AN: Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, I really appreciate it. I tried to get this one done pretty quickly and I'm now one tired author. The next chapter will probably take longer because a lot will happen and I'm not quite sure how I'm going to go about it.

Chapter 7

Pansy sulked around him for the next couple of weeks, obviously expecting him to make things up to her at some point. When it became starkly clear that Malfoy had no plans to do so, she disappeared completely to lick her wounds in private. It was about time to get rid of Pansy anyway, now that Hermione was officially his girlfriend. She'd given in to that demand last week and the look on Nott's face when he made that declaration had left him feeling smug for hours.

October was nearly gone with tonight being Halloween. DA meetings and an excessive amount of Quidditch practices, not to mention the piles of homework that were steadily growing as O.W.L.s crept up, kept him and Hermione busy. Added to that was their rather neglected prefect duties and they were only able to carve out a few hours a couple of times a week for each other. Sometimes they had to work during their time together; Hermione insisted.

Today was one of those days and they were once again secreted away in the Room of Requirement. It had graciously provided them with the addition of a table and chairs, extra parchment and quills, and an extensive selection of Transfiguration books since that was the essay they were working on. This place was incredibly convenient and could definitely be used to his advantage, which is mostly why he'd kept his silence. It was too good a secret to share yet.

Draco glanced up and watched Hermione's quill scratch across the page, her lips were turned down at the corners and there was furrow between her brows that meant she was deep in thought. Though she wasn't looking at him and there seemed to be no reason for him to, Malfoy smiled. Spending time with her was doing that to him - making him grin for no apparent motivation other than pure, simple happiness.

The change in him had been so gradual that he could only see it clearly in retrospect. He should probably be disgusted by genuine his smiles were and how often sincerity laced his tone when he spoke to Hermione. As if she felt his scrutiny, Granger looked up. She took in his expression and the nearly untouched parchment before him.

"You haven't written much," she chastised with a gentle smile.

"I'm not in the mood for work," replied Draco, tossing his quill aside and getting up. "It's Halloween. A holiday, Hermione. It's just wrong to work on a holiday." He flopped down on the scarlet chaise and put his feet up. "We should be having fun."

She laughed but shook her head. "Maybe. But this is fun for me and I want to finish this. I'll make it up to you later."

She'd assumed he merely wanted to make out. While that thought was always appealing, it wasn't entirely what he was after. He pretty much wanted to do anything but homework and he'd settle only for conversation.

"I'll behave myself," he promised. "Come and sit with me. We'll talk." Draco gave her one of those charming smiles that he knew melted her bones.

She caved but with slight reluctance. "I guess this can wait...for a bit." Hermione joined him, settling into his arms.

"So sorry to tear you away. Are you always so work-minded, love?" he teased.

"Yes," answered Hermione honestly. "I have goals and I can't meet them by slacking off."

"Oh? And what are those goals?"

"The long-term ones or the short-term?"

Malfoy laughed. "You have both? My, you are organized. Hmm… Long-term I suppose."

"Ideally, after Hogwarts I'd like to get a job at the Ministry in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures so that I can lobby for house elf rights from the inside," she began in a rush. "After I secure that I may stay in the dpeartment or become an Auror, it all depends. And somewhere in there I'd like to have a family… But with… certain things happening, my plans may not go that way."

From the seriousness in her tone, he knew she was talking about Voldemort's rise to power. That could certainly put a damper on anyone's plans for the future, especially if they were foolish enough to oppose him. And Hermione Granger was. Instinctively his arms tightened around her in a feeble attempt to protect her. Not like he could...

"Draco?"

"Hmm?" he murmured, looking down at her.

"I asked if you had plans…" Her eyebrows drew together in concern. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah. I was just… thinking." Draco smiled reassuringly. "If I had my way, I'd do Quidditch professionally. But my father thinks something like that is frivolous and I'm sure as soon as I leave here he'll have a Ministry job set up for me."

"That's not all bad," she replied lightly. "We could meet at the water cooler and gossip. Complain about our bosses. Disregard company policies. Go to office parties together-"

Malfoy looked confused. "What?"

Hermione laughed. "I guess that would make more sense to someone who wasn't a pureblood. It's sort of the stereotypical muggle view of the workplace. It was supposed to be funny."

"Sounds kind of boring really," he replied and he laughed a little himself. "But I wouldn't mind going to an office party with you," added Draco, pressing a kiss to her temple.

"Yeah?" She twisted around so she could kiss him properly for a few minutes and then she sat back with a sigh. "Speaking of celebrations, Halloween dinner is going to start soon. We have to go."

"So soon?"

"Mmhmm. I'll leave first." Hermione gave him a final kiss and went to gather her things. "I probably won't see you until the match so good luck."

He smirked. "I'd say the same but I don't want Gryffindor to win." And he had quite a plan to make sure that happened.

She shook her head in amusement and left. Malfoy waited a few minutes, stretched languorously, and then followed.

It was a good thing that competitive sports meant little to her since her boyfriend and her best friends were on opposing teams. It was still a little weird to think of that word in relation to Malfoy... And this morning when she saw the 'Weasley is Our King' badges that he and the other Slytherins were wearing, Hermione was steamed at the git. She knew it couldn't mean anything good and the fact that he hadn't told her anything about it was foreboding. At least it made her decision for her; she supported Gryffindor whole-heartedly.

She didn't realize how bad it was until she was actually in the stands, crammed between Ginny and Luna, and the first strains of the song reached her ears. It was cruel but definitely effective. Ron was thrown completely off his game, unable to save anything the Slytherins threw at him. Hermione winced each time the Quaffle got past him and screamed loudly in excitement when Gryffindor scored it's first goal. Hermione clapped her hands over her mouth when she saw Harry dive.

He and Malfoy were both so close and for a brief moment she thought's they lost… but no, Harry was victorious. She was so busy celebrating and the roar of Luna's lion hat was so overwhelming that it took her a long time to notice the chaos on the field. By the time she looked around, Madame Hooch had sent Harry and George off the field and one of the Slytherins was helping a familiar platinum blonde figure to it's feet.

"Oh no," Hermione groaned.

"I'll say," muttered Ginny grimly. "Let's go."

They went separate ways when they reached the castle; Ginny went to the Gryffindor common room to get the story and Hermione headed to the hospital wing. She waited until the Slytherin Quidditch team filed out before she entered. It was empty except for the bed occupied by Draco. He looked up and smiled, scooting over a bit so she could sit on the bed beside him. Hermione did so carefully, not wanting to jostle any of his wounds. The bruising around his eyes was fading slowly but he still had a fat lip and a healing cut on his left cheek.

"How do you feel?" she asked quietly.

"I've been better." He winced slightly. "Feeling your ribs heal is bloody unpleasant but I've had worse. Potter throws a hell of a gut shot. Or it could have happened when George kicked me. Who knows?"

Hermione sighed and looked down at her folded hands. "Why do you have to be such a poor sport?" she accused, the first hint of anger coloring her tone.

Draco bristled and answered coldly, "I'm not used to losing. I always get what I want. But you should know that already."

Her head snapped up and she glared at him. "What did you say to them?" she demanded, studiously ignoring his jab at her.

He didn't answer.

"If I don't hear it from you, Harry will be only too happy to tell me."

"The usual. I insulted Weasley's entire family. Potter's mother too. Oh, and that song? I came up with it," he replied with brutal honesty. She looked horrified and when her eyes began to glimmer with unshed tears, Malfoy instantly regretted what he'd said.

"I think I like it better when you're mad at me," muttered Draco uncomfortably.

Hermione didn't cry but her eyes were definitely wet. "I'm not mad at you… Just… disappointed," she whispered. She seemed to gather herself and this time when she spoke, her voice was stronger. "You just have to make things so hard! I thought maybe, eventually, I could tell them about us but then you have to go and pull something like this. I don't know why I expected more of you." She sighed.

Guilt twisted in the pit of his stomach and he hated that she could inspire it. Malfoy was tempted to tell this emotionally-exacting witch to go to hell but there was another, far too big, part of him that simply wanted be contrite and make the unhappy look leave her lovely face. He sighed and reluctantly gave into that weaker, compassionate side. This girl was going to turn into him into a oversensitive idiot like the Weasel if he didn't watch out.

Malfoy laid one of his hands over the ones clenched in her lap. She twitched and, for a moment, he thought she might pull away. Quickly, he said, "I never meant to upset you…"

He couldn't quite bring himself to say sorry because he would have to be sincere about it and a real apology was just too foreign a thing for him. Draco Malfoy did not apologize for anything. But he couldn't lie; it was almost impossible feign any sentiment around Hermione. Her brown eyes would search his face and discern his true thoughts. She was beginning to know him too well.

"If it helps, I won't pick any more fights with Potter and Weasley for the rest of the year." Draco brought one of her hands to his lips and kissed the back of it. "I promise."

He seemed to mean it and Hermione knew it was the best she would get out of him. "Alright. But if you break this promise, or any promise that you may make me, then I swear you'll find out exactly how many curses I know. Got it?"

He smirked. "Oh yes." Draco didn't doubt that she would make good on her bold threat, if necessary.

"Good," she murmured, finally relaxing and leaning against him.

He slipped an arm around her and intended to kiss her despite his stinging lower lip when someone cleared their throat. Hermione leapt away from him as if she'd been burned, whirling towards the door. She visibly relaxed and Draco peered around her to see Ginny Weasley.

"I take it she knows?"

Hermione nodded once.

"Well then," he continued, "I'm sure she'll understand when I tell her to leave us alone."

Ginny's eyes flashed to his and they held the burning heat of hatred. His lip curled menacingly in response but she merely matched his look and snapped, "Bugger off, Malfoy." Her eyes flickered back to Hermione and cooled. "Your real friends need you," she told her quietly.

"Ok," Hermione said, not bothering to contradict her words. That rankled Malfoy. She glanced back at him. "I'll see you later."

"When?" he demanded.

"Tomorrow. Usual place," she called over her shoulder as she left with Ginny. Hermione hadn't failed to notice the death glare Ginny had sent her boyfriend.

"I thought you were going to be supportive?" she asked lightly.

Ginny snorted but gave her a slight smile. "I am! I haven't given you any grief over what your precious boyfriend did, have I? That's the best I can do. I never said I would like him… Fred, George and Harry aren't loving him much either at this point," she added grimly. "Umbridge banned them from Quidditch… for life."

"No!" gasped Hermione. "Surely she can't do that! Couldn't Dumbledore-"

"Nope. Even he can't stop her. She has another one of those damned Educational Decrees and she can bloody well shove it up her fat arse," Ginny snarled spitefully.

The outburst was such a shock that she gaped at the little redhead, completely lost for words. Then Hermione couldn't stop the giggles that burbled up in her throat and soon both of them were laughing, although there was a slightly bitter edge to it.

Draco had to all but bully Madame Pomfrey into letting him leave the hospital wing that night. She wanted to wait until morning but he pleaded with her, saying that he wanted to spend the night in his own bed, and she finally released him. In the old days he would have prolonged his stay in the hospital wing and soaked up all the sympathy possible.

For some reason - probably Hermione if he was honest - he felt ashamed of his behavior and the beating he'd taken and just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. He really disliked this new range of emotions sometimes. It made him feel… weak. Malfoy entered the common room and, thinking it empty, headed for his dorm.

"Have a nice beating? The face looks better. Madame Pomfrey is good at her job…" Though the words were callous, the tone was more amused than anything and he recognized it immediately.

"Thanks for the concern, Daphne," Draco retorted.

She shrugged and tossed aside the copy of Witch Weekly that she'd been perusing. "You got what you deserved. We were so close to victory," she said wistfully. "Ah well. At least you got Potter and a couple of the Weasleys permanently banned from Quidditch. You should be able to manage a win now," added Daphne sweetly.

"You're a heinous bitch," he told her with the same mock pleasantness as he sat on the arm of the chair she was sprawled in.

She laughed. "I know. It's why you love me," she reminded him with an innocent smile. Draco couldn't help laughing too. In a weird way, Daphne's malicious ribbing made him feel better. "So how's Granger taking all this?"

"Surprisingly well. She's disappointed but not angry. We barely even fought about it."

"Really?" asked Daphne, surprise written on her perfect features. "After what you did to her little friends? I'm shocked."

Malfoy shrugged. "She really cares about me."

Her dark brown eyes narrowed and she studied him for a long moment. "Huh. Something about the way you said that worries me."

Draco arched one pale brow quizzically. "Oh?"

Daphne stood, looking down on him. "Don't forget that her world and ours are spheres that don't touch and never can... She's too soft for our world and you're far too dark and twisted for hers. Once this game is done, you'll be back here with us." She traced one finger across his healed jaw. "Where you belong."

His grey eyes were cold and his smile tight when he replied, "How could I ever forget that?"