Disclaimer—I don't own the characters, okay?

Please review... I love reviews!

Sorry this took so long to put up but I had writers block and a lot of homework! Please tell me what you think and I hope it's not boring. Sorry if you don't like it but I wanted to get on with the romance!

By the way...there's slight swearing but not a lot!

Chap. 9—Romance Is Real

Hermione sat in the common room doing her homework. Draco was at the other desk doing the same. It was so quiet and Hermione couldn't stand the quietness. She drummed her fingers on her desk, causing Draco to look up. He pushed his book away, sick of working. Hermione stopped drumming and went back to work. Draco looked at her. She was so beautiful, he loved her hair and her eyes. He knew if he wanted a chance with her he better tell her. He had trouble finding his voice but eventually did.

"Um, Hermione?" He asked. She set her quill down and walked over to the couch, where he had moved to.

"Yeah?" She sent him a dazzling smile.

"Umm, I know this sounds weird but I can't wait to tell you this later. I-I like you." He said stupidly. Hermione grinned and bit her lip.

"I like you too. I mean, you changed a lot this year!" She laughed. Draco looked at her. He moved his face closer and paused, but Hermione did the same. They locked eyes and her expression said, 'yes'. He leaned in and kissed her. She wrapped his arms around his neck and he put his arms around her waist, and pulled her on top of him. They kissed for a long time. Ali came in 5 minutes later and saw them kissing on the couch, Hermione on top of Draco. Her jaw dropped and she smiled and walked out. Eventually Hermione and Draco pulled apart, breathing heavily.

"C'mon, let's go to dinner." Hermione smiled and took his hand, walking together hand-in-hand to the Great Hall. Just outside the door Hermione pulled her hands away. Draco turned to her confused.

"This is just so weird, I mean, one moment we're good friends and the next we're like, making out in the common room." She giggled. Draco smiled.

"And?" He asked her.

"And I think Harry and Ron would hate me right now. They think your different and all, but still..." She replied. Draco nodded and turned to face her.

"You're right. I guess I'll see you later then." He told her. She smiled and nodded before opening the door and heading to the Gryffindor table. Draco walked over to his table and sat down, waiting for Ali to come.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Ali skipped happily to the table and plopped down at the Slytherin table across from Draco. She was grinning wildly and had an evil glint in her eye.

"Hi!" She said, loudly and cheerfully.

"Hi..." Draco responded carefully. Ali dished some chicken and potatoes but while doing so she seemed very bubbly.

"Alright, what do you know?" He confronted her. He knew Ali well enough to know that when she was like this she had a secret.

"Nothing!" She sing-songed but her eyes danced to the Gryffindor table. Draco understood and his eyes grew wide. Ali nodded happily. Draco leaned his head back and took a deep breath.

"How?" He looked back at her.

"Oh, I um, saw you. I didn't mean to!" She cried after seeing Draco's face. "I came in and saw you too. I'm really sorry!" She looked like she was going to cry. Draco's face softened.

"Ali, calm down!" He told her, as a tear slipped down her cheek. "Don't cry! You said it was an accident!" He said, sounding like her. She kept crying and he didn't know what to do. Just then, Hermione, Harry and Ron were leaving the Great Hall when Draco called out.

"Hey!" He called, and they came over, Ron slightly hesitant. He saw Ali crying and came and sat next to her.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He said softly. Harry smirked, said good-bye to them and walked out, leaving Hermione and Ron. They looked at Draco for an explanation. He threw his hands up in surrender.

"What? I don't know why! She was apologizing for something she saw that she wasn't supposed to--." He shot a look at Hermione, "—and just started crying!" He told them. Ron put and arm around her shoulder. Ali laughed and wiped a tear away. She looked at Ron and thanked him .He smiled and led her out the Great Hall to go find Harry.

Hermione and Draco were suddenly left alone. Draco saw Pansy throw him and Hermione dirty looks. He nodded towards the door and got up, with Hermione trailing behind him. He looked at her, without her knowing but looked back. Hermione did the same but Draco saw her. He led her down and empty corridor and leaned her against the wall and kissed her intensely. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him back. Draco rubbed her arms while kissing her. Little did they know that people were heading down the corridor.

"What the.." Ron said, shocked and left his sentence unfinished, unable to speak. His eyes grew wide. Hermione and Draco were kissing passionately in the hall. Hermione broke away from Draco, hearing Ron's voice. She saw his jaw open and eyes wide. Harry's eyes were wide and Ali was looking at the floor. Ron became angry.

"What are you doing?" He yelled.

"Shut up!" Hermione hissed. Ron walked over and was about to punch Draco. Hermione shoved him away.

"Stop!" She yelled at him. He let out a sigh.

"Explain!" He looked at Hermione.

"What's it to you, Ron?" She faced him.

"Well, it could be that my best friend is dating a total bitch!" He yelled to her. Hermione slapped him. She didn't mean to, it just happened. Ron's hand flew to his cheek and he glared at Hermione.

"Oh and Ron, he's not a bitch anymore!" He yelled at him. Draco felt weird, they were talking about him.

Ron let out a roar of fury. "You can't date him 'Mione!" He shouted.

"Why?" She screamed.

"BECAUSE!" Ron yelled. Harry pulled Ron across the hall from Hermione and tried to talk him out of it.

"Ron, chill. Draco's a good guy now remember?" Harry tried.

"HE IS A FUTURE DEATH EATER, THAT'S NOT GOOD!" Ron yelled. Draco became angry now.

"I am NOT going to be a Death Eater!" He yelled. Hermione and Ali looked nervously at each other. Ron punched Draco in the nose, and his nose bled freely.

"Draco!" Hermione said and ran to him. "Go away!" She yelled at Ron. He glared at Draco and Hermione one more time and sprinted down the hall, with Harry trailing behind him.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked softly. He nodded.

"C'mon, 'Mione let's take him to Madame Pomfrey." Ali said and started down the hall. Madame Pomfrey quickly fixed him up and they walked away. Ali ran to the library to get a book for DADA. Hermione walked down the corridor with Draco, heading to their common room.

"I'm so sorry he did that." She apologized, her eyes brimming with tears.

"It's okay, Hermione." He brushed away a falling tear. "Don't worry about it." She nodded and another tear fell down. Draco gave her a hug and she leaned her head against his chest. Once Hermione calmed down they walked to their common room. They just sat on the couch, staring at the fire and Draco absentmindedly playing with Hermione's hair.

Authors note—I know this is shorter than my other chapters but I'm still having writers block. If you have any suggestions then please let me know! Thanks for any reviews...they mean a LOT!