A/N: Thanks to my reviewers especially Dracoisahottie13 for continuing to review.
Chapter 12
The next morning Draco and Hermione awoke in a good mood, luckily it was a Saturday so sleeping until 9:30 wasn't a problem. From the bed they could see that it was grey and murky outside which made them want to stay where they were. Their comfortable position was interrupted by a tapping on Draco's window, he walked over and retrieved the note attached to the leg of an owl. It was from Blaise telling him that the gang was meeting in their usual place at 1pm.
The two spent the rest of the morning talking and discussing what would be the best way to act around each other in public. Hermione and Draco decided that it would be best to act civil infront of the heads and other prefects and ignore each other around everyone else, which neither really wanted to do. At about 12 they both went for lunch but walked different ways. Draco joined Blaise at the Slytherin table whilst Hermione cautiously approached her friends at the Gryffindor table
"Hi guys" she said quietly as she took a seat next to ginny
"Hi Mione" Ginny replied "we're sorry we didn't tell you about the guys" she continued, not using their names incase someone overheard.
"I'm sorry too, for overreacting"
"So, are you going to hang out with us today?" Parvarti asked
"Yeah, come on" Harry added
"OK, why not" Hermione agreed
Draco and Blaise avoided talking about the gang and their meeting at the Slytherin table so just talked about random stuff. By about 12:30 they had left the great hall and wandered around the halls before making their way to meet the others.
The Gryffindors left the great hall about fifteen minutes later not to arouse suspicion. They all arrived at the room at the same time and greeted each other with warm smiles, as they walked into the room Draco and Hermione were the last to enter and briefly touched hands making their insides flutter. Ginny who had been the first to enter had turned around and caught this and the glance the two cast each other. So while the others were chatting she Ginny walked over to Hermione
"Spill it" Ginny simply said
"What?" Hermione replied confused
"You know what I mean, I saw that look between you and Draco when you came in"
As Hermione was thinking about what to say Draco and Blaise walked over to them. Hermione and Draco exchange a small smile, they didn't want to hide this. But Blaise caught the smile
"OK, spill" He demanded
Ginny had to suppress a giggle as Hermione looked at him in exasperation and Draco looked at him in confusion
"What's with you two?" Hermione asked
"Oh come off it" Blaise said "you know exactly what I mean and judging by that reaction Gin has already asked you the same thing"
"Hello, confused here" Draco piped in
"We know something's going on with you two" Ginny stated
"Or you want it to" Blaise added with a grin
Hermione and Draco looked at each other, how could they know? They caught the look in the others' eye that said this was a good opportunity to tell them.
"OK" Draco said putting his arms around Hermiones waist "how did you know?"
"Well, we knew you liked each other" Blaise said
"The thing when you came in gave it away" Ginny admitted
"And the look just now when we came over" Blaise added
Over the other side of the room the other four wondered if they were seeing straight, Hermione and Draco together, but they hated each other, didn't they?
"Well it kinda makes sense in a weird way" Lavender said
They other three looked at her before actually thinking about the way Hermione and Draco were around each other, then agreed with her.
"It's bloody strange though" Ron commented
"You're not wrong there" Harry agreed
"So when did this happen?" Lavender asked eagerly as they all sat down
"Last night" Hermione answered
"Our secrets are just getting bigger, I never would have expected this though" Harry commented.
The eight students spent the rest of the afternoon together chatting, gossiping and actually did a bit of homework all glad of the friendship that had formed.
The next week passed with minimum of fuss, Jenna and Jordan were glad that Hermione and Draco had learnt to be civil it made their job a lot easier as well as Padma and Ernies. The gang continued to meet regularly and Draco and Hermione were happier than they had been in months.
One particular Slytherin however noticed some changes, such as Draco never insulted the Golden Trio anymore, there would be the odd glare, sneer or remark but no cutting insults or deliberate trouble making. This annoyed her, she knew Blaise had eased up after dating Parvarti, but hated this rubbing off on Draco, her Draco.
"Drakkie, why don't you hassle those stupid Gryffindorks anymore" pansy whined in what she thought was a seductive voice "we used to have such fun" she continued as he was in the Slytherin common room checking things were in order because term was ending in a few days.
"Pansy, grow up, we're sixth years for Christ sake" Draco retorted
Her mood suddenly turned sour, he was betraying his own house and her. Even though they were never together Pansy had got it into her head that they were supposed to be together. Most people had noticed that she fawned over him and he for the most part ignored it, but some Slytherins liked her cruelty, especially to the Gryffindors.
"You've changed Draco" she stated "Blaise got to you with his new outlook, be careful, this would not please your father"
Draco looked at her, she really was pathetic. Threatening him with his father how childish. He rolled his eyes at her and left the common room, which only served to infuriate her even more.
Hermione was in the Gryffindor common room doing the same before she headed back to the prefect dorm for the night. She had been on patrol with Ernie that night and they had only encountered a couple of fifth years making out in a corridor, which they let go as it was near Christmas and there was mistletoe above them.
As Hermione made her way back to the prefect common room along the many corridors, she saw Pansy coming the other way. Pansy was already in a stinking mood and seeing Hermione made it even worse. As soon as she saw Hermione her mind started churning out insults, she hated the Gryffindor mudblood as she called Hermione. Then it struck her, Draco was living with Hermione, it was her fault he'd changed as well. Come to think of it Panst was sure she'd seen Draco stare at Hermione and share brief smiles when he thought no one was looking which made Pansy jealous, how dare Hermione even think of looking at her Draco.
Hermione saw the look of pure hatred on Pansy's face as she walked towards her, in truth Hermione was hoping that Pansy would walk straight past her even if it was past curfew, Hermione didn't want to fight with the Slytherin bitch. But no such luck
"I told you once mudblood, stay away from Draco" Pansy hissed "he's changed and I don't like it."
"Parkinson, go back to your dorm it's past curfew" Hermione stated simply
"I'm talking here" Pansy shot as she pushed Hermione into the wall with such force that Hermione hit her forehead on a sharp brick causing a fair size cut "you'll pay for this"
"Get stuffed" Hermione yelled "10 points off Slytherin for being out past curfew and another 10 for attacking a prefect"
Hermione knew this would anger her but didn't really care she had a throbbing headache. Hermione went to walk past her but Pansy grabbed her arm tight and put her other hand to Hermiones throat
"Potter and Weasley aren't here to save you now, you were lucky last time with Draco"
Hermione began to feel the rise of panic, she knew Pansy had a temper but never thought she would go this far. As Pansy's grip tightened around her throat Hermione used her free hand to push Pansy off, which was hard with a throbbing head and lack of oxygen, so Hermione reached into her robes and found her wand
"Expelliarmus" Hermione choked out
Pansy was sent flying down the corridor leaving Hermione dizzy and gasping for breath. Pansy landed on the floor with a thud but wasn't knocked out, she got up and glared daggers at Hermione
"This isn't over mudblood" Pansy hissed as she ran back to the Slytherin common room
Hermione slid down the wall and closed her eyes, why couldn't Pansy just leave her alone, thank Merlin that school finished in a couple of days. Hermione lifted herself from the ground, her back and head were painful from being thrown into the wall and her throat hurt and arm hurt from Pansy's grip. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she made her way back to the prefect's common room, she hoped that the others were either in bed or not back yet, especially Draco so he wouldn't see her like this.
As she entered the portrait she heard Padma and Ernie talking about the various students they'd caught that night as they walked up the stairs to their rooms. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and walked into the common room, she hadn't heard Draco come in behind her. She sat on a couch infront of the fire and touched her hand to where her head hurt, Hermione flinched as her hand made contact with the bleeding cut. She didn't know it was bleeding until she touched it.
Draco watched Hermione sit on the couch then flinch as she touched her head and wondered what was wrong. He walked around the front of the couch and knelt down in front of her as she silently cried. Hermione didn't notice him until he spoke and softly lifted her head up.
"Hey, what's wro...what the hell happened?" He asked worriedly
"N-nothing, I fell" she stammered, she hated lying to him but didn't want any trouble
Draco didn't believe her, but didn't want to push her. It was late so Hermione decided to go to bed and winced as she got up, Draco noticed this but still didn't see the bruising forming on her neck. As Hermione went to walk up the stairs Draco came behind her and snaked his arms around her waist, Hermione closed her eyes relishing the feeling of safety, she leant her head back against him, unwittingly exposing her neck. As he started softly kissing it more tears formed in Hermiones eyes
"Draco, I can't do this anymore" she said quietly
"W-what do you mean?" Draco inquired, it was then that he noticed the bruising
Draco turned Hermione to face him and traced her face with his hand, he knew who'd done it.
"Did Pansy do this?" he asked
Hermione looked down at the ground, there was no point denying it. Draco had known Pansy for years.
"She blames me for you changing, she warned me to stay away from you" Hermione admitted
Draco looked at Hermione, he never thought Pansy would go that far, insults and torments yes, but not physical violence of this much.
"I'm scared Draco, she said it wasn't over" Hermione whispered
Draco pulled her to him tightly, and kissed her head
"I'll sort this out" he said through gritted teeth
Hermione told him not to do anything, otherwise it would expose them and cause more trouble, and that they were going home in a couple of days and maybe it would blow over or something. Draco didn't like it but saw her point.
"Do you want to stay with me tonight?" He asked gently
Hermione looked up at him and placed her lips over his, he wrapped his arms round her waist as she put her arms around his neck, Draco placed butterfly kisses across her face and down her neck, which sent shivers down Hermiones spine. He then brought his lips back to hers and they deepened the kiss. Draco pulled away
"I take that as a yes"
Hermione smiled at him and looked deep into his silver eyes. When they got to his room Draco performed a healing spell on Hermiones cut and bruises before once again falling asleep in each others arms.
A/N: I'll try to update as soon as I can! Please review.