A/N: Sorry to confuse you. They weren't in the middle of the Hall in the kiss. Draco had ran outside of it, and she soon followed. I'm trying to make this as clear and detailed as I can. Let me know if I can do anything else to help make this a better story.

Chapter 8

I quickly pull out of his warm in brace, though reluctantly. No one can see us like this. One reason would be as Head Boy and Girl we should be enforcing the rules, not breaking them. The other two reasons would be Harry and Ron. I can't hurt them like this. Yeah, I know that it shouldn't matter anymore. It's clear that Lucius is dead, as well as the rest of the Death Eaters. Draco is no longer a threat. But that's not the problem.

Draco has always been the enemy. From our first day at the castle he was always the enemy. His status cannot change overnight. If I know Harry and Ron, and I do, they are not going to forgive and forget as easily as I have. And them catching me in Draco's arms is only going to start a fight.

He looks at me with sadness in his eyes. He looks so lost. This is the same way he looked when this year began. Like a lost boy. And I completely understand why. The only problem is I am the only one that understands. I am the only one who knows how his life has been. I am the only one who has heard the story first hand. I am the only one who really senses his pain.

"I'm sorry" I whisper. "It's just not the right time" I say quickly. I feel a sick feeling in my stomach. I feel like someone is watching me. I shrug it off. "I like you Draco, I really do. Can we talk about it later?" I ask him. I don't know how to handle this right now. I don't know what to say to him.

I'm being stupid and I know it. I know I can explain things to Harry and Ron and they will believe me eventually. But I am a wimp. I am too scared to tell them. I am scared they will find out I like Draco, but I have no good reason. I am just being weak.

"I will tell you what I will do. I will go back in the Hall, and meet you in the common room after the dance. I have some things I need to take care of, and then I will take care of us" I tell him. He doesn't have a clue what I'm talking about. The only thing he understands about me is that he doesn't understand me at all. But he knows I'm smart, he knows I have good judgment. So he lets me go, though reluctantly. He disappears down the corridor with his hands in his pockets and proceeds up the stairs. That muggle suit did compliment his form nicely.

*********

Hermione headed back in the hall. Once again all eyes were on her. Her pink gown swished around her ankles as she appeared to be floating. She was so happy inside, and only hoped that her friends would feel the same way.

She spotted Harry dancing with Lavender and of course both turned to stare as she walked up to them. "Can I cut in?" she asked Lavender. Of course she was granted permission to dance with her best friend. She carefully put her arms around him and began to sway to the beat.

"So what the hell was that about?" he asked as nonchalantly as he could. But he was angry. He was angry that his enemy had put his lips on his best friend. Angry that Hermione had to touch that slimeball. He was just angry.

"I don't know Harry. I didn't know he was going to do that" she tried to convince him. But she knew he was mad. This was going to be harder than she thought. But he had to know tonight. She had to tell him now. "Look Harry, there's more to the story than you know".

He looked at her with suspicion in his eyes. More to the story? What did that mean? Had this been going on for a while? No that couldn't be it. Hermione would never associate with him voluntarily. That would never happen. He was sure of it. "What are you talking about Hermione? You need to explain".

"You know Harry, I don't believe we have ever danced together. Even when we dated and we had the Valentine's Day dance. You never danced with me. Even when I begged you, you would not dance with me. Why was that? You were just dancing with Lavender" she suddenly asked. It had never dawned on her, but now it did.

"I don't believe that's really important here. I just thought I would give her one dance, and you cut in on it. Now I'm going to have to dance another one" he responded.

"Fine, dance with her. I don't want to dance with you anymore Harry Potter" she replied. She was feeling worked up. The prospect of telling him about Draco made fear flood through her mind. She stormed away from him. Her emotions were running at an all time high and she knew it.

Soon she spotted Ron dancing with a little blonde girl dressed as a pixie. She would try him next, although he would react the worst she was sure. "May I cut in she asked the young girl". Both Ron and the girl looked a little unpleased about the question, but the girl stepped back anyway.

"Hermione, I was busy" he told her as she put her arms around his neck. "I'm so sorry Ron, but I just wanted to talk to you".

He seemed clueless as always. He had been so busy dancing checking out all the females at the dance he had not even seen the spectacle that had happened only moments ago. "About me and Draco". A look of confusion swept over his freckled features.

"I'm sorry if he is giving you a hard time Mione, but can we deal with him later? Katie and I were having a nice little time dancing". He was ignoring her. Just like Harry did, he was going to just ignore her. Fine. She didn't need them anyway. She stalked away from Ron. She was on the far side of the hall this time and proceeded through the middle to the exit on the other side. Before she could get there she was intercepted by Draco himself.

"Who cares if they know? Why do you care if you tell them right now?" he asked simply. "Just be with me now. We can let them know right now". He took her by the hand as the music stopped. "Sonorus" he said as he pointed his wand to his throat.

"My gift is my song And this one's for you And you can tell everybody That this is your song It may be quite simple but Now that it's done I hope you don't mind That I put down in words How wonderful life is Now you're in the world" he sang to her as the swayed to his beat.

"Draco, everyone is going to stare". He only smiled back. That was the point.

"It's a little bit funny this feeling inside

I'm not one of those who can easily hide

I don't have much money but boy if i did

I'd buy a big house where we both could live

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no

Or a man who makes potions in a traveling show

I know it's not much but it's the best I can do

My gift is my song and this one's for you How wonderful life is while you're in the world

I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss

Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross

But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song

It's for people like you that keep it turned on

So excuse me forgetting but these things i do

You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue

Anyway the thing is what I really mean

Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen"

He continued to sing to her and only her until the song was done. All eyes were on them obviously as his voice had taken over the entire hall. "Quietus" he said to himself. "Now they know. What are you going to do about it?" he asked with a smile. She only smiled back. Part of her was scared, part was embarrassed, but mostly she was relieved. She was relieved that everybody would know.

She looked over to see Harry staring at her in horror. "I'm going to do this" she replied with a smile and captured his lips in a kiss. It was now Draco's turn to have a look of surprise. "I think it's time we get out of here". He held out his arm to her and she took it with her own. With all eyes on them they exited the Great Hall that night with their heads held high.

She had been right. Hold your head high and be strong and no one will see you are troubled inside. Now she held her head up high because she was happy. She knew it would be too good to last, but she could worry about that later. Right now she was going to spend her evening with Draco, and she couldn't have been happier.

She headed up to the common room leaving gaping mouths and stares behind her. Even the teachers could not believe the spectacle they had just beheld. The two climbed the stairs and up to the snoring portrait. Their portrait seemed to be sleeping all the time. None the less they spoke the password and the frame swung open allowing them access to their home. Hermione looked up at her prince. "My you do look handsome in your tux" she said sweetly. He smiled down at her and took her in his arms. "And you smell like heaven" she said as she leaned into his chest, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

"You look like an angel" was all he could reply. He held her and closed his eyes, while resting his head on hers. "I was afraid you would be mad about what I did out there" he confessed to her. She loosened her grip on him and looked up into his eyes. Those eyes that were so easy to get lost in.

"I never would have expected that in a million years. But I couldn't have waited a million years anyway. I didn't think you could ever like me in that way" she confessed to him. She didn't feel good enough when she was around him anymore. "I used to feel superior to you" she said regretting it the moment it came out, "now I feel like I will never be good enough for you".

He smiled down on her. "And I feel the same way about you. Isn't it odd how these things work out?" She smiled back at him. "I still can't believe you kissed me back. I expect to wake up from my dream any moment now".

She pinched his side and he squirmed away from her. "Looks like you aren't dreaming tonight" she said with a smile. They sat down on the couch and sipped hot cocoa together that night. There was no sexual contact that night. It was emotion, pure and true. It can be a powerful thing. They talked about everything that night. . . everything that they hadn't talked about before. They laughed and joked. In the early hours of the morning they finally both dozed off in each other's arms. Both were happier than they had been in a long time. The only issue left would be facing Harry and Ron in the morning, a prospect neither of them wanted to think about.

A/N: OK it's a short one. I'm sorry about that. I did most of this chapter in no point of view, because some people requested that. I'm trying to keep everyone happy. I just feel it's easier to show emotion if I am in their POV. Tell me what you think about the latest. The next chapter might not be up until Monday. . . we shall see. REVIEW!