Chapter Nineteen: Explanation Please

"Ginny," Hermione said pulling herself out of Draco's arms.

Ginny laughed, "Harry really was off,"

"What are you talking about?" Draco asked.

"The reason why I'm here and Harry's on the other side of the library is because we considered the possibility that you were giving Hermione a hard time, 'pure hell' as he put it but as it appears, Hermione was finally experiencing 'pure heaven'," Ginny grinned.

"You're not mad?" Hermione asked, "Surprised? Any thing?"

"Surprised? Yes! Who would have thought it? But mad? No. Considering the fact I trust you not to go just make out with a total enemy for kicks, I bet there's a reason and also considering the fact you will give me a complete and total explanation once you get back to the Gryffindor Tower,"

Hermione sighed and looked at Draco, who had a panicked look, "what if I can't give you a complete and total explanation?"

"Then I guess I'll have to jump to conclusions and...is that Harry calling?" Ginny said putting her hand cupped against her ear to hear better and laughed, "you're going to tell somebody about this anyways, why not somebody you can trust rather then Harry or Ron who will just flip, hate you for a week and probably kill him?"

"As if they could," Draco said offended.

Ginny sighed, "regardless if they can or not…are you going to tell me or not?" Ginny asked Hermione.

"You're kinda gonna tell her aren't you?" Draco whispered.

"I'm kinda gonna have to," She whispered back and Draco nodded.

"Hey, I don't mean to make you panic but Harry's heading this way," Ginny said.

Hermione gasped again. "This just keeps getting better and better," Draco smirked.

"Harry can't know yet!" Hermione panicked. Hermione ran the short distance to Ginny, "please Ginny, I promise I'll explain, just PLEASE stall Harry,"

Ginny sighed, "The things I do for you...,"

"Thanks Ginny," Hermione smiled.

Ginny POV

Ginny turned around and started to walk towards Harry. What did I just see? This is so strange, perhaps it's a dream. I mean I found Hermione kissing Draco Malfoy. Now she's asked me to stall Harry as he heads this way. I can't believe I'm actually going to stall for some thing like this, with out an explanation. This night will be so nerve racking until Hermione gets back to her room and decides to give me a good clarification. Right now, I don't know why I'm doing this but...

"Hey Ginny, I couldn't find her. Is she back there?"

"Oh you couldn't find her? That makes sense, because I found her,"

"Why is she back here?" Harry asked raising an eyebrow.

"Well, I heard you coming and I didn't get a chance to ask her that,"

"Is Malfoy with her?"

"Yes, where else would Malfoy be?"

"Oh. Well, I wonder why they're back there. You and I both know why people go back into the stacks," Harry grinned.

"Come on Harry…it's Malfoy she's with! Even if she did ever consider that kind of stuff would it be with Malfoy?" Ginny laughed the loudest laugh she could manage in a library, "They're probably just up to some heavy-duty studying, you know Hermione! Wanna go back to the Gryffindor Common room now?"

"In a second, I just wanna see Hermione and make sure he's not doing any thing,"

"Really, Harry! What else would they be doing other then studying? Like I said, this is Hermione and Malfoy we're talking about,"

"Still, why would they study back there? There aren't many text books on recent spells, even I know that. Some thing doesn't sound right. I want to go check it out," With that, Harry walked past Ginny.

Ginny raised her voice, "Oh? You're going to check out what they're doing? Okay Harry! I'll come with you!"

Harry shook his head, this girl he was interested in was proving to be even odder then he had imagined. Harry turned the corner to find Hermione digging through piles of old parchment and Draco holding some for her, "No, I don't think this is the ri-," Draco rolled his eyes when he noticed Harry, "Honestly Hermione, could you tell your friends to let us work for 5 minutes?"

"What?" Hermione asked pulling out a big purple book covered in dust and cobwebs. She turned around to see Harry looking expectant and Ginny smiling, "oh hello Harry, aren't you two supposed to be on a date?"

"Yea, but what are you two doing?"

"Trying to find any old information on the Dreamless sleep potion, like when it was created, why it was created. Things that could go wrong…you might not know it but it's quite an ancient potion, any old information we could find could be valuable. It might fetch some extra marks, that's all,"

"I see," Harry said still looking at Malfoy suspiciously.

"Do you mind Potter? We don't get to have a fun Friday night, we have a lot of work to do," Draco said annoyed, flipping through pages of parchment.

"Yea, Harry, I'll have to talk to you both later, there's tons of things to go through,"

Harry stood there, with a dumbfounded look on his face. Ginny sighed, "Come on Harry, they want to get some work done," And she took his hand.

"Alright then, bye Mione," Harry said following Ginny.

"Bye you guys," Hermione said.

"See Harry, they're just doing work, trying to get extra credit," Ginny said once they were out of the library.

"Doesn't that seem a bit odd, Hermione and Draco Malfoy just doing work? They've been enemies since she became my friend. And what's with him calling her Hermione?"

"It's her name,"

"Since when did he use it?"

"True, but he had to mature some time," Ginny said, trying desperately to get off the subject.

"Not Malfoy," Harry said, still determined at the fact some thing was up. And although some thing was up, it was the last thing that would ever occur in Harry's mind.

Draco POV

"They're gone," Draco said peering around the book case.

Hermione sighed in relief dropping the big pile of parchment which caused a lot of dust to rise, "do you think Harry was convinced?"

"He doesn't suspect a thing,"

"You did play it pretty close by calling me Hermione."

"Oh well, he did leave,"

"I think the fact they caught us was a news flash," Hermione laughed.

"I'd rather stay here then go back to school-work; lets just fail the class,"

Hermione laughed, "I think I could be persuaded to take study breaks."

In a shot Draco moved aside and pointed to the direction of the table, "After you,"

Hermione walked out to the table and saw that all of the students were gone, probably off to start their Friday nights. A few minutes later after Hermione had sat down Draco emerged from the isles of books with a small grin on his face. He sat beside her, "looks like we have the whole place to ourselves,"

Hermione smiled nervously and looked at him; he was looking right at her, "Hermione, I-," he was about to say some thing until the librarian coughed as she slowly walked by them.

Hermione laughed and looked away, "I told you, there are too many news flashes, we need to get some work done!"

He was about to say some thing but decided to say it for later, there obviously were many new flashes. "Okay okay, what do you need me to do?"

"It would appear as if you've already done every thing…I just need to get the final copy done,"

"Alright," Draco said determined not to leave just yet, "then I shall narrate to you,"

Hermione laughed and got out her quill and parchment. She wrote down the title, the class, the professor and signed her own name. She gave the quill to Draco who signed his name and then she took the quill back, "alright, read to me,"

Draco cleared his throat and read, "A dreamless sleep potion is a potion which is taken to relieve dreams in sleep. If brewed incorrectly…" He continued reading; for most students this would have been boring. But most students didn't have this over powering urge to finish saying what they had to say just to say what they wanted to say. And so he read the whole paper through, the whole time trying to make her laugh, "weconclude this paper and submit it with our perfected potion which has become the exact color and density it should be."

Hermione copied down the last words and put the quill down, "I truly am impressed,"

"I aim to please," Draco said yawning, putting the parchment on the table.

Hermione yawned as well then looked at a clock on the wall, "wow I can't believe its 10 already."

"I didn't know you of all people put a curfew on studying," Draco said as he gathered all of the parchment they didn't need and disposed of it.

"Oh I don't." Hermione laughed, "Just on the amount of time I spend with men who…," She trailed off, trying to hide her smile as she gathered the final copy together and put it safely in her bag.

Draco grinned, "Who what?"

"Who can actually…" Hermione bit her lip, she couldn't believe who she was saying this to, "impress me,"

His grin settled to a smile of affection, satisfaction and even completion. I… impressed… her! Before the librarian interrupted them, Draco was about to tell her some thing. He was about to tell her how he felt about her and how he liked her so much it almost defied any explanation. When he came here tonight, he didn't expect to kiss her but he felt like it was probably one of the best decisions he'd made in a long time. He didn't know how any thing was supposed to happen between them, he just knew whatever this new feeling was it just couldn't be exposed to the school yet. "Hermione Granger, could I walk you to your dormitory?"

Hermione smiled and nodded, "I'd like that,"

"I like that you like that," Draco said almost shyly, flinging his bag over his shoulder, "Shall we?"

He walked with her down the corridor on the way to the Gryffindor Common room. Within those few magical minutes Draco found she knew a lot more then books, "but I thought Ginny and Neville was an item? So since when was this Luna character in the picture?"

Hermione laughed almost too loudly, "He may have taken her to the Yule Ball, but Ginny has always had a crush on Harry. Luna just happened to step in with a bad mark in Herbology while Neville was wallowing in self pity,"

Draco laughed, "I have to admit, that version makes a lot more sense then the one told in the Slytherin common room…some thing about sex for tutoring,"

Hermione shook her head and laughed, "Slytherins are all about sex," then she covered her mouth when she realized what she said, "I mean-,"

Draco laughed, "no it's ok, it's true-, but for me its not…any more,"

"Why do I doubt that?" Hermione laughed coming to a stop as they reached a few steps before the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"I don't know, but you shouldn't. Usually after I kiss a girl I walk them to my room, then they walk them selves back to where they go. Wow…I really was horrible,"

"Yeah I really did loathe you,"

"Well I really loathed you,"

"I loathed you first,"

Draco smirked and brought his head down as if he was going to kiss her again but brought his lips past hers to her ears and whispered, "I don't loathe you any more,"

"Me neither," she whispered.

He pulled away from her a bit and gave her a small kiss on the lips, "Good night, Hermione,"

"Good night..." Hermione smiled as he walked back down the hall then turned around to the portrait of the fat lady to find she was blushing, laughing a bit and covering her eyes. "Ahem," Hermione said.

"Oh yes dear, all done are we?" Hermione turned red and nodded, "Don't worry darling, I see that every night. I don't tell any body, password?"

"Crispy Caramel Crumpets," The fat lady nodded and Hermione sighed in relief, walking into her common room.

Lavender and Pavarti were still in the Common Room, laughing and giggling with some seventh year boys but Hermione was unaware of them. All she could think of was what just happened. She made her way up to her room and when she opened the door she saw a familiar friend sitting cross-legged and expectant on her bed.

She jumped up at the sight of Hermione and ran over to her, "finally! I left Harry hours ago and came back here just to wait!"

"You cancelled your date with Harry and waited for me to come back for an hour?" Hermione asked as she put her bag on her desk chair.

"Kind of,"

"How did you go about that?"

"Well I told him I didn't feel well and thought I should just get some rest for the big game,"

"Oh Ginny, he must have been devastated," Hermione said shaking her head.

"Yes he's probably balling like a baby...now, tell me what happened!" Ginny squealed.

Ginny's watch read 12:01 when Hermione concluded her explanation. They had both gotten into their pajamas by now and were sitting cross-legged across from each other on Hermione's bed, Hermione smirked and said, "and he just kissed me good night in the corridor, in front of the portrait,"

Ginny's mouth was opened slightly and her expression read, 'wow'. "This was Draco Malfoy right?"

"Yes," Hermione laughed in disbelief.

"This is so hard to believe,"

"I know, I never thought I would kiss Draco Malfoy,"

"Or any one," Ginny laughed.

"Ginny!" Hermione said, "it wasn't that bad, I mean on Christmas there was Harry, two years ago there was Viktor…I just wasn't in a rush!"

"Okay, okay...Is he a good kisser?"

"Well I can't recall paying much attention to the kiss...just the fact it was actually happening...but from what I can remember it wasn't as bad as I would have imagined...in fact it was good, great...perhaps even amazing,"

"Hermione, did anything other then a kiss happen?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're giggling and glowing, you're smiling and you haven't stopped,"

"What are you getting at?" Hermione laughed.

"I think this was more then a kiss, you're just so happy,"

"It is different isn't it?" Hermione sighed and lied back on her bed.

Ginny smiled at her happy friend, "so are you two dating now? Like secretly?"

"Nope,"

"You mean you're telling the whole school! You know I like surprises Hermione, but this might be a bit too much for all of Hogwarts to hear!"

"No, Ginny! I mean we're not dating, "

"Oh,"

"We didn't even talk about that…" Hermione said thinking about it, "I don't think there's much reason to any way. You should like and get to know some one before you date them, it's really not an issue,"

"I suppose you're right, this all is a bit sudden,"

Hermione nodded for a moment but then her face fell, "Ginny, why are you so okay with this? If I were to tell Harry or Ron they'd be freaking out, hating me, calling me the most stupid smart person they know,"

"Well, maybe it's because I'm a girl, the girl that knows you the best. I know you never go on dates; you never flirt or do anything. You've been asked out many times but always refuse with the 'I have to study that night' line. You're obviously attractive to guys, but it would seem you're almost oblivious to the fact you could get involved with them. For you to actually let go and not block a boy with school must have taken a better pick up line then 'you're beautiful, kiss me'. I mean I've grown to hate Malfoy, I've learned to thank him because of recent circumstances, but that didn't alter my thoughts on him very much. He's made my brother so humiliated at points! But if you, you who has more reason then any one in this school to hate him, can be charmed by him...it tells me that not only has he changed; he has actually gotten your attention in a way never thought possible by a guy in this school,"

Hermione smiled, "Thanks Ginny," and she leaned up to hug Ginny.

"Anytime," Ginny laughed as she hugged Hermione.

"You know…" Hermione said, "Ron thought that I going to the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum was fraternizing with the enemy, I wonder what he'd call this?"

"I can only imagine. He'd probably disown you if he could." Ginny laughed.

"That's what I'm afraid of…" Hermione said quietly to her self.

Much later that night, they had finally decided to get to sleep. Ginny knew she needed her sleep for the game, so she was out like a light. Hermione, how ever, couldn't sleep. Her body was exhausted but sleep just wasn't coming. She lied on her side, staring out her window at the full moon and bright stars. She wondered if Draco had gotten to sleep. Probably. She turned back on her back and Crookshanks came, lay by her side, and was purring loudly. Hermione sighed and stroked Crookshanks' side, still wide awake. She shut her eyes tight hoping she would eventually fall asleep but all she saw when she closed her eyes was Draco. She slowly smiled as she thought of him and drifted off to sleep.