………………………………………………………………………………………………
Hermione was awake shortly after day break. After a quick shower, she slipped out of the Heads room and outside.
The cool morning air invigorated her and cleared her head. It was hard to believe what had happened over the last week. She had boarded the Hogwart's train the same Hermione as always and now she was falling in love with the Slytherin-god, Draco Malfoy. She had never been so rash in all her life, but she had never been as happy either. She could only hope that Draco felt the same.
She was afraid of what Ron and Harry would say, but she was even more afraid of what they would do if they saw her and Draco together before she had a chance to tell them… If there was in fact anything to tell. The sudden fear crept into her mind that Draco would pretend that nothing had happened when his friends returned to school.
Draco woke up alone in bed and it felt strange. He found the common room empty too. Hermione must have slipped out. He hoped that she wasn't upset about last night, that she didn't regret anything.
He headed to the kitchen to settle his mind over some breakfast.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
It was lunchtime before Hermione and Draco found each other. Hermione could barely look in his eyes. She was in love but she was afraid that the feelings weren't reciprocated.
When Hermione wouldn't say anything or look him in the eyes, Draco felt even worse. He couldn't believe that he had let it go so far last night and that she might be angry with him.
"Ummm, Hermione…about last night…"he started.
She knew what was coming, a swift brush off. Tears began to pool in her eyes. How could she have been so naive?
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. Nothing is worth seeing you this upset. If I had known…"
"You mean you don't …regret last night?"
"No, I thought you did."
"No, I was just afraid…"
"Afraid? You? I was afraid that you…" Draco started.
"won't love me now?" they said in unison.
They stared at each other in awe and amazement for a moment and then both beamed brightly.
Draco went to where Hermione was standing and wrapped his arms around her.
He whispered to her, "Hermione, I have fallen in love with you. I would never regret last night. It was the most wonderful thing that I have ever felt. I was afraid of love, I was afraid that you wouldn't love me. But not any more, I love you and I will shout it from the castle top if that is what you need to believe me."
The tears that had welled in Hermione's eyes now fell freely down her cheeks, but they were not tears of sadness or fear, they were tears of love and joy.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Hermione sent an owl to Ron and Harry at the Burrow. She didn't come straight out and say that she and Draco were together. But she told them that she and Draco had been at school together at Dumbledore's request and that he had changed and that he wasn't so bad after all. Wow, that is an understatement she thought to herself, but she didn't dare break it to them that quickly.
Their reply was not what she had hoped but it was better than nothing.
Dear Hermione,
Glad to hear that you are enjoying your time at Hogwart's. That prat better not hurt a hair on your head or he will have to answer to us when we get there. We are a little skeptical about this "Draco is nice" thing, guess only time will tell. We miss you here, but we will see you soon.Love,
Ron, Harry, & Ginny
Hermione and Draco spent the next week together, enjoying their time. Errands and helping out by day, in each other's company and arms by night.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Professor Dumbledore couldn't have been more pleased with the results of his meddling. The couple had worked out splendidly. He gradually reduced the amounts of potions he slipped into their food over the next week and by Friday they were in love totally potion free. He chuckled to himself every time he saw them.
He often thought of the bushy haired girl and the slick little ferret that had entered his school only a few years before. Who would have thought that they would fall in love? Who besides him anyway? And what else was in store for the rest of the year? No one could know, no one that was except him. Just the thought put a twinkle in his eye.
He hummed as he walked down the hall. There was even a slight skip in his step.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
September first came all to quickly for Draco and Hermione. The morning that the other students would arrive, they bustled about the castle making sure that every nook and cranny was clean and that they feast would be perfect. Professor Dumbledore even let Hermione freshen the sorting hat up a bit before the big night.
"Miss Granger, well, it had been a while," the hat said through its fabric mouth.
Hermione felt a little silly carrying on a conversation with a hat, but was sure that it would be offended if she didn't reply.
"Yes it has," she said, "it seems like it was only yesterday though."
"Maybe to you, but a year is a long time when all you do is sit up on a shelf. The most action I have seen in seven years is when Dumbledore sent me to help Harry in second year. Yes, a long time indeed."
"Well, yes, I do suppose so. I have high hopes for this year though. Nothing like the last year though, with Voldemort gone. But high hopes none the less."
"Well, I can assure you that you will not be let down."
"Oh really?" Hermione asked. "How can you know?"
"Miss Granger, I know a lot more than you would think about what goes on within these walls. One can only sit in a place so long before you become a bit of the place itself. You will see… after you leave Hogwart's, you will see. You can never truly leave, Hogwart's will always be apart of you."
"Now that I can believe," said Hermione thoughtfully.
"Then believe this, you have big things in store for you this year, Miss Granger. That is if I should even call you Miss Granger any more."
Hermione stopped what she was doing and gave the hat a puzzled look, "Whatever does that mean?"
But the sat remained silent. Just then, Draco rushed in the door to the Great Hall, "Come on, Hermione, everybody is arriving."
Hermione and Draco stood hand in hand on the front steps in front of the professors to greet the students as they made their way to the school from boat and carriage.
Dumbledore looked down on them and beamed with happiness.
Hermione waved to Harry, Ron, Ginny and Neville as they got out of one of the first carriages but she never let go of Draco's hand.
"What in the bloody hell?" Ron murmured to Harry when he caught sight of Hermione and Draco.
Harry just shrugged his shoulders as they approached Hogwart's for the final year.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
