Thanks sooo much to xoKaSsIeox, Crazy-Physco Gentileschi for the awesome reviews… (Oh G, thanks for the "get well comment") MIDNIGHT-PIXIE, you are my number one reviewer! Thanks so much for the really great reviews! I just got what OOC meant too! So it's all good don't worry :) I am all better now... And half the problem was actually because I uploaded it… and then I didn't actually put it through the chapter manager thing… and I WAS grounded… but well… anyways here's the next chapter in my "wonderful" story…

Hardships

Chapter 4

Straight to his promise, Draco knocked on Hermione's door at exactly 11:30 the next morning. Of course her parents had stayed up all night unpacking so generally they would be sleeping. Hermione was touring the house in her pajamas so when the door bell rang Hermione answered it not thinking about who it could be. Draco nearly laughed his head when he saw the pink bunnies and purple elephants dancing across her pajamas. Hermione had to cuff him on the back of his head to get him to calm down.

"So what brings you here to my doorstep Mr. Malfoy?" Hermione asked in what she hoped to be a business like tone; deep inside she was still laughing. That's when she saw the picnic basket. She eyed it with suspicion.

"Well Miss Granger, I thought you would like to go on a picnic with me…" then he looked back down at her pink bunnies and purple elephants and burst out laughing again. This time Hermione laughed with him. They were out of control- and out of balance; they landed in a heap in the garden, Hermione half on top of Draco. But this just made them laugh all the harder

Hermione got up from her position, tears running down her face. Draco's expression mirrored her own; one of mirth and happiness.

"So what do you say Miss Granger? Would to like to go on a picnic with me?"

"I would love to," Hermione answered. It was a miracle how well they were getting along. At school they fought like cats and dogs. Here they were free... and he seemed so changed. She didn't even care if he saw her in her most embarrassing pair of pajamas. She hoped they would still be friends in school.

"I'll give you 5 minutes," Draco said, impatient to go.

Hermione eyed the huge mansion afore her. When Draco saw this, he grinned. "Better give me 10." She ran inside her house and up the stairs.

Draco watched her go, longing in his soul. He and Hermione… well their relationship was miraculous. He was surprised that Hermione hadn't shown any signs of anger for what he had called her over the years. That's why he had planned the picnic; so he could formally apologize to Hermione. He realized they would make quite a pair – relationship wise. Draco wondered if they would ever become more than just friends. Oh God, I hope so. She made him want to be a better person. They had a connection… and Draco wanted desperately to explore it. What scared him most of all… he didn't know what these feelings meant. But he was going to trust them.

Hermione dashed up the stairs, excitement rushing through her veins. In her room, she picked out a deep red sarong to wrap around her waist and a tan square neck t-shirt. Running a quick brush to her hair, and writing a quick note telling her parents where she was, Hermione was back out the door. Draco was leaning against the house, basket dangling from his wrist. He seemed to be staring off in space. She waved a hand in front of his face just for effect. He jolted back to reality and grinned at Hermione's appearance. She grinned back

"You ready to go Miss Hermione?" Draco teased as he offered her his free arm. She accepted it and they were off.

"So where are we going anyways?" Hermione interjected.

"Oh I have a peaceful somewhere in mind…"

Hermione kept silent the rest of the way. It felt so good to be linking arms with Draco. When did I start calling him Draco? They walked for about 15 minutes until they came to a beautiful green meadow on top of a hill. There was a large pond in the center surrounded by ducks and tall grass. Flowers blossomed all over the place making the surroundings very colorful. A single tree stood tall and proud beside the pond, its crown shading a patch of soft green grass; it looked like a Precious Moment. Hermione bent to sit down in the shade but Draco put up a hand to stop her. He proceeded to lay a blue checkered blanket on the ground and then sat on it. He help out his hand, which Hermione again accepted, and her pulled her gently down beside him.

"So what do you think?" Draco asked tentatively.

"It's beautiful."

"I thought you might like it. Lunch?" Draco pulled all the food out of the basket and set it down. Hermione grabbed a bowl of strawberries and sugar – one of her favorites. Dipping the red berry into the sweet grains of sugar, she swirled it around and took a big bite.

Draco thought she looked like a goddess; her bronze curls floating in the wind. He decided it was time to try to make conversation.

"Do you know the real reason why I brought you here?" he asked with what he hoped was a light tone as he grabbed a cheese and tomato sandwich.

"Not really… but I'm glad you did." Hermione replied with a shy smile, taking another bit out her strawberry.

"Well… you know how I used to bug you at school all the time… and I called you a… well a mudblood?" her expression darkened, blocking out the brilliant sunlight. "I wanted to tell you how sorry I am. My father… he put all these thoughts in my head… I used to want to be just like him…" he gave a wry laugh. "Not anymore." And then he told Hermione the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. When he finished, Hermione was pale, eyes wide with sorrow for her new found friend.

"I'm so sorry… I had no idea." She leaned over and gave him a comforting hug. Draco was surprised at first, but he didn't pull away. Then hewrapped his own arms around her waist and held her there. He didn't particularly need a hug as he hadn't really been too close to his deceased family; but Hermione felt so good in arms. He wanted her to stay there forever. But finally she pulled away, an unidentified emotion hovering in her eyes.

"How about we have a contest?" Draco suggested, trying to lighten the confusing mood; he knew that something was happening between them.

"What kind of contest?" She asked; her eyes wary.

"Hmm, how about a race?"

"Well then in that case… GO!" Hermione screamed and was already running down the hill, leaving a stunned Draco behind.

"Hey! Cheater!" Draco scrambled after her, trying to catch up. When he finally got close enough he snaked his arm around her waist. Unfortunately neither of them had the best balance and they fell on the ground. But that didn't just stop there; they were on a hill remember? They tumbling down, laughing and screaming all the way.

Back at the burrow, Ron and Harry were just about ready to head out to Hermione's new house.

"Okay so I guess we just have to say 'Granger Manor' then huh?" asked Ron.

"Ya I guess so. Let's go."

Using the fireplace and emerald green floo powder, they were off. They landed in a cold hard grate in what to them seemed to be a second Hogwarts. The cool glass floor gave the living room a superior air. Harry and Ron gazed around the room, surprise evident on their faces. They stared at the expensive rugs and furniture. Pure white love seats and lounge chairs littered the glass floor. Green, red and tan pillows were thrown carelessly on the couches, while the walls were a pale olive. A pale Beachwood table sat in the center, a vase of daffodils crowning the center. Statues stood on either side of the large entryway. A high domed ceiling made the room look huge, and 3 large windows decorated 3 walls, each with white curtains hanging gracefully. The fireplace was huge also. It consisted of grey stone, and the mantle was decorated with glass figurines.

"Hermione must have a bundle of money," Ron stated, his jaw dropping to the floor.

"Yes well in the muggle world, dentists generally DO make a bundle of money; and both her parents are dentists." Harry said matter of factly.

"Hermione!" Ron shouted, the call echoing off the walls.

"Ron shut up! People in china could have heard you!" Harry replied angrily. "What's this?" he bent to pick up a bit of parchment with Hermione's writing scrawled across it.

"Mom, Dad I've gone out for a picnic with the neighbors, will be back soon. Love, Hermione." Ron read over Harry's shoulder. "Bloody -! She's gone out with that scum... On a picnic. Geez haven't they gotten friendly… he probably put her under a hex or something. God! Why does she have to spend time with him? She hates him! When I find Malfoy I'm going to rip his throat out…" Ron snarled. Harry could see thefury evidenton his face.

"Come on, Ron. Let's go find him." Ron crunched the note in his hand.

Hermione and Draco eventually reached the bottom of the hill, out of breath. They were bruised and worn out, but still happy. They lay there for awhile, looking up at the clouds. Finally Draco rolled over and looked at Hermione, a thoughtful expression on his face. His hand was holding uphis head; to Hermione he looked so… cute.

"You know, I've been thinking…" Draco started, "We only became friends yesterday, but I feel as though we've been friends forever. How is that possible?"

"Well I'm not exactly sure... Maybe it has something to do with the fact that we go to the same school?"

"Or maybe it's something else. Something that was buried underneath hatred for so long… and now that the hatred is gone, whatever it is? it's starting to come out." Hermione swallowed hard. What was he trying to say? That he liked her? Secretly that thought made her want to dance with excitement.

Draco gathered Hermione close in his arms. "You make me feel things that I've never felt before," he whispered into her ear, making Hermione shiver. "You've gotten under my skin, and I can't stop thinking of you…" Hermione's head swarmed with questions, with emotions she couldn't name. But the strongest thought was I like him too.

Draco lifted his head so that he was staring directly into Hermione's eyes. The silvery grey of his gave her a silent plea; please give me a chance. Hermione nodded her yes; a slight movement that she would soon learn would change everything. Draco leaned his head in, and his lips brushed hers, an expected movement that caught them both by surprise. He quickly recovered and leaned down and kissed her again, a soft, sweet motion of lips that nearly killed Hermione. She was sure that if she was standing, she would have fallen down, her knees were so weak. Then Draco took the kiss deeper, and fireworks exploded behind her eyes. Her disposition melted, and her heart fluttered madly. She wanted this to last forever.

But every good thing has to come to an end.

"HERMIONE! WHAT THE BLOODYARE YOU DOING?"

Hermione and Draco pushed away from each other and sat up quickly. When they looked around, they saw a raging red faced Ron huffing and puffing, fists clenched. Harry was behind him, looking mildly surprised and confused.

"Ron! I was just…" Hermione started.

But Ron wouldn't listen to her. He was furious. "You!" he shouted at Draco. "You leave her alone. If you ever talk to her again, I- I'll kill you Malfoy! I'll pull an avada on you! Do you hear!" then he grabbed Hermione's arm and started dragging towards her house. But Hermione would have none of it. "Ron! Listen to me! You have no right-!" Ron cut her off.

"Hermione if you ever go near Malfoy again…I don't know what ill do." He was practically shouting. "I love you don't you know that? And you go around with him? What has gotten into you? Don't you love me too?" Hermione was struck dumb. Harry was shocked. She realized that he hadn't said anything about her and Draco, so she mouthed to him for help.

Harry walked up to Ron and tried to pry his iron like grip from Hermione's small wrist. "Ron, come on, if she didn't like Malfoy she wouldn't be kissing him would she? Are you sure you're feeling okay?" he felt Ron's forehead but Ron jerked back and fell to the ground taking Hermione down with him.

"Come on Hermione! Say you love me too," he rasped. Harry was trying desperately to break them up. "Tell me you're not crazy for me."

A hand shot out of nowhere and lifted Ron into the air. Then a solid blow to the jaw sent him flying back onto the ground, unconscious. Those same hands reached down to lift her up, and Hermione found herself staring into Draco's grey eyes. They were full of anger, worry, and something else that rocked Hermione's core.

Draco looked down at her wrist, which was starting to sport a rather large, angry bruise. His eyes hardened. "I'm okay," Hermione soothed. "I don't know what's gotten into him…"

"If the- Draco caught himself, though he wanted to call Ron every dirty name in the book, "if he thinks I'm never going to see you again he's crazy." Hermione secretly smiled at this. Harry was trying to pick Ron up to carry him to Hermione's house, so she helped him. Surprisingly, so did Draco. They successfully managed to half drag him into Hermione's living. There he was settled on one of the couches, while Hermione and Draco sat on the other. Harry sat in an armchair, facing them. "So," he said. How long has this been going on?"

"Since yesterday." She looked shyly up at Draco. Harry's eyebrows hit sky rocket.

"So is that why you moved here… and decided not to tell Ron that you weren't coming to the Burrow?"

Hermione's eyes widened. She completely forgot to owl Ron… well that was quite impossible since she didn't own an owl. "No it's not Harry. My parents were transferred her from work. So now they get to live in Surry. I didn't find out until after Ron owled, and then I had no way of letting him know. I forgot to tell him." She added quietly. "But I'm really sorry Harry!"

Harry was puzzled. Hermione never forgot anything. He looked at the two people sitting in front of him with wonder. The most unlikely pair and they were head over heals for each other; anyone could see it. And Draco obviously wasn't his same self either. Harry asked about it.

Draco told him what he had told Hermione earlier; the truth. It felt so good. Harry seemed mildly surprised; but then not much was getting to him these days. His feelings had pretty much shut off since Sirius had died.

"Harry please can you give this a chance?" Hermione asked when Draco was finished. But at this point, Ron was starting to wake up. His eye was black, blue, and very swollen. He could hardly open it.

"Ron, we're leaving," Harry stated.

"But-!" Ron started to protest, but Harry held up his hand.

"I'll send Hedwig later Hermione"

And with that they left the same way they came in.

Draco turned to Hermione. "That was quite an eventful day wasn't it?" Hermione just rolled her eyes and sighed. Draco laughed and leaned in to kiss her again...

"Hermione, I'm sorry we slept so late." Her mother was coming down the stairs. Then she spied Draco. "Oh I didn't realize we had company… would you like to stay for lunch?"

"No thank-you; I have to head home anyways. But thanks for the offer." He turned down to Hermione brushed a light kiss across her pink lips. She blushed. After he had gone-

"Well he seems like a nice boy. Hermione why don't you go out with him?"

Mom, you have no idea.

Whew that was a long chapter. I guess I'm more into this whole story thing now. There's a lot of "and then..." in my story... but please bear with me... I tried to update ASAP. Please review and tell me how it was… I personally think it's my best chapter. oh and i desrcibed the living room so much because Hermione and draco and some of the story will take place there.