Chapter 9 "Why do you love me?" Disclaimer~ I don't own Harry Potter, JK Rowling does!

The days of summer drew shorter and the Changs began to think about the upcoming school year, as well as did Draco. It had been easy around just Cho to transform into the unselfish, kind person he was now, but around all the Slytherins and the rest of the school was a different story. He found himself wondering of this many a time. One time he was so absorbed in it he did not even hear Cho ask a question. He was thinking, "What will everyone think of me, what if this gets back to my father what if- He was cut off by Cho's voice.

"Draco! Hello, did you hear me?" she almost yelled.

He immediately came back to reality, realizing what had happened. "Oh, sorry Cho. I was just thinking."

"About what" she asked snuggling closer into his chest.

"About what it's going to be like when we go back to school next week"

She looked up at him. "You're worried about what everyone will think aren't you," she said in a sad sort of tone.

"I'm sorry, I can't help it. I'm used to the bad reputation, and girls wanting to be with me, but never being with me." He laughed a little after the last part.

" So then what do you want to do about it? Do you want- her voice trailed off. Draco immediately knew what she was referring to.

"No! Cho, how could you think such a thing? I'm happy now. I haven't been happy in a long time. You're the most important thing in my life and I wouldn't do anything to change that."

She melted inside. "Oh my gawd!" she thought. "I love you," she whispered.

Draco smiled. He loved hearing that. His father never dared say anything like that, and whenever his mother did Mr. Malfoy scolded her. For the first time he felt as though he actually mattered to someone. And he had friends. Granted it was his former enemy and his girlfriend, but hey! He still had them. Draco laid his head against his girlfriend's. They had been sitting on a swing on the porch. They had a light blanket over them, but the crisp, evening summer's breeze penetrated right through it. Cho shivered before shifting closer to Draco. He laughed and wrapped his arms around her and captured her hands with his own.

Cho felt so safe in his arms. Like no one could ever harm her, and she knew he would never let anything happen to her. She breathed in his warm and inviting scent. It was about 11: o'clock in the evening. Her parents had gone to a party, and weren't due back for another couple of hours. Cho stood up, grabbed the blanket in one hand, and one of Draco's hands in her other. She shyly led him into the house and down the hall to her bedroom.

Draco apparently got the idea, because once inside he closed the door behind him. He followed Cho who was standing at the foot of the bed. He approached her slowly but then grabbed her arms and pulled her towards him. His lips pushed against hers in a passionate yet gentle manner. Cho wrapped both arms around his neck and slowly began to lie back into the bed. Once on her back she began to inch her way up to the pillows, still in a tight lip lock with Draco. After what seemed to be an eternity they pulled apart. Breathing heavily, Draco brought his hand up to her face and stroked it gently. Cho placed a hand over his. "I'm going to take a quick shower ok?"

"Alright" he replied.

She stood up slowly, but turned around quickly only to give him a short passionate kiss before turning once again and heading to the bathroom. Draco smirked then put both arms behind his head and fell into a soft sleep.

He was awakened by the soft sounds of drawers opening and closing. He opened his eyes and looked around the room. He spotted her, wrapped in a small towel, but big enough to cover her. Cho turned around. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you" she whispered.

"It's fine, I wanted to wake up." He said almost choking at the site of her changing right in front of him. Granted it was dark so he couldn't see anything but the thought made him wonder.

She crawled under the covers and snuggled up next to him. Her hair was still damp from the shower, and felt cool on his bare chest. With one arm still behind his head and moved the other in order to cover her shoulder. He pulled her close so that her head was resting directly beneath his own. He loved this, how they fell asleep together every night and woke up together every morning. His mind began to drift back to all the questions about the return to school. The train would be where everyone heard about it. Then when the walked into the Great Hall, hand in hand, the whispering would start.

Then suddenly all thoughts vanished as Draco closed his eyes and listened to the soft breathing of his girlfriend. It was slow and steady but he could tell she had not yet gone to sleep. He removed the arm behind his head and wrapped it around her waist.

Cho reached up and placed a hand on his soft chest and stroked it back and forth. "Draco?" she whispered.

"Hmm" came his voice.

"You're thinking about it again aren't you"?

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm thinking of you now, and the fact that you just changed in front of me." He said slyly. She swatted at him. "You horny buzzard" she said teasingly.

He titled his head down to meet hers a placed a tender kiss on her lips. "Can you blame me?" he said after they had parted. Cho smirked. We should probably get some sleep. We're going to Diagon Alley tomorrow.

They feel asleep in each other arms content as can be. Little did they know whom they would run into at Diagon Alley tomorrow.

*DIAGON ALLEY*

They walked down the tight streets, pushing past people and saying "hi" to random people from school. They got their new robes and their new potions ingredients. All they had left to get were their books, before they could go and look at quidditch supplies. Draco and Cho walked into Flourish and Blots holding hands. There weren't too many people in there. Then they heard a voice, a stern voice. "I told you to have my spell book in by this date and you can't do that one thing for me! You despicable disgrace to the wizarding name!"

Draco froze. He knew that voice. It was the voice he had left earlier in the summer and hoped to not encounter anytime soon.

Cho felt Draco's grip on her hand tighten. She looked at his face. It was still yet she knew something was wrong.

Then they heard another voice. "Oh, Mr. Malfoy! How lovely it is to see you again. How are you doing?" It was Cho's mother.

"I am fine, and yourself. You are looking very well." Came Mr. Malfoy's voice.

"I am doing very well, we are so glad you sent Draco to stay with us this summer, he has been quiet the gentleman. Not to mention he has captured my daughter's heart." Mrs. Chang said with a slight laugh.

"Oh, well I'm delighted that you enjoyed his company. I am sorry I was unable to write you a letter before his arrival. But do tell me, you say he has captured your daughter's heart? Well that was bound to happen. He was terribly jealous of all those other wizards she was with previously. I am so glad he has found a decent witch to be with. I do hope this relationship goes far. Who knows we might someday be related."

Cho looked at Draco who was staring straight ahead. She wrapped her arms around his waist. "It'll be ok," she whispered. For the first time he looked down at her.

"I hope so" he replied. He put an arm around the back of her neck and pulled her to him as a group of people hurried past them out of the store. He was looking after them as he felt a presence appear.

"Draco" came a stern voice.

Cho immediately turned around but held on to Draco's hands.

"Mr. Malfoy! How lovely it is to see you." Cho said releasing one of Draco's hands and presenting it to his father.

Lucius took it and lightly placed a kiss on the top. "My my my, Ms. Chang you look absolutely breath taking." He said with a slight smile. "I am most delighted that you and Draco are finally realizing you feelings for one another. I hope that one day you might be part of our family." He added.

Cho blushed at this. "Sir, I believe you are looking far ahead."

"Not too far" Draco spoke for the first time.

She turned to look at him, speechless.

Mr. Malfoy turned his attention to his son. "Draco, I am most pleased at your actions this summer, however running away from me was not one of them, I expect better of you. As I said before though, it is time you were looking into your future, and I believe Ms. Chang is a good place to start. I will see you over Christmas. Have a nice year son, your mother sends her greetings." With a slight nod to them he vanished as quickly as he had come.

Draco's mouth fell open. Did his dad just tell him something nice? Oh my gawd. Cho turned around to face him again.

"I told you everything would be alright," She said with a smirk.

They left the bookstore after receiving all their books for the new year. They decided to go and get ice cream before heading back home. Mrs. Chang went to sit with some other mothers from Hogwarts, as Cho and Draco found a small table in the back. They were enjoying each other's company when another person appeared.

"What's this Draco, please don't tell me you're dating this whore." Cho's eyes flashed with anger as she looked up and saw Marcus Flint. Before Draco could do anything Cho had stood up and had him pined against the wall by his neck. Between gasping for breaths Marcus laughed. "You're a girl, you can't do anything to me" he spat. Cho sneered.

"You obviously don't know me very well." She said curtly. Draco went to say something but Cho but a hand up. "Let me handle this" she said sternly. Just then two of Marcus' Slytherin friends came up behind Cho and each grabbed one of her arms.

"Gawd you people are stupid" she said, apparently bored. She step back and turned her arms over quickly, thus throwing both boys on the floor. They landed on their backs with a thud. Cho shook her head and returned her attention to Marcus. "So Wang, can I have an evening session with you one night?" he laughed.

" It's Chang and sorry, I'm not into being a lesbo, not like you could afford me anyways. You obviously can't even afford to fix your teeth. Which is probably why you're a seventh year and haven't had girlfriend yet." She said then sneered again. Cho hit the wall right next to Flint's head, causing him to shut eyes. Then she turned and walked out of the store. Once outside Draco grabbed her arms. "Are you alright?" he asked worriedly. She laughed.

"I'm fine" Cho then cupped her hands over her face with a horrified look on her face.

Draco jumped "What's wrong?" he asked.

"I was just thinking about that incident, and, Draco.......I sneered." She said slowly lowering her hands.

Draco burst into laughter. "Yes you did. It was very good I might add." He wrapped his arms around her waist. "Come on let's go home."

A/n~ okies so I hope you guys liked this chapter; going back to Hogwarts is next!! Whoohoo leave me reviews!!