Hello my people. How have you all been? Still sleeping, I hope. Man! I got more than 15 reviews guessing that he was gonna propose. Did I lead up to that? Hmm…maybe a bit. But – I know some people will hate me for this, he's not going to – I've got something else planned. I have just one thing to say!

I wish to congratulate WiccaWitch, as she was the only reviewer to come close to the truth! You should be proud, I was hoping no one would guess, but you did, so you have all my love. ;)

Chapter 18: A very Big thing

"Look, all I'm gonna say is that it's a big thing, but you shouldn't worry about it."

"So it is a big deal! I knew it! Oh, I wish he would talk to me about it."

"He's just nervous."

"Well, why? Is he gonna propose or something?" Hermione said it jokingly. After all, they hadn't even officially said they loved each other yet! Blaise answered seriously.

"No…but it's still a big thing. It really is massive."

"Oh poo. You're sure you won't tell me any more?"

"Positive. What are you doing with your lip?"

"It's the fat lip. You just turn your bottom lip out, like so, and you pout."

"It's not going to work on me."

"Well, phooey on you! It always worked with my dad."

"Right." He spoke sarcastically.

"Hey! It did! I know it may seem like I'm being super-nosey, but I'm worried about him. He'll hardly talk to me anymore."

"Just relax. Let him have his space. He'll tell you when he's ready."

Hermione just glared at him. Mad that he didn't tell her and almost relieved that he didn't because Draco would have been crushed had he ever found out. She stormed out of the library, a mass of moody emotions.

It was their last day of classes. Hermione was relieved to be done with all the homework, but she didn't want to leave Hogwarts. If she did, she'd have to deal with the real world. On top of all that, Draco was sick today and just stayed in his room, so she couldn't even steal glances at him in class. Even though she promised to herself that she would stop worrying so much about it all, she couldn't. Ron had tried to apologize to her the day before, and she rejected it. If it took him this long to get over it, then that was that. Hermione had long since moved on. She was done with that chapter of her life and wouldn't reopen it. On some deep level that she wouldn't acknowledge even existed, Ron had hurt her. She wasn't about to open herself up to more of it from him. There were two days before Graduation. It was Wednesday and they were leaving Hogwarts for good on Friday. She just needed a long, good soak in the tub. And then she would confront Draco about it all. She would even tell him about the Blaise thing, if necessary. She was tired of not knowing and being uncertain. Because being uncertain is the worst thing to a Pretender. Once in the common room, she completely ignored Draco, who was lying on the couch. Stopping off at her room to drop her bag and get regular clothes, she then retired to the bathroom. She set everything up, lit all her candles, and turned the lights off. Half an hour later, Draco knocked on the door.

"Are you going to be out soon?"

"I don't know."

"Are you mad at me?"

"What do you think?"

"I think you are."

"You think right."

"Why are you mad at me?"

"Because you've been a complete ass for almost two whole weeks. Now go away, I'm trying to relax."

"Well…after you're done, could you come down to the common room?"

"Why? Are you going to tell me why you've been acting so strange?"

"No."

"Then why should I?" Hermione was getting frustrated.

"Just because. It'll be worth it, I promise."

She heaved a sigh. "Fine."

"Great."

She heard him move nimbly down the stairs. Well that went horrible, she though to herself. Then she set about planning exactly what she was going to say to him. Getting out, she dried her hair and got dressed in black comfy capris and a blue tee with elbow sleeves. Glancing at her hair, she decided to braid it into pigtails. They were big and loose and Hermione thought that if she had a baseball cap, she would really look like a tomboy. Then she scolded herself for getting distracted, and after cleaning up, she walked down into the common room. Only to stop short. Draco wasn't there. Nothing was there. The whole room was completely empty. And there were arrows on the floor.

"Damn it! I should've just made Blaise tell me what Draco said!" She kicked at the air. She took a second to calm herself. Then looked around the common room again. Only this time, she saw Draco.

"Hermione…"

"Yes."

"Would you care to explain that statement?"

"Not really, no."

"Please do so anyway." He was glaring at her. Damn her big mouth!

"I'd rather not."

"Tell me or Blaise will."

"Fine! But you have to understand, I was worried about you." He looked at her. She started again.

"Okay, I asked Ginny to ask Blaise to see if you would tell him what was going on with you. Blaise said it wasn't anything to worry about and he didn't tell me anything else."

"You…You tried to have my best friend spy on me?" He looked really angry.

"Only because you wouldn't talk to me!"

"And you were never going to tell me, were you?"

"I would have told you…eventually."

"I can't believe you! You, of all people, Hermione!"

"I wasn't trying to hurt you Draco, I wasn't trying to be nosy! I was just worried."

"Why?" He was moving closer now. That simple question made her so, so nervous.

"Why?" She repeated him to give herself more time.

"Why were you so damn worried that you tried to spy on me?"

"Because."

"Because why?"

"Just because!" She couldn't say it. She would get hurt if she said it.

"Fine." Draco walked out of the room, and it returned to normal. Hermione collasped onto the couch. The tears burst through and she cried. Really cried. The first real cry she had ever let herself have at Hogwarts. Once her sobs quieted somewhat, she spoke aloud to the empty room.

"Because I love you. Because I don't want to lose you."

She buried her head in the pillows, willing herself to stop crying. Half an hour later and several wet pillows, she managed to get down to hiccups. Hermione kept repeating it to herself, over and over in her head. That same determined and cocky look came onto her face, and she left the common room, not caring that it was too late. Not caring that someone could easily see her tear streaks. Her weakness. She passed the library and heard someone in there. Then she recognized the voice. It was Courtney Deltner. Hermione stunned her. Continuing on her way, she reached the Quidditch Pitch. When she saw Draco soaring above her, she felt like crying again. Draco noticed her, and came down a little bit, within hearing distance. He was obviously still mad. Hermione could feel the tears in her eyes start again.

"Because I love you! Because I didn't want to lose you!"

He landed.

"Because you're beautiful, you're precious, you're everything! Because I was afraid. Afraid that you weren't going to be there once we left. And I couldn't tell you. I wouldn't allow myself to tell you…"

"Because then it would be real, because then you could get hurt." He finished the sentence. He dropped his broom, running toward her. Draco caught her in hug, spinning her around. Kissing her ferociously. They broke apart for a breath.

"You're beautiful, you're precious, you're everything. I love you. And I'll always be there for you." He repeated her earlier words. They both heaved a sigh of relief. They weren't uncertain anymore. Now they knew for sure. Then they were kissing again. Once they broke apart again, Hermione began speaking.

"As happy as I would be if we continued down this road, I think we should stop."

"Why?" Draco was totally confused.

"Because I love you so much, and if we keep going, I won't be able to stop. I won't want to. And I don't want to go that far right now. Not on the Quidditch Pitch. And besides, you still haven't told me what had you so worked up. And I sorta left someone hanging in the library."

"And who would that be?" He thought she was joking.

"Courtney Deltner."

"You're serious?"

"Yes. I stunned her. Want to help me extract my revenge?"

"Hell yeah."

He grabbed his broom, and they headed for the library. Upon entering, Hermione found her just where she left her. She smiled wickedly. Courtney's eyes went wide when she saw Draco with Hermione. For a spilt second, she thought Draco would help her but then he kissed Hermione and asked.

"So, what are we gonna do to her?"

"Well, first, I think she needs a make-over. I don't like her hair do, do you?"

"Nope." He smirked at her.

That night was very long for Ms. Deltner. And after they were in the safety of their common room, Draco pulled Hermione close and whispered in her ear.

"You're incredibly sexy when you're being dark like that." Hermione chose to respond with a slight bite on his shoulder.

"Ya know, I think you'd like my bed. It's very comfortable."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, really."

"Why don't we go see?"

"Good plan."

When Hermione went down to breakfast that morning, there was a group of students around a girl. They were asking her questions. Hermione went up to Harry and Ginny after putting on a puzzled face, and asked them about it.

"What's the big deal?"

"Hermione, it's great! You have to come see!" Ginny dragged her over to the crowd, yelling,

"Hermione's coming through folks, make room." Surprisingly, the people did part and some even started cheer her on. When they got to the middle, everyone got quiet. Hermione saw that Courtney was at the center, trying to get out.

"Well, say something Hermione. Ask her a question!" Everyone started laughing.

"Okay then…What are you doing here?"

She glared as she spoke. "I am very sorry about vandalizing Hermione Granger's bike, I really only did it because I was so jealous of her intelligence and beauty. I wish she would forgive me."

Hermione pretended to be shocked. "Who did this to you?" Courtney repeated the exact same thing.

"Hermione! Someone charmed her so that that's all she can say. No matter what you ask her! And they did quite a number on her hair, don't you think?"

Hermione was about to speak, but someone beat her to it.

"Ms. Deltner, what is the meaning of this?" It was Snape. Courtney looked glad to see him. She said it again.

"I asked you a question. Answer it!" Courtney only repeated it again. Snape turned on Hermione.

"What did you do to her?"

"I didn't do anything, sir. I came to breakfast this morning and found everyone like this."

"And do you have an alibi for the whole evening?" He sneered at her, thinking he got her. Oh, to punish the Head Girl!

"Actually yes, I do. Malfoy and myself got into an argument over house elves and we were up until nearly curfew. By then I was tired and frustrated so I took a bath. As far as I know, Malfoy stayed in the common room."

"And will Mr. Malfoy say the same thing?"

Hermione was once again interrupted. By Draco this time.

"Yes, I would. As much as I would love to see her held responsible for this, the stupid mud- uh – girl was arguing with me." Snape sneered at Hermione again. Then he ordered everyone to get in their seats and told Courtney to go see Professor Filtwick. Once back at the table, Hermione whispered in Ginny's ear.

"It was me. Draco helped." Ginny burst out laughing. Once she calmed down, she spoke.

"Did you ever find out what he was so stressed out about?" Hermione frowned.

"No. We..um, we got…distracted." She cast a sly glance at Ginny.

"WHAT! Did you…ya know?"

"NO! But we came so close, Ginny. I told him I wanted to wait." Ginny started laughing again, and when the conversation started up again, it was about Harry's job. Hermione carefully avoided the subject of her job. She was very relieved when breakfast was over and she retreated to her room, saying she needed to pack.

She really was in the middle of packing when Draco knocked on her door. She opened it and let him in, then continued to pack.

"Can you come down to the common room for a minute? I want to show you something."

"Okay, I'll be down in a minute." She finished taking all her clothes out of the closet and then walked down the stairs. Draco stood in front of the coffee table. She could see something on it, but when she tried to get a closer look, Draco shifted so she couldn't see it.

"What is that?"

"It's what I was so stressed about."

"Oh. Are you going to let me see it?"

"Don't give me an answer right away, okay? Just think about it for a minute."

"Okay, okay, just let me see it."

Draco stepped aside. Hermione gasped. There, sitting on the coffee table, was a little house. Like a dollhouse. She kneeled to get a better look. After she was done inspecting it, she stood up again.

"What is it?"

"It's an exact replica of our house." He stressed the word 'our'. It took a moment for Hermione to realize what he had just said. Then she gasped again.

"Really?" She asked in a small voice.

"Yeah. That's exactly what it looks like. Inside and out."

Instead of saying anything, she hugged him. Kissed him and hugged him again. Then she noticed a problem.

Yes, that's right. I'm going to leave it at that. It's not that big of a cliffy, and I seriously think no one will guess what she's going to say is a problem. I hope you're not too upset he didn't propose. But the story isn't over yet. Stay tuned for more on this important subject. This is Sarah, signing out for Dizzy Dawn news, goodbye to all! Lol

Dizzy