Author's Notes: Hey y'all! I'm really, really sorry for the very delayed update! Aside from the (more than) occasional writer's block, I've been really busy! I mean, when I finally have time to write the story, I totally space out. I hope you understand. And then there are our Internet glitches: in school and at home… you have no idea! Anyway, please accept my sincerest apologies and hope you like this chappie… c",)

Chapter Ten

Dream of me

Let me sleep

For when I sleep I dream that you are here

You're mine

And all my fears are left behind

I float on air

The nightingale sings gentle lullabies

So let me close my eyes and sleep

The chance to dream

So I can see the face I long to touch, to kiss

But only dreams can bring me this

So let the moon shine softly on the boy I long to see

And maybe when he dreams

He'll dream of me

I'll ride beneath the clouds and whisper to the evening star

They'll tell me that he's just a dream away

A dream away

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Hermione exhaled sharply as she started on her dream essay later that dawn since she couldn't get back to sleep after waking from her dream. Luckily, the truth parchment was doing most of the job since she didn't know how to put her strange dream into words. After she was done, she rolled up her parchment and thrust it in her drawer since it wasn't due until tomorrow. She glanced wearily at the door connecting to Draco's room.

Why did she have that dream? Surely Draco didn't put in his hair or anything of his in her potion, did he? What other reason was there?

Drawing up a complete blank, she decided to return to bed, hoping to catch even a few moments of sleep but instead, she found herself staring at the silky red canopy of her bed, thinking of how real her dream felt, most especially the kiss. It felt as if his soft, warm mouth was really upon hers, kissing her expertly and passionately.

She sighed.

What was wrong with her? How did she end up in this situation where her mind and heart were constantly disagreeing with each other especially when it comes to Draco Malfoy? Does she love him? Her heart says yes but her mind is screaming the contrary. It says that what she's feeling is only lust or infatuation or anything but love.

She turned to the door again. Whatever it is, it sure was a new feeling, a feeling she hadn't experienced until now. And it is kind of nice, she must admit. Wonderful even! If only it wasn't so damn confusing.

Giving up sleep, she climbed out of bed and decided to make herself a mug of hot chocolate down at the common room hoping it would calm her down.

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

Draco stepped out of bed after he woke from that arousing and strangely light and beautiful dream he just had.

"I need a drink," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. "Yep. A few glasses of firewhisky should clear my mind… maybe with a shot or two of veela vodka should do the trick." He convinced himself as he headed out the door to the common room where he knew a bottle of firewhisky was hidden safely under a pile of socks to prevent the house elves from discovering it.

As he reached the foot of the stairs, he paused at the sight of the achingly familiar person standing in front of him, wide eyed with surprise as she stood glued to her place. Her soft, golden curls spilling artlessly over her shoulders and her slender frame rigid with surprise or panic. He couldn't speak as he just stared at her profile, from her slightly disheveled hair down to her wide brown eyes then to her full, slightly parted, soft lips, which he just kissed hours ago that he could still taste the sweetness of it.

"What are you doing here?" she finally asked, her voice strangely soft and a bit husky and she couldn't even seem to look at him as if she was feeling awkward in his presence.

"I can't sleep," he said simply, observing her and suddenly remembering his dream, he felt himself harden.

He wasn't really expecting an answer so he was a bit caught off guard when she replied softly, "Me too."

An uncomfortable moment of silence followed between them. Draco cleared his throat and Hermione just shuffled her feet uncomfortably, looking at everywhere but him. Neither of them moved from where they were standing.

Finally, Hermione looked up at Draco and he met her eyes.

"I..." she began, then caught herself and Draco moved closer to her and stared into her clear hazel eyes. He had never felt this way before as he tried to keep himself from pulling her into a fierce kiss. He buried his hands in his pockets instead.

"What?" he inquired.

She shook her head, "It's nothing. Forget it."

Draco stared at her features intently and clearly feeling uncomfortable, Hermione took a deep breath, her hazel eyes shining, as she finally looked up at him. And before he knew it, he gripped her shoulders and his head was descending to hers, his lips captured hers into a long, lingering kiss. When he pulled away, Hermione's eyes were wide and her mouth half open.

He gave her a sideways smile as he stepped back slightly, marveling at how she reacted with his kiss. Obviously, she felt something for him but she just can't admit it.

"I don't know what or why I'm feeling this way." She finally confessed and Draco couldn't have agreed more.

"Me too." He admitted after a long pause.

"So I guess there's only one logical thing to do," she stated and his lips quirked into a half smile.

"Go with the flow?" he suggested and Hermione swallowed hard and shook her head.

"We already tried that and it didn't work. You – "

"I didn't sleep with Pansy," he stated firmly and Hermione looked as if she was trying hard to believe him, "I never did since that night you saw her here and that's the truth."

"Okay, fine." She said, clearly on the verge of believing him but not quite there yet, "But I still can't do this- this thing with you, Draco. It's just… it's just so wrong! What I want to say is that we try to control these- emotions we're feeling and as much as possible, try to overcome them. If we're lucky, they might soon fade away."

Draco wanted to argue but he didn't want to seem needy. But on the other hand, he wanted her. Badly.

"Are absolutely you sure that's what you want to do?" he challenged, knowing from the look of her eyes that they shared the same answer.

"It's just wrong," she said, avoiding the question, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. "It's selfish and unfair and completely wrong!"

"If it is, Hermione, how come it feels so right, and not to mention good? I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way and don't even try to deny it." He stated and Hermione didn't even bother to deny it.

"It's just so wrong, Draco. We're just wrong. I mean, look at us!" she gestured violently,

Draco frowned, "Why? What's wrong with us?" He asked derisively

Hermione shook her head in frustration. "First and foremost, I'm a Gryffindor and you're a Slytherin. Those reasons alone should make my point perfectly clear! It's just not possible!"

Draco's eyebrows snapped together.

"Why? Is there a particular law that Gryffindors and Slytherins cannot be together?" he countered, starting to feel annoyed and Hermione drew a ragged and frustrated breath.

"Why are you deliberately contradicting me, Draco? I thought you of all people would be the first to think that this- thing between us is crazy! What would the others think? What would your friends think?"

"I don't give a damn about what others think or say about us, Hermione because we both know what we feel and that's all that matters." Draco replied with firm determination.

Hermione was silent as she looked deeply into his eyes as if searching for the answer, or maybe, the truth in his words in them.

"So, what are you proposing then?" she challenged wearily.

"The same thing I'm proposing earlier. That we go with how we feel then we'll take it from there." He stated simply and Hermione groaned.

"You know I can't do that. My friends would despise me and I can't risk that. I can't jeopardize my friendship with them just because..."

Draco narrowed his eyes. "Just because you feel something for me, something that you obviously like doing?"

"No it's not like that-"

"Then what is it really like, Hermione? Maybe it's just for the fact that it's me. In case you didn't notice, Hermione, I'm as much as a human than you or Potter or your little Gryffindor friends no matter how a monster you think I am."

Hermione felt silent and Draco continued in a clipped tone

"So I guess that settles it. You think your friends matter more that us."

Hermione was silent as she regarded him with a long stare.

So help him, he was going to kiss that confused frown from her lips. Then, smiling, he stepped nearer to her and was surprised she didn't move.

"You want me, Hermione. I know you do. We both do. The only difference is, you're trying so hard to deny it while I learn to accept it." He held her gaze.

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

Hermione couldn't move as she just stared at Draco's smoldering gray eyes.

Dear God, she does. She wanted him so badly and she cursed herself endlessly for it.

"No, it's just that I…" She stepped back and started to protest when he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him, crushing his lips against hers in a fierce, demanding kiss that sent shivers up her spine and turning her legs to jelly.

It didn't take long for Hermione to respond to his hot and sensual kiss until finally, he pulled away, a smirk of satisfied triumph plastered on his arrogant, beautiful face.

"You were saying?" he mocked.

"I don't know why or how I feel this way," she finally admitted breathlessly, "but I guess you're right."

Draco's lips curved into a smile.

"Of course I am," he replied and Hermione took a deep breath, knowing that she would have to take the plunge.

"I can't control this feeling and even if I could, I'm not sure I'd try to stop myself from feeling like this. I like this feeling and I don't want to stop feeling this way." She admitted boldly and she could feel Draco gazing at her with warmth in her eyes and she felt her heart flop.

What was her point of fighting this feeling anyway? She felt nice and light and it was all because of him. Surely she deserved to feel this way, right? She had a right to do so.

After a long silence, Draco's lips quirked into a small smile as he gathered her into his arms and kissed her passionately, pouring all his passion into it and Hermione responded equally. When he finally pulled away, leaving both of them breathless and feeling oddly light. Draco's gray eyes stared into hers.

"Promise me one thing, though," he said, stroking her hair and Hermione smiled.

"What is it?" Damn! She would promise him the world if it meant feeling this way every minute of her life.

"You must learn to trust me from now on. Especially when I say I didn't sleep with another person."

Relief swept over her with feelings of gentleness and elation as she saw the sincerity as well as the firm determination in his eyes. She nodded, "I promise. And I appreciate you for that."

In answer to that, Draco captured her lips again, more hungrily this time, as his tongue forced her lips to part. When it did, it probed inside her mouth, darting in and out until her own tongue participated in the sensual dance. Hermione felt like melting into his strong arms as she returned the kiss with equal fervor, pushing away the swirling images of Harry, Ron and Ginny's disappointed and betrayed expressions from her mind.

Draco pulled away and led her to the soft sofa. They sat quietly in front of the blazing fire. He stared into her eyes. "Now tell me one thing. What the hell was that potion you made supposed to do? I just had the weirdest dream…"

Hermione looked at him blankly for a moment and then she laughed as the realization hit her. "You copied my potion? That was for romantic dreams!"

Draco smiled, looking a bit confused.

"What did you dream about anyway? Was it too romantic for you?" she teased.

He eyed her suspiciously, "What did you dream about?"

She felt her cheeks heat up as she stalled for time, "It was quite romantic, just so you know," she answered mysteriously and Draco smiled knowingly.

"Quite romantic, huh? And who about? Anyone I know?"

Hermione's eyes widened as his meaningful smile confirmed her suspicion, "I think so," she teased, figuring Draco had indeed put his hair into her potion and Draco chuckled. "What about your dream?" she asked him.

He paused, frowning thoughtfully. "I guess it was romantic... depending on a person's point of view." He shrugged and her curiosity arose.

"Who was it about?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"It was about you, actually, but I doubt you'd want to hear it." He shrugged and Hermione was still in her state of surprise at his revelation that it took her a moment to ask him, "Why do you say that?"

"It's pretty… let's just say maybe it's a bit too intimate for your taste." He admitted and Hermione frowned.

"Intimate, how? Surely it's not that big of a deal, unless you put the dark chocolate in your potion, which would be a crazy thing to do…" she trailed off at his expression. "Oh my god, Draco, you didn't…"

Draco's face said it all and Hermione's blood rushed to her face as it heated up immensely. She covered her cheeks with her hands.

"How could you do that?" she exploded.

"I didn't know! Honest! I thought it was meant for flavoring or something… what the hell was that really for anyway?"

"It's for dreams that induces the sexual desires of the dreamer." She said and Draco looked like a criminal caught on the act.

"Oh. That explains those scenes…" he trailed off as Hermione hit his arm.

"Stop remembering those scenes, will you?"

He smiled wryly, "That's a pretty hard thing to do, Miss Granger." He said and Hermione couldn't help but giggle.

"You're impossible, Draco Malfoy." She said, shaking her head as he pulled her to him for another long kiss.

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

At breakfast the next day, Harry looked at Hermione as she ambled good-naturedly towards their table.

"Good morning, everyone!" she chirped happily and Harry smiled back, glad she's finally gotten over her unfinished potion.

"Had a nice sleep, did we?" Ron teased and Hermione laughed musically.

"I guess you could say that I did." She said, picking a piece of toast and a muffin from the large silver platters. "Anyway, I was thinking we should go to Aunt Hilda's for lunch before we head to Wood's game this Saturday. I hear they have wonderful food there and then we could go for some cake after the game. What do you think?"

Harry nodded, grinning at Ron before looking at Hermione.

"That's a good idea. We'll start off humiliating Malfoy there." Harry laughed, "Wait till you see what Ron and I have in store for him! You'll flip."

Both her friends laughed and Hermione paled.

Oh my god. I totally forgot all about it. What do I do??

She stared at Harry and Ron, carefully concealing her panic as they talked animatedly among themselves. Hermione could barely hear what they're saying because her mind was reeling.

"Hermione, you okay? You look as if you've seen a ghost." Ron said, looking at her.

"I'm fine." She began, clearing her throat. "Anyway, I've been, um, thinking about the, um, plan and I realized that, well, it might not be, a very, ahem, good idea." She said and two blank faces stared at her. She tried to appear nonchalant as she played with her food.

"Why? It was your idea." Ron pointed out and Hermione fought the urge to sigh heavily and she just laughed weakly instead.

"I know and I guess I was just overreacting back then. Anyway, I think we should just drop the whole thing. What do you think?"

"Why? Are you in love with him or something?" Ron chuckled at his own joke and Hermione shook her head vigorously.

"No! Of course not! That's ridiculous, Ron!" she exclaimed as she felt her face grow hot.

"Relax Hermione. Ron was only joking." Harry replied lightly but the grin was now off his face, "Anyway, why the sudden change of plans? I thought you wanted to get even with that ferret?"

"I just realized that, well, it's not worth it, you know?" she snuck a glance at Draco over at their table and he was talking with Blaise.

"Of course it's worth it! Malfoy's a conceited ass and he deserves to be punished. Especially for all the things he did to you, Hermione!" Harry said forcefully. "You of all people should realize that!"

Hermione was silent. She didn't know what else she could say to convince her friends not to give Draco a hard time.

"So, you cancelled your invite with Malfoy, then?" Ron asked.

"No." She answered meekly after a while.

"Than you're just gonna let the little ferret have a great time? Is that it?" Harry snapped and Hermione had never seen him look that mad before. "He's been giving us hell, especially you, for the past six years and your way of getting back at him is by giving him free front row box seats to a quidditch match?"

"Harry. Just give him a break… Give me a break." She quickly corrected, hoping her friends didn't catch that, "I just want a peaceful and fun birthday, that's all."

Unfortunately, Harry didn't miss it. "Give him a break? What the hell…" Harry slapped his hand violently on the table, which elicited some curious glances from other students, "And you would've gotten your 'peaceful and fun birthday' if you hadn't invited Malfoy over. We were only trying to help you but somehow I have the impression that you actually want to spend the day with that git! What really is going on, Hermione? Are you starting to develop feelings for him or something?" Harry asked bitterly and Ron's eyes widened.

"That's ridiculous, Harry! How could you even think of that?" Ron commented incredulously, eyeing Hermione for a moment as if looking for some proof that there really isn't anything going on between her and Malfoy. Hermione silently thanked him for it but was much more busy staring at Harry in angry disbelief. Not because what he said wasn't true (heaven knows it is) but of the cruel and arrogant way he spoke and acted towards her.

"Well, you can't blame me. I mean, I think I have the right to be suspicious…" he started

"Why? You're not my boyfriend or anything!" Hermione snapped, interrupting him and suddenly regretted it as she saw Harry's stung expression. "I- I'm sorry, Harry. What I'm only trying to say is… Ron's right. I just changed my mind, that's all. I'm just- surprised you'd ever think that. And besides, it would be rude to take back an invitation, even to Malfoy… And another thing," she said, smiling weakly, trying to make him feel better, "He'd probably have a rotten time already just by being around us for a whole day. So in my opinion, that's enough torture for him already. Right?"

Harry was silent and Hermione was afraid he'd see right through her lies but he just sighed, "You're right. I'll admit I was a bit shocked with you when you told us of that plan. I should've known you're too kind to do that, Hermione. Even to a filthy scum like Malfoy."

Hermione smiled in relief although what little hope she felt of telling her friends about Draco and be treated with understanding by them was violently crashing down. There was no way Harry and Ron would forgive her if she actually told them... just basing from Harry's all-too-violent reaction just seconds ago. And he was just being suspicious. "Thanks Harry. I really appreciate it. And I want to apologize for what I've said earlier…"

Harry smiled back apologetically, holding up his hand to interrupt her, his eyes warm and caring. "No. It's okay. I'm the one who should be sorry. I guess I just lost my temper. You know how I feel about Malfoy."

Hermione ignored the guilty flop in he stomach and swallowed. "I know, Harry. I understand." She reached for Harry's hand and squeezed it. "You're such a great friend and I'm really lucky to have you. Both of you." She added, looking at Ron.

Ron smiled at her and thankfully Harry smiled back too.

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

"So, any progress?" Blaise asked during breakfast and Draco rolled his eyes irritably

"Don't start with me, Blaise." He said menacingly and Blaise chuckled.

"I would just like to remind you that you have less than a week to go, old chap."

Draco exhaled sharply and Blaise laughed again.

"So are you ready to admit that you fell for her yet?" he said and Draco's insides stirred.

"What the hell are you talking about?" he snapped irritably.

Blaise laughed again as Draco grew more and more irritated. Blaise clearly knew something.

"You heard me." He quirked his brow challengingly at him and Draco for a rare moment, was speechless and this further verified Blaise's assumption. "Don't worry. I won't tell anyone. It'll be our little secret." He said and Draco contemplated telling him the truth.

"Shut up, you moron. I'm just doing my part on our deal."

"So let me get this straight, all this time, you're just trying to get her to bed? Nothing else?"

"What do you think?" he snapped, a little defensively, "And you better not blab this to anyone Blaise. Do you hear me? Not a word or it's your neck!" he warned after a long pause and Blaise nodded.

"Of course. What are friends for, right?" he grinned. "I know you're dying to take her. So how's it going, then?"

Draco couldn't help grinning as he deliberately misinterpreted Blaise's question. "It's going pretty well."

"Oh?" Blaise raised an expectant brow, "Care to tell me more?"

"In your dreams!" Draco countered, sneaking a glance at Hermione across the hall and saw her nodding to what Weasley was saying. He could almost feel the touch of her soft cheeks and her full, soft lips against his. He remembered the way her beautiful hazel eyes light up whenever she's excited and how cute she looks with her pert nose up in the air as she tries to be indignant.

"You've fallen really hard, my friend." Blaise commented and Draco realized that he had been staring. He stared at Blaise hard. How hardheaded was he? Or better yet, how transparent was Draco?

Trying to avoid the issue, Draco shifted the topic. "What about you? How are you doing?"

Blaise grinned a silly kind of grin and spoke. "Two words. Lavender Brown."

Draco made a face. "Didn't you already sleep with her at the beginning of the year?"

Blaise nodded.

"So? What's wrong? Are you in love with her or something? Or are you just losing your touch?"

Blaise grinned mysteriously. "What if I am?"

"What if you are what? In love with her or losing your touch?" Draco asked and Blaise's grin widened and it dawned on Draco.

"You obviously lost your mind." He said flatly and Blaise laughed.

Draco finally realized that as Blaise talked about Lavender, which he was frequently doing these past weeks, his whole disposition turned to ill-concealed giddiness and Draco wondered if he looked that way whenever he talked of Hermione.

"You're pathetic, Zabini." He said, shaking his head and Blaise laughed.

"I believe both of us are the pathetic ones, Malfoy." He said and Draco didn't even bother to deny his friend's claim.

"So," Blaise began again, "I heard Lavender will be going to the game with you and your- friends on Saturday,"

Draco faced him, "What do you mean?"

His friend regarded him with a confused look. "The game? Don't you know? Potty, Weasel and his brothers and sister are going to the game with your precious girlfriend and you on Saturday."

"What?" he exploded and without another word, he stormed off to the Gryffindor table.

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

The three of them were laughing at their jokes when suddenly Harry and Ron's laughter died down, replaced by identical looks of surprise and loathing as they stared at something-or rather someone behind Hermione.

"Granger." A cool voice came from behind her and when she turned, she saw Draco's hard expression as he stared back at her.

Hermione stared at him dumbfounded as Harry spoke.

"Aren't you a little lost, ferret?"

"Shut it, Potter. I'm here to talk to Granger." He spat out and Harry's eyes narrowed menacingly as Hermione rested her hand absently on Harry's to calm him down. He looked at Hermione for a moment before turning his gaze back on Draco.

Draco's eyes darted to her and Harry's hands for a split second and his silver eyes darkened as he faced Hermione.

"It's urgent. Strictly Head Students' business." He said pointedly and Hermione nodded, neglecting to tell him that informing the Head Students of any business related to them were usually through letters or directly from the headmaster himself. Maybe he just had something to tell her. But what's with his angry expression?

"Of course." She said, standing up and followed Draco's brisk strides to the Charms corridor, wondering what he wanted to tell her that couldn't wait until after class. She also wondered why the heck he looked like that.

When he reached the dead end, he turned sharply to her, narrowing his eyes at her.

"Draco, what's wrong-" she trailed off as Draco took in a sharp breath.

"Do you have something you forgot to tell me? Like something for this Saturday?" he asked brusquely and Hermione stiffened at his tone.

"Wh-what do you mean?" she asked.

"Who the hell do you think you're fooling? I know all about your little plan so just drop the whole innocent act! It's pathetic!"

Hermione stared at him blankly, "Draco, I don't understand! What plan?"

Draco's eyes flashed, "When do you suppose would you tell me that Potter and your little friends are coming with us, then, huh? Or maybe you weren't planning on telling me about it at all! Maybe you wanted me humiliated or annoyed or hell knows what! Sorry to spoil your plan but I know all about it! Do you think I'd be so stupid not to find out?"

"No! That's not true at all!" she said and when Draco started to retort, she grabbed his hands in a desperate move. "I – it's my birthday. They're my friends," she tried to explain but Draco's eyes were hard.

"Please, Draco, just listen to me!" she pleaded and Draco's eyes were hard but his expression was unreadable. Hermione didn't know whether he already believed her or not.

Draco stood unmoving as Hermione continued. "Please believe me." She said pleadingly, ignoring the desperation in her voice. "I – I told them not to do anything to you. I told them to act civil, if not friendly towards you even just for that day."

"Why did you invite me in the first place?" he asked monotonously.

Hermione fell silent and uneasy at his scrutiny. He wasn't going to like her answer but she'd have to tell the truth. She took a deep breath, trying to convince herself that after she'd tell him the whole story, he'd understand and believe her. He had to.

"At first, you guessed my plan." She admitted and Draco began to curse, "But it's all changed now!" she amended quickly. "I just told my friends to back off just this morning. I told them to leave you alone."

"So you told them about us?" he asked silently, firmly.

"No," she answered and as if to answer Draco's questioning stare, she added. "I just explained to them that I can't take back the invitation and that I wanted a peaceful and fun birthday."

Hermione watched the smile forming on his beautiful lips and knew that he believed her. She felt warm relief inside of her as she smiled back.

"Peaceful and fun… with me, Potter and Weasley within a five mile radius? How ambitious can you get?" he asked and Hermione managed to laugh weakly.

"A girl can dream," she said, raising a shoulder. Draco stepped towards her and gathered her into his arms, bending his head down towards hers.

"Is that what you really want? For me and Potter to 'cool off' on your birthday?" he asked and Hermione was surprised at his soft tone as she nodded slowly.

"Then I guess I'll have to endure his presence for a few hours." He stated decisively and Hermione smiled brighter.

"Really?" she asked and when he nodded, she threw her arms around him like a little girl who had just been bought her favorite toy. "You'll make me the happiest person alive!" she exclaimed. Then resting her face on his chest, she said, "Thank you," closing her eyes and basking herself in the warmth of his embrace.

"You can thank me with a kiss." He said huskily and Hermione was more than willing to oblige as she pulled back and pressed her lips to his soft ones. She knew how much sacrifice it took him even just to be civil to Harry for one full day and for him to actually do it, and for her, was really something.

She deepened the kiss, showing how grateful she is for his offer and he responded with equal heat and passion. Finally, he pulled away and smiled down at her.

"I'm afraid we'll have to go back in there or else they'll be suspicious." Draco said and Hermione nodded.

"You're right." She said then she proceeded to straighten her school robes and her hair, which had become disheveled. "How do I look?" she asked him and Draco chuckled, eyeing her in an admiring way.

"Beautiful." He said and she smiled at him.

"I'll go out ahead and you follow me after five minutes." She instructed and he could only nod. Flashing one last grateful smile at him, she turned around and walked back to the Great Hall, her hips swaying unknowingly provocatively.

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

Blaise grinned broadly as he watched the slender figure enter the dark astronomy tower quietly later that night.

Lavender gingerly closed the door behind her.

"Blaise?" she called out in a soft whisper and Blaise hardened between his thighs.

"Over here," he managed to sound calm and not anxious but it instantly broke just as Lavender walked towards him and encircled her arms around his neck, capturing his lips in a deep kiss.

"Did you miss me?" she asked teasingly as she pulled away, still clinging to him.

"You have no idea," he growled as he crushed his mouth against hers. A giggle escaped her as he laid her on the floor behind the array of telescopes, still kissing her, pulling away only long enough to hastily strip her off her clothes.

Lavender groaned as his mouth captured one of her breasts and sucked violently on the proud peak.

"Oh god, Blaise!" she groaned out as his hands traveled down to her throbbing moist and parted her legs with his knees. His mouth retraced the trail where his hands were and Lavender groaned out in pleasure.

He teased and taunted her with his hands and lips, intentionally prolonging her need as he massaged her moist and throbbing womanhood. Lavender arched her back in excited anticipation and finally Blaise's control snapped.

He grabbed her firm buttocks, raising it to meet his hard, throbbing need and plunged purposefully into her, making her shout out loud in pleasure.

He pulled out then entered her again with full force. He increased his tempo, each thrust growing more forceful and demanding as Lavender raised her hips to meet his powerful thrusts, unaware of the faint glow that started to surround them.

Her beautiful face glistening with perspiration and flushed with pleasure and Blaise felt an odd flop in his heart. And then he felt a surge of pride.

She was his. This beautiful raven-haired goddess was his and only his. She told him that herself two weeks ago after they made love in his bed.

He plunged into her even more forcefully than before, showing her how he truly felt for her with every powerful thrust and when he thought he was on the peak of his pleasure, he poured into her with one loud shout of her name.

Afraid that his weight would crush her, he rolled to his side taking her with him, their bodies still intimately joined and Lavender's eyes fluttered open as they stared at him.

A smile crept into her mouth.

She leaned over and lightly brushed her lips to his.

Damn it! What the hell's happening to me? Blaise thought as he watched her, admiring her alluring beauty for what seemed like the hundredth time that day and buried his head into her hair.

"Lavender…" he murmured through her thick mass of hair.

"Hmm?" she answered sleepily as she rested her head on his chest.

I think I love you. I'm pretty sure I do. His mind raced as he mentally debated what he would say or whether or not he should say it to her now.

He was about to speak when a loud crashing sound and instant darkness snapped them into alertness and as Blaise looked up, his blood froze in panic.

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"Oh my god." Hermione gaped at the fetching picture in front of her. Lavender and Blaise were entwined together, a mask of shock on their faces, sweating and totally naked, and looking so sexually intimate that Hermione's mind reeled. And the thing they were doing on the floor was too much for her.

She looked at Blaise's surprised expression to Lavender's crimson face and found that she was paralyzed in her place. She didn't know what or how to react to the scene she had seen.

She had been patrolling when she heard moans on the astronomy tower, then ignoring her fear, she decided to check it out herself and instead of finding some weird moaning animal or ghosts or something, anything, as she had prepared herself to see, she saw this. And God help her, she had not been preparing herself to see this.

"Hermione," Lavender's soft voice interrupted her train of thoughts as she turned to her friend, who was trying to struggle into her school robes. Blaise was doing the same. "How long have you been in here?" she asked.

"Long enough," Hermione managed to speak and Lavender began to panic. Before another word was spoken, the Astronomy tower door burst open and Draco came striding towards her.

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"Hermione! Is everything okay? I heard a crash and I thought you were…" he trailed off as he saw Blaise and Lavender both looking flushed, disheveled and utterly underdressed.

Lavender was busily trying to put on her robes, as Blaise was just closing his trousers, not even bothering to put his shirt back on.

"Good god!" he choked as he saw his friend.

"Nice evening, isn't it, old chap?" Blaise greeted casually as if he wasn't caught naked, lying on the floor with an equally stark naked girl and Draco almost burst out laughing at his casual tone while Lavender flushed deeply.

"Nice enough for stargazing." He commented, smirking, and Blaise laughed as he exhaled, facing Hermione.

"I trust you discovered our little secret?" he asked and Hermione was clearly still in shock as she gaped at him.

"S-secret?" Her voice quivered.

"Hermione? Are you okay?" Draco looked at her, unaware of the tender tone he just used on her in front of his friend and Lavender.

"I- I… " she stammered then as if snapping out from a trance, she shook her head, "I'm in shock." She observed lamely and Draco suppressed a grin as he turned to Lavender and Blaise.

"What the hell were you doing here, anyway? It's past curfew." He said, for Hermione's behalf.

"Hermione, please, don't hate me." Lavender blurted out as Hermione looked at her, obviously still in the process of dealing with the situation.

"Lav? You and Blaise?" she asked and Lavender smiled a wistful smile as she turned to Blaise. Hermione followed her gaze and found that Blaise was smiling sweetly at Lavender.

Draco suppressed a snort at the mushy scene as Lavender continued.

"I like him a lot, Hermione. Please don't hate me and please don't tell on us. I'm not sure Parvati or the rest of our classmates would react so kindly when they know of this." She said desperately and Hermione turned to Draco.

"So you're…" she trailed off and Lavender answered her with a nod and a pleading look.

She finally nodded, and with a sigh of relief, Lavender hugged Hermione.

Draco stole a glance at Blaise and smirked at his friend.

"I suggest we all go back to our common rooms before we get caught." Draco interrupted, raising an eyebrow at the couple and both Lavender and Blaise nodded, quickly gathering the rest of their clothes and scurrying out of the room.

"Thanks again, Hermione!" Lavender whispered before disappearing out the door.

Draco turned to Hermione and they locked eyes for a moment before Hermione spoke.

"Please don't even ask. I'm in too much of a shock right now to be able to think clearly."

Draco only chuckled, shaking his head as he followed her out the tower.

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Draco closed his eyes as the warm pressure of the shower hit his back in a therapeutic massage. He had never expected being Head Boy would be so much work. Maybe that's why they had been provided the large rooms and almost everything they want and need. It's all in exchange for the tedious job they had to.

As he scrubbed his arms and legs, his thoughts drifted to Hermione and her reaction to Blaise and Lavender Brown's sexual act on the floor. He almost forgot that she was a prim virgin who had just witnessed an all out wild (knowing Blaise) coupling on the floor on one of the classrooms.

He chuckled as he pictured out her flushed cheeks and shocked expression. Surely, she wouldn't act that way when they would finally make love, would she?

Then it hit him. What must it be like to be in bed with this innocent, inexperienced sexual temptress with large hazel eyes and long, wavy golden brown hair framing her delicate face?

He paused as he pictured out her slim, shapely body lying on his bed, naked and his for the taking.

He would be delicate, he decided, when he handles her. He would be excruciatingly slow and patient, as he'll arouse every pleasure from her step by step until she's fully ready to take part in it.

Surely, she'd be hesitant and nervous before doing it but he'd guide her and be with her every step of the way. He promised to himself that he'd make her first experience special and unforgettable.

He nodded, satisfied with his plan as he quickly finished showering and stepped out of the tub and into his terry cloth robe, not even entering his mind the idea when he actually planned to sleep with her.

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Author's Notes: Again, peeps, sorry for the delay. I've just been so busy lately with company studies and term projects that the mere thought of a fifteen minute break seems like a glass of ice cold water on a summer at the desert. That's how tied up for time I am. Hope you understand. Anyway, it's almost finals week and maybe the next chapter would be a bit delayed, too but I promise I'll try to make up for it during the semester break, okay? Thanks for your support. By the way, how did you find this chapter? Anyone against Lavender and Blaise being together? If so, please review so I could do something about it… Wondering about Ginny and Wood and Ginny and Harry and Ron and that mysterious Ravenclaw girly? I'll mention them on the next chappy (which is under construction, btw) so hang tight, ayt? By the way, thanks for your continuous support and good words that are oh-so-inspiring. I really appreciate it. Thanks for R & R-ing you guys!