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**** HERMIONE ****

I had been sitting on my deck for hours watching the dark clouds roll back in. It seemed that winter was truly settling in and the small reprieve we'd had from the stormy weather was almost over, and the darkening clouds were about to burst all over again.

I was curled up on the deck chair, wrapped snugly in a blanket, my pink beanie that I had tossed into the air when I first arrived here, was firmly pulled over my ears. The kind, hand-made gesture from my once future mother-in-law was too much to part with and I had retrieved it almost as soon as it had left my hands.

From the very first time I had met her Molly Weasley had been kind and generous and had welcomed me into her family long before her son and I were anything. And because of that, I couldn't bear to part with even just the small gift that was my favourite beanie. She wasn't at fault for her sons' actions, and I had chided myself for being so blatantly careless with it.

I ran my fingers along the soft wool and sighed. It was just one more thing I would have to come to terms with; the loss of yet another part of my family. Looking out over the choppy sea, I swallowed the lump in my throat. I refused to cry one more tear over Ronald Weasley. He had made his choice, and his choice wasn't me.

I closed my eyes, breathing deeply, calming myself. I'd had very little sleep - just minutes at a time - but my thoughts were clear. I liked being with Draco. I liked our conversations, I liked our walks on the beach, and once I had stopped torturing myself over the fact that I had kissed him, I realised that I had liked kissing him.

It had been hours since our encounter and I could still feel his lips on mine. I could still taste him, could still smell his scent all around me. My fingers itched to feel the warmth of his skin again, and I wanted to feel his arms wrapped tightly around me.

But I also wanted to take my time; I wouldn't rush into anything with him. I was still nervous that it was too soon, regardless of how intense my feelings had become. And I certainly wasn't going to have sex with him just for the sake of it; even though my timid little fantasy had grown and I had begun to imagine just how good it would be with him.

I looked up at his house, wondering if he was watching me; knowing that he would be watching me. I knew that I had promised to see him, and as much as I wanted to go to him, a tiny part of me was enjoying the fact that he would be watching me and worrying about when it was I would actually move from my cosy spot on my deck and make my way to his house.

I smiled. He had nothing to worry about. The last few hours my entire world had become him. Every other thought – my job, my friends, Ronald, the gossip – had all disappeared and I was left with just him.

It had been bad enough that he'd witnessed my teary display the first night he cooked dinner for me, but my snotty, sobbing, red-faced, puffy-eyed display the previous night should have had him running - no, sprinting - away. But he hadn't. He had simply held me and let me cry.

And he'd somehow, in that simple act, managed to make it better. Had made me feel better. Had made me feel that I was in a safe place. And it was a place that I was wholly comfortable with.

I shifted in my seat, my bare feet hitting the cool boards of the deck as the first fat drops of rain began to fall. I glanced once more at the sea as the swells picked up and crashed their way to the shore. And what I realised was that I wanted to give this - us - a shot. I wanted to know if the feelings that were coursing through me were just an itch I wanted to scratch, or if indeed they were something more.

I knocked lightly on the door, even though I had made myself at home in his house on more than one occasion. I was not sure what the protocol was for returning to the house of the man that you kissed and then fled in tears from. I was nervous about what his reaction to me would be. He had said that he wanted this, wanted me, but my own protective instincts told me that he could still be playing me.

There was no answer and I saw no one inside when I peered through the window. I opened the door and stepped inside, and a smile spread across my face. The quiet strains of a melancholic, yet somehow peaceful melody filtered down the stairs, explaining his absence from his usual place on the couch.

I followed the sounds, stopping briefly at the Chagall painting, running my fingertip lightly along the frame and admiring it once more before making my way towards the top floor of the house. I stopped in the doorway, watching silently as Draco sat hunched over the piano, a slight frown on his face.

My father's love of classical music had influenced me, but I couldn't place the piece he was playing. It was sweet and gentle and mellow but highly emotive, and yet again he seemed drawn into the music, the frown on his face one of concentration rather than that of consternation. Why he kept this to himself was a tragedy for all those who didn't get to hear it, but when sly and cunning were the motto that had followed you for your entire life, a sweet piano concerto was something that he was most likely to be teased relentlessly about, and the nasty, purist image that he had maintained would have been tainted.

As if sensing me, he looked up. His hands faltered and I asked him to keep playing. He simply nodded and I crossed the room and sat in the armchair, curling my feet beneath me and closing my eyes. I knew that we had to talk, but for just a few moments, I wanted to pretend that everything was fine and just listen to him play.

The quiet pitter-patter on the windows, as the rain that had been threatening all morning finally began to fall, did nothing to dampen the exquisite sounds that his nimble fingers were playing. I let the music wash over me, drifting away as the notes rose and swelled, then quieted to a soft, dreamy melody.

"Hermione?"

The music stopped instantly and my eyes flew open.

"Pansy?"

She crossed the room in a flash, dragging me from the chair and engulfing me. "Thank fuck you're okay," She said, "Where the hell have you been?"

I untangled myself from her arms and glanced over her shoulder. Draco was now standing, a look of panic on his face, and I was sure mine reflected the same.

"I've been…" I turned my gaze back to her and she gave me a questioning look. "I've been hiding."

She looked startled, as if she suddenly realised where she was. "You've been here? With him?" She turned to Draco, "You've been hiding her? You knew all along where she was?"

"No!" We both said in unison.

She looked between us, and then pointed her finger at me, "Do not go anywhere. I'm getting Harry and Ginny," she said, not waiting for an explanation as to why I was in Draco's house.

"No," I said, "Pansy, I'm not ready—"

"I don't care if you're ready or not. They're going out of their minds with worry." She snapped, "Harry is about a day away from setting the Aurors on you, and if he does, everyone will know where you are. Both of you."

I looked at Draco, and watched as his shoulders slumped, and I knew that Pansy was right. I couldn't hide forever, and if Harry did send the Aurors to find us, then yes, the entire world would know not only where I was, but where Draco was also.

I sighed, "Fine Pansy. Bring them. But only them."

She stepped back, but Draco grabbed her arm, stopping her. "Pansy," He said quietly, "Downstairs, not up here, okay?"

She frowned at him, but nodded and instantly disappeared. I stared at the spot that she had vanished from, and I felt the nervous tension knot in my stomach. She said they'd been worried, but I knew better. They'd be furious. Furious that I'd left, furious that I'd been gone for so long, and doubly furious when they discovered where I was.

He gripped my shoulder, "Talk to me."

I shrugged, "I should have told them sooner, I guess."

He pulled me to him and kissed the top of my head, "Well, they'll be here any minute, but we'll deal with them downstairs together."

I nodded, understanding why he had told Pansy to remain downstairs when she came back. This was his sanctuary, his place of solitude. And, considering that virtually no one knew where he lived, I guessed that very few people knew about it.

"Wait," I said, "Are you sure about them coming here? I know they won't tell anyone, but—"

He pressed his finger to my mouth, silencing me. "It's fine." He said and dragged his finger across my lips, a flash of lust flickering in his eyes.

"We still have to talk," I said quietly, nervously.

"I know," He murmured and pulled me closer to him. He pressed his forehead gently to mine, "It can wait. I told you I'm not going anywhere."

"What do I tell them?"

"The truth," he told me, "That you're staying in the cottage, that you had no idea that it was mine and that you had no idea that I lived here. You simply met me on the beach," He smiled at me, "And that we've become friends."

"Is that what this is?"

"You know it's more than that," he pressed a quick kiss to my lips, surprising me, "But right now, they don't have to know anything more than what you want them to know."

I didn't want them to know anything. Truthfully, I didn't want them to even come here. I was enjoying the quiet, enjoying being away from the constant scrutiny of the entire world. And I was enjoying being with Draco, enjoying getting to know him without prying eyes, enjoying the secrecy of it. And I was suddenly annoyed that it was all about to end.

"I don't want to tell them anything," I said rather sulkily, "I want to keep hiding."

He chuckled, "You sound like me."

"Yeah, well, I've not had any other influences in my life for months," I grumped, "You've clearly rubbed off on me."

He grinned at me and I pressed my fingers to his mouth realising that my choice of phrase had not been wise, "Don't"

"Don't what?" He said, his voice muffled behind my hand.

"What ever dirty thought it is that you're thinking, keep it inside your head."

He laughed, "I have no idea what you mean."

I shook my head and smiled, wanting so much to stay in the bubble that we had created. I wanted to keep the first stirrings of this thing that was building between us, well, between us. His gaze searched my face and I knew that he thinking the same thing. He lifted his hand to my cheek and leaned forward, but we both jumped as a voice echoed up the stairs.

"Get your arses down here!" Pansy hollered from two floors below. "Now!"

"They're going to hate you, you know that, right?"

"Yeah, I know. That's why you need to go first," Draco said making me laugh. "If they start aiming curses at me, they'll hit you instead."

I pressed my hand to his chest, "You need me to protect you, Malfoy?"

He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my fingers, "Always, Granger."

**** DRACO ****

We descended the stairs, Hermione shaking her head and muttering about Slytherin cowards as she walked in front of me. I took a breath as we finally made our way down to the living room, all the while wondering just how they would all react to finding her here in my house.

I was sure that Pansy's announcement that she had found Hermione was met with relief, but I was also sure that when she also announced that she was hiding out with Draco Malfoy, the shock would have been palpable.

She had barely stepped off the bottom step when Ginny engulfed her, clutching Hermione to her as if she would disappear again. I stopped a few steps behind her and watched as Potter took his turn to hug her, both friends looking at her with a mixture of relief and concern.

I felt Pansy's eyes on me, and I refused to look up at her. We had been friends for too long and I knew exactly what she was thinking. She was well aware of my feelings when it came to Hermione, and I was positive that she was thinking that somehow I had managed to convince her to hide with me so I could have my way with her. She was wrong, of course and was about to find out the truth, but I knew that she was sure there was more going on than my simply offering a refuge to a friend.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing Malfoy?" Ginny snapped, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Excuse me?" I moved down the stairs and stepped around them.

"What the hell charm did you use on her?" Ginny snarled and took a step closer to me, shoving her finger in my face, "She wouldn't come here of her own accord, Malfoy, what the hell did you do?"

I rolled my eyes and looked over her shoulder at Hermione. Potter had stepped in front of her, in what I assumed was a form of protection, and I had to stop myself from laughing. I took another step back, moving away from Ginny and her pitiful attempt to scare me.

"Do you honestly think that I could hold her here against her will? Hermione Granger? Really?" I shot her a look that clearly let her know I thought her stupid. I waved my hand between the pair and spoke directly to Hermione, "Did you want to explain to these lovely people what happened?"

Her lips twitched and I knew that she was as close to laughing as I was. Her friends meant well, of course they did. If the situation was reversed, Pansy and Blaise would be all over Hermione in a heartbeat.

She stepped away from them and took a breath. "I rented the cottage down there," she pointed towards the window, indicating the small cottage that had been her home for the past two and a half months. "I had no idea at the time that Draco owned it. Nor did I know that he lived here."

I grinned as their eyes widened at her use of my first name. It had shocked me the first time she used it, so I knew how they felt.

"It wasn't until I'd been here for about a week that I ran into him on the beach. Well, actually he ran into me." She looked up at me and smiled, "And he promised me that he wouldn't tell anyone that I was here."

Pansy slapped his arm, "Really? You didn't think we would be worried?"

I nodded, "I knew that you all would be, but I gave her my word."

Potter made a snorting sound, "And your word means…"

I glared at him, "You can think what you like, Potter. But when I give my word, I mean it."

"Right," he drawled.

"Can we not get into a pissing contest here, please?" Hermione cut in.

I held my hand up and nodded, "Sorry, you're right, this is not about me and Potter." Again, the shocked looks made me smile.

"Hermione," Ginny said, "Why'd you leave without telling us?"

"I needed space." She said simply, "I needed some peace and quiet, and if you all knew where I was, I wouldn't have gotten that."

I watched as flickers of hurt crossed their faces. I wanted to tell them all that they deserved it, that had they simply sat and listened to her, we wouldn't be in my house, having the conversation that we were. And this conversation was not at all what I had expected. I assumed that there would be yelling – at me – and tears and hugs for her. But what was happening here was tinged with anger, anger that probably needed to be let out.

"We could have done that for you," Potter said, "You just had to tell us to back off."

"Would you have though?" She asked, and his head lowered. She huffed out a frustrated breath, and ran her hand across her face. "I needed time to think, okay? I needed to be away from everything. It was all too much. And I'm sorry that I left like I did, but it was the only way."

"Were we that bad?" Pansy asked.

"Yes." She replied and shrugged.

Ginny made a choking sound and her jaw clenched, and I could see her temper flaring at Hermione's simple response. "So staying here with him," she stabbed her finger in my direction, "Was a better option?"

"I'm not staying with him," Hermione reminded her, "But yes, it was the better option."

"And what exactly was it that we did that was so horrendous that you had to up and leave without a word?"

"What you did," Hermione said and I could see her own temper picking up, "was constantly tell me how much of an arse Ron was – is - and how you all thought I could do so much better than him. That I deserved someone better than him."

"And the problem with that is?" Ginny snapped.

"For the six years prior to that, you thought we were perfect for each other and then suddenly we weren't!?" She pointed at Ginny, "You were constantly telling me you couldn't wait until we were sisters!"

Potter took a step forward, "Hermione, we were just—"

"I loved him, I was in love with him, and you all told me to simply forget him? Like it was easy? How was I supposed to do that?" Hermione's voice rose and everyone tensed, realisation setting in. "And then I had to hear you all tell me that I could do better? Really? You couldn't have told me that six years ago? You're all so sure that he wasn't good enough for me, but you didn't think to tell me that before I got my heart ripped out?"

She sucked in a breath and I could see the tears building, "Do you know how I felt hearing you all say that? I felt like an idiot. I felt like I was so stupid that I couldn't see who he really was, but you all could. And now you're all here again, assuming that Draco hexed me because I'm so stupid!"

Her tears spilled over and she brushed furiously at them. I stepped closer and put my hand on her shoulder and she pointed at me, "He was the only one who actually listened to me. He's the only one who did what I asked. And unlike you three, not once has he said anything negative or nasty to me about Ron. He's kept his thoughts to himself and has only ever asked how I'm feeling."

She turned and moved to sit on the couch, lifting her knees to her chest, a position that I had come to know well. She was protecting herself, even if these were her friends.

The silence in the room was deafening as her words sank in. Even I had to admit I was shocked. She'd only told me that she had needed to get away from the craziness, she hadn't told me what they had said or how deeply their words had hurt her.

I sat on the coffee table in front of her, ignoring them all. I touched her foot, "Talk to me."

She looked up at me and gave me a watery smile. It had become our thing. I'd tell her to talk to me and she would unload on me. "I should have known. I should have seen it coming. I am an idiot."

"No you're not," Ginny said and sat beside her, taking her hand.

She looked at her friends, "Sorry."

"No," Potter said and sat beside me, "Don't apologise. And you're not stupid. Far from it."

"And we're sorry," Pansy said, perching herself on the arm of the couch beside her. "We shouldn't have been so thoughtless."

Hermione looked at Ginny, "I need to stay here. I know I need to come back eventually, but right now," she paused and looked at me, "I just want to be here."

I squeezed her foot, "And you're welcome for as long as you need."

"Thank you," she quietly.

Ginny narrowed her eyes at me, but I could see the anger had left her. "Well, as long as he's not being an arse."

"He's not." Hermione reassured her.

"Fine," Ginny leaned in and hugged her, "But we'll still be checking in on you."

"But of course, we'll let you know before we arrive though." Pansy added. "I don't need any more surprises."

Hermione craned her neck back to look up her, "Nothing's happening between us, Pansy. We're just friends."

Pansy placed her hand over her heart and managed to look insulted, despite the smirk on her face, "I was thinking no such thing."

"I didn't mean it," Hermione said as she stood beside me, drying dishes from the dinner that had been hurriedly thrown together, when I – surprising even myself – insisted that they all stay.

Dinner had started out awkwardly, with Hermione's admission of being hurt by their comments, no matter how supportive they had meant them to be. But without one mention of Weasley's name, dinner had become a reminiscence of our time at school, and Potter regaling us with the less serious, and very humorous, dealings at the Aurors office.

Pansy's eyes had been watching us carefully the entire time, and I made sure not to touch or even look too long at Hermione. But I knew that it was all for naught. Pansy was far too shrewd to believe Hermione's 'just friends' comment. But thankfully she kept her thoughts to herself. Although, I knew a full interrogation was imminent.

"Didn't mean what?" I let the water out of the sink and dried my hands.

"That we were just friends." She rolled her eyes as I smirked, "But you knew that."

I stepped closer to her, taking the dish towel from her and tossing it on the counter. I took her hands in mine, kissing her knuckles, "Are you okay?"

She nodded, "Yeah. It was a little more intense than I thought it would be."

"I think it needed to be said though." I led her to the couch, ignoring her protests that she'd not finished cleaning up. I pulled her legs over mine, "Talk to me."

She frowned and I ran my hand along her calf.

"You came here earlier and I assume that before we were interrupted, you had planned to talk to me."

She sighed "You said you'd wait for me?" I nodded and she lowered her eyes to her lap before she continued, "I don't want you to wait."

My hand stopped moving on her leg and the thought that she had decided she didn't want this had me holding my breath. "Hermione, what—"

But I didn't get the chance to finish. She leaned in towards me and pressed a soft kiss to my mouth, before pulling away and smiling at me.

"Are you sure?" I asked, and she nodded.

"But…" she dropped her eyes again.

I lifted her chin, "But?"

"I don't want to rush this," she said quietly, "I don't want to just fall into bed with you just to scratch an itch. I want more than that. Much more."

I nodded, still slightly dazed at what she was saying. "I told you I'd wait, and I meant it," I slid my hand up her arm and over her shoulder, cupping the back of her neck and leaning my forehead against hers, "I want to know everything about you, Hermione, and I'm happy to take my time in doing that."

"Good," she whispered and kissed me again, a number of small pecks, parting our mouths over and over until I gripped the back of her head and held her against me.

I wanted this kiss, our first, real kiss to be deep and hard, with heat behind it. I wanted her to know that I meant every word I said, that I would wait until she was ready for more, but I also wanted her to know how I felt.

She pulled away, brushing her fingertips over her swollen lips. It was the same gesture she had made the previous night and I held my breath.

But this time she didn't flee. Instead she reached those same fingers to my lips, her eyes moving over my face, studying me, as if waiting for the hurtful barbs of our youth to return.

I smiled at her, circling her wrist and rubbing my thumb gently over her skin. I turned her hand and kissed her palm, letting her decide if this was enough for tonight.

She took a breath, and slowly leaned back and dropped to the couch. I followed, sliding beside her, propping myself up on one elbow and trying not to press my full weight against her. But she pulled me closer, and I shifted until I was half laying on top of her, one of my legs wedged between hers.

Her eyebrows lifted when she felt me hard against her hip and she grinned, "We were only kissing."

"Well aware," I said gritting my teeth and trying not to thrust against her.

"Sorry," she bit her lip, trying not to laugh.

"It's fine," I told her, "I've got hands, I'll deal with it later."

She snorted, burying her head in my chest, her body shaking as she tried not laugh out loud. I lifted her face, and smiled at the sight; her eyes were bright and her cheeks flushed, a sight that had been rare in the past few months. I kissed her again, stopping her laughter, stroking her tongue with mine, teasing her.

"I am sorry," She said, stroking my cheek tenderly, "I'm just not ready for anything more than this right now."

"And until you tell me otherwise, I'll be happy just kissing you, okay?"

She nodded, leaning back in and time seemed to stand still. Our mouths lingered, meeting and parting, the soft taste of wine on her tongue as it moved against my own. I threaded my fingers through her hair, circling my thumb against the skin behind her ear, trading kisses with her, slow and unhurried.

I kissed along her jaw, nuzzling her neck, nipping and kissing at her soft skin. The breathy sounds that were close to my ear were doing nothing to tamp down the growing problem in my pants.

She sighed and pushed gently against my chest.

"Too much?" I asked.

"No, it's fine, but..." she sighed again as I brushed my fingers down her arm, "Can we just lay here? Sleep maybe?"

"Couch buddies it is." I said and she giggled. I dropped one more kiss on her mouth and shifted, rolling us both so we were face to face, on our sides. I reached for my wand on the side table. I pointed it at the blanket that was folded over the back of the armchair and it floated over to us.

I covered us over and pulled her closer to me, not remembering the last time I just held a woman in my arms.

"Draco?" I felt her relax against me.

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

I wasn't sure what she was thanking me for, but I murmured you're welcome and closed my eyes. I listened to her breathing as it grew long and steady. I pressed my lips to her forehead, wanting her to be as close to me as possible as I slowly drifted into the world of dreams with her.

A/N:

Thank you all for reading and reviewing, and thank you all for reminding me to keep updating. Apologies for making you all wait...as much as I would love for writing to be my full time job, unfortunately it's not and with the Christmas break over, my day job calls. I'll do my best to update again ASAP xxx