See previous chapter for disclaimer and summary. It's always best to start there anyways.

Way to go, Draco. I muttered darkly inside my head. Good plan. Really. She was still glaring at me. Problem. I was about ready to shag the other pole we were approaching. Fuck. I tried to chuckle. Well, I did chuckle, but it kind of cracked, as my nerves mutated it. Kick me in the face, what the hell was wrong with me?

Before I knew it, a rather strong hand was cracking me upside the head. My vision blurred for a second, as my hand instinctively flew up to the injured spot. I said KICK me, not hit me.

"What was that for!" I half growled, half muttered, trying to keep my temper down. God, this woman was really messing me up.

"That," she said rather smugly, as she straightened her gaze ahead once again, "was for being an insufferable prat!"

I choked back a laugh. I hadn't heard that one for years. Since Hogwarts, and if I do recall correctly, it was from the very same lips. But this time, it wasn't full of malice. It was said lightly as if it were a commonly known fact. I sighed again, and couldn't help but smile. Draco Malfoy, you have far to go. Apparently I hadn't grown up as much as I liked to think I had. Because when she said it, I knew it was true.

I snaked an arm around her waist, and I felt her tense. I soon felt contracted muscles quickly slide back into a relaxed state, and I pulled her closer to my body. I knew she was cold, but her Gryffindor stubbornness would never let her admit that she was un-wise to not have brought a jacket. A warm jacket, because she obviously had a low body-temperature. I was sure I could fix that quick though...

I mentally slapped myself. No, I couldn't. If I could I'd have her plastered against this pole were passing right this second. I never want to see another pole again in my life. I know, a rather hopeless wish. I slowly let the noise of the crowd drift me off to the world of my battling thoughts, as we walked further on.

"Well, we're here," her voice startled me. We're where? I glanced quickly around me. The street was now empty, save for a wind-blown newspaper skirting the curb. I glanced up to my right, and saw in front of me an elegant apartment building. My pale eyebrows shot up, and I looked down at her. She was looking at me expectantly, waiting for me to say something.

"You're apartment...?"

"Yes. My apartment." she smiled at me. And I paled. Why does she keep doing that? Fuck, why does she stop doing that?

"...Draco? Draco!" I heard her exasperated voice, and I was snapped back to reality. Apparently she had been talking to me, but I was too caught up in...other things that included staring and fantasizing. Oh wait...she was talking to me again. I looked straight at her, and let her know that she now had my full attention with the bonus of me actually listening this time.

"I was just saying thank-you. Thank-you for the jacket for one..." she said as she slipped my leather coat off her shoulders, and handed it back to me. "…thank-you for walking me home, and thank-you for listening. I appreciate it. I haven't talked about...it...to anyone. It was nice to let it out, and even better to know that I wasn't as alone as I thought I was." She smiled, placed a cool hand on my cheek, and moved onto her tip-toes to place a warm kiss onto my other cheek.

Before she could slip the hand away, I grabbed it firmly into my own, and brushed my equally warm lips across her knuckles.

"Aren't you going to ask me to come upstairs?" I managed to say this playfully, not slathered with the eagerness I was feeling. After all, it was Granger, and I was…me. Regretfully, she declined my question with a gentle laugh as she pulled her hand away.

"Goodnight, Malfoy..." her eyes grew hard and serious, and I knew what she said next, she honestly felt, "...and really, thank-you for all you've done for me tonight. Listening was the greatest thing anyone has done for me in a long time." With that, she turned around. She left me behind as she climbed the stairs up to the front door of the building. I watched her pull out her key, and unlock the door.

My eyes watched her every move. My gaze was so intent, it seemed that I had suddenly magnified her body, and every detail of it was close enough to touch. I reached my arms out to her, and to my surprise, my hands met silk, and a small waist, which I quickly enveloped in a close embrace.

I lowered my head onto her shoulder, as her hand was still on the handle, the door fully open now. I heard her sharp intake of breath, as she slowly turned her head so she could see my face.

My hands spread across her stomach, digits feeling the soft flesh beneath the thin material. I gently pressed my body against her backside, guiding her through the door, a victorious smirk upon my lips once again. She obliged.

"You didn't think you'd get away that easy, did you?" I whispered quietly into her ear, and to my surprise, her lips quickly slid into a smile that could only be found on a Quidditch player's face after winning the Cup.

"I hoped not. I would have been severely disappointed Mr. Malfoy." And with that, she whirled around in my grasp, grabbed me by my collar, and dragged me into her building. A building, which I will gladly add, that I did not leave for a very long time.

Who knew that the Lion would have won the battle against the Dragon?

I sure the hell didn't. But who's to complain?

I'm not into writing fan-fiction. This was just a 'very bored, very late, ooo look what I found' kind of deal. But still review if you like. Flame me, love me, hate me, send me money. It's all good :) Thanks for reading!

P.S. sorry for any grammar/spelling mistakes. If I was more serious about this, I'd request a beta :