Chapter 11
Love Notes and Bad News

A few weeks later, in early October, Hermione was studying for an upcoming History of Magic Quiz with Ron and Harry. They had made up and were now easing their way back into the close-knit friendship they'd had before.

As Hermione searched for a fresh sheet of parchment, a folded bit of paper fell from her potions book. She studied it curiously, then unfolded it.

Hermione,

I know you probably won't find this till later, so you're probably studying (what else is new?). Anyway, I wanted to remind you that we're meeting tonight in the hideaway. As if you forgot. Actually, I was just finding an excuse to make you smile. And I bet you are smiling. And I bet right now Potter and Weasley are shooting you odd looks because you're sitting there reading a note with a huge goofy grin on your face. Anyway, mission accomplished.

Draco

Hermione laughed, refolding the note. He had been dead on. She was smiling and Harry and Ron were staring at her, confusion etched on their faces.

"Love note?" Ron asked, not looking overly pleased.

"That's for me to know." Hermione said, picking up the piece of parchment she'd been searching for.

Later that day, at around 10 pm, Hermione had snuck out of the common room and hurried down to the entrance to the hideaway. She had learned the incantation to enter by heart, and was soon in the corridor, where an orb of light could be seen from the dome-like archway. She smiled, hurrying on, anxious to see Draco. They hadn't been able to meet in weeks, with all the schoolwork. And they couldn't very well meet in plain sight and risk being assaulted by Slytherins who were still hissing and spitting over the couple.

"You're late." Draco said a hint of amusement in his voice.

"And you're blond." Hermione shot back with a wicked grin. But Draco didn't return the smile. "What's going on?"

"Bad news. My father's coming to visit."

"Well...we expected this." Hermione said quietly.

"But not this soon! I want more time to be with you."

"Draco you make it sound as if this is the end."

"That isn't what I meant. I just meant...this is going to put a lot of strain on the both of us."

Draco sighed, rubbing a hand over his tired eyes. "I'm sorry, Hermione."

"Why are you sorry?" She asked, stepping forward and putting a hand gently on his shoulder.

"For not sending him an owl straight off and telling him where to shove his ideals."

Hermione laughed, "Draco, that would've been stupid and you know it. Come here."

She pulled him to her and hugged him reassuringly, "We'll deal with your father and whoever else and we will be fine."

Draco smiled, stroking the side of her face with the back of his hand.

"You're amazing." He whispered, then leaned forward, capturing her lips in a slow kiss. When they broke away, Hermione led him over to the comfortable beanbag chair and pulled him down onto it with her.

"You're father is only a tiny obstacle, Draco. And if worse comes to worse, I'll turn him into a coat rack."

He laughed, "Oh I'd love to see that. He'd be an awfully snobby coat rack."

Hermione smiled and he kissed her again, pulling her onto his lap. Draco put his hands at her waist and gently moved her over and switched positions so that she was leaning back on the chair and he was hovering over her. He trailed several warm kisses down her neck and Hermione sighed in contentment, as his lips moved back up to hers.

"We should go..." She mumbled between kisses, her eyes flickering over to the clock. It was getting late.

He sighed, nodded, and placed one last soft kiss on her lips. "OK. I know."

Hermione stood, smoothing out her robes and running her fingers through her hair, trying to regain her composure. She laughed at Draco as he attempted to fix the damage she'd done to his hair.

"Come here." She said with a laugh and smoothed down his hair for him, "OK. I gotta run. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye." He whispered, and they kissed on final time before Hermione hurried down the corridor and back out to the grounds.

A/N: I know short chapter but I need to enjoy my winter break in front of the T.V. playing my new Wii… so this will probally be the last chapter before the next year… kay.