This chapter is dedicated to:

Strawberry Kisses, BellethePhilosopher'sCookie, Rei-Chan, Foxxie-Kitty, Aliensmile13, magicalferret, Fire Soul, Magical Roses (it's isn't a dream, though after you told me, I realized it could be! ^_^ haha!), JeanB, Ezmerelda, Kelli, Mari, Red of Rose, Mudblood pride, Katina Wellson, Elluxion (I did go to the forum, it's lovely but I haven't signed in or anything yet. ^_^), Indil Elondili, Magical Soul, pookyber, Pyrefly, lazy, Super Geek, krisleigh, Wyrm, Snowbear, Deeta, littlewhitehorse, totallystellar, Smudged, Alybaby, tjs91989, kaylakmk, SoshilaDove, dementedsockmonkey (^_^ what's a ukulele?), Draco is the Man, Gandella Raye, Bobbin (thanks for your perspective! ^_^ It's really good!), Amy, venus725 (^_^ I agree), Stormy Phoenix and Lucine!

 Thank you so much! Please see my notes at the end… ^_^

Chapter 17: This Kiss

  I was never a fan of Faith Hill. I always thought she had a great voice, great looks and all… but I was never a fan.

  I'm still not, but one of her songs "This Kiss" kept playing in my head. No matter what I do, I can't shut it out.

  And of course, we all know whose fault it is.

  Draco Malfoy.

  Why did he kiss me?

  No more importantly, why did I kiss him back? Twice?

  No, I will not say the "L" word.

  There it goes again.

  It' s the way you love me
 It's a feeling like this
It's centrifugal motion
It's perpetual bliss
It's that pivotal moment
It's (ah) impossible
This kiss, this kiss
Unstoppable
This kiss, this kiss

  It's not like a record player or something. In my brain, I don't have a stop button!

  After that embarrassing confession, I have confession number two to make.

  I'm nervous.

  Yes, I'm nervous. I don't want to meet Draco.

  I don't want to step out of this room, knowing that the first person I see is Draco.

  I don't know how I am supposed to react to Draco anymore.

  First thing, I certainly don't want to kiss Draco again.

  Ok, maybe that was a half lie.

  But, I don't want to go out of the door and kiss Draco again.

  Ugh, I hate this feeling.

  Maybe it would have been better if we had remained friends.

   Ok, there I go lying again.

  I sigh as I pick up my books and parchments, I can't possibly stay in this room forever.

  I can't avoid Draco. Though, I would love to.

  I paused as a tiny voice broke through the never-ending chorus of This Kiss.

  Are you scared?

 I snorted. Of course, I'm not scared!

  I have never been scared of Draco.

  Liar, Liar, Pants on fire!

  I frowned. Now my brain was sounding like Lavendar and Pansy.

  Ok, so I'm a little scared.

  After the third kiss, we said goodnight quickly and went back to our rooms.

  It was weird, because both of us had shared more than we wished to.

  But now, it was too late to take it back.

  I stare at the door.

  Is Draco waiting outside?

  Admit it, you like him more everyday and that scares you.

   You know what?

   At this moment, I know why I annoy Harry and Ron sometimes.

   Don't you just hate know-it-alls?

   I took in a deep breath.

   I was being silly.

   I needed to be brave.

   Draco won't hurt you.

But perhaps my brain had taken up all my courage.

 "Hi." Draco yawned.

 He was leaning against his door and looked like he couldn't care less about the world.

  Somehow my nervousness faded.

  This was Draco here.

  Mr King of the Universe.

  He wouldn't care about the kisses!

  "Earlier than me again." I smiled. "What's the secret?"

 "The secret is to camp outside all night." Draco smiled as he fell into step with me.

  "How sweet. My very own doorman." I laughed.

  "Actually, I'm guarding against you than for you. I don't want people coming into my room and pouring unknown substances in my hair while I sleep." Draco said giving me a smirk.

  "Or maybe giving me a kiss."

 I turned white. "Well, unless you are talking about a dementor. I can't imagine anyone else wanting to give you a kiss."

  Draco arched his eyebrows. "Oh really? Perhaps it was a dream. But I remember kissing a brown-haired girl last night. And you want to know the funniest thing, she kissed me twice on her own accord."

  Draco looked at me wickedly. "Don't you just love aggressive women?"

  I gave a nonchalant shrug. "I would say you have been daydreaming again. Either that or the woman was drunk and out of her mind."

  I smiled sweetly. "I would go with the latter."

  Draco's smug grin grew wider. "Perhaps I'm too irresistible, the woman could not help herself."

  "How true," I smiled sweetly. "At this moment, I can't help wanting to kill you."

 Draco gave a sigh. "Well, enough about me and my love life. How about yours?"

   Draco pretended to look like he didn't know he was jerk.

 I gave Draco a secretive grin. "What a coincidence. I also kissed someone last night. My first kiss in fact."

  Draco's eyes glittered.

 I gave a long drawn-out sigh. "What a disappointment. The kiss was terrible and I couldn't wait for it to end."

  Draco's eyes widened slightly, but his smug grin was still intact. "Funny, how two people's experiences can differ so much."

  "Hilarious." I said dryly, glaring at Draco. "And I also told that fake blonde guy I kissed that if he wanted another kiss, he better learned manners."

  Draco laughed. "You drive a hard bargain."

  And then he turned serious. "But I know from very reliable sources that the guy is a true blonde. And if you ever doubt that fact again, you shall die a very painful death."

  I faked a fearful nod. "Tell him I'm just shivering."

  Draco just gave me an exasperated grin.

  Like he didn't know what to do with me.

  I smiled back as the favourite part of This Kiss played in my head.

  Cinderella said to Snow White
"How does love get so off course
All I wanted was a white knight
With a good heart, soft touch, fast horse
Ride me off into the sunset
Baby I'm forever yours"

 How true, I thought, as I looked at Draco.

  Although I didn't end up with Prince Charming, and ended up with the Demon King, it turns out that it was not so bad after all.

  And as I thought of Draco's smile again, I nodded.

 Not so bad at all.

  "Hermione!"

  I gasped as Parry came running to me, enveloping me in her arms. "Why, hello to you too!"

  Parry let go of me and beamed. "You are the best cupid in the whole universe!"

 It was then I noticed Neville standing next to Parry, fidgeting nervously. "Thanks to you, Neville and I are now together."

  Draco who was next to me gave a snort. I glared at him.

 "That's… wonderful." I smiled as Parry and Neville held hands.

 I truly meant it.

  Parry smiled as she looked into Neville's eyes. "I now realise who my true Romeo is. I can't believe I didn't notice earlier."

  "That must be some box of chocolates." Draco said dryly.

 I gave Draco a jab in the ribs. "I'm very happy for you. Honestly, none of this is due to my efforts!"

  "You are always so modest." Parry said, giving me a pat on my shoulder.

 Draco made a choking sound.

 "Well, I want to repay you for being such a good friend to me. I want to pay for your gown." Parry said.

  I gave Parry a surprised look. "Well, the thing is… Parry, I don't have a gown."

  Parry laughed. "Well, you are renting one tonight aren't you?"

  "From the supplier. They are coming after class." Parry said as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Everybody is renting their tuxedos and gowns tonight or tomorrow… but seriously, whose going to wait? All the good ones will be gone by tomorrow."

  "Oh those gowns," I said, slightly uncomfortable.

   I shook my head. "Parry, you don't have to pay for my gown."

  "But we want to," Neville said earnestly.

  I looked at Draco for help. He gave a sinister grin.

 I smiled at Parry as I kicked Draco in the shins. "I rather you give me advice on which gown to rent."

  Parry shook her head stubbornly. "I shall give you advice AND pay for your gown. It isn't really expensive, it's only rental!"

  "It's alright. Hermione's date is paying for her gown." Draco said suddenly.

  Oh, god!

  Parry's eyes turned into golf balls. "Hermione, you have a date? That's great! Is it anyone I know?"

  I gave Parry a smile. "Uh, don't tell anyone ok?"

  I gave Draco a glare. "I prefer it to be a SECRET."

  Parry and Neville shared a smile with each other. "Well, ok. I will find you after class and we will look at the gowns together."

  I nodded as Parry and Neville walked away hand in hand.

  Now, who's going to tell Draco that our date wasn't exactly a date? But a threesome?

  Any volunteers?

  Anyone?

  "How sweet. Why haven't we done that?" Draco smiled, pointing to Parry and Neville holding their hands.

  "Because you have a hand disease," I said glaring at Draco.

  "What did I do wrong now?" Draco said looking very satisfied as usual.

   "Do you know that keeping a secret means you do not tell anyone?" I said. "Not even clues."

  Draco laughed. "They will never guess."

  I gave a deep breath. Ok, now was the time to tell Draco about Harry.

  "Draco, I have something to tell you." I said seriously.

  "What? You're pregnant?" Draco said, mock serious.

   "Har…" I paused. "I like white lilies."

   Sorry, I just couldn't do it.

 Draco laughed. "Wow that was groundbreaking. Wasn't it?"

 I gave Draco a rueful smile. "You want groundbreaking? Wait for the dance."

 Notes: Well, I think I outdid myself for this chapter. Not in writing but in length!!! My fingers ache and I have been on the computer far too long… my eyes are all woozy. ^_^ I shall not mention much about next chapter but LOTS of action next chapter. Plus, don't you want to see Hermione's reaction at Harry's and Ron's letter of apology? ^_^

  And I want to thank everybody who reviewed so so so so much. I know I'm suppose to answer everyone individually, but I have totally maxed my computer hours and I'm very sleepy. ^_^ So, forgive me on behalf of such a long chapter ok?

  Giving my thanks again for being so encouraging and giving me inspiration for this chapter! I know this is supposed to be the Draco Chapter, with Draco's point of view but I changed it. The Draco Chapter will be quite far away. I actually wrote Draco's POV on the kiss in this chapter but deleted it because it affected the flow of the chapter. Till next time… ^_^