Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

A/N Hello all my cool little reviewer people. Thank you all so much for all your wonderful encouragement throughout this painstaking process. ~Sniffs~ IÕd like to thank the Academy. . .

LOL, JKÉ OK, anyway. IÕm going to take a different approach with this story, you know, try something a little different. Hope itÕs okay!

Song du Jour: ÒWhat My Heart SaysÓ by Monica

Thank you all soooooo much!!!!

~Zsa Zsa xoxo

~What my Heart Says~

ÒDraco?Ó Hermione said as she held out her hand for the blond Slytherin to take. He looked reluctantly at it. ÒWhatÕs wrong?Ó

ÒPeople will stare. They donÕt accept us.Ó Draco said quietly. Hermione sighed exasperatedly and grabbed his face in her hands. She stroked her thumb across his cheek. She kissed him softly on the lips and felt him immediately relax.

ÒListen, let them say what we have is wrong. I donÕt understand why you let it get to you. Just block it out like I do.Ó Hermione said sweetly. She was trying to coax him into going for a walk with her, hand in hand.

ÒI know what I should be doing, but itÕs hard to turn away from all youÕve ever known, you know?Ó Hermione nodded, and Draco continued, ÒI donÕt want to give up what we have, but maybe we shouldnÕt be as pretentious about it. LetÕs keep it quiet for as long as we can.Ó

Hermione looked very annoyed, ÒPeople already know. Why are you so afraid?Ó Draco looked at his shoes, his cheek reddening. He shrugged, ÒDray, honey, they donÕt understand what we feel when we kiss, or when you hold me. They donÕt know anything. Let them stare. Let them get mad. WeÕve got each other.Ó

Draco smiled at her and she pulled him down onto the couch. They began exploring each otherÕs mouths furiously, letting all their passion come out before they went for breakfast. HermioneÕs hands were caressing DracoÕs back and he was snaking his hands dangerously up her shirt.

Suddenly, Hermione pulled up, ÒLater.Ó Draco nibbled her earlobe, ÒAfter breakfast, Draco.Ó He sucked on her neck. ÒCome on, I promise.Ó Draco kissed her on the lips and reluctantly got up.

ÒAre you sure youÕre okay with this?Ó Hermione nodded and Draco smiled at her before leaving the room. Hermione sat on the couch and cried softly for a few minutes before wiping her eyes and getting up to leave.

~So let them say it's wrong

For me to love you

They could never feel the way that I do

When we kiss

When we're close like this~

ÒHermione, are you still seeing. . . him?Ó Ron asked, absentmindedly wrinkling his nose, also unable to say his name.

Hermione nodded slightly, her eyes sad.

ÒI donÕt get it. Why Hermione? He isnÕt good enough for you. You deserve better, you know that.Ó Ron burst out. A few heads at the Gryffindor table turned their way, but said nothing. Ron was expressing what they had all wanted to say for a very long time.

ÒYou know what, Ron?Ó Hermione began, ÒYou canÕt change my mind. Draco and I, we have something special. And you canÕt face the fact that that better man isnÕt you. IÕm sorry, we just werenÕt meant to be.Ó And slightly quieter, she added, ÒWe tried.Ó

ÒI canÕt believe you!Ó Ron exclaimed.

ÒRon, you donÕt know what kind of love we share. ItÕs special. DonÕt try and make me feel guilty about it. IÕd never forgive you for it. I swear to that.Ó Hermione said clearly, but with a slight shake in her voice.

ÒHermione,Ó Harry began, ÒI donÕt really understand it, either. I mean. . . why him of all people. How did you get started on him?Ó He was approaching the subject on a slightly gentler note, and Hermione appreciated it.

ÒYou donÕt know him like I do. Since weÕre both HeadÕs, we spend a lot of time together and I got to know him for whom he really is. I guess IÕve always kind of had a little crush on him for the way he looks, so the attraction was already there.Ó Hermione explained. It was the first time sheÕd said those words out loud.

ÒYou were always bloody attracted to him?Ó Ron looked outraged and was about to continue when HarryÕs hand went up to silence him.

ÒShut up, Ron. YouÕve always thought he was cute, eh? And youÕre sure there is nothing we can do to get him out of the picture?Ó Harry asked hopefully.

Hermione smiled ruefully, ÒAre you kidding? YouÕd be wasting your breath. Big time.Ó

~They can't see inside my soul

They can't know the love we know

All they do is waste their time

They can never change my mind~

Hermione arrived in the Common Room at the end of the day, exhausted form carrying all her books. She tipped her bag on the table, the books spilling out all over. ÒHermione?Ó

She looked up, seeing Draco, shirtless, standing in the doorway of his room. She smiled weakly at him, ÒNot now, Draco.Ó

He looked slightly upset, and pouted, ÒBut you promised.Ó

She looked up and walked over to him, ÒYouÕre right, I did, but IÕm so tired and sweaty. Can I take a shower first?Ó Draco smiled devilishly and raised his eyebrows suggestively, ÒNo, you may not join me.Ó

ÒWhy not?Ó Draco asked, stomping his foot playfully. She shook her head in a motherly way, ÒIs this because IÕm not ready to showcase our relationship?Ó

ÒNo, but I donÕt know why youÕre so afraid.Ó

ÒI donÕt know why youÕre so unafraid!Ó

ÒÕCause IÕm listening to my heart, not my head.Ó

~It's what my heart says

That is what I listen to

This is what my heart feels

That tells me, tells me what to do

It's what my heart knows

That's the only, only truth I know is real

All I hear is what my heart says to me

What my heart says~

ÒLet them say that IÕm being unreasonable, and like IÕm blundering into a commitment with a man whoÕs Ôsure to break my heartÕ. Let them say we arenÕt meant for each other. I donÕt understand how you could possibly care so much.Ó Hermione practically yelled. She wasnÕt that angry with him, he just frustrated her.

ÒPotty and Weasel might stop being friends with you. What would you say then?Ó Draco asked, his arms snaking around her waist.

ÒThey can have their love and friendship if thatÕs what theyÕre going to do. I mean Harry would never do that, but Ron, he might. HeÕs whom IÕm worried about. But with you by my side, IÕm without a care in the world.Ó She smiled gaily and ran her hands through DracoÕs hair.

ÒBut they say IÕm bad news.Ó

ÒThey donÕt see who I see.Ó

ÒBut they say IÕm kidding you.Ó

ÒThey donÕt know you like I do.Ó

ÒBut they say itÕs impossible to love me.Ó

ÒI love you. . . ItÕs very possible.Ó

~Let them say I'm a fool

To fall so deeply

'Cause they will never ever be

Loved so completely

How can they even talk that way?

They can't see through my eyes

They can't feel this love inside

All their love don't mean a thing

They can't change the way I feel~

ÒYouÕre so sure about this.Ó Draco looked down at his feet, ashamed.

ÒYou should be too.Ó Hermione brought her fingers up to his chin, lifting it up and pressing her lips to his. He whimpered. ÒSee what I do to you?Ó Hermione whispered in his ear seductively. He nodded.

ÒItÕs what your heart says.Ó Draco repeated to himself. She nodded, and licked the tip of his nose playfully. He groaned, his erection pressed against her stomach.

ÒMy, myÓ Hermione giggled, ÒWe cant have that, can we?Ó Draco smirked and shook his head no. She brought her hands around his neck and pulled his towards his bedroom. She pushed him on the bed and shut the door.

~It's what my heart says

That is what I listen to~

The next morning, Hermione was snuggled up against Draco, breathing softly on his chest. When a piece of hair fluttered up, it tickled DracoÕs stomach, and he awoke. He looked down at the angel pressed up against him.

Draco leaned down and whispered into the sleeping girlÕs ear, ÒItÕs in my heart. IÕm listening to my heart. ItÕs told me what to do.Ó

Hermione sat bolt upright, a huge grin on her face. She threw her arms around him, kissing his face all over, smothering him with her touch.

ÒIÕve bee anticipating you saying that for so long, itÕs almost unreal. I canÕt believe it.Ó

ÒBelieve it.Ó He grinned and kissed her bare shoulder, his tongue darting out to touch the warm skin.

~This is what my heart feels

That tells me, tells me what to do

It's what my heart knows

That's the only, only truth I know is real

All I hear is what my heart says to me~

ÒAnd you know what else?Ó Draco whispered into her ear. She shook her head, ÒIÕve never been so sure before in my whole life.Ó Grinning, Hermione pulled the covers over their heads, an evil glint in her eyes.

~And I have never felt so sure about anything

See, you are the one

The one that I need~

They walked out of their room, hand I hand for the first time in public. People pointed, they stared and whispered. But Hermione and Draco didnÕt care. They were in theyÕre own little paradise.

When they arrived in the Great Hall, it burst into talk about where the couple would sit. They looked at Dumbledore, and he smiled and nodded. Draco led Hermione over to the end of the Slytherin table where no one usually sat. They slid in opposite each other and leaned in close, talking is hushed whispers.

ÒTheyÕre talking.Ó Draco said.

ÒSo? Let them talk.Ó Hermione replied, smiling.

ÒOkay.Ó And she grinned.

~It doesn't matter what they think or what they say

I'm loving you anyway~

ÒIs it what your heart says?Ó Hermione asked.

ÒIt is, love, it is.Ó

~It's what my heart says~

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A/N That definitely wasnÕt my best work. Nope. . . Damn! I donÕt know why. I shall do some thank yous.

Thank you to:

Arianne

Lily

Lexy-gurl

Skyleia

Draco_fan

Dark star

DanishGirl

NumberOneNightOwl

Lady Obsidian

Draco Amant

Kari-demon

ChibiGato

A reader

Lala

Krys

Apollonia2