Draco Malfoy shook his head, as he stepped out of the general herd's way, on his way to Arithmancy. He could hear it again, that same, bewitching tapping. It had been bothering him... since Potions...

And, just like that, Draco Malfoy felt his thoughts aligning, broken pieces of pottery that he suddenly saw the shape of, how to reassemble without magic, even.

Gryffindor.

Just like her - that Muggle...

Except... maybe not a Muggle,

but a muggle born.i

Draco could see the connections, all of them - scattershot, here and there, every single thing his below-the-surface mind had been trying to scream at him from his mental depths. And they led to one person.

Granger

I have to find her!

Draco was off like a flash, heading past Arithmancy towards the quickest path up from the greenhouses.

I have to see her, now.

Draco slid into an alcove, knowing that Granger would surely be bustling past in moments. He could hear her light tread and chuffy breath, as his breathing nearly stopped.

Three.

Two.

One.

Draco's arm reached across Granger. It grabbed her wrist, and tugged her into the alcove. Luckily, Granger was too startled - eyes wide, hands clutching her books to her chest, to go on the attack.

Draco bent his head down, and planted a firm, gentle, insistent kiss on Hermione Granger's lips. Soft, and firm, nothing yielding - pressing back against him.

After what seemed like a minute, Draco Malfoy pulled away slowly.

And Hermione Granger - getting what was probably her first look at who was accosting her - sparkled, that gleam in her eye.

Unlike every other girl he'd ever met, that meant trouble - not "I love the way you kiss."

Because Draco Malfoy recognized that look on Hermione Granger's face.

Hermione Granger had just had An Idea.

"Dray-co." She said thoughtfully, eyes daggersharp. "You're my betrothed!"

Draco Malfoy froze at the thought, looking down at her, his mind scrambling through bits and pieces of his life - tattered shreds that again fit a pattern... just one he'd missed the weaving of. Quietly, he responded at last, "Yeah, I am."

"How long have you known!?" Hermione Granger snapped, her hands holding her hips as if welded there.

"Since about five seconds after you." Draco Malfoy said, smirking.

There was a tumult of people outside the alcove, and Draco Malfoy was suddenly aware that they'd not used a single silencing spell. Anyone could have heard.

Worse, this meant that class was starting, and Merlin save Malfoy if he tried to keep Granger from class. "I suppose we need to get you to class. Something tells me that even if you skip, you won't be focused enough to..." Malfoy could see that Granger had a million questions, and that her natural curiosity would impel her to stay and get them answered.

"You can't tell anyone." Draco Malfoy said urgently.

Granger's chin jutted out, as she took a step towards Malfoy - putting her breasts just millimeters from his chest. "Are you ashamed? Of me? Of yourself?"

Malfoy shook his head, covering his forehead with a hand, and said, "No! No, we need to talk, first- please."

Granger's fury seemed to fade as she nodded, confirming, "You won't tell anyone either?"

Malfoy nodded back, and said, "Be on time to Arithmancy. I'll be two late." He paused a tic, and then said, "Meet me here after your last class." Granger didn't bother to acknowledge the comment, but Malfoy didn't really need her to. She was too curious, too... everything not to show up. Ignoring something like this wasn't in her nature, at all.

[a/n: Ever have one of those days? When everything magically fits together? That's your unconscious working in the background.

Malfoy's not exactly is he?

Granger had been thinking his name was Andre, because that's a more likelier name than Draco.

Reviews welcome!

Oh, and as to the person asking what year it is? 6th, but without horcrux hunts, so Snape's still teaching Potions.]