Later that night, Hermione was laying in her bed, trying to sleep, when there was, once more, a tapping on her window. Pulling open the curtains, she gasped. Outside on the ledge was Viktor's owl. Hermione opened the window and stretched out a hand to the owl, who dutifully lifted up his leg and held it there until Hermione had taken the letter. Then, hooting softly, it took off into the night, silhouetting itself briefly against the moon, before vanishing. Hermione read the short letter in shock.

Dearest Hermione,

I apologize for the events of the summer. I am coming to visit you at Hogwarts in hopes that we may reconcile.

With Love,

Viktor

Tears sprang to her eyes. This was not fair. How did she know it wasn't some joke at her expense? There was no way she was going to fall asleep now. Getting on her robe, she went down to the common room and sat down on the sofa. The fire was still going and it was comfortable in the room. It was there that she fell asleep, to be roughly shaken awake the next morning.

Draco sat up in bed, bleary eyed. At first he didn't know what had woken him, but then he heard the shouts coming from downstairs. As it didn't sound life-threatening, he took his time. He looked at his clock. It was time for breakfast. As he stood and stretched, he recognized one of the voices as Hermione's, the other was a male's, but it wasn't Potter or Weasley.

After throwing on jeans and a hoodie, he walked downstairs, but paused before he was in view.

"I can't believe this!" Hermione was shouting. "How could you think that after everything that happened I would take you back!"

"She meant nothing, Hermione!" It was Viktor. "It was meaningless fun!"

"Meaningless? It meant something to me!" Hermione sounded as if she were about to cry. "Why aren't you with her anyway? Did you find out about all the other guys that whore was fucking!"

There was a slight commotion and Hermione gasped.

"Don't call her a whore!"

Draco chose this moment to step into view.

"Is there a problem?"

Viktor glared at Draco. He was holding Hermione by her wrists. Hermione's face was streaked with tears. Viktor quickly dropped Hermione's arms.

"None at all, Malfoy." He said in a voice dripping with disdain.

"Really, because there was shouting and she's crying, that's not altogether normal." Draco crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame.

"It's none of your business!" Viktor shouted.

"When it wakes me up when I should be sleeping, it becomes my business."

Viktor started to say something, then abruptly turned back to Hermione.

"I am aware that tomorrow there will be a trip to Hogsmede. I expect you to meet me at the Three Broomsticks at two. Exactly."

Viktor turned on his heel and stormed out. Hermione stood still in shock, then looked over at Draco, fresh tears threatening to fall.

"Granger…" Draco started, but Hermione turned and ran into her bathroom. Draco heard the shower start, but even that could not mask the sound of her sobs.

That afternoon, during Charms, Draco spent most of the lesson staring at Hermione. Her face showed no signs of the tear-streaked mess it had been earlier. Inside, he was fighting a violent range of emotions. He knew better than to make his feelings for her known anymore than he had with the kiss. But he was so infuriated just by Krum's presence, that he felt he had to do something. He was brought back to reality by a cough at his elbow. Glancing down, he saw Professor Flitwick.

"Mr. Malfoy, do you not have a book?"

Draco stared down at his empty desk. The class snickered.

"Yeah, I forgot it in my room."

Flitwick smiled as he glanced in the direction Draco was looking, still at Hermione. "Try to remember it next time, please."

Draco nodded.

After Charms, Hermione was hurrying to her room to clean up a bit before dinner. As she rounded a corner she ran smack into Harry.

"Harry! I'm sorry!" She reached out to steady her friend.

"It's OK. Can I talk to you?" Harry glanced around nervously.

"Yeah, come on." Hermione led the way to her House and the two had a seat on her sofa. "What's going on?"

"I had another dream. Malfoy was in it again and he was fighting with a teacher. They both had the Death Eater mark on their arm."

"Was the teacher Snape?" Hermione's brow furrowed.

"No, too short."

"Who else has a Death Eater mark?"

"No one. But we haven't seen the new teacher yet."

Hermione nodded thoughtfully. "Harry, the reason I have to share quarters this year, is because not only did Lucius Malfoy make a generous donation, but Dumbledore believes I am the only one who can save Malfoy from becoming a Death Eater."

"You? But how?"

Hermione shrugged. "Like I said earlier… 'All you need is love.' But being his friend may drive me insane."

Harry laughed. "Well I need to get ready for dinner, so I'll talk to you later."

Hermione said good-bye as Harry left, then reclined back on the couch for a moment. She was just about to get up when the door swung open again and Draco strode in.

"You're not going to meet him, are you?" He asked abruptly.

"Who? Viktor? As a matter of fact, I am."

"NO!"

"Why not?"

"I don't want you to!" Draco looked a bit distressed.

"Too bad! You have no say!"

"I should!"

"Oh really? And why, pray-tell, is that?"

Draco hesitated, blushing a bit, then recovered. "Because…because if I have to live with you for the next year, I don't want to deal with the stupid drama!"

"So my life should revolve around what you want?" Hermione almost laughed.

"YES!"

"This is ridiculous!" Hermione threw up her hands and began to walk away, but Draco caught her arm.

"Let go of me, Malfoy!" She began to struggle, but Draco didn't release his grip. Hermione turned to face him, and found herself right up against him.

"Let go." She repeated quietly.

"Make me." Draco smirked.

"Fine!" Before Hermione even thought about what she was doing, she'd kissed him full on the lips. Gasping, she attempted to step backwards, but Draco held her where she was and kissed her again. She hesitated for a moment, then kissed back fervently. Before she knew it, his hands were on her waist, and her arms were wrapped around his neck and they were kissing as if their lives depended on it.

Draco backed Hermione up to the sofa and gently pushed her down, never once pausing the kiss. Thoughts were racing like crazy through Hermione's head. Why am I doing this? Why do I like this? Why do I like him? What about Viktor?

And she realized she didn't care. As Draco wrapped a hand in her hair, pulling her closer to him, she pushed all thoughts of Viktor out of her mind. Her hands came up to tangle in Draco's hair.

"Draco…" She said softly as he pulled away for a moment.

He completely paused. Hermione's eyes shot open.

"What?"

"I wasn't aware you even knew my first name." Draco smirked. Hermione giggled.

"You still have yet to call me by mine." She pointed out. Draco grinned.

"OK, Hermione."

Draco leaned down and kissed her a few more times, then sat up.

"I think that's enough for right now. I mean we only just got on a first name basis, I'm feeling a bit slutty." He laughed. Hermione mock gasped and punched him lightly in the arm. "Are you still going to meet Viktor?"

Hermione cocker her head to the side, thinking. "If I see him, I see him. If I don't, all the better."

Draco smiled, content.

The next morning, the Houses set out right after breakfast for Hosmede. When they arrived, many went directly to the candy shop, but Hermione, Ron, and Harry chose to explore elsewhere. Hermione hadn't seen Draco since breakfast, and she wasn't even sure if he had come on the trip.

Time passed quickly as she walked around with Ron and Harry. They briefly visited the cave Sirius had hidden in with Buckbeak so many years ago, and quietly mourned the death of their friend.

As it neared two, Hermione became intensely nervous. She had explained everything earlier in the day to Ron and Harry, who were both furious at the way Viktor had treated her.

"I'll show him!" Ron had shouted. "I'll knock him all around Three Broomsticks! I'll make him wish he'd never set foot out of Durmstrang!"

Harry had been just as enthusiastic. "Yeah, we'll tear him to shreds!"

Hermione only laughed. "I hardly think that's necessary."

They passed the Three Broomsticks once or twice, peering through the windows. On the third trip past, Ron spotted Viktor sitting at a table, looking furious. On the fourth, Viktor spotted them. He stormed outside.

"Hermione! I told you to be here at two!" He thundered.

"HEY! BACK OFF!" Ron jumped in front of Hermione.

"Get out of my way!" Viktor shoved Ron to the ground. Harry took exception to this and lunged at Viktor.

"Don't touch my friends!" He shouted as he landed a punch right on Viktor's nose. Hermione stood back and watched as Harry and Viktor started scrambling about, swinging at each other, then Ron jumped into the fray. She didn't know whether she should laugh or cry. As Ron leapt onto Viktor's back, Harry stood and started back at Viktor, but received a punch in the face for his efforts. Ron then found himself dumped in an unceremonious heap on the ground, with Viktor's wand centimeters from his nose.

"I'm going to send you flying into Oblivion!" Viktor shouted. Hermione reached for her wand, but before she could so much as raise it…

"EXPELLIARMUS!" A voice thundered. Viktor's wand went flying out of his hand.

Everyone turned to stare at the figure that had just appeared in the square. Draco. Viktor took one look and then grabbed his wand and ran. Hermione ran over to Harry, who was groggily sitting up. Ron hurried over, too. But Harry just used them to stand, then marched over to Draco.

"I want to talk to you!" He said a bit forcefully.

"Um…all right." Draco looked a bit confused. For once in his life he'd done a good deed and he got rewarded with that? He followed Harry into the Three Broomsticks, leaving a very boggled group of people in the square.

In the Three Broomsticks, Harry seemed a bit calmer, even buying Draco a Butterbeer.

"So, what is this about?"

"Hermione."

"What about her?"

"I know you have a thing for her. It's been obvious since 4th year." Harry took a sip of his Butterbeer.

"So, what, are you going to tell me to stay away from her or you'll kill me?" Draco glared at Harry. He may have made slight amends with Hermione, but he still hated Harry. He'd only saved them out there for Hermione's sake.

"No, I know you hate me Draco, and believe me, I hold NO love for you, but you seem different this year. And as long as Hermione's happy, I'm happy." Harry looked Draco dead in the eyes. "I know a lot more than you think about what's going on, in all categories. This is a life-changing year for you, but only you can decide what the change will be. That being said, I'd like to go back to my regularly scheduled hatred of you, ferret-boy."

"Fuck you, Potty!" Draco shouted back, but a slightly sardonic smile spread across his face.

That night, when the Houses returned to Hogwart's for dinner, Draco was called aside. He had a visitor in his rooms. Slightly confused, he went slowly up the stairs. When he opened the door to the common room, he saw someone sitting in the chair by the fire. The person looked over at him.

"Ah, Draco."

Draco inclined his head, "Father."

Thanx to everyone who replied. HUGS