Draco's POV

"...At least we can pretend that we have everything under control, and that I'm not afraid to get too close," she ended in a whisper. I honestly knew what she meant. I was afraid to, though I would never admit it out loud. For years, we had been considered enemies, and now here we were, telling each other what the other had wanted to hear since day one. Something that both of us had been too afraid to admit, even to ourselves.

I grabbed her hand and led her to her bed. It looked slightly messed up from our earlier activities, and her abrupt escape, but we didn't care. I laid her down next to me, I lightly touched my lips to the side of her head, as she sighed contentedly. We curled up together under the blankets, and I refused to have her facing away from me. When she went to turn the other direction, I grabbed her around her waist and pulled her closer to me. She giggled quietly, and rested her forehead against my chest. Her curly hair tickled a little, but I didn't mind in the least. I felt honored that for once in my life, it felt like everything was right, no matter how brief. Even if it was only pretend for the night. I fell asleep with the girl I loved wrapped up in my arms, snoring softly against my chest. Even if I couldn't tell her that I loved her, I now forced myself to admit it. There was no denying that everything that I had done had always been to keep her safe. Even if it hurt her in the process, it was better than what could have happened to her if we had been close.

Harry's POV

I was seething still. Yes, granted it had been 3 weeks since Rita has posted the article, but I was so tired of her spitting lies. I never dated Hermione. We never had anything for each other but sibling and friendly love for each other. Even that had been gone for a long time. I still cared, and didn't want her hurt over the article, but...it was hard to deny what that picture showed.

In the picture, Hermione was wrapped up in Malfoy's arms, and she pulled back, looking slightly guilty, angry, and it looked like she had been crying. It was all so confusing. Even Ginny couldn't figure out what was going on.

As I strode through Muggle London, going to her house to demand an explanation, I was glad that Ginny had talked sense into me about at least waiting till morning. But when I banged on the door, to have none other than Draco Malfoy open it irritably, I nearly lost it.

"What in the world are you doing at Hermione's house?"

"Having breakfaast, what does it look like to you Potter?" He spat at me. "Why are you here, so I've heard you haven't even talked to her in a year. You all are supposed to be buddy buddy with each other. Where have you been?"

I couldn't tolerate him. And I wasn't going to, I stormed past him into the kitchen to find Hermione sitting at the breakfast table, her head in her hands.

"Mi, what's he done?" I asked her. What she did shocked me.

"He has done more for me in one night than you have done an entire year Harry Potter, and if you think you have the right to storm into my house, insult and bully my guests like you own the place you are very sadly mistaken." At that, Hermione had pulled her head out of her hands and stood up. Her lips had been swollen, and I couldn't help but get angrier the more I looked at her. She had red marks all up and down her neck and shoulder which was only covered by the small strap of her green tank top. When I noticed she was wearing green, I felt even more angry.

"So, what? You're a Slytherin's girl now?" I spat at her. "Are you Malfoy's property?"

"As a matter of fact, Harry, Draco and I had a wonderful night together. And in case you hadn't noticed, I am nobody's property, and never have been." She could tell that she was making me even angrier as she spoke. "You haven't spoken to me in a year, Harry. Ron is married, and hasn't spoken to me either. I don't have anyone anymore. I have sent you owl after owl, and you never respond. I ran into Draco in Diagon Alley, and we just talked."

"That's not what the Prophet showed!" I yelled at her.

"I told him about Anthony!" She screamed back at me. "He is not who he used to be Potter," She spat my last name at me. "He is kind to me, he cares, while you never did!"

"I tried to, you wouldn't let me!" I shouted back at her, knowing I was lying. By the look on her face I could tell she knew I was lying too.

"You sat there hugging me when I lost him, yes. You were sitting there thinking about revenge you knew you could never have, thinking of how someone wronged me, over the fact that I had just lost a child. You're best friend's son! You sat there and let Ron blame me for Anthony not surviving past a few months. You were angry and wanted to hex someone rather than thinking of how I felt. When I told Draco, he did none of that. He held me and made sure he knew that things were going to be ok, he made sure not to leave me when I was like that. He told me to owl him at any time of the night if I ever needed him! He took up the potions position so I could get my damn apprenticeship without having to walk circle's around the one who's supposed to be an expert! He's doing what he can to help me!"
"What was he doing here, Hermione?" I asked her. "You have red marks all over your neck, and your lips are bruised." When I saw her blush, I roared with hatred at Malfoy.

"Enough, Potter. I came here last night because I defended Hermione to my mother, and I couldn't stay near the ungrateful cow another minute, and the only place I could think to go was here. She let me stay here because she is a good person." Mafoy shared a knowing look with Hermione. "She's a beautiful person," he whispered. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Hermione, I'm gonna take you to our house, maybe Gin can talk some sense into you," I said angrily as I reached for her hand.

"No, Harry. It's time for you to leave," she whispered.

"What?" I yelled. "I'm trying to help you because you obviously are confused!"

"I'm not bloody confused Harry Potter! And this is still my home! I happen to love Draco! And at this point in my life I have no idea what I would do without him. You are no longer welcome here Potter, so get. The. Fuck. Out. Of. My. House!" As she yelled she swished her wand at me, blowing me out of her house and onto the sidewalk. Malfoy smirked at me before shutting the door, and locking it. I had no doubts that he put wards up. In my anger, I apparated back home.