Chapter Thirty-Five:

(A/N. Okay, I had my beta reader help me out with this one but when she sent it to me it was all deformated and I didn't have the heart to ask her to do it again and I was too lazy to check the errors myself. Therefore bear with me. Guess what? This is the awaited chapter! The one where Ron and Harry find out all about Hermione and Draco. Harry and Ron find out, oh my! *Think Wizard of Oz* Okay well read on and I'd like some feeback!

Hermione opened her eyes and glanced around in confusion at the dark room. She was in a bed in the infirmary. Madame Pomfrey came over to Hermione's bed and handed her a large goblet.

"Good morning, dearie. Although it's a bit early to be called morning." She said with a smile. Hermione grimaced at the goblet. "Well? Drink up!" The woman said reproachfully. With a wry smile Hermione gulped the contents down. She gagged but managed to keep the medicine down. She leaned back into the pillows.

"What, um, happened?" Hermione asked. She remembered falling asleep outside but nothing else.

"A pale young man brought you in. You were suffering from hypothermia. Now sleep, it'll be morning soon." Madame Pomfrey said as she bustled away. Hermione sighed and fell asleep again. When she awoke a second time, the large grandfather clock near the door proclaimed it to be 9:00 in the morning. She stretched slowly but stopped when she saw a figure on a chair beside her bed. She smiled and dropped her arms.

"Well, hello. I hear you were quite the hero last night. I think I owe you my thanks." Hermione said softly. Draco grinned and stood up from the chair in a graceful movement that reminded Hermione of a cat.

"My fair princess, rescuing you is my duty and my undying pleasure." Draco purred taking Hermione's hand and kissing the knuckles. Hermione giggled happily.

"Come here you!" She laughed and pulled Draco into a passionate kiss. He pulled away and Hermione saw a mischievous glitter in his silver eyes.

"Get dressed and we can go out for a picnic." Draco said. Hermione laughed but accepted. Draco waited outside the screen while she quickly changed out of her pajamas.

"You can come back in." She called. Draco walked back in a smirk on his handsome face. She laughed as he scooped her up into his arms and pressed her against the wall. She crossed her legs behind his back and nuzzled his neck affectionately.

"Mmm, you smell so good." He murmured as he kissed her hair. She sighed and kissed him everywhere she could reach.

"Draco…" She whispered. She continued to breath his name seductively. Suddenly her eyes went over Draco shoulder and settled on two furious figures. "Ron?" She yelped. Draco pulled back his eyes filled with confusion and betrayal. She gulped and nodded her head. Draco turned and saw Ron and Harry gaping at the two seventh years that were in a very compromising position. Draco dropped Hermione gently. Harry looked shocked but Ron looked positively furious. Hell hath no fury like a man scorned, Draco thought somewhat amusedly.

"Hello Potter. Weasley. You know, scarlet is a good look on you." Draco said calmly a smirk on his ace. Ron's whole body was shaking in anger.

"Are you bloody mad Hermione? What the hell where you doing with him?" Ron asked. Hermione felt her anger rise up.

"Kissing him?" She mocked with feigned innocence. Ron's eyes narrowed and his fists clenched.

"You call that kissing?" Harry mumbled. Ron wasn't listening to his friend however, his eyes were focused on Hermione.

"Is this to get back at me for saying you were superficial?" Ron demanded. Hermione could have laughed.

"This might be a shocker, Ron, but not everything has to do with you. I'll have you know Draco's a really nice guy, unlike you." She snapped.

"So it's Draco now?" Ron growled. Hermione sighed and crossed her arms across her chest.

"Seems like it, Ron. You didn't hear me say Malfoy did you?" She snarled. Harry stepped forward.

"Hermione…"He began but Hermione raised a hand and he stopped. She turned and looked at him.

"Stay out if this, Harry." She said softly. He nodded and sat down heavily. She looked up at Draco who was watching the scene with amusement flickering in his silver eyes. He looked down and understood her silent message. He nodded his head almost imperceptibly.

"We'll talk later." He whispered and winked at her. She smiled gratefully and watched as he pushed past Ron and muttered something that made Ron look even more furious. He grabbed Draco's arm and Draco's eyes flashed dangerously. He seemed to gain a threatening aura and he glared at Ron.

"Don't ever touch me again Weasley." Draco hissed, his voice pure ice. He shrugged Ron off and glided away, a deadly predator stalking back into the shadows.

"Hermione, do you know who he is?" Ron asked angrily. Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes.

"No, Ron, I just picked up the habit of kissing random strangers. You know, tart in training and all that." She said sarcastically.

"Well how would I know? You're not the same person we knew from our first year here." Ron said. Hermione glared at Ron furiously.

"It's called growing up, Ron, something you might like to try!" She snapped. She closed her eyes and then opened them slowly. "How dare you. I might have changed but you should know I'd never become a slut! God! I thought you were above these insults." She hissed.

"I just want you to be happy!" Ron whined. Hermione growled and moved closer to him.

"No you don't! I am happy! If you really wanted to make me happy, you'd leave me alone!" She snarled.

"You don't know what you're talking about, Hermione! Malfoy must have used a Confudus Charm on you or…" Ron rambled. Hermione slapped him across the face. He stared at her in disbelief.

"Dammit, Ron! I love him! Get it through your thick skull!" With that, Hermione stormed past Madame Pomfrey who had come to see what all the yelling was about.