Hello all! How you've been? I have answers to some questions! So, I know you're all anxious, here they are.

Friday13……Actually, you're like, only the second person to ask me that. Yes. I do relate, quite a bit. A lot of Hermione's views about her family and school come from my own. Beth is a variation on my own sister, and the idea that both Hermione and Draco were Pretenders was just too brilliant not to write. For me, anyway. I'm so glad you think it's realistic, it has to be one of the best reviews I've ever gotten because I know many writers struggle with it. So thanks! I hope you like reading it.

Jean Jelly Bean……Artemis Fowl and the Opal Deception is so worth reading! To my standards, it wasn't as good as the third, but that's only because I just love Arty and there was a lot of parts where he just didn't seem like himself. But, once you think about it, it makes sense since he was mind-wiped. You've got to read it! And thanks for reviewing, too!

WiccaWitch……Hermione was the only one who has given her identity away. I read through and can't find it. Could you be more specific, so that I can fix it, or explain it to you? Thanks for paying such close attention, and for your reviews!

On to the story!

Chapter 11: I knew it

Eleven o'clock came and went, and she started to get ready. Hermione changed into black jeans and a green silky camisole, to match her necklace. Throwing her cloak over her shoulders, she crept out of the room. She could hear her father snoring, and the common room was vacant. She expected nothing less. Wishing she had Harry's map or invisibility cloak, she stealthily made her way down corridors. That was another trait she had managed to pick up, handy for stealing your things back when people took them. Stepping lightly and breathing silently, she reached the Tower a minute before midnight. Opening the door swiftly to avoid creaking (A/N – that really does work) she stepped inside, and closed the door behind her. Looking around, she saw no one, and decided to go to the window. It was not long after, that she felt a hand on her shoulder, a chest barely brushing against her back. She did not jump, and she let the hand continue along her neckline, finally making it's way to the clasp of her heavy cloak. Opening it, the hand dragged it off of her, and she involuntary shivered at the cold. The hand traveled to the necklace, picking it up, making it twinkle in the moonlight.

"I'm glad you like it."

"It's very beautiful."

"I think you'll like the second part better."

"Oh?"

"Yeah."

His hand lightly trailed from her shoulder to her right hand, where a ring was slipped onto her middle finger. She let him bring her hand up to where she could see the ring. It was simple and stunning, a little emerald, surrounded once again by black onyx gems. It was set on a simple silver band that was twisted and turned.

"It's very Slytherin."

"I hope that won't be a problem."

"It's not. After all, I like one of them."

"And who would that be? I think I've forgotten."

"I think you know."

"No, really. I don't remember."

"This ring really is beautiful."

"Now you're changing the subject."

"Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to tell you again."

"That's right."

"I like…" Quick as a wink, she spun around. Her laughing eyes looked straight into his surprised ones, and his hand was now behind her back. She took a deep breath, and finished her sentence. "You."

Draco seemed to be speechless. He just stared in amazement at her. Her giggle brought him out of it.

"I didn't think it was really you. I couldn't believe it."

"I knew it. I knew it was you."

"Of course you did. The letter, I signed it, and you recognized the handwriting."

"Yeah. I'm sorry I lied."

"It was pretending. I would've done the same."

"So…what now?"

He blinked at her. Then, he was slowly moving closer to her, bending down slightly to accommodate her height. Hermione sighed slightly just before their lips met. It was something about him, something that she couldn't name, that set off a fire within her. She had been waiting, wondering forever if it would ever happen, and now that it finally was, she almost couldn't believe it. Draco pulled her closer, deeper into the kiss. When they finally pulled away from each other, he looked right into her eyes, and spoke.

"You make me breathless. You make my heart pound, make me wish I could just be me. How? How did you pull me in?"

"I don't know. I should ask you the same thing. How did you make me want you when I didn't even know you?"

"I guess we're in the same boat then." He smirked.

"Yeah, I guess so." She smiled.

"You're cold."

"Well you're the one who took my cloak."

"Maybe I can warm you up?"

"You can try."

With that, he pulled her in for another breathtaking kiss. After so long, they had to pull apart, as all human beings need air and they were currently running low. He pulled her cloak back around her shoulders, and took her hand.

"We should go back. It'll look suspicious if we both sleep in."

"I sleep in every day that I can. I'm not a morning person and everyone knows it."

"Ah, but your little boys are coming back."

"I was trying to forget that little factor."

"But…"

"I've pulled all-nighters before and no one has noticed. Do you really think they'll notice now all of the sudden?"

"Weasley." He didn't extend his statement. He didn't need to.

"Ron doesn't know anything. If he did, he would have realized I didn't like him like that. He's oblivious to nearly everything."

"I just want to be careful. We both have our parts."

"You're nervous, aren't you? Draco, you don't need to worry. I've been doing this for more than half my life, I've got it under control."

"Say that again."

"What?"

"My name."

"Draco."

"I love they way you say it. Like you were made to." He kissed her again.

"Ya know, I worry about you. I always have."

"I worry about you too."

"In the forest first year, when Buckbeak injured you, when the fake Moody turned you into a ferret, all those times when Harry and Ron just wanted to jump you."

"First year in the forest, second year with the whole diary episode, third year with the time turner – yes, I knew about that, - fourth year at the tournament, fifth year when you went into the forest, sixth year when you went after Him."

They both knew who 'Him' was. She didn't need to ask how he knew about that. And now that they had stopped, she realized he had led them silently to the portrait to the common room.

"What are we going to do?" He hated asking her, but he had no idea what she wanted to do.

"We're going to keep on pretending. That's all we can do. I…I can't come out to the whole school and tell them all this. I'm not strong enough for that."

"Me either. I'm glad your family is leaving tomorrow. We can do whatever we want with the common room to ourselves."

"Yeah. I can't wait." They went in, and just as she got to her door, she quickly turned around, rushed to his door, and kissed him. "Goodnight." She rushed back to her door, almost missing what he said.

"I loved your Christmas gift."

She changed into her pajamas, laid down in bed, and was up the rest of the night thinking. The night had gone even better than she had hoped. By the time she normally woke up, she had thought of so many possibilities about what they could do, but wasn't sure about any of them. She sighed. Today was the day they were coming back. She didn't want to deal with them. She swore to herself, that she would no longer hold it all in. This semester was going to be different.

That was fun to write. A lot of conversation. Just wait for the next chapters. They are going to be fun to write. Very fun. I hope I didn't disappoint. I sorta wanted to do more kissing…and other stuff… but I hate those stories where Hermione's morals just suddenly go out the window, so I didn't. Hermione may pretend about a lot, but she's not a slut, and she's not Beth. More to come!

Dizzy