So this is a chapter that's different from the other ones. I'm going to continue the notes thing but every fic like this I read, I want something like this. I hope you guys like it as much as you've liked the other chapters. I really didn't expect such a positive response. Thank you guys!

The door of Hermione's bedroom slowly creaked open. She looked down to see Draco Malfoy sitting on the floor, smiling up at her nervously. She rolled her eyes before holding her hand out to help him up. He took it and stood up, his frame now towering over her own. She smiled weakly at him. The minuets ticked by and they stood there in silence, neither of them knowing exactly what to say.

After a while, Draco cleared his throat. "Uh, so..." he started of awkwardly. Hermione chuckled.

"So? That's the best you can come up with, Malfoy?" She smirked. He rolled his eyes.

"Don't tease me, Granger"

"Hermione"

"What?" He asked, shocked, his eyebrows raised.

"My name is Hermione. You use it while you're writing, so use it to my face" She said, her head held high, as if she was challenging him. He rolled his eyes.

"And why would I do that, Hermione?" He smirked, her name rolling off of his tongue as if if was the first word he ever said. As if it was the only word he said.

"Because you love me, Draco" She retorted. His smirk dropped and he moved away from her, sitting down on the sofa that was in the middle of their shared common room. Hermione followed him after a while; she sat next to him, closer than she used to. "When did all this start?" She asked in a small voice. He sighed and looked at her.

"Third year" He answered. She raised her eyebrows, shocked.

"Third year? Why? What changed?"

"Everything" He told her, "You punched me. You broke my nose and that was the moment- the moment that I knew I loved you. And lately it's been getting worse because we've been living together and everything you do... does something to me. I was glad, before we moved in here. I thought it would help me get over the crush I had" he shook his head "It just made it worse" he explained. Hermione looked away, trying to get her head wrapped around everything. "I love you, okay? I don't know why, but I do and I can't stop"

Hermione looked at him with tears in her eyes. "Why? Why were you so mean to me all those years?" She asked. He sighed.

"I couldn't let anyone find out. And I couldn't leave you alone" He answered quietly, blushing. Hermione smiled slightly and moved closer towards him.

"You should've just told me, Draco"

"My father, Hermione. Back then... He could've done something. He could've hurt you and I've never wanted that. I just wanted you to be happy and I knew that you wouldn't be happy if I loved you"

"I'm happy now, Draco. I'm more than happy. Don't you see that?" she asked "We can be happy together now"

"But-"

"Shut up and kiss me, Malfoy"

And he did.