A/N: So some of you were upset about the 'sex' thing. But it has a lot to do with the development of the plot. You will understand in time, I hope.

DISCLAIMER: Refer to previous chapter.

Chapter Eleven: The Plans Begin

Hermione gave a cry of surprise as she was yanked into a classroom unexpectedly. She had just returned from Hogsmeade with Draco, who had gone directly to Quidditch training after a long goodbye kiss. Hermione spun around to be met with three serious expressions, although Ron seemed to be trying to keep his temper under control with the strain showing on his face.

"What's going on?" asked Hermione slowly, "Why did you yank me in here?"

"We heard something today," said Harry slowly.

"Something unexpected," added Ginny.

"Something I didn't particularly want to hear," muttered Ron earning a sharp look from Ginny, "Well I didn't!"

"What did you hear?" asked Hermione glancing at her friend's in turn.

"We heard… we heard you had sex with Malfoy," said Harry, struggling to get the words out, "We overheard Parkinson getting up Malfoy for taking things to that level."

"Hermione… it's been only five days… that isn't even a full week!" cried Ginny, "What's gotten into you?"

Hermione looked down at her hands, "I trust him."

"But do you love him?"

"Not yet."

"Not yet?" questioned Ron, "What do you mean not yet? How do you know you ever will love him?"

Hermione looked up at Ron earnestly, "I know I will… I can feel it growing everyday. I wanted to go to the next level. He didn't force me."

"Did you even talk about having sex with him?" asked Harry.

Hermione let out a defeated sigh, "No. It just happened."

Hermione turned her face away from her friends as they each gave her a look of pure disappointment. Ron stood and left shaking his head as Hermione looked at him with guilty eyes.

"I expected more from you," said Harry honestly, "I thought you of all people would wait until it was love… something special."

"It was special."

"Did you have a romantic dinner beforehand, after the kiss in the rain?" asked Ginny, "Did you enter a room full of lit candles like you always imagined?"

Tears filled Hermione's eyes, as she shook her head no.

"Did you have a long meaningful conversation afterwards?"

"No."

"Then how was that special to you?" asked Ginny, "It was just plain sex Hermione. Sure, feelings were involved but what will you remember when you think back to your first time when your daughter asks you about it?"

"A smoky filled room with people all around while Draco and I had sex in the balcony," mumbled Hermione as more tears fell down her cheeks.

Ginny and Harry didn't comment and held back looks of surprise.

"I don't think he's good for you, Hermione," said Harry honestly, "He… he will hurt you in the long run and I don't want to see you fall apart when it all comes crashing down."

"It won't," snapped Hermione wiping her tears away, "Thanks for the guilt trip though."

Hermione turned and left the classroom storming through the castle to the Entrance Hall. She ran down the steps and headed outside into the chilly cool air. How dare they say all that too her! She was eighteen years old now. She knew how to look after her self and who to trust and what was best for her. They were her friends, not her parents!

Hermione sat down on a bench and looked out at the sunset. But maybe they were right. It wasn't entirely special. It did seem like plain sex in a dingy playhouse. Yet it wasn't meaningless at all. Hermione did want to do it with Draco. She cared about him deeply and knew he felt exactly the same.

Hermione stood and walked towards the lake finding a boulder to sit on. She watched the lake lap up in small waves and the Giant Squid rise it's tentacles into the air trying to catch a bird hovering above the water. It was peaceful here. No one could bother her, not even her friends.

An hour passed by with little notice and the moon rose high into the sky illuminating the water into an almost milky look.

"What yer doin down ere Hermione?"

Hermione looked up in surprise to see Hagrid taking Fang for a walk, "Oh, hi Hagrid. I'm just doing some thinking."

"Yer. It's peaceful down ere for that," nodded Hagrid, "I suppose you heard tha Romilda Vane got suspended for her actions then?"

"No, I hadn't."

"McGonagall won't put up with tha sort of behaviour in her school."

"I don't blame her."

"Did yer have a good day at Hogsmeade?"

Hermione paused before shrugging, "I guess it was a good day."

Hagrid gave her a disbelieving look but said nothing, "I'll leave yer too it then."

Hermione waved goodbye and Hagrid and Fang continued their walk. Hermione stood and headed back to the castle as the cold got to her. She didn't head to the Great Hall for dinner, choosing to skip it.

"Miss Granger."

Hermione stopped and turned to see Professor McGonagall heading towards her, "Yes Professor?"

McGonagall gave Hermione a slight odd look at her lack of enthusiasm but made no comment, instead skipping directly to business, "You will serve your detention tonight with Professor Slughorn. It starts in twenty minutes."

Hermione nodded, "Thank you Professor."

McGonagall nodded and left. Hermione walked over to the dungeon staircase and headed down stairs, along the corridor and stopped outside Professor Slughorn's doorway to his office. It was partly open with voices coming from within. Hermione knocked and entered seeing Draco seated at a chair across from Slughorn.

"Ah, Miss Granger! Wonderful of you to come," said Professor Slughorn.

"Like we really had a choice, sir," said Draco smiling over at Hermione.

Hermione managed to smile pleasantly, "What are we to do tonight, sir?"

"Well some cauldron's need scrubbing and desks need cleaning," said the potions master reading a list, "That should take you two hours. Just through to classroom P03."

The pair headed into the room where cauldrons and a bucket of strong cleaning mixture waited. Hermione headed directly to a cauldron and rolled her sleeves up as she grabbed a scrubbing brush and dipped it into the hot pink mixture.

"Is everything okay?" asked Draco taking the polishing lotion and yellow cloth.

"Everything is fine."

"You don't seem fine."

"Well detention isn't exactly number one on my list of thrilling things to do on a Saturday night. Right now I could be writing letters to my parents and Viktor or… or reading a book."

"Oh, those sound terribly thrilling," chuckled Draco, "I have other things in mind."

Hermione knew what he meant but said nothing. She focused on scrubbing away something mouldy that was emitting green goo.

"So you aren't in the mood for some friendly talk, I take it?" asked Draco watching Hermione furiously scrub, "And you're mad."

"No."

"Annoyed?"

"No."

"Tired?"

"No."

"What then?"

Hermione took a deep breath and shook her head, "Nothing."

"Everyone is feeling some form of emotion at all times."

"Yeah, well right now I feel like cleaning."

Draco sighed and returned to scrubbing the desk, "You were happy when we returned. So I am thinking between then and now something occurred."

"They know."

"Who knows what?"

"Harry, Ginny, and Ron. They know I had sex with you."

"So?"

Hermione sighed and turned to face Draco, "It wasn't special. I mean… it was meaningful but we didn't do anything to make it special… I always dreamed of my first time being led up to with a romantic dinner… candles lit around the room followed by talk about anything… all we did was wham bam thankyou Mam!"

Hermione lowered her eyes to the ground as Draco nodded silently.

"And your friends gave you a dressing down and made you feel guilty as shit, I guess?"

"A little… but it is how I feel. I don't blame you… I should've said something."

"But you were too happy to say anything."

Hermione nodded and turned to the cauldron. Suddenly hands her were on her shoulders and sliding down her arms.

"I promise that Valentines Day will be magical. If I could go back in time I would make today perfect," murmured Draco in her ear before kissing her down the side of the neck, as his hands slid to her waist. Hermione dropped the scrubbing brush and turned to face him, their lips meeting in a hungry kiss. Draco lifted Hermione onto the table away from the cauldrons and yanked her shirt off, his hands touching every inch of visible skin followed by his lips.

Hermione let out a murmur of a moan remembering that Professor Slughorn was only a few classrooms away. It was wrong, to be performing such an act in a public room, yet it felt so damn good and thrilling that Hermione didn't care.

Hermione removed Draco's shirt and grinned at him delightfully as she unbuckled his belt.

"You are a naughty one Hermione Granger," he murmured, his grey eyes shining with desire.

Hermione chuckled and drew him closer for yet another hungry kiss and he lowered her down onto the desk and climbed on, straddling her.

"Today's lesson," he murmured trailing his fingers down her stomach, "Will be a practical. Let your hands do the work."

"Oh, sounds like fun," giggled Hermione as Draco leaned down, sliding his lips across her stomach and upwards towards her lips.

His hands worked on her pants as Hermione removed her bra.

"Lock the door," whispered Draco handing her, her wand.

Hermione pointed it at the door and locked it with the strongest charm as Draco removed her pants…

HD

"Parkinson!" yelled Harry spotting the blonde Slytherin in the Entrance Hall.

Pansy turned and looked at Harry with raised eyebrows, "Potter, Weasley, oh and another Weasley. Too what do I owe this displeasure?"

"It's about Hermione and Malfoy. We know about the sex, thanks to you and Malfoy have a chat outside Zonko's. None of us think the relationship is heading down a healthy path."

Pansy gave a slow nod and turned to Millicent, "Wow, you know Millie, this should go down in history."

"I think you're right Pans. We agree with Gryffindor's," nodded Millicent.

"So you agree with us, then?" asked Harry.

"Generally when we say something like that," said Pansy in a bored tone, "It means, duh Potter. Of course we do."

Ginny gave the two Slytherin's and annoyed look, "Fine. So I think we need to break them up some how."

"No," said Pansy firmly, "If we try to break them up there are two big possibilities that could happen."

"What are they?" asked Ron curiously.

"One, it will only drive them closer together. Or two, Draco will spiral back out of control and Hermione could possibly go the same way."

"Hermione would never turn to drugs," cried Harry, "She has more brains then that!"

"And you know this how? You three didn't even know about her attack, nor did you really care about her until she finally removed your blindfolds!"

"Hey, we care more about Hermione then you can see!" snapped Ron.

"Yeah, well you had a funny way of showing it," snapped Millicent.

" Is there a problem here?" asked Professor Sprout as she saw the group in a heated argument.

"No Professor," all mumbled.

Professor Sprout eyed them suspiciously but headed down the corridor to her office. The three Gryffindor's glared at the two Slytherin's angrily, who were returning the same look.

"Obviously if we are going to work on a solution we need to call a truce," said Pansy softly, trying to keep her self calm, "As much as you three dislike it, Hermione is my friend. I care about her too, you know. So I say we meet up tomorrow morning just after breakfast."

"Where?" asked Ron.

"Well we need a place those two won't go too if they need to find us."

"Divination floor," said Ginny, "Hermione never goes there. She can't stand the subject."

"Neither can Draco," said Millicent, "The first classroom at 9am."

The group nodded and spilt up, heading for their designated common rooms hoping that tomorrow would come up with a solution to the issue they knew was growing bigger by the day.

HD

Hermione woke the next morning in her bed. She looked over at her bedside clock and saw it was 6am. Getting up, she dressed in long black pants, a white singlet top with a pink cardigan. She tied her hair up and slipped on her sneakers before leaving her room, surprised to find Draco up and dressed.

"So you even go for your walks on a Sunday?" asked Draco with a smile.

"What can I say? I'm a early riser," replied Hermione, "Do you want to come with me?"

"Well I didn't get up to sit here alone all morning."

The pair left and made their way to the lake talking and laughing like any regular couple. Hermione didn't care what her friends thought. She had a connection with Draco and it went deeper then her helping him beat his addiction to alcohol and drugs. They had more in common then many people realised.

"So what are you going to do when you leave school?" asked Draco as they walked along the edge of the far side of the lake.

"I used to want to be an Auror but after the war I don't think I could face anything violent," admitted Hermione, "But I think it would be interesting to work in the Department of Mysteries or if not that as a Healer."

"At St Mungo's?"

"Or a private practise in the country. That would be a rather peaceful life," smiled Hermione, "What about you?"

"A quidditch player… or a lawyer."

"I could see you as both."

"You can?"

"Well you are smart. And you have the passion for both career choices."

"Maybe I will do both as much."

"Yeah, burn the candle at both ends," chuckled Hermione earning a confused look, "It's a muggle saying."

"Oh. Muggle saying."

"Is something wrong with that?"

"No. No, I just keep forgetting you are a muggleborn."

"I see," said Hermione with a nod unsure of what to say or do.

"I don't mean it in a bad sense," said Draco hurriedly, "You are just… it's like you were made for this world… it's coming out all wrong."

"It is," nodded Hermione letting go of his hand, "Maybe we should just head back. Breakfast is starting soon."

Hermione started walking ahead quickly with Draco hurriedly following knowing he had put his foot in it big time.

"Hermione, please don't be angry with me. You know I didn't mean it in a horrible way. I just didn't know how to word it."

Hermione stopped and faced Draco, "It just seemed like you felt awkward when you realised that I am a mudblood. Something that would stain your families line of pureblood righteousness."

"Hermione I don't think of you like that. When I think of you I am full of joy. You make me happy… happier then I have been in years."

Hermione looked down at the ground and took a deep breath, "What if we are wrong? What if this is just some… thing that sprung up because I helped you out?"

"So you are still living with doubts because of what your friend's said last night?" snapped Draco.

"I don't know! Maybe they are right. Maybe what this is… isn't real!"

"It is real! What I am feeling is real! What I do with you is real! I didn't get up this morning to argue! I got up to be with you. You are why I am still alive, Hermione! I've never felt like this with any other woman."

Hermione swallowed a lump in her throat and looked up at Draco guiltily, "I'm sorry… I shouldn't have doubted us."

"I think you need to trust in your own instincts and stop listening to every single doubt your friend's seem to have."

Hermione nodded and wiped her tears away as Draco walked over and wrapped his arms around her holding her close.

"I care about you Hermione. I truly, deeply care about you," he said kissing her on the forehead, "Never doubt that."

"I won't. I promise."

HD

"Glad you could finally make it," said Pansy irritably as Harry, Ginny and Ron walked in ten minutes late, "Don't you believe in short cuts?"

"We took them. We had to get rid of Trelawney and her so called predictions," snapped Ginny.

"Just agree and she finds someone else to pester," said Millicent, "I'm always told I'll either die or I don't know, wind up pregnant within three months."

Everyone gave a small chuckle before quickly returning to seriousness.

"So… we all agree Hermione and Draco being together is… well… well it just isn't a good thing," said Pansy, "Already having sex and Hermione is a wild child with him."

"Then again," said Millicent realising something, "She keeps him grounded… he is a lot more settled, and mature with her."

"Look… I am more worried about Hermione," said Ron.

"Yeah, we get that," snapped Pansy, "But Draco comes into this equation too! We are his friends and we need to do what is right but we have to look at it from all sides first. Get it, Weasley?"

"Look, arguing won't fix anything," spoke up Ginny, "So while Hermione grounds Malfoy, he makes her do wild things… like shagging in public."

"I still can't believe she did that," sighed Harry shaking his head.

"None of us can," said Millicent, "It's just the relationship is good for Draco… but bad for Hermione."

"Then again," sighed Ginny, "Maybe we should let it play itself out. Maybe it's what Hermione needs right now – to loosen up and enjoy her last year. And if Malfoy allows that, who are we to stop it?"

Everyone fell silent, taking in Ginny's view. She was right. They might not find the relationship a good thing, but they had no right in stopping it.

"So what do we do?" asked Harry sounding defeated.

"I think we should keep an eye on things," said Pansy, "If things start going wrong one of us should owl the others to meet here as soon as possible. Then we will work out an intervention."

"Sounds like a plan," nodded Ron.

"Right. So we tell no one about this meeting," warned Pansy, "Absolutely no one."

"Like we want anyone to know we are planning stuff with you two," said Ginny, "I doubt you want your Slytherin pals knowing about this."

"No I don't," snapped Pansy, "Neither of us do."

"Good. So this stay's between us," said Harry.

Pansy and Millicent nodded and left followed by the Gryffindors a few seconds later.

A/N Sorry it is short. But I had to leave it there. Anyway… the set up thing went horribly wrong. The guy I was meant to meet wound up drunk and left before I met him… wonderful? Yep, that is what I thought. Please review.

Until next time

Love yas!

Love Coz!