." he gulped slightly, "...petrified. I've looked at it everyday since... that is, until I started looking at the real you everyday. I have to admit that first I was admiring myself, but then everything changed, and I moved my sights to a new specimen," he told her, smiling the entire time, save a falter at the mention of her petrifaction. Hermione was smiling as well, looking at him as if he had said the most beautiful thing in the world.

"Is that all I am; something to look at?" she asked, still smiling. Draco's faced dropped; everything was surreal **Did she even say that?** he wondered, thinking he had gone mad... or she had. "Oh, come on! I was just kidding. Draco, I think you hang around me too much, you're becoming just as paranoid as I am." She paused for a moment and Draco relaxed. Then he smirked, **Oh, is that how we're playing this game? Alright then...** Draco's face became serious and he nodded.

"I think your right, I better go," he said, seriously. Draco saw Hermione's disappointment as he moved to get up and waited for her to say something before he spoke. Hermione was speechless, however, and Draco soon decided that was better. "Gotcha," he said seriously, then smiled as he settled himself back down next to her.

Hermione looked outraged, but in the best possible way. She pushed him playfully and Draco just looked at her, smirking. Hermione then turned back to the picture, looking more closely at herself.

"Draco, this is an absolutely horrid picture of me." She sighed, "That was so long ago...why did you keep this?" Now Hermione looked back to her blonde haired counterpart and looked for an answer. Draco looked a little depressed, but still happy. He sighed.

"Well, I didn't have much of a choice. It was the only picture I had of you; curse Hogwarts for not having a yearbook," he said. Hermione smiled, he was so sweet. Then she thought of something.

"A yearbook? How do you even know what that is?" she asked, curious. She had assumed only muggle schools had them, and Draco probably hadn't been within a mile radius of one in his life. Draco looked at her, semi- confused, but decided to just answer her.

"They have them at Beauxbatons. My father willed me to attend there, due to his despisal of Dumbledore, but mother wanted me closer by. Lucius thought it over and agreed; this way making it easier to come and get me if the time came that I was needed. I believe it was the only thing they ever agreed on, come to think of it." He spoke dead tone and Hermione only made a weak reply, not knowing exactly what she could say.

"Oh," she said quietly, and rather sadly. She looked to Draco who was smiling and forced herself to do the same, not sure why she felt so sad. Draco saw through her cover, though, and decided it best to change the subject.

"So, why are you so sick of everything?" he asked, slipping an arm around her and pulling her closer to him. Hermione leaned against him and together they leaned against the chair behind them.

"I don't know. It seems like we've been here forever and every day is exactly the same. I just want to be a part of the world again," she said in a rather sadly. Draco smirked, but she didn't see. His brain was silently contemplating a way to make her feel better and his wheels silently sparked an idea.

"You know," he started, and Hermione knew the unexpected was coming. "No one ever said we had to stay here. We can go anywhere you like; my treat." NOW Hermione looked at him.

"Draco, what are you talking about?" she asked, confused but intrigued. He smirked.

"Well, Dumbledore did say we could go to Hogsmeade, and from there we can apparate just about anywhere." He said this calmly, but Hermione was getting excited. **Is he serious? Could we really do that?**

"You can apparate?" she asked, curious. Draco looked at her as if that was the stupidest question he had ever heard.

"Hermione, do you think Lucius would not do something just because it's illegal? I've been successfully able to apparate since I was about six. Oh, but don't worry; I turned 17 in June, therefore I had just enough time to get my license before school began," he told her calmly. Hermione laughed a little, how could she be surprised? Draco smiled, "So where do you want to go?" he asked.

"Anywhere but here," she said before laying her head on his chest and closing her eyes. Draco smiled widely and warmly.

"It's settled then; we'll go tomorrow. I'll think of somewhere, don't worry; you'll love it," he said, squeezing her close to him.

"Our first date," she said, more to herself than to him. Draco looked a little surprised, but then the idea began to appeal to him.

"Hermione," he asked, a little nervous, "Are we...a couple?" Hermione didn't flinch, didn't gasp, didn't even breathe. **Are we?** she wondered.

"I-I don't know." She looked up at him, "Are we?" Draco looked down at her and kissed her lightly on the forehead. He knew she loved him, and he loved her more than anything.

"I assumed so, but I guess not... or at least not officially," he said and she knew what he meant by that. She had assumed so also, and Hermione was happy that he had answered that way; it was a way to tell her he wanted to be, while at the same time leaving the decision up to her. She smiled at the fair haired boy she lovingly called Draco.

"Well," she said, settling her head back into his chest and closing her eyes, comfortably close to him, "We'll have to do something about that, won't we?" she said suggestively. Draco smiled and kissed her head, smirking his trademark smirk. He was a bad influence on her and he knew it. Draco could only assume, but he was pretty sure she wasn't like this around her friends, and he liked it. Hermione wasn't sarcastic and cynical all the time, and Draco was glad; he had fallen in love with her other side. Her small remarks and clever sarcasm were just perks.



A/N I know, I know....it's amazingly short.....but I wanted to start the trip out in a fresh chapter, so I had to stop there. I'm sorry. I'll get the next one up as soon as I can. Thanx!

PRF:

*karly* Okay okay....I do want it. Lol, thanx. I like to make them fight about little things, but I don't know if a they'll have a big fight or not. I just can't bear to break them up, even for a while. I read a fic the other day in which Draco couldn't admit that he loved Hermione, and she asked him to kill her, and he did and I'm like...no. Draco would NEVER do that. EVER.

SnapeGirl- I don't think there's much more angst, or at least not as much as there was. Now it's mostly just trying to deal with their emotions and keep their relationship together. Plus a few other things to keep the story going.

DragonGirl- thanx!

MrsRadcliffe- Lol, I don't care if Hedwig is a girl and stupefy is red! This is my story, dammit! If I want owls to have sex changes, the owls will damn well have bloody sex changes! Thanx 4 reading! Lol

Anon. - Thanx for your review, but leave a name next time!

Gwyn- No, I totally HATE Percy. So much. So very very much. You know who I don't hate? Oliver Wood. Now there's a hott guy. No where near as hott as Draco, but still rather ravishing ;o)

JoeBob1379- Okay, that Fang and the car thing....not really gonna fit into my story too well, in case you haven't guessed already, lol And I tried to get that point across. It's a good point. It should be put across. Lol.

Melon- Thanks, and I put you on the list. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I apologize to you and everyone else for the semi-cliff hanger and super short chapter.

Dark Vampire - so much for no D/H fic, huh? Lol. Thanx for reading and reviewing. I differ in opinion, though. Danny and Rupert aren't hott. Nope. Tom is SUPER hot, and that kid who plays Oliver Wood? That guy is hella hot. Not as hot as Tom, of course, but he's way hotter than anyone else in that movie.

Anon. - what is it with you people and no names? I appreciate the review though, thanx!

DrAcOLuVeR79- That would have been a dumb ass way to end it, lol, and j/ fyi (in case you haven't gathered by reading this chapter) they're not done yet.

Dancing dolphin - Me too, that sucked. Thanks for reviewing!

Dreamfire- That's totally fine. I think we all wish we had a guy like my Draco. But we don't, he doesn't damn exist. I am just fabricating an unattainable guy whom I'm never going to find....setting myself up for failure. But its SOOOO much fun!