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            Hermione and Draco had gotten up and were heading to see Professor Dumbledore when all the windows around them shattered. Hermione screamed loudly as glass flew out and cut her arms. Draco spun around and grabbed her, pulled her to him and held her close, his school robes wrapped around the both of them for protection. Instead of the glass falling or hitting the other wall, it swirled around them for a few moments. Hermione shivered in fear and pressed against Draco until the tinkling of glass stopped and the shards fell to the ground.

            "Are you alright?" He asked, pulling away from her a bit. She nodded, a few drops of blood dripping off her arms. "Let's get you to the hospital wing." He said, and put his hand on her back, guiding her there. The looked out the windows before they left and were shocked to see the rain slowing and the clouds slowly starting to roll away.

            "What's happening?" Hermione asked. Draco shrugged .

            "I don't know. But whatever it is, I don't like it."

            A few hours later they were still sitting in the hospital wing with Professor Dumbledore talking to them.

            "Are you positive you felt him here Draco?"

            "Yes sir. I know it was him."

            "I believe you. But he must have left because the storm is over. For now at least." Dumbledore muttered, his head in his hands, thinking deeply. "Well, classes will be resumed. And you can have your bandages removed after another day I think." He said, standing. Hermione smiled.

            "All the classes? Hurray! Now I won't get to far behind!" Professor Dumbledore chuckled merrily and left the room, leaving the two of them sitting there. Hermione played with the bandages on her arm a little and then looked at Draco smiling.

            "You're insane." Draco muttered, smiling back at her and staring at her nose. For a brief second he almost felt tempted to draw eyes on the white gauze so he could at least pretend to see her eyes.

            "Anymore of this stuff and I'd look like and Egyptian mummy." She smiled. Draco shook his head.

            "You know Hermione, I've been meaning to tell you this for a long time." Hermione froze.

            "What?"

            "Since the beginning of this year, I've changed so much. I don't really know why I started to change, but I know you had a part in it. A very big part. I just want to say thank you. For giving me a chance and not shooting me down."

            "Oh, Draco." She whispered, and sat up, pulling him to her. She hugged him tightly. "Just promise me you won't go back to being horribly mean to me the way it was before."

            "I promise."

            "I've been thinking though. Once classes resume again tomorrow, please stay away from me."

            "Wait, WHAT?" Draco almost screamed. "After I tell you that you're going to-"

            "Draco, really." Hermione said, crossing her arms. "Do be quiet and listen to what I have to say. I don't want you to get hurt. You do, after all have to remain in your dorm. You are a Slytherin still."

            "Yes, but-"

            "No. We can still meet in the Astronomy Tower at night, and run into each other in the library. And you don't have to be mean like before. Just not all the time." Draco paused to think.

            "But I can't get enough time with you as it is Hermione. That will be too hard."

            "Oh Draco. Everyone leaves for Christmas. We can have time then. Just trust me. It's for the better. This way you don't get hurt. I'm not going to deny being with you. But we need to see each other a little less, as much as it pains me to say it."

            "If you think it will work." He sighed. She smiled and pulled him to her, stopping just inches from his face.

 "Of course it will work. I am the smartest student in this school." She teased.

            "Oh really? You think so, don't you?" He teased back and closed the gap between them, pressing his lips against hers. She smiled and kissed back, wrapping her arms around his neck. He slid closer to her on the bed and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. She sighed and pulled back and second, wishing more than anything she could see his eyes. She was about to lean in and kiss him again when the doors burst open and Ginny, Ron, and Harry burst through the doors. Ron came to a sudden halt as he saw them together, her arms around his neck and his arms around her waist. They looked towards them and Draco jumped back, standing up. Ron frowned, turning the other way.

            "I, uh, better be going. See you tomorrow." He said, and took her hand, squeezing it before walking out. Ron watched him leaving, a look of disgust on his face.

            "Are you alright 'Mione?" He asked after he was gone. She sighed.

            "Yes, I'm fine, Ron. But could you please be a little more hospitable with him? I CAN see your face even with these bandages." She said, crossing her arms. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. "Classes are resuming tomorrow, so you should all do the homework that you have been putting off."

            "What?!" Ron almost yelled.

            "How do you know?" Harry asked calmly.

            "Professor Dumbledore came to speak with me. Since the rain stopped he feels the threat is gone, so classes will resume. I have done all my work, so I do not have to panic." She glared at Ron through the gauze. "Unlike some other people I know."

            "Oh bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed, holding his face in his hands. Ginny laughed.

            "Serves you right for not taking Hermione's advice. Has she ever steered you wrong?"

            "Shut up." Ron snapped before leaving the room. Hermione followed them out as they headed back to the dorms.

            The next few weeks flew by almost without a hitch. The bandages were removed and the sun shone brightly outside. Hagrid's class was resumed as were all the classes, and everyone seemed to go back to being themselves. Draco did as Hermione had suggested no matter how much he didn't like it. He would ignore her in the Great Hall for the most part, with the occasional glance once in awhile. They met in the Astronomy Tower almost every night, eager to see each other.

            Pansy stopped doing the evil things she had been doing before and returned her attentions to Draco, whom she thought was no longer seeing Hermione. They had planned it out to look like it so that he could sleep in peace.

            "What ever happened to the MudBlood?" The would joke. He would turn to them, sneering while his stomach lurched at the word."

            "Just a fling. It's amazing how trusting she is, despite the fact that I treated her like shit those years before." Then he would laugh and walk away, ready to kill himself for what he had said about her.

            Rumors flew around the school tarnishing Hermione's name, even though no one quite believed it. Though they would talk about what the Slytherin's said, everyone knew it was a lie.

            "I'm so sorry." Draco would say the minute his invisibility cloak was off in the Astronomy Tower. "I'm so sorry," he would keep mumbling as he rushed to her waiting arms, pulling her close and eagerly kissing her.

            "It's. . . ok. . ." She would try to say as he kissed her. He held her closer and tighter every night. She was getting worried.

            "Oh Hermione." He would choke. "I-" Then he would freeze. "I- I. . ." He would stop trying to talk, his face red and kiss her again, licking at her strawberry gloss coated lips until his tongue found hers. She would push him away after a moment gasping for air.

            "Draco! I don't know what's wrong but you keep acting like this is the end and you don't want to let go! It's not! I'm not mad at you!"

            And so it went on like that every night through November and the beginning of December.

            Hogsmeade weekend came later than it was supposed to towards the middle of December. It had been so bad before that they couldn't go. Now, however, they did. Hermione had planned on spending the day with Draco before, but she knew it was impossible now, so she instead spent it shopping with her friends. Ginny and Hermione waved to the boys and went off on their own.

            "So who do you have to get stuff for this Christmas?" Ginny asked.

            "Oh the usual." She answered. "Mum, Dad, Ron, Harry, you, Crookshanks. . . Draco."

            "Are you really still seeing him? I haven't seen you two together."

            "We're trying to keep it low for awhile. I was worried the Slytherin's would start doing something to him. I don't want anything bad to happen."

            "He seems to have gone back to his old self. What with calling you Mudblood behind your back." She pointed out.

            "I know. It's for the best. I know how he really-" She stopped talking as a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her in between two buildings. Ginny stopped and turned seeing her not there and turned the corner instantly getting shushed by Hermione.

            "Oh!" Ginny said, and turned away for a second as Draco kissed Hermione roughly.

            "I'm sorry I couldn't come see you last night or the night before." He whispered in her ear. "I tried to let you know but I had detention with Filch." He leaned down and kissed her neck right where her shoulder began. She shivered and smiled, kissing his forehead.

            "Actually, I knew. I heard from Harry who happened to be around when it happened."

            "Oh. Hi Ginny." Draco smiled a little embarrassed.

            "Hello." She said a little unsure.

            "I better get going before they notice I'm missing." He took her hand. I'll see you around." He moved close to her ear again, his breathe tickling her neck. "And tonight." She smiled as he kissed her cheek and ran out from between the buildings and out of sight. Hermione sighed and looked at Ginny, who was wide-eyed.

            "What?"

            "He's so. . . so different." She said, confused.

            "You just noticed? Come on. We have more shopping to do."

            Later that night they were all sitting around the Great Hall eating and discussing their winter break plans. Break started next Friday and it was already Saturday. "So what are you doing over break 'Mione?" Ron asked through a mouthful of food.

            "I'm staying here actually. My parents are going to Ireland and I didn't feel like going."

            "Why not?" She shrugged taking a bite of food and swallowing before answering.

            "Just didn't. 'Sides, this way I can stay with you guys!"

            "More like stay for Draco." Ron muttered. Ginny elbowed him and he choked. Hermione sighed and looked over at the Slytherin table from the corner of her eyes. Draco was laughing with all his old friends. It seemed like he was back to his old ways until his eyes flickered over for a second and his smile disappeared. Pansy was pratically draped over his arm, laughing at everything he said.

            "Oh Draco, it really is wonderful to have you back."

            "Yeah. It's great to be back again." He lied.

            "Your father will be so pleased!"

            "I'm sure." He sneered, laughing. "But I must get going. I have some last minute homework to finish up."

            "Hey, I'll come with you." Blaise said, standing. Draco nodded and motioned for Crabbe and Goyle to stay.

            "You two don't need to follow me everywhere. You can stay if you like." They shrugged and dove back into their food.

            "Good-bye darling Draky!" Pansy called blowing him a kiss. He raised his eyebrows and half frowned half smiled, shuddering the moment she was out of sight.

            As the two boys passed the Slytherin table Hermione briefly glanced up just as he flickered his eyes at her, a smile quickly brightening his face before vanishing. She looked away , lucky to have caught that.

            On their way back to the dorms Draco cleared his throat. "You're still seeing her, aren't you?" Blaise asked nonchalantly. Draco nodded, his face red.

            "Well, to me its obvious but you and I both know we're the only smart ones in Slytherin. Aside from that, I must say it's some damn good acting on both of your parts. Though don't be stupid to think I don't see those glances in potions, or in the Great Hall. I know Draco."

            "You aren't going to tell anyone, are you?"

            "Why would I do that? That would be like condemning you to death! I may be a Slytherin, but I'm not ALL evil." Draco laughed as they entered their common room and went up to the room they shared.

            "So what are you doing for Christmas?" Blaise asked.

            "I have to stay here. No where to go, remember?"

            "Oh yeah. Sorry."

            "Well what about you?"

            "Actually I'm staying too. Mum and Dad are going to Portugal for the break to visit another family member. I wasn't exactly invited this time after what I did last year. Well, I was invited, but it was strongly hinted that I not go." He laughed as Draco pulled out his books and started to finish his History parchment.

            "What did you do?" He asked half amused as he wrote the last paragraph on his parchment.

            "I blew up the turkey and it got all over my cousin's new Dragon hide dress." He snickered. Draco dropped the quill and laughed.

            "Oh that's great. Why would you ever do that?"

            "She was making me angry."

            "How?"

            "She said I would marry a Mudblood." Draco stopped laughing and Blaise turned. "Oh, I'm sorry Draco." He shrugged and picked up his quill.

            "You know, there really is nothing wrong with them. I don't know why I didn't see it before."

            "You think what you want, I'll think what I want." Blaise said and sat on his bed, starting his parchment. "It's just the way I am." Draco snorted and shook his head.

Hope everyone liked it! Oooh boy. Next chapter is going to be great!! Hehehhee. ^_~ Review as always!