Chapter 16

Hermione sat up in the booth out of breathe from Draco's little idea. And for once all she could say was 'Wow.' She tried to straighten out her clothes before it was to late, but it was no use. Draco dragged her back down onto the bench where they were before. His tongue filled her mouth, fighting against her own. His hands were roaming up and down over her shirt only stopping to have finally reached the edge of her shirt and then to continue their journey up. Hermione gasped at this and pulled away some. She didn't really feel that groping each other in public would be such a great idea anymore.

"Come on… let's get out of here." She whispered in his ear making him pull her tighter to him. After a few seconds he finally released her and stood up to straighten his own clothes. Hermione did the same. She grabbed the pictures on the way out and slipped them into her pocket. She only wished that she could share them with Ginny and the others. But for something such as this everyone would more than likely abandon her on the spot. Then why was she doing this is in the first place? Because of him.

"Did you get them?" He asked leaning down to look at her hands.

"Yes."

"May I see them?"

"I don't know may you?"

"Yes, I think I may." He replied reaching down into her pocket. Finding them he pulled them out. He looked at them with amusement in his eyes. The last one was the best. The look of surprise on Hermione's face made him smile. "They look good."

"Yeah they do." She said pulling him down for a quick kiss. The smile that had come upon her face quickly faded as she saw Ron and Harry in the distance staring right at them. Their eyes locked for only a few seconds, but within those few seconds Hermione could see the disgust in Harry's eyes. Ron looked at her as if she was dirt on the floor. Soon enough Ron and Harry turned around going back the way they had come.

"Oh no… not now." Hermione said looking down tears forming in her eyes. What she had feared the most just became reality.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Draco said glancing down at Hermione to see tears forming in her eyes.

"They saw… they saw it. They know Draco! They know! Do you have any idea of what's going to happen now!" She yelled at him trying to get rid of her anger toward what had just happened.

"Relax Hermione. You and I both know it was bound to happen. It will just take time you know. Time for them to understand."

Hermione had seen little of Draco for the past few days. She couldn't bear to see him when Harry and Ron made her feel so awful. But why should she care what they think? They don't deserve to know how great this thing between her and Draco is right? She was thankful that both boys had not mention what they had seen to the others. At least it was still somewhat secret, but that didn't mean that the others wouldn't know soon enough. It was always a matter of time, just as it was before. And how could Draco just stand there when it happened and act as if it had no affect on him. Maybe it really didn't. But that was crazy talk. She knew that he felt just the same for her as she did for him.

Or maybe she just assumed he did when really he didn't. Maybe it was just time for this to end.

Harry and Ron both looked up to see Hermione entering the common room. They silently got up to leave. Never mentioning a word to each other or Hermione. The books on the table were soon retrieved by both of them. Hermione's anger boiled within her. She couldn't take it anymore.

"Why won't you guys talk to me? Why won't you just say what you think of me? Just tell me! Yell at me for all I care!" She shouted to both of them. The rest of those in the common room decided to leave sensing that they were not welcome at the moment.

"Hermione we can't believe you! Is that what you want to hear? That we can't believe that you did something such as this? You've betrayed us all Hermione. I don't think that we could ever forgive you. Ginny even thought she knew you well enough to know that what you were doing meant risking everything." Harry shot back at her, telling Ron that they should just leave.

"Isn't there something I could do to fix it?" She said towards the boys fading shadows as they climbed to their dorms.

She approached an owl named Briny in the owlery. She quickly gave the owl her letter hoping that Briny would get the letter to him in time. She walked back towards where she had first seen the room Draco had taken her into. Finding the entrance she waited for him inside.

He soon stepped inside, a scowl on his face. He came over to Hermione and wrapped an arm around her in means of some kind of comfort that he could give her. She shrugged his arm off and stood up away from him.

"I don't think we should do this anymore. Harry and Ron are mad at me and the others won't even look at me. I can't stand seeing you anymore without thinking of Harry and Ron. I betrayed them and everyone else. I can't live like this anymore," She spoke to him as loud as she could. Tears ran down her face and she tried to control the sobs escaping her mouth. "I just hope that you will understand." She went towards the door and walked out.

Her arms wrapped around her trying to comfort herself. She thought that Draco would have followed her out, but he didn't. It sure was a big surprise for her. What's done is done.

She thought of sending a letter or trying to speak to Harry or Ron of what she had said to Draco, but she couldn't big herself to do it. She couldn't bring herself to do anything actually. She had spent time in the library for the rest of the day. She didn't find anything in there that seemed to make her feel any better and reverted to reading Hogwarts, A History one more time. That didn't seem to make her feel any better either.

She finally decided to go back to the common room and try to talk to Harry or Ron. Hopefully they would forgive her and let her be part of the group again. As she approached the portrait she whispered 'peppermint' to the fat lady. Harry and Ron rose from their chairs inside.

"Wait. Let me speak," Hermione said to them before they left. The common room was empty, completely deserted of all those who inhabit it. "Please forgive me. I've come to tell you that D… Malfoy and I are no more. I hope you will understand that I wish to become your friends again even though I know that I have betrayed you both."

"Sorry Hermione but your right you betrayed us and everyone else. And I'm also sorry to say that I can not forgive you let alone be your friend again." Ron said to her. Harry just stood there motionless, letting Ron do all the talking.

"But why? You both act as if I've done something so much worse than just loving someone that belongs to another house." She replied.

"Hermione do you not remember all those times we defended you? Stood up for you against those Slytherins and now you go and make out with one of them. How could you go and do that? Malfoy of all people! He's the worst of all of them! But you Hermione, you obviously saw something that Harry and I never did in him." Ron walked past her to the outside along with Harry trailing behind him. Hermione left with them wanting to speak to them for just a little longer.

"Please Ron. Can't you forgive me? You too Harry. Why can't you?" She said to their backs. Neither turned to say something. They left her standing there as they went to join the others at dinner. She decided to do the same. She had nothing better to do now.

She sat towards the end of the table after being shunned by those who knew of what she had done. The third years at the end knew nothing of what the others were talking about. She grabbed a bowl of soup from the table and sipped quietly, occasionally looking up to gaze at Draco who paid no attention to her. Pansy had been fawning herself all over him during the dinner. Draco didn't seem to mind for he gave her a quick kiss on the lips getting hoots and howlers from his fellow Slytherins.

He sure seems to have bounced back easily.

A/N: And another one bits the dust! I thought everyone should know that the next chapter that is posted will more than likely be the last chapter ending this story. I should have it posted before the end of the day. Hope you liked it. Send reviews!