Secrets

Chapter Ten: A Midnight Meeting

(Disclaimer: I own no HP titles…)

(A/N- Wow! Chapter ten already! We haven't had an Author's Note in a while, have we? On with the chapter!

-Belle)

"Where?" I asked, taking Draco's hands in mine and thankful that I had him back.

"In the Astronomy Tower, like I just said…" Draco said, leading the way to the Tower. I was glad his back was toward me, for I was blushing a little bit.

When we reached the Tower, Draco and I sat down next to each other, me curled up under his arm and holding his free hand.

"Draco," I said, looking out of the window. "Harry wants me to go back out with him…"

"Do you want to?"

"Yeah, but I don't totally trust him…" I said with a sigh. The bruises he left me on his shoulders still were in tact- a 'friendly' reminder about Harry's temper.

"Well, you don't have to, you know… I noticed Oliver Wood looking at you the other day… I overheard him in the locker room talking about you, too… Rather dirty things, but that's not the point. My point is that there's other guys out there."

"Who says I have to date again?" I giggled a little. "I fine with you…"

"Most other girls would willingly accept, Hermione." Draco said, turning to look at me oddly.

"I guess I'm just weird like that." I said, smirking.

Draco looked at me for a long moment, a satisfied smile on his kissable lips. "Wanna go for a ride?"

"A ride?"

"Just follow me."

Draco led me to the entrance of the Slytherin common room and told me to wait for him there. I awkwardly waited in the corridor, shivering slightly from the cold 'breeze' floating around me. About five minutes later, Draco emerged from the doorway clutching his Nimbus 2005.

"Draco, you know I'm afraid of heights…" I said, taking a few steps back.

"I'll be right there with you, 'Mione, I promise. Trust me." I couldn't resist the eagerness in Draco's eyes…

"Fine, fine… but only for a little bit…" I said, smiling sincerely.

XxX

"Draco, I can't do this…" I said as I mounted the broomstick in front of Draco.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and moved his mouth to my ear. The feeling of his breath on my neck sent shivers down my spine. "Trust me." He whispered in my ear.

I nodded and firmly (Very firmly) gripped the broomstick. It immediately took off when Draco gave a kick off of the ground. I gave a little scream and held on tighter (if possible) while Draco secured his grip around my waist. Once we were high enough, Draco let go of me and allowed me to steer for a while. I made us turn left, then right. I even did a flip! (Only once, though, it scared me out of my wits!) After about an hour of flying, I let Draco guide us back to the ground.

"I-I did it!" I said, toppling off of the broomstick and onto the soft green grass of the Quidditch field.

"Yeah, good job, love." Said Draco, setting his Nimbus 2005 onto the ground and laying down next to me.

I gazed up at the stars and savored the wonderful and romantic night I was a part of.

"I love you, Draco." I said, turning to look at him.

"I love you, too, Hermione."

XxX

The next day I had ton of homework. Snape was extra brutal and told us to write a foot and a half report about the properties of unicorn's blood, McGonagall told us to practice transfiguring a hammer into a woodpecker, Professor Binns had us write a foot long essay about Debs the Beheaded and Professor Garms, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, told us to read a chapter in our books. It was pilling up and pilling up. I found myself in the library after classes, skipping dinner and the Quidditch game- Hufflepuff vs. Ravenclaw- just to catch up. I had confined myself to my work for three hours until Ron came parading into my thoughts.

"Hermione!" He said loudly, shattering any organized idea I had brewing in my mind. "Where the bloody hell have you been? You skipped the Quidditch game, and it was the best I've ever been to! Cedric-"

"Ron, Ron, please, I've loads of homework to do, and I'm only like a third done…" I said, rubbing my temples. I had almost finished my Potions report…

"Oh, sorry 'Mione…" Ron said, looking a little hurt.

"Nah, it's okay, Ron. Don't you have any homework?"

"I finished all of it… Luna helped me." Ron said, blushing lightly.

"Oh, yeah! You and Luna are going out, I almost forgot… How is everything between you two?" I asked, setting aside all of my finished work in order to be better organized.

"Well…" Ron said looking down. "She's just so quiet… She sort of avoids me and when we are together she won't say a word. I'm just afraid to break up with her…"

"Ron," I said, a smile on my face. "Just do it. She probably doesn't like you both's relationship any more than you do. That might be why she's so quiet. Also, you shouldn't have to be put through this."

Ron smiled. "Thanks 'Mione, I owe you one."

"Hey, have you seen Harry around?"

"Nope, why?"

"Well, he asked me out again last night… I want to turn him down." I said firmly.

"Turn him down? What if he hurts you again?" Ron had a worried look on his face.

"I want you to be close. When I do it, you can be nearby, okay?"

"Yup."

"I'm coming over to the Burrow for Spring Break, right?"

"Duh," Ron said. "Fred and George are having their friend, Max, over, too, just so you know."

"Whatever, but I could use some time away…" I say. "I never imagined me asking you this, but could you help me knock out some of this homework?"

Ron smirked a smirk that would've made my beloved Draco proud. "Of course."

XxX

The next few days I spent off and on in Hogsmeade buying my essentials for Spring Break. On the day before Floo-ing to the Burrow, I spent most of the day packing. When I was ready, it was merely midnight. Perfect.

I scurried up to the Astronomy Tower, being as silent as I could. When I got there, I already found Draco waiting for me.

"Hello, love." He said, sweeping me into his arms.

"Hello." I said, savoring his loving and gentle touch. "I'll miss you so much…"

Draco smiled down at me. "I'll write you. You remember the nickname I told you, right?"

"Yeah- Lubby." I said, smiling back up at him.

Draco lightly kissed me on the lips, making the butterflies in my stomach do summersaults. I wrapped my arms around his neck as we started to sway back and forth to invisible music, both of us somehow hearing the same rhythm. I looked into his eyes and seemed in a daze when he looked back into mine. Draco's blue eyes really were majestic when he let down his curtain of ice…

"Same rules as last time?" I spoke up.

"What rules?"

"We tell no one about us, and we can date other people?"

"Yeah. Why? Planning to date someone else?"

"Nope. Just wondering."

"Okay."

"Draco, promise me you'll write every day," I said. "I'll need some company…" By now our music had stopped and Draco was delicately holding me in his arms.

"I promise…"

"I love you, Draco Malfoy."

"I love you, Hermione Granger."