Chapter 18

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING! If I did, I wouldn't have to work at my icky job...LOL!

Hermione woke up feeling cold, but oddly content. She stretched first, then opened her eyes and looked up and saw the underside of the coffee table. And sat up so fast she hit her head on it. As her head began to throb, she looked next to her on the floor and saw Draco sleeping peacefully, his white blond hair tousled and his mouth slightly open. Then she remembered. Everything.

She sat there trying to dig up feelings of regret or shame, and surprised herself when she couldn't. She was still siting with her arms wrapped around her knees when she felt a hand touch her back, and she jumped at the contact. "Calm down, Mione, it's just me" he said softly, his hand tracing patterns on her back. "You just startled me is all. I thought you were still sleeping" she replied with no real conviction. "You ok? You seem..distracted" Draco said with a worried look on his face, his hand going still on her back.

"I'm fine, just tired, and a bit sore. I don't usually sleep on the floor, you know. It's all just a bit strange" she said, feeling the need to defend herself. "Ok, I was just asking. You don't have to get so testy" he replied, getting upset with her. He was only being concerned. He thought about what happened last night, and couldn't even find the words to describe it. Wonderful came to mind. Or fantastic. Or mind numbingly perfect. But none of those could actually even begin to describe how he felt.

"Look, about last night..." she began, only to be cut off by him. "No, let me start. Last night was the most wonderful night I've ever had. If I had the chance to go back and change anything, I still wouldn't. It was perfect...no better than perfect. It was...magic. It really was. So before you start saying things like it was a mistake, or we shouldn't have done it, don't, please. For once, don't analyze everything a thousand times, just go by your instincts. How do you feel about last night?"

She looked at him, looked him straight in the eyes, and said " I feel it was a mistake. We shouldn't have done it. And if it wasn't for all of the Fire Whisky, I don't think I would have done it. But what is done is done. Now all we can do is move on from here. Even though, I don't know where we go, or how, but we have to try to."

"I knew, just KNEW you were going to do this! You can't just forget who we are, or what we used to be to each other, and make a new start! Your too worried about what your friends will say, or what they'll do! Just try and be honest with me for a single minute! How do you feel about me?" he yelled at her, his hands on her shoulders, acting like he wanted to shake her.

"I LOVE YOU OK? Is that honest enough? Does that make you feel better? Not that it's going to change or solve anything! And what are my friends going to say? Or yours for that matter? Do you really think they're going to accept this with open arms? They hate the idea of us being together. And this makes it even better. Sleeping with the enemy. So I ask you again, does that make you feel better?" she yelled back at him, tears now streaming down her face and neck, her whole body shaking with anger and hurt.

"You love me?" was all he could say. He stared into her tear filled eyes, and all of a sudden pulled her into his arms. "It's going to be ok. I promise. We'll figure something out. It doesn't matter what our friends think. And if they're truly our friends, they'll deal with it. Please, just don't cry. I hate it when you cry" he said as he held her close. "Who are you and what have you done with Draco Malfoy?" she asked around her hiccups. "I'm still the same person. I just discovered I have a week spot for muggle born wizards, who's parents are dentists" he said with a chuckle. She gave a week laugh and laid her head on his shoulder, letting him rub her back.

"So...what do we do now?" he asked after awhile, only to find her asleep. He kissed her head, and laid back down with her on his chest. "We'll figure it out. It's different now... now that you love me" he whispered into her hair, right before he fell asleep, holding her.

I AM SOOOOO SORRY ABOUT THE LONG WAIT YOU GUYS HAD TO GO THROUGH!

I have a job now, and have been sooo busy, I haven't had time, and I really wanted to make this chapter good, so I didn't just want to rush it. So thank you all for waiting, I truly love all of my readers! Thank you again, and please let me know what you think of this new chapter!