AN: Found myself a wonderful beta, mission accomplished. Too bad I'm too impatient to wait for her to finish beta-ing, lol. Also, I've been working on a couple of oneshots for other categories but don't worry, I'm still plugging away at Courting Disaster. It's my pet project and I can't wait to finish it. However I don't think that'll be happening anytime too soon. Our couple is just beginning to have their ups and downs so there's much more to come. Thanks again to all my readers and reviewers! I really appreciate you all.

Chapter 5

Hermione was a little late and climbing all of those steps to the tower had her breathless from exertion. When she pushed open the heavy wooden door she almost forgot breathing was necessary. Draco was bent over, straightening the corner of a green blanket that he'd spread over the stones. A picnic basket sat in the middle of it and overhead a dozen lit tea candles floated, giving light to the area.

"Wow," she said in surprise.

Draco looked up at her and smiled. "Hey. Nice of you to show up," he teased.

"I'm not that late," Hermione complained as he took a seat next the basket and motioned for her to join him. She did and he opened the wicker basket to remove two long-stemmed wine glasses into which he poured a light brown liquid.

"I guess I wasn't sure if you would really come," he admitted as he handed her the glass.

It was surprisingly warm in her hand so Hermione lifted it to her nose to sniff experimentally. "Butterbeer?" she asked as she took a sip. "How did you manage this?"

Draco flashed her a confident grin. "You can get almost anything from the house elves. They're very eager to please. Do you like it?"

Hermione winced but nodded and held her tongue. "I do. Thank you." She glanced up at the swirl of candles and the bright stars beyond them. "It's very pretty out here. Oh, look! Orion the Hunter." Hermione traced the constellation in the air with her free hand.

Draco reached out and caught her hand, trapping it firmly in his own. "Please, no lessons on our date. Otherwise I'll have to hex your mouth shut."

She was stunned into silence and when she finally found her voice, Hermione protested, "This… isn't a date."

He raised one pale eyebrow. "I have a picnic with wine glasses and floating candles, for Merlin's sake. What did you think it was? A friendly meeting?"

"Yes," Hermione mumbled, rolling the stem of the wine glass nervously between her fingers.

She was suddenly uncomfortable and also felt foolish for not seeing this for what it was. Part of her wished she'd worn anything other than her uniform or that she'd thrown on nicer robes. Draco looked incredible in a dark red sweater and black slacks. He hadn't bothered with robes and Hermione wondered when his shoulders had broadened.

"Well then, sorry to disappoint."

"No! It's good." Hermione took another sip of the butterbeer. "Good that we're on a date… Although technically since I wasn't aware that this was one, I don't think it counts-"

"It counts," he interjected firmly.

"Perhaps," she conceded with a small smile. "But does that mean that you and I are actually… officially dating? Excluding the fact that we can't tell anyone, of course."

"If you'd like to see it that way, then yes," Draco replied mildly from over the rim of his glass.

"Okay…. Okay." She sighed and set down her glass. "But it's still sort of strange. We used to hate each other. And even though that's changed I don't really understand why you would want to date me."

Draco bit back a groan. Leave it to Granger to overanalyze things and constantly question. She couldn't just enjoy the evening. He was going all out here. He never did anything like this for Pansy and she was pretty much his girlfriend.

"I suppose it's because I saw a different side of you these past few weeks. I'm sure you can say the same." The smile she gave him let him know he was on the right track. Draco looked away for the next part because he wasn't sure if he could lie convincingly into those brown eyes. "There's something soft about you… Not weak or anything, more gentle… You're not like the girls in Slytherin."

His response placated her although it didn't completely answer the question. However, another one had entered her mind so Hermione decided to let the first go in the favor of this more pressing one. "Speaking of the girls in Slytherin… I-I've heard that- Isn't Pansy Parkinson your girlfriend?"

"According to popular opinion she is but as we've never said anything concrete about it to each other about it, I'm inclined to say no," Draco replied smoothly. "However, if you wish, I can tell her in no uncertain terms that she is not my girlfriend. Of course that would mean we would be exclusively dating. Are you alright with that?"

"No," she admitted.

"Ah. Other options? Anyone I need to curse?"

"No, it's not that." Hermione paused and looked guiltily down at her glass of butterbeer. "After the trouble you went through tonight I feel ungrateful saying this. The truth is, I still don't completely trust you… and I'm not comfortable with making any sort of commitment to you right now. I'm sorry."

He should have figured it wouldn't be this easy. Draco put a solemn expression on and nodded once. "I understand that. And I'm not angry." He set his glass aside and shifted into a more comfortable position on his side. "Nor am I in a hurry. Why don't we spend the rest of the night talking and see if we can't change that?"

"Really?" Hermione was a little taken aback by how accommodating he was being and the charming grin he was giving her had her insides melting. Damn teenage hormones. She silenced them and put a little distance between them in an effort to make herself comfortable as well. "I'd like that."

They talked for a couple of hours until Hagrid returning to his hut drew their attention and Hermione unwillingly unwound her hand from his; she wasn't sure when that had happened. She bid him goodnight and once again he insisted on a kiss, which she gave him more willingly, but with the same close-mouthed chasteness. This time he lengthened the kiss, pulling back now and again for smaller pecks.

Draco's tenderness was turning her resolve into putty so Hermione quickly broke away and almost ran back to the Gryffindor tower. It was really unfair how alluring he could be. The Fat Lady gave her a disapproving head shake when she returned and Hermione had to smother the spark of guilt that flared within her. It almost made her feel worse that the guilt was tempered with pleasure from her clandestine romance.

That delight faded completely when she found Ginny waiting up for her. The redhead was curled up on the overstuffed chair, the only person left in the common room. Hermione greeted her hesitantly.

"Hi," Ginny replied. "Did you have a good time?"

She was listening for any hint of derision in the other girl's tone but all she could detect was genuine curiosity so she responded honestly. "Yes. It was nice. We talked mostly. He set up a sort of picnic thing on the Astronomy tower."

Ginny's eyebrows shot up. "That's remarkably romantic for a los- for Malfoy."

Hermione chuckled. "Yeah, it was."

"So did you, uh…" she grimaced, "kiss him? Are you two… together?"

"Why do you want to know?" she asked with amusement, dropping into a chair across from her.

"Well, I've been thinking," Ginny began, "that while I'm still very concerned about this, it's not my place to be judgmental. Also, this has to be complicated so I figure you're gonna need a friend. And friends get all the details. So spill."

A lump rose in her throat and she was infinitely grateful to Ginny in that moment. Once she controlled the rush of emotion, Hermione recounted most of the things that they'd said and done on the tower. The more private moments she kept to herself and though she didn't omit the kiss, she played it down. It was disconcerting how desperately attracted she was to the Slytherin, no need to share her embarrassment just yet.

Hermione yawned and stretched. "I'm glad tomorrow's Saturday, I'm exhausted."

"Me too. See you in the morning." Ginny got up and headed for her dorm room.

"Uh, Ginny…" she said apprehensively as she followed her to the stairs. "About Ron and Harry…"

Ginny paused at the steps. "You know I wouldn't tell them, they'd just be hurt. That's another thing I worry about. It's going to take work to keep them out of the loop but don't worry, I'll help you. Of course, if worst comes to worst then I obviously was just as in the dark as they were." She grinned mischievously.

"Ginny-"

She held up a hand to cut her off. "Don't mention it. However, you owe me one enormous favor in the future."

"Noted," Hermione replied with a smile.

It wasn't too hard for her to find excuses to get away for a couple of hours to see Draco. The 'going to the library' story was simple and the frequency of visits was totally believable for her. They met almost every day and each time it was easier to be with him. They learned quickly what topics to avoid to keep from arguing. Hermione had almost broken him of using that condescending tone she hated so much. Physically they grew more comfortable too.

A little more than a week after the night on the tower, the two of them were in an unused classroom on the 5th floor. She sat in the circle of his arms, on a couch she had expertly conjured, and the two of them were reading the book cradled on her lap. Occasionally Draco would press a gentle kiss to the curve or back of her neck that sent shivers down her spine. They'd been silent for awhile but it had been a comfortable sort of quiet.

There was something he needed to ask though so Draco stilled Hermione's hand when she moved to turn the page.

"Not done?" she asked, glancing back at him.

"I am. Actually, I wanted to ask you if you'd like to do something together this weekend in Hogsmeade."

Hermione looked at him with astonished eyes. "But, um, wouldn't that constitute being seen together? And isn't one of the stipulations of our relationship that that doesn't ever happen?"

"There's a park close to the eastern edge of town. Lots of trees for cover and no one really goes there because well, it's just a park." Draco wound one of her curls lazily around his finger. "I thought it'd be nice to spend some time together outdoors for a change. However, if you don't want to…"

"No, I do! I mean, I'd like to…"

"But?"

"I have plans," she admitted regretfully. "I don't think it should take that long though so maybe after?"

"Harry and Ron?"

"Sort of," replied Hermione evasively.

"Ah. Being vague?" He raised one pale blonde eyebrow and ran his fingertips down the curve of her throat. "May I ask why or would that defeat the whole purpose of being vague?"

She shook her head and looked away, feeling awkward. It wasn't exactly a huge secret that Hermione and a group of others would be meeting in the Hog's Head to discuss Harry teaching them Defense Against the Dark Arts, but she knew that they would prefer if Draco wasn't clued in on their plans.

"I bet I could get it out of you," he purred, pulling her closer.

"And how do you plan to do that?" Hermione asked with mock innocence.

"I plan to snog you silly until you're so besotted that you tell me everything."

"I doubt that will work. I'm not so easily persuaded."

He trailed teasing bites and kisses over her neck until she was almost trembling. "Let's just see, shall we?"

Draco shifted her until she faced him and he fully intended to kiss her but he froze when they locked eyes. The way she was looking at him was completely new to him. He was used to the admiration that he'd seen in other girl's eyes but this look was different. There was an expectation in it that he was conjointly terrified and thrilled to meet.

Apparently he was taking too long and this time it was Hermione who slipped her hands into his hair and pulled his mouth to hers. Once they were kissing and the unsettling eye contact was broken, he took control and wrapped one arm securely around her waist. She gave in, opening her mouth to him and they kissed fiercely. Hermione bit his lower lip hard and he groaned.

Eventually, he slowed the pace and brought one hand to her cheek, grazing his fingers lightly across it. He slid the hand at Hermione's waist under her shirt to caress the warm, soft skin of her back. Draco was beginning to love touching her; she made cute little noises in the back of her throat when he pleased her. This was further than she'd let him get before so he decided to push his advantage and raise her shirt a little higher.

That prompted her to pull away. "Alright," she said breathlessly. Technically, it was her plan so why not? "You win. On Saturday some of us are meeting in the Hog's Head to talk about Harry teaching DADA since we aren't learning anything practical from that hag, Umbridge."

Malfoy had forgotten that the point of making out with her had been to glean information. "Interesting. How very rebellious of you."

"I know. But we can't let the Ministry win. They're in such denial about everything and moronically think that bulldozing over the issue will make it disappear," she grumbled.

He smiled wryly. "Always playing the hero, aren't you?"

Hermione frowned. "When I have to. We need to protect ourselves from... Him."

"I think you're fairly safe," Draco pointed out as he brushed a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Right… Because my best friend is only Lord Voldemort's sworn enemy and number one on his hit list but I'm sure everything will be just peachy," she responded cynically.

"I only meant that from what I know he has no plans to outwardly attack the school so, in that respect, you're fine." Malfoy knew he'd made a mistake somewhere when her brown eyes darkened.

"It's not the school or me that I'm worried about!" cried Hermione in frustration.

She broke free of his grip and got to her feet. She didn't want to know how he could be aware of Voldemort's plans but she knew the truth in her heart. It brought their differences into a sharp, painful contrast. With her back to him, she crossed her arms and said quietly, "Maybe I was mistaken to think this could work."

"No," he said hastily, getting up and taking her by the shoulders. Draco rubbed them soothingly. "I'm sorry. We won't talk about this anymore, ok?"

She shrugged him off. "No, Draco. That isn't going to work this time." Hermione turned to face him. "You're obviously on the wrong side of things. What's going to happen when this comes to a confrontation? What if we meet on a battlefield with our wands at each other's throats?"

"You know that I wouldn't hurt you," answered Draco softly. "I can't simply turn my back on the path my family has chosen. You must understand that they would kill me and those I love. If it ever came down to a fight, in the end my loyalty would lie with you." He held out one hand to her. "You need to trust me, Hermione, if we're ever going to work. Do you?"

Hermione bit her lip and a myriad of emotions flickered across her face. She reached out to him but then hesitated and took her hand back. "No," she whispered brokenly.

His hand fell back to his side and clenched into a fist. "Well… then I guess we don't have anything else to talk about," he replied evenly before leaving the room.

She called after him with tears thick in her voice but he didn't turn back. Draco pressed one hand to the hollow ache in his midsection that he much preferred to attribute to a stomach ache than to emotional pain. This bet no longer looked like it was going to be worth winning.