I AM SO SORRY! GOMEN! bow I won't list why this is so late, because you probably don't care. But, I swear, I lost the stupid rough draft of this chapter, and had to write it all over again! muttermutter Along with school and other things, of course. Not that it matters. So sorry!

But here it is! I've made it nice and long for you! I hope you enjoy it. As always, PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! It makes my day if you comment!

To all the fans of my story, especially Daniela and Nikki ;

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Hogwarts, Hermione, Draco, or any of the other characters running around. That is J.K. Rowlings fortunate idea

The Plot, however, is all mine. SOOOoo, lets continue with it, shall we?

CHAPTER 7 The Next Best Thing?

Hermione tore through the corridors, the stone walls and chatting paintings blurring through her tears. She ran where her feet led her; up and down staircases, through secret passages, just to keep moving, to get as far away from him as she could.

She could hear her heart beating in her ears as her footsteps slowed. Looking up, Hermione realized she was standing right outside of the Room of Requirements. Although she knew it was late and she ought to return to the common room, she couldn't stand to see Harry and Ron, who were undoubtedly waiting for her to return.

Instead, Hermione walked around the hallway three times, and a door appeared. She opened it into a dimly lit bathroom. Quickly she entered and closed the door, then started to undress.

The walls of the bathroom were painted a light, lilac color, and small alcoves in the walls held vanilla scented candles. There was a rack with fluffy golden towels and an empty shelf for her clothes. She placed them on the rack, and turned the water on in the bathtub. It was the second greatest tub she had ever seen, next to the Prefects bathroom, of course. It was a soaking tub, gold, and had a little waterproof pillow for her to lay her head on. She turned off the tap. The water smelled like vanilla as well, and she stepped in while steam floated around her.

As soon as she lay down her awe was replaced by a feeling of disgust. Her thoughts filled her head, making it ache as if she had been hit with a hammer. That insane little shit kissed me! MALFOY FLIPPING KISSED ME! AGAIN! Merlin, I must be going bloody crazy. I kissed him back too, that's the worst part. We made out in the middle of the LIBRARY! What is WRONG with me? What is wrong with HIM?

These thoughts chased each other around, echoing each other, made her feel as if she would like to just slip deeper into this water and never come out. She kept repeating these things in her head until a single thought sunk in. Her gut dropped.

I enjoyed it. I made out with Malfoy and enjoyed it. No matter how many times I tell myself I didn't, I know I did. It felt so…right. And he looked …gorgeous…

"Damnit!" She brought her hands up to her head. She couldn't possibly grasp why she would enjoy it so much. Malfoy was a creep. He despised her and Harry and Ron and everything good about her life. And she hated him. So why were they both acting like this?

For what felt like the millionth time in the last 3 weeks, Hermione wished that it had all been a dream.

Draco slowly packed up his things. His mind was whirring. That bitch! Who does she think she is, just running off like that?

He pressed his fingers to his lips and smirked. Merlin, she is a good kisser. I have to taste her again. He remembered her soft skin, the soft smell of rose and spices that floated around her, and the look of lust that flickered in her eyes. She can attempt to hide it as much as she wants, you don't kiss that well when you're trying to fight someone off. I should know…He laughed and ran his tongue across his teeth - the same tongue that she bit when he kissed Granger nearly three weeks ago.

That mudblood doesn't know whom she's dealing with. Draco's smirk crept higher across his face as he glided through the library. He frowned and rubbed his temple at the thought of returning to his common room. No doubt Pansy would be waiting for him with her shrill voice and persistent hands. How in the world can I shag her tonight after kissing a goddess like Granger?

His skin was getting hotter as he walked, and he started swaying a bit. If only he could get that Granger back down here with him, and he could take all this sexual energy and ram it up her ass. Quite literally, actually. A chuckle escaped Draco's lips, only to be cut off with a groan of excitement.

He just might have to settle for ol' pugface tonight, if it meant he could get someone else to relieve the tension that filled him. After all, she was good with her hands, even if the rest of her left something to be desired.

With a smirk, he sauntered down the set of stone steps into a dungeon hallway, and closer to the Slytherin common room. He narrowed his eyes and turned on his charm. Not that he needed to do any of that to attract her, Pansy would try and do him if he was on his deathbed - No, Draco just liked the feeling of being able to shag any girl he laid his hands on.

And there was no doubt in his mind that he could, and would, lay Hermione Granger before this year was over.

Draco woke up to a little bit of light filtering through his canopy. He watched little modes of dust flutter around in the air. Of course, the bed was empty except for him - no matter how tired or how dark it was when they were finished, he would always send Pansy back to her room. He wouldn't allow himself to wake up to her. His whole day would be ruined!

He pulled his covers off of himself and left his bed to see that he was the only one awake in the room. With a stretch and a yawn, he collected his robes and custom made soaps and carried himself toward the showers in the common room. On a normal day he would walk all the way to the Prefects bathroom - but on a normal day, he wasn't up this early. When he entered the bathrooms, he chose the stall farthest away from the door, (after, of course, he inspected it to be sure the House Elves had done a proper job).

With a yawn he disrobed, placing his things on a high rack in the shower, and then turned on the water. As it skimmed over his skin, he rubbed his face with a cloth, slowly remembering exactly what happened last night.

Draco's mood changed suddenly - he was charged with energy towards the day. They had Care of Magical Creatures, and he was sure of his chance to see Granger. How would she act towards him?

He leaned on the wall for support as he imagined Granger waiting for him with a soft smile, bare legs slightly crossed anxiously. Her soft brown hair glistened in the autumn sunlight as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her ferociously. He slipped his hand beneath her skirt and entered her as she gasped into his lips. Her eyes closed for a second of pleasure, then opened again to stare warmly into his…

Draco barely felt the water that pounded against his skin. He needed her. Merlin knows he wanted her. He raised his face to the water and scrubbed himself as quickly as he could, so he could get to breakfast.

Hermione filled her book bag with what she would need for the day, and with one quick look in the mirror, she filed down the stairs. There were a few students milling around, too lazy or tired to shower at the moment, and thinking it was much too early to go downstairs for breakfast. She quickly smiled at a first year who cast her a glance that said 'You're insane for being ready so early'.

Sighing, she climbed out of the portrait hole and into the hallway. Even though light filtered into the hallways, half the portraits she passed were still asleep.

Her mind kept returning to last night, while she kept trying to forget it. Malfoy had no right to invade her mind so early in the morning, for gods sake, she was barely able to tell where she was headed!

Still half asleep, Hermione tried to think about anything other then Malfoy as she strode toward the Great Hall. Her mind was sorting through what she needed to do before she reached her classes today, and when she came to Care of Magical Creatures, she automatically thought Great, another class with the Slytherins. She entered the Great Hall and looked up to see Malfoy's eyes pass over her. Oh Merlin, what's HE doing up this early?

She looked down and walked to the Gryffindor table, and sat on the side farthest away from the Slytherins. She pulled out a book on the History of Arithmancy, and started to read. She felt eyes on her, so she sighed and looked up. Sure enough, Draco was glaring at her with a hint of a grin on his face. He waved his hand sarcastically, and she once again looked at the pages of her book, although now she couldn't make out what they said.

"Er…Hermione? What's up?" She raised her head to see Ron sitting down across from her, with a smile on his face. His red hair was still a bit straggly from bed, and he had a bit of a worried look on his face. "Is something wrong? You look a little worn out."

She smiled assuredly and tried to mentally wave her problems away. She never knew what was going on in Malfoys mind anyways, so why would now be any different? Try not to worry about it! "Nothing, just woke up a bit too early, just a little tired. That's all." She smiled again and Ron sighed with relief.

"Alright, that's good." He smiled too and grabbed a piece of toast from the table.

Hermione poured herself a cup of orange juice when Ron laughed a little. "What?" she said guardedly, looking to make sure she didn't spill any on herself.

"You're READING this early? I can barely function properly, and I'm not even up as early as you are! And you're reading?" He laughed again, good heartedly.

"Ron, what do you expect? I'm a bookworm, remember?" She laughed too and reached to put her book away. When she came up, she once again felt Malfoy eyeing her, but this time, when she looked at him, he was busy and surrounded by his Slytherin mates. Pansy Parkinson was draped around him like a coat….that slut…

Malfoy looked directly at her, his icy eyes cutting through her skull, and (as if he knew what she had just thought), he bent forward and viciously kissed Pansy.

Hermione felt a stab of jealousy and looked back to Ron, who was fidgeting with his prefect badge. She smiled and he looked up, blushed red, and grinned back. Hermione looked over to Malfoy, who was finally detaching himself Pansy.

She smiled to herself, leaned forward, and kissed the blushing Ron full on the lips.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed it!

I know, I know, I'm a terrible author with all these cliffhangers, but at elast you won't have to live with this one for a few months. ;