Disclaimer still applies

Author's note: I would like to apologize about the last chapter. A) I wrote it at 1 in the morning. B) The computer I was using has absolutely no spell check! Can you imagine? No spell check! And C) It was supposed to be a connecter chapter.

Well, anyway thanks to anyone who reviewed. Hope this chapter seems better.

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When you ran out the door I froze. My gaze followed you as you ran.

Pansy turned a sickeningly sweet smile to me. Her blonde hair was tied back tightly against her head in a braid and I seemed almost like her eyes were being pulled themselves. "What do you ever think is wrong with her?" Her voice was completely innocent and her face seemed honestly in wonder.

I scowled at her. "Pansy," I said calmly.

She stopped and looked at me for a second. "Yes, Draco?"

She blinked at me a few times.

"Go to hell."

I started out after you.

I walked through the streets, calling your name. "Hermione, come back!"

You turned for a second, outside of Eeylops.

You looked scared.

The last time I saw you that scared we were still at Hogwarts.

It was midwinter and you and I were both outside, making our usual rounds. It had started to snow that day around five o'clock in the afternoon and it was still snowing.

You were walking by the lake when I came up behind you. My arms wrapped around your waist and you jumped.

I chuckled and you relaxed.

You turned around and I kissed you. And you melted in to my touch.

I ran my tongue against your bottom lip and I tasted your mouth and you moaned into the kiss.

And then you heard Weasley calling you.

And you pulled away from me and you were as scared as you could get and you hurried away from me and ran to him.

I knew you wouldn't want him to find you with me.

And that was the same look that you had on your face as you ran through the streets of Diagon Alley.

And when I started to catch up with you, then you started to walk backwards and kept your eyes on my and somehow you stumbled into Knockturn Alley.

I cursed under my breath. Out of everywhere to end up turning it had to be there.

And I slipped through the crowd, following you.

The people in Knockturn were knocking you around. You stumbled but caught yourself every time.

And you turned into Borgin and Burkes.

I followed you and ducked around the people in the alleyway so I could grab you.

And I did.

I grabbed your arm and you went to scream but I covered your mouth with my hand. "Don't scream, Hermione," I whispered. "Please, don't scream."

You struggled against my arm. "Hermione, I will let you go if you promise not to scream. Understand?"

And you nodded and I let you go and you turned around and glared at me. "Why can you leave me alone, Draco Malfoy?"

And I felt my stomach twist. "I can't leave you alone," I told you and it was true.

"Why?"

"Because I love you," I said.

And you scoffed and folded your arms across you chest and you seemed oblivious to the fact that you were in store for the dark arts. "And what about Pansy?" You smirked a little. "I'm sure your fiancé wants to know where you are."

I frowned immensely. "I don't love Pansy," I told you. "I thought I made that clear while we were in Hogwarts."

"Then you are marrying her, because?"

"Because…." I stopped myself.

I wanted to tell you that I didn't want to marry Pansy but I had agreed to it because my parents chose her. Because she was a pureblood and they thought it was about time I got married, but I didn't. Instead I said, "I'm not going to marry Pansy."

And you froze. You looked stunned for a moment then happy and then, shocked before you looked plain mad. "What are you playing at Draco Malfoy? I read it in the Daily Prophet."

"Yes, you did," I told you. "And I was going to but I'm not going to anymore."

"Why?"

"Because I don't love Pansy. I told you that." I stepped closer to you and you stepped back. Your back hit a display case behind you. I grabbed your shoulders and your eyes got wide and I leaned in so our noses were almost touching. Your breath came out him hot spurts on my face. "I don't love Pansy." I pushed my nose against yours. "I love you."

And you scoffed, your breath coming out in a short spurt. "Bullshit."

And I blinked when I realized that you cursed. You didn't curse that often. As a matter-of-fact that was the first time I could remember hearing you curse.

And I pressed my forehead against yours and I took a deep breath. "Hermione Granger, I love you. And if that means nothing to you then say it. If you don't love me, then tell me. If you don't give a damn that I care more about you than anyone in the world then tell me."

You said nothing, but blinked a few times.

"Well?"

A few more blinks.

"Hermione, I love you. I don't want to marry Pansy." I grabbed your hand. "I want to marry you."

You stiffened at my words and I saw an emotion flash across my face that I couldn't place. "You know that….. You know that would never be acceptable. What would people think?"

"I don't care." A small smile came across my face. "I don't care. I love you, Hermione. If I marry anyone I want it to be you."

And I kissed you.

You froze for a second when my lips met yours. Then your arms made their way around my neck and you were kissing me back with the equal force.

And when you pulled away your lips were swollen and you were breathing heavy. "What about your mother?"

"She wants me to be happy," I told you. "And I'm happy with you."

And for the first time in a while you smiled. A real, true smile.