A/N: Sorry about the long wait. And on Sunday I'm leaving for a week, so I won't be able to post chapter 8 until I get back. Sorry! Read and Review! Oh, the song, or actually, its used as a poem, does NOT belong to me, it belongs to the artist. But I had to change it a little so. . . Read and Review!!! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------

Chapter 7: Heated Passion

"What??" Both Hermione and Draco asked. Hermione stood and held Draco's hand.

"Mr. Malfoy, your father placed some sort of spell on you when you were born so that his life span would be tied to yours. If he died, so would you." McGonagall paused and looked at the two faces. 'Your father is mental, Draco,' Hermione thought. McGonagall continued, "We're not sure why he did this, or why he came here for help, but we are sure of this: Unless you want to die, you can't let your father die." Draco looked at Hermione. He most definitely didn't want to die.

"What do I have to do?" He asked McGonagall.

"Come with me. Miss Granger, you may come too, if you wish."

All three of them walked hurriedly to the Hospital Wing. On the way there, McGonagall explained, "You will need to brew a strong Healing Potion when we reach the Hospital, Mr. Malfoy."

They soon reached the room and entered. Inside, Lucius was lying on a bed. He was not a pretty sight. His lips were cracked and bleeding, he had gashes all over his body and his robes were torn up. Bruises covered his face and his long, blonde hair was in a tangle of knots and, in some places, stained with dark red blood.

"Draco. . ." Lucius mumbled, not noticing Hermione, who was in a dark corner. She didn't think it would be good if he saw her with Draco. Blood dripped out of his mouth as he spoke and coughed. Draco stared at his father, not even being able to recognize him.

"This way, Malfoy," Madame Pomfrey directed him over to a table with a cauldron and potion ingredients. "Why can't you make it?" Draco asked, staring at the potion ingredients, then looking up at Pomfrey.

"It wouldn't be the same," she replied.

He rolled his eyes, quickly added the ingredients, mixed, heated, and bottled the Healing Potion. He carried the bottle over to his father and poured it down his throat. In seconds, the bruises, gashes, and blood disappeared, leaving only his torn robes.

"Thank you for doing this for me, Draco. You will make a great Deat--" Lucius was interrupted by Draco, who spat, "I didn't. I did it for me."

-ooooooo-

It was Saturday, and Hermione was reading her favorite book by the fireplace. She flipped a page of Hogwarts, A History when out of the corner of her eye, she saw a folded piece of parchment floating down to her. She set her book down and held out her hands. The folded parchment landed smoothly into Hermione's palms, and with one quick glance up at Draco's closed door, she pulled at the corners of the note and it opened. Inside, it read:

'I'm not a perfect person

There's many things I wish I didn't do

But I continue learning

I never meant to do those things to you

And so I have to say before I go

That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me

To change who I used to be

A reason to start over new

And that reason is you

I'm sorry that I hurt you

It's something I must live with everyday

And all the pain I put you through

I wish that I could take it all away

And be the one who catches all your tears

That's why I need you to hear--'

Hermione started to get tears in the corner of her eyes, but kept reading.

'—I've found a reason to show

A side of me you didn't know

A reason for all that I do

And the reason is you

The reason is you, Hermione.

Hermione,

I know that I've apologized for treating you badly, but it doesn't feel like its enough. So I've written this poem for you, (A/N: I know it's actually by Hoobastank, but I need Draco to write it. I LOVE that song, lol, anyways) even though poetry isn't really what I do. Again, I'm sorry for the past years, and I know it will take awhile for you to forgive me, but I want you to try. Would you like to go to the Christmas Party with me? Please reply with your answer.

Love,

Draco"

Hermione reread the poem and looked up towards Draco's room. 'I'll give you an answer, Draco.' She smiled, dropped the note, and ran up the stairs. She stopped outside his room to catch her breath, and then opened his door to see Draco reading on his bed.

Draco looked up from his book and grinned. He set the book aside, got up and walked over to Hermione. "Did you decide--?" He started but Hermione pressed a finger to his lips to silence him and smiled.

Without a word, she placed her lips on his. She wrapped her arms around his neck as Draco welcomed the kiss and hoisted her up. She wrapped her legs around Draco's waist and ran her fingers through his silvery-blonde hair.

Draco ran his tongue over her bottom lip and carried her over to his bed. He broke the kiss and set her down. He smiled and Hermione laid down, looking at him. Draco removed his tie and shirt to reveal a muscular chest. 'Probably from all that Quidditch,' she thought. He bent over and lay down over her so he was about a head below her chin. She looked down at him with anticipation as he smiled back up at her. Draco started unbuttoning her shirt. Hermione arched her back so he could slip it off. He tossed the shirt to the side, then lifted himself and slid forward so he was eyelevel with Hermione.

The taste of Draco's kiss still lingered on her lips. She couldn't remember ever being kissed like that by Harry. "Kiss me again, Draco. No one's ever made me feel that way," she whispered.

Hermione pressed herself to Draco the best she could. A lump formed in his throat. He knew he couldn't have her. She was "Potter's Property." He had seen the two of them, hand-in-hand with Ron at their side, walking to class. Draco lie there, motionless, tormented.

Her breath whispered across his lips. Her mouth brushed his. Her tongue touched his lower lip. With a moan, he swept his arms around her, grasped the back of her shoulders, and claimed her mouth. Draco drank deeply of her sweetness, desire ripping threw him as she gently moved against him. He ran a hand down her side, grasping her hip.

Hermione drew back, face flushed, lips round and tempting. Slowly, with some difficulty because she was lying down, she removed her bra.

"Touch me, Draco."

Draco's eyes riveted to her breasts. She was more beautiful than he'd imagined. He ached to touch her, to taste her.

Closing his eyes, he swallowed. "Hermione," Draco said, his voice husky and out of breath. "If I do, I won't be able to stop."

Hermione lifted her head and whispered in his ear, "Maybe I don't want you to stop." She pulled her head away.

"Hermione. . ." He cupped her breasts then ran his thumbs over her hardened peaks.

Hermione gasped at the contact, aroused. "I need you to . . . touch me."

He brushed his palm across her satiny belly, savoring the soft, firm feel of her. "But I am touching you."

She bit her lip. A blush crept over her cheeks. "Yes, I noticed that. . . and I like it. . . but. . . . I'm aching."

He smiled, awash with male pride, and nuzzled her stomach. He could tell her a thing or two about aching. After dipping his tongue into her navel, he raised his head. "There?"

She squirmed, her fingers knotting in his hair. She wet her lips. The pink in her cheeks darkened. "Lower."

He exhaled. With his haze locked on hers, he slid his hand down her skirt and into a tangle of curls. His heart pounded as her body trembled and she gasped.

Draco paused, but Hermione nodded, encouraging him to continue. Nudging her legs apart, he slid down to explore her more intimately. He slid her skirt down to her ankles, then took them off, along with her knickers. He breathed in her woman's scent, and touched her.

Hermione moaned, sliding her knees upward to grant him better access.

He dipped his head to taste her. She moved against him. The sexy sounds she made sent desire surging through him. She responded to ever touch, every stroke of his tongue. He smiled, seeking her hidden treasures as he savored her sweetness.

She shifted her hips, and his finger slipped inside her. She was so tight. He glanced up. Hermione's eyes were wide, her lips parted. He pushed farther into her reclaiming her, exalting in the knowledge that no man had touched her this way. Not even Potter.

He pressed a kiss to the inside of her thigh. She sighed as he moved his mouth back over her, teasing her with his tongue and teeth. He slipped a second finger inside her to join the first; stroking her until she moaned and her lovely breasts rose and fell with her rapid breathing.

He slid his other hand beneath her to squeeze her firm arse, while lifting her again to his mouth. He groaned, losing himself in the taste and feel of her.

Hermione rocked against him. A low moan tore from her throat, then she tensed and cried out. He coaxed her with his tongue and the steady thrust of his fingers as her hips arched off the bed.

Not until she stilled did Draco move beside her to take her in his arms. He kissed her hair and stroked her back, while she rested at his side. For long moments he held her, an odd warmth spreading inside him.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------

A/N: Just to let you know, Draco and Hermione did NOT have sex, they just made out. Anyways, Review!!

Dracoluver-13