AN: This is where things start to get a little more complicated in the story, so if you have any questions feel free to ask.
Chapter Seven: Beating Around the Bush
The next morning the Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry took the yearly trip to Diagon Alley. They split up, Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Hermione going their way down to Madame Malkin's for new dress robes; they tried on quite a few before Ginny found an elegant yet simple emerald green dress. Ginny's heart was made up when she saw the dress and luckily discovered that it was well within the Weasley's price range.
It took nearly another hour to find a midnight blue dress that suited Hermione as well as Ginny's had suited her. It was actually a two piece that was a strapless corset style top with a long flowing skirt that had a slit in one side to nearly mid thigh. Hermione put it on and came out of the dressing room blushing at how the dress made her feel so sexy and seductive. Mrs. Weasley and Ginny stared at Hermione before Ginny broke the silence; "Oh that's the one Hermione, he will just die when he see you in it!" She squealed excitedly.
"Yes darling you look absolutely stunning, any man would get down on his hands and knees to take you to a ball in that dress," Mrs. Weasley announced, not noticing that Harry and Ron had entered Madame Malkin's.
"Are you sure? I mean what if it's…" Hermione started.
"Bloody Hell…" Ron screeched before he knew what he was saying.
"Wow Hermione, that's definitely the one," Harry assured her, hitting Ron in the chest before he could embarrass himself anymore.
"Is that you Granger…?" A familiar voice asked from the entrance. "You actually have a body under all of those school robes then." Malfoy commented.
"Or course it's me you insolent pus filled boil!" Hermione shouted in frustration.
"Bugger off Malfoy!" Ron snapped.
"What are you going to do about it if I don't Weasley?" Malfoy goaded.
"All right that's enough, you three boys out!" Madame Malkin roared and shooed Harry, Ron, and Draco out of her shop with Mrs. Weasley following closely behind to scold Ron and Harry.
"Well if you can catch his attention I'd say it's most definitely worth it." Ginny giggled with a wink.
Ten minutes later Hermione and Ginny were waling out of the shop with their dresses, "well that was interesting to say the least." Hermione sighed.
"Tell me about it, but did you see Ronald's face? He was ready to die when he saw how sexy you looked." Ginny giggled. "Oh, look who it is now, your pus filled boil is watching you from across the way.
"Well is he now, don't wait up for me; I'll meet you at Fred and George's." Hermione smiled widely, and quickly crossed the street, grabbing Malfoy by the collar and dragging him the nearest crack between two buildings.
"Hello dear," He chuckled as their lips met,"So I'm a pus filled boil am I?"
"No, you are an insolent pus filled boil, but you're still mine." She answered sucking his bottom lip fiercely. "Did you like the dress?"
"I loved it on you." He laughed feverishly pulling her closer to his body. "Oy shit Potter, Weasley, you better go…"
"I'll see you tomorrow then…good bye…" She gave him one last kiss and slipped back into the crowd.
"Where've you been?" Mrs. Weasley demanded as Hermione finally caught up with the group.
"I left something at Madame Malkin's, I just went back to go get it," She lied breathlessly.
"Dear, if you're going to lie about a boy, at least make it a good one." Mrs. Weasley whispered, "I expect to hear all about him later."
Hermione glanced at Ginny who shrugged and they finished up all of their shopping. As promised later that night Hermione and Ginny told Molly Weasley all about Draco without actually telling her who he was.
Hermione could barely sleep that night, knowing she would be able to spend as much time with Draco as she wanted. She kept sighing, and Ginny couldn't sleep because of it, but decided not to say anything because she knew this was Hermione's first time truly being in love.
As usual, everyone was sluggish the next morning, and as usual they were nearly late. As Hermione shoved her way through the ever growing crowd she bumped into the back of a young woman that she didn't recognize. "Oh, sorry I didn't see you…holy shit…what are you doing here?" Hermione gasped as she looked at the young woman's face.
"You didn't honestly think you were the only witch in the family did you?" She giggled in response to Hermione's state of shock.
"Hey Granger," Draco called to Hermione as he made his way toward her, "Whoa, and who may I ask might you be…"
"This is Lylan Grimm; she's my cousin, and apparently a witch…" Hermione snapped rather confused by the situation.
"Grimm, that's a pureblood name, a really old pureblood name." Draco said.
"Well what did you think she was a Muggle or something?" Lylan asked, "Oh they never told you then…? I need to go now, teacher's conference, good to see you Hermione." Lylan announce quickly realizing what she had let slip out.
"What the hell was that about?" Draco wondered.
"I'm not entirely sure yet, but she's much too old to be a student…and what was that about a teacher's conference?" Hermione found herself wondering out loud as they made their way to the head's compartment.
"Ah, Miss Granger, Mr. Malfoy good to see you made it here." Professor McGonagall remarked as they entered. "Miss Granger, I have some news for you, your cousin Lylan Grimm will be joining us as the new Transfiguration professor, I'm sure that you are already well aware of that though."
"No, actually I had no idea that she was even a witch," Hermione remarked.
"Oh well seeing as it's not really my place to tell you the whole story, I shall send an owl to your parents immediately." She whisked away, handing each head their introductory letter and left the compartment.
"So, where were we before we were so rudely interrupted yesterday?" Draco asked grinning evilly.
"Let me refresh your memory," Hermione said grabbing him by the neck and plunging her tongue into the cavern of his mouth. He shuddered with delight as squeezed her body toward his, slowly making his way toward one of the benches.
They were interrupted once again however, by Blaise Zabini, trying to wrench the locked door open. He as well as the rest of the prefects had arrived for the meeting to discuss the year's activities.
Draco regretfully pulled himself off of Hermione, and let the others in. "Right so let's get down to business shall we?" He announced clearing his throat quickly. The meeting went by rather fast as they had decided to do a Halloween Ball this year instead of the Yule Ball, and had decided to do various other school unity activities instead of Hogs Meade trips because of the dark times.
Blaise noticed Draco stealing secretive glances at Hermione and knew he must speak with Draco about the issue, so he hung back as everyone else filed out of the room. "So, you and the Mudblood then," He asked Draco as he was ushered out by his friend.
"She's not a Mudblood anymore, she's from the Grimm clan, and her cousin is the new Transfiguration professor." Draco growled shoving Blaise out the door and locked it once more. "What a nosey git." He Snorted.
"He may be nosey, but he has made it quite clear that he's not as stupid as we were led on to believe," Hermione laughed.
"Hermione, do you know what it means now that I know you're part of the Grimm family?" Draco wondered sitting next to her.
"Well, I'll take a slight guess that it means that I'm not Muggle born after all," She realized looking into his eyes.
"Yes, but not just that, it means that you are a pureblood' Grimm's do not marry out side of pureblood families, they have too much to lose. It's not just about the pride they have in their name, and the social status, it's the money, the power, the respect, and the fact that besides Potter, the Grimms are the only family the dark lord fears having on the ministry's side." He explained. "Mostly they live in Ireland and Scotland now, but the few that live here, are for the most part neutral, but the dark lord would flee if he knew even one Grimm was on the ministry's side."
"So that would explain why Lylan has come to Hogwarts." Hermione whispered.
"Yes, it would. But let's not talk about that anymore, blood doesn't matter to me, and I don't want it to burden you."
"You're right Mr. Malfoy, as I'm finding you typically are." She smiled, "I don however need to go and chat with Harry for a bit as I usually do on these trips…I'll be back soon my love." She kissed him good bye and left the compartment.
Hermione accidentally walked in on Ginny and Harry having one of their snogging sessions, and quickly let them be before they even noticed she was there. She let out a sigh and turned around to see Ron right behind her. "Oh, Ron hey…" She breathed surprised to find him so close to her.
"Hermione I've been meaning to tell you something rather important, I keep putting it off but, the way Malfoy was looking at you the past couple of days has made me realize that this can't possibly wait any longer." Ron started to explain as he led her to an empty compartment.
"Ron I'm sure that it can wait…I mean we're in no hurry, and who's Malfoy to worry about?" Hermione joked nervously, not sure what Ron was up to.
"Hermione, I'm your secret admirer," he announced to her.
She nearly burst out laughing when she heard this 'He can't be seriously thinking of taking credit for that can he?' She asked herself seeing exactly how serious he was about it, "You most certainly are not! How dare you impersonate someone as romantic and good hearted Ronald Weasley?" She yelled.
"I'm not impersonating anyone!" He insisted.
"Yes you are, if you weren't you would have been in Diagon Alley with me the day before yesterday!" Hermione told him trying to push past him.
He grabbed her arm and kissed her fiercely and grabbed her upper thigh, slowly moving his hand up. Hermione began to cry, desperately wishing he would stop, or someone would come to help her. She tried to scream but Ron's tongue made it nearly impossible. Then suddenly from no where a flash of platinum blond hair came to her rescue, she clung to him sobbing as she heard "Malfoy mind you own bloody business, Hermione and I are together now, so bugger off," but was cut short by Draco punching Ron in the face.
Lylan was the first teacher to com across them, "what the bloody hell happened here?" She demanded of the three of them.
"He attacked me!" Ron shouted holding his now blood gushing nose.
"I'd say it looks to be the other way around mate," Draco said darkly shielding Hermione from his sight. He whisked her away with Professor Grimm in step right behind him.
