Author's Note – sorry it took me so long to update, but I've been really busy… a big huge massive thank you to all of my reviewers, you know who you are, you are what keeps me writing! and you've all been so kind… well, I've updated three chapters so enjoy!

Disclaimer – uh, no….

HR

Hermione opened her eyes the next morning, still smiling, and looked at her clock; she had overslept and missed breakfast. Not surprising, she thought to herself; she had had her first night's decent sleep ever since she had made that damn deal with Draco, dreaming deeply through the whole night. She crawled out of bed and, pausing briefly to groan at her panda eyes from her mascara and the birds nest hairdo on top of her head in the mirror, she staggered through to the bathroom, squinting in the bright February morning light. She froze with shock at the sight before her, 'Oh. My. Go-'

'Morning, Mione.' Draco greeted her as he stepped out of the shower, wrapping a white towel around his waist.

'I – uh – sorry - I didn't realise anyone – I mean, if I had known –' she stuttered, clasping her hand over her eyes and walking backwards to her bedroom door.

'Relax, Hermione,' he grinned, 'It's nothing you haven't seen before.'

She slowly lowered her hand, 'But that was different. Besides, I didn't see anything so much as feel …'

'Oh.' He blushed and lowered his eyes.

'I'll let you get dressed.' she stated, going back to her bedroom to wait. After a few minutes, she heard Draco's bedroom door thud shut, so she returned to the bathroom, ensuring to lock all the doors, although she was still aware that a simple charm could let anyone access the room if they wanted to badly enough. She turned on the shower and stepped inside, becoming lost in her thoughts as the warm water soothed her body. What's going to happen with Draco now? Will he go back to his old self? Will he expect me to sleep with him? Will he dump me if I don't? Will he dump me anyway? What if everything he said and did last night was just because of the Ball? Was he just caught up in the moment? What will everyone say? And so, by the time she finished getting ready and reached the kitchen, she was thoroughly confused and anxious, having run through every possible scenario in her head. She had decided that this was it, make or break time; either Draco would rush over and kiss her good morning like a loving boyfriend, or he would ignore her and act as if nothing had ever happened. Bracing herself, she pushed open the wooden door to find him reading a newspaper at the table.

She waited to see what he would do, but when he merely glanced up at her and grunted something which could have been 'good morning', she felt tears beginning to prick at her eyes. How could I have been such a fool? She blinked back the tears and approached the cupboard to pull out the cereal. Keeping her back to Draco, she stood at the counter and began to eat.

'Aren't you going to sit down with that?' She turned around slowly and perched on the furthest chair from him. He had been watching her over the top of his newspaper, and seeing her awkwardness, he arched an inquisitive eyebrow. 'Hermione?'

'Hm?' she avoided his eyes.

'What's wrong?'

'Nothing.'

He put down the newspaper. 'Don't lie to me. Obviously something's wrong; you've been trying to avoid me ever since you came in here. Look, you're perched on the edge of that chair like you're getting ready to run.'

She scooted back into the chair slightly, 'Happy?'

'Fine. Don't tell me what's bothering you.' He picked up his newspaper again and began to read.

Hermione let her spoon sink into her bowl. 'It's just, well, I wasn't sure how things were going to be between us after last night.' Draco looked over the top of his paper at her, a questioning look on his face, so she continued, 'I mean, was that just a one night thing or was it the start of something…' Her head was now hung so low it was almost submerged in her soggy cornflakes.

She looked up as he sighed. 'I don't know about you, but I thought it was the start of something.'

'So did I. I mean, when we kissed on the quidditch pitch…'

'So what's the problem?'

'You haven't exactly been acting like you're madly attracted to me so far this morning. You barely said two words when I walked in.' She knew she was sulking like a two year old, but she couldn't help it.

Draco let out a gentle laugh and ran his strong hand through his hair. 'Hermione, I want to take you right here right now on this table. In fact, it's taking all of my energy just to restrain myself in this chair. I'm not coming any closer to you because I don't think I'd be able to stop. Is that what you wanted to hear?'

'Well…' she blushed at this.

'Didn't think so.' He leaned across the table and laid his hand on hers. She was aware of how vulnerable her delicate snow white hand looked in his larger coarse one. 'Look, Mione, I do care about you. I've already told you I've fallen for you. But I thought you wanted to take it slow; I'm not going to rush you. I don't know what you expected, but this isn't a fairytale; we're not going to burst into song any minute now. This is real life.'

Hermione sniggered at the mental image of Draco Malfoy bursting into a love song in the middle of their kitchen. 'I've been pretty stupid, haven't I?'

'Yeah, you have.'

She slapped his arm playfully. 'Watch it, or you won't be getting anything from me, never mind games involving the kitchen table.'

He feigned shock, and she rose from her chair. 'I'm going to see Ginny. I'll be back soon.'

She had almost reached the door when she felt a muscular arm snaking its way around her waist, tugging her backward until she fell into Draco's lap. 'Not without giving me a little goodbye present you don't.' he grinned, leaning forward until their faces were only centimetres apart.

'But Gin-' she began.

'Ginny can wait.' he whispered, closing the gap between them. She tried to squirm loose at first, but gave in and leant back against the table as he did things to her mouth she'd never felt before.

HR

Half an hour later, and Hermione climbed through the entrance to Gryffindor Tower, still slightly flushed. The common room was deserted so she made her way up the stairs to Ginny's room, but it was empty. Wonder where she's got to? I said I'd meet her at ten. But then again, I am late. Maybe Ron or Harry know where she went. So she wandered back down to the common room, then up the other flight of stairs to the boys' dorm. She had just raised her hand to knock on the door when it was pulled open from inside and a giggling figure hurtled into her, sending them both sprawling on the floor. What the-? she thought, before catching a glimpse of long flame red hair peeking out the top of a cloak. 'Ginny?'

The youngest Weasley picked herself up off the floor, holding out a hand to assist Hermione. As she did so, the older girl got a clear look at her attire. 'Ginevra Weasley! I believe that's the same dress as you had on last night, no?'

Ginny looked down at the floor, upon which the hem of her navy blue dress was trailing. 'Uh, yeah.'

'You haven't been back to your room yet, have you?'

'Uh, no.' Ginny's face was almost the same colour as her hair now.

'Gin? What's the- oh!' Harry's face grew hot as he caught sight of Hermione. Although he was mostly hidden by the door, she could tell he was only wearing boxers.

'Morning Harry. Plenty of sleep last night?' she teased.

He grinned and scampered over to Ginny, kissing her lightly on the lips, 'See you later darling.' Then, trying to avoid Hermione's scolding eyes, he hurried back into his bedroom and closed the door.

Ginny had began to skulk off down the stairs, but Hermione hurried after her, 'Oh no you don't! I think you've got some explaining to do!'

'It can wait until we've got to my room. And anyway, I could say the same about you!' Ginny stated firmly, heading off in the direction of the girls' dorms.

'So, what exactly did I almost walk in on this morning?' Hermione demanded, once she and Ginny were in the safety of the younger witch's room.

'I don't really think I need to explain that, do I?' Ginny replied, smiling.

Hermione's eyes almost popped out of her head with shock, 'So you admit it! How could you be so stupid, Gin?'

'I beg you're pardon? I'm sixteen! I can do what I want!'

'Not that! I mean, why in Harry's room? What if Ron had walked in instead of me?' Hermione pointed out.

Ginny sighed, 'Guys can't get up the stairs to the girls' rooms, remember? And anyway, Ron's been out all night too. So have all their roommates.'

'My God! Didn't anyone spend the night in their own beds?'

'Nope. Speaking of which, what exactly happened with you and your hunky blonde last night? I noticed you were missing for a good half hour anyway.' Ginny raised her eyebrow knowingly at her friend.

'It wasn't like that!' Hermione slapped Ginny's arm playfully, 'We just went out to the quidditch grounds.'

'Ooh, kinky!'

'To talk.'

'And…'

'Okay, so we kissed, but nothing more.' she admitted.

'Hmm..'

'Honestly!'

'Okay, I believe you. And when you got back to your private dorm?' the redhead enquired, pulling off the black robe she had borrowed from Harry.

Hermione sighed, 'He was a perfect gentleman. He walked me to my room, kissed me goodnight, then left.'

'Aww!' Ginny squealed, 'I'd never have thought Draco Malfoy had it in him.'

'Me neither, but he's been full of surprises lately.' Hermione said softly.

'So, tell me how you ended up coming to the Ball with him anyway.' Ginny got herself comfortable on her bed, whilst Hermione sprawled on another and began to recount the events of the previous night to her best friend.