Disclaimer; I don't own Harry Potter.

A/N Originally I had a song in this chapter, but I removed it. I didnt know about the song lyric ban, so I took them out. So if you want the full effect of the chapter, play 'Breathe' by Faith Hill.

Valentine's trouble.

Ron spent most of his time avoiding me these days, which was fine on the romantic front, but I did miss him as a friend. In the second week of February I was lying in Draco's bed, listening to his heavy steady breathing. I wanted to spend Valentine's Day with him, but Harry wanted me to come to Hogsmead with them since neither one of them had dates.

"Come on Hermione, it will be fun. We will go to Madam Puddifoot's and laugh at all the silly, sappy couples. It will take your mind off of things." Harry had said to me.

"That doesn't sound like much fun to me Harry, and besides wont Ronald be there?" I hadn't spoken more than two words to him since our fight and I was angry. 'How does he expect me to change how I feel?' I thought bitterly. I was honest with him about that, and I felt no regrets. It was however, harder to keep my relationship with Draco a secret. Luckily, we were the only ones with access to our common room, so we were able to spend lots of time together.

"Cant you just try one date with him Hermione? Show him there is no chemistry and maybe he will be convinced."

"No Harry, I can't. I don't need to prove my feelings to anyone, least of all Ronald." I yelled, getting up from the table and storming out of the great hall.

Well, that was it. I was going to tell Harry I was sick. I could not face the constant pressure of the two of them. I got up and grabbed a bit of parchment and wrote;

Dear Harry,

I am not feeling too well; I think I will stay in bed all day. You two go ahead and have a great time. I will talk to you soon.

Love,

Hermione

I called one of the school owls and tied it to her leg. "Take this to Harry Potter." I told her, and let her go out the window.

The next morning, I awoke to a warm pleasant Valentine's Day. I looked out the window and saw the groups of students walking the long lane to the village of Hogsmead. Relief swept over my body. Thank Merlin, we were alone.

I began to sing softly to him, one of my favorites from home. 'Breathe' By Faith Hill.

I placed my head on his chest and listened to his steady breaths.

"Draco…Draco, wake up." I said, kissing his nose lightly.

His eyes fluttered awake, smiling at the sight of me kneeling next to him.

"Hello beautiful."

"Happy Valentine's day!" I handed him a small box.

"Unless you are in this box," he said with an evil grin "I can think of something I want more." He threw me back into the pillows and kissed me fervently.

"Now, now, good things come to those who wait. Open it"

He sat back and opened the box.

"Wow, Hermione…how did you…I can't believe you got these for me…I thought everything was gone…"

There in the box were two platinum cufflinks with the Malfoy family crest on them.

"I had them made Draco, from a drawing of your crest I found in "Hogwart's, a history'. Do you like them?" I asked.

He remained speechless for a moment and then I saw tears well up in those silver eyes.

"Oh, Hermione, I thought I would never have anything like this again. Everything in my house had been destroyed. I am the last of the Malfoys. You don't know what this means to me." he choked back more tears. "I love you" he said, his eyes shining.

"I love you too, but that isn't the end of our Valentine's together, wait here for a few minutes." I said and I ran off into the bathroom.

I had been planning for days. Candles, roses, soft background music, it was destined to be a beautiful day together.

Just then I heard a ruckus downstairs, I threw on my dressing robe and ran down. Someone was banging on our portrait door.

"Hermione, open up or Ill break it down." it was Ron.

I cracked the door and looked out onto his red face.

"What do you want Ronald? I don't feel up to having visitors."

"We need to talk." he said, pushing the door open and walking past me into the common room uninvited.

"Come right in." I said sarcastically.

"What do you mean by ditching me and Harry today? I thought we were all going into Hogsmead together." His face was so red; he looked to be on fire.

"Just because you have been avoiding me, doesn't mean you can treat Harry like that too, he is my best friend, and you hurt him by not going today. He told me last night that if you weren't going to go, then he was going to stay here as well. He said it just wouldn't be the same without you." His voice was bitter.

"Ron, I felt sick to my stomach last night. I didn't want to put a damper on your fun by having you two hover over me making sure I was alright. Just go to Hogsmead and have a great time, I will be fine." I was pulling him by the sweater towards the door.

"Look," he began "I am sorry for being so cold to you the past few weeks, but you hurt me. I thought we had something special together, and all in one swoop you tell me that you don't feel like that about me and that all you want to be is friends. I have been in love with you since the moment I saw you, even though you irritate me with your know-it-all attitude, I still love you. I can't change how I feel."

"I can't change how I feel either, and I don't love you. You are a friend, one of my best friends; I would even say I consider you and Harry family, brothers."

How could I make him go away?

"Look, if I feel better later I will come and eat dinner with you guys and we can catch up and talk…please, I have to go. I am feeling sick to my stomach again."

"Ok, but I am going to hold you to that Hermione." he said as I pushed him out the door.

Draco had been listening at the top of the stairs. He heard a lot of banging and then yelling. He quietly crept to his door and walked into the hall. He overheard the whole thing. 'So the weasel is in love with her?' Not that he felt he had anything to worry about as far as he was concerned. She told weasel that she did not feel anything for him, but then made plans to meet him and Potty later.

Slight twinges of jealousy crept into his head. He was being silly though. He had just heard her say that she thinks of them as brothers. Still, he would have liked to put a stop to this whole thing before it escalated. He would tell her that he wanted to go public with their relationship. He would tell her this today. He heard her coming back up the stairs and so he ran back to his bed and lay there as if he never left.

"Draco, are you there?" I asked.

"Yep, in my room."

"Sorry about that, I put a quiet charm on the door so that we won't be disturbed again. Just give me one more minute okay?" and I ran off to the bathroom once again.

I filled the tub with warm water and big white iridescent bubbles. I sprinkled some bath salts in too, and at once the water turned a shimmery white and smelled of jasmine and vanilla. I slipped into the pink nightie I had bought in my last trip to Hogsmead. It was sheer, and had a matching thong.

"Draco, you can come in now." I called, pouring some mead into a long, slender glass.

His eyes opened wide when he stepped into the bathroom. It was a true scene of seduction. What had he been worried about a minute ago? Any girl who would go through all this loved him.

"Wow," he said his eyes wide.

"What do you think? I have been planning this for almost a week." I giggled.

I walked over to him and gave him a kiss.

"Let me help you with those annoying clothes" I said, pulling off his robe and shorts.

He smiled and my heart melted. He stood before me naked. The bathroom was dark, and just the candles illuminated it. His pale skin turned colors in the candles flames.

"Right this way" I said, pulling his hand towards the vast tub.

He stepped in and sat on one of the stone benches inside.

"You coming in too?" he asked hopefully.

I gave him a sly grin.

"Patience" and I knelt down and handed him a glass of oak mead.

He looked up at me; candle flames were making patterns in my eyes and on my skin. Slowly, I removed the nightie and thong. I stood there for a moment. 'Why was I so nervous?' Every time with him was like the first time.

"You know, you were in that exact same spot a few months ago, naked, covered in bubbles, screaming at me to get out." he shot me a wicked smile.

I kicked bubbles at him before getting in.

I slid into the tub and sat next to him.

"You have changed my life Hermione. Words cant express my thanks or my love." he said looking deep into my eyes.

"You have changed mine as well, my life used to be consumed by schoolwork and tests, and you showed me that there is more to life, much more." I smiled and clinked our glasses together. I reached to the shelf on the side of the tub and grabbed a large sponge and some wash. He sat between my legs and I washed his bare chest. The tub was hot and it created a mist in the room, fogging up every mirror. He then turned his back to me and I washed his back, kissing the back of his neck softly.

"Mmmm…I like." he moaned faintly.

I continued to wash him, gently making circles with the sponge on his bare skin. I wet his hair and washed that as well, running my hands through it, making his platinum blonde strands shine in the candle light. I leaned over and kissed his red lips. His eyes danced as the flames changed them from pale blue to grey to silver to ebony and back again. I smiled…his eyes were so soulful.

"What are you smiling about?' he asked.

"Everything, but mostly, your eyes."

"What's wrong with my eyes?" he asked, one eyebrow raised.

"Nothing, they are the most perfect eyes ever. Windows to your soul." I leaned in again and kissed him on each closed eyelid.

It was getting later than I realized. But I didn't care. I was lost in him again. We made love all afternoon and fell asleep by his fireplace, wrapped in a blanket and each other.

Meanwhile, Ron and Harry waited for me in the great hall…but they were farthest from my mind.