Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter because if I did, I'd be too busy rolling in my cash right now rather than sitting in this uncomfortable chair and writing this fanfic. :-)

Author's Notes: Here it is! I have a feeling you'll like this one but then again, it's just a feeling and based from my 19 years of existence, I have learned not to rely too much on my feeling so I guess all I can say is: Hope you'll like and enjoy this chapter.

P.S. I hope you have nothing against Hermione and Draco having sex . . . ;-)

Chapter Nine

Late at night when all the world is sleeping

I stay up and think of you

And I wish on a star

That somewhere you are dreaming of me too

Cause I'm dreaming of you tonight

-Dreaming of you, Selena

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Monday morning. Hermione braced herself as she entered the dungeons.

Two hours of Potions torture, she thought grimly.

Most of the Slytherins were already inside the room, huddled on one side, talking noisily among themselves while the Gryffindors were on the other side, talking as well, when Snape entered the room with his usual long and urgent strides.

"Sit with your partners and open your books to page eighty-six," he said rapidly as he proceeded to his table and the students scurried glumly to their partners, "Today we will be concocting the nocturniserum. Now can anyone tell me what it is?"

Hermione's hand shot up and this clearly didn't make Snape happy, who chose to ignore her as usual. She could feel Draco glancing her way but she kept her eyes on Snape, afraid to face him.

"Longbottom!" Snape called out and Neville jumped in his seat as he instantly paled and stammered incoherently. Snape sneered.

"Not doing your assignment, I see. Ten points from Gryffindor," he said as he turned to the rest of the class. "The nocturniserum is a potion that induces dreams. Now tell me, how do you concoct it?"

Again, Hermione raised her hand and again, Snape ignored it. "What about you, Miss Parkinson?"

Pansy looked at him blankly, "Um, I'm dreadfully sorry professor but I was rather sick last weekend that I failed to remember, erm, read the assignment," she explained lamely and Hermione's blood boiled when Snape nodded,

"Very well, anyone else?"

"Please, sir," Hermione blurted out before she could control herself, not letting his unfairness bother her that much and Snape turned to her sharply and she decided to continue, "One must make the standard morphiserum with a few alterations. Instead of three medium-sized Amazonian leeches, it's four large ones and instead of two drops of crushed quiescentiserum, it's five drops with a bit of mint leaves and ten to twelve fireflower roots. Then, one would only add the familiar. It is the subject of your dream, like a strand of a person's hair or anything you want to dream about. Then lastly, an ingredient that controls your desired dream, whether funny or sweet or romantic or . . ."

Snape narrowed his eyes rather menacingly at Hermione and she squirmed inwardly, as she stopped in mid-sentence.

"I didn't recall calling your name, Miss Granger," he said icily, "Although I should say that I'm not even a bit surprised with what you did. After all, you're such an insufferable know-it-all who shows off every chance she gets. Five points from Gryffindor,"

Hermione tried hard not to let his harsh words and injustice get to her as she looked down on her desk, tears threatening to form in her eyes as she ignored the blatant snickers from the Slytherins. She blinked them away and took a deep breath.

No, she wasn't going to let Snape get to her.

Snape sneered triumphantly at her silence as he continued, "Today you and your partners will be concocting a nocturniserum. You will choose among yourselves what kind of dream you want to have. You will take the potion tonight and write a three-foot long essay on the potion you made and another for the summary on your dreams to be passed on Wednesday. I'm warning you, even the smallest of errors in the potion could cause major effects and can even poison you," he warned maliciously,

As the different pairs began gathering the materials for the potion, Hermione gritted her teeth. How could this person be so cold and ruthless? She ought to report him to Dumbledore! Then we'll see who has the last laugh. That evil, greasy, no good . . .

"We should get started," Draco's deep voice interrupted her thoughts as she turned to him,

"Oh," it was all she could say as they began making the morphiserum. After it was done, they placed it on two different small cauldrons,

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"Now what?" Draco asked her and Hermione exhaled,

"Now we sleep and let the potion make itself," she answered sarcastically

Draco stared at the piece of dark chocolate, red and white rose petals, cotton and sugar set on the table, "What are we supposed to do with these?" he picked up a piece of chocolate and bit on it,

"You're supposed to put it in the potion, Malfoy. Didn't you read the reading assignment?" she asked and Draco snorted,

"Only loser nerds would actually read the reading assignments," he reacted automatically and instantly regretted it at the sight of Hermione's stung expression, he began searching for an excuse, and cursed under his breath when he couldn't.

"Well, I suppose you're right," she said, obviously trying to sound casual despite the crack in her voice. That remark obviously hurt her feelings more than Draco thought. "Then I guess I'm the wrong person to talk to since you obviously don't associate with loser nerds. I apologize for even being within your breathing space," she said in a clipped tone as she busied herself with preparing the ingredients for the potion,

"B-but I. . ."

"And if you're worried that I'd take back the invite for the game, relax. I already promised you the ticket and I'm keeping it. I'm not the type to lie or break promises," her words were so full of venom that Draco wouldn't be surprised if there were some oozing from her mouth right now.

Draco clenched his jaw. She had no right implying that thing about him. He may be a cruel and mean person but he was a man of his word. It was the only good thing he knew he had and he won't allow anyone taking it away from him just because of a few false rumors he didn't even start.

He just kept quiet. He hated it that he couldn't find an equally insulting remark for her. What was wrong with him? He's getting soft and he didn't like it at all. . . not one bit!

Hermione shot him one last withering glare as she began adding different ingredients to her potion.

Draco was furious. Not only with Hermione, but the fact that he was absolutely clueless about the stupid potion. Because he was too lazy to open and read his book, plus the fact that he didn't bring his book, he just copied what Hermione was doing.

When she put in fireflower roots, he put in fireflower roots. When she stirred the potion, he stirred his as well. When she placed the red rose petals on her potion, he placed some on his too. And just for flavor, he placed in the huge block of dark chocolate.

Then Hermione paused and stared straight ahead as if in deep thought.

Uh-oh, is there a meditation required here like most of the advanced potions his father had mentioned? Is a dream potion even considered advanced? He thought, panic rising

He followed her gaze and found that she was staring at Potter.

"What the hell are you doing?" He asked, trying to sound both annoyed and uninterested at the same time. Hermione rolled her eyes irritably,

"What is it to you? I'm thinking! Is that a crime?"

Yeah right, thinking of a hot date with Potter, no doubt!

"Well is it part of the potion?" he asked, sounding half sarcastic and waited for her answer

Hermione just stared at him and said dryly, "Ha ha. Very funny,"

Draco wanted to scream, I'm serious! Is it really part of doing this freaking potion??? Tell me!!

"Well?" he asked, hoping he sounded taunting and not clueless,

"Mind your own business, Malfoy!" she hissed, for Snape was now looking their way. She stared back at Potter and ran her hand through her long, golden hair in frustration. She looked like she was trying to figure out how to cross a broken down rope bridge.

He didn't notice a strand of Hermione's hair had fallen in his cauldron as he watched her, growing annoyed.

"Well, are you done?" he pressed and finally, she looked at him,

"Why the hell do you care?"

"I was just asking, dammit! Why do you have to be such an irritable prat about it?"

"Just leave me alone, Malfoy. I'm trying to think!"

"About what?" he almost exclaimed out loud and Hermione glanced around her consciously,

"Would you keep it down? I don't want to get into trouble," she hissed and Draco leaned closer,

"Fine!" he snapped back, "But just for the record, you're already in trouble for that little stunt you pulled earlier,"

She exhaled sharply and asked, sounding impatient but also curious, "What stunt?"

"Showing off to Snape for about, oh, the millionth time!" he hissed back and Hermione narrowed her eyes at him and he smirked, flicking imaginary lint off his shoulder and leaned back.

"Pass your potions here and leave a vial for yourselves for tonight," Snape suddenly boomed and most of the students hurried in finishing their potions and Hermione's jaw dropped,

"Oh no!" she groaned, "No, no, no. No! It can't be! I'm not yet done!" she said as Draco placed his potion on the vial grudgingly. If she wasn't done, then neither was he. But it was different for him, this was Snape's class.

"Congratulations," he added sarcastically, "You'll get your first ever failing mark!" he smirked as Hermione grudgingly poured half her potion to the flask.

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"I hate this!" Hermione groaned and Ron sighed,

"There's nothing more you can do, Hermione," he said as they turned to a corner to the Great Hall for lunch,

"I know! But still! It's so frustrating!"

"What did you lack, anyway?" Harry asked,

Hermione blushed slightly, "The familiar,"

Harry just nodded in understanding.

"So anyway, I don't know what I'm going to write in that stupid essay now! Ugh! It's so frustrating!" she groaned again just as Draco and his friends came up from behind them,

"Ooh! Granger's gonna get a failing grade!" his laughter came, "Finally, the bookworm got her just desserts for showing off too much!"

Hermione turned sharply to him, glaring hard at his cool gray eyes,

"Go away, Malfoy," Ron warned stonily and Draco turned to him,

"I wasn't talking to you, Weasley. Five points from Gryffindor for being such a nosy prat," he smirked and his companions snickered. Hermione's blood boiled,

"That's unfair! Ten points from Slytherin for intolerable raison d'être!" she countered hotly,

Draco stared at her steely and was about to open his mouth, no doubt to strip off more points when Blaise stepped in,

"Alright, stop this," he announced and Hermione turned to him in disbelief.

Did Blaise just stop a fight? Usually, he's the one initiating these kinds of things. He should be enjoying this. Apparently, Draco was as surprised as Hermione and her friends. They all stared at Blaise in awe with wide eyes and open mouths.

Blaise smiled to Hermione, "Sorry for the trouble we've caused you, Hermione," he said smoothly, still smiling quite cockily and Hermione's eyebrows snapped in confusion,

"I- um, well-. . ." she stammered, sure that she's now blushing furiously. She glanced at Draco, who was clenching his jaw and looking like he was ready to punch Blaise right there and then,

"Let's go!" Draco snapped irritably, eyeing Hermione for the last time before storming away,

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Blaise grinned inwardly as he followed Draco's angry strides. His friend really had it bad. He obviously had developed feelings for that Gryffindor girl.

How cute, he thought sarcastically.

"Hey man, wait up!" he called out and Draco pretended not to hear him as he walked faster, "Draco!" Blaise called out again,

This time, Draco turned and eyed him sharply, "What the hell did you just do back there, Zabini?" he snapped angrily and Blaise fought off his grin.

Yep. He definitely likes her.

"Chill out, man. I was just stopping you from stripping all of their points as well as ours. And besides, McGonagall was heading our way,"

Draco still didn't buy his story, "Drop it, Blaise. You think I'm stupid or something? You were bloody flirting with her!" he roared and Blaise couldn't help but let out one snort of laughter. He hadn't seen Draco act this way,

"So I was. But what's the harm in that? She's a beautiful girl and I'm just a guy. What do you expect me to do?" he asked innocently,

"I expect you to stop flirting with her and charming her. She's-"he paused as if trying to sort out his words, "She's a filthy Gryffindor," he finally finished, quite lamely in Blaise's opinion,

Blaise raised an eyebrow, "Well, Lavender is a Gryffindor and you don't seem to have a problem with me sleeping with her," he pointed out,

Draco was caught. He turned beet red and glanced around him. Crabbe and Goyle seemed to have disappeared, off to the Great Hall, no doubt, and there was only the two of them in the corridor.

"Well Brown's a different story," he countered,

Blaise smiled knowingly, "And would you care to share how she's a 'different story', old friend?"

Draco paused, breathing heavily as if trying to brace himself and Blaise thought that Draco was finally about to confess his true feelings towards Hermione but he was wrong. Draco just narrowed his eyes at him, "Because you trying to seduce Hermione wasn't part of the bet we made. A bet I don't intend on losing just because that naïve little virgin falls for your cheap tricks."

Blaise studied his friend for a brief moment, convinced that there's a deeper reason that what Draco had just said but he just shrugged, amused,

"Okay, man. Whatever you say," he smirked and Draco narrowed his eyes at Blaise suspiciously, scowling, before he finally nodded

"Good. Now let's get going," he said, motioning for the Great Hall

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Later that night, Hermione rummaged through her backpack and sighed as she took out the vial of potion from inside it,

"I wonder what would happen to me when I drink this unfinished potion?" she mumbled to herself, staring at the clear, red liquid then sighed, "I'll be in so much trouble when I hand in my essay,"

She shrugged in defeat as she headed to her room and prepare for bed. She picked up the vial, opened it and took a deep breath before downing the whole content of it.

"Tastes like roses," she commented to herself and as she headed for her bed, the big red door, which adjoins her room to Draco's, caught her eye,

I wonder what he's doing right now, she thought absently than caught herself.

"Stop it, Hermione!" she scolded herself as she climbed in her bed and turned off the light. It didn't take long for her to drift into a deep sleep. . .

Hermione was sitting on the grassy ground, staring at the beautiful sunset in front of her. The place was cool, calm and romantic. The perfect setting to be with the person you love the most. She sighed dreamily as she hugged her knees closer. The cool breeze blew to her face, sweeping her hair away.

She closed her eyes and smiled to herself, imagining what it would be like to have somebody caring for her and loving her.

"Where are you?" she mumbled to herself, then suddenly, a voice from afar called out,

"Hermione!"

It was the deep, familiar voice that always managed to make her heart leap with excitement. Today was not an exception.

Hermione turned around and saw him, walking idly towards her, looking strikingly handsome in a white button down shirt and black pants.

She smiled as he finally sat down beside her and handed her a bouquet of red roses.

She stared into his gray eyes,

"Thank you. They're beautiful,"

"And so are you," he replied huskily, his gray eyes sparkling and without another word, he stroked her cheek and his hand traveled to the back of her head and pulled it closer to his.

She closed her eyes as she felt his warm, soft lips touch hers. She felt like she was melting as he began to pin her to the cool grass, his lips still upon hers in a soft and sensual kiss, a kiss that seemed to tell her a lot of things. It was as if he poured all his feelings into that kiss.

She returned his kiss with equal passion and force. She never felt like this in her whole life before. Never.

She felt special, beautiful, loved.

Her arms encircled his neck and he deepened the kiss before finally pulling away slightly,

He stared into her eyes and smiled that beautiful smile of his,

"I was nothing until you came into my life. Nothing until you gave me your love. Nothing. . . until you" he said and Hermione could feel the tears forming in her eyes as she smiled at him, "I love you, Hermione Granger," he said huskily and Hermione could feel her heart leap in surprise along with mixed feelings of excitement, love and extreme happiness.

She never felt this happy before and it was all because of this one person. This was like a scene from the many romance novels she had read and she could hardly believe that this time, she was the heroine. She smiled back at him.

"I love you more, Draco Malfoy," she murmured as he smiled, leaning closer

Hermione closed her eyes, welcoming his kiss.

c",)----------c",)----------------------------------------c",)

Draco stared at the roaring fire as he took one last gulp of his firewhisky and placed the glass on the table. Feeling rather drowsy but not wanting to sleep, he poured himself another glass of the drink and walked to his desk to grab his journal and sat back down to his chair.

He flipped to his recent entries and began to read the angry scrawls.

'Stupid! How could I have been so stupid? Why the hell did I stop her from giving herself to me? I know it wasn't revulsion because I'm as sure as hell that I wanted her so much earlier. Damn it! What the hell made me pull back and stop us from having sex?'

He frowned thoughtfully, remembering his first date with Hermione and how he had ended that night. After he had pulled away and left a confused and rejected Hermione in the common room, he had vent out his frustrations in his journal, as he often did.

He flipped the journal again to another short entry he had made the other day.

'I think I'm falling for her and I hate the feeling. I don't like the way I lose control over her. I hate it when all I think about is how I want to hold and kiss her or just simply to be with her. When I see her it's like my logic seems to spin out of control. I even get jealous when Blaise does as much as looks at her. Speaking of whom, I think he's on to me. Which gives me all the more reason to avoid Hermione and make her life hell just like I used to do. It's much easier that way.'

He slammed the book shut and groaned. He needed to get out and clear his mind or else he wouldn't be able to get some sleep. He was about to head to the door when he heard Hermione's muffled voice from the other side of the room.

He tiptoed to the door and pressed his ear against it. She could hear her groaning and murmuring as the initial thought that she was in bed with someone made his face burn with rage.

"Oh, Draco," she murmured sweetly and Draco raised his eyebrow thoughtfully and confusedly, "I love you," she said again and bursting with curiosity, he turned the knob and smiled gratefully as he realized that it wasn't locked from her side as it usually was.

He peeked in and saw her lying peacefully on her bed, in deep slumber. He stared at her, as he silently entered her room and gently closed the door behind him.

Still unable to tear his eyes away from her, he walked towards the bed.

"I love you," she murmured again and Draco almost laughed at the realization that she was talking in her sleep, dreaming of him no less.

"Kiss me," she said softly and right at that moment, he was hypnotized. He couldn't look away from her soft, inviting mouth. He knelt down beside the bed and leaned closer to her, slowly and carefully as not to wake her, then pressed his lips upon hers.

Surprisingly, Hermione's soft lips responded and returned his kiss and for a moment, Draco panicked that she might have awakened. But she was kissing him and at that moment, it was all that mattered. He had let his mindless pleasure take over him.

Her hand stroked his cheek and pulled back after a few minutes and smiled, her eyes still closed.

Draco stared at her and realized that she was still asleep. He exhaled sharply and stood up, shaking his head,

"This is stupid," he muttered to himself as he strode out of the room and closed the door. "I just need some sleep," he said to himself and suddenly remembering his potion, he grudgingly took it and downed it in one gulp. Immediate drowsiness suddenly came over him as he headed to his bed, not even bothering to get changed.

His room was dark, except for the three candles on the round dining table at the center of his room.

He looked up and saw her. Her soft golden curls spilling over her shoulders down to her back. She was wearing a slim red strapless dress that showed off her incredible features and brought out her clear, hazel eyes. He knew. He personally picked it especially for her.

Her red lips curved into a smile as she looked at him through thick lashes. She looked so breathtaking in that dress but Draco decided she'd surely look much better out of it.

"Do I look okay?" she asked consciously, looking down uncomfortably at her dress and he stepped towards her until they were only inches apart.

"You look perfect," he whispered huskily, looking at her and her eyes widened in pleased surprise as she smiled sweetly at him.

"Thank you," she said, blushing and he bent his head down and kissed her softly, tasting her soft lips.

When he finally pulled away, he looked into her shining brown eyes and breathed heavily. It was then it hit him. He loved her as much as he wanted her. . . even more.

Damn! How much he wanted her.

Hermione looked at him through thick lashes and he knew from her inviting stare that she, too, wanted him as much. She looked at the dinner table then back at him,

"Hungry?" he asked her and she nodded, smiling wryly at him in a way that made him harden.

She encircled her arms around his neck and pressed her body to his and he felt himself throb violently with need. He had to have her now.

Then as if reading his mind, she smiled as she stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his in a sensual and arousing kiss.

"Forget dinner. I want something else," she said through his lips

His tongue darted in her mouth and she instantly responded with all the suppressed desire and passion she had. Her parted lips crushed his, her tongue darting into his mouth, her fingers tangling in the crisp, thick hair at his nape as she held his mouth to hers. Draco groaned and lost himself in the kiss. He then pulled her towards the bed and pinned her down on her back. He struggled with the zipper of her dress as she busied herself with his shirt. Finally, he had managed to take off her dress and tossed it to the floor before she rolled on top of him, giving him a clear view of her satiny skin, and straddled him. She looked like a beautiful temptress with flaming dark golden hair, clear hazel eyes and a seductive smile that made him harden with want, his body slowly thrusting against her hips. She was breathing heavily, her mouth swollen as she fidgeted with his pants, trying to open it as he began to impatiently unhook her bra. As he removed it, he covered her breasts with his hands, stroking it, before rolling atop of her and started kissing her lips, trailing down to her neck then to one of her breasts, then to the other, making her moan in pleasure. Draco quickly kicked off his pants and underwear, leaving him completely naked.

Trailing kisses down her belly, he found the sacred place between her thighs with nothing but a piece of lace g-string in his way. With his impatience, he pulled down her knickers and groaned as he began kissing her wetness, feeling the wetness between her thighs and making her groan louder with pleasure.

He moved back up and engulfed her lips with his, as her hands explored his body until he can't stand it anymore. Pulling away slightly, he stared into her eyes and she looked at him with certainty and need and it was the only signal he needed.

He cupped her bottom, lifting her hips to receive him.

Locating her moist center, he eased himself slowly into her welcoming warmth, allowing her to adjust to his penetration, until he thrust his full, throbbing length deep inside of her.

Hermione was breathing hard and groaned as her hips arched spasmodically beneath him and Draco lost all control.

"Damn, I want you!" he groaned hoarsely as he withdrew and plunged again.

"Oh god," Hermione groaned and he kissed her as he thrust into her again, with more force this time and pulled out. "God, Draco!" Hermione cried out.

He quickened his rhythm, thrusting into her harder and harder, deeper and deeper with each stroke making her shout out in pleasure with every forceful thrust. He opened her legs wider, inviting him, as he rammed even harder, shouting out in blinding pleasure.

Hermione's nails drove into his skin as he pushed harder and deeper into her, feeling his release coming.

"Hermione," he groaned as he kept on driving into her until finally, he climaxed within her with a force sending them both into oblivion.

Breathing heavily, he collapsed onto her but bracing his arm on the bed as not to crush her. He then rolled over to his side, taking her with him, their bodies still joined.

"I love you so much." He said, unable to stop himself and suddenly his mind raced, fearing that she might not feel the same.

She smiled back at him, "I love you, too. More than anything," she said as Draco leaned over for a kiss, rolling on top of her as they made love again.

Draco awoken early that morning from his strange, but not to mention arousing, dream sweating heavily despite the cold weather. He ran his hand through his damp hair and cursed under his breath.

"Damn. Damn, damn, damn."

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Author's Notes: So here it is. Oh my, I can't believe writing a sex scene would require that much work! I hope you liked it because I spent three whole nights reading different romance novels to at least give Draco's dream justice. I know you all can't wait for that 'magical moment' between Draco and Hermione because I myself feel the same way. But I still felt it was too early for them to actually 'do it' you know so I just inserted this little 'dream scene' to somehow satisfy our 'ahem' cravings and hold us up for at least 3-6 chapters more? Hehehe. . . anyway, I truly hope you liked this and for those who sent in their suggestions, let me just ask you this: HOW DID YOU READ MY MIND? Hehehe. . . those were the exact plots I had in mind. Honestly! Anyway, hope you liked this one and hope you'll still be looking forward to the next one and the others to come. Thanks a million guys! Love yah!