A/N ok so I know its been about 10 months since I've updated and evidently the few readers I had now hate me and want to burn me at the stake. All I can offer is my apologies and the lame excuse of me being in my final year of school, which of course can be easily rebuked by my friends who too were in their final year of school yet managed to finish their stories. In short, I suck. But schools over now and its time to pick up where I left off, fueling the sexual tension between Draco and Hermione and making Ron lovers loath my with a fiery passion. Anyway welcome to the long awaited chapter 10 of 'An Unexpected Union'. Enjoy.

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"Better" nodded Draco as Hermione swept past him rather gracefully

"Excellent" he grinned at her as she sent her broomstick into a dive and pulled out again into a full airborn summersault

Hermione stopped and smiled back at the blonde

'My goodness, did he just genuinely smile at me?'

"You're doing so much better than before"

Well Hermione wouldn't exactly say that she was a first class flyer but she at least knew this much of what he said to be true.

~flash back...one month earlier~

Hermione landed on the soft freshly cut quidditch pitch. Rather wobbly mind you. She slammed her broomstick on the ground. Draco landed after her, much more gracefully of course, eyes ablaze.

"What the hell did you do that for! Stop with your little hissy fit and get back on that broomstick and do a proper sweeping dive now!" yelled the Slytherin

"No!"

"I said NOW!"

Hermione spun around, cheeks red with anger and exertion

"I can't do it, ok!" she shrieked back "I can't do it and I hate it!"

Being the bright lad that he was, Draco finally understood was upsetting Hermion so much. Stupid male.

"You can't expect to be good at everything right at once." Draco offered

"But I do! I've never not been able to do something before. You saw me out there, I'm awful!"

Draco blinked in shock at the confession of the Gryffindor. Hermione continued, rather less loudly

"Not that you would ever understand. You look bloody ho.brilliant out there. You've probably never had trouble flying. Like everything else it came to you easily."

With that, she spun around and began to haughtily stalk off

'Oh no you don't you're not getting away that easily'

Draco grabbed Hermiones waist and spun her around

"That's bullcrap. You have no idea how long it took me to learn to fly as brilliantly (he smirked) as I can now. You think you're bad? I mean admittedly, you are rather terrible. (Hermione glared) But you should have seen me!"

Draco's eyes darkened

"It's especially difficult when you have an un-supportive bastard of a father telling you what a failure you are every time you try"

'Shit I didn't mean to say that'

Hermione's mouth opened a little and she blinked several times, clearly shocked

'I can't believe he just opened up to me like that'

Draco's eyes lowered from Hermione's as he composed himself once more

"Anyway, you're not THAT bad, and you're learning quicker than most people"

"Really?" Hermione asked skeptically

"Yes really. Besides, if you quit now you'll simply have to fail the class"

Draco smirked to himself as he purposely put emphasis on the word 'fail'.

Hermione's eyes widened in horror. Draco laughed.

"I thought you'd feel that way. Now once again, get back on that broom, now"

Hermione's eyes lowered to her waist where Draco's hand still lingered

Draco's eyes followed the brunettes. He slightly blushed (yes that's right he blushed)

"Sorry"

~Back in the real world~

Hermione smiled at the memory. She had to admit, those strong arms around her had felt rather good.

"Well miss know-it-all" Draco smirked as Hermione feigned a fake offended look at being called a know-it-all

"I think you're ready for the next level of your.training"

This time Hermiones face registered genuine shock

'Is he being suggestive?'

Draco reached into his robes un-naturally slowly. Hermiones heart thumped. Suddenly he produced a black velvet back from the depths of the garment and opened it. Almost instantaneously a golden snitch began to flutter in the air, before taking off out of site.

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, although for some unexplainable reason she felt somewhat disappointed.

"Oh so that's what you meant?" the Gryffindor blurted out without thinking, and naturally instantly regretting the words

Now it was Draco's turn to feign fake shock

"Miss Granger! I am simply appalled at your un-pure assumption. I mean, yes I know I am unbelievably desirable, but please, this is a learning environment and I would appreciate it if you would leave you're dirty thoughts to yourself"

"I am not dirty!"

"I'm sorr, I'm afraid my entire perspective of you has altered. You're not the sweet innoceny clean cut girl I throught you were. It's funny how I have that effect on women"

Neither of the pair were able to control their lauggter

"You're the one that made me think of that with your.your suggestive eyebrow raising!"

"I do not raise my eyebrows suggestively!

Hermione scoffed at this

Draco sighed "I suppose I can't really blame you for saying it was me that made you think of 'that' sort of thing. I AM unbelievably attractive and its simply human nature for a girl to want to shag me silly every time she looks at me.

Hermione burst out laughing and shook her head

"Bloody vain git"

It was about then that Hermione saw a golden glitter just above the Slytherins shoulder

"Well Mr. Malfoy it really has been enjoyable little chat but I believe it's time for our lesson to begin

With that, Hermione took off past Draco after the snitch

Draco spun quickly after the brunette to see what she was on about and then suddenly saw the golden glitter for himself. Draco, so very out of character (note the sarcasm) smirked to himself

Hmm not as sweet and innocent as I first thought. Perhaps sharing a dorm with me has corrupted her into having a sense of humour. Oh the tragedy.

Draco began to chase Hermione and the snitch himself. She was hot on that little balls trail, twisting and turning along with it, hair whipping behind her in the wind. She was serious.

Draco couldn't believe how much she had improved. He brought his broomstick besides hers.

"You should have beena seeker!" he yelled into the wind at her

Hermione smirked wickedly

Yes I've definitely corrupted her. Excellent.

"What's wrong? Scared I'm going to show you up?"

Draco's jaw set firmly

"That's it Granger, now you're going to get it!"

Both had their eyes firmly set on the snitch as it sporadically danced from left to right, until finally settling to head in one direction. Down.

Draco plummeted after it.

"Oh no you don't!" screamed Hermione as she dived after the blonde and the snitch, letting out what sounded rather like a "wahoo" of enjoyment, though she would never admit it.

'I never thought flying could be so much fun!'

She zoomed up besides Draco and locked her broom with his. They both continued to fly closer towards the snitch and evidently the ground also.

"I'm not letting you win this one Malfoy" Hermione grinned and shot a look towards the attractive Slytherin

"Not going to pull out at the last second Granger?" Draco smirked is ever so well known and loved superior smirk

Hermione glanced towards the ground that was constantly coming closer and closer. Her face flicked with worry

'No, I can't let him show me up'

'I'm sure you already show him up in a few interesting ways'

'Shut up brain'

"In your dreams Malfoy"

The head boy and girl continued to plummet towards the unfriendly looking ground. Draco gritted his teeth and stretched out his hand towards the snitch. Hermione attempted the same, much less skillfully. They were now only a few metres from the ground. Time to pull out of the dive had run out.

"Shit!" yelled Draco.

He grabbed hold of Hermione and dived off his broom. He hit the ground hard, breaking Hermiones fall in the process. The pair rolled along the ground a few times before eventually coming to a complete stop, Draco on top of Hermione. He lifted his head from her shoulder to look into her face, which was screwed up protectively.

"Are you alright?"

Hermiones face muscles relaxed. She opened her eyes and looked up into his.

"Yeah I'm ok. Are you?"

The blonde nodded gently

Hermione smiled slightly at his response

"Did you catch it?"

Draco now shook his head

Hermione grinned triumphantly

"Looks like we're even then"

"Yeah looks like it" Draco replied as he raised his hand and wiped a smudge of dirt off Hermiones cheek. Hermione blushed.

Damn it, I can't fight this anymore

Draco leaned down and captured the Gryffindors lips in his. Hermiones eyes closed instantly

Damn it, I can't fight this anymore

Hermione wrapped her arms around Draco's neck and returned his kisses

'I can't believe it. I'm kissing Draco

Hermione lent further into the kiss

Draco. Malfoy. Draco Malfoy

Suddenly images from the last six years begam flashing through Hermiones mind.

"Last time the chamber was opened a mudblood died. It's only a matter of time before it happens this time. As for me, I hope it's Granger"

"It's none of your business you filthy little mudblood"

"Go away mudblood"

"Mudblood. Mudblood. MUDBLOOD"

"Stop!"

Draco lifted his face from the Gryffindors in confusement

"What's wrong?"

"I can't do this. Get off me"

Draco's eyes flashed with hurt, but he obliged, rolling onto his back beside her.

"I don't understand, I thought that."

Hermione got to her feet and cut him off. Her eyes began to shine

"No. I've never been anything but a disgusting mudblood to you. For the past six years you have made my life a living hell, and why? Because by no choice of mine own I was born into a muggle family. All you ever wanted was for me to be dead!

The shocked Slytherin opened his mouth to protest

"Don't you dare say anything different! Harry and Ron heard you! You wanted the basilisk to take me just like it did to Moaning Myrtle.

"But how did they here me say that, it was in the common room.."

"Polyjuice potion. Crabbe and Goyle evidently weren't Crabbe and Goyle"

The Slytherins face registered both shock and realization. Before he could speak again, Hermione continued

" For Merlins sake Malfoy, I may have hated you but I never wanted you dead."

She had said her piece. With that, she turned around and began to walk away

My god she's right. I've never been anything but a complete bastard to her, an for absolutely no good reason at that. How could I have just suddenly expect her to trust in me now, to believe my feelings are real after showing her so much hate. I caused her pain.

Draco jumped to his feet

"Hermione!"

The brunette, not expecting a response from him, turned around slowly. They stood mere metres apart.

"I'm sorry..for everything"

Draco lowered his head. He wasn't accustomed to apologizing. Ever. To anyone.

"I know I've been beyond awful to you in the past. I also know I don't deserve you or your trust. All I can say is that for once in my life I'm being honest. What I did before, it was an honest action, maybe my first ever.oh forget it. How can I ever expect you to believe a son of a deatheater"

Draco shook his head in embarrassment and turned to go.

'Idiot'

Hermione saw the pain in his eyes. She began to question her own beliefs.

'He seems so genuine. And he has taken time out to teach me to fly. The old Draco wouldn't have done that. Perhaps he truly has changed. Perhaps I've misjudged him. I really need to stop seeing him as merely Malfoy, the son of a deatheater.He was right, I do see him as that. That's being just as unfair as he was in seeing me merely as a mudblood. Hypocrisy much. Bloody hell, I can't believe I'm about to trust my worst enemy, among other things. Damn it.

Hermione groaned

"Draco, wait!"

Hermione broke the distance between them again by pressing her lips against his once again. The Slytherin responded instantly. He wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss.

After quite a long interval they broke apart

"I'm sorry for ever making you believe I wanted you dead" offered the Blonde

"I'm sorry for doubting you"

"Well there is one way I can think that you can make it up to me' Draco smirked

Hermione laughed and kissed his inviting lips again

"You're just as evil as ever"

"Don't pretend like you don't love it"

Hermione laughed again

"Come on Granger think it's time we took a shower. We're both a tad muddy"

"Don't you mean we should take separate showers?"

"Oh yes of course.. SEPARATE showers" said Draco along with some shifty sideway eye movements

Hermiones mouth dropped open

"Don't make me hit you Draco Malfoy!"

"Ohh sounds like fun"

"Draco!"

The Slytherin burst out laughing and began running towards the castle with an exasperated Gryffindor hot on his heels.

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Meanwhile..

Ron screamed in violent rage as he pick up a rather large broken off tree branch and hauled it against the change room wall

'He kissed her! He fucking kissed her!'

He smashed yet another defenseless branch against the rather battered wall

'He has no business with my Hermione!"

The fuming Weasley began charging up towards the castle. Once he reached it, he barged through the crowds to the common room, seeing naught but red

He barked the password at the quite shocked fat lady. When he reached his dorm, he ripped out a quill and parchment from his bag and began writing furiously.

'That's it. That son of a bitch is going to pay. Now he will know what it is to feel pain'

The red head shoved the letter and a sack of gold into an envelope and quickly was up again, charging down to the owlery.

On his arrval, Pig hooted and flew down towards him. Ron scowled at the little owl and more or less told him to ping off, and shooed him away. The poor bird did as he was told, but not without biting Ron on the finger first.

"Ouch! Bugger off you little pigme!"

'There's no way in hell I'm using my owl. Wouldn't want it to be traced'

Ron approached a school barn owl and rather vigorously attached the letter to it's leg

"Listen up owl. Take this letter to shop 254 Knockturn Alley"

Well folks that's it, the long awaited chappie is done. Once again I am so terribly sorry. This chapter is dedicate to Katie (Grrbaby) who inspired me to get off my lazy behind and write again. Cheers buddy.