All hail Joss Whedon and JK Rowling. Your genius has no boundaries. I own nothing.

I couldn't resist with this story. In Season 4's episode 9 of BTVS, Willow casts a "Do thy will" spell which inadvertently causes Spike to propose to Buffy. How could you not want to see this play out in the HP world with the Draco and Hermione pairing? I've borrowed a few lines from the episode just to make it more fun. THIS IS NOT A CROSSOVER FIC. And to those of you who are fans of Buffy – you'll know which lines I'm talking about. It's a ONE-SHOT and a little fluffy. For the sake of this story, Draco is still his usual sarcastic self, though a bit more mellow. Enjoy my darlings.

oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

For lack of a better title, I present:

SOMETHING BLUE

(Thank you Mr. Whedon. God, why couldn't I be related to you?)

Mid-year was a crazy time at Hogwarts. Besides exams, everyone was getting ready to go home for the Christmas break. It was even more stressful than usual for Pansy Parkinson, 7th year Slytherin.

She was in love and, unfortunately, said boy did not return her affections. He didn't hate her, but he didn't love her either. Well, at least not in the way she wanted. Draco Malfoy was nothing more than an old family friend. Their parents, Death Eaters during the time of Voldemort, always thought that the two of them would marry, making their families the two most powerful in wizarding England. In fact, even though Voldemort was now gone for good, they still expected a wedding to ensure the purity of the family lines.

Pansy's mother had groomed her towards this goal since she was ten years old, when she began her first year at Hogwarts with Draco. And now in the middle of her 7th year, she still had not made Draco fall for her.

Draco on the other hand, couldn't care less about what his parents wanted. His father was back in Azkaban after an all to brief escape to fight on the losing side of the war during their 6th year. And his mother….she was now living permanently in Scottland taking sanctuary there after they took Lucius away. She never wanted to return to the manor. Draco visited her whenever his school schedule permitted. He was left to oversee the manor.

He considered Pansy a great friend, always there for him, but nothing more. He knew she loved him and in the beginning, he tried to love her as well, but to no avail. As he got older he saw her for what she really was - a weak witch with no real goals or purpose in life than to do what her parents wanted. That, among other things, turned him off to her completely.

Pansy was getting desperate. She didn't want to but knew that if Draco wouldn't fall for her, she was going to have to make him. Her parents made it perfectly clear that if she didn't marry Draco after graduation, then she would be forced to marry her father's friend who was a widower from another pureblood family line. And there was no way she was going to marry some old man. So we find Pansy sitting at a table in the back of the crowded library researching love potions. Draco was sitting two tables away and she was distracted and having trouble concentrating. Pansy marked the potion she would brew, got up and walked over to Malfoy's table.

"Draco", she said softly.

"What is it, Pans? I'm in the middle of my transfiguration essay", he whispered not taking his eyes off his work.

"I'm doing extra credit for Snape and it's harder than I thought. Would you mind meeting me back here later and helping me with it?"

"Extra Credit? You?" , Malfoy said a playfully mocking tone.

"Yes, my last test grade wasn't that good and you know how father is…I asked Snape if there was an assignment I could do to bring up my grade and he agreed. Please, Draco?"

"What time?", he sighed.

"11:00?"

"That's after hours, Pans".

"I know, but we won't get caught and besides it would just be me getting in trouble…you could always say you were patrolling and found me".

"Alright, now let me finish this okay? I have Quidditch practice in an hour".

"Thank you, Draco. Meet me in the back near the restricted section. I'll see you tonight".

Malfoy nodded and went back to his essay.

At 10:30, the potion was ready. It was easier than she thought. Pansy bottled it and snuck down to the kitchen for a cup of hot chocolate, then headed to the library. 'Tonight, Draco will drink the potion, look at me and in the morning, he'll finally be madly in love with me.' Since Pansy already loved Draco, she wouldn't need to drink any and would remember everything about their past. Draco on the other hand would only know that he loved her and always had. They would get engaged and be married in the fall.

When she arrived in the library, Draco wasn't there yet. She set up her books so her plan would look authentic, and waited. She had just finished adding the potion to the hot chocolate when, at 11:00, Draco came in.

"So what's the topic?", he asked.

"Huh?"

"The extra credit…you remember, the reason why I'm here instead of asleep in my bed."

"The properties of taggis root and the pros and cons of using it in blinding potions."

Draco groaned. "How far have you gotten?"

"Not very far…have some hot chocolate".

He ignored her offer. "When is it due?", he said picking up one of the open books."

"The day after tomorrow", she said.

"What?", he sighed heavily clearly getting annoyed. "Let me see your outline".

"Uh…"

"You don't even have an outline, do you?"

"No", she said in a small voice.

"If you think I'm doing this whole essay for you…."

"No, I wouldn't dream of it, I just….well, if you point me in the right direction, I'll be able to finish it myself. Now, come on. Have some hot chocolate…I had the kitchen elves make is just how you like it." She again tried to hand it to him.

"Why did I agree to this?" He rolled his eyes. "I'll go get the book you need. Start writing the outline with the points you want to cover….I'll be back in a minute."

"Here", she said quickly, "take this with you….drink it before it gets cold", and shoved the mug in his hands.

Absentmindedly he took it and walked to the other side of the library. Entering the last set of stacks, he found something unexpected. Hermione Granger was fast asleep, her head resting on a large book…the very book he needed.

"Granger", he whispered. Nothing. He said it again a little louder while giving her a small shove. "Granger". Still nothing.

He quietly sat next to her and put down the cup of hot chocolate. He smirked to himself. "Granger, you failed your potion's essay".

"What? Huh?", she instantly popped her head up, looking from side to side. Still groggy, she turned and saw Malfoy not a foot away from her silently laughing to himself.

"Malfoy, what are you doing here?"

" I suppose I could ask you the same question…what's the matter Granger? Your bed not hard and uncomfortable enough for you?"

Ignoring his comment, she ran her fingers through her hair and tucked it behind her ears.

"What time is it?"

"After 11:00", he said. She groaned and put her head back down on the book. "What's the matter with you?", he asked amused by her discomfort.

"I was hoping it wasn't so late, I still have one more parchment to go and I wanted to get this done tonight".

"Finish what? Haven't you completed your assignments up through spring?"

"Ha, ha", she said sarcastically. "I'm working on extra credit for Snape".

"Let me guess", he said, "The properties of taggis root and the pros and cons of using it in blinding potions."

She looked up at him. "How did you….?"

"Pansy's working on the same one, that's why I'm here. She's in desperate need of my brilliant mind. Didn't even start an outline yet", he finished shaking his head and mumbling to himself.

"What? It's due the day after tomorrow, she'll never get it done".

"I know, but I said I'd help her…I'll be more specific with my questions the next time she asks a favor. I need the book you're using as a pillow, Granger".

"Oh, well…."

"Are you done with it?"

"Yes, but…."

"You're not going to give it to me, are you?"

"No, I mean, yes. Of course you can have it, but it won't help much". He looked at her with confusion on his face.

"It's an old volume and while it has a wonderful description of the origin, it doesn't even begin to explore the pros and cons".

"Granger, how many rolls of parchment have you written?" She reached across the table for a few of the books. "Twelve", she replied.

"Twelve? Don't you think that's a little much considering the essay is for Snape? Every assignment you hand is he's always commenting that it's too long."

"I shortened it….it used to be twenty pages". As she turned back to hand Malfoy the books, she didn't notice the hot chocolate and knocked it over, spilling it everywhere.

They both jumped up from the table with a yelp.

"Granger! I wanted to drink that not wear it".

"Sorry…..I didn't see it…and who brings hot chocolate to the library anyway?"

"It wasn't me. Pansy brought it. What a mess! Granger, you're hopeless", he said picking up the chocolate covered books.

Without realizing it, Hermione licked some of the chocolate off her fingers. "Eeeww! Did she make this herself? It's horrible", she said looking for her wand.

"Pansy? Cook something? You're kidding, right?"

He lifted the back of his hand and licked off the chocolate that was smeared there. "Blech", he said and made a face.

"What did you do that for? I told you it was awful".

"I don't have a clean part of my robe to wipe it on. Where's your wand? Would you please clean this up? I'd like to get finished with Pansy and into bed at a decent hour."

As Hermione completed the 'scurgify' spell, Pansy came hurrying over.

"Draco. What's going on? I heard a crash."

She saw him with Hermione. "What's SHE doing here?", Pansy demanded.

Hermione beat Malfoy to the answer. "SHE was finishing HER extra credit essay for Snape and SHE was about to hand Malfoy the books SHE used so HE could help YOU with the same assignment". Malfoy had to hold in his laugh. Hermione collected her things and continued. "Now SHE is going to take a shower and go to bed…and by the way, your hot chocolate sucks". She turned and nodded curtly at Malfoy and said, "good luck. You're going to need it". Then she walked past them and snuck out of the library.

"Draco, what did she mean the hot chocolate sucked, you let her drink some?"

"No", he said and she let out a sigh of relief. "She spilled it handing me the books…I didn't get a chance to drink any".

"Oh", she said relieved.

"And thank Merlin I didn't, it was horrible Pans", he picked up the books Hermione left and started to walk back to their table.

"But, you said you didn't drink any".

"I didn't, but I had some on the back of my hand and I licked it off…if I were you I'd let the head kitchen elf know you got a bad batch…it tasted sour".

"So, you and the mudblood both tasted it?"

"Yes, yes, now can we get on with your extra credit? I'd like to get to bed sometime tonight."

"Uh, Draco….I'm not feeling so good. I think I need to lie down".

"But what about your essay?", he asked.

"I'll ask Snape for an extension".

"Do me a favor, ask him after class. The rest of us won't appreciate his attitude if you ask him before."

"Uh, sure."

They walked in silence back to the dungeons.

Pansy entered her dorm and collapsed in a heap on her bed. Quickly muttering a silencing charm around her bed, she burst out crying. "NO, NO, NO!", she sobbed.

"Why is this happening? Why me? That stupid mudblood always ruins everything! What am I going to do?" She cried herself out and lay down on the bed trying to figure out how she could fix this. 'Tomorrow I'll go back to the library and figure out the counter potion….they only tasted a little of it, how bad could it be? So, they get along for a day, no big deal. Sure, people will think it's weird, but at least they won't be in love. They hardly had enough to do any real damage…seeing the two of them as friends for a day won't be so bad, right? Ugh, actually that's almost worse!', she thought. 'Well, I can't do anything about it tonight. Tomorrow….I'll fix everything tomorrow'. And with that thought in her head, she drifted off to sleep.

oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

The next morning, everyone headed tot he Great Hall for breakfast. Malfoy and his crew, Crabbe and Goyle, came up from the Slytherin dungeons while Harry, Ron and Hermione came down from Gryffindor Tower.

"Scarhead, Weaselby", Malfoy greeted Harry and Ron – if you can call that a greeting- then Malfoy caught sight of Hermione. "Granger", he growled and walked over to the trio and stood directly in front of Hermione. Arms crossed over his chest he stood there, blocking her way looking her up and down with a sneer.

"Malfoy", she said meeting his gaze without a flinch and placing her hands on her hips.

"Step off, Malfoy", Harry said. "Yeah, leave her alone Malfoy", Ron chimed in.

He ignored them both, still staring at Hermione. "You look…..", he paused searching for the right words. She raised her eyebrows waiting, daring him to start something. They were drawing a crowd now. Some of the younger students were watching, waiting to see the first fight of the day. "You look….….beautiful".

Hermione's face softened, "Oh, Draco", she said a little breathless.

Overcome by…..something, they wrapped their arms around each other and passionately kissed. Everyone freaked out at the same time. Harry, Ron and Malfoy's crew tried to pull them apart. But Hermione and Draco were holding each other so tight, they couldn't get a good enough hold to pry them apart.

Malfoy pulled back slightly from her lips, "Go out with me", he said.

"Yes", she replied.

"You're mine, Granger". "Yes, oh yes, Draco". Then they kissed again.

Pansy came up from the dungeons and saw everyone crowded around. Her heart was in her throat as she pushed her way through. When she saw who was in the center of the crowd, she screamed. Everyone stopped and looked at her, except the entwined couple. They continued their snog, not even noticing. Meanwhile, Harry and Ron were still trying in vain to get Hermione away from Malfoy.

At the sound of Pansy's scream, Professors Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall exited the Great Hall. Harry and Ron immediately pushed through the crowd to meet them.

"Something's wrong with Hermione and Malfoy", they said practically in unison.

"What is it? Are they hurt?", McGonagall asked.

"Well, I don't think so, but something is seriously WRONG", Harry said pleading with them, almost pulling Dumbledore in their direction.

"Well, if they're not hurt, how serious could it be?", Snape asked in his usual un-amused tone. Harry and Ron couldn't form the words to explain, so they both just turned around and pointed. The three professors looked towards the center of the group. The students parted revealing Draco and Hermione joined at the lips.

"Everyone into the Great Hall", Dumbledore said.

"Mr. Malfoy, unhand Miss Granger". At the sound of Professor McGonagall's voice, the two reluctantly pulled apart.

"Oh, professor", Hermione said moving away from Draco and towards the professors. "Draco wants to date me, isn't that wonderful? Look at how handsome he is". She turned back and beamed at him.

"No, Granger. That's not good enough". In three strides he was in front of her. He took off his Slytherin ring, got down on one knee and took her hand in his. Hermione looked down at him, "it's just so sudden, I don't know what to say".

"Just say yes, and make me the happiest man on earth…marry me Hermione", and he slipped the ring on her finger.

"Oh, Draco! Of course it's yes!" Malfoy sprung up, took her in his arms and kissed her fiercely. Hermione turned around. "Harry, Ron…. you'll never believe what's happened!", she said flashing her ring for them to see.

"NOOOOOO!" Pansy screamed. The professors turned to Pansy, while Harry and Ron seemed to be in a state of shock.

"How? What? How?", the two boys said.

"Three very good questions", Dumbledore said looking slightly amused.

Pansy was mumbling to herself. "This isn't right….it wasn't supposed to work like this…it shouldn't have…it wasn't enough…"

"Miss Parkinson, what are you going on about?", Snape said.

Harry and Ron were back trying to get Malfoy and Hermione apart. They were currently holding hands and whispering sweet nothings in each other's ears. "What did you do to her, you stupid git? What spell did you use?", they demanded. "She's obviously not in her right mind".

"There's no spell, I love him", Hermione protested.

"Yeah, right. You're marrying Malfoy because you're so right for each other", Ron said.

"That's it, you two are off the usher list", Malfoy said in all seriousness and went back to placing butterfly kisses on Hermione's neck.

"Do you want a big wedding or a small one, pumpkin? Mother will insist on a grand reception, but I think something more intimate, what do you think darling?", Malfoy asked.

"Small and intimate. Oh, I can't wait to tell my mum and dad. What do you think about next spring?"

"I don't think I can wait that long", he said wiggling his eyebrows at her.

"Oh, please Draco. I always wanted a wedding in the spring and we'll need time to plan. There's so much to decide. Ceremony, guests, reception…."

"We? Planning the wedding will be your job. You do what you want, I defer it all to you, just tell me how much it is, and when I have to show up."

"Stop it. This is our wedding and you're treating it like a big joke", she said in a huff and a pout.

"Oh, pouty. Look at that lip…gonna get it…gonna…get…it".

"Oh Draco, stop".

"Yes, please stop", Pansy said. She was so angry she couldn't stand it anymore.

"Oh, Pansy did you see my ring?", Hermione held it out to her.

"Thankfully, not very well", she replied curtly.

"Next Hogsmeade weekend, we'll get you a real engagement ring. The biggest and most expensive one we can find".

"Draco, I don't need…" But he cut her off, "Nothing but the best for my girl". He kissed her forehead and then the tip of her nose while holding her in his arms.

"Isn't he the most wonderful, most caring man you've ever met?", she asked the professors.

"I think I'm going to be sick", Ron said.

"Enough", Dumbledore said raising his voice. "Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy. Go with Professor McGonagall and wait for me in my office. Miss Parkinson, Mr. Weasly, Harry, I want to speak to the three of you".

"Now Harry, please tell me exactly what happened when you came down for breakfast".

Harry relayed the chain of events that led them to this point. Dumbledore nodded. "Now Miss Parkinson, you seem to have said something earlier that sounded like 'it shouldn't have worked', care to elaborate on that?"

"I….well…."

Harry and Ron cut in, "What did you do to Hermione?"

"It was all her fault", she said, her anger finally coming out. "If she hadn't spilled the hot chocolate, Draco would have drank it and….and he would be in love with me", she finished in a small voice.

"What was in the hot chocolate, Miss Parkinson", Snape asked coolly.

"A love potion", she answered looking down. "Mum expects me to marry Draco after graduation, but he doesn't want me. I thought…"

"You thought you could drug him and deceive him for the rest of his life?". Snape was clearly angry.

"But you said Hermione spilled it, so how could they be professing their undying love to each other?", Harry wanted to know.

"When it spilled, Draco said it got all over them. They each licked some off their hands….they both tasted it". Pansy was starting to cry.

"Which love potion did you use?", Snape asked.

"Potion di amore per vita", she answered.

Snape and Dumbledore both groaned. "What, what is it?", Ron asked a little anxious.

"That particular potion is the most generic of all – and also the quickest and easiest to brew. Unfortunately, because of it's simplicity it's also the most dangerous". Snape continued, "normal love potions need something from each of the lovers…hair, blood….something that contains their genetic makeup so that when added to the potion, it becomes specific to that couple. The potion di amore per vita, doesn't link the couple genetically. All the recipient needs to do is ingest it - any trace amount and the first person he or she looks at is the one they fall in love with. Since Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger tasted it and then looked at each other, they each became the object of the other's desire".

"This was most dangerous Miss Parkinson. Besides the fact that they could have looked at an unsuspecting professor or first year student, the potency of the potion you made was entirely too strong. If just a taste caused this kind of damage, can you just imagine what Draco would be like if he drank the entire draught? The consequences could have been deadly. I supposed we can consider ourselves lucky it turned out the way it did".

"Lucky?" Harry said. "Upstairs in the headmaster's office are two people who, on any normal day would have had two full blown arguments before 10am! And they're sitting up there planning the wedding of the year! If Mafoy's father finds out….he'll kill them both".

"Calm down Harry", Dumbledore said. "Severus, can you brew a counter potion and return them to normal?"

"I can, but I won't", he said flatly.

"What?", Harry and Ron exclaimed.

"Miss Parkinson is going to brew it, administer it and then fully explain to both of them what she did".

Snape dragged Pansy with him to the dungeons while Ron and Harry followed the Headmaster back to his office. When they arrived, Professor McGonagall was flushed and fidgeting. "Thank goodness, Albus. Do you know what's wrong with them? I can't keep them apart for more than a minute."

"Yes, Minerva. All will be put to right shortly. Go and take care of your class, I'll take care of things here". He walked in and sat down behind his desk, eyes twinkling at the sight of the happy couple sitting before him. Their chairs were as close together as possible and they were holding hands talking quietly about their wedding plans. Harry and Ron took seats on the couch to their left. Ron had his hand over his eyes…he couldn't even look at them. Harry could only stare at Hermione. 'I've never seen her look so happy….man, she's going to be pissed when this is over. Maybe the professor would allow a memory charm….'

Dumbledore cleared his throat and they all looked toward the headmaster. "Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger. It has come to our attention that your affections toward each other are the result of an ill-managed potion".

"With all do respect, professor, I've loved Hermione since the day I met her. I just never admitted it until today". He turned back to Hermione, "God you're beautiful", he said and kissed her hand.

Ron now had his other hand clutching his stomach and looked extremely pale. "Yes, well, be that as it may, I assure you that both of you inadvertently injested a potion and that is how we come to find ourselves in this predicament".

"Really, headmaster. Draco and I love each other. We're not crazy and you probably don't approve…."

"Hermione, don't you remember yesterday outside transfiguration? You and Malfoy got into a row right before class", Harry said trying to make her see this was just an illusion.

"Lover's quarrel", she said with a smile for Draco and gave him a quick kiss.

"But you're not lovers", Ron said through clenched teeth. "Yesterday you hated each other. Don't you find it odd that today, out of nowhere, you're engaged to…to….Malfoy? You know how he feels about muggle borns".

"Now wait just a second…", Malfoy started but Hermione interrupted. "Why can't you just be happy for us….for me?", she asked pleading.

" 'mione, if this was real, we would be happy for you….if he was who your truly wanted. But this is just wrong. Listen to the professor if you won't listen to us. Even if you could believe that Ron and I could ever lie to you…do you really think Professor Dumbledore would?" Harry looked directly at her. She could see that he really believed what he was saying, but he must be mistaken. She and Draco loved each other and always have.

Hermione turned back to Draco and she saw the worried look on his face. He looked at Harry and Ron and said, "Look, I know this seems sudden to both of you and I can understand why you have your reservations about me. But, please try and see that I love Hermione and all I want to do is make her happy. I would protect her with my life." He stood up and walked over to them. "I want to put the past behind us. Start fresh. You're both important to the woman I love and therefore you're important to me. Can't we try to be friends….for her sake a least?" He put his hand out to Harry, who was looking past him at Hermione.

Harry stood up and shook Draco's hand. "For Hermione's happiness, I'm willing to try".

Ron couldn't believe what he was seeing and hearing. "Oh, for Merlin's sake! This is nonsense. The potion is making you act this way, don't you realize what you're doing?"

Hermione got up and walked over to Draco, slipping her hand in his. "Living the dream", she said looking up at him.

"He's going to have to take a bit of time to get used to it, pet", he replied.

"That's it!", Ron exclaimed. "I can't sit here and witness anymore of this". Harry, call me when things are back to normal", and he walked out of the office slamming the door behind him.

Hermione started to cry softly and Malfoy hugged her close and shhhhhed her. "It's okay darling, it's just too much of a shock for him right now, he'll come around". He kissed her tears away.

Harry turned to the professor and asked, "How long will it take to brew the counter-potion?"

"It shouldn't be too long Harry. Why don't you go to class and make sure Mr. Weasley understands that all will be back to normal shortly.

Harry left and the happy couple continued to discuss the wedding plans, trying to decide on who should be invited and where they should have it. They wanted to owl their parents, but the Headmaster managed to convince them that it would be better for their parents to hear it from them in person.

About an hour after Ron and Harry left, Snape came in with Pansy followed by a house elf carrying a tray of goblets. "Ah Severus, is everything in order?"

Snape pulled the headmaster aside and explained that the two large goblets had the potion in them while the others were there for them to 'toast' the happy couple.

"Excellent", Dumbledore said. "Once they are back to normal, Miss Parkinson can explain herself". "Attention, everyone. Let's have a toast to the happy couple". Professor Snape passed out the goblets "To the future Mr. and Mrs. Draco Malfoy, may their lives together be happy and healthy and filled with love…to Draco and Hermione".

When Dumbledore finished, everyone raised their goblets, toasted and then drank, except for Pansy who just stood there looking into her goblet. After they drank, Hermione and Draco began to kiss.

"Severus, when will this take effect?"

Snape pulled out his pocketwatch and said, "right about…….….now".

Suddenly, realization struck Draco and Hermione. They quickly pulled back from their kiss, then jumped apart as if burned. So began the chaos began.

"Oh, bloody hell!"

"Malfoy lips, lips of Malfoy"

"What the hell are you doing?"

"What am I doing?"

"You clearly forced yourself on me!"

"Me? What about you? No one can force you to do anything!"

"Oh, God. How could this happen?"

"I think I'm going to be sick".

"I know you always secretly wanted me, Granger but to attack me in front of the professors?"

"Malfoy, you pig. I didn't do anything. Clearly it must have been you who…who…Oh, God."

"Will somebody tell me what the bleeding hell is going on here?", Malfoy demanded.

Snape and Dumbledore looked at each other. "Perhaps, it would be best if Miss Parkinson answered that question", Snape answered and he and the headmaster exited the room.

Draco spun on her, "Pans?"

She was looking down avoiding his eyes.

"Well?", Hermione asked.

"I…", she looked up accusingly at Hermione. "It's all your fault! You spilled the potion!"

"My fault? What potion?", she answered back.

"The hot chocolate, last night, in the library. If you hadn't spilled it, Draco would have…."

"Draco would have, what?", he asked. The anger in his voice causing her to take a step back.

"You would have loved ME not HER!", she was sobbing now. "I've been waiting my whole life for you to come to your senses and want me. Our parents expect it. If I don't marry you, I'll have to marry….ugh! Why don't you want me?"

"So, just because I only feel for you as friend, a friend who's willing to help you in any way I can, you decide to drug me so you can get your way? If you don't want to marry this other man, then stand up to your parents and tell them. Don't bring me into this and turn me into a spineless, hopeless, sop that's going to faun all over you for the rest of my life!"

"That's a foul thing to do, Pansy. How could you?", Hermione said.

Malfoy looked to Hermione, more than a little taken aback that she was sticking up for him.

"You stay out of this, you filthy mudblood", Pansy shouted.

Hermione started to say something, but Malfoy cut her off. "Don't yell at her, she's not the one who started this. It's not her fault".

"But she spilled…"

"Yeah, yeah. She spilled the potion. You shouldn't have made it in the first place. She was handing me the books you needed for your extra credit assignment. She was trying to help you". Then he realized, "there was not extra credit, was there?"

"No", Pansy answered softly.

"All these pretenses, just to drug me". He was pacing now trying to calm himself. "You could've talked to me, Pans. We could have figured something out".

"But, Draco, I love you".

"Don't", he said through clenched teeth. "Get out of my sight, I can't deal with you right now".

"But…"

"Go!" With that, Pansy turned and ran out of the office tears streaming down her face.

Draco and Hermione stood in silence. After a few minutes, Hermione looked at him. "I'm sorry", she said.

"For what? YOU didn't do anything". He said in a clipped tone, he was still clearly fuming about the whole situation.

Hermione started to say something then abruptly closed her mouth and turned away. She couldn't look at him but forced herself to continue, "I'm sorry, it was me".

"What are you talking about?" he wasn't in the mood to talk this out and she wasn't making any sense.

"I…I don't think you'd be this upset if it were Parvati or Lavender you thought you were in love with. I'm sorry you'll have to live with the memory of….loving me", she said with a sigh. "Perhaps Dumbledore would grant you a minor memory charm", she said almost to herself. She turned to leave.

"Stop it, Granger", he grabbed her arm, "that's not why I'm upset. I don't like being manipulated. Pansy had no right."

"Of course she didn't. But people do stupid things when they love someone who doesn't love them back". He started to protest, but she continued, "not that it excuses her by any means, but you have to understand her reason even if it was manipulative and immoral and illegal". She sat down on the couch looking a bit sad. She could relate to Pansy's situation. Hermione knew what it was like to love a boy, who didn't love her the same way. But she would NEVER to do what Pansy did to Draco.

Malfoy sat down next to her and slouched down on the couch. "Where we really going to have the Gryffindor and Slytherin Quidditch teams form an arch with their brooms?".

Hermione smiled a little, "hey, that was YOUR idea, not mine. Thank God we didn't owl our parents".

Malfoy grunted his agreement and ran his fingers through his hair.

"What are you going to do about Pansy?", she asked.

"I don't know. Ignore her for now, I guess". They sat in silence, each seeming to replay the morning's events over and over again in their minds.

"I suppose we should see about a memory charm for you", she said.

He looked at her with raised eyebrows, "What about you? Don't you want to forget this whole mess?"

She looked down at her hands and took a deep breath. "I don't hate you, you know. True, you can be quite annoying and I don't appreciate the way you treat me, or Harry and Ron, for that matter. But, I don't hate you…I never did. I won't mind keeping the memory of the kind, caring and loving Malfoy". She was examining her shoes now, unable to look him in the eye. "But, I can understand why you would want to forget", she said softly. "And don't worry, I won't ever bring it up or throw it in your face or anything and I'm sure Harry and Ron will want to forget about it, so you won't have to worry about them. But for me, it will be nice to remember the next time you call me a….well…..you know. I can pretend you didn't mean it". She sighed and stood up.

"Granger", he said in a soft voice.

She ignored him. "Come on, let's find Dumbledore".

"Granger", he stood up and took her hand turning her to face him. "I", he paused to collect his thoughts. "We would've made one powerful couple, don't you think?"

She smiled, "I suppose so. Well, at least until your father found out". She started to turn again.

"Hey", he pulled her back a second time.

"What is it Malfoy, we should really get going". Though she said his name without malice, it sounded cold and harsh compared to the memory of her calling him Draco with such tenderness.

"There's one memory I wouldn't mind keeping".

"And what's that?", she asked.

He took her other hand and stepped closer to her. "The memory of being fully and unconditionally loved for the first time in my life".

She was taken aback. "But what about Pansy? Surely she…"

"Pansy has been groomed her entire life to love me….it's all she knows. If things were different growing up, she probably wouldn't love me. But you, even if it wasn't your choice, you loved me with your whole heart and without an agenda. And….I loved you back with more passion than I ever thought I had in me. I won't ever want to forget it. Well, that and the snogging", he said with mischief in his eyes. "You're quite good at it you know, I never would have thought".

Hermione looked down blushing a deep scarlet. His words and his closeness made her nervous. He lifted her chin and looked in her eyes. "Might I be so bold as to ask for one last kiss?" Her breath caught in her throat. She couldn't answer, she just raised her chin as permission. Never breaking his gaze from hers, he placed both of his hands on her hips and slowly leaned forward taking her mouth with his. He kissed her tenderly at first, then deepened the kiss. She had one hand over his heart clutching his robes and the other fisted in his hair. Malfoy snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him so they could enjoy the feel of each other. They didn't know how long they stood there kissing and they didn't care, they were lost in the moment…..until a knock at the door brought them back to reality.

"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger? Is everything alright? You haven't killed each other, have you?"

Still in their embrace, they looked at each other and Hermione answered in a shaky voice, "No, headmaster. We're fine, we'll be right out". They broke apart and Malfoy ran his fingers through his hair trying to get himself under control. Hermione reached out to him and smoothed the front of his robes. Malfoy reached up and rubbed his thumb across her swollen lips. She took in a shuttering breath at his gentleness.

"Damn good, Granger", he said with a hungry growl. "Now, I suppose we should get to class".

oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Well? What do you think? Please review. I love hearing what you guys think of my writing.