A/N: Wow thank you everyone who review and/or subscribed! I can't believe this many people like my story *blushes*. I know this one came a little later than the others, but this weekend I took the time to actually sleep. Then DH pats 1 & 2 were both on ABC family… and today was Game of Thrones. So, sorry for being distracted, but here we go.

Previously on The Affair- Draco cheers up Hermione on Halloween after Ron is a jerk to her. But her new friendship with Harry and Ron drives a wedge between Draco and Hermione. Draco gets in a fight with Ron at the Quidditch game. Draco and Hermione decide that they want to stay friends, but must do it in secret.

Chapter Five

Despite their agreement, Draco was still having a hard time watching Hermione with Potter and Weasley. He was a Malfoy and therefore had a large amount of pride; this made it difficult for him not to be able to take what he considered rightfully his. More than that, Draco had a dark streak that was growing in him every time he saw her with her new friends.

Hermione would sneak smiles and waves at him when she could, but Draco was jealous that precious Potter and poor Weasley got to walk around the halls with her, laughing and talking easily. He had taken to the sick habit of following Hermione around. When he would watch her climb through the portrait hole with her bestest friends in the whole wide world Draco barely held himself together.

His hands were shaking as he clutched his wand tightly in a fist. They had gone where he couldn't follow, where he couldn't watch. Cold jealousy seized his stomach as hot rage built in his chest. Draco felt like there was a hurricane inside of him threatening to rip him into pieces. The Fat Lady was looking at him suspiciously; Draco glared at her and stalked away.

Sulking in the far corner of the library, Draco was watching Hermione fuss about with Weasley and Potter. He couldn't hear much, but she seemed worried about her exams. For the life of him Draco could not understand why. She was the smartest witch in their year; she probably didn't even need to study and would still pass all of her classes.

I wonder if things would have been easier with us if she had been in Ravenclaw? Draco shook the thought from his head. There was no need to entertain things that would never be. Hermione and you will never be said a voice in his head that hauntingly sounded like his Father. Scowling, Draco turned back to the trio.

The oaf Hagrid was now blocking his view, but luckily was speaking loud so that Draco could easily hear. He heard the name Nicholas Flammel and Hagrid invited the three Gryffindors to his cabin that night. Draco smirked to himself; it wouldn't be hard to follow Hermione out into the dark grounds.

He was able to keep hidden well enough, but a cold wind whipped past him every few minutes that threatened to send him back indoors. Draco was tall enough to see clearly into the window of Hagrid's hut. Hermione was sitting with her ankles crossed in a chair large enough to hold four of her comfortably.

Hagrid was blocking his view of whatever was making a horrid scratching noise. Draco watched as Hermione's brown eyes grew wide and shock spread across her face. There was a puff of smoke and Hagrid finally backed up to give Draco a clear view of… a dragon.

His grey eyes widened as the baby dragon croaked and waddled towards Hagrid. A mixture of joy and worry spread throughout him. This dragon could be his ticket to getting rid of Potter and Weasley (and Hagrid for that matter too), but he didn't want Hermione to be implicated in this. He had read quite a bit about how dangerous dragons could be and worried that Hermione was so close to even a small one.

Hagrid turned around to grab a pitcher of what looked like green milk when his beetle like eyes locked onto Draco's. They both stood frozen for a moment before Draco turned and took off back up the hill towards the castle. If Hermione found out he was following her, she might tell him she never wanted to see him again.

Draco ran fast, his long legs carrying him quickly. He turned around for a moment and saw the outline of Potter standing in Hagrid's door. Putting on an extra burst of speed, Draco sprinted away.

Hermione caught up to Draco in the corridor the next week and pulled him inside an empty classroom.

"Hey you" Draco said smoothly and smiled at her. Hermione told him she was going to be busy studying for exams and that she would see him when she could. Hermione quickly shut to door and turned to face him.

He could see the corners of her mouth twitching, trying not to smile back at him. He took a few steps closer to her. God, it felt so good to just be with her. His friends in Slytherin were entertaining, but no one could replace Hermione or the way she made him feel.

"You can't tell anyone about Norbert." Hermione's voice was stern.

"Who?"

"Norbert. The dragon." She whispered.

Draco smirked and cocked his head to the side a little. "If anyone does happen to find out, its what that half-breed as coming."

"Draco!" Hermione was admonished. She had never heard him talk like this before. He merely rolled his eyes. "Promise me you won't say anything. He won't be around much longer anyways. Just don't ruin this."

Draco glared down at Hermione. Once again, she was asking him to do something for her friends, yet she was barely making the time to see him.

"Why should I?" Draco countered back haughtily. "I don't care what happens to Hagrid. Good riddance as far as I'm concerned" he snarled.

Hermione was losing patience. She wanted to trust Draco, but he had become cold and foul of late. Something had changed in him and she wasn't sure what. The clock chimed for three o'clock and Hermione jumped.

"Oh no, I'm supposed to meet Professor Sprout to ask her something, but I need a book that Ron has in the hospital wing!" Hermione bit her bottom lip and Draco's heart skipped a beat at the sight of it. "Erm… do you mind, going to get it for me?"

Draco forced his breath out and nodded. "Sure. It'll be fun seeing Weasley" Hermione beamed. "In the hospital wing." Draco added darkly.

Hermione was already headed out the door when Draco called after her "You're WELCOME!"

He made his way up to the hospital wing slowly. At least he might be able to see Weasley in some pain, which would do him good. As he entered the dormitory Weasley's red hair was visible from a mile away.

Draco sneered at him as he approached the bed.

"What are you doing here?" Ron asked nastily. His hand was swollen to a massive size and Draco couldn't help but chuckle a little at the sight. Weasley tried to move his hand out of view but because it was so big he was unsuccessful.

"Just borrowing your book, Weasley." Draco said haughtily and sneered back at the red head.

"No. You can't!" Weasley protested.

"What are you going to do to stop me?" Draco jeered and grabbed the book out of Weasley tattered bag. He gingerly placed it in his own, not wanting his books to get contaminated by anything Weasley was carrying.

"I'm sorry, but there's no visitors allowed." Madame Pomfrey started to wave Draco off.

"Don't worry," Draco said giving Weasley another glance, "I'm leaving."

He made his way to the library where he knew he would run into Hermione eventually. Without Weasley she might even be alone. Draco threw the book onto the table and noticed a small piece of paper sticking out of it. Quickly he grabbed it and read it, thinking it might be a note between Weasley and Hermione.

But it was something far sweeter. It looked like Draco had just stumbled upon a letter from an older Weasley arranging a time to pick up the dragon. Draco grinned widely, unable to contain his excitement.

Hermione was buttering her toast as a large, dark Eagle Owl landed in front of her. Immediately she recognized it as belonging to the Malfoy family. Her stomach gave a small flip and she quickly placed the toast on her plate, wiping her hands on a napkin. The owl dropped a letter on the table and blinked its large orange eyes at her.

Hermione offered it a piece of toast and the owl grabbed at it quickly, almost snipping her fingers in the process. Ron was staring curiously at her from down the table.

"Isn't that Malfoy's owl?" Ron said through a mouth of sausage.

"Don't be silly, it's one of the school owls." Hermione said quickly stuffing the letter into her bag. As the owl took off it was obvious it didn't belong to the school. The school owls were reliable and accurate, but this one was magnificent. His wings stretched easily across the table as he swooped low making some of the Gryffindors duck down and cover their heads.

She grabbed the piece of toast she had been buttering and took a quick bite of it. She grabbed her bag and stood up. She couldn't help but sneak a look over to Draco, sitting at the Slytherin table. His lips twitched and half of his mouth rose in a smile. Hermione gave a small grin in return and hurried out of the Great Hall.

She headed towards the girls bathroom and locked herself in the staff. Only there away from prying eyes did she open the letter.

Hermione,

I miss you. I know you might not be happy with me right now, but meet me at the tower where you sent off the you know what and I'll make it up to you.

Tonight.

Draco

Hermione clutched the letter tightly in her hands. She had been so angry with him after he told about Norbert and got them all in trouble. The night of their detention she refused to even look at him, although she felt his eyes on her every chance he had. She stopped smiling at him in classes too, instead she would glare at him or ignore him completely. In fact, this morning was the first time things felt almost normal between them.

But as the days passed, Hermione felt herself missing him. He wasn't like Harry or Ron who she had to worry about boring in conversations; or Neville who always seemed to be needing her help with something. Draco enjoyed who she was as a person. And she enjoyed Draco; he was funny although could be cruel to do so, but also seemed to keep up with her intelligently. His good looks didn't hurt either.

The day passed slowly and Hermione did not see Draco until dinner. He was sitting with his usual crowd of Slytherins- Crabbe, Goyle, Nott, Pansy, and Zambini. She watched him as he picked at his food and watched Goyle shoving a baked potato in him mouth practically whole. Hermione couldn't help but laugh a little at Draco's face of disgust.

He looked over at her and she nodded to him. He suppressed a grin, but his grey eyes shone like polished silver at the prospect of seeing her tonight. Hermione made an excuse to go to the library to study to Harry and Ron (who rolled his eyes) and marched off to the astronomy tower.

Draco was there waiting on her when she finally made it to the top. It was chilly up here and Hermione had forgotten her cloak in her dormitory. Draco seemed warm enough in his fur lined cloak and leather gloves. She felt rather silly, just standing up here in a sweater and skirt.

Without missing a beat, Draco pulled off his cloak and wrapped it around Hermione. Instantly she felt warmth spread through her. He handed her the gloves too which felt like suede on the inside. Hermione doubted she had ever had anything so expensive on her person before. And these were just everyday clothes to Draco.

This was the first time that Hermione realized just how different she and Draco were. She had grown up comfortably in a middle class, Muggle home. She never really wanted for anything, but didn't have it just handed to her either. She was new to the magical world. And despite the fact that it already felt like home to her here at Hogwarts, there were still some things about wizarding society she didn't understand.

Draco on the other hand had been born and raised into a life where magic was an everyday occurrence. Instead of playing with skates or soccer balls growing up, Draco flew on a broomstick and practiced Quidditch. More than that, Draco had never known want. He had anything and everything he ever wanted hand delivered to him, just because he was a Malfoy. Draco was not used to hearing the word "no".

She felt insecure wearing his cloak and gloves despite the fact they were the warmest outerwear she had ever had. Was she a passing fancy to Draco or did he have real feelings for her? If he was just entertained by you, he wouldn't be trying this hard. Hermione knew this to be true as she looked into his grey eyes, nervous but happy.

"Hermione I just want to explain why I did what I did." Draco started.

"Let me guess," she cut him off, "you just wanted to show me how idiotic Harry and Ron were by getting them caught sending off Norbert. You had no idea I'd be there and you never meant for me to get in trouble."

Draco stood dumbfounded. She had taken the words right out of his mouth. Maybe this means she understands. But if she understood then why would she have shunned you for so long? Draco waited for Hermione to continue.

"That's the same thing you thought when I nearly got killed by Fluffy the night of your supposed duel with Harry." Hermione was finally venting and it felt like such a relief she was having a hard time stopping her mouth from talking. "Draco, you have to realize that I am friends with Harry and Ron. You can't change that."

Draco's face fell and a hardened look came upon it.

"No matter how many times you try and tell or show me that they are idiots won't work. I already know! And I am okay with that, I want you to be okay with this too. Because I want us to be okay."

Draco didn't like her answer. He didn't want Hermione hanging around Potter and Weasley, especially when they were so prone to trouble. Trouble you get them in. He thought. But he didn't want to not have Hermione as a friend either. If it meant that he had to keep his feelings about Potter and Weasley a little closer to his chest, then so be it.

"Okay." Was all he croaked out. He turned around and lit a large pillar candle he had brought with him and sat it between Hermione and himself.

She seemed satisfied with his response and took a seat on the floor. Draco went to follow suit across from her, but then saw Hermione patting the ground next to her. He shifted his weight and sat down, their arms and legs touching.

"You must be cold, here-" Hermione reached and undid the cloak, spreading it over the both of them. She took off the glove on her left hand and handed it back to him.

"But your hand will be cold."

"You can keep it warm." Hermione said boldly, surprised that she was so forward with him. But with Draco, it felt right. She took his hand in hers and held it tightly.

Draco placed his right arm around her so that she was holding his left hand. His body was enveloping her. They both stared at the candle for a long moment, unsure of what to do next.

"Where do your friends think you are?" Draco finally asked.

"The library." Hermione said easily.

"You little liar." Draco chuckled and Hermione shrugged nonchalantly.

"It really is beautiful up here." Hermione said looking over the grounds, bathed in starlight.

"I prefer my view." Draco said throatily, gazing at Hermione. When she turned and saw this, Hermione blushed so much that her face felt like ti was on fire. Draco chuckled at her modesty.

He felt a lightness start in his chest and travel down his abdomen. No one had ever made him feel quite like Hermione did. Her hair smelled so sweetly and her face might be too small for her teeth, but everything about her just seemed to work. The slope of her nose was gentle, the curve of her lips made them full. And her eyes… well they were pools of warm chocolate that Draco felt like he could swim in.

His lips tingled in an urge to kiss her. As he moved his face down towards hers, Hermione quickly turned her face down. Draco frowned and pulled back. Was she still mad at him? I so, then why was she letting him hold her and why did she even come up here?

"What's wrong?" Draco asked, trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice.

"I just…" Hermione buried her face in her bushy hair. "I'm nervous. I've never kissed anyone before and… Oh I don't know! I'm sorry."

Draco couldn't help but laugh a little. He pushed her hair out of her face as much as he could. "It's okay." He was surprised that he actually meant the words. "If it helps… I've never kissed anyone either."

Hermione smiled up at him. "It's getting late. We don't need detention again."

Draco stood up and reached his hand down to help her to her feet. Blowing out the candle he stuck it back in his cloak which Hermione returned to him. As she handed him his other glove he grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to him. Hermione gasped and Draco felt an unusual twinge in his abdomen.

"When can I see you again?" He asked earnestly.

Hermione thought for a moment. "Exams are next week so it'll have to be after that." She bit her lip in thought. Draco fought the urge to kiss her again, but her antics weren't helping. "Next Friday after our last exam. We can celebrate together."

"Here?" Draco asked eager to see her again and Hermione nodded, smiling wide. She backed away and started down the stairs. Draco took a few minutes more before following her, in case anyone saw them together. He felt happier than he had in a long time, if not ever.

The week of exams seemed like it would never end. Draco poured over his notes as much as he could, but there was only so much he could retain at a time. Hermione on the other hand seemed like a machine. She was running from the library to her common room, always with a book in hand, usually being held up to her face.

Draco felt confident in his performance on his exams, but was distracted by the promise of another date with Hermione Friday night. Yes, he considered their meetings to be dates now. They might not be officially dating, but there was obviously shared feeling between the two of them. And Friday, Draco planned to solidify their relationship.

At dinner he tried to catch her eye, but she was enraptured in a conversation with Potter and Weasley. He tried to stifle his jealousy, but it was ruining his appetite to see her talking so close with them. He left dinner early and headed up the the astronomy tower.

Draco pulled candles of all shapes and sizes out of his bag and placed them around the room lighting them with a flick of his wand. It was much warmer tonight and he shed his robe to leave him in a grey sweater with green lines around the cuffs and neck and long black slacks. Draco ran a hand through his hair to make sure it was still slicked back and took a deep breath.

Hermione was late, Draco had been waiting almost an hour and she still had not shown. He had left dinner early, but there was no way she was still there. Had she forgotten? Draco's guts boiled as he pictured her talking with Potter and Weasley again. What was so important that she either forgot about their date or blew him off?

He could not hold back his jealousy and anger and kicked one of the candles off the ledge. He watched as it'd small flame extinguished as it plummeted to the ground below. He flicked his wand again and the rest of the candles went out. The smell of smoke filled the room and Draco stormed off down the stairs.

Hermione choked back tears as she walked through the purple fire. She had just left her best friend Harry Potter to face Snape alone miles under the school and from any help. She felt like she just sent him to his death. Harry was a powerful wizard, but he was only eleven and Snape knew a lot more than he did.

The black and white of the chessboard came into view and she gulped in air. It was stale and tasted dusty, but she didn't care. Nothing seemed to matter right now, except getting back up to the school as quickly as possible.

Ron was lying on the side of the chessboard, sprawled out. Hermione gasped and a sob wracked her body as she began to run towards him. Kneeling beside his body, she saw his chest moving up and down slowly. He was alive. Hermione felt her tears falling off her face and onto his torso.

Despair suddenly overtook her. How was she supposed to get him back up to the school? What he Ron wouldn't wake up? Could she leave him down here? She just left Harry. What if they couldn't get out? She would be stuck down here with Ron until they died. Hermione sobbed and fell onto Ron's chest.

She was supposed to have met Draco tonight at the astronomy tower. But when Harry said he as going through the trap door tonight, she couldn't let him go alone or worse, with just Ron. And there was no time to let Draco know. She could only hope he would understand. Maybe he is right, maybe Harry and Ron are just too reckless to have as friends.

But even as the thought popped into her head, she knew it was wrong. Guilt built in her stomach and caused her to cry even harder. What was wrong with her? They were her friends! They saved her from the troll, she owed them to join them tonight.

The Hermione felt arms wrap around her body. Her first thought was of Draco and how he felt holding her. He was strong and safe, he wouldn't let himself get in this mess. But then she remembered that no one knew where she was right now and it was impossible that Draco was holding her. Looking up, Hermione saw Ron's face through her tears.

"Oh, Ron!" She jumped and wrapped her arms around his neck. He was awake!

"Don't worry, Hermione, you're not getting rid of me that easy." Hermione pulled back and wiped her eyes. "It's okay, I'm here, I'm okay. You don't have to cry for me."

Hermione started to protest, but then just shook her head. "Are you okay to walk? We need to get back to the school and sent an owl to Professor Dumbledore right away."

"Yeah," Ron grunted as he started to pull himself up. "I'm good to go."

Hermione stood up as well and wiped her face again. "Let's get out of here."

Hermione found an empty compartment on the train back to London. She sat down and waited for Draco. They planned to meet on the ride back so they could say goodbye. Hermione suggested that they just do it when they got back to the platform, but Draco vehemently opposed this idea.

It was hard for her to conceive the idea that she was going back to her "normal" life. It didn't seem like her real life anymore. Hogwarts had been more than a school to her this year, it had been a home. She made her first real friends she'd ever had and then there was Draco. She wasn't quite sure where they stood, but she knew that they meant something to each other.

She didn't have to wait long before Draco poked his head through the door and grinned at her. He closed the blinds on the window on the door and sat across from Hermione.

"Did you have any trouble getting away?"

"No, just excused myself. I don't even think Harry and Ron know I am gone."

Draco scoffed and raised an eyebrow. "Some friends."

"Please don't start with that." Hermione sounded exasperated. "So, what are your plans for this summer?"

"Not sure." Draco shrugged. "My Father normally has to go to Moscow in August so I might accompany him this year."

"That sounds fun." Hermione offered.

"Loads." He said sarcastically. "What about you?"

"No plans so far. I know my parents will be happy to have me back home so I'm sure it will just be a lot of sitting around the house. I'll miss all this." Hermione placed her hand on the glass.

Draco wasn't sure if she was just referring to everything in the magical world or if she was talking about him. "I'll write to you, if you want."

"Oh please do!" Hermione exclaimed. "I couldn't stand not hearing from you for three months."

Draco grinned at this. Maybe there was hope there after all.

"I have to get back to my compartment and I need to change into my Muggle clothes for when we arrive; it won't be long now." Hermione stood up and Draco copied her motion.

"Have a good summer, Hermione."

Hermione threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. Draco's breath caught in his chest in surprise. He snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. They stood locked together for a long moment before Hermione pulled back. Draco was a bit disappointed until her soft lips kissed his cheek gently.

Draco's face felt like an electric shock had just past through it. The feel of her lips on his skin made every hair on his body stand on end. He stood frozen in place as Hermione smiled and snuck out the door towards her compartment. Draco sunk back down onto the seat and his fingers felt where her kiss had been.

"This was a good year."

Next Time on The Affair- Draco's jealousy grows as he learns how much closer Hermione is to her friends than to him. When they are reunited, Draco takes out his anger on Hermione. Hermione makes a decision between her relationship with Draco and her friendship with Harry and Ron.

A/N: Aww, what a cute ending. :) I hope you all enjoyed the first book and keep on reading to see what happens next! I think that COS allows me to show much more of the stigma of Blood Status and how it will affect Draco and Hermione's relationship from here on out. Tell me, do you like the longer chapters or would you rather the shorter ones? As always, thanks for reading! Please leave me a review and tell me what you think, I love hearing your input!