A/N: OMG I'm updating. I've been so busy obsessing over the final show of Project Runway that I'm freaking out! My vote goes to Daniel Vosovic. He is so fucking adorable and cute, and very talented. God I nearly had a heart attack when he announced he was gay. There goes all my fantasies LOL. I really do hope all of you enjoy this installment of This Decemeber, It's One More and I'm Free. I'm getting close to ending this story, maybe one more chapter and it'll be done. Thank you for all the reviews

Where is Andrae? LOL

Disclaimer: Again, for all of my chapters that I failed to mention, Harry Potter and gang do not belong to me. They belong to the talented J.K. Rowling

I'm sinking like a stone in the sea,
I'm burning like a bridge for your body

Tautou- Brand New

Draco Malfoy rested his head against the cool tile as he turned on the jets of the shower and let the cold-water pound down on his body. He was flushed and tired. Most of all, he was upset. It had been over three months since his argument with Granger, and she was still acting as childish as if she were four. The last thing he had intended to do was kiss her on the lips. Part of the reason for his actions had been to just wake Granger the hell up. For her to realize that they couldn't go on like this, and he was sick of her reclusive little games. Over the past few months, he had respected her wishes and had let her be on her own, watching only from a distance. But he had grown weary of the little game, and wanted things back on a normal.

His Slytherin mates had continued to taunt Granger and call her games, only to be silenced with a menacing look from the Head boy. No one really knew why Draco had been protecting Hermione, it left all the Slytherin's baffled. Draco grabbed a towel from the metal rack and began drying himself. He dressed and and walked over to the room. Draco ran a hand through his damp long hair and rested his head against a pillow. Students were stressing out over N.E.W.T.S, everyone except for Draco.

He pretty much had the whole test down. The only thing that he did worry about was for Hermione. He tried to deny that he felt alarmed for the witch, but he couldn't escape it. And after his outburst, Hermione had scampered out of the dormitory and hadn't returned until eleven at night. She now avoided him with more ease and continued on with her duties. Draco fingered the edge of his pen and sat hunched over his book. But it was difficult to write anything, since his thoughts were clouded with Hermione.

Never in a million years would he have thought that he would develop such a fascination for the mudblood. Ever since their first meeting on the Hogwarts Express, had he been enthralled with the bushy haired girl. It seemed so long ago, but to Draco it felt as if it had only happened yesterday.

A loud knock on his door interrupted his thoughts.

Draco disposed of his leather bound journal and sat up straight on his bed.

"Came in" he said. Hermione opened the door and distanced herself from even the doorway

. " Your owl dropped this by my mail." She remarked in a crisp tone and tossed the parchment envelope on is bed.

Before Draco could utter another word, she slammed the door and was gone from his sight. Draco rolled his eyes. So it seemed as if the old bitchy Granger was back. Draco picked up the envelope and tore the seal open. Inside was a letter addressed to him by his mother.

Draco,

I have not heard from you in sometime, I became worried and decided to correspond with you. Things are going well at home, I let go of the house elf's and hired foreign Squibs instead, they are much more cleaner than the house elf's and do not have a fear of garments. I've become close to one of them, Luca Ferro; an Italian Squib who is quite educated but is disregarded from the wizadring community. I have become so close to Luca, that we have decided to vacation an Italy for a short period, there for you can either join us or stay during at Hogwarts during your short return home for a three day weekend.

Much Love,

Mummy

Draco smirked and crumpled up the parchment and tossed it into the dustbin. So his mother didn't wast anytime in finding a suitable partner, while his father was rotting away in Azkaban. Half of him really didn't care. His mother had never showered him with affection, neither his father. Draco had nearly raised himself. Draco gathered his things and set them up his near his desk. He became restless and began pacing back and forth across the room. He gave up and made his way to the common room.

Hermione was lying down on the maroon couch, reading a thick novel. Draco walked over to Hermione and calmy snatched the book out of her hands. Hermione jerked up and gave him a stern look.

" Give it back Malfoy, I'm not in the mood for your games." She spat out.

As she tried to reach out for the book, Draco pulled out his wand and lazily aimed at the book. In a poof, Hermione's book had disappeared. Even more outraged, Hermione tried to snatch the wand out of his hands

"Give it back!" she shrieked. Her face was now red, and she seemed as if were about to cry.

Draco grabbed her wrists and forced her to look into his eyes." I'll give you your bloody book back if we can just talk."

Hermione looked up at him and snorted. "Why do you want to talk? So you can ask me if I want to shag you again?" she replied in a sarcastic tone.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Holy shit Granger, is it a crime that I want to have a civilized conversation with you?" he asked.

Hermione glared. "All you want from is a civilized shag from me."

Draco laughed and let go of her wrists. "We've been playing this stupid game of cat and mouse for the past few months, and I'm sick of it. Why can't we just go back to how he were?"

Hermione's featured softened and gaped at him. Back to how they were? "You mean back to just avoiding each other? I'm fine with that." Hermione replied with a frown. Draco shook his head.

"God Granger, how thick is that head of yours? I mean before New Years, when we actually had something to talk about."

He leaned over so clothes to Hermione, that he could have sworn she was trembling.

"I want something with you. And I don't mean just another shag. You deserve so much more. I fucked you over, and I don't want to screw up again Hermione, I don't want to sound bloody cheesy, but there's this feeling inside of me. I will do anything for you. As long as you can be mine."

Hermione gaped at him. Draco was actually said.. that he had cared? What had gone through his thick skull? Hermione opened her mouth to speak.

The truth was that she was speechless, and she really couldn't put it into words.

Well they so say that actions speak louder than words she mused.

She lifted a hand and traced his collarbone and rested his forehead against her own. She was shaking; she was shaking of an emotion that she thought she could have never experience, love.