A/N: woahhhh…im SO sorry i haven't updated this story in ages… but all that's gunna change because summer's back in town and free time is my middle name! lol.

Last chapter….

Hermione shook her head. Promise or no promise. There was absolutely no way she was getting on that horse. He didn't get it.. he didn't understand. Hell, Hermione didn't even understand it. All she knew was if she was to ride that horse, she would be frightened. And that was not a feeling she was accustomed to.

"Draco please. Not now. Not today." She pleaded into his eyes. "It's all very complicated... I just… can't. It's too much right now." She rested her head on his shoulder. "Do you understand?"

And he did.
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They stood there together watching the horses for a few moments longer. Although Hermione had been extremely shaken up by Draco's sudden request, she found the longer she stayed with him, the less afraid she became.

'It's so strange how I always feel serene when I'm with him..'

The wind toyed with her hair. Draco seemed to follow it's lead and also began to slide his fingers through her strands.

'Draco's being such a gentleman. And me….acting the way I did. I feel so bad. He must think I'm a complete idiot...'

Hermione felt that an apology was in order...

"Draco," She turned to face him. "Despite my little display of…unsureness-"

"Oh I see," Draco teased. "Is that what we're going to call it?"

A small smile appeared on her face. By now she could usually tell when he was teasing. "Yes. That's exactly what we're going to call it."

Draco chuckled.

"But really. Thank you for offering to let me ride them. I really wanted to you know. It's just that…."

Draco slid a comforting hand around her waist. As he did, Hermione shivered from a chill that went down her spine. "I understand, Hermione."

She smiled and laid her head back on his shoulder. 'Wow….if only Harry and Ron could see me no-'

Hermione jumped in surprise. "Oh no!'

Thinking of Harry and Ron helped her to remember that she had forgotten about their letters. She had meant to owl them hours ago!

"What?" A concerned Draco asked, reacting to Hermione's jump. "What's the matter?"

"Ohh nothing," She began. "I just realized that I had forgotten to owl Ha-" Hermione stopped mid sentence. There was no way she could tell Draco what she was really about to say. She could already see it. He would get all upset that she was even thinking about them and storm off in an angry huff. Then all the progress they've made today would be lost and she would probably go back to being referred to as Granger and he as Malfoy.

"You forgot to do what?" Draco was curious and Hermione had to think fast.

"Ohh…er…. you knowww…"

Draco raised his eyebrow at her. "No. I don't."

"Oh…ha ha …erm... I thought you did."

Draco was beginning to get suspicious.

"Parents!" she exclaimed nervously. "I just meant that I've forgotten to owl my parents. They asked me to owl them as soon as I got settled in and erm…I've just remembered that I've…erm… forgotten!"

Draco didn't look completely convinced. "So does that mean you want to head back then?"

"Yes please. Thanks for my tour of the grounds. It turned to be very eventful after all." She attempted to change the subject. "Though… you could use a little practice being a guide. I hate to tell you this…. but you were sort of horrible."

It seemed Draco didn't notice. "Well excuse me Ms. Regnarg." Draco turned and began to walk towards the manor. "Although there are many talents are on my resume as I'm sure you've heard, I'm afraid that 'tour guide extraordinaire' isn't one of them."

Hermione laughed. "Well…that's pretty clear. And you know what other talent I've heard you're lacking?" She began to speed up her pace.

"Which?"

"Let's call it….Sprinting! Seeing as how I so easily beat you earlier." Hermione took off in a full sprint. "And I'm about to do it again!" She called back as she flew into the trees.

Draco laughed in surprise. "But that's where you're wrong." And with that he was off.

With in no time, Hermione found her self back at the manor. She had been expecting to have passed the enchanted grove on the way back, but surprisingly she didn't recall seeing it.

A few moments later, a panting Draco arrived.

"I….guess…you were…right."

"You sound surprised. Did you expect me to be wrong?" Hermione smirked. "Why Draco, you should have learned by now. The Great Hermione is never wrong."

Draco snorted. "Well I don't know about that. You only beat me that time-"

"Both times." Hermione corrected proudly.

"Alright. Both times." Draco repeated in a mocking tone. "And that was only because I let you have a head start."

"Let me?" Hermione's eyes widened in surprise. "Lucky for you Draco, I'm in a good mood. Especially since I just beat the quote-un-quote 'Slytherin Prince' in two sprints."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Yea…whatever."

Hermione laughed. "Me:1… Draco:0"

As she opened the door to the manor, she remembered her question from earlier.

"Hey Draco?"

"Yea?" he answered as they moved towards the couches.

"Why didn't I pass the enchanted grove on the way back? I mean I know I didn't exactly notice it either on the way there but I was sure I would have-"

"Exactly."

Hermione was confused. "Come again?"

Draco looked pleased that he could explain something to Hermione that she didn't already know. "It's quite logical actually. Since you weren't paying attention on the way there, you didn't actually know where it was located. So there for, it only makes sense that you didn't see it on the way back." Draco fell back onto the couch in a tired manner. "You simply didn't know where to look."

"So it was a safeguard from the spells on it?" She asked as she flopped down on the couch to join him.

"Exactly."

"Oh I see." Hermione paused. "Actually, now that I think about it…I've been to a place where spells similar to the ones on the grove were cast. Only… I believe they were much stronger."

"You don't say?" Draco looked intrigued. "And what's the name of the place you're speaking about?

"Oh its called Gr-" Hermione stopped abruptly. 'I can't believe I almost let that slip!'

She began again. "It's called Green Terrace." This time, her lie flowed much smoother than before. "Well, to tell you the truth, I've never actually been there. It's just a place I've read about in a book."

"Oh really" She couldn't tell if he believed her or not. "Which book was this?"

"Ohhh I can't really recall..." Hermione began to rise from the couch. "After you read so many, the books just begin to blend together until you can't remember Hogwarts A History from 394 Ways to Levitate and Apparate."

"You've actually read a book like that?" Draco asked suspiciously. "I thought there were only one way to levitate…let alone apparate."

By now, Hermione was nearly at the stairs. "Heh… well apparently there's more. 393 more to be exact!"

"Ummm…alright."

"Well Draco, I'm dreadfully tired. I suppose those sprints took more out of me than I thought. So I think," She called from the top of the stairs. "That I'm going to take a nap. After all, a girl needs her beauty sleep. Well…see you later." And with that she closed her door.

Draco sat on the couch looking up at the place Hermione had stood only a few moments before wondering what exactly she was up to. He wasn't sure, but it seemed that when they were talking about Protection Spells, she had started to say something else. And again when they were near the stables…

Before he had a chance to continue his thoughts, he heard the sounds of his mother approaching.

"Hello Draco dear! How was the tour. Did you show Hermione a nice time?" She shot a glance in the direction of Hermione's room. "Oh don't tell me that you've gone and upset her. Draco you must remember that Hermione is our guest, not another one of our house maids. You mustn't treat her rudely like you do your other friends. Please don't-"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Mother don't worry. Hermione told me herself that she had a wonderful time. I haven't upset her at all. She simply went upstairs to…finish a letter to her parents." Draco wasn't so sure about that last part…but his mother didn't have to know that.

"Oh splendid!" She beamed. "Well… I'm off to the study. You know how grumpy I get when I miss my afternoon readings." His mother began to turn. "Oh and Draco, tonight at dinner I have a special announcement for you and Hermione."

"Okay mother. See you at dinner."

He watched his mother retreat until she descended the stairs to the study.

'A surprise?'

Draco wasn't sure whether to be excited or nervous. Last time his mother had a "surprise" for him" it turned out that she had decided to embark on a 3-city shopping spree in Paris, Cairo, and Tokyo and he was chosen to be her "lucky" guest. How that was supposed to be a surprise for him…one could only guess.

Draco shuddered at the memory.

'But this time, she had said for me and Hermione.' Draco felt his eyelids shutting. Hermione was right…all that sprinting was pretty tiresome. 'So maybe…..maybe….this time will be…different'

Just before he surrendered to sleep, a small smile surface on his lips.

A/N: Sooo there it is! Hopefully it wasn't too bad. And if it was…I apologize… I'm about 12 months rusty..lol….welll tell me you thoughts and I'll try to put them into next chapter…. Though I'm already pretty sure I know what I want to happen next….any suggestions are welcome :) THANKS!