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Chapter Eight: Explanations

A resounding pop filled the room and Draco and Hermione appeared seemingly out of the middle of nowhere. Once her feet hit solid ground, Hermione pulled herself out of Draco's arms and walked across the room to some boxes that were left packed. She opened it and started to pull stuff out. Draco cleared his throat to get her attention. When she looked up he gave her a look that clearly said, 'You got some explaining to do'. Hermione got to her feet. She stood by the bow and started looking down at her hands fiddling them. She took a deep breath and let it out.

"Umm... You see what had happened was.." She barely got the rest of the sentence out before Draco interrupted her.

"Don't even continue, because I know from experince. That everything after that is a lie. So if you will please start over." Draco said crossing his arms. Hermione closed her eyes and let out a long drawn out sigh. She opened her eyes again and began to speak.

"It all started after fifth year..." Hermione continued to tell the horrilbe tale. Draco was put into a shocked state as Hermione continued to explain everything. He kicked himself, he finally was figuring out the 'perfect' Granger wasn't so perfect after all. She had to deal with a abusive father just as he once had. And for the first time in his life, he felt compassion for someone other than himself. Hermione was coming to a close with her story and she could barely contain the tears. She bowed her head in shame. Draco uncrossed his arms and let his facial features soften.

"Hermione come here." Draco said silently, as if he was scared to speak over a high whisper. She complied and walked over to him, twisting to fit into his open arms. She let the tears stream down her face as she buried her face into his chest. Draco slowly brought his hand on her back and start to pat and rub it. He whispered comforting words into her ear. Trying in and everything to just stop her from crying.

After what seemed like to be hours Hermione finally calmed down. She losened her grip on his shirt and looked up into Draco's face. "Thank you." She said with a gentle smile on her face. Draco smiled down at her and released her from his hold.

"Now lets get unpacking this muggle trash." He said with a jokingly tone. Hermione narrowed her eyes then started to giggle.

"Sod off Malfoy.."

- Time Lapse -

They were in the library sitting down. Finishing off the last of thier summer homework. Hermione was estatic that Draco had a Huge library to himself. She was a little jealous. But she figured it was hers now too.

"Hermione?" Draco said not bothering to look up from his potions essay.

"What now Draco?"

"What are you going to say to the two oafs?" He said referring to Harry and Ron.

"Don't call my friends that! How dare you say that about Harry and Ron.. look at Crbbe and Goyle.." Hermione sneered.

"They aren't my friends, lets just say they are more like bodyguards. Even though now I don't really need them anymore." Draco said pulling up his shirt to show Hermione his well toned abs. She blushed and looked back down at her parchment. Them she figured she should get him back somehow.

"What about your girlfriend? Miss PansAY.."Hermione said with a little spunk. Then started to giggling when she snuck a peep at Draco's expression.

"Granger I am insulted! I would think you'll do me some justice" Draco exclaimed, he thought that was all he had to say. But he saw Hermione rasing a finely arched eyebrow at him. "She isn't my girlfriend.. stalker maybe.. but girlfriend? You gotta be kidding Granger. To tell the truth I always liked somebody else." Draco said quickly looking down at his essay. So Hermione couldn't see the red hue on his cheeks.

"Who?" Hermione asked, suddenly feeling bad that she was keeping him from marrying the girl he had liked for years. Guilt washed over her, thinking that she had somehow ruined his future. Sure they had become friends over the last few weeks but that didn't really mean anything. Seeing the sad look cross over her face, Draco reached out his hand and grabbed hers, giving it a squeeze. Hermione looked up into his gray eyes.

"You, Hemione... I've always liked you." He confessed, letting go of her hand and standing up over to walk over to her side of the table to pick her up into his arms to embrace her. Hermione was in shock. Draco Malfoy her enemy for six long years was saying that he liked her the whole time. It was to much to take in a once. She felt his arms loosen. Thinking that the little hug was over she started to pull away but only to be pulled back in for a kiss. That was the third time he had surprised her that afternoon. But she wasn't going to complain anytime soon. She started to return the kiss. When Draco and her finally parted for some much needed oxygen. Draco looked down at a flushed Hermione he smirked.

"So... Are you going to answer my question now?" He said raising an eyebrow.

"I'm going to tell them that you and I fell in love a long time ago. And have been going out in secret since after I slapped you in our third year." She said all in a matter fact type of tone of voice.

"That's kinda believable. I'll use that excuse for my so called friends. Let try to not get our stories mixed up." He said, Hermione nodded in agreement and then pulled away from his arms and sat back down, picking up her quill and started the scratching on the piece of pachment again. Draco looked at her in wonderment for a moment then sat down across from her again and then started to work on his essay once again. Then something popped in his head. "Don't you think it would be a good idea to come up with then details of the little 'love' story we have here"

Hermione thought about it. And nodded her head knowing that Lavender and Patavi (spelling?) would play 121 questions with her. So they started to discuss the little kinks in the plan, until a house elf came in telling them dinner was being served. Hermione got the determined look on her face and was about to comment.

"Not the SPEW thing again. Lets just eat Granger.." Draco said walking out the library leaving a stunned Hermione in his wake. She collected herself silently telling herself she'll let him have it at dinner.

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(a/n) well thats it! Next Chapter they are on their way to school om the Hogwarts Express. Till then Review! and thanks to all those you already have reviewed.. i luv ya all!