A/N: Just a question I've always wanted to know. Do any guys read stuff on ffnet or is it just chicks??? And, I was being dumb the other day (as I usually am) and was looking through the different pairs, you know how you can pair them up, anyway, I put in Voldemort and Hermione and there are quite a few, and then I put in Hermione and Hagrid and I got the fright of my life. There is actually a story, and I decided to read it. People, trust me, it was scary. I don't want to say anything else just in case! ;)

Chapter 24: A New Beginning

It was half past seven. The sleet was falling down outside in torrents. Draco Malfoy was the solitary figure sitting in a corner sipping on his drink. Another hour passed. He had ordered five drinks by now and had been to the toilet six or seven times. The door opened again and Draco snapped his head up, hoping to see a brown bushel or hair. A brown bushel of hair did appear through the door, but it was flanked with the face of Hagrid. Draco turned back to his drink scowling. Another 10 minutes passed and Draco stood up out of frustration.

He stormed out of the pub and pulled his cloak up around him, turning his face away from the fierce rain. He then apparated to the gates of Hogwarts and entered. When he finally reached the warmth of the castle, he shook himself off and squelched of to the common room, leaving a trail of water for Filch to clean up.

"Where have you been?" Draco asked when he entered and saw Hermione sitting at a desk studying.

"Oh, I thought it was an open invitation, and I had a lot of work to get through," she said off handedly and went back to her work.

Draco clenched his jaws and then stripped of his cloak, laying it in front of the fire. "I assumed you wanted to meet me in private," he said finally.

"Then why go to the Three Broomsticks when I see you in private everyday? You should never assume anything Malfoy, it will do horrors to your social life," she said.

Malfoy just stood there steaming. How could she act like this when he had waited so long for her and he could be getting laid by some chick right about now? 'Good thought', he thought suddenly and left the common room.

Hermione hadn't meant to stand him up, but he had asked for it, assuming she would drop everything and run to him.

About ten minutes later Draco walked back into the common room muttering slyly to a girl that looked like she was in sixth year. The girl was laughing uncontrollably and clutched to Draco like a baby.

"Shh, the bookworms studying. She might throw a friggin book at us," Draco said and smirked as the girl started giggling more. They walked up Draco's portrait stairs and as it was closing he looked around to see Hermione scowling at him, though her scowl slipped a little as he smiled at her.

'Why should I care? He's an arrogant prick. Nothing could ever happen between us,' she thought sadly. Truthfully, they had gotten a lot closer since he became Head Boy, and Hermione had to admit, they could be friends if they tried.

Suddenly Draco's portrait opened and he walked briskly out of it.

"What? Did you forget your morality on your up there?" Hermione said waspishly as he walked towards her.

"No, I forgot this," he said and pulled her into a sensual kiss. Hermione was shocked at first but then slowly responded, laying her arms loosely around him and kissing him back lightly. This continued for about ten or twenty more seconds until Hermione pulled away with a smile on her lips.

"What did you do that for?" Draco asked in discontempt.

"Because I am a human and I need to breathe and there is still a young lady up in your room," she said holding him.

"Forget her. I'm interested in you tonight," he said growling and pulling her over to the couch.

"What's sparked the change Draco? You used to hate me, and now, well, you know," she said.

"Do we have to go over this?" he asked rolling his eyes.

"Yes, because if I think this might be a prank to see if you can bed every girl in Hogwarts. Am I a bet?" she asked seriously.

"If you were, which you're not, I would have already won," he said winking. "Now forget everything! Did you ever think that maybe I like you because you are a challenge and that's what keeps me hooked?" he said.

"Well, no, but I don't want any funny business ok? And I really don't want the rest of the school to find out either," she said.

"done with the orders? Now can I kiss you already?" he said and then slipped his tongue into hers. She once again stopped him and stood up.

"What house is that girl in that's in your room," she asked.

"Slytherin," he said. "Why?"

"Because I'm going to go up there and tell her to go back to her common room or she gets detention," Hermione said smiling sweetly.

She walked up the stairs and turned around to make sure Draco wasn't following.

"Hi, in case you didn't know I'm the Head Girl and it is way past curfew. Furthermore, under no circumstance should you be in this particular room, planning to do what you were going to. I think that'll be 50 points off Slytherin," Hermione began. The girl opened her mouth in protest.

"And another 100 if you don't leave now," she said. The girl glared at her and then walked out the door.

"Bitch," she muttered as she passed Hermione.

"Another 20 points for your language," she said and smirked. The girl walked out of the common room quickly, almost in tears.

"What did you say to her?!" Draco said in astonishment as she came down the stairs.

"Oh, nothing," Hermione smirked, knowing full well he'd find out the next morning.

And sure enough...

"You are a little bitch you know," Draco said and he walked into the common room.

"Yeah, I know. But I'm nice most of the time," Hermione smiled.

"Bullocks. You're a devil. Now come here," Draco said and swept her squealing into his arms for a kiss.

A/N: Sorry I had to stop it here; I just really wanted to update this since I'm on the net. The next chapter will begin a few months or weeks later ok?

Thanks to all you fabulous reviewers. They keep this story going.