Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, they are the brilliant works of the marvelous J.K.Rowling. I also do not own Coldplay or To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee.

CHAPTER 16

Mrs. Smith had been alternating between reading 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and introducing them to new objects in Muggle Studies. This week they were concentrating on wars and weapons. This wasn't part of the traditional teaching material, but Mrs. Smith had a personal interest in history and battles. They began by learning about the traditional weapons of war, like the catapult and swords, to more modern inventions like the gun. The teacher even brought in a real gun with her, though she assured the class there were no bullets and she would not be doing demonstrations. The gun fascinated most of the students, but Draco was too busy writing notes and flying them over to Hermione when the teacher wasn't looking. The two made sure to look pissed off at each other with the note passing so none of the students would get suspicious.

They were shown how the gun worked and asked to write a 'pros and cons' essay about guns during the rest of the class to be handed in at the end of the period. The class dispersed, and they all went to lunch. After lunch Hermione was just leaving the Great Hall to grab some books for her next class when Draco bounded up to her and engulfed her in a huge hug. She was not sure how to react; she just stood there dumbfounded with her hands sticking out at her sides. He put his hands on the sides of her face and kissed her sporadically on the lips; short, quick, excited kisses. Amazingly, no one seemed to notice except some of the Griffindors sitting nearby or leaving for their next class. All the other students were carrying on as usual and those that noticed stood staring in amazement.

Hermione pulled away from Draco and looked with shock into his steel-grey eyes. To her surprise, Draco's expression was one of excitement and happiness like nothing she'd ever seen. He kissed her again but this time she managed to ask him,

"What is it? What's going on?" He held her face and exclaimed,

"It's my father!" At the mention of Lucius made Hermione feel momentarily ill, until Draco exclaimed,

"He's in Azkaban!" This took a second for Hermione to register what she had just heard. When it finally sunk in, she hugged him in an excited and tight embrace. She breathed a sigh of relief and kissed him passionately back.

By this time the students in the Great Hall were starting to realise what was going on and within 30 seconds the entire hall had fallen quiet. Everyone stared in shock but the couple everyone was staring at were too engrossed in each other to notice. They continued to kiss and hug each other for a while and then Draco held his arms around her as they left the hall as if they were the only ones in the room. They made their way outside and found a low stone to sit on.

"When did you find out?" Hermione asked when they settled.

"Just before I told you. Crabb told me. The ministry finally found him after he'd been hiding for so long. When they did, it wasn't hard to find cause to take him in. All those wizards and witches he's killed over the years…" Hermione could see that talking about his father was hard for him, and she tried to comfort him. She hugged him and whispered in his ear,

"It's ok. It's all over now. He'll never get out of there alive by the time he's served his sentence."

Draco lightened up and said in a happier tone,

"You know that this means we could go public? With our relationship I mean."

"Wouldn't you be worried of what the other Slytherins would think?" It made Hermione nervous just thinking about it. Draco put on a posh accent.

"Are you joking? I am the King of Slytherin! No one would dare cross me!" He became more serious now at seeing the worrying look in her eyes. He knew what she was thinking.

"And they wouldn't hurt you, because they'd know that my wrath would make them wish they'd never been born. I won't let anyone hurt you Hermione."

He embraced her and she felt safe being once again in his arms.

The school was buzzing with the news of the new relationship. When I say buzzing, I mean all of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. All the Slytherins were too disgusted to believe it, and the Griffindors were of mixed emotions. Friends of the Golden Trio were certainly not pleased; especially those who knew how deeply effected Ron was by the whole thing. But the happy couple were just that – happy. They remained attached at the hip for the rest of the day (even sat together in classes) and hardly spoke to another person all day.

They had to attend a Head persons meeting that evening and so arrived at Dumbledore's office at 7:30pm on the dot. This the first meeting where the Head Boy and Head Girl had shown up. Other times they had either made an excuse not to go because they were avoiding each other, or Draco could not make it because of Quiddich practise. The meeting was mainly just discussions about the preparations for the Yule Ball. As the two were turning to leave, Dumbledore asked the pair to sit back down again. He looked serious.

"Just one more thing. I have heard tell around the school that you two are in a… relationship? Is that accurate?" The pair nodded.

"Ah. Well then, I feel I need to mention something about the appropriate use of your private rooms?" He peered at them both over his half-moon glasses and raised an eyebrow to emphasise his point.

"We understand, sir." Hermione assured him. The pair wore awkward smiles and Dumbledore looked relieved. Their headmaster let them go and by this time it was 8:15pm.

Hermione and Draco sat on the couch in front of a roaring fireplace for hours that night talking and getting to know each other better. Finally, at around 2am the couple said goodnight and headed up to their private rooms. Hermione sat on her bed and thought about all that was going on in her life. Could this be real? Not only was she in a serious relationship, but with the Head Boy, and none other than Draco Malfoy! But one thing was still troubling her. When she had found him unconscious all those weeks ago, what had happened? People don't just pass out for no reason, and there certainly reason she could think of that may have caused it. He was in prime physical condition (Wink wink). Though it bothered her, she still didn't feel she could ask him about it just yet. Maybe she would venture to the hospital wing and ask Madam Pomfrey about it in her next free period.

Hermione pulled on her favourite pyjamas and slipped between the covers for a peaceful night's sleep.