Author's note: I bet you are tired of authors apologizing for long delays between chapters. So I will buck the trend and not even acknowledge the fact that this chapter took a long time to get written.


Just before going down to the great hall for dinner, Draco went over his plan one more time. It wasn't very complicated, but he didn't want to mess it up; Merlin knew he had messed up most of everything else in his life up until this point.

He would just ask Hermione if she wanted to go on a walk with him around the lake. If Hermione needed convincing (which he didn't think she would) he would tell her that he had some questions on their Ancient Runes assignment (which he did). They would talk for a while. Then he would tell Hermione how he felt, and things would progress from there. Easy.

Despite the simplicity of this plan, Draco went over it again and again while trekking down to the Great Hall. The walk seemed to take no time at all, and even being delayed by an outgoing and obviously smitten first year seemed to take no time at all. He stepped into the great hall and spotted Hermione sitting at the end of the Gryffindor table, tucking her hair behind an ear. She was intently reading a tome of one sort or another and looked absolutely adorable doing it. His heart skipped a beat, and he halted in his tracks. He had heard the expression "skip a beat" before, but it had never happened to him. It was a distinctly unpleasant feeling, but the mental state of giddiness that accompanied it was just fine.

People were beginning to complain and edge past him, so he kept moving. Hermione saw him approaching from a few steps away and smiled radiantly at him. He smiled back and sat down across from her and helped himself to a few dollops of mashed potato. He knew he oughtn't be nervous, but he was and he didn't want to make things any worse by overeating. Hermione, on the other hand, seemed to be finished eating.

"You wanna take a walk with me after dinner?" Draco asked as casually as he could.

Hermione looked somewhat confused but agreed. The first and easiest step had been completed. "Cool. I'll just finish up with my dinner and we can set off, then."

Within a few minutes Draco had finished his meal (which included a pork cutlet that he didn't really want, just to prevent Hermione from becoming suspicious). Hermione bookmarked her spot in the book and tucked it carefully away in her bag. Draco could see that there was she wore an expression of excited nervousness. He hoped that his face didn't betray as much information as hers did.

"Ready to go?" Draco queried. Hermione nodded in assent so they got up from the table and headed off towards the entrance hall. She hung half a step behind him and let him lead the way. In no time at all they were out on the grounds and making their way towards the lake. Their silence was occasionally broken by comments on the scenery, which was beautiful all year 'round but even more beautiful in the late-winter moonlight.

"I bet you're wondering the real reason why I'm taking you on this walk," Draco said as they ambled along the side of the lake.

"I know you're not usually the type for idle chatter, so yes, I was pondering your motives," Hermione responded, punctuating the end of her statement with a little laugh.

Draco suddenly became serious. "Well, before I get to that part of it, there's something that needs to be said first." Hermione, sensing that Draco was about to say something important, simply nodded in response.

"There's a reason I was such a berk for such a long time, especially to you. I've never divulged this secret to anyone else; given that Crabbe and Goyle are totally useless when it comes to offering support and that everybody else in Slytherin is malicious to the point where any secret you tell them instantly makes its way around the school, I've never had somebody to tell it to before. It's somewhat of a lengthy story, but I've always been horrible at storytelling, so I'll keep it short."

There was a pregnant pause as Draco prepared for what he was about to say. He did notice that Hermione seemed to have temporarily ceased breathing.

"My father beat me. That's not the worst of it. He - he molested me as well."

Hermione gasped. "Oh, Draco,"

"He was the worst when he found out I had been playing with Muggle kids. He told me about how horrible they were, how horrible I was. By the time I started Hogwarts, I had stopped associating with Muggle-borns altogether. I'm just starting to get over the entire ordeal, and I think you've been a big part of that recovery, Hermione. I mean that. After getting to know you over the course of this year, I realized how wrong my father was."

Draco was going to add more but was stopped by a bushy mass of hair smothering his face as Hermione hugged him fiercely. "If I had had any idea that you went that sort of abuse as a child, I would never have regarded you with such contempt."

"Forgiven," Draco said. "There's something else I need to tell you, as well."

Hermione pulled back, clearly anticipating the news of more atrocities. Draco could see the tears in her eyes and became even more certain of what he was about to say.

"I think I needed to get over what my father did to me before I could say this to you, or to anybody, for that matter," Draco began. He took a deep breath.

"I love you."

He had been steeled for the worst, but the kiss he received in response was the best response he could have hoped for.

***********

Stay tuned for the epilogue.