Disclaimer: Belongs to JK Rowling; just mucking around

Not Playing Anymore

Chapter Four…

Hermione and Draco had gone up to the Common Room, and had had their dinner. Now they were just sitting around relaxing and enjoying each other's company. They were sitting on the couch in front of the fire with Draco sitting at one end and Hermione's head in his lap and her laying over the rest. He couldn't remember when he had been more comfortable. He was sitting with his girlfriend – Hermione Granger was his girlfriend. If someone had told him a year ago that this would be where he would, he would have taken them to St Mungo's.

Things had certainly changed since the end of last year. Ever since that night in the Tower, things had changed dramatically. He no longer lived at the Manor, he had spent the summer with the Weasleys, now that was an experience. Mr and Mrs Weasley were friendly towards him, couldn't say the same for their children though. The older ones – Charlie and Bill, they were okay. Percy wasn't around, the twins were a bit suspicious of him, but they relaxed after awhile, and surprisingly Draco found that he really liked them. They had a sneaky side that could rival a Slytherin's any day.

But Ron and Ginny, they were completely different.

He couldn't really fault them, he had been a complete and utter prick to them – the whole time he knew them.

Harry didn't exactly like or even really trust him, but he trusted Dumbledore – so he put up with Draco, albeit reluctantly.

Now the real shock was Hermione. One would think that after years of calling her a 'Mudblood', and just being downright awful to her, that she, out of all her friends would be the least likely to offer the olive branch, yet she had. Granted at the time it was a teeny-tiny olive branch, but it was one all the same, and he was very grateful.

He spent a lot of his time reading books with her, trying to find clues to what the Horcruxes could be. He was more than a little pleased when she asked him to help her, it was like a pat on the back to his mind. After time, they became quite close, and Draco started confiding in her about what life growing up as a Malfoy was like.

Growing up with Lucius was a father was not easy. It was as if you were in a constant battle to prove yourself worthy of the name 'Malfoy', and Draco didn't always live up to expectations.

He wasn't top at studies, he didn't beat Potter at Quidditch, and there were other things that made his father angry. That he wasn't the perfect little Death Eater in training, it just didn't appeal to him to watch innocent children get tortured – it wasn't their fault that their parents were Muggle borns. And then there was the rape, which Draco absolutely hated it. He was going to be forever grateful that he hadn't done it. He didn't think he would be able to live with himself if he had.

So all in all, he was a massive disappointment to his father. The happiest day of Draco's life was the day his father had been sent to prison even in spite of the fact that he had had to feign devastation. But his happiness had been short-lived when Voldemort gave him the task of killing Dumbledore, and well it didn't happen as the Dark Lord had planned, and here Draco was now – free from his father and Voldemort.

Then there was his mother, who everyone assumed was a weak individual, and followed everything his father said. But she was just as strong and powerful as Lucius. Her family had been in league with dark wizards for centuries, just like the Malfoys, going back to before Grindelwald. So to assume that she wasn't dangerous was a big mistake, one that nearly cost Draco his life.

After what happened on the Tower, Dumbledore had accompanied Draco and his mother to a secret meeting with her to tell her that the Order would keep them safe. Well anyone could see that that was a big mistake, Mother did not want protection from Voldemort. She just wanted Lucius out of prison, and Dumbledore couldn't do that for her, so she wanted nothing to do with Dumbledore or her son. She attacked, cursing both of them. Draco's memory of it was slightly blurred, he remembered several Order members coming, someone grabbing Draco and Apparating them to the Burrow.

Draco got the shock of his life when Hermione threw her arms around him when he woke up, telling him how happy she was that he was okay. He could still remember the looks on Potter and the youngest Weasley's faces. Shock and disgust were the main features.

Potter had pulled him aside the next day, and told him in no uncertain terms – that if he hurt her in anyway, he would not hesitate to kill him. As far as Potter was concerned he was as good as a Death Eater, and nothing he could do would change that in his eyes.

After that Draco had a constant shadow, everywhere he went. Potter or Weasley were always there, making sure he wasn't doing anything to Hermione. But Draco wouldn't do anything to hurt her. She had become his closest friend, along with Blaise.

When their Hogwarts letters came, and they saw that they both got Head Boy and Girl, respectively. Draco was so happy, he would get his own room away from the Slytherin dormitories, and he would be alone with Hermione. It really would be perfect.

He was then starting to develop some sort of feelings towards her, he wasn't entirely sure what they were, and he certainly didn't want to stuff up their friendship by putting 'the moves on her'. So the feelings remained dormant, and then today when she kissed him they come floating to the surface. And when she told him that she would like to be his girlfriend, he was the happiest he had ever been even more than when he'd found about Lucius' imprisonment. He now understood those feelings that had developed at the Burrow.

He had been falling in love with her.

Hermione was in heaven, this quiet time after the crazy day that she had had was perfect – just what she needed. Lying here with Draco just felt so right and wonderful, she didn't want to ever have to move.

"Crazy isn't?" Draco's voice pulled her out of her bliss.

"What is?"

"Us…here like this." Draco chuckled, "I don't think either of us pictured ourselves ending up here." Looking down at her.

"I know," Hermione smiled and looked back up at him. "But I can't imagine myself being anywhere else…"

"Me either…"

The next morning after a quick breakfast in the Great Hall before it filled with students, Hermione headed to the Library. She needed to find a book for her Herbology project, which she was working on with Neville in the free period after lunch.

After finding the book and checking it out of the Library, she decided to go sit outside in the sunshine before she class and read it a little. Passing by the Great Hall, she was heading out the doors to go outside when she heard her name being called…

"Hermione!" It was Ginny.

"Morning Gin," Hermione greeted.

"Morning, you going outside?"

"Yeah, going to read a little before class," she held up the book.

"Can we talk?"

Hermione knew this was coming, there was no point putting it off. "Sure."

So they headed over to one of the benches near the door.

They sat in silence for a moment, neither wanting to start.

Ginny decided to bite the bullet, and come straight out with it. "What's going on with you and Malfoy? Is he your boyfriend?"

Hermione let out a big breath before answering. "Yes. He's my boyfriend."

"But why Hermione? Don't you see that Ron and you would be perfect for each other, if you just wait for Ron…" Ginny pleaded.

Hermione interrupted. "No Gin. I'm done with Ron, I'm not waiting for him to stop seeing those fluffs, and we would not be perfect for each other. I'm done!" Hermione finished emphatically.

"So you're not doing this to make Ron jealous?" Ginny queried.

"No, I'm not!" Hermione said, she was starting to get infuriated. "Not everything is about Ron. I'm with Draco because I like him, he makes me happy. It has absolutely nothing to do with Ron."

Ginny nodded, not quite believing it, but trusting Hermione.

The bell rang then, it was time for the first class.

"I've got to go to Charms, I'll see you at lunch?" Hermione asked Ginny, jumping up to go to class.

"See you then." Ginny watched Hermione rush off. She hoped she knew what she was doing.

Gryffindor seventh years had Charms and Healing in the mornings with the Ravenclaws on Mondays. Healing wasn't a normal part of the curriculum. The school governors thought with the war happening, it would be a good idea for students to know how to heal and help others in pain.

Hermione was thrilled with the class, it was one of her favourites. But then every class was one of her favourites. She was giving serious thought to becoming a healer, after Hogwarts and the war was done.

After the class was finished while she waited to ask Madam Pomfrey about something in her lecture. Ron pulled Harry aside.

"Can you keep Hermione distracted for a minute? I need to have a word with the Ferret." Ron asked.

Harry thought this was a bad idea, but was starting to realise that Ron needed to make these mistakes on his own.

So he nodded, and let Ron go. It would only mean trouble.

He only managed to distract her for about two minutes till she realised Ron had gone, and knew exactly what was happening, and raced to the Great Hall. It was lunchtime.

Ron had only just found Draco, the Slytherins had been held back in Arithmancy. And he had just reached the Great Hall.

"Malfoy!" Ron exclaimed, advancing on Draco menacingly.

"Ah, Weasel," Draco greeted with a mock pleasant voice. "What can I do for you today?"

"You can stay the hell away from Hermione, that's what you can do!"

"Why would I want to do that? And shouldn't she decides who she spends time with? Not you."

"I'm her friend, and I don't think she should hang around with you. So back off, or you'll regret it!" Ron said, pleased that he had gotten his message across.

"Oh, will I?" Draco asked. "Maybe we should let Hermione do the decision making don't you think?" He said, seeing something behind Weasley that he hadn't.

"Not when it comes to you!"

"So you don't trust her judgement? Some friend you are."

"I'm doing this to protect her, she's better off without you!"

"Shut up Ron!" Hermione exclaimed. "You aren't doing this for me, it's all for you!"

Ron whirled around.

"Hermione, I thought you were talking to Harry…"

"Yeah, your distraction techniques didn't work so well Ron. They need a bit of work." Hermione said in a little voice. "I'm only going to tell you this once, so listen real well. Back. Off. Ok? What I do with Draco is none of your bloody business, and if you were a really good friend you would understand that, and stay out of it!" She turned to Draco. "Hi! Do you want to go have lunch?"

Draco nodded, "Common Room or Great Hall?"

"Great Hall. See you later Ron." She grabbed Draco's hand and they walked into the Hall.

Draco went to walk off to the Slytherin table, "See you after. I'll walk with you to Potions…" Then he discovered that Hermione had not let go of his hand. He looked at her, raising one eyebrow.

"Can I sit with you?" She asked, "I don't feel like sitting with Ron and the others right now."

Draco beamed. "Sure. Come and sit with me and Blaise."

They walked together to where Blaise was sitting, "Draco man. What took you so long you were right behind me…" He trailed off, seeing Hermione with him.

"Blaise you know Hermione, she's going to be sitting with us today." Draco said in a tone that said 'Don't make a comment'.

"Well I'd be honoured for you to join us Miss Granger."

Hermione smiled at him as she and Draco sat down next to each other, noticing a lot of discreet and some very non-discreet glances coming their way.

"Everyone's looking," she said in a whisper.

"Who cares?" He whispered back, loading his plate with food.

After about ten minutes Hermione couldn't take it anymore.

"Draco?"

He looked at her with a mouth full of food, giving her a look to continue.

"Swallow," she ordered. He did.

She lent over and gave him a kiss on the lips, which he quickly returned.

"That won't distract them love," he said when they parted. He was right, whoever wasn't looking before, was certainly looking now.

"I didn't do it for them, that one was for me," she replied with a grin.

And they continued with their meal ignoring the stares of the Hall, and missing the smiling Headmaster at the staff table.

♥ Big thanks again to all that reviewed, I get such a nice feeling when I see them. Nice to know that people like this story. XOXO

21/04/06: Beta read by cordy-angel...thanks!