AN: I have to tell everyone this because I got some reviews commenting on the way I write. I know it was constructive criticism, but I have to say this is the first story I have ever written, ever. I am also in seventh grade, so just remember that about the grammar, I haven't learned all the rules yet. I also have to apologize, because I have taken so long to post another chapter. I AM REALLY SORRY. Please forget about any anger you might have with me and read the chapter.

Chapter Seven

For about the next two months, when I wasn't studying or going to classes, I was kissing Draco, giggling with Ginny, or "dating" Ron.

Draco and I continued to kiss in our common room, never anything more, while Ginny and I talked about her relationship with Harry as well as mine with Draco. We often sat giggling about them, thrilled with our romances.

Ron and I were odd, however. He seemed to be in love, but I just couldn't think of him that way, especially since I was with Draco. I did kiss Ron though, once. We had been alone in a classroom talking when suddenly Ron surprised me.

"I love you," he had confessed. For a minute, I stood there, mouth slightly open trying to think of what to say. I didn't want to lie and tell him I loved him too, so I kissed him, long and hard. Long so he would forget what he had just said, and hard so he would believe I meant it.

I noticed, however, kissing Draco was a whole lot different than kissing Ron. Ron was just as passionate as Draco was, but kissing Ron did not set off the same fireworks. It also did not make me want more. I was glad when we pulled apart and stared at each other. I had said good bye and walked quickly down the hall toward my common room.

I had kissed Ron the day before Christmas break. After I had done it, I went right to bed. I had all Christmas break to do my piles o f homework, it could wait for tomorrow. And I didn't want to face Draco just yet. I felt slightly guilty.

The Weasley family was going to Brazil for Christmas, and they had invited Harry and me to go along also. Harry had accepted; I had declined. I didn't think I would have been able to stand that long with Ron, especially under the watchful eye of Mrs. Weasley. She would wonder why we didn't kiss. She, like Ginny, would know something was off with us, and she might say something.

I had somehow convinced Draco to stay with me, so I had two weeks with Draco. All of which I could concentrate completely on Draco and Draco alone.

The morning after I kissed Ron, I woke up feeling guiltier than I had gone to bed feeling. I tried to forget the night before completely, but failed horribly.

Eventually, I gave up and went downstairs. Draco was waiting for me on the couch. He stood up as I got closer to him and pulled me into a hug. Soon I felt his lips on mine, as well as on my neck and face. I wanted to kiss him back, I really, really did, but I couldn't bring myself too. The reason was I had realized two things. The first thing was that I loved Draco with all my heart, with all my being. The second this was he loved me also. I could feel it in the way he held me and looked at me. It was the way my dad looked at my mom. Most normal people in normal situations, after realizing these things, would not want to stop kissing, but would kiss harder, but of course I was not entirely normal and I was defiantly not in a normal situation. I might feel this way for Draco, but there was still Ron, who, only the night before, had confessed he loved me and I had kissed him.

I pulled away from Draco and looked into his eyes. For a second I forgot everything and was just lost completely to the pull of those amazingly green eyes. When I came back to myself, I realized yet another thing; I could not keep this up with Draco and Ron, I had to choose. The choice was obvious to me.

"I love you," I said a little breathlessly.

Draco continued to look at me with a gaze that someone would use if they were looking at a beautiful piece of artwork. "I love you too Hermione," he finally said after few moments as he began to stoke my cheek with his thumb.

I could not believe it; I loved Draco Malfoy and he loved me back. If someone had told me this would happen a year ago, I would have never believed them, but now, it didn't seem so unthinkable.

With these new confessions made, I pulled Draco closer to me and started to kiss him. He kissed back, and I wanted to this to last forever. I wanted Draco to have his arms wrapped around my waist until I died, and then till the world ended, and then later still.

Without warning, Draco started to slide his hands up my shirt, as if to take it off; I was defiantly not ready for this! I loved Draco, but I wasn't sure I wanted to go that far just yet, there were still too many things I didn't understand about our relationship. I pulled Draco's hand out of my shirt and took a step back. As I did, a picture of Ron with a look of utter shock on his face, the look he would have if he saw me at that moment. Will this torture ever stop, I thought angry with myself for letting this happen. How could I be so dense, I questioned myself. Of course he was doing this, I had just told him I loved him; he thought I wanted this also.

"No," I said simply. Draco looked at me with longing, but still nodded. Kissing him once again on the check, I left his in the common room as I went up to my room. Once there, I sat on my bed and cried silently. I didn't know why I was crying though. Draco had just told me ha loved me; I should be happy, I thought. After a few moment of contemplating it, I came to the conclusion that it must be because of all the confusing emotions and thoughts locked inside my head that I had not let out.

After about an hour of crying, I decided to send Ron a letter to break up with him. I wouldn't explain why; I wouldn't have to.

I quickly wrote Ron a short letter. All it said was "its over." I signed my name and ran down the stairs where I found Draco still sitting in a chair.

"Can I use your owl?"

"Sure," Draco replied, getting up from the green armchair. "Who are sending a letter to," Draco was trying to act casual.

"Ron," I answered, trying to sound casual as well. Seeing Draco frown, I quickly added, "I'm breaking up with him."

"Well, let us get that letter in the mail immediately then," Draco said, grinning mischievously as we walked to the owlery. I rolled my eyes and hit him lightly as we walked through the very empty halls. Once we reached the owlery, Draco found his tawny owl and let me try the note to it. We watched as it flew away and then I turned to him and said, "There," as I breathed out a sigh of relief; it was over with Ron finally.

The two of us walked back to our common room in silence. Once we reached it, Draco took me in his arms and started kissing me again. Obviously he assumed Ron was the only thing keeping me from him. He was wrong. There were still some questions I needed answers to. I pushed him away even though I didn't want to.

"What now," Draco asked as he sat down on the couch, pulling me down next to him.

"I have questions," I replied. Draco sighed and leaned back against the couch. I didn't wait for a reply; instead I started to fire questions away. "Why, after all those years of being terrible, are you so sweet?"

"It was all an act," Draco replied without emotion.

"What," I screamed.

"Well, it isn't anymore, but it was. You see," Draco began. I knew this was going to be a long story; I leaned back next to Draco. "My dad is the only real follower of the dark lord in my family. I just acted liked I believed in the same things as my father, so it wouldn't get back to my father that I wasn't upholding the family name or whatever.

"My mother does not believe muggle born wizard are lesser than pure blood either. My parents had an arranged marriage. My mother acts the way she does around most people, but she is really nice around certain people like her really close friends.

"All those year I felt terrible about the way I acted, especially toward you and your friends. Will you ever forgive me?" Draco finished his explanation and turned his head toward me.

"Yes," I said standing up. Now that Draco knew there was nothing between us, I had to get away from him. I moved toward the stairs and Draco stood up.

"Where are you going," Draco asked.

"To bed of course," I said. He looked disappointed, but let me go anyways.

I fell asleep that night felling relaxed and got a good night's sleep for the first time in a long time.