This is a really long chapter that took a really long time to update. Sorry!

Thanks for all the reviews! I love you guys! )

Chapter Four

It was the break of dawn on a beautiful autumn day. If anyone were to look out the window at that exact time, they'd see a glistening sun slowly rising behind the lake and casting shadows of trees that were twenty feet long. The sun reflected a streak of light directly upon Hogwarts, comparable to a spotlight shining on its performers. Slowly within the castle, its occupants arose as the sunlight acted as a natural alarm clock. The light signified a brand, new day…a clean sheet…for some. But for others the early rising of the sun symbolized reality, no more darkness to cover-up their fears…

Hermione awoke gradually and at ease as she felt the shining sun warm her face. She felt someone breathing slowly lying next to her. The Head girl tentatively opened one eye, and saw that the "someone" was Draco. Odd. Unsure of what to do next, Hermione stayed in the same position, cuddled up in Draco's strong arm on the common room sofa. She contemplated what had happened the day before, which resulted in her ending up in the arms of an angel…I mean...Malfoy.

Did I just call Malfoy an angel in my head!

"Oh. My. Godiva." Hermione accidentally said out loud. She felt Draco stir next to her, but fell back asleep as quick as a Firebolt.

Hermione propped herself on her elbow, and examined the serene expression upon Draco's face; memories of last night came flooding back to her like a rewind button on a remote.

Dinner. Gryffindor. Surprise. Booze. Party. Ron. Harry. Draco. Night.

The color drained from her face. She felt as if she was watching some cheesy chick-flick starring herself as the heroine who was traumatized, only to be saved by the masculine hero who holds her in his arms…and they live happily ever after.

Yeah, right.

Hermione fell back onto the couch, snuggled at Draco's side. She felt so safe there, that she never wanted to get up. She attempted to fall back asleep even though the entire common room was bright with sunlight. She desperately wanted to continue her dream, even though she was too embarrassed to admit to herself.

Hermione was unsure of whether it was a dream or not, but she was sure that in the mist of her sleep, she had heard Draco call her beautiful quietly into her ear. The fact that she, the know-it-all, didn't know between fact and fiction, killed her on the inside.

It had to be real, I heard him say it.

Or I imagined him saying it.

But if I imagined it, how can it sound so real?

That's true. It has got to be real.

Hermione continued to fight with herself inside her head, until she couldn't stand herself anymore. What does it matter if he really did say it? It's not like he's in love with me. He was probably just complementing my facial features. Yup, that's it.

With a heavy sigh, Hermione decided it would be best to get dressed and go to breakfast, without waking Draco. He probably wouldn't even remember what happened last night.

Hermione slowly unwrapped the tight blanket covering her body, and placed it aside. She lifted her left leg, and cautiously tried to place her leg on the other side of Draco, as if to rollover him without actually touching. Her foot slipped, as she almost managed to get off the sofa, which landed her right on top of Draco.

Draco grunted at the startling movement, and opened his eyes to find Hermione lying right on top of him.

"Hehe. Good Morning!" Hermione said, too enthusiastically. She smiled embarrassedly, and climbed off of Draco. So much for subtle.

"Well, well… you should wake me up like that every morning." Draco smirked, as he sat up.

"Oh…Shut up! I was trying to go to breakfast without waking you up."

"Sorry, hun, but humping me will definitely wake me up."

Hermione glared at Draco, then silently strutted off to her room.

"Kidding! Jeez...don't have to give me the eye." Draco said, as he climbed off the sofa and joined Hermione in her journey to her bedroom. "Weren't you going down to breakfast?"

"Of course, but not dressed like this."

"You look great! Let's just go eat. I'm starved."

He said I looked great! He said I looked great!

Hermione fought to stifle a happy giggle, and raised an eyebrow at him. "Why don't you just go to breakfast without me? I don't have to follow you everywhere."

"Ha! Like I'm really going to walk all the way to the Great Hall all by myself. That's quite funny; I never knew you had a sense of humor."

Hermione grunted, and continued getting ready. She tried to do her best to ignore the annoying, yet gorgeous, git standing in her doorway.

"I seem to be in your doorway a lot more often lately. Preparo!" Draco said, holding his wand, and instantly, Hermione was dressed and ready. He held out his arm for Hermione to take. "Shall we, milady?"

Hermione let a small smile slip towards Draco, and wordlessly cursed herself for giving him an ego boost. She reluctantly took his arm, as he walked her all the way to breakfast.

As they entered the Great Hall together, Hermione was pleased to notice that no Gryffindor 7th years were there. Hangovers. She smirked, and decidedly sat at the Slytherin table, and feasted on the delicious meal in front of her, enjoying every second of the absence of the Gryffindors.

Draco watched as Hermione smothered her eggs in maple syrup, and ate it. "Eww… you just ate those scrambled eggs with syrup." He said as he made a gagging motion.

"What's wrong with that? It tastes soo good. Here try some." Hermione said as she forcefully jammed her fork inside his mouth.

Draco's expression changed from shocked to indifferent to shocked again. "That actually is quite good. Odd, but good." He said with a smile.

"I know."

Hermione was staring into his eyes, and vice versa. O. M. G. We're sharing a "drown yourself in my eyes" clichéd moment.

"Ahem. Well, uhh...I best be getting ready for Hogsmeade now." Hermione said, breaking the "moment", and forgetting all about her breakfast. She rushed out of the Great Hall, and towards her dorm, but almost immediately veered another direction as she saw Ron and Harry turning the corner. She turned around to walk in the other direction, but bumped into Draco. "Uh...Hi…um...Well, uh...Gotta go."

Hermione took the longer route to her dorm, avoiding as many students as possible. "HERMIONE! Wait! Hermione!"

Hermione stopped walking and turned around, allowing Draco to catch up with her. "Who are you hiding from?" he asked. Busted!

"No one. Why do you think I'm hiding?"

"Well, why are you taking the long way to our dorm?"

"I'm just… taking a nature walk… around school." Hermione stuttered, and continued walking briskly to her dorm. She didn't take more than three steps before Draco grabbed her arm, stopping her.

"What happened at the party last night?" Draco asked, but he didn't get a response, since Hermione was suddenly fascinated by her shoes. "You can tell me anything, I promise I won't judge or tell anybody if you don't want me to."

Hermione looked directly into his eyes at these words. He pulled her into a hug, and whispered into her ear, "Trust me." She felt the familiar rush she felt the night before when she was sleeping. It was real.

"Last night, at the party……" Hermione told Draco the whole story, and noted that his face changed from horrified, to more horrified. "..and that's what happened." Hermione finished.

Draco stayed quiet. He had no idea what to say, but he had an idea of what to do. He angrily clenched his fists, and stalked off to the Great Hall. Hermione looked nervous at his silence, and quickly followed him to see where he was going.

Hermione followed Draco all the way back to the Great Hall, where he went directly up to Harry and punched him smack in the face breaking his glasses. Harry felt to the floor wincing and cursing at the sudden attack.

"That'll show you, you filthy, self-obsessed son of a b—."

"Draco!" Hermione screamed, cutting him off. "You honestly shouldn't have done that! You're going to get into so much trouble."

"It's worth detention." Draco said, with a satisfied smile plastered on his face, as he watched Harry try to find his glasses.

At that exact moment, Professor McGonagall appeared, looking from the smirking Draco to the bleeding Harry to the frantic Hermione. "Mr. Malfoy! Please explain yourself, NOW!"

"Sorry, professor, but this rodent provoked me." Draco said as he looked disgustedly at Harry. "I'm willing to accept whatever punishment you have in store for me."

"Well. In that case, you are to bring Potter to the Hospital Wing, and serve a week of detentions with Hagrid starting tonight. Not to mention, you are banned from today's trip to Hogsmeade." McGonagall stated sternly.

Hermione looked guiltily between Professor McGonagall and Draco, and couldn't let Draco get all the blame for everything. "Professor," Hermione said right as McGonagall was about to leave. "It was my entire fault, Draco was just defending me. Please, I'll do the detention."

Professor McGonagall looked at Hermione apprehensively. "In that case, you shall join Mr. Malfoy in his punishments." She said as she left the Great Hall, motioning for Draco to bring Harry to Madame Pomfrey. "Can you believe it! Head Boy and Head Girl in detention!" She muttered to herself.

Draco angrily grabbed Harry's foot, and dragged him out of the Great Hall and to the Hospital Wing. "Looks like we get to spend a week doing God knows what in the forbidden forest for detention. Fun" he said sarcastically.

"Why did you have to go and punch him? Couldn't you have just jinxed him, or something else that's more subtle?" Hermione questioned, trying to hide her satisfaction.

"I wanted to make a statement." Draco smirked, still dragging Harry by the foot despite the stares.

"mMallfoy! Let go ov my legg!" Harry said, as he fiercely tried to free himself. Draco let go of Harry, and stepped on his chest looking angrily down at him.

"Why did you do that to Hermione?"

"Wat arr you toking aboot! Do wat!" Harry managed to say, even though Malfoy's foot was cutting of his breathing.

"Draco. Just, just stop." Hermione said. She actually felt bad for her best friend. He was just probably too drunk.

Draco removed his foot from Harry's chest reluctantly, and looked at Hermione as if waiting for her to tell him she was just kidding.

"'Mione," Harry said as he slowly got to his feet. "Whatever I did, I'm sorry. I was wasted last night, honestly."

Hermione avoided Harry's eyes, understanding that he really was apologetic, even though he didn't know why he was sorry. "Let's just forget it, and never bring it up again." She said as she made her way to her dorm. She suddenly wished it wasn't so sunny outside, and longed for the dark.

"Just eleven more hours, Hermione, eleven more hours. You can do it." Hermione reassured herself inside her head, as she power walked to her dorm, where she planned to hide under her bed sheets until the sun went down.

Kind of slow paced, I know. Next chapter shall be interesting, with the detention, and all. Review!