Recap:

"Alright. One more thing."

"What?"

"I'm on top."

Chapter 8: When It Rains It Pours

Hermione had never felt so happy, so alive! She was smiling all the time, laughing everyday, and, best of all, spending more time with her best friends. Since she and Ron were no longer under the pressure of sustaining a relationship, it seemed easier for them to spend time together. Hermione even started attending Gryffindor Quidditch practices and found that she actually had a good time. It was like the old days all over again. And, somehow, she had Malfoy to thank for that.

During the past month, after her reconciliation with Ron—and with Malfoy—their families finally caught wind of the break up. The owls started arriving just before Christmas and neither side was pleased.

"They act like it involves them," Hermione sighed, setting aside yet another embittered letter from her parents. They wanted to know if she was depressed, which made her want to laugh; she'd never been happier.

"Really," Ron muttered. Lucky for him he hadn't received an owl today. "They have no say in stuff like this."

"I know. Don't they see that we're happier just being friends?"

"Parents," they groaned in unison, then burst into a fit of laughter.

At the next table, the Slytherin table, Draco watched Hermione carefully through slitted eyes. and he was none too pleased at how buddy-buddy she and Ron were being. After spending so long with a girlfriend who constantly cheated on him, it was no wonder he had trust issues. Especially considering how he and Hermione "got together" in the first place.

Thinking only about his own misfortunes, Draco stood and trudged over to the Gryffindor table. He jabbed Hermione in the back, causing her to jump and yelp in surprise. When she turned around, she was even more shocked at who was standing behind her.

"Malfoy? What do you want?"

"Heads' stuff," he said shortly, then motioned towards the hall. "McGonagall wanted me to tell you something."

"So tell me," she said, agitated. Just because they were seeing each other in secret did not mean he could just interrupt her at meals, especially when she was having such a good time. Things were so comfortable with Ron, it was like they'd never dated in the first place.

"It's strictly Heads' business," he said through his teeth.

Hermione rolled her eyes and slipped off the bench.

"I'll be right back," she told Ron and the others, then followed Malfoy into the hall, knowing full well that Professor McGonagall wouldn't send Malfoy to tell her something. "What's this about, Draco? I was a little busy there."

"I could see that," he sneered, pushing her into the wall. She gave no reaction to his roughness; it's what he needed to feel big and bad. No skin off her back. "Don't you think you're being a little too friendly with him?" He pressed himself against her, their lips almost touching.

"Not here," she said, shoving him away. "We'll get caught. And no, Draco, I don't think I'm being too friendly with Ron. He's one of my best friends and that's not going to stop just because you don't like it. I'm doing nothing wrong. Me and Ron are over, and nothing is going to change that. I don't want to be with him, Draco. I want you."

He was about to retort, when her last statement gave him pause.

"What did you say?"

"You heard me," she said firmly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Hermione, we agreed—"

"I know what we agreed, who says I'm straying from that? When I say want I mean just that. I want you, as in what we've been doing for the past two months."

"You can't get attached to me."

"I don't plan to."

"We're not a couple," he said, reaching forward and placing his hands gently on her face. She didn't resist him this time, allowing him to lean in and capture her lips. His hands traveled down to her hips, then wrapped powerfully around her waist, hugging her tightly to him. "Hermione, I've been thinking," he said when they had to pause for air. "Before, when we agreed that this would end after graduation—"

"Draco, there's no way we could keep this a secret after school. People will wonder why we don't date. It's too complicated. And besides, I don't want to be with you when school ends. I want to find someone to spend my life with, and that certainly isn't you."

"Right," he said, turning his head away. "Tonight's our last night of detention."

"I'm aware."

"We shouldn't let it keep going."

"I know," she sighed. "I was meaning to bring that up with you, but we never really…er…had time." She blushed slightly, averting her eyes. "We can just sneak out after hours like we've been doing anyway."

"That's what I was thinking." He grabbed her suddenly, as if he couldn't stand not to hold her, and kissed her passionately on the mouth. "Why do you have to be a halfling?" he murmured into the crook of her neck. He hadn't meant it in an insulting way, for once, but that's exactly how she took it. Shoving him back, she gave him a hard slap across the face, then stomped back into the Great Hall without waiting to see his reaction.

Hermione eventually got over her anger for Malfoy and, after detention ended, they started to sneak out every night to be together. Christmas came and went, and, one especially cold Februrary night, Hermione was creeping slowly through the Gryffindor common room, when she heard someone clear their throat in the darkness. She froze mid-step, too stunned to turn and see who it was.

"Where are you going, Hermione?" It was Harry. He stepped into the moonlight and snatched his Invisibility Cloak from her hands. "I've been watching you lately, and you've snuck out every night for the past month. And every time you manage to steal my Invisibility cloak. Now I want to know why and where you're going. What are you doing at night that's so secret?"

She found she was still too shocked to answer.

"Hermione!" he snapped. "Answer me!"

"I-I-I…I'm seeing someone," she blurted out, then clamped her hands over her mouth. How could she have just said that!

But, instead of getting angrier like she thought, Harry's frown broke into a wide grin.

"Really?" he laughed. "Who?"

"A…A Ravenclaw sixth year," she said off the top of her head. "I didn't tell anyone because his parents don't let him date and I don't want to get him in trouble."

"What's his name?"

"I can't tell you," she sighed. "I want to, trust me, I do," she said from her heart, meaning her fling with Draco, "but if anyone knew he'd get in such big trouble."

"Alright," he said, handing back his cloak. "Have fun." And then he disappeared back into the darkness of a common room. Hermione hesitated a good two minutes, then slipped out the porthole and scurried down the stairs. There was no way he'd bought all that. She would really have to watch her back from now on.

"Harry almost caught me tonight," Hermione said, her naked back leaning against Draco's bare chest. "We're going to have to figure out like a schedule or something."

"What do you mean almost?" he asked, leaning his head forward to look at her. And even with the apprehension in her voice, he still couldn't help but think of how beautiful she really was. How had he not seen that all these years? Why had completely disastrous relationships brought them together?

"He saw me sneaking out with his Invisibility cloak and said he'd seen me sneak out for a while."

"What did you tell him?"

"That I was seeing someone in secret," she laughed, tilting her head back to kiss under his chin. He had such an amazingly soft face for a man.

"Who?"

"A boy."

"He didn't ask who this boy was?" He doubted that very much. People as close as Harry and Hermione didn't let stuff slide.

"Of course he did. I told him it was a Ravenclaw sixth year that had really strict parents that didn't let him date."

"And he bought it?"

"I don't think so," she sighed, and Draco stiffened. He could not afford to have people find out about him and Hermione. "Don't worry, he's not going to follow me. He was skeptical, but he won't question me again, not for awhile at least. He has a lot more important things to worry about."

"You're sure? I can't—"

"You think I want people finding out either? Trust me, Draco. He doesn't know, and he never will. No one will, as long as we're safe about this."

"What time is it?"

"Time for me to go," she said, and went to crawl out of his bed and get dressed. But, just as she was reaching for her pants, he grabbed her around the waist and tossed her playfully back on the bed. "Draco!" she laughed, trying to get free of his grasp. "I have to go! I need to sleep sometime."

"Sleep here," he purred into her neck, giving her hot little kisses. "You can't go yet."

"Come on, Draco. I really do. It's almost three o'clock!"

"No," he said, tickling her stomach. She laughed so hard and loud that they both went completely silent for fear that those in the other rooms and the common room would wake and hear them. "Ok, fine," he sighed, finally letting her go. But this time it was her who tackled him to the soft mattress, kissing him with fevered passion.

"I guess I could stay until 3:30," she whispered, nipping his ear.

"I always knew you were like this," he laughed, hugging her as close to him as he could.

"Like what?"

"Incredible…"

Time at Hogwarts always flew by in the blink of an eye. One minute anxious students were boarding the train to the castle, and the next it was finals week and summer was just around the corner. For everyone but the seventh years the end of the year was a blessing; for them it meant growing up, getting jobs, and starting a real life. No more goofing around, no more being children.

The year had gone by so fast, but so much had happened. Hermione had started out in what she thought was a happy relationship with Ron, then doubted them, then was engaged, then she started sneaking around with Malfoy, then they broke-up, then she and Malfoy were exclusive, but secret. Add to that Heads' duties and schoolwork and she barely had time to breathe. And even though her last year was coming to an end, she couldn't help but be a little relieved. Once graduation was over she and Malfoy would end their fling and there would be no more paranoia about getting caught and ruining her life.

Her relationship with Ron had never been better. For the rest of the year they spent so much time together that rumors went around that they were back together, rumors that Malfoy was furious about. Several times he'd cornered Hermione and accused her of cheating on him. And she would say, "I already told you I only want you, Draco. Give me Truth Serum if you don't believe me," and that would be the end of it.

But other than those little bumps, things with Malfoy were perfect. They fought often, but nothing serious, and nothing that would make them stop seeing each other. Harry never questioned her again and so gradually she grew less tense until she didn't even think about getting caught anymore. It was almost like she and Malfoy were actually together, like Romeo and Juliet or something. Surprising the both of them, they actually had a lot in common and some nights they didn't even have sex, but stayed up talking. It had them both wondering how they would deal with the end of the year and their inevitable departure from each other, forever.

But that wasn't for another two weeks. And, at this very moment, Hermione had a little more on her mind than whether or not she could romp in the hay with Draco.

She sat on the ground by the lake, her back against a tree. It was a calm spring day, but it was supposed to rain later on. And, as she sat there, her legs drawn into her chest, she thought, "Rain seems fitting." She had told Harry and the others that she was studying for finals by the lake and needed to be alone to concentrate. "It's my future, I won't screw it up!" she'd snapped viciously when they laughed at her determination. And that was the truth, but that was not the reason she'd lashed out at them, nor was it the reason she wanted solitude. She hadn't even brought books out with her to create the illusion of studying.

After a good hour of silence and thinking, the sky opened up and it began to rain just as she knew it would. Not a heavy rain; nothing that would send her back inside. But just enough to dampen her body and send chills through her bones. But, again, she thought it was what she deserved. She should have known that doing bad would come back to haunt her. She had cheated on Ron and now this was her punishment.

"Help me," she whimpered into her knees, tears mixed with raindrops. "Someone help me…"

Draco walked determinedly across the lawn of Hogwarts Castle, the grass wet from the afternoon's rain. He had to find Hermione, and fast. It was almost the end of the year, almost too late. If he didn't tell her what was on his mind now then he never would.

He found her quickly enough, sitting by the lake, just staring out at the water. She didn't even notice him standing over her until he cleared his throat. And, even then, she hardly responded, as if she were a zombie.

"Granger," he said, finally catching her attention. He only called her that in public or when he was angry. "We need to talk."

"About?" She didn't feel like talking, to anyone.

"We said we would end this at the end of the year or when someone wants out."

"Yes," she answered.

"Well I want out."

"Ok."

"Ok?" he stammered, quite a bit more than shocked. "Just ok?"

"Yes," she sighed, her voice flat and emotionless. She was so drained from crying, and not really all that surprised that he would end it now. She'd been waiting for it all year. "Just ok. That's what we agreed. It's not like we're in love."

"Don't you even want to know why?"

She sighed again, then looked up at him, though not really seeing him. "Why, Draco?"

"I've been using you," he said matter-of-factly, expecting her to jump to her feet and punch him square in the jaw. Instead, however, she only nodded and looked back out at the lake. "Did you hear me?" he demanded, and grabbed her roughly by the arm, pulling her to her feet. "I was using you, Granger. Using you for sex and to get back at Pansy and to break you, because you can't be broken by anything I've ever done to you." He was shaking so much with anger that Hermione stared at him, actually concerned.

"I'm not mad," she said. "I was using you too, in a way. We used each other. And, as for breaking me—which I think is really childish by the way—I was already broken when we started being together. I do feel sorry for you though."

"Sorry for me?" he hissed, shoving her into the tree.

"Yes, Draco, sorry for you. Because you wanted so badly to hurt me just because everyone around you hurts you. It's pathetic. I'm not mad, I could never be mad at something that sad."

"I'll get you for this Granger," he said under his breath, then stalked away.

Hermione stared after him, watching his hurried steps and the way he yanked open the door then slam it shut again. And when she was sure he could no longer see her, she sank back down, buried her face in her knees again, and cried and cried and cried.

"You bastard," she whimpered, slamming her fists on the ground beside her. Of course she was angry and hurt and upset. She had really thought he'd changed, that he had wanted her too, not just to use her. She couldn't believe she'd been so blind, and when he told her she was so shocked she couldn't have acted upset even if she wanted to. So to save her dignity, she pretended like it didn't affect her and taunted him into leaving her to her sadness. "I trusted you and you ruined my life," she cried, and dropped her knees, hugging her belly. "What the hell am I going to do!"

Muahahaha! That's a cliffhanger if I ever saw one :P

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Oh, by the way, the reason I skipped over so much time is because I have A LOT more planned out for this and nothing really important for the in-between. It'll make sense later :P