Sorry it took so long to update, guys. I've been having a really tough time with school and my boyfriend, but it's all better now. Thanks for the reviews!

harshipper: Sorry that my first episode was so short, but, as you can see, it was actually two parts, and that was the only logical place I could find for a split.

Tinuviel Firestorm: Yes, that is really freaky! For my readers, you definitely need to check out Tinuviel Firestorm's Turning of the Tides! You will love it! I'd rate it among the best I've read.

Without further ado, let us return to The Turn of the Tide.

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

Episode Two The Train cont.

Hermione turned around to face Draco; her face was inches from his. Her face had softened, her eyes were shining, her lips soft.

"We're not engaged," she breathed. "We've only talked about the idea, but it's going to happen. unless."

"Unless. what?"

"Draco, I've had my eye on you for a very long time."

He ran his fingers through her glossy, chestnut hair, entwined his fingers in it. He looked deep into her honey brown eyes and before he knew it, he was kissing her, the most soft, gentle kiss he had ever given. It seemed innocent, yet it was filled with the passion he felt for her. Her lips were so soft and light, like tiny, silk pillows for his lips to rest on.

At that exact moment, he knew that she was exactly what he needed. She was the passive river that could drown the fire inside of him. She was the warmth that could melt through the layer of ice around him. She was the one beauty that could warm his heart forever.

As soon as he kissed her, she knew that she was making a mistake with Ron. She was kissing her forbidden desire, and she knew that this was the man she was destined to be with her entire life. She knew that she was to be by his side for eternity. When he released her lips, and they stared deep into each other's eyes and souls, she knew that this was the man she was meant to love. Then a knock came at the door and sent them flying apart. The door slid open; it was Harry and the Weasleys, by no surprise.

"Hey 'Mione!" Ron said, pulling her into a close embrace and planting a kiss on her lips that was tight and forced. "How've you been all summer? I wish you could have been at my house with me and Harry, but I'm sure you had a great time in the Mediterranean." Hermione shook her head at Ron; all their conversations seemed to consist of Ron talking non-stop and Hermione just nodding occasionally.

"So," Harry commented finally. "Who's Head." His eyes fell on Draco. "What are you doing in here? Get out, Malfoy!"

Hermione way-layed Harry and Ron before Draco's temper rose again. "Harry, Ron, calm down. D-Malfoy's Head Boy," she caught herself just in time. "He's not causing any problems. I've-" She dropped her voice so only they could hear. "I've got him under control."

Ron looked at Hermione for a moment, then said, "All right, then. We better go get a compartment. See you when we get there." He pecked her cheek and they left. As soon as the door clicked shut, Hermione let out a sigh of relief and Draco collapsed onto the sofa.

"That was rough," Hermione said, sitting down on the other sofa. "How did you not explode when they confronted you like that?

"I don't know. I just kept thinking of you, and how I didn't want to blow things with you."

The new Prefects came and left, and finally they were alone again, but they still weren't comfortable. Both could only think of their friends' and families' reactions to their relationship. Finally Hermione slumped against Draco's shoulder in exhaust. Draco slipped his arms around her waist and hugged her close to him.

"We can't do this, Draco," she began. "It's impossible. Your father won't allow it, my friends won't allow it, I'm supposed to marry Ron, it- it just won't work."

"I can't accept that, Hermione. I know our backgrounds are against us, but this is fate. We're here to reunite Gryffindor and Slytherin. Our friends and family may not accept it now, but if we're in love, they'll have to, sooner or later."

"But what do we do until then?"

"Simple. We keep it a secret."

"Draco, we can't do that! Sure, maybe we could hide it for a while, but sooner or later, someone will find out!"

"It's the only option we have. I can't just give you up. And I don't think you could give me up that easily either."

He trailed his finger along her jawline, lifting her chin up to raise her face up to his. He took her lips again, but with passion this time. He traced his fingernails down either side of her spine, making her back arch, driving her breasts into his rock hard chest. He quickly wrapped his arms around her, holding her body close to his.

Another knock came at the door and sent them flying apart. It always seemed that whenever things were getting interesting, they were interrupted. Hermione slid the door open. It was the food trolley.

"As Head Boy and Girl, you two have a special lunch prepared for you," she said, placing a basket in Hermione's arms. "Have a good train ride, dears!"

Hermione thanked her and slid the door closed. Draco looked quizzically at her, so she opened the basket. Inside was a warm rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes, a bottle of pumpkin juice, plates , goblets, silverware, and napkins. Hermione emptied the basket onto the floor, then looked up at Draco. He slid to the floor next to her.

"I guess there are perks to being Head Boy," he said, loading his plate. "Besides Head Girl, of course."

"Watch it, Malfoy!" Hermione teased, her mouth already full.

They quickly devoured the chicken and potatoes, and when they sat back, everything disappeared but the basket and the goblets. Hermione peeked in the basket and pulled out two large chocolate muffins.

"Mmmm, chocolate." Hermione said evilly. "I dunno if I'm gonna share!"

"You better share!" When Hermione took a long slow bite of the first muffin, he gently tackled her. While she fought to escape, he took the uneaten muffin from her hand. "Thanks!" he said, and started eating it while still holding Hermione.

"You know, you can get up now," Hermione gasped, Draco's weight cutting her breath short.

"No, I don't think I can."

"Get off me!"

By this time, Draco had finished eating, so he simply rolled over on top of her. "No, I don't think I will."

"Well, you've got another think coming! Get your ass off of me!"

"C'mon, you're not really that angry with me. And we've got several more hours 'til we arrive at the school."

"I'm not going to take that kind of talk anymore, Mr. Malfoy." She brought her knee swiftly up into his crotch. He rolled off her. "I don't want you to touch me for the remainder of the train ride."

She stood up and packed away the basket, then pulled out their new textbook, Mastering Defensive Spells and began to read. Draco gingerly got to his feet and began to plead with her.

"C'mon, Hermione. you know I'm sorry."

She didn't look up from her page. "Yes, I know you're sorry and I know you 'didn't mean it.' But you need to learn to control your temper and suggestive nature. Thus," she looked up. "You're being punished."

Draco sighed, then plopped himself down on the sofa across from her. The rest of the train ride was peaceful; Hermione read the entire textbook, and Draco contented himself to looking between the window and Hermione. Finally, after what seemed days to Draco, Hermione turned the last page of her book, then checked her watch, sighed, and looked up at Draco.

"I need to change into my robes," she said.

Draco shrugged. "Okay?"

"Well? I need some privacy."

"Hermione, we're going to be living together for the rest of the year. I think we're going to have to get used to each other changing."

Hermione looked at him closely, then pulled her robes out of her trunk. When she pulled her sweater off over her head, her bare skin tingled under Draco's watchful eye. She hesitated for a moment, then quickly continued changing. After stowing her clothes back in her trunk, she turned sharply to face him.

"I know you're a man," she started. "A typical male, but you didn't have to stare the entire time."

Draco said nothing for a moment, but simply stared back up at her. Then he stood up and positioned himself square in front of her. He tilted her head up so their eyes met and whispered, "I just can't keep my eyes off of you, love."

She smiled, openly flattered. "Forgive me?" he asked.

"How could I not?" she questioned in reply. He kissed her, oh-so-gently, enough to make her sigh in spite of herself. At that moment, the train shuddered to a halt. Draco kissed her again, then whispered softly, "See you tonight."

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

Sorry, forgot to do this last time:

Disclaimer- I confess. I do not own Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Hogwarts, Platform 9¾, or any of the other people or places that you will find both in my fanfic and Master of Novel JK Rowling's books. I do own the plot though.

If you want the next episode to come faster, you know what you have to do! Clicky clicky the little review button for me!!!

-Danni Bloom-