AN- Okay you'll must be really mad at me! I mean i haven't reviewed in ages, i think 2 or 3 weeks! I have a reason for this delay and its not my exams, ;) , it's because my modem got fried when my computer got hit by lightning. It was fabulous let me tell you, weeks without internet! My computer monitor got screwed up too so i couldn't even work on my other chapters.

My reviewers, thank you -

Hermione-Granger-420, fionka, amethyst-rose, ForgottenFaith, ShimmeringEvil, nicole-sumpter, chibichibi386, Flava Gurl, blackiebrens, Crowley Black, freespirit092, Kittehgrl, hotskittles, Raisa, luna and sassy, Forensic-Paige-Potter, jemy-thefreak, Lady of the lads

draco's woman - hmmm, you'll find out what Draco wants in this chapter.

Sofea - Oh sorry, i really don't do juicy stories, i am really bad at that stuff, So so so sorry. I can't write naughty bits, i feel weird and i never get the right thngs across.

AndiJJ - Lol, i was grinning all the way through your review, thanks so much. Yes i do seem to rush things, and for some odd reason i like it too.

Aleskris - Thank You so much for pointing out my mistake, i am soo stupid, i'm changing that right away!

Ciardra - I'm sorry you don't like Draco-Hermione ships, and you are right, we never will see any romance between the both of them in the books. Exactly why fanfic writers create their own stories, they like DrHr ships so they write their own stories. No one has the right to stop them, except JK ofcourse.

Dolineth- This story is ending from the next chapter, but there is a sequel coming up.

Okay well, here it is, the one-before-the-last chapter...

Damsel in a Cute Dress

Chapter 9 – The Truth about Everything

I woke up on Sunday feeling a little woozy. The bump on my head still hadn't gone down like Madame Pomfrey had said it would. She rubbed a little more ointment into it and told me to rest another day.

When I got up, one of the first things I noticed was that Angelique had left. Not the school, just the Hospital Wing.

Funny thing was she came back about 2 hours later. Right after Ron and Harry left after their visit. She had been pushed down the stairs by Pansy Parkinson, who was now facing 2 months of detentions and possible expulsion. But I knew she would never get expelled, even though Angelique was the niece of Lucius Malfoy, The Parkinson's were very close family friends. I had a feeling Mr. Malfoy would overlook making a fuss about this incident.

This time however, Angelique was put in the bed right beside me.

She smiled at me, her eyes, which were grey not crystal blue like Ginny had told me, were covered in big blue bruises. I would have been happy if this had happened yesterday, but I don't hate Angelique anymore.

So I smiled and said Hello.

"Hi, I'm Angelique. Who are you?" She said, as Madame Pomfrey rubbed a bone-mending potion into one of her arms.

"I'm Hermione Granger."

"Oh, the muggle-born?" She asked.

"Yes," I said, "How did you know that?"

"Draco told me," She said, "He talks about you a lot you know."

"He does?" I asked genuinely surprised.

"Yes," she said, "He insults you most of the time though."

Gee, how nice.

"But, I know he doesn't mean anything he says," She said, her eyes twinkling under the big bruises, "You know boys and the games they play."

I sighed, yes, I did know unfortunately.

"So, you heard the news about Uncle Lucius?"

"Err…yeah?" I said, "Exactly how is he your uncle?"

"He's my Father's brother." She replied.

"Oh."

"Where did you live before coming to England?"

"With my Parents in Las Vegas." She said, "Uncle Lucius doesn't like my Mom a lot, she's a muggle born. He refused to associate with her. After she died, we came back to England. That was the only time he ever took us in."

"Oh," I said, sounds a lot like the Lucius Malfoy I know!

"Yeah, I don't like him so much. But poor Draco, he must be going through a lot."

"Yeah," I agreed.

"You should go comfort him," she suggested, "He'll like that."

She winked at me, or tried to, the bruise made it painful to keep her eye open.

I rolled my eyes.

"Pansy did this to you?" I asked.

"Yeah, don't know why though. She really seems to hate me."

"She thinks you're Draco's girlfriend." I said helpfully.

"Really? Why would she think that? We're just cousins!" she said.

"I know, she's weird like that." I said, hoping that Draco would not tell her anything about what happened last night.

"Oh well, I think I'll go to sleep now, see you later, she sighed and drifted off to sleep.

Madame Pomfrey came soon and told me I could go, as the bump on my head had rapidly disappeared.

I was going to the Gryffindor Tower but I heard a voice behind me.

"Granger," it drawled, "I need to talk to you."

I spun around, as I had suspected it was Draco, standing there, his brows furrowed.

"Yeah, no problem." I said, trying to act like it was no big deal, like really hot guys needed to talk to me every day.

He walked a little closer. I started breathing faster.

"Granger," he started, 'I mean Hermione,"

He looked up at me. I once again expected to see his eyes melting with adoration for me, but no such thing. They were as cold as ever, maybe a little less cold, but unquestionably no adoration.

"Did you mean it yesterday when you said you didn't like anyone?"

"I didn't say I like anyone, just not-"

"Oh, because I got this note today," he said searching through the pockets of his cloak. He brought out a piece of well crumpled paper. He handed it to me.

Draco,

I know we haven't been the best of friends, but I was hoping we could start over. You're not a bad guy, and I heard about what happened with you're father. Please, let's be friends.

Love Hermione.

I stared at the note in confusion. Ginny, I thought, Ginny, who else could write such a LAME note. It was so LAME!!!!

"You didn't write it did you?" He asked me.

"No I didn't,"

"I figured since you were in the Hospital Wing and all,' I sensed just a little hint of disappointment in his voice.

"But, we could still be friends, just because I didn't write the note doesn't mean we can't be friends, I'd love to be friends, what's wrong in being friends, its just friends right?" I babbled.

Draco smirked.

"If you want to be more than friends you can tell me Granger," he said "I'll have the satisfaction of turning you down."

Why you little, I thought I was about to slap him. I nearly did, he caught my hand though. So I tried with the other hand, but he caught that too.

His skin felt so cold on mine, I was shivering.

"So, Hermione," he smirked, he brought my hands down, although he was still holding them, quite hard at that. "How was you're day?"

"What?" I asked, confused. My day? I was just about to slap you, why ask about my day?

"You heard me," he said, "How was your day?"

"G-Good," I managed to stammer.

I was stammering since he had brought his face so close to mine and he was breathing on to my forehead practically.

He brought his chin down, so that his lips were at my ear.

"How would you like it if I made it better?"

I'd like it very much, thank you. Only I didn't say that, I said

"Uh…"

"Just as I thought, Granger," he said.

Well his chin went lower and I don't have to tell you the rest of the details except I got my first KISS!

Okay, so finally all my hard work pays off, I'm finally with Draco.

Draco told me he had liked me ever since I had slapped him, he had never been slapped by a girl before and he surprisingly liked it.

Weird, since that's right about the time I started liking him too.

Draco's nicer than I knew him to be.

Very very romantic.

Very very good with his tongue.

Not that we've got passed kissing anyway.

It's perfect, there's no other word. It just is!

Ron and Harry knew something was up. I mean I skipped Charms to hang with Draco, since he was skipping Herbology.

They didn't know that it was Draco I was going to see, they thought it was Neville.

"Neville?" I spluttered.

"God, Hermione, and stop the dramatics will you." Ron said, "We know, so you can tell us."

"Yeah, but I don't know why you had to hide it though." Harry grumbled.

Ginny burst out laughing. I glared at her.

"What's so funny?" asked Ron.

"It's not Neville," Ginny giggled, "Its-"

"Don't you dare tell them, Ginny!" I said.

"Fine!" Ginny said, crossing her arms, "It's better than them thinking you like Neville."

"Tell us, why can't you tell us, Hermione?" Ron whined.

"Yeah, you've been really secretive after you got that makeover of yours."

"Yeah, what's up, Hermione?" badgered Ron.

"Nothing!" I yelled, and stormed off into the girls' dormitory.

"Geez, who's got her cat?" Ron commented.

Ginny giggled.

"Draco Malfoy," Ginny said, "That's who!"

"WHAT?" cried Ron and Harry in unison.

"Ginny," I called from the room, "I'll kill you!"

"Hermione," Ron said, slowly trying to form all his words, "Is going out with Malfoy?"

"Yes," Ginny nodded.

"Is she crazy?" Harry asked disbelievingly.

"No, she's just in love actually." Ginny grinned evilly.

"Now she's in love with the bastard?" Harry demanded to know the details.

"She always was, you see."

"How come we never knew?" Ron asked.

"We never told you." Ginny said simply.

Ron grunted, "Well, we'll put a stop to it, won't we Harry, no way Hermione is going out with that ferret."

"Yeah, let's go confront him." Harry agreed.

"Don't you move a step, Ronald Weasley," I ordered as I stepped into the common room.

"But, Hermione you can't-"

"Oh yes I can go out with him, Ron, and no one, especially you or Harry, is going to stop me."

"Way to go, Hermione." Ginny cheered.

"You," Ron said, turning on Ginny, "You helped her."

"Of course I did, stupid, I'm her best friend!" Ginny said.

"You're dead, Ginny!" Ron roared, as he charged at Ginny.

Harry stopped him, "Ron, get a hold of yourself. Let Hermione do what she wants with her life."

"Thank you, Harry," I said.

"If she wants to ruin it, let her go ahead." Harry continued, frowning at me.

I didn't say anything.

Harry guided Ron to the Boys' dormitory. Ron happened to still be in shock.

I was quite shocked too, at what Harry said. I know Harry hates Draco and everything but did he think that Draco would really ruin my life. I mean that seemed a tad harsh don't you think? He's a nice guy and Harry had to realize that.

Then Ginny got up, smiled faintly at me and went up to the Girls' dormitory. Now I was all alone in the common room. I had another of my deep thinking sessions. I came up with the idea that what Harry said was just him overreacting, totally overreacting. So I had nothing to worry about. Everything was going to be great. No scar-faced, Voldemort-defeating, hand-cramming, gold-snitch-seeking, Parseltongue-speaking, guy is going to take that away from me!

The next morning the common room was just chaotic. Everyone seemed to know something I didn't. At first I thought maybe Harry and Ron would have told everyone about Draco Malfoy's relationship with me, but that turned out to be the least of my problems.

I figured that a lot of attention on today's edition of the Daily Prophet. I spotted Ginny reading, so I ran over to her.

"Ginny, what's up?" I asked, "Everyone seems so…weird today." They actually seemed happy! I mean everyone was cheering and whistling. Not at me, but to themselves. They definitely were celebrating something. Ginny smiled sympathetically at me.

"I think you better see this," she said, handing me the newspaper, "It's pretty big."

I took the papers and read the main article silently. Every word made the situation worse.

The headlines were – Lucius Malfoy arrested for Possession of Dark Artifacts and Corruption of the Ministry.

Ginny saw the shocked look on my face.

"Well, he had it coming didn't he?" she said.

"Ginny!" I shrieked, "You can't say that! It's true but what will happen to Draco?"

"Since when do you care?" asked an eavesdropping Gryffindor, Parvati.

"Since when she started-" Ginny started, I clamped my hand on her mouth.

"Whatever, you'll are just so weird." Parvati said and turned around and left.

I dropped my hands from Ginny's face.

"I need to talk to him." I said.

"Oh, that reminds me," Ginny said, fishing a crumpled paper from her cloak pocket, "Angelique said he wanted you to get this"

It was a note from Draco, telling me to meet him at the broom closet near the dungeons at midnight, and that he needed to talk to me badly.

The day was a blur. I barely paid attention in any of my classes and I didn't see Draco even once! At least I'll see him at midnight, I kept thinking to myself. After dinner at the Great Hall, I rushed to the common room to finish all my homework and get dressed from the meeting at midnight. I found it quite odd that Draco was absent at the Great Hall as well.

The clock in the common room struck midnight and I left quickly to the dungeons. I 'borrowed' Harry's cloak again. I'm sure that he wouldn't mind, well it was for a good cause. The coast was clear, so I made a break for the broom closet.

Draco was already there, and as soon as I saw him I could tell that everything was not alright. Not at all.

AN - Okay, hoped you liked it! the last chapter is coming up...and so is the first chapter to the sequel! I'll be posting those two together. Please review!