I know, I know! It's been months and I feel terrible that I've made you wait this long! But it really did take me that long to finish this! So, I'm not making any more promises about when the next chapter is going to be because that's not fair to you. I hope that this is good enough to hold you over until the next one! 2nd term is almost over so I've got a performance and exams coming up, but I'm going to get started on the next chapter as soon as possible! Until then, enjoy!

Disclaimer: Don't own it, don't plan to, don't sue…

The Game

Chapter 10: Something Blossoming

"So, Malfoy's not a Death Eater?" The question had finally come up. Harry had asked it.

The three of them, Hermione, Ron and Harry, were still sitting in the Head's Common Room, talking. It was nearing midnight and they still had things that hadn't been talked about yet. The first couple of hours had been spent with Hermione talking about what had happened during the summer and the beginning of school. The subject had then turned to her new relationship with Draco and how he had changed.

"No, he's not. In fact he was supposed to have his initiation last summer, but somehow he convinced his father to put it off until after school was over. He's just hoping that you will kill Voldemort before he has to go through with the initiation." Hermione informed. "And his friends don't want to join Voldemort either. You've seen how they've changed this year haven't you? They've stopped pretending to be what they were supposed to be. What they've changed into is the real them."

"Yeah, I did notice that." Harry said. "Wow. This is all so unbelievable."

"I know." Hermione said.

A voice interrupted them. "Do you kids know what time it is? Some of us have school in the morning." The three of them turned around to see Draco standing at the bottom of the stairs, smirking.

"Since when do you care, Draco?" Hermione asked, smirking right back. "Stop being anti-social and come join us."

Draco's smirk turned into a real smile. "Oh, I suppose. But being anti-social if so much fun!" He said, sarcastically, and then his face turned serious. "So, I'm guessing you've talked to them about everything?"

Hermione nodded. "Yeah."

"Good. Now we can talk about happier things." Draco said, walking into the Common Room and sitting down. He turned to face the other two boys in the room. "Now I know the history that we have between us is not that great, but I want you to know that I never really hated you guys. I am willing to start over and try to be friends if you want to." Draco confessed.

Hermione's heart fluttered as he said this and she couldn't help but smile. Her two best friends and the guy she was really starting to like becoming friends? She could live with it.

Harry and Ron looked at each other and then to Hermione and saw her smiling. They nodded their heads.

"That sounds good." They said.

"Excellent." Draco said.

"So," Harry started. "Hermione told us about the situation you're having with your father and the Death Eaters."

"Oh, she did, did she?" Draco said.

"I hope you don't mind." Hermione said. "I thought it would be okay."

"Yeah, it's alright I suppose." Draco told her.

"What do you suppose you're going to do about it?" Ron asked.

Draco sighed. "There's only one solution. I will have to kill my father." Hermione gasped. "It's the only way. Either kill him or die trying."

"You can't really be serious!" Hermione exclaimed. "Surely there's another way?"

"There isn't." Draco said. "I have to do it, Hermione. When the time comes for the final battle I will face my father if it's the last thing I do. I will not become what he wants me to be. I cannot join the Dark Lord."

"Well, we'll help, mate." Harry said. "Whatever we can do just ask."

Draco smiled. "Thanks." Then he let out a small laugh. "Wow, who would have thought that I would ever being thanking the great Harry Potter?" He laughed again.

Harry laughed too. "Hey, I'm not that great."

Draco gave him a look.

"Okay, yeah, I am pretty great aren't I?" Harry said, laughing.

Hermione grabbed a pillow off the couch and hit Harry with it. "Harry!"

Everyone was laughing now. "Okay, okay, Hermione!" Harry said, holding his hands up. Hermione hit him one last time.

She sat back on the couch and stifled a yawn. Draco caught it though. "Maybe it's time we all went to bed." He said.

The boys, both realizing how tired they were as well, nodded. "That sounds like a good idea." Harry said. He and Ron stood up to leave. They each gave Hermione a hug.

"'Night 'Moine." Harry said. "I'm glad to have you back."

Hermione smiled. "It's nice to be back." She turned to Ron and received a hug from him. "Good night, Ronald."

He made a face. "Please don't call me that!" Hermione laughed. "Good night, 'Moine."

Draco and Hermione stayed where they were until the picture frame had closed.

"Time for bed then?" Draco asked.

"Yes." Hermione said, nodding her head.

Draco bent his arm and offered his elbow to Hermione. She giggled and placed her hand in the crook of his arm. The ascended the stairs to their bedrooms together. At the door to Hermione's room they stopped.

"Well, good night Hermione." Draco said.

Hermione reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. Draco responded my wrapping his arms around her waist, returning the hug. "Good night, Draco. Sweet dreams." She said, smiling.

He smiled back. "You too." He then turned to go to his own room while Hermione went into her own bedroom. She collapsed onto her bed, not bothering with changing into her pajamas. She sighed and smiled. For a long time she had thought she could never be happy again, but here she was smiling and her heart fluttering in her chest. She still missed her parents and there was still a small hole in her heart that probably wouldn't leave for some time, but she knew that she was healing now and that made her feel even better.

Her cravings to cut would come back occasionally, but not as strong as they had once been, and they were easier to ignore now. She could hardly believe that it was only a month ago that she had last cut. It had felt like such a long time ago. She wasn't sure what the future held for her at the moment, but she did know that where she was now was a good place to be.

With this last thought she closed her eyes and fell fast asleep.

Hermione woke the next morning feeling refreshed and rested. She got out of bed and opened the curtains to see the sun making its way over the horizon. She got ready for the day putting on her school uniform and her robe. She grabbed her book bag and left her room.

Draco was exiting his own room as she closed her door. She turned to him and smiled.

"Morning." He said, smiling back.

"Good morning. Going to breakfast?" She asked. He nodded. "Me too."

"Well, then let us go." He said, gesturing towards the stairs.

They walked together to the Great Hall. As they entered Draco looked over to the Slytherin table.

"Figures." He said.

"Hmm?" Hermione looked at him.

"My friends are too lazy to get up for breakfast." He informed.

Hermione let out a laugh. "Would you like to join me for breakfast then?" She asked, pointing to the Gryffindor table where Harry and Ron were already stuffing their faces.

Draco hesitated for a moment looking at the Gryffindor table, and then back at Hermione. "Oh, well, I suppose I could."

"Sure you could." Hermione told him, and grabbing his arm, pulled him along with her to the table. She sat down across from Harry and after another second's hesitation Draco sat next to her across from Ron.

"Good morning." Hermione greeted the two boys. Looking up at her they actually remembered to swallow their food before speaking.

"Morning, Hermione." Harry said. "Malfoy?" He added, finally realizing that he was sitting at the table with them.

"His friends aren't here yet so I asked him to sit with us." Hermione informed.

"Oh, I see. Well, good morning to you too, Malfoy." Harry said. "Or would you rather us call you Draco?"

"I guess it doesn't matter." Draco said, filling his plate with food.

They continued eating breakfast in silence. Draco got many strange looks from other students, but he didn't notice. Once they were finished they gathered their things and left together. They all had Defense Against the Dark Arts together that morning.

The day continued without anything too out of the ordinary happening. Hermione enjoyed her classes much more now that she had Harry and Ron back. That evening she returned to the Common Room she shared with Draco and collapsed on the couch. The fire was blazing in front of her giving her a peaceful feeling and relaxing her. A few minutes later Draco entered and upon seeing Hermione sat down in the armchair.

"Long day?" He asked.

"It wasn't too bad. But still long I suppose. Yours?" She asked. After DADA she hadn't seen him the rest of the day.

"Kind of boring." He replied.

They were both silent for a few moments, drifting off into their own thoughts. Draco's thoughts soon turned to Hermoine. After studying Hermoine's face he asked, "What are you thinking about?"

She didn't answer right away. Finally, she replied, "Everything."

Draco nodded his head. Then he whispered, "Are you happy?"

Hermoine turned her head to face him and smiled. "I'm happier than I was a month ago, that's for sure. I'm getting there though."

"Good." Draco said, smiling.

After another seconds pause Hermoine groaned. "I've got so much homework to do, but I just can't make myself get up to do it."

"I know, me too." Draco said. He forced himself to stand up and stood in front of Hermoine, holding his hands out to her. "Come on. We'll do our homework together."

"Oh, fine." Hermoine sighed, but she was smiling. She took hold of his hands and he helped her to stand up. She stood in front of him and he kept hold of her hands. Hermoine looked up at him. He was smiling at her. "What?" She asked.

"Oh, nothing." He said, and let go of her hands reluctantly.

They gathered their school supplies and sat at the table in the study part of their Common Room. They worked diligently for about forty-five minutes before Hermoine sighed and set her quill down.

"Time for a break?" Draco asked, setting his quill down as well.

"Definitely." Hermoine said, stretching her arms up over her head. She reached down into her book bag and pulled out a folder. "This is the 7th year's plans for the Valentine's Ball. Do you want to go over it?"

"They're already done with planning it?" Draco asked, surprised.

"Yeah, they told me that they wanted to outdo the 5th and 6th years, so they've been doing a little bit ever since we assigned it to them." Hermoine informed.

"Awesome! It must be bloody brilliant! Sure, let's look over it. It should be more fun than homework anyways."

"Totally." Hermoine said, moving her chair closer to Draco and opening the folder, removed its contents.

After looking the plans over Hermoine and Draco decided that it was going to be the best ball so far of the year. The 7th years had thought of everything and the Head Boy and Girl were really proud of their classmates. Hermoine was really excited about the ball. She knew that she was going to have a wonderful time with Draco.

They both returned to their homework. Soon it was nearing ten o'clock and Hermione noticed her eyes starting to grow heavy. She covered a yawn with her hand and decided that it was time to go to bed. The late night before was catching up with her. She collected her things and stood up.

"I'm off to bed." She told Draco.

"Alright. Hey, I'll go up with you. Just let me clean my stuff up." Draco said.

Hermione waited while he put his school things back in his book bag. When he was done they both walked upstairs for bed.

"Good night, Hermione." Draco said.

"Good night." She said, smiling. She was turning the knob on the door when Draco called out her name.

Draco had turned back towards her and was standing very close. Hermione felt her breath catch in her throat and she couldn't find her voice to say anything.

After a few moments of silence Hermione finally found her voice enough to ask, "Draco?" It came out as a quiet whisper.

"Well, I was just…" He started, but couldn't find the words. Why had he called out her name? Just what was he planning by doing that? All he knew was that his heart was racing and he was nervous. He didn't know what to do because he had never really experienced these feelings before.

He stepped closer to her and suddenly his lips where on hers and he found himself surprised that she was kissing him back.

Draco had known for some time that he was developing feelings for Hermione, but he wasn't sure if he should act on them or not. With everything that she had been going through he didn't know if it would be appropriate or not. But he couldn't resist anymore. He had never felt this way about a girl before and it fascinated him.

The kiss ended and the two of them just stood in the hall in silence not knowing what to do next and not wanting to end the moment.

Finally, Hermione smiled. "Good night." She said, softly.

Draco was confused. Maybe they should talk about this? Why was she just leaving it as it was? "But…" Hermione put a finger against the lips that she had just kissed.

"We'll talk tomorrow." She said.

"Okay." Draco smiled at her. "Good night then." He said, pulling her to him again for a quicker kiss this time. "Sweet dreams."

Hermione smiled. Draco stood in the hall as she opened her door and went into her room. He didn't move until she had shut the door. He knew the smile on his lips was a goofy one, but at that moment he couldn't have cared less. He had just kissed the most beautiful woman in the world and she had kissed him back. He was in Heaven.

Wow! 10 Chapters! Exciting! Until next time then, review!