Yea, yea, I'm finally back, yea! Thanks, y'all, for reading!

Oh, and check out my new story:

Guess Who, Anyone?
Author: Peruvian Powder of DOOM!
Me and my (ex-step-)sister are co-writing it, and it's really cool!

Draco set Hermione down on his bed gently. Her crying had softened, and she was mostly just sniffling now. He climbed up beside her. She couldn't decide whether to crouch away or cling to him. She stayed put.

"Are you OK?" he whispered. She nodded softly. "Did he hurt you?"

She shook her head. He pulled her towards him and she buried her face into his neck, calming down. He held her like that until she fell asleep. He pulled the covers over her, kicked of his shirt and shoes, and laid back beside her, staring at her. Her hair was mussed, and her light makeup had smeared all over her face. Her shirt was torn, and she breathed shollow, ragged breaths. He wiped the makeup and tears off her face. He put her arm around her waist, to reassure himself that asshole wasn't going to come back and take her. It was a silly fear, completely irrational, and he had no idea why he felt so protective of her, but he did. He fell into a light slumber, waking up every time she moved, even slightly, to make sure she was alright.

The next morning he woke up at about nine. He got up softly and walked over to his armoir, pulling out a pair of sweats and a clean shirt for her. He saw her stirring and kissed her lips lightly. She smiled ever so slightly and blinked. She looked up at him as if he were her hero. His chest did a little flippy thingy that he ignored as he handed her the clothes.

"Thank you," she said quietly. He nodded. She asked, "I should go home and clean up, shouldn't I?"

He shook his head and sat down next to her. He took her hand.

"I don't want you to go back," he said firmly.

"I have to. It's my house. I can't well never go back to my house."

"I'm not going to let you go back there. It's dangerous. If that oaf could get in, anyone could."

"You're not going to let me?" she asked disbelievingly.

"That's right. We've got two options. One, you let me buy you a new place in a nice neighborhood. Two, you move in here with me," he said calmly.

"Are you joking?" she asked, narrowing her eyes skeptically.

"No, of course I'm not joking. You think I'd let you go back to that place after someone almost raped you there last night? I would really prefer you came to live with me, but if you really detest the idea that much..."

She was stunned. He was asking her to live with him? Seriously?

Suddenly she threw her arms around his neck, laughing.

"Are you seriously seriously serious?" she asked. He nodded.

"I take it your moving in with me?" he asked.

She nodded, smiling hard. He pushed her back onto his--their--pillows gently, kissing her tenderly.

She gave herself to him. Completely. Finally.

A few hours later, they emerged from bed.

"You really don't fail to please, do you?" she asked, checking her watch. "Three hours, minus a half an hour that you--and I--and--well, that's two and a half hours. I'm impressed, Mr. Malfoy."

He smirked and pulled her back down onto the bed. "I'm absolutely, one hundred percent certain when I say that you didn't know what true loving was until now. Am I right, or am I right?"

She giggled. "You're most definitely right, and you're most definitely full of yourself!" She bounced off the bed and ran barefooted across the room to the door.

He laughed, got up, and followed her, giving her a tour of her new home.