A/N: Hooray, I'm getting reviews now! I'm so excited! Thank you to all that reviewed. And yes, I know that I kinda rushed the D/Hr thing, but I am not a very patient person. ;) Actually, stuff is going to be happening to them, so…it might not be so rushed after all.

Disclaimer: I don't even have a car or my DRIVER'S license for that matter. What makes you think I own Harry Potter?

Chapter 7: Good Morning!

The next morning, Draco woke up. He was in such a good mood and at first couldn't for the life of him figure out why. Wait a second. Something was moving. On his chest.

'Oh my God,' Malfoy thought. 'What if that's a bug on my chest?' That was one fear Draco hoped no one would ever find out. THE Draco Malfoy afraid of bugs. He wiped the eye crispies away and blinked into focus. Ah, yes, he realized with a small smile. Now he remembered. The 'something' on his chest was Hermione's head. Her arms were wrapped around his torso. One of Draco's arms was wrapped around her shoulder. He smiled gently as he watched her sleep. She really was beautiful. He admired her silky hair, curvaceous body, and silky smooth skin.

'You really are turning into a softie,' Draco thought. The idea of losing his friends terrified him. But gaining Hermione…he replayed last night through his head. Hermione was not what he had expected her to be. She was inexperienced, but willing to learn. What's even more, she learned quickly. She was…insatiable. He ran his fingers up and down her back slowly. By doing this, her body stirred.

"Mm," She mumbled. She moved her hair out of her eyes and slowly opened them. Like Draco, it didn't register at first what was going on. But then she, too, remembered. She picked her head up to see a set of pale eyes watching her.

"Good morning," Hermione greeted with a shy smile.

"I didn't know your hair got curly," Was Draco's response.

"Only in the morning," Hermione replied. She moved herself so that her head was on the pillow next to Draco's. Draco's arms encircled her lower back. She smiled softly, her hands cupping his neck.

"Hermione?" Draco asked after several moments of silence.

"Mm?"

"What happened last night?" There came the silence he was expecting, and a sigh several minutes later.

"Do I have to tell you?" Hermione asked.

"You don't have to. But I think you should," Draco replied. Again, that silence. For a minute, Draco thought she wasn't going to say anything. But then,

"I thought it was going to be comfortable. When I showed up, he wasn't there. I had to clean the Muggle way, which is a piece of cake for me. But then he showed up. He tried to act all friendly, but I wouldn't have it. He wanted to know why I didn't like him, and I…freaked out," She shrugged her shoulders. "I told him I didn't understand why he called himself a Headmaster, because he never did anything. He took down all the pictures of the old Headmasters, including Dumbledore, and put up pictures of all these famous witches and wizards. I told him he was disrespectful and no one can replace Dumbledore,"

Draco didn't say anything.

"And then he said that Dumbledore is dead, and he's not coming back," She finished quietly.

"He actually said that?" Draco asked. Hermione nodded.

"That's such a terrible thing to say. But you know he's right,"

Hermione's mouth dropped open.

"How can you say that to me?" She sounded so hurt. Draco closed his eyes. He could see this going well.

"Hermione, what happened to Dumbledore was terrible. But you've got to move on from it," Draco said.

"Move on? How can I move on, Draco? You think it's just easy? Sure, it might be easy for you; you just thought he was a doddering old fool. Remember, now that Dumbledore is gone, it's easy for Voldemort to get Harry. What if this Blackburn guy isn't on our side? What if this guy is being possessed by Voldemort?"

"Don't you think Potty would've said something about his scar hurting him by now?" Draco asked. Hermione glared at him.

"His name is Harry," Was the only thing she could say. She got out of bed and stormed into the bathroom.

'Great,' Malfoy thought. 'I guess this means morning sex is out of the question.' Draco got out of bed and put his bathrobe on. He tapped his knuckle on the locked bathroom door.

"Hermione," Draco called.

"I'm taking a shower."

"Hermione, I'm sorry," There wasn't a response. He hung around for a bit, but when he heard the sound of water hitting the tiles, he gave up.

Hermione was once again one of the last students for breakfast. When she sat down, it was uncomfortable. She stood up again and saw an envelope on her chair. Puzzled, she ripped it open.

Miss Granger,

What I said last night was out of line and I am sorry. It's difficult to try and take the place of a brilliant Headmaster, knowing that some students will never accept you. I hope you can learn to forgive me.

With Regret,
Professor Blackburn

Hermione didn't know how to respond to the letter. She looked up and saw Blackburn looking at her. She gave him a tiny smile, which made his eyes brighten a little. Hermione began to load her plate with her food.

Over at the Slytherin table, Draco was watching Hermione. She looked so beautiful. He found her most beautiful in the mornings, where she didn't really try to be beautiful. Draco didn't know what the point would be to fall for her. No one would be supportive. His "father" would come after him.

A hand on his thigh made him snap out of his thoughts. He looked and saw Pansy smirking next to him.

"Hi, Dracy," she purred.

"Pansy, what the bloody hell are you doing?" Draco asked, pushing her hand away.

"Just having a bit of fun," Pansy cooed, nuzzling his neck.

"I don't want any fun right now," Draco replied. 'Especially not with you, you ugly trollop.' He added as an afterthought. Pansy was about to say something when Professor Blackburn stood up.

"Students," He said with a smile. "This year is going to be different. Some good, some bad. However, we should try and make the best of this. This is why, two weeks from Saturday, we will be having a formal dance," Lots of gasps and squeals were heard around the room.

"Hey, Ginny--" Harry began.

"However," Professor Blackburn continued, "If you are to go with a date, you will be going with a member from a different House. It's time people start to get to know each other," He received mixed reactions. Ginny looked excited, Neville looked scared, and Pansy looked MAD. When Professor Blackburn sat down, everyone burst into chatter about the dance.

"Who are you going to go with?" Harry asked Hermione while they were in potions.

"I'm not sure if I'm even going to go," Hermione replied, cutting up a green leaf.

"What? Not go? Why not?" Harry asked. Hermione shrugged.

"What's the point of going? I don't really know anyone in other Houses. If I go by myself, I'll just be alone." Another shrug. It was getting to be almost uncomfortable talking to Harry. After all, she did sleep with Draco. She wished she could get Harry to see how much Draco changed.

Hermione turned around to dump her ingredients in her cauldron. By doing this, she bumped into Draco.

"Watch it," She mumbled.

"You watch it, mudblood," The name was out before he could stop it. Hermione stared at him, tears prickling out of her eyes. Draco closed his eyes. He probably ruined any last chance he had with her. Hermione took her potion, poured it in a vial, and dumped it all over his head.

"Malfoy, Granger!" Slughorn snapped. They looked at him. Hermione was silently crying. Draco was fuming.

"Both of you. To the Headmaster's office," Slughorn directed. Hermione just silently turned around and left. Draco was closely behind.

"I'm sorry," He pleaded.

"Don't…talk to me…" Hermione told him.

"But I--"

"I said, don't talk to me," Hermione hissed. She was still crying. Draco fell silent. They climbed up the stairs in silence.

"Phoenix," Hermione whispered. The gargoyle sprang aside and let them in. Draco and Hermione gasped simultaneously at the sight before them.

"P-Professor Dumbledore?"