Disclaimer:  This really is getting ridiculous because if you're reading this chapter then you've all ready read all of the previous chapters with disclaimers and know what the deal is.  However if you happen to be reading this chapter before all of the other ones…well what the hell are you doing?  Get your ass back to chapter 1.

A/N:  Hey everybody.  Well I'm updating sooner than I did last time.  Are you happy now?  You better be.  I should be doing English homework right now but I'm not, besides, I'm not going to that class tomorrow anyway.  Ok well here's the story.  Read now; review later.  Get it, got it, good.

Whisper~Mad~Crazy                                              Chapter 21-Pretending

          "Well at least I'm not a sniveling, goody-goody, know-it-all Gryffindor!"

Students gathered around the banter that was taking place between classes.

"You watch what you say Malfoy!"  Ron yelled struggling to be free of the tight grip Seamus had on him.

"You had bloody well better take that back you son of a…death-eater!"  Harry shouted stuck in Dean's death grip.

"Ron, Harry shut it now or I'll be sending you to the infirmary along with Malfoy!"  Hermione said, reprimanding them.

"Is that a threat Granger?"  Draco asked, cocking one eyebrow.

"You'd better believe it ferret boy."  She said grinning evilly.

"Well I must say I'm shaking in my skivvies," He replied sarcastically raising a couple of chuckles, "but if you will excuse me I've got to go find some real competition."  He turned slightly.

"What?  Are you scared of being beaten by a girl?  A mudblood no less."  She retorted venomously, dropping her voice.  Draco whipped around and advanced on her.  Her grabbed the collar of her robes and pulled her towards him so that their faces were less than an inch apart.  Hermione glared at him and was surprised when he moved to whisper in her ear.

"No one's aloud to call you a mudblood.  Not me, not you, not anyone."  He said softly so that only she could hear.  "So don't to it again or I may have to take action."

"What kind of action would that be?"  She whispered back.  He smirked.

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

"Get your hands off of her Malfoy!"  Harry yelled, trying desperately to be rid of the force holding him back.

"Enough!"  A cold voice said over the roar of the fight, and as suddenly as it had gathered, the crowd dissipated.  The few students remaining turned to glance fearfully towards the potions professor.  "Granger, Malfoy follow me, and the rest of you…aren't there classes you should all be in?"  He watched as Harry and Ron gave Hermione a meaningful glance before sauntering off down the hallway.  Hermione and Draco stepped away from each other and quickly trailed after Professor Snape.  As soon as they were out of sight from the rest of the students Draco grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her in, kissing her quickly on the lips.

"Oh please…" Snape muttered, still a few strides ahead of them.

"Well I believe that went quite well."  Draco said jovially.

"Yes I quite agree."  Hermione replied.  "We should definitely plan out a few more banters like that one."

"Definitely."  He said wrapping an arm around her waist.   They followed Snape as he entered his living quarters.  He closed the door behind them and proceeded to sit in an armchair while Hermione and Draco took the sofa.  This was all becoming quite routine.

"You know I can't just keep letting you off without some kind of punishment.  The student body may start to get suspicious."  Snape said clasping his hands in front of him. 

"Aw, come on Uncle Sev.  Everybody knows how much of a teacher's pet I am.  They believe what I tell them to believe.  So thus they believe I always talk you out of it."  Draco said stretching his legs out in front of him.

"Yes, well, it's getting a little out of hand."  Snape continued.  "I know we told you two to keep up the façade, but do you realize that I've had to call you down here everyday this week…"

"It's only Wednesday."  Draco interjected.

"Well that's three out of five Draco, congratulations you've passed."  He replied sarcastically.  Draco was about to reply when Hermione softly grabbed his arm.

"We understand Severus."  She said smiling gently.  "We'll tone it down a bit."

"Thank you Hermione.  And while you're at it could you talk some sense into my nephew here."  He said.

"I'll try."  She replied laughing.  She rapped him on the head a couple of times.  "But he's pretty thick."

"Hey!"  Draco whined rubbing his head where she had hit him.  "I'm going to get you for that!"  She squealed as he started to tickle her mercilessly.  Severus sighed rubbing his temples.

"Don't you two have a class?"  He asked.

"Nope."  Hermione replied between giggles, still trying to escape the reach of Draco's hands.

"We both have free periods."  Draco said as they both unceremoniously fell off the couch.  Severus stared at the couple panting on the floor.

"And since when, Ms. Hermione, do you have a free period?"  He asked.

"Since Monday.  After spending two weeks in that bloody common room, I realized that there were a couple classes that I really didn't need."  She replied.

"Of course I've been telling her that from day one but no…hey!"  Draco said as Hermione flipped him over and pinned him down on his stomach.  She pulled one of his arms so that it was bent at an awkward angle behind him.

"Ah! Ok, uncle, UNCLE!"  He yelled raising his other hand in defeat.

"I am not helping you Draco."  Severus replied.  "It's your own fault you got beat by a girl."  Hermione's mouth dropped in mock hurt.

"That was rude!"  She said as Draco answered the professor.

"No it means I give up, or something.  All I know is that when I say it, she gets up and that's good enough for me."  Draco said as Hermione gracefully lifted herself off of him and lent him a hand to help him up as well.

"Right…well off you go then."  Severus said standing up quickly, not wanting to lose the chance to get rid of the two.   He went to the door and opened it, ushering them out.

"See you later Uncle Sev."  Draco said as they made their way down the hall.

"So long Severus."  Hermione said as well.

Severus waved nonchalantly as the two disappeared down the corridor.  He rolled his eyes and walked back into his quarters shutting the door behind him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So love what do you want to do?"  Draco asked wrapping his arms around Hermione's waist from behind.

"Well, love…" She started.

"Why do you always insist on mocking me whenever I call you that?"  He asked, almost sounding hurt, almost.

"Because it's just so, I don't know the word, funny I suppose but not really…oh I don't know…asinine perhaps."  She replied, furrowing her brow in thought.

"Well would you rather I make up another nickname for you?  Sugar Bunny, Hot Cakes?  Sweet Cheeks perhaps?"  He asked innocently.

"You know what…I like love, love is good, love is great, love."  She said quickly.  Draco's eyes shimmered as he smiled down on her.  "Anyway, to answer your question.  Perhaps we can have a walk around Whimlet's Woods."  She replied.

"Oh you mean the other forest that's still got lots of spooky, not to mention dangerous, creatures of all shapes and size, but that's not forbidden."  Draco said sarcastically.

"That's the one."  She said smiling.

"Stupendous."

They exited the castle, careful to avoid any and all students.  Once outside Hermione linked her arm through Draco's and led him around the castle towards the slightly more pleasant wooded area, Whimlet's Woods.

          The newly fallen leaves crunched under their feet as they followed the beaten path through the trees.  Hermione breathed deep smelling the scent of fall surrounding her.  Draco's arm was wrapped casually around her waist; he glanced around pensively observing everything.  The woods were aglow with the colors of autumn; reds, oranges and golds were abundant.  The sound of trickling water slowly met their ears as they approached the small stream and pond that were nestled in the middle of the wood.  Hermione smiled brightly and left Draco's side to sit on a patch of grass near the bank of the pond.

"Isn't this beautiful?"  She asked breathlessly.  She heard Draco chuckle as he sat down beside her.

"You know I could say something really cliché right now and sound really stupid."  He said.  She grinned and leaned into him.

"Say it anyway."

He sighed, "Not as beautiful as you."  She laughed but furrowed her brow thoughtfully.  "What are you thinking?"  He asked softly.

"I was just remembering how you said that when we were on our trip."  She replied.  Draco stared off towards the middle of the pond.

"That night on the ship, when the sun was just setting?"  He asked still staring off into nothingness.

"Uh huh."  She replied biting her bottom lip.

"Yeah, that was, safe to say, one of the best nights of my life."  He said smiling.  "Although if I remember correctly your exact words were, 'It's beautiful isn't it?'"  He finished in a very feminine voice.  Hermione slapped him playfully on the leg.

"Do you really want me to start mimicking all the cheesy things you said on the trip?"  She asked him smirking.  A look of mock horror spread across his face.

"No, nope, definitely not. Let's not talk about that.  I'm sorry for mocking you.  Please don't get mad."  He said with an air of regality.  Hermione grinned.

"I don't get mad."  She replied.

"That's right, you don't.  We'll leave it at that then shall we?"  Draco finished.  Hermione laughed and pulled herself to her feet.

"Come on, let's go."  She said offering him a hand up.  Draco looked up at her and pouted.

"I don't want to go yet."  He said crossing his arms.

"If we don't go now we're going to miss dinner."  She said pointedly, knowing this would snap him out of his childish act.  She was correct.  At that Draco leapt up without any assistance.  She shrieked as he suddenly scooped her up in his arms and took off, dashing back up the path.

"Draco!"  She yelled clinging on to his neck for dear life.  "What in the bloody hell are you doing?"

"You said we were going to miss dinner!"  He replied panting slightly.

"I will never understand men and their obsession with food."  She said rolling her eyes.  She gave another yelp of surprise as Draco suddenly stopped.

"So you've finally come to your senses…" She started but trailed off when Draco placed a firm hand over her mouth.  She looked up to his face to see his eyes wide with fear.  He very slowly set her down on the ground and reached inside his robes to grab his wand.  Hermione followed his gaze down the path.  She paled when she found what had made them come to a halt.   Suddenly Draco raised his wand.

"Hermione, RUN!"

A/N:  HAHAHAHA!!!  Oh man it sucks to be you guys.  I bet you're all like flippin' out now huh?  That's right, the evil cliffy writer returns!!!  *yawn* I am super tired.  So I'm going to go to bed now.

Ta ta!

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