Author's Note: A huge thank you to everyone who read and reviewed my last two chapters! I hope you enjoy this next chapter just as much. :) A song which particularly inspired me during this chapter is I Caught Myself by Paramore. I don't know why, i just imagine it to be the way our dashing Slytherin hero is feeling! ;) Anyway, enjoy!


"If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;"

Monday 13th April, 1998

Growls of fury first alerted Draco that Hermione was outside. He moved over to the window and pressed his nose against the filthy glass, causing Hermione's image to become clearer. She had set something up in the yard, an obstacle of sorts, and was blasting various spells at different targets. Draco watched as sparks of various different colours flew from her wand, and he had to admire her handiwork. Some of the spells she used he had never seen before, and he wondered where she had managed to learn all of these things. After all, they had been in the same Defence class since first year.

Hermione stopped suddenly and turned around, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. Molly Weasley came into view, carrying a pitcher of something which she put down on the small garden table. Draco watched their conversation, but was soon intrigued as to what they were talking about. Hermione was gripping her wand and Mrs Weasley looked a little flushed. Unable to withhold his curiosity, Draco fiddled with the latch and silently opened the window. He was suddenly hit with the fine rain and the chill, and was even more confused as to why Hermione would be outside in such weather.

"I'm glad to see you doing something else for a change. You're in the library now more than you ever were." Hermione sipped the drink she had been given.

"I needed some fresh air…and the chance to work out some tension. I hate being pent up in this house." Mrs Weasley nodded.

"You three always were so restless. The boys – "

"I don't want to talk about them." Granger handed the drink back to Mrs Weasley, and turned back to the targets. She hit successfully on almost every single one.

"I'm sorry." Mrs Weasley sighed. "Where is Mr Malfoy? I'm surprised he isn't here with you – you've been inseparable recently."

"Upstairs I should imagine. But…I'd like to take this opportunity to talk about Malfoy and his safety here. Could we sit down?"

Mrs Weasley and Granger went to sit on the bench, which was directly beneath the window. Draco could hear everything now, and he could just see their faces if he leaned over a little.

"What is it you wanted to discuss?"

"I think we should move Malfoy to somewhere else. Abroad somewhere: I was thinking Japan, or America…somewhere currently untouched by You-Know-Who. Europe is too dangerous for him. I think he would be safer elsewhere – far away from Grimmauld Place." Mrs Weasley was nodding slowly.

"I can see the logic in that, Hermione. But…I thought you would want him close by…you have become friends."

"I want him as far away as possible, Mrs Weasley. London, England, Europe isn't safe, from what I have gathered from Harry's letters. He needs to be gotten rid of Molly – soon."

Draco's head spun suddenly, and it felt as though he had been punched in the stomach. He couldn't understand the betrayal, or her evident desire for him to be as far away from her as possible. Draco had thought they were becoming somewhat close; he had divulged so much of himself to her, and she too had yielded things she had never told anyone else. In fact, just the previous night she had confessed, although she was somewhat tipsy and tired, that she was glad he was there with her. The very idea that, in reality, she was scheming to get rid of him hurt, more than he had ever been hurt in his life. Shaking his head, Draco stumbled back from the window. Ignoring the noise it would make, he slammed the window shut and stormed out of the room, his head spinning with a mixture of emotions – pain, sadness, fury and betrayal. He stormed through the hallway downstairs, almost colliding with Mrs Weasley as he did. He saw the pitcher of lemonade wobble, as the redhead looked at him with concern.

"Are you alright, Mr Malfoy?" She asked. Draco ground his teeth and continued, his hands balled into fists.

"Never better."

Hermione didn't turn when he entered into the yard. She had resumed her target practice, and was sending more of the multi-coloured spells flying across the yard. He came to a sudden stop; his heart thudded in his chest and his temples throbbed with the sheer fury.

"I knew you were listening." She said casually, still not turning. "I've been to this place countless times, and I recognised the window opening." Draco didn't say anything, finally provoking her to turn. She slipped her wand into the belt of her jeans and stepped forwards, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "Are you terribly angry?" Instead of speaking, he used all of his strength to press her against the back wall; he stood so close that their faces were only inches apart. Draco was not surprised to see that there was no fear in her eyes, for he knew she was stronger than that. Threats from him were nothing compared to those from his father, and she had suffered from plenty of them.

"Yes." He said quietly, trying desperately to ignore the feel of her breath on his cheek. "You are planning to have me sent away! You want me gone! Explain yourself!" Hermione smiled, sending a fresh wave of rage through him.

"Is that why you're so angry? I thought you would be pleased that I want you to be safe. No matter what everyone thinks, it wouldn't be hard for the Death Eaters to get in here – not hard at all." Growling, he placed his hands on her shoulders and roughly pressed her further against the wall. The determination in her eyes flickered, and he felt the old familiar buzz of terrorising someone. "You're hurting me." He sneered at her and pressed harder, digging his fingers into her flesh and praying that he was hurting her as much as she hurt him.

"You lied to me. You said you wanted me around, that you were glad that I was here. If you were so happy to have me around, why would you ask them to send me away? You are a liar."

"Are you listening to me at all? You aren't safe here, and neither am I! I would have – "

"I don't want to hear any more of your bullshit." He squeezed her even more tightly, shivering at the sensation of his fingertips digging into her soft flesh. Fighting the urge to run, he looked at her face which was barely an inch from his. Her eyes were wide and, as ever, inquisitive, but full of fear; her cheeks were flushed and her breath was coming quickly. Shivering again, his eyes flicked to her mouth – lips so soft and inviting.

"Please let go of me." She whispered. He ignored her plea and, instead, he let go of one of her shoulders and placed the hand around her delicate neck. The silence and tension in the yard was so palpable that Draco could almost feel it wrapping around his neck, strangling him. Her voice, clear and determined, broke it. "Draco, you are hurting me."

The sound of his name broke the trance that he was in, and he instantly loosened his grasp, resting his hand at the base of her neck. With his right index finger, he made a gentle trail from her chin to her plump lips, which were open and trembling. His eyes locked with hers and he realised that, strangely, all of his fight and anger had dissolved. He no longer cared that she wanted to get rid of him, that he would be shoved to another foreign place without anyone caring for how he felt. Letting out a gentle sigh he leant his face closer to hers, and was shocked to feel the forceful and sudden touch of her lips on his.

Her mouth was hot and eager, her tongue probing and gentle. As he wound his arms around her small waist, her hands became tangled in his blonde hair. Draco was sure that the entire house could hear his heart beating, no, the entire square. Suddenly he pulled away, but kept his arms firmly locked around her. He could feel almost every contour of her body, and he was confounded as to why he had never contemplated doing this before. Six years at Hogwarts had been wasted on bullying and teasing – why would anyone do that, if they could have this instead? Hermione was looking up at him expectantly; her eyes round with surprise but crinkled with the unmistakeable desire to smile.

"I'm sorry; I shouldn't have hurt you like that." He drawled; his voice was low and husky, and he wondered if she noticed.

"You were mad, it was a reasonable reaction." Hermione finally smiled, albeit shyly, with her eyes averted. "If you had listened to me, I could have explained myself. I do want you to leave Grimmauld Place, but I had every intention of coming with you." He couldn't stop himself from grinning with relief, delight and incontrovertible elation; his smile only grew when she kissed him tenderly on the forehead.

"Why didn't you mention that to Mrs Weasley?"

"She would never have agreed to even think about it, if she believed I intended to go with you. It would be a last minute decision, and I would provide an argument which they would not be able to dispute I wouldn't have let you go alone."

They stood in silence for a while, neither of them speaking or moving, simply trying to accept what had just taken place. Draco gingerly moved his lips back to hers, recommencing their kiss. It was less fevered this time, but had lost none of its passion. Moaning, Draco moved a hand from her hips, pushing it underneath her thin cotton jumper and onto the bare skin of her back. He could feel the goose bumps rising on her back, and smiled against her lips. When his fingers reached the strap of her bra she let out a small gasp, and he let out a chuckle from the back of his throat. A small part of his mind was protesting against his actions; he was rushing everything, getting ahead of himself, and he would probably only regret it later. Ignoring his inner protestations he dragged his fingers along her bra, admiring the feel of the lace against his skin. He was about to reach for the clasp, when a voice suddenly broke out across the yard.

"Hermione?"

Draco felt two small strong hands press against his chest, and he was made to stagger away from her. He turned slowly, to see Weasley and Potter standing there. Weasley was further forwards, his cheeks flushed and his fists hanging by his side. "What were you doing to her?" He growled. Hermione stepped forwards and stood in front of Draco, slowly taking out her wand.

"Ron, Harry…" Potter charged forwards to join his friend.

"You were kissing him, weren't you?" Harry bellowed. "Weren't you?" Draco strode forwards arrogantly, smirking at the two seething boys.

"Yes, and I do believe you interrupted us. Would you care to return to wherever you came from and leave us in peace?" Harry lurched forwards, but Hermione stepped in his way and stopped him.

"No! You can't fight, I won't let you!" Draco suddenly realised that her eyes were flooded with tears. He sincerely hoped that they weren't caused by disgust at their kiss, but he also wished that they would lead to her slapping either Potter or Weasley.

"What the bloody hell do you think you were doing?" Weasley demanded, bearing his teeth. "You could do so much better, Hermione."

"What?" She asked sarcastically, sniffing. "Like you, perhaps?" She laughed bitterly, shaking her head and dashing past them into the house.