A/N: This chapter does contain a scene if you do not like to read said scenes then I am happy to inform you it is short. If you do like to read said scenes then I am sorry. You can find me on .net where I will soon be posting stories. Which may include said scenes I have only written a few so far but have not posted them though there are many good stories. I would recommend Must Love Quiddatch it is by far my favorite. Sorry rambling. Back to the story!

Chapter 9

Hermione walked slowly to her common room. She thought it would be a good idea to let what some of Ron had said sink in. She had had no idea just how strongly he felt for her and just how little she felt for him.

How could he love me so much when I don't feel anything for him?

Hermione found herself at the entrance to her common room before she knew it. She walked into the room expecting to see Draco happy and eager to see her, but instead what she got was a Draco that was sitting on the couch in front of a roaring fire, face buried in his hands.

Hermione walked over to the couch sat down next to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

He looked up at her his eyes blood shot and his cheeks wet with tears. He opened his mouth as if to say something but was unable to form words and closed it again. Instead he buried his face in Hermione's shoulder and neck. She could feel his hot tears on her chilled skin. She pulled him into an embrace and kissed his messy blond hair.

She wanted to say something to sooth him, to make him stop crying, to relieve some of his pain but all she could manage was "Oh Draco" Then planted another kiss on his head. She held him until he calmed and the tears dried on his cheeks.

Now she understood how significant it was for Ron to let her see him cry, to tell her exactly how he felt, to let go. He would never allow Harry or even Ginny to see him in that state but he showed her.

Seeing Draco like this and feeling for him so much just made it more evident how little she cared for Ron. If she could feel this strongly about Draco's pain, someone she only just befriended, and not care about Ron's pain, her best friend all her life, then that had to be confirmation that she doesn't care for him anymore.

Draco looked back up at Hermione "Thanks."

"It's not a problem" Hermione said then paused. "Do you want to tell me what happened?"

Draco nodded "I sat with her…we talked…and laughed…just like before…before…before we broke up…I asked her…to see me…tomorrow…she said yes Hermione…what am I going to do?" Draco's voice was rough from crying and he was trying to resist the urge to start again.

Hermione gave him a confused look. "Umm taking her out tomorrow would be a good start."

"You don't…understand…How can I…make up for…the neglect…the heartbreak…the pain…I put her through?"

Hermione would have laughed at his naiveté. "Draco you will never be able to make up for it." She said rubbing soothing circles on his back. "All you can do is show her that you have changed."

Draco nodded, then they headed out on patrol.

***

Hermione woke the next morning to find that Draco had already left. She smiled to herself then went into the bathroom to shower.

Hermione finished her shower pulled on her underwear under her towel, she dropped the towel and pulled on an old backstreet boys t-shirt that was now the perfect size for her, when she had bought it it was several sized too large.

She went to her CD player, popped in a random CD and turned it up full blast. She began dancing around her room, which she did often as it relived whatever stress she was feeling.

She danced for three songs strait before she felt hands snake around her waist, thumbs hook under the top of her underwear, a warm body press against her, a hard throbbing on her lower back, and a kiss on her neck.

"I missed you Hermione." There was no mistaking that deep almost silk like voice.

Hermione turned in Snape's arms to face him, she put one hand on the back of his neck the other on the back of his head gently dragging her fingers through his hair. Hermione could feel him throbbing against her lower stomach now. She slowly went up on her tip toes, the friction of her doing so made Snape roll his eyes and cock his head back a fraction of an inch. He closed his eyes and let out a soft moan.

"It has only been two days since we were last together." Hermione said smiling at the reaction Snape had to her movements.

"Are you saying you haven't missed me?" Snape said his voice shaky. "I can leave if you want."

"Don't be silly. I have missed you terribly. Besides you couldn't leave now if you wanted to." Hermione said smiling as she swayed her hips ever so slightly.

A small grunt sounded from Snape's throat, his eyes slid shut. He kissed her, his hands slowly making their way up her back under her shirt, back down over her ass which he grasped and pulled her closer to him, making him moan slightly.

Hermione slowly backed away then lay back on her bed. She put her hands over her head. Snape did not hesitate, dropping his robes he walked over to the bed and placed a knee on it, he put a hand next to Hermione's head and placed his weight on her, he kissed her lips almost savagely, made his way down her neck and kissed her collar bone through her shirt. Hermione grabbed the bottom hem of his shirt and pulled it off. Snape copying her grabbed the bottom herm of her shirt and pulled it off over her head, to reveal a red lace bra. Snape could barely contain himself he nibbled at her neck and let his hands wander freely about her, massaging her breasts, running down her stomach and exploring her underwear, then his warm hands ran over her thighs and he gently drug his nails back up them sending shivers through her. Then he pulled her on top of him.

Straddling him she gently swayed her hips applying a gentle pressure. She leaned down and nibbled on his neck and jaw bone. His hands not leaving her ass as he tightened and loosened his grip in time with her swaying. Snape let out another moan, then

"I understand the whole dating thing but could you have at least put a sign on the door or something?" Draco said leaning against the door frame. Hermione lay on her back next to Snape trying to fight back laughter at the thought of being busted by Draco.

"Sometimes, Draco, I wonder if I should have left you to the Dark Lord." Snape said his hands pressed against his face in frustration.

Hermione let out a laugh at this. "So how did your date go?" She asked trying not to laugh.

"Not nearly as well as yours, obviously." Draco said with a smile.

"No? Well maybe you should go give it another shot then." Snape's voice filled with bitterness "I have a class to teach in just under an hour and I cannot possibly do that in this state." He finished.

"Fine then, I can tell when I'm not welcome. I'll be down in the common room if you need me." Draco said sarcastically leaving the room and closing the door behind him.

"We won't" Snape yelled at the door.

Hermione straddled Snape again and massaged his chest, she placed kissed on his neck and chest and swayed her hips until she felt him throbbing against her again.

She drug her nails down his chest towards his pants, a moan escaped his lips when she ran her nails over his pelvis bone, she filed that bit of useful information away. She undid the button and zipper on his pants then her threw her to her back and stood up and dropped his pants along with his boxers to the floor. He climbed back onto the bed and kissed his way up Hermione's legs to her underwear; he hooked his thumbs under the top of then and pulled then off in one fluid motion. He was back on top of her in an instant, Hermione reveled in the feeling of his warm skin against hers, then she felt him enter her and she let out an audible moan. Snape smiled widely then his expression returned to one of complete ecstasy. Hermione's eyes slid shut, allowing her to feel every sensation that came with Snape's repeated thrusts. He allowed his hands to wander, massaging her breasts, over the soft skin of her neck, up into her long brown locks of hair. He kissed her lips then traced her jawbone with his lips then making it to her neck he opened his mouth over her neck and began to suck and bite lightly. Hermione let out an exceptionally loud moan then Snape felt her tighten around him setting him over the edge as waves of pleasure over took them both. Hermione drug her nails over the sweaty skin of his back.

Snape collapsed panting onto his back next to Hermione. She leaned over him and kissed his chest, then rested her head on his shoulder.

She listened to his heartbeat steady and his breathing return to normal. Snape put an arm around Hermione and kissed her head.

***

When Snape and Hermione went down to the common room it was to find Draco sitting on the couch in front of the fire, butterbeer in hand.

"Now that you have finished your date would you like to hear about mine?" Draco asked.

"Would love to but I have to teach a class in ten minutes, some other time?" Snape said then kissed Hermione and left.

"I would love to hear about it Draco," Hermione said grabbing herself a butterbeer and plopping down on the couch next to Draco, who gave a little laugh.

"What?"

"Nothing"

"Ok then what did you and your girlfriend do?" Hermione asked casually.

Draco tensed up. "She isn't my girlfriend. She made that clear."

"What happened?"

"She was just right about…well about everything. Me abandoning her, not treating her like I should have, me acting like an asshole. She's right, I was…have been an ass most of my life. I did mistreat her. I told her I was sorry, that I've changed and I want to be with her again. I told her that I can be the type of man she needs in her life." Draco said as if it hurt him to say these things aloud.

"What did she say?" Hermione prompted after a minute of silence.

"That she just wants the old Draco back." He said burring his face in his hands.

"But you will never be the old Draco again. That's impossible you are different now, grown-up, changed, for the better." Hermione said as if it was a personal insult to her.

"I told her that. She wants me to prove that I am the man I claim to be. The man she always knew I could be."

"Well that'll be easy enough." Hermione said. "Just be you."

Draco nodded. "Do you wanna go to Hogsmead? I wanna get her a birthday gift. It was yesterday. I didn't think I would see her so I didn't bother but now well you know, I wanna get her something."

"Yea just let me grab some stuff." Hermione said then bolted up the stairs and was back down with in minutes.

They made their way through the castle and across the grounds and walked along the lane that lead to Hogsmead.

"What should I get her do you think?" Draco asked.

"I don't know her. You should know what to get her, you are the one in love with her." Hermione said teasingly.

"Yea I know but what if she doesn't like it? And you are a girl you know what girls like."

"She will like it because it is from you, and you put thought into it." Hermione said reassuringly.

"You should meet her; I think you would get along." Draco said as they found themselves in front of the Three Broom Sticks.

They headed down the lane to look at what shops where still around and find one that would have something worth getting. They walked until they came across a shop with a big pink sign out front that read 'Something for the Ladies.'

"Well that is just convenience." Draco laughed.

Inside everything was decorated in shades of pink and gold. Draco looked around and laughed to himself. "Pink isn't really her color."

"Well you don't have to buy something pink."

"Hermione look around this place looks like it was attacked by the color pink!" Draco said back holding his arms out. Hermione laughed.

"May I help you?" A sales witch asked in a polite voice. "Looking for something for your girlfriend I take it?" she finished looking over Hermione.

"Yes and no. I am looking for something, but not for her. She is helping me look."

"What is her favorite color?" The witch continued. "We have some lovely new things in pink over here."

"uhhh well she likes uhhh darker colors, like black." Draco said.

The witch raised an eyebrow at him but dropped it quickly. "Follow me." She said then walked through a hot pink bead curtain. They followed her through two more beaded curtains to a room the back.

"Take your time." The witch said with a smile then exited the room.

Everything was either a deep red or black. Draco looked at the things that adorned the walls and things in display cases and things in drawers until he stopped dead mouth agape.

"It's perfect." He said holding up a ring that looked like a snake. "Put it on I wanna see it."

Hermione did as Draco asked. The ring looked like she had a little silver snake wrapped around her finger. The snakes head was reaching towards her knuckle and the tail reaching towards her hand. There were black gems along the snakes body and jade eyes.

Draco looked in awe of the ring a smile spreading across his face. "I have to get it."

Hermione took the ring off and handed it back to Draco. They walked back to the front of the store and purchased the ring.

They arrived back at Hogwarts with thirty minutes left until lunch. They sat in the common room in front of the fire. Draco holding his recent purchase tightly in his hand. Hermione imagined he would have broken it if it hadn't been for the black velvet box that it was now contained in.

"You should come sit with us at lunch."

"I don't know." Hermione said.

"Don't be scared, it's just a table. What's the worst that could happen?" Draco said shrugging.

"Alright, but what if she doesn't like me?"

"She will don't worry." Draco said placing a hand on her knee and squeezing it gently.

"You don't know that."

"Why are you so damn worried?"

"Well I just thought that she might see me as well a treat."

"A threat, Hermione seriously."

"You do spend you entire day with me, share a dorm with me and you lived with me when you left Voldemort."

"Ehh. That is true, but she is going to have to meet you sooner or later you're my best friend, you're going to be seeing a lot of each other."

Hermione nodded as the bell rang in the halls signaling the start of lunch.

"Let's go." Draco said jumping up, grabbing Hermione's hand and pulling her behind him.

Draco pulled her by her hand all the way to the Slytherin table where he sat next to a girl that Hermione could honestly say she had never seem before. She had long black hair that was up in braided pig-tails that reminded Hermione vaguely of Pippy Longstocking, but it didn't make her look childish, in fact it made her look more pulled together then if she had let it hang down. She had big beautiful sapphire colored eyes surrounded by smoky eye shadow. Her black lipstick brought out the glow of her skin even more. Her skin was as pale as Draco's but she gave off a radiance that Hermione had never seen before.

Hermione was in awe of her beauty and was shaken back into herself when Draco gave her a nudge.

"You gunna sit down?" He asked.

Hermione next to Draco and she could have sworn that she had gotten a glare from the other girl, but before she could decide the other girls face was in a wide smile her eyes aglow with joy.

"Hermione this is Zandra." Draco said.

"Hi! I don't think we have met before have we?" Zandra said vary cheerily. Hermione found herself wondering how this girl had landed in Slytherin.

"No we haven't, Hermione Granger." Hermione said extending her hand for Zandra to shake it, which she did enthusiastically.

"Oh yes I know who you are. You're Potter's friend, I have heard a lot about you." Zandra replied still very cherry.

"Yes well that's what happens when you are friends with Harry. It's a bother really, can't do much about it though." Hermione replied.

"Yes, yes understandable…If you don't mind my asking why aren't you sitting with them?" Zandra said motioning to the other side of the hall. "I thought you were dating the Weasley boy."

Draco tensed at the mention of Ron, ha was still extremely pissed off at Ron.

"No me and Weasley broke up last year, bit of a conflict in interests you might say." Hermione said smiling. Draco let out a small laugh and nearly choked on his sandwich. Zandra took no notice of the joke the two of them had just shared, but instead continued.

"Who are you seeing now?" Zandra asked.

"Uhh well he's not a student here." Hermione said truthfully, but stealing a glance up at the staff table at Snape who looked just as menacing as ever, but his face softened when he saw Hermione looking at him, then quickly returned back to normal.

"Oh well that's a shame, being separated from your boyfriend, not being able to see him whenever you want." Zandra replied.

"You have no idea." Hermione said looking at Draco who wore the same expression on his face as she did.

"How did you two meet?" Zandra asked. "You and Draco I mean." She said to clarify.

"We met in first year, on the train ride here." Draco said.

"Oh" Zandra said. "And you have been friends since?"

"Well no we hated each other to begin with actually. We only became friends over the last couple months." Hermione said.

"You said that you two were best friends Draco." Zandra said nudging him.

"We are, I mean not long time friends but best friends none the less. I trust her with my life." Draco said smiling at Hermione.

"It goes both ways actually." Hermione added. Zandra looked at Hermione suspiciously for a second then returned her overly cheerful expression.

"I'll be right back, I'm gunna go say hi to someone real quick." Draco said then got up from the table and sat back down a good distance away.

Zandra lost her cheerful expression immediately and looked at Hermione suspiciously again.

"What exactly are your intentions with Draco?" Zandra asked.

"Uh nothing." Hermione replied in shock. "We are just friends."

"Good, it better stay that way. I will not loose him again." Zandra said not at all sounding threatening but as if she were talking about the weather.

"It will I promise, I have my own boyfriend. Why won't you take him back then?" Hermione replied.

"I haven't taken him back yet because I am scared he will break my heart again." Zandra said looking stunned at her own confession.

"He won't."

"You don't know that."

"I do. I was the one that sat with him when he cried over you."

"He…he cried over me?"

"Yes he did. He loves you." Hermione said as Draco returned, and swat between the two girls. They both immediately rearranged their expressions to ones of happiness.

"Zandra I got you a birthday gift." Draco said pulling the little box out of his pocket and handing it to her.

She opened the box and her jaw dropped. She flung her arms around Draco's neck and kissed his cheek.

"It's beautiful, thank you so much!" Zandra practically yelled.

"Your welcome." Draco gasped through her hugs.

Hermione looked smiling, hoping that Zandra would take Draco back, when a tap on her shoulder caught her attention.