Authors Note:

I know usually I do not place my authors' note at the beginning, but I figured I would give everyone a heads up. This chapter is somewhat uh-err-sexual. Therefore, the rating for this chapter is a very mild Rated R. I understand though that some people are uncomfortable by these things, so I figured I would give you all a heads up before I am sued. On with the show! Warning: It is a long one!

Draco Malfoy

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

"Who gave me you permission to rearrange me?

Certainly not me

Who told you that it was all right to love me?

Certainly not me.

I was not looking for no love affair

So why you want to fix me

I was not looking for no love affair

And now you want to mold me

I was not looking for no love affair

Now you want to kiss me

I was not looking for no love affair

Now you want to control me Hold me" 'Certainly' Erykah Badu

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

Oddly, Draco was relieved at the fact that his eyes stung too badly to be opened, because he could hear whimpering coming from the striking dark-haired Gryffindor, tightly clutching his hand.

"It looks awful." She managed to sniffle. Draco gave her a smug grin, even though he could not see her; his eyes covered in tight bandage, he turned towards the direction that her voice was being emitted from.

"It feels awful." He managed to grumble. The girl grabbed his hand and squeezed it heartily.

"Where's Sam?" Draco suddenly thought, his minds returning to the dire duel that occurred that night in the Great Hall. Draco shook his head dismally; as he recalled the first thing, he could remember from the conversation.

*~*~*~*~Flashback*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Draco sat dazedly at the Slytherin table; Sam sitting in silence by his side. Draco mindlessly moved his food about his plate. He could feel the intense glares he was getting from the students behind him. Draco looked up and watched Blaise and Pansy walk into the Great Hall. Blaise stared at Draco, a look of utter hate on his face, and motioned Pansy to sit beside him. Pansy looked at Blaise uneasily, before looking at Draco. Much to his surprise, Pansy slowly made her way towards Draco, sitting directly across from him. Draco dropped his fork, a bead of sweat rolling slowly down his forehead.  Sam sensing Draco's paranoia remained silent.

"Look." Draco said suddenly. Pansy looked up at him. Draco could still see the pained expression etched in her face; Draco suddenly began feeling guilty.

"Pansy, what I said this morning was…" Draco paused, from the corner of his eye he saw Blaise stand up quickly and sit down beside Pansy. Pansy's eyes remained on Draco, her eyes wide as if she was waiting in anticipation for the satisfaction of knowing Draco was seeking her clemency. Draco reached for his tie, as he felt his airway began to constrict in an impending anxiety attack. It had been months since he had his last anxiety attack. Even though his voices were gone, Draco could feel his mental stability taking a turn for the worse. Draco groaned as he loosened his tie, Blaise was still fiercely scowling at him.  Draco cleared his throat before speaking.

"It was cruel, and wrong. I shouldn't have said it, and I never really meant to hurt you." Draco said, speaking straight from his heart. The fire-red headed Slytherin looked up at him sheepishly, Blaise's disapproving gaze snapped quickly unto Pansy. 

"Honestly?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Draco nodded. Pansy opened her mouth to say something when Blaise pushed her forcefully on the arm.

"Shut it Pansy. You shouldn't even be listening to this git. You heard him this morning, he hates us. He thinks he's better than us Pansy." Blaise snapped; Draco could feel his jaw clench, and a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"I don't hate you." Draco said; his voice was strained.

"Right." Blaise snorted sarcastically. Draco glared at him, and Blaise continued to stare back at him.

"I can see right through you." Blaise taunted, "Everything you said this morning, you fucking meant it. You meant it all." Blaise slowly picked up the knife besides Pansy's plate, slowly running his finger over the razor sharp blade.

"All of a sudden do you think your better than us?" Blaise asked Draco. By his use of the word us, Draco assumed that he meant Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy and himself. Draco shook his head viciously; his sense of superiority over everyone came crashing down with the death of his family. 

"No?" Blaise asked smugly. "I can see right through your bullshit Draco Malfoy. You've always thought you were better than us. With your fucking mansion in the countryside, all the shit your father used to buy you, and your parents' power. You always felt superior over us, you felt superior over everyone. Honestly Draco, how long have I known you?" Blaise asked forlornly.

"All my life." Draco said hoarsely, his blood boiling, but Draco remained expressionless. Pansy had bowed her head in an apparent attempt to stay out of the confrontation.

"All our fucking lives. Every since your parents died." Blaise paused; he looked at Sam for the first time in several minutes. "Every since he came here, you've got your fucking priorities mixed up. You're putting that shit." Blaise pointed the knife in his hand towards Sam, "and those bitches over in Gryffindor, over us, your true friends. We stood behind you for all these years." Blaise growled. "All these years." He repeated again. Draco's eyes, which had been resting on his plate, suddenly looked up at Blaise, his heart catching in his chest. Before he could speak, Sam muttered something under his breath, and then finally spoke aloud.

"That's it Blaise. Let's end this right now." Sam snapped. Blaise looked up at him.

"And he speaks." Blaise scoffed sarcastically, lifting an eyebrow in genuine interest. "How do you suppose we end this?" Blaise snapped, he quickly began running his finger over the blade of the knife again.

"Duel. Let's duel right now. If I win, you need to piss off and leave Draco and I alone. If you win, I'll give you what you fucking want. I'll leave." Sam said gruffly. Draco's eyes widened in surprise, Sam couldn't leave.

"What?" Draco spat. Sam looked at Draco, his eyes ablaze in fury. Blaise stared at him in surprise.

"You just can't walk out. This is Hogwarts, its not that simple." He muttered.

"My father can make it simple. Not just anyone can transfer in to Hogwarts. It was difficult getting me in but," Sam's voice lowered "It won't be that hard getting me out. I can owl my father in a day, and I'll be gone in two." Sam snapped. Blaise smiled maliciously.

"Fine then. It's a deal." Blaise stuck his hand across the table, offering it for Sam to shake. Draco frowned,

"Don't do this. It's fucking stupid. You can't leave Hogwarts." Draco snapped. Sam ignored him and took Blaise's hand anyway. He turned to Draco and frowned before standing up and pulling his wand from the pockets of his school robes. Blaise did the same, before slowly taking his own robes off. Blaise shifted his eyes from Sam to silently look up at the teachers' table. All the teachers seemed to be engrossed in a jovial conversation.

"Come on." Blaise said haughtily. He slowly pushed Pansy, Draco's, and a group of terrified first years plates aside, and crawled into a crawling position on the table. Sam followed suit, until they were crouched over, facing each other several feet away from each other.

"Blaise, get off the table you prat." Draco snapped. Pansy, fearing of what would happen next, and the consequences of Blaise's and Sam's foolish decision, finally joined in with Draco, trying to get one or the other of the two engaged boys to surrender.  However, they both refused to back down, the next few moments happened so quickly, yet they seemed to happen so slowly for Draco. Draco watch Sam mutter the rules to Blaise.

"One match. Three steps back, count of three. On three turn around, one spell. First person to get hit by a hex loses." Sam muttered. Draco frantically tried to loosen his tie again, which was still feeling like an iron chain around his neck, as he looked on helplessly; glued to his spot. Half of him had a strong confidence in Sam, because his father was an auror, but then his other, more practical half, was worried for Sam. Blaise Zabini was never one to follow rules, and was not well trained in the sacred art of dueling. The two slowly stood up, the look of pure intensity in each of their eyes was frightening. The two Slytherins slowly raised their wands to their faces and turned around. They slowly took one step forward. Draco could feel his stomach lurch, as he noticed his fellow housemates look up, mostly in pure entertainment, unaware of the magnitude of the impending duel. Two steps, the ever-watchful eye of Professor Dumbledore suddenly shifted unto the pair, unknowingly to Draco.  Three steps, even though it was the count of two, Blaise Zabini quickly turned around on the ball of his foot, and pointed his wand; Draco the only person hearing him mutter a curse underneath, an unforgivable curse, that Draco never expected him to have the sheer nerve to use. A flash of green light shot out of Blaise's wand, hitting Sam in the back. Draco's eyes widened in horror as Sam slowly slumped to the table, landing with a loud clump. Blaise began twitching slightly, before ceasing movement. The girl, whose plate Sam had fell on, thinking that he was dead, suddenly let out a shrill shriek. Before Draco could even think twice, his anger suddenly came to the surface. He leaped unto the table, reaching for his wand simultaneously, and turned to face Blaise. Blaise glared at him in detest.

"Don't do it Draco." Blaise snapped. Draco remained silent; no words could describe the temporary hate he was holding for the young man he had once called a friend. Draco pointed his wand at him; Blaise did the same. They both were hit by each other's curses, falling back unto the table in pain. Draco could feel a painful stinging sensation in his eyes, but quickly passed out from the pain. The last thing he could remember was Blaise, the young man turning around and pointing his wand at the young Australian man, and uttering an Unforgivable.

End of Flashback

"Where's Sam?" Draco asked again after Eva failed to give him an answer. Draco felt the sudden warmness from her hands upon his cold pale face. Draco slowly brought his hands to her face.

"He's in St. Mungo's." Eva finally replied sorrowfully. Draco did not fully understanding the situation. His head was throbbing, and he found it hard to recall what had put him in the Infirmary in the first place, yet alone Sam in St. Mungo's. St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries was a magical hospital situated in an old department store building in Muggle London.

"What? Why?" Draco asked confused. Draco could hear Eva sigh loudly as she leaned over and squeezed his hand.

"They took him away after you put that hex on Blaise. He was knocked unconscious, and they couldn't get him to wake up."  Eva explained. Draco sighed, his mind drifting unto the duel.

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have let them do it." Draco mumbled softly, even though his eyes were shut, he could tell that Eva was crying.

"Draco." Eva said slowly, her voice low. "What were you and Blaise fighting about?" Eva asked. Draco's mouth suddenly went dry, he could not tell Eva the truth because she would ask questions, but then he could not lie to her because he already had been hiding things from her for months now. Draco sighed again before speaking.

"It was nothing." Draco replied blandly. "Is Sam going to be alright?" Draco asked quickly trying to change the subject. Eva removed her hand from his, and Draco could hear her footsteps against the cold floor.

"I don't know Draco." Eva mumbled, the tone of her voice suddenly changing. Draco sat up slowly in his bed, looking around blindly; unaware of where Eva was in the room. He heard Eva whisper something to herself, before hearing her footsteps walk towards him slowly.

"Blaise was upset with Sam." Draco muttered, he really did not want to tell Eva what had angered him so badly that morning. He knew she would not understand. Draco stuck his hands out, in hopes of touching Eva, but his hands met nothing but thin air. Eva remained silent, inconspicuous to the now sight impaired Draco. "He didn't like Sam's new girlfriend. She's Muggleborn." Draco paused; he could only hear Eva's faint breathing.

"Are we alone?" Draco asked suddenly. He needed her to respond, he hated the fact he felt he was talking into thin air.

"Yes." Eva said hastily, Draco noticed her the agitation in her voice.

"This girl, she's Hermione Granger isn't she?" Eva asked. The mention of Hermione's name sent an odd shiver down Draco's spine. Draco slowly lay back down in the cold sheets of the Infirmary bed. He sighed, staring off into the pitch-black darkness of his mind.

"Eva. Everything," Draco paused as he felt his voice lower. "Everything you heard about me today, most like is true." Draco said curtly.

"No!" Eva snapped loudly, she walked towards the bed. Draco stiffened as she crawled into the bed beside him; he sat up and brought the covers up to their chests.

"Draco, I…" Eva's voice trailed off. "I've been hearing certain things about you." Eva paused again. "You and Hermione Granger." Eva spat the girls name out as if it was bitter to the taste. Draco could feel his face contort into a wince, a wince of regret that he never informed Eva about the yearlong affair he had with Hermione. When Draco failed to respond, Eva let out a loud sob. Draco slowly put his arm around her, but Eva pushed him off. Draco could feel an odd stinging sensation in his swollen eyes.

"I assume it's true?" Eva asked, even though the tone of her voice made it sound more like a statement. Draco felt like kicking himself, he did not understand how Eva knew. Was it the looks that Hermione and him exchanged on a daily basis? Had Hermione told Potter and Weasley the watered down version of their affair, or even worse the real version? Draco was not sure how Eva had found out, but it was too late for him to fix his mistake. He could not repent himself for deceiving her all those months. Draco lowered his head, preparing himself for the impending breakup. Much to his surprise, Eva pulled him into a semi-awkward embrace; she planted a firm kiss on his cheek.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Eva asked, her voice was strained. Draco sighed, there were so many reasons why he had not told a soul about his relationship with Hermione. Mostly, it hurt too much to speak of the affair, and secondly, Draco often feared of what others would say about the girl whom he loved so deeply. After a long pause, Draco finally spoke.

"I was afraid of what you would think Eva. I was afraid of what everyone would think. When it first started." Draco paused, "When it first started, I felt like I was the one in control. It was physical and I tried not to care. But something about her was just intoxicating. I needed her. I still need her, she was everything to me. Then as our relationship got more intense, I found myself becoming very much attached to her. I was falling hard for her, and I couldn't stand to see her with anyone else. I needed her, like…" Draco struggled for the words to describe his feelings for Hermione. "I don't know." He mumbled; Draco tightened his grip around Eva's hand. "She just didn't need me like I needed her. She's all wrong for me." Draco sighed. Draco heard Eva sniffle; she leaned over and kissed him tenderly. Draco returned the kiss. He was well aware that he was with Eva now, but inside, his heart would imagine, almost wish, and yearn for Hermione to be in his arms instead.

Draco sat uncomfortably in an armchair besides an abnormally pale-faced Sam to his left, and a guilty looking Blaise Zabini on the right. They sat before Dumbledore, and a scowling Professor Snape. Draco, whose eyes had healed a week after the duel, looked up at Dumbledore reminiscing on the fateful day he found out the news of his parents' suicide.

"Well hello boys." Dumbledore smiled. Professor Snape frowned at Dumbledore's light mood. Dumbledore folded his hands upon his large oak desk, and turned his attention to the quiet Sam. "Welcome back to Hogwarts Sam!" Dumbledore smiled. Sam smiled at him hesitantly, Sam had returned from his weeklong stay at St. Mungo's just two days prior.

"As you three know, you have been sent here to speak with the head of your house, Professor Snape, and myself about a confrontation you had in the Great Hall." Dumbledore said merrily. Blaise stared off into the distance, as if he was not even listening, and Sam had an odd glossed over look in his eye. Draco had noticed Sam had not been himself since he had returned to school, and Draco still avoided talking about the night of the duel, yet alone his controversial outburst.

"Are you all away of the seriousness of your actions?" Snape spat, speaking for the first time since they had sat down in Dumbledore's office. The three boys remained silent; Snape rolled his eyes and stepped forward.

"Mr. Austin, your inability to think your actions through before you perform them landed you in the hospital." Snape snapped; he paused to look at Sam, who had bowed his head in cowardice. Draco looked over at him from the side of his eye; he knew Snape was not particularly fond of Sam. "It was you who initiated the duel am I correct?" Snape asked. Sam slowly nodded. Draco watched Sam nervously twiddle a large ring on his ring finger. Snape shook his head, and Dumbledore remained silent. Draco could feel the old man's gaze upon him, but Draco kept his stone gray eyes upon Snape.

"Mr. Malfoy, your inability to step up and end the duel resulted in the loss of your sight for five days." Snape scolded. Snape turned to Blaise and shook his head, contorting his face into his usual scowl.

"Mr. Zabini, your inability to control yourself and your irresponsibility was despicable." Snape said, his voice lowering. "You could have killed Mr. Austin!" Snape said. As the greasy-haired potions professor said this, Draco could see from the corner of his eyes Blaise's face contort into an uncomfortable grimace.

"The Daily Prophet is littered with rumors about the unrest inside the castle now. We already have enough to deal with her Mr. Zabini, we do not have time to have our students having duels in the middle of dinner." Snape muttered. Dumbledore, who had remained silent for Snape's dissection, sat back in his large chair his hands folded together wisely.

"Now Severus, I'm sure the boys know the seriousness of their own actions. But." Dumbledore paused. "We cannot change the past. Can we?" Dumbledore asked all of them, even though Draco could feel the wise wizard's eyes fall upon him again. All three boys shook their heads simultaneously, fearing the worse as their punishments. Draco began to prepare himself for his possible expulsion from Hogwarts.

"However, I have a question I'd like to ask you Mr. Zabini." Dumbledore turned to face a sullen faced Blaise. Blaise looked up at him nervously. Professor Dumbledore looked up at him, an odd gleam in his eye.

"The spell you used on Sam here. What was it?" Dumbledore asked. Draco could feel his heart drop into his pelvis. His mouth suddenly felt dry as he remembered the night of the duel. Sam had used an unforgivable on Sam, it had backfired, but the sheer power of the spell was enough to knock Sam unconscious for a week. Draco thought about it constantly, it even haunted him in his dreams. He would close his eyes and see Blaise, wand pointed, his mouth forming the words "Crucio."  He could picture Sam's body twisting, contorting, and jerkingly violently, the movements causing him a nauseating intense pain. In his dreams, Draco would turn towards Blaise. Blaise's eyes would be alit with pure seething malevolence, and slowly he would turn into a much older man, a man with long blonde hair, and small stony gray eyes. While sleeping, Draco's stomach would lurch violently before he would wake up in a sweat, his skin cold and clammy. Draco has had this dream for exactly seven nights.

"Excuse me?" Blaise asked, snapping Draco out of his thoughts. Draco looked down at his own feet, avoiding Sam and Snape's attention, whose eyes had immediately shifted upon him.

"Mr. Malfoy used a quite entertaining hex that caused you to sprout yellow feathers over your body. You used a hex that caused Mr. Malfoy's eyes to swell shut. You also used a hex of some sort on Mr. Austin, forcing us to send him to St. Mungo's. What spell did you use on Mr. Austin?" Dumbledore asked, his tone quite genial. Draco could feel his chest began to rise and fall rapidly as he struggled to breath. Draco clutched his robes, attempting to calm himself down. Dumbledore seemed to be ignoring Draco's impending attack.

"I…I…" Blaise began to stammer in pure horror. Draco glared at him; he knew that Blaise was well aware of the consequences of using an Unforgivable Curse on any living being. The use of an Unforgivable Curse such as in Blaise's case the Cruciatus Curse, ill performed or not, was automatic grounds for a life sentence to Azkaban Draco looked over at Blaise, even though Blaise wasn't exactly the best friend to have, he was still his friend. His best friend. Draco could not live with himself if he watched another person close to him disappear from his life. First, it was Hermione, then his parents. Draco cleared his throat before he spoke.

"He used a hex that I taught him two summers ago. It's supposed to make the recipient sprout a tail. He must have said it incorrectly" Draco lied. Dumbledore turned to him and looked at him suspiciously through the lenses of his half moon glasses. Professor Snape muttered something that was incomprehensible to Draco.  Dumbledore sighed; he leaned forward in his chair.

"All three of you will receive six weeks of detention, up until the Christmas Holiday. After the Holiday, you will pick up your detentions for a month." Dumbledore said softly. Draco was surprised that neither one of them had received the worse punishment, expulsion. Draco slowly rose from his seat and made his way for the door when he heard Professor Dumbledore's soft voice call him back into the office. Sam looked up at Draco, giving him a sympathetic look before slowly leaving the room. Professor Snape shook his head disapprovingly at Draco before exiting after Sam.

"Sit down Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore commanded. Draco stared at him, before he slowly sat down. Dumbledore remained silent for what seemed like hours, before he spoke.

"Is there something you need to tell me about your friend Mr. Zabini?" Dumbledore asked. Draco shook his head quickly, then opened his mouth and squeaked a small, "No sir."  Dumbledore stared at the young man wearily.

"Well… how have you been doing Draco?" Dumbledore asked gently. Draco's eyes slowly began to dance across the room. He had been having problems with paying attention while talking one on one with people for years.

"I'm fine I suppose." Draco mumbled, his voice low. Dumbledore stared at him as if he was picking his mind apart, even though neither of them was speaking.

"Draco, I know you are a very loyal young man. Loyalty is a great attribute to have." Dumbledore paused before Draco cut him off.

"Thank you sir." Draco replied quite mechanically. All his encounters with Professor Dumbledore were just that, mechanical. Draco refused for this man to see how badly he had been hurting since his parent's death. Draco knew he had made a grave mistake by exploding in front of Dumbledore the day of his parents' death. So Draco made sure he remained as emotionless and blank as possible, like an empty canvas.

"However it is possible for a person to be loyal to all the wrong people. Being loyal can contradict and endanger other people, and cause problems." Dumbledore started to explain. Draco tried to pretend that he was not listening, by looking off into the distance dazedly, and tapping his foot rhythmically against the leg of his chair.  Dumbledore changed positions in his seat, Draco could feel that he was not buying Draco's ignorant act.

"Draco. An Unforgivable Curse is just that, unforgivable. Rather performed incorrectly or correctly, they are grounds for severe punishment. I know you know that Mr. Malfoy. If you refuse to tell me the truth about your friend well then…" Dumbledore paused. Draco looked down at his Slytherin badge upon his chest, and his prefect's badge right under it.

"There's nothing I can do." Dumbledore said; his voice was unclear for Draco to decipher. He could hear a mixture of disappointment, and of anger.

"You may leave now." Dumbledore commanded. Draco rose to his feet and hastily rushed to the exit. Draco could feel a giant weight being lifted off his shoulders as soon as he escaped from Dumbledore's all knowing gaze. However, Draco could not deny the fact that he was afraid to death that he might be dealing with this secret again in the very near future.

The next morning, Draco awoke to the same fashion as the seven mornings before it. He awoke in a cold sweat, his mouth opened to scream but nothing came out.

Hermione Granger

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

"Moving down the streams of my lifetime

Pools of fascination in my sleep

Cooling off the fire of my longing

Warming up my cold within his heat

Bouncing down the walls of inhibitions

Evaporating all of my fears

Baptizing me into complete remission

Dissolving my condition with his tears

He's just like the water

I've  haven't felt this way in years

He's just like the water"

'Water' Lauryn Hill

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

Hermione hurriedly read the last pages of her thick novel. Hermione sighed loudly when she finished the last page; she tossed it carelessly to the side. Ron, who was sitting beside her, laughed loudly before returning to his chess game with Harry.

"Your fifth one this week." Ron said amusedly. Hermione scowled at him, Harry who had been absorbed in the chess came paused to look up at her apathetically.

"Restless now that you're with us again?" Harry asked quietly. Hermione grabbed an apple from a bowl sitting in front of her, and took a large bite. It was a quiet Thursday morning and Hermione sat in the mostly empty great hall. Most Hogwarts students had left for Christmas holidays, including Sam. Hermione however decided to stay at Hogwarts while her parents went on vacation to France. Hermione, who had grown considerably close towards Sam over the weeks, had gone through five epic size novels in his absence.

"I love being with you two." Hermione commented, taking another large bit out of her apple. The three Gryffindors were seated at one long table instead of the four house tables. Her lingered down the table where Draco was seated alone. His hair looked unkempt, and his eyes were bloodshot, he was holding a long piece of parchment in his hand. Hermione's eyes lingered to his soft pink lips that were slowly moving, as if he was reading the letter aloud to himself. He suddenly looked up at her and smiled wearily, Hermione caught off guard by the gesture slowly waved at him. Ron, who witnessed the exchange, coughed loudly before turning to Hermione.

"Did you just wave at Malfoy?" Ron asked boisterously. Hermione looked down at the table, her face flushing a bright shade of pink. Ron turned away from her and returned to his chess game, well aware that Hermione would not answer him. Harry flashed Hermione an odd look before doing the same. Hermione felt her heart sink; her relationship with Harry had been strained for nearly five months.  Whatever Hermione did, she could feel his calm green eyes upon her constantly. A look of disgust constantly befell his eyes, which saddened Hermione each time they fell upon her. Hermione slowly turned to an eating Ginny. Ginny slowly smiled at her being taking a small sip of orange juice.

"Missing Sam I see." Ginny stated. Hermione guiltily nodded. Her mind slowly lingered back to the week before when Sam said he loved her. At first Hermione was frozen, too shocked to respond. She could not say she loved him back because she was so confused. She was afraid that she might confuse her lust for Sam with love and make yet another mistake. Ginny patted her back, jarring Hermione from her thoughts. Hermione sighed, and put her head in her hands.

"I think it's for the best though. Three weeks away from him will do us some good." Hermione said softly, making sure that Ron and Harry could not hear her words.

"What?" Ginny asked confused. Hermione brushed a loose strand of her hair behind her hear before speaking.

"He said he loved me last week." Hermione whispered cautiously, looking both ways before taking another bite out of her apple. Ginny's eyes widened, she covered her hand over her mouth.

"Well." Ginny said slowly, "What did you say." Ginny asked. Hermione could feel her face flush yet again; she buried her face in her hands, trying to regain her composure. She breathed deeply before turned to the younger Gryffindor again.

"I.. I just stared at him. I didn't say anything, I didn't know what to say." Hermione muttered shamefully. Hermione could still remember the look in his eyes after he poured his heart out to her, and she remained silent.

"What did he say when you didn't say anything?" Ginny asked. Hermione bit her lip, before beginning the story. Ginny leaned in and Hermione slowly told her of the events of the night a week prior.

*~*~Flashback*~*~*

"You're the best person I've ever known and that's why I love you Hermione." Sam finished. Hermione, who was lying on top of him on the cozy couch of the long forgotten prefects common room on the fifth floor, stared at him incredulously.  Sam stared at her waiting for her to respond, his smile slowly fading when Hermione failed to respond. Hermione slowly crawled off him and picked up her robe, which she had lazily thrown to the floor an hour prior.

"It's late." Hermione said hoarsely. "We should both go back to our common rooms." Hermione slowly pulled her robes back over her school shirt and skirt. Sam slowly sat up and looked up at her. Hermione could feel her heartbreak as she watched a single tear roll from Sam's wide boyish eyes.

"Is that it?" he asked, his tone low. Hermione sighed as she sat back down unto the plush couch. She scooted close to him, and took his hand supportively.

"It's my fault Sam. I've been giving you the wrong message." Hermione said softly, she looked down at her prefect's badge, mainly to avoid Sam's reaction. Sam let out a small growl, even though he squeezed her hand at the same time.

"Wrong message." He spat slowly. Hermione groaned; she could not afford to fight with Sam. She had several papers due before the holidays were to began, and a crumbling relationship with her best friend. She could not afford to have her boyfriend upset with her also. Much to Hermione's surprise, Sam looked at her, a look of intense passion in his eyes; he placed his hands on both of her cheeks then kissed her tenderly. Hermione could feel her body relax, then Sam abruptly pulled away. "Hermione this is not what you think. I'm not interested in having sex with you. I'm not. Well I am…but not if your not ready." He said, his voice full of compassion. Hermione stared at him blankly, unsure of what to say back to him. Even she could not deny the fact that they shared a close mental bond and a strong sexual attraction. However, as they grew closer, and the lust grew more intense, Hermione would find herself trying with all her might to fight the temptation.  She learned from her previous experience with Draco that sex complicates everything, and her relationship with Sam was already complicated enough.

" 'Mione, I." Sam paused "It's alright if you don't feel the same. I just…" his voice trailed off, Hermione bit her lip hesitantly, he was still clutching her face tightly. Hermione kissed his forehead gently as his eyes started to well with tears.

"It's okay Sam. Really, it is." Hermione said softly. She ran her hands through is dirty blonde hair, "I shouldn't have said that." Hermione murmured. Sam wiped his eyes.

"Look at me." He muttered; his face was a bright pink color. Hermione felt her insides warm at the sight of him. She loved his face; it was perfect in an imperfect way. He had large wide eyes, a long round noise, and a boyish grin. When he smiled, he had exactly one dimple on his left side, and he had a barely visible scar from the corner of his eye to his ear. He had told her two months prior all about the fight where he had received the cut from. Sam slowly reached for his robes and pulled it on over his messy blonde locks.

"I'm sorry I said that 'wrong message' comment. I just feel uncomfortable talking with you about the whole…" Hermione paused, the tone of her voice lowered. "The whole sex issue. I'm pretty sure you've had a lot more experience then I am, and sometimes I feel that's what you want from me, but then I want to make you happy." Hermione rambled, she paused to look up at Sam who was looking at her, and his face flushed a bright red again. He sat down, placing his broad hands upon her knee.

"No 'Mione. I don't want to force you to do anything you don't want to." He said, he flashed her a reassuring smile. He squeezed her knee before he spoke again. "There's nothing wrong with being a virgin anyway." He smiled. Hermione could feel the blood rush to her head suddenly, suddenly hating herself for leading him to believe that she was a virgin. Hermione opened her mouth, but nothing came out, Hermione felt like her face was on fire. She had never felt more embarrassed and uncomfortable in his presence than she was now.

"I mean." Sam paused to put an around her as he sat back on the couch. "When you lose your virginity in the backseat of a van that smells like piss, it cheapens the whole experience.  I want your first time," Sam paused to pat her back lovingly. Hermione suddenly found it difficult to breath. "Even if it's not with me, to be special. Alright?" Sam asked gently. Hermione's eyes, which are abnormally protruding from her forehead, slowly turned to look at him. He smiled and kissed her cheek. "But." Hermione's voice trailed off, before Hermione even knew what she was saying, the four words she never should have said left her mouth.

"I'm not a virgin." She said; her voice was barely above a whisper. The loving smile on Sam's face quickly turned to a frown. Several emotions paraded across his face in a time span of several seconds.

"Your not?" he asked incredulously. Hermione shook her head, her face was a bright scarlet.

"I'm." Sam paused. "I'm bloody stupid." Sam's tone was difficult for Hermione to read. He put his head in his hands.

"No your not." Hermione snapped quickly. This was the most uncomfortable conversation she had ever had with Sam. For a split second, Hermione was tempted to tell Sam about Draco, but she could not bring herself to do it. She glanced up at the tall grandfather clock on the opposite side of the small room; it was ten after ten. Ten minutes past both their curfews.

"Yes I fucking am." Sam muttered. He muttered several obscenities under his breath before he turned to her.

"I don't want to sound like a fucking prat or anything but be honest. How many?" he asked, if he hadn't been so red, Hermione could have sworn he'd be green from jealousy.

"What?" she snapped. Sam muttered more obscenities under his breath when he realized the time.

"It's a conversation all couples should have. How many people have you been with 'Mione?" Sam said cringing. The words left his lips like they were venom. Hermione put her head in her hands self-consciously.

"How many girls have you been with? Twenty?" Hermione scoffed. Sam stared at her blankly and muttered something else underneath his breath.

"Stop it Hermione." He snapped. Hermione scooted away from him, and turned to stare off angrily in the distance. At times Hermione could feel her relationship with Sam suddenly switch from hot to cold at the drop of a dime.

"I'm serious. How many?" he asked, his tone growing more strained the more Hermione avoided the question.

"Well you answer me first Sam. How many girls?" Hermione snapped back. The couple was now seated three feet a part. Hermione found it strangely ironic how they had been snogging twenty minutes prior, and now were bickering like cats and dogs.

"Fine!" Sam said rather loudly causing Hermione to jump in surprise. Sam realizing this, lowered his tone, "Seven." His response caused Hermione's eyes widened in surprise. The number seemed rather steep for someone so young.

"Your sixteen years old and you've shagged seven girls already?" Hermione asked in incredulity.

"So." Sam snapped self-consciously.

"You're almost the equivalent of a french prostitute."

"Stop exaggerating 'Mione."

"I'm not."

"Yes you bloody are!"

"No."

"Yes!"

"No." Hermione snapped back, Hermione stopped to glare at him, it was finally dawning on her the pure foolishness of this argument. She looked over at an embarrassed Sam.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, even though she did not know why she had. Sam looked at her, his face still flustered. He sighed before he looked up at the time.

"It's alright I suppose. I'm going to bed." Sam muttered getting up and trudging to the door. Hermione felt her heart sink, she could not just let him leave upset. He would be leaving for Australia the next day.

"Sam." Hermione called after him. Sam turned around and looked at her, his face expressionless. Hermione slowly got up from the couch and approached him.

"One." She said hesitantly. Sam looked at her then sighed loudly.

"Our pasts are just that. Our pasts." He said soothingly. Hermione nodded, he enveloped her in the warmness and strength of his massive arms, and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. Hermione smiled, she felt cleansed.

*~*~*~End Of Flashback*~*~*~*

Ginny stared at Hermione in surprise and mild interest as she finished the detailed account.

"Hermione." She said softly. "Do you know what this means?" Ginny said in a somewhat light tone. Hermione smiled.

"I see a thing called love coming into the picture." Ginny giggled. Hermione looked down at the table, her face flushing a shade of pink again. Hermione also noticed that Ginny did not inquire about the mysterious person she lost her virginity to. Hermione was not ready to tell her about her relationship with Draco yet, Harry, Eva, Parvati, and Lavender knowing was causing enough strife in her life already. Hermione remained silent for the final few minutes, looking up at Draco shyly several times. As soon as the bell rang, Hermione said a quick goodbye to Ginny, Harry, and Ron before heading straight to the library.

As much as she would love to watch them scheduled snow fight with several other restless Gryffindors that day, Hermione had been dedicated to finish all over her work that was assigned to her over break. Hermione walked quickly to the library and situated herself into a dark corner in the library, a few shelves over from the restricted section.

Hermione sighed when she was in the safety of her own confine, the Hogwarts school library. With shelves upon shelves of books, Hermione could never become bored, and she had spent most of her Holiday vacation already in the library. Hermione let out a sigh as she opened up her Potions book. She worked on her Potions assignment, her mind often straying to her strange encounter with Sam the week before. No matter how hard Hermione tried to stop, she could not stop thinking about him. Then there were the friendly looks that Draco had been flashing her for a week. Hermione had grown so used to the vacant stares; when he actually showed an ounce of kindness towards her, it felt peculiar. Hermione, continuing on with her day dreaming, her mind drifting between Sam, Draco, her grades, Harry, Ginny, Eva's strange behavior after Blaise, Sam, and Draco's duel, and several other things. She even began to ponder about adventure free her sixth year at Hogwarts had been. The dark lord Voldemort had grown considerably strong, but the wizarding community failed to be rocked by any strange uprisings, disappearances, or mysterious deaths.  The wizarding world was at a dead standstill. Hermione brought her thoughts full circle back to Draco, when she thought of the death of his parents, and his several outbursts. Hermione sighed aloud when she thought how badly she desired to be at least friends with him again. She missed almost everything about him, his voice, his sarcasam, his intellect, their long conversations, and his scent. What surprised her the most, just the sheer memory of his strong hands massaging the insides of her soft thighs sent chills down of exhilaration down her spine.

"Hermione." She heard his voice whisper. Hermione assuming it was in her fantasy slowly slipped her hands inside her robes and rubbed her leg, imagining his touch.  Hermione quickly snapped out of her short-term daze, I'm with Sam. Hermione thought to herself. Hermione sighed loudly, when she heard his voice whisper again. Hermione, assuming her hormones had driven her crazy ignored what she assumed was a daydream. Suddenly she felt a soft hand upon her shoulder, Hermione felt her body stiffen. She slowly watched Draco sit down in the seat across from her. He smiled at her sheepishly. Hermione could feel her face flush beet red, was he just a figment of her imagination, or was he really there? He ran a hand through his hair, which he must have styled after breakfast.

"Hello." Draco said softly. Hermione stared at him blankly, trying to forget the fantasy she just had about him.

"Hello." She managed to reply. Draco stared at her a second, then smiled again. Hermione did the same, We must look like fools, sitting here grinning at each other like idiots. Hermione though to herself, she looked around to see if anyone was in the library besides them. The only person in their immediate vicinity was a tiny first year Hufflepuff whose head was buried in a book.

"So…" Draco paused; it appeared as if he was trying to find the right words to say to her.

"How have you been?" Hermione asked him quickly, when Draco had appeared to stop talking. Draco stared at her, changing positions in the hard wooden seat.

"I'm all right I suppose." He answered blandly. Hermione stared at him uncomfortably racking her mind, trying to come up with a way to induce small talk with him.

"Feels like forever since we've talked, eh?" she asked. The smile on Draco's face was quickly erased, and Hermione grimaced when she remembered the last time they had talked. It was the night of his parent's death.

"I'm sorry." She mumbled. Draco shook his head, and lifted his hand as if telling her to stop.

"It's alright really." He mumbled. He looked down at the tabletop.

"So what made you want to talk to me all of a sudden?" Hermione asked inquisitively. Draco stared at her blankly.

"Dunno." He shrugged. Hermione frowned. This Draco was far from the one she fell in love with.

"Hermione?" he asked, interrupting Hermione's temporary glowering. 

"What?" Hermione said, trying to keep the tone of her voice gentle. Talking to him felt like she was walking on glass, one wrong move and she would cut herself.

"There are so many things I want and need to say to you at the moment, and they just…" Draco paused; he ran his hand through his hair again. Hermione noticed this and assumed it must have been a nervous habit he had developed in her six month long absence form his life. "I need to be alone with you." Draco whispered softly. Hermione stared at him blankly, her consciousness was screaming at her to say no, but her heart was telling her much different. While her mind was screaming at her to stop, to think of Sam, to not go with Draco, but she did. She followed him up to the prefects' bathroom on the fourth floor.

Hermione had only used the lavish bathroom several times before during her fifth year. Draco sat down besides a window, and Hermione slowly followed him.

"So…" Hermione's voice trailed off. Her voice echoed off the white marble walls.

"Before I say anything, I need to apologize for being a git." Draco said abruptly. Hermione stared at him, she opened her mouth, but she could not think of anything to say.

"I'm sorry for not speaking to you for so long. I'm sorry for hurting you," Draco sighed; he shook his head and placed his head in his hands.

"When my parents died, I was wishing I'd die too." Draco's voice was barely above a whisper. Hermione felt slightly uncomfortable sitting besides Draco in an empty bathroom.

"I couldn't face my real emotions. I just kept it all in, I didn't have anyone to talk to, and Hermione," Draco paused. "I've never needed you more. But I know I don't deserve you. Your too good for me." Draco moaned; Hermione stared at him in mild surprise. The young man sniffled slightly, bringing his legs up against his body and wrapping his arms around them.

"That's not true. You know that." Hermione said gently. She placed her hand on Draco's back; the warmth of his skin caused her heart to skip a beat.

"Yes it's all true. I'm nothing now. I'm just a fucking orphan." Draco grumbled. Hermione failed to respond, but she kept her hand upon Draco's back. There was a long period of silence, before Draco spoke.

"Have you ever wondered what our lives would be like if you hadn't of ended things between us?" he asked glumly. Hermione thought about it for a second before she responded.

"Not really." She replied honestly. Draco turned to look at her, a strange glimmer in his eyes. "I have. I pictured us…together. No Sam… No Eva. But that's not reality. In reality, I'm just alone. I'm nothing without you just…"His voice trailed off. Hermione bit her lip holding back the tears coming to her eyes.

"I'm alone." He repeated vacantly. "Alone." He whispered again. Hermione stared at him in surprise, she didn't know what to say, but she couldn't find much to complain about being that this was the first time that he was willingly talking to her in months.

"Everything hurts 'Mione. I thought if I told everyone how I was feeling they'd understand me, but still no one understands. No one cares, Eva doesn't even care. I just want to make it stop hurting." Draco said, his voice was so low, Hermione had to strain to hear it. She stared at him in extreme confusion, then in surprise when he slowly placed his hand upon her cheek. Hermione's inner voices suddenly became quite shrill, screaming at her. But she ignored them, she was finally alone, with Draco.

As his lips met hers, Hermione could feel her heart almost sink into her pelvis. She forcefully kissed him back, the desire she had been holding for him for so long poured out of her through her lips. Her heart raced as his hands explored her body just like they did a year prior. Hermione's world began to spin so quickly around her until it was rotating so fast it appeared to be at a dead stand still. His hands explored her body touching her in places that caused her to moan in excitement. Hermione couldn't stop; she needed him at that moment more then ever. Hermione was finally feeling her skin upon his, his lips upon the sweetest places on her body; places only he would know.  She fumbled to remove him from the entangling black mass of cloth that was their robes. She laughed in pure exhilaration when she succeeded.

Even know she knew what she was doing was quite wrong, she couldn't stop. The pair rolled around on the floor struggling to free themselves for their robes. Hermione felt Draco's hand reach for her plain white cotton underwear. She moaned in excitement as they fell to the white marble floor. Even though her nagging inner voice was louder than ever, she continued to ignore them. She opened her legs and invited his love, as they became one. Two intertwined bodies meshed into one, breathing the same air, thinking the same thoughts, becoming almost the same being. Hermione closed her eyes; she did not notice the door slowly open. She could not hear over her own moans of elation, the gasp of surprise and shock at the sheer horror of what was going on. She did not see the tall lanky red-head look in, she did not hear his books clobber to the floor, and she did not hear him scramble to pick them up and bolt out the prefects bathroom on the fourth floor. All she could hear were the frantic beating of her and Draco's own hearts.

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

That was Part Eight! It took me awhile, but it's a long one though! Yay! Over eight thousand words, my longest chapter yet!  I apologize for cutting it off so suddenly, if I had kept going any longer the story would have needed it's own zip code! Please review! This chapter is one of my favorites, and it's nice and complete! So no one can complain! I put in more drama in the Slytherin house, a Dumbledore visit, (*snickers*), and an Eva and Draco scene. A Sam and Hermione scene, and finally a Draco and Hermione scene, a racy once at that. And GASP, who walked in on Draco and Hermione? I'm sure I gave it away. I at least wanted to plant the seed in everyone's head so you'd understand the next chapters.

 You people wouldn't believe how much I enjoyed writing this. It took me a while, but I had a lot of fun writing it. I wonder if this one will be hard to follow up…*pause*. Naw!

(I also worked on my term paper today! I've been writing all day!) That's all for now though. Sorry, that update took a while!

~Alisha~