Disclaimer: Me no own HP.

Note: I know in advance that the rest of this fic sucks, but I'm feeling ambitious, so I'll just type it up, that way you all can SEE how much it sucks. Anyway...

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CHAPTER FORTY NINE: Dinner of Sorts

"So, why is Malfoy sorting the first years? What happened to McGonagall?" Harry asked when Draco walked into the great hall, followed by about forty eleven year olds and a burly care of magical creatures professor. Hermione, who had been smiling at the Slytherin as he walked across the dining hall, looked to her friend.

"I don't really know; Dumbledore said she wasn't feeling well... which reminds me, I should go visit her."

"Why would you want to do that?" Ron asked from beside her, looking up from the shredded roll on his plate.

"Wow, Ron. I think that's the first thing in seven years you've said at a meal that I actually understood," Hermione joked, more to avoid his question than to tease him. Ron smiled and shook his shoulders.

"Not really that hungry," he said and Hermione looked instantly and honestly worried.

"Ron, what's wrong?" she asked concernedly and felt his forehead, then simply kept her hand on his cheek. "Are you not feeling well? Did something happen? Do you want to talk about it?" Ron smiled crookedly and removed her hands.

"I'm fine and nothing happened. And no, I definitely don't want to talk about it. Don't worry about me, Mione. You've got enough to worry about," he told her and went back to mutilating his dinner roll. Hermione stared worriedly, then quickly shot her eyes to Harry, but he was turned in his seat, mouthing silent words to a pretty Ravenclaw.

"Ron," she said, placing her hand on his forearm. "I understand, really, but... whatever it is, did you at least tell Harry? Just tell me this one thing and I'll drop the whole subject, I promise." Ron stopped shredding for a moment and momentarily remained silent.

"Yes, I told Harry," he said and Hermione smiled warmly, rubbing his arm.

"Good."

"Hey, Mione," said Ginny from across the table where she was trying to ignore Harry's attempts at getting a date, as if he needed to try. "Don't you think Parkinson is looking a little strange?" she asked, pointing a thumb over her shoulder. Hermione's eyes went directly to the Slytherin table and she dragged her gaze along until she saw Pansy. The Slytherin girl was wearing heavy black eyeliner, black stockings and shoes, and had her normally long and attractive hair cut short and dyed black at the tips.

"Indefinitely," Hermione answered and bit her lip, noticing that Pansy had not smiled once in the time that she had been watching her. "Do you think she heard about New Years?" Ginny nodded.

"Definitely. Probably saw it first hand," said the redhead and she made a mocking kiss toward her friend. Hermione was watching Pansy; everyone was supposed to wear black, but her outfit seemed blacker than night. Then, Hermione looked around at the hall.

"Oh, damn... I'll be right back, guys; uniform." All three nodded and Hermione flew from the great hall. She summoned her wand with one hand while she magically changed with the other, slipping her Gryffindor robes over her dragon, but under her Slytherin cloak. The head girl reentered the dinging room before the door could close behind her.

"Wow," Harry said. "That was fast." Hermione laughed shortly and twirled her wand in front of her as she retook her seat.

"Hey," Ron said, nodding toward the head table. "It's starting." All three Gryffindor heads then turned toward the back of the hall, just as the hat began its traditional song.

As Draco sorted the first years, Hermione watched him intently, not even noticing the looks her friends were sharing. She watched as her Slytherin called each name expertly, then placed the hat carefully and gracefully on the student's head. Hermione didn't notice the new students or their assigned houses; her eyes were rooted on Draco.

"Hermione," Ron said, but she took no notice. "Hermione?" he asked a little louder; still nothing. Ron turned and looked to Harry and he raised his eyebrows. "Mione, you there?" Ron tried once more, waving a hand in front of her face.

"Leave her be, Ron," Ginny scolded and her brother stopped his attempts, opting to just look his friend over.

"She never looked at me like that," he mumbled, but didn't sound like it bothered him much. It was better when they weren't 'together' and he knew it. As much as he quarreled with Hermione as a friend, it doubled when they were a couple.

"I'm sorry to be the one to spell out the painfully obvious to you, Ron, but she never loved you like that," Ginny said, almost sounding as if she really were sorry. Ron nodded slightly.

"I know," he said, and he did. He'd known since before they even broke up; Hermione didn't love him. She cared about him, of course, but there was a certain something missing from their mutual feelings. It wasn't all her fault, though. He didn't love her either. Ron had reason to believe he would get the same rush kissing Ginny as he had kissing Hermione.

As the last first year was sorted into Ravenclaw, Draco smiled at Hermione, whom he had stared back at more than once, took the stool and had and moved from the center stage, allowing the grinning headmaster to take his place. Hermione's eyes followed her boyfriend until he was out the side entrance, taking the stool back to wherever it came from. When Dumbledore called for attention, her trance was broken and she gave it. The old man clapped his hands together and launched into his annual speech about the forest, Quidditch and House Cups, and introduced the idea of a new Potions master. The hall burst into mumbles and whispers about Professor Snape. Hermione straightened and looked around for Draco. He was standing near the door he had recently exited and looking directly at her. Hermione smiled and motioned for him to come over.

"Obsessed much?" Harry asked and both Hermione and Ginny sent him a look. The head girl then turned back to her Head boy and smiled at him as he cautiously walked closer.

"Hey," Draco said, addressing the entire group, much to the surprise of its members, slightly including Hermione. The three new arrivals nodded a greeting, but Hermione took Draco's hand and pulled him down to sit backward on the bench next to her. As Dumbledore moved on to speak more about the changes that would occur because of the late start of the school year, Hermione turned and smiled at Draco.

"Have fun?" she asked, noticing his slightly nervous demeanor. Draco smiled, thankful for at least something to talk about.

"Oh yes, loads," he said sarcastically, breaking the awkwardness. Slowly, Ron, Ginny, and Harry fell into a conversation Hermione really wasn't a part of, and Draco definitely wasn't, so she opted to talk to him.

"Did you see Pansy?" she asked quietly and Draco nodded.

"Don't worry about her, Mia... she's just used to getting her way," he said and Hermione chewed her lip for a moment.

"I do feel kind of guilty; she seems really upset," she observed, looking sadly at the girl who was topic of their conversation.

"Hermione, really. Don't let her bother you; she doesn't matter in the slightest," Draco said, smiling in a way that would have made her do the same, had she been looking at him.

"Did you tell her about us beforehand, or did she find out at New Years?" Hermione asked, ignoring his request. Draco didn't answer and Hermione sighed. "You should go talk to her. Can you imagine how much of a shock that must have been?" she asked almost fiercely. "It'd be like you walking into class and seeing her snogging Ron."

"Mia, calm down. She'll get over it," Draco insisted and Hermione turned to him.

"Draco, really," she said calmly. "If it were me sitting over there looking like that, I know for a fact you wouldn't say 'She'll get over it' and just leave me there; I don't expect you to do so to anyone else, either."

"I'm sorry, love... I didn't know you could care so much about the well being of someone who couldn't care less about you," he said, looking surprised, but somewhat understanding.

"This is where I am unlike her, Draco. Just because she isn't the most pleasant person and you don't particularly like her, it doesn't mean she's inhuman or has no feelings. Come on, Ace, just talk to her, okay? Please?" Draco sighed and smiled.

"If you want me to, Mia, of course I will... but I don't see what it will accomplish," he said and Hermione smiled, then gave him a small thank you kiss.

"Probably nothing, but I'll feel better," she said and sighed contentedly.

"And you are a million ways unlike Pansy, love." Hermione smiled, but her loving gaze was interrupted.

"And now," called Dumbledore. "I shall introduce this year's prefects; from Ravenclaw; Mandy Brocklehurst. From Hufflepuff, Justin Finch-Fletchley, from Slytherin, Pansy Parkinson, and Gryffindor's own Ron Weasley." For heads simultaneously turned to Ron in surprise. He was looking down, shredding his bread as if nothing had happened. Dumbledore waited a moment for the applause to die down, and then began to speak of the duties of the prefects.

"Ron, why didn't you tell me? Tell Mum? She'll be really proud," Ginny said, and the surprise of the other three doubled. Ron stopped his shredding, but didn't look up.

"It was annoying when everyone else did it, wasn't it? And how proud can Mum possibly be, Gin? After having four sons become prefects, the fifth can't be too exciting. It's got to get old after a while. And besides, it's not like I deserve it... I'm like Hermione's homework and Ron's handwriting. I'm not who they think I am," he said sadly and sighed. Hermione's mouth dropped open.

"No, Ron... I never did anything FOR you... all I did was help you understand. You got all those good grades by yourself, I just told you when you were right," Hermion explained, putting her hand on his forearm. Ron did nothing for a moment, and then laughed.

"Who are you kidding, Mione? I barely passed my finals," he said.

"Well, Dumbledore knows that and he also knows you're just not a good test- taker. Come on, Rom; don't you think there's more to your becoming a prefect than my helping with your homework. Dumbledore would have known that," Hermione told him, her tone soft.

"She's got a point, Ron. As we've established many times, that guy knows everything," Draco added honestly. This comment went almost unnoticed by everyone but Draco and Ron. The other three simply nodded along, their focus on Ron. The new prefect sent Draco a semi-irritated glare, but his eyes softened when he saw the honest look on the head boy's face. Ron sighed.

"I just don't know," he said, sounding tired. Hermione squeezed his arm gently and he smiled slightly.

"And now to announce our Head boy and girl, whom you can thank for the belated, but still beautiful decorations. Please, come take your respectable seats at the head table. This years Head boy: Draco Malfoy," Hermione turned to him with a smile and nodded once.

"Go," she whispered happily and Draco smiled before standing and doing as Dumbledore asked.

"And our Head girl," the headmaster continued when the applause died down and Draco was seated. "Hermione Granger." As the crowd erupted, Hermion leaned close to Ron's ear.

"We're going to talk about this later; just you and me," she whispered and hugged him briefly before moving to join her boyfriend.

"Well, hello. Long time no see," Draco said with a smile as Hermione took her seat beside him, but she simply looked worriedly at the group of Gryffindor she had just left.

"I'm worried about Ron," was all she said and Draco frowned.

"Yeah, me too, sort of. That's a really distorted way to look at the situation. I can see where he's coming from, but honestly, that guy has no self confidence at all," he said and Hermione nodded.

"He really does deserve this, Draco... sure, he goofs off a lot, but he does work really hard. He gets nervous during tests and psyches himself out. I've seen it happen... it's not pretty." Draco simply stared, worried more for Hermione than Ron. She had enough problems as it was, she didn't need a mislead prefect to worry about as well. Hoping to cheer her up a bid, Draco kissed her ear, as he had a habit of doing, and Hermion smiled, turning to him.

"Alright?" he asked in a whisper and she gave a slight nod.

"Isn't this weird? It's usually just us, not us and eight hundred other people," she said and he smiled.

"I suppose, a little," he agreed and kissed her full on the lips. Hermione pulled away with a smile as the kiss grew a tad too involved. Draco looked a little hurt, but Hermione smiled and began to explain.

"And, do to this addition, and the fact that in a few minutes, the headmaster will be sitting next to me, meal time conduct will need altercation," he said and Draco looked almost as if she had slapped him. Suddenly, Hermione looked worried. "No, Ace... it's not that I don't want to kiss you like we usually do, or I don't want you to kiss me... or I care who sees... it's just that there are going to be at the very least a hundred people just... staring... it freaks me out a little." Draco didn't look much better. She sighed. "I'm sorry, Ace. I'll make it up to you later, I promise," she said, smiling sweetly. Draco looked blankly at his plate. "Draco..." Hermione linked her hands around his arm and he looked to her with a smile.

"I'm okay. Whatever makes you happy, Mia," he said innocently, and then turned back to his plate. Hermione watched him for a moment, and then rolled her eyes.

"Oh, come on," she said, causing him to look up just in time for her to lock their lips. Hermione began to lead Draco into one of their regular dinnertime kisses, and then allowed him to carry her; he knew his limits. When they broke apart, Hermione spoke first. "Why did you have to make me feel so guilty?"

"Sorry..."

"You're lucky I love you, you know."

"Very."

"They're staring... I told you, can't you just feel it? They're watching us like Quidditch..."

"I know." Hermione said nothing more and it was only then did they notice that the hall was completely silent, save Dumbledore's booming voice. Hermione turned to the crowd and blushed deeply; every head was staring at them with wide eyes, save a small smirking group of three Gryffindor. Apparently, 'They love each other and are going out like normal teenagers' wasn't one of the rumors spread.

"Is it THAT unfathomable that we're together of our own will?" Draco whispered and Hermione shrugged.

"Apparently," she peeped and he smiled.

"Hey, it's alright love... don't look at them, look at me," Draco suggested, tuning her chin. Hermione looked up and into his eyes, just as he asked, and found herself forgetting all about the staring students. Ron looked up at Hermione and Draco, and then nudged Harry.

"She's doing it again," he said, nodding in the direction of the head table. Both Harry and Ginny looked up to see the two head students in an eye lock, once again in that unbreakable stare. Harry shook his head.

"I didn't want to be the one to say it, but this whole Hermione infatuated with Malfoy thing is freaking me out. I know she has feelings for him and he reciprocates them, and I have no problem with them being together, but because we haven't seen them it's like it just, boom, happened," Harry said and both Weasleys nodded.

"I don't know, I think it's kind of cute," Ginny said, tilting her head. "Sudden, but cute."

"You would," Ron said, earning a glare from his sister.

"And with that," Dumbledore boomed a little extra loudly, causing every inattentive head to turn to him, including those of the Head boy and girl. "I welcome you to another no doubt interesting year. Let the feast begin." Applause filled the room and Dumbledore took his seat. Hermione looked quickly to Draco, who was smirking, then blushed and turned her eyes to her plate, which was now piled high. The headmaster looked to the girl at his side and raised an eyebrow. "Are you alright, Miss Granger?" Hermione looked up.

"Oh, yes, fine, Headmaster," she said, then turned back to her untouched meal, blushing again. Dumbledore looked to Draco, who shrugged, but remained smirking.

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After the feasting and traditional school song, Dumbledore dismissed the students with an order to follow the prefects back to their common rooms. As the students filed out, the headmaster reseated himself and poured another cup of witch hazel tea. Hermione and Draco remained behind with the teachers; Draco looking blankly out across the hall and Hermion at her hands in her lap.

"Professor," she said to Dumbledore and both he and Draco looked to her. "Would it be alright if I came to talk to you later this evening?" Dumbledore smiled.

"Yes, of course, Miss Granger," he said, and then paused for a moment. "It might be wise of me to make some calls and determine the whereabouts of our new potions master," he said to no one and Draco looked curious.

"Was the new Professor scheduled to arrive tonight, Headmaster?" Draco asked, taking his worried eyes from his girlfriend.

"Yesterday, actually. Let's hope to meet him at breakfast," Dumbledore proposed, paused a moment, then drained his teacup and stood. "Good evening," he said cheerily and left the hall. Now only Draco and Hermione remained.

"Mia?" She looked up at him with a smile, but Draco could see that there was something bothering her. "Are you... mad at me?" she frowned.

"N-No, why?" Draco smiled unconvincingly and shrugged a little.

"I thought maybe, because of this morning," Hermione shook her head, still frowning, and hugged her dragon, although the source of its comfort was seated beside her. She sighed.

"You know what?" I refuse to be upset right now. I just... don't want to. I'm going to stop thinking about Ron's problems and just go do something normal. I don't need this today," she said, took a deep breath, and put on a wide smile, sitting straighter in her chair. Draco smiled at her and she turned to him. "Do you want to go back upstairs?" Draco shrugged.

"Don't you want to do something a little more... Gryffindor-y?"

"Like what? Sneak into the Slytherin common room?" Hermione asked with a smirk and a raised eyebrow and Draco laughed.

"Have you done that?"

"Just once, but I didn't go. You were there; they talked to you," she said, still smirking, enjoying the look of shock on his face.

"Who's they?"

"Harry and Ron."

"And they talked to me? What did I say? How did they do it without me noticing who it was?" Hermione held up both hands.

"I am not at liberty to elaborate on the subject," she said simply, knowing she was dancing quite close to the fire.

"Hermione, tell me," he said, but she crossed her arms.

"Sorry sweetie, but I just can't do that," Hermione told him, sticking out her bottom lip.

"Hermione..." Draco said warningly and she stood, sweeping around the back of his chair.

"Yes Draco?" she asked sweetly, her lips close to his ear. Draco stood up quickly and spun around, facing her with a determined look about him. Hermione kept her amused and innocent demeanor.

"Don't you 'yes Draco' me," he said in what was supposed to be a threatening manner, but Hermione giggled. She took a step forward and locked their lips, causing Draco to unintentionally give up on intimidation and succumb to her sweet kiss. Hermione smiled quickly into his lips, then set on a mission to make it worth his while. When they pulled away, Hermione was wearing a smug smirk and Draco was smiling in satisfaction. When Hermione turned to walk toward the doors, Draco followed, but only for a moment before he realized what had just happened. "Don't think you're getting off that easy, Granger!" he called, picking up his pace a bit. Hermione looked back for a moment, shrieked as she saw how quickly he was advancing, then took off in a full out run.

Draco came through the doors immediately after Hermione, who was running as fast as she could toward Gryffindor tower. Although he could easily have caught up to her, Draco lagged back, enjoying their little game.

"Hermione Granger, I suggest you get back here before I am forced to do something you'll regret," he called after her, his breathing barely irregular. Hermione looked behind her again, smiling.

"I'll believe it... when I see it," she panted, then picked up the pace a bit. She was almost there... Draco couldn't let her get to the 'safe house'. He caught up to her easily and caught her around the waist. "Draco!" she shrieked, happy and out of breath.

"I warned you," he reminded her and Hermione laughed again, then turned around, facing him. She opened her mouth to say something no-doubt-witty, but Draco cut her off with an unexpected kiss. Without her realizing it, he pushed the head girl up against the wall, lips still on hers, hands busying themselves. "I warned you," he said again, this time in a whisper, and Hermione smiled.

"What exactly are you planning to do, Draco Malfoy, kiss me to death?" Hermione asked smartly and Draco shrugged a shoulder.

"Yes, actually, but now that you've caught on, I suppose I'll need to think of something else," he said, sounding a bit exasperated. Hermione smiled.

"Oh really? What is this new plan, then? It wouldn't happen to include butter, would it?" Draco raised an eyebrow and she giggled, and then moved into another kiss, a little noisier than the first. Draco let himself enjoy this for a moment, but he hadn't forgotten her earlier trick. Half way through this kiss, throughout which Hermione had thought she had won, Draco moved suddenly. He held his girlfriend to the wall with his chest and moved his hands to tickle those sensitive spots. As he expected, Hermione shrieked, breaking the kiss and squirming as she laughed. "D-Draco! St- top!" Draco laughed, but, of course, didn't stop.

"And why would I want to do that, hm?" he asked with a smirk and Hermione simply continued her hysterical laughter. In an attempt to get away, she slid down the wall, but Draco came along, crouching with a smirk and continuing to inflict the tickling torture. Too caught up in his fun, Draco left his guard down and Hermione noticed. Determined to stop the torture, she pushed him causing the head Slytherin to crash down on the floor behind him. Before she even bothered to catch her breath, Hermione jumped him, straddling and holding his arms to the ground.

Draco looked a little surprised, but not at all unhappy. Hermione's head hovered less than a foot above his, her hair hanging down and brushing against his cheek. She was breathing hard, from both running and his tickles.

"I told you you'd regret it," Draco said after a moment and Hermione looked up. Still a little out of breath, she scowled.

"You! I could just...!" she started angrily, but Draco cut her off, wearing that adorable smirk.

"You could just what?" he dared, not even bothering to struggle against her. Hermione angrily let out her breath and scowled again, but Draco kept his smirk. "What are you going to do, Mia? I'm interested," he asked making her even more irritable. Hermione growled, teeth clenched, annoyed at his lack of reaction, then suddenly stopped, just looking blankly at the smirking blonde boy beneath her. Draco was a bit surprised at her lack of emotion and stopped playing, looking confusedly up at her. "What is it, love?" he asked and Hermione blinked twice before letting one of his arms go and bringing a hand gently to his face as if to prove to herself that he was there. "Mia?" Draco asked again, worried, but Hermione didn't answer; she locked their lips again. For the first time in the entire month and a half they'd been dating, realization struck her.

**This is Draco Malfoy... I'm sitting on Draco Malfoy... Those are Malfoy lips on mine, a Slytherin tongue at my teeth. I... love Draco Malfoy. ** She thought, and changed her gently approach; now kissing him as if she never had and never would again. The kiss was amazing and they parted slowly.

"I love you," Hermione whispered to him. "So much, Draco..."

"I love you too, Hermione." Draco had just finished when she caught him in another kiss. This one was prolonged and meticulous, lasting for twice as long as the first. Then, Draco broke it to speak. "Hermione," he said into her lips.

"Mmm..." was her only response. He pulled away again.

"Mia, you've got to stop," Hermione broke away as he asked and looked down at him.

"Why?" she asked, her face blank, and Draco smirked.

"Because we have an audience," he told her and Hermione smiled.

"Snape again?" Draco shuddered.

"No, but I'll give you three guesses," he said and Hermione looked thoughtful.

"Hm... Peter, Paul, and Mary?" Draco laughed and shook his head slowly. Hermione smiled and turned toward the open Gryffindor portrait where, just as she expected, stood three of her best friends, all of which were smirking. "Do you mind? Little busy," she asked and her friends jumped a bit. Ron and Harry shared a look, but Ginny closed the portrait, leaving the head boy and girl to their 'duties'.

Hermione turned back to Draco and giggled slightly before continuing what they had started. It was quite a time before either spoke again.

"It's getting late," Hermione whispered, then kissed him softly before continuing. "I have to talk to Ron... and then make Ron talk to Dumbledore." She smiled. "And you promised to talk to Pansy." Draco smirked.

"I never said I'd talk to her tonight," he pointed out and Hermione glared. Draco laughed. "I'm kidding, Mia. Calm down, will you?" she sighed and smiled.

"Sorry... I've got a lot on my mind, I guess. A bit high strung at the moment." Draco smiled, but Hermione just looked adoringly at him.

"Mia?" he asked and she blinked.

"Oh, right..." Hermione said, laughing as she lifted herself away from him. Draco stood and held a hand to Hermione, who happily took it and joined him. Smiling, Draco kissed her.

"Meet me in the common room later?" he asked and Hermione smirked.

"No, Draco... I think I'll stay and sleep with Ron tonight, he seems a bid down; it might cheer him up," she said sarcastically and Draco smiled.

"Okay, see you in the morning then?" Hermione laughed.

"Sure, we'll do breakfast." Draco gave a nod.

"It's a date," Draco started down the hall, but Hermione stopped him.

"You know, Draco, we haven't gone on a real date since Seattle." He smiled sadly.

"I know, love." Then, he smiled slightly. "What about New Years?" Hermione shuddered.

"I'm not even sure if I want to remember that, Draco," she said, closing her eyes.

"It was fun until Flag, wasn't' it? That ten minutes shouldn't ruin the whole day." Hermione smiled slightly, opening hr eyes. She nodded and Draco jointed her. "New years eve, then. Flagg didn't show until after midnight." Hermione smiled and moved close, wrapping him in a hug.

"I love you," she said as he embraced her back. "I can't believe you actually made that into something I'll want to remember. You're amazing."

"Does this mean you've changed your mind and I can stay with you?" Draco asked hopefully and Hermione laughed as she pulled back.

"No," she said regretfully, brushing his shirt as if her hug had gotten him dusty. "You really need to talk to her." Hermione looked up and Draco stuck out his lip. "Ah!" she said, closing her eyes and placing her hands over them. "I'm not looking; pout face will not work!" Draco laughed.

"Okay, okay, I'll go. Come on."

"Nope, I am not opening my eyes until you go, so go; I'll meet you for breakfast. Kiss, kiss," she said, waiting to hear footsteps, but Draco laughed.

"But Mia... what if you never see me again?" Hermione's hands flew down and her eyes snapped open. She didn't look happy.

"Draco, if you ever say anything like that ever again, I'll... oh, I don't even know. That was not funny at all. I would like an apology," she said seriously and Draco looked blankly surprised.

"I'm sorry, Hermione. I was just joking... I didn't think..." she held up a hand.

"Don't. Just... don't. I love you," she said and gave him one last quick kiss. "Now go, okay? We'll talk later; promise." Hermione stepped up to the portrait, her back toward Draco. "RW fanatic," she said to the fat lady and heard Draco snort.

"And you think I'M conceited," he said, earning a good-natured glare.

"Just go already," she called over her shoulder and Draco laughed.

"Fine, fine... bye love." She held up a hand in wave and Draco turned, walking toward the dungeons.