A/N: Okay I know many people are going to be asking butdont worry,still going to be a Draco/Hermione fiction. I'm not extremely happy about this chapter, it just doesnt seem to have worked out how I had wanted but for now, it stays (I may end up taking it out later but havent decided yet)

Chapter 14: A Conversation with Dumbledore

Hermione awoke the next morning, not feeling the least bit rested. She yawned and stretched then gave in and curled back up under her blankets to try and get some more sleep. She remembered where she was and who else was here and she was in no hurry to see either one of them. She had closed her eyes and was just about to fall asleep when a sudden crash downstairs broke her from her rest. Hermione leapt out of the bed, grabbed her wand off the bedside table and dashed out the door and down the stairs, not even realizing that she was still in her nightclothes (a simple but sexy satin oriental style tank pajama set in cream with red roses). As she made her way down the stairs, she began to hear screaming and she halted herself at the base of stairs knowing exactly what was going on. There was no mistaking the voices…they were Harry's and Draco's and they were coming from the living room.

She quietly and angrily made her way through the dining room and stopped in the walkway leading to the living room where she saw Draco and Harry yelling at each other.

"You stole her from me, you bloody bastard!" Harry yelled at Draco.

"What in the hell are you blabbing on about Potter? I didn't steal Hermione from you, you didn't even open your mouth until after we had already gotten together!" Draco spat back at the raven haired boy.

Hermione watched on for a moment, growing even more irritated. They are acting like littlekids and it is not in any way attractive, Hermione thought to herself. All of a sudden she saw Harry pull his arm back and was just about to throw a punch at Draco when Hermione rushed into the room and threw herself in between them.

"Alright! That is enough! Bloody hell you two…you are behaving like little kids and you are bothsupposedly adults! Quit fighting over me, it's pathetic really. Have either of you given any thought to how I feel about all this shit?" Hermione demanded, looking back and forth between the two boys, anger glaring in her eyes. The boys were both looking at her apprehensively, not really knowing what to say. After a few uneasy moments, Harry finally spoke up quietly.

"'Mione, please. I have to know." Harry said meekly, stepping closer to look in her eyes. Leaning down, he brushed her cheek with his lips lightly and whispered into her ear. "I love you Hermione. Do you still love me?"

Hermione closed her eyes, trying not to allow herself to tear up. Of course she loved him, she loved him with all her heart. Ever since she was fourteen and in her third year she had wished and dreamed of being Harry's girlfriend and having him return those feelings. She had even dreamt of losing her virginity to him…which would never happen now. Throughout her body, her senses were tingling as Harry whispered those three little words in her ear. Instinct told her to scream out 'Yes I love you too!' but something held her back. She opened her eyes and saw Draco standing about five feet behind her and Harry, his electrifying silvery-blue eyes clouded over as he watched the two of them. They locked eyes for a moment and she could see the pain in his eyes. Finally her senses overcame her and she pushed Harry away. She couldn't be with either of them, not until she figured out where her heart truly lied. It was a very tough decision but she knew it had to be done.

"Look, I love you Harry, with all my heart. But I love you too Draco. I just cant do this right now. I need time to clear my head and figure my feelings out. Please respect my wishes and just leave me be for awhile alright?" With that said, Hermione swiftly fled from the living room to get ready for their trip back to Hogwarts, leaving Draco and Harry staring at each other in confusion.

Two short hours later, the three of them gathered outside of the house, behind a large bush as to not be seen disappearing, and in silence disapparated to the Hogwarts gates. By the time Harry and Draco had regained their complete composure from the trip, Hermione had already taken off at a run towards the castle. What she wouldn't give to be able to talk to Dumbledore right now…Dumbledore would be able to calm her down. Then suddenly, as she ran through the front doors and had begun to make her way up the stairs, it dawned on her. Dumbledore's portrait! If all the other portraits in that damn castle could talk and carry on conversations then his could as well. As if she'd suddenly had a serge of energy, she shot up the stairs all the way to the Headmistress' office as fast as her legs could carry her. She reached the gargoyle in record time and had to stop for a few moments to catch her breath. She needed to know everything. Why was this happening to her? What was all this crap going on between her and Draco? Somehow she knew that Dumbledore would know.

As she caught her breath she muttered the password to the gargoyle and jogged up the spiral stairs, knocking desperately on the door. She heard McGonagall beckon for her to enter and she did.

"Headmistress, if you please, could I speak with Professor Dumbledore's portrait. I need help and I'm afraid he might be the only one that can help me." Hermione begged her former professor. McGonagall looked her quite dumbfounded when suddenly a very old, very familiar voice spoke up behind her.

"I think a conversation with Miss Granger would be very appropriate, Minerva. Don't you agree?" Dumbledore's portrait said. "If you could be so kind as to allow us some privacy for a few moments."

Minerva still slightly taken aback by this nodded to the portrait and then again to Hermione and took her leave, allowing Hermione to walk around the desk and sit in the Headmistress' chair, directly in front of the portrait of her long time headmaster and friend.

"Well, well Miss Granger. To what do I owe this wonderful honor?" portrait Dumbledore asked quaintly, not lacking his old flare. Hermione looked at the portrait for a couple moments, realizing for the first time since the idea had come to her how incredibly awkward it was to be speaking to a talking portrait of her former headmaster who was now deceased. Very odd indeed. Finally Hermione shook the thoughts from her mind, trying to concentrate on the questions that she needed answered.

"Professor, please, I need to know more about this connection thing. Is it something more than simply mental? Not to mention all the hassle it's causing now with Harry. Oh my god, Harry. I'm so confused, Professor. I just don't know what to do anymore. And that, as of course you know is extremely strange for me." Hermione began, her words coming as fast as they were coming in her mind. Dumbledore put up his hand to stop her so she could catch her breath. She was nervous and just like she always did when she was nervous, she rambled…very quickly. Dumbledore nodded his head in that understanding manner.

"I understand your confusion, my dear. But trust me when I say that when the time comes, you will know what to do. We cannot force the workings of the heart…all we can do is hold on tight and go along for the ride." Hermione understood, but it didn't help her.

"Sir, what about this connection thing? Does it require that we be like "together" in order for it to work? I mean do we have be dating or in love or something?" Hermione asked, a slight tinge of haste in her voice.

"No no, child not at all. The connection that lies between you and Mr. Malfoy will be there no matter if you were desperately in love with each other or at each others throats, which I do ask that you please do not resort to again however. (Dumbledore's picture's eyes twinkled) All it requires is an open mind and an open soul. You must both be willing to allow it to flourish otherwise it will fall back into dormancy."

Hermione sat there and thought about it for a moment. Perhaps it was just the connection awakening that sparked all these feelings she'd been experiencing about Draco lately. Professor Dumbledore just said that we don't need to love each other for it to work properly, just willing to allow each other in. I can do that, Hermione thought to herself. That's no problem. Maybe I can still allow him in while I work things out with Harry? Hermione found herself smiling for the first time in two days. She had a feeling that things were definitely going to work out this time. Someone would end up hurt, but unfortunately that's the way love goes…sometimes you find love, sometimes you get hurt. Hermione jumped up from her seat.

"Thank you so much Professor Dumbledore!" She said happily. The portrait simply smiled back at her and nodded it's head slightly. She wasn't sure exactly how to let Draco down easily so she decided to leave him a letter on his pillow. Sure it may not be the best way to tell him, but she lived across the hall so if he wanted to talk about it later she was right there. She ran all the way down the stairs and through the portrait hole to the Heads Dormitories but as soon as she stepped a foot inside the common room, there he was, lounging on the sofa in front of the fire, staring into the flames. However, as soon as he heard the portrait shut, he glanced up and locked eyes with Hermione. Draco had been sitting there since they had gotten back, hoping to get a chance to talk to her. He needed to know what was going on. Ever since they had given themselves to each other almost 48 hours ago, she hadn't spoken barely a word to him.

This was not going to work. She couldn't simply walk past him and then leave him a note, that was not like Hermione Granger at all. Hermione Granger never backed down from a conflict or a confrontation and she wasn't going to allow herself to back down from this one either. She took a deep breath and walked determinedly across the common room and sat down beside Draco, who immediately sat up and faced her.

"'Mione, what is going on with us?" Draco blurted out, before she'd even really gotten a chance to catch her thoughts. "Seriously, are you regretting what happened? You haven't said hardly two words to me since yesterday morning since you ran off after Potter. Please talk to me." Hermione was in a slight awe. She still wasn't used to Draco talking like that…almost normal. She looked up into those beautiful crystal colored eyes again and almost had to catch her breath. Damn this really was the hardest decision she'd ever made in her entire life but it had to be done.

"Draco," Hermione began, peeling her eyes away from his and looking into the fire for comfort. "Draco, you know that over the past few months I've come to love you and care for you very much. To answer you question first, no I do not regret giving you my virginity, not one little bit. But," she took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. "as much as I love you and love being with you, I cannot deny the feelings I've had for the past three years. I really want to, no I take that back. I need to work things out with Harry. I owe it to myself to see if there is anything still there. If I don't, I know I'll regret it and I don't want to put you through that. I don't want to end up blaming you for my choices."

" Hermione, I cant believe that you are doing this. After everything that we've said, everything we've been through since the end of June." Draco choked back the tears that were forming behind his clouded grey eyes. He couldn't cry over this…it was just another girl right? "I love you, 'Mione. Please don't throw this away."

"I'm sorry." was all that Hermione could say. She couldn't even allow herself to look at him for fear that if she saw the look in his eyes she'd cave in and take back everything she just said. Even though parts of her were slapping themselves for pulling away from Draco. Draco simply sat there staring at her unbelieving. After what seemed like an eternity, he jumped over the back of the couch where they were sitting and ran into his bedroom, shutting and locking the door behind him. For the millionth time in the past couple days, Hermione felt a few stray tears slide down her cheeks as well as she got up slowly and made her way out the portrait hole.

It was about lunch time so Hermione thought she would head towards the Great Hall. Hopefully Harry would be there. She needed to talk to him now…she just hoped he'd understand and give her a second chance to make things right. Everything is going to be fine…it's all going to work out fine, she kept telling herself as she made her way to the Great Hall. She hurried through the double doors and made her way to her regular spot at the Gryffindor table. It was still early for lunch and the hall was mostly empty.

About fifteen minutes later, the students began pouring through the double doors and filtering to their house tables. Hermione perked up from the book she was reading and looked anxiously towards the doors in hopes of spotting Harry as soon as he came in. She was feeling courageous this morning and could not wait to have his arms around her. The hall was filling up quickly but there was still no sight of Harry anywhere. Finally Hermione spotted Ron and his sister come through the doors and she jumped up to go talk to him. She made her way through the dissipating crowd and caught Ron by his arm.

"Ron, where's Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Why 'Mione? Need to throw more salt in his wounds? You hurt him really bad Hermione." Ron said smugly, defending his best friend.

"I know I did Ron. But I need to make things right. Please, where is he?" Hermione told him. She watched his eyes drift from hers to a point behind her for a second.

"I'm right here 'Mione. What's up?" Harry said from behind her, trying to act as nonchalantly as possible. Hermione twirled around to the sound of his voice, smiling widely.

"Harry, there you are! Listen I'm so sorry, I made a huge mistake. I was just so confused I didn't know what I was feeling or anything. But now I do, Harry, now I know what I want…" Hermione said, still smiling and looking at Harry. Harry was watching her cautiously, not sure if he wanted to hear what was coming next. In a fraction of a second, those seeker skills coming to life, Harry quickly put his finger to Hermione's lips, trying to keep her from saying what he was sure she was about to say and Harry was sure he didn't want to hear it. That action surprised Hermione and she looked at him expectantly, not really sure what he was going to say or do. And then Harry spoke, though he didn't say what she was hoping he would say.

"'Mione, look, I know that things have been awkward for the past couple days but I'm truly glad that you are finally happy again. Just be careful alright?" he told her, removing his finger from her lips. Hermione could see the sadness in his eyes.

She was confused, why was he saying….Oh no, he thinks I chose Draco…she thought to herself. She had to make him understand that she didn't want to be with Draco like that, that she wanted to be with Harry but he didn't seem to want to listen. Hermione looked around at the stragglers that were still coming through the doors. She made a split second decision. Hermione stepped closer to Harry, sliding her hands up around his neck, and pulled him into a deep kiss before he could stop her.

The kiss was electric, just as their first kiss out by the lake on Halloween was. It was sweet and warm and….safe. When Hermione pulled away, she saw that Harry was looking at her with a mixture of happiness and confusion. She simply smiled at him and grabbed his hand, pulling him towards the Gryffindor table, but Harry stopped her and pulled her back to him. Looking into her eyes for a moment, the confusion went away and Harry pulled her into another kiss, this time lifting her up and twirling her around.

This is nice, Hermione thought. This is the way things are supposed to be, right?

She smiled as they walked to the table, their hands intertwined with each other.