The XanderCordelia Factor

The soft summer breeze ruffled Dracos hair. The whole school had heard of the attack over break, and now he and Hermione and Harry were heroes, no matter what. Gradually, the school had come to accept that Hermione and Draco were going out, except for Ron and Pansy, who seemed to have trouble with the concept.

"Why do you like her? She's not even PRETTY!" the pug-faced girl had hollered at him.

"I like her because she cares about people, she's intelligent, and she's beautiful to those who actually bother to see her for who she is. Which is more than I can say for you." he smirked and walked away, leaving the girl silent and wide-eyed.

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"Why the hell do you like 'im? 'E's not even that cool or smart! Unlike yours truly..." the red-headed Ron had asked during breakfast. Hermione looked at him with a cold eye.

"Because, RONALD, unlike you, he has hidden talents that everyone overlooks because their selfish and superficial eyes perceive him to be a snob. Secondly, he actually gives a horses ass about who he dates, and doesn't use them as trophies!" she said curtly, the loudness causing people to stare. Ron just looked dumbfounded as she walked away.

She was glad that she'd decided that people were superficial snobs and that Draco was worth another try. He'd made it all worth her while, if one was to put it one way.

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The last night of the year had been spent in a small party in Draco's room. He'd put on some Guns 'N' Roses, some Thalon, some U2, Fightstar, Son of Dork and a bit of Linkin Park. Only Luna, Hermione, Harry, Blaise, and Ginny were invited, as they made up part of the inner circle. Harry and Luna had instantly made with the vicarious smoochies, and Blaise, Ginny, Hermione and himself had busied themselves with the task of writing muggle S.N.'s, Facebooks and e-mails down. After, Draco and Hermione had retreated to his room, for a more...ahem, private party. Blaise and Ginny had started talking, and it was revealed that Blaise was gay, and that Ginny 'swung for both teams.' But that's beside that point of this whole story.

In his room, they were kissing, saying goodbye, and all that romantic stuff.

"Promise you'll stay in touch?" she asked, nuzzling him.

"You have to ASK?" he replied, kissing her head.

"Well, you never know. Your father might get pissy that you fought the baddies and force you to be locked in a tower for your life, or you might get attacked by Death Eaters, or-or the bugman could come back and turn you into maggots or, you could be-" he silenced her with a swift but lingering kiss. She closed her eyes and enjoyed it.

"You're supposed to stop me when I babble." she accused, pouting.

"But it's so cute!" he countered, leaning closer. "Besides, I like it." he kissed her again, and her mind went into overload. My babbling...he likes it...mmm...kissage... she kissed, he kissed. It was a very romantic tuff.

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Here they were, sitting in a compartment on the train home, Harry and his new girlfriend Luna with them. All the time, Luna really hadn't cared that a Slytherin and a Gryffindor had been together. And she was a killer singer/guitarist. So the band was coming along well. Draco had pulled some strings in the magical community, so they already had a gig lined up for the summer.

"Now everyone, practice. We can't go up onstage and sound like we murdered our music because we took an apathetic approach to it." he'd said, smirking in amusement.

They all laughed, and Ginny and Blaise slid in.

"Did we miss any of the funny stuff?" he asked, and Ginny giggled. They were practically best friends.

"Nope, but you also didn't miss the soppy goodbye shit, too." Draco answered in sarcasm, right before a weeping Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Harry and Blaise threw themselves on him, sobbing goodbye and how they'll be in touch and whatever he needs they'd provide, how they're going to TOTALLY hang out over the summer. He patted their backs.

"Yes, yes, I love you guys too..." he gasped. "Okay, feeling the love, but oxygen? Becoming an issue here..." they let go. Hermione looked at him, and threw herself on him again. The other four copied her.

"Say, you guys didn't happen to do a bunch of drugs now, did you?" he asked, gasping.

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The station came too quickly. He and Hermione stood before the magical wall between the wizards platform and the Muggles platform.

He looked, she looked. In perfect unison, they came toward each other. Their lips met halfway.

And this story shall be concluded with the famous and most-used phrase of all time:

"I love you."

DONE! Maybe a sequel is in order, I don't know. R&R, and give me sequel ideas as well as reviews! Read, enjoy. It's now complete, it's done, it's over, and now I can concentrate on my other story, or possibly start a new one.

Love to those who review!

Shorty