A/N: This chapter contains some Mature content.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 16

Hermione sat on the common room couch reading her Ancient Runes book from Harry. She was enjoying the book in silence when she heard the creak of the portrait door swing open. A smile spread across her lips as she heard Draco enter the room. Hermione heard his approach but didn't raise her head from the book.

Draco walked over to Hermione. He leaned down on the couch behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders as he leaned in to kiss her on the cheek. "Evening, Mione", he said into her ear, "why don't you put the book away."

Hermione smiled as she closed the book and placed it on the table as Draco walked around the couch. He sat down next to her and she turned toward him. "It's good too see you, Dra", she greeted with a suggestive smile as she leaned in toward him.

Draco leaned forward to meet her lips in a fiery kiss. It didn't take long for them to advance past kissing. Hermione wrapped her arms around Draco's neck as she positioned her legs to straddle his lap. Draco grasped her by the hips. The kiss deepened as they parted their lips and brought their tongues out. Draco, with a little force, pushed Hermione off his lap and down onto the couch.

They pulled apart for a quick breath of air before continuing. Draco ran his hands up Hermione's body and stopped once he reached her breast. He gave it a squeeze causing her to let out a short moan. He decided to go a step further and pushed his hand up under her shirt and bra. He pulled his face away from hers to watch her face light up with pleasure as he continued to play with her nipple.

Hermione loved what Draco was doing but she wanted to more. She unwrapped her arms and began to undo his pants. Draco got the hint and smiled at how eager she was tonight. He quickly moved his hands down to her skirt and tore off her panties. Hermione finished undoing his pants and pushed them and his green silk boxers down. She smiled when she saw how hard he already was. Draco re positioned himself better in between Hermione's legs and thrust forward.

Right as he was about to enter her, Hermione woke up.

Her eyes flew open as she shot straight up in her bed. She glanced around her room to confirm that it was all just a dream. But Hermione couldn't believe how real it all felt. Her body was all tingly all over. She had never had a dream like that before but she guiltily liked it.

Draco lied in his bed, tossing and turning. He awoke with a start. He couldn't believe the dream he had just awoken from. It was hands down the best dream he had ever had, him and Hermione having sex. His lower regions enjoyed it as well. He glanced down at his raised pants and decided to take care of business in the shower.

Hermione spell dried her hair after stepping out of the shower. She couldn't stop thinking about the dream. She entered her room and proceeded to get dressed. Hermione already knew it wasn't going to be easy to concentrate in classes today.

Draco walked back into his bed room with a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. He had a huge grin on his face as he dressed in his school uniform. He decided to keep his hair damp as he left his room for breakfast.

Hermione waited for Draco down in the common room. When she saw him walk down the stairs, he face flushed red. Draco raised an eyebrow at her. "Morning, Hermione. Is everything ok?" he asked stopping in front of her.

"Morning, Draco. I'm fine, nothing's wrong", she stuttered.

"You sure?"

"Yes", she replied with a little more confidence. Hermione didn't want Draco to know about her dream, it would be too embarrassing.

Draco wasn't convinced. He continued to stare at her but as he looked at her he saw her beneath him squirming with pleasure. He blinked a couple times to concentrate back on the present. "Did you sleep well last night? Dream at all?"

Hermione didn't know how to answer, "I slept fine but no dreams at all."

It then hit Draco, "Really, no dreams at all? I had a very interesting but pleasurable dream last night."

Hermione raised an eyebrow at Draco this time, 'Could he have had the same dream as me last night?' she thought.

"Yes", Draco said.

Hermione looked at Draco confused, "Yes what?"

"Uh, to the question you just asked", Draco replied looking at Hermione confused as well.

"I didn't ask you anything", Hermione said.

"Yes, you did! You asked, 'Could he have had the same dream as me last night?' and I'm almost positive we did."

"Draco, I didn't say anything out loud. I know I didn't But I did think that in my mind." Hermione stood there trying to figure out what was going on. 'Draco, if you can hear this, say Luke, I am your father'.

Draco stared at Hermione puzzled then said, "Luke, I am your father?"

"Oh my gosh, Draco! You're reading my mind!"

"How? I'm not good at Legilimency."

"I'm sure it has something to do with our powers from Cassandra and Nero. That's the only way."

Draco thought about it for a moment. It made perfect sense. "Ok Hermione, can you hear what I'm thinking?" Draco asked with a smirk.

Hermione was silent for a second as she gazed at Draco. She then closed her eyes and shook her head, "Merlin Draco, do you have to be so perverted?"

Draco laughed, "Sorry, I just wanted to test you."

"Come on, let's go to breakfast." Hermione turned and walked toward the door.

Draco followed behind her with his hands his pockets, "Hermione, what was that you made me say?"

"Oh, it's a line from a famous muggle movie called Star Wars. We'll watch it sometime."

XxX

Throughout the rest of the day, Draco and Hermione made good use of their new found power. They used it all through Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts. It was later discovered they could still use it without being next to each other. This was a power that would come in handy later on.

Discovering this new power got Hermione thinking about what else they could do now. She found it exciting to have this new power and wondered what would come next.

"Do you think we'll get any other powers?" she asked Draco that night in the common room.

Draco paused in his writing, "I'm not sure. Dumbledore said he was still finding information. I guess we'll have to wait and see what he says if we don't discover it on our own."

Hermione nodded her head and returned to her own homework. They continued on their work for another ten minutes until another thought popped into her mind, Draco, since we can read each other's mind now and I'm sure it'll get stronger over time, we should promise each other not to listen in on everything without permission. It's not that I don't trust you but just so we can both have our privacy."

"That's fine with me, Mione", he replied, giving her a quick smile.

Hermione smiled back at the nickname he used. They continued to work on their homework and finished closely together after eleven. Hermione cleared off her side of the coffee table and placed everything into her book bag. Draco repeated the same process right after her.

Once his bag was packed, he leaned back against the couch stretching out his stiff back. He gazed over at her Hermione who returned the gaze when she felt him staring.

"Yes, Draco?"

Draco licked his lips and leaned forward slowly. Hermione met him half way and they kissed. It was a short kiss that only lasted for three seconds but it sent shivers down bother of their spines. They parted and looked at each other. Draco leaned in for another kiss but Hermione stopped him.

"Is everything ok?" he asked.

"Yes, I just have something to say. I know we just started dating but I wanted to lay down a rule or two before anything happens."

"Alright, what are they?"

"Number one, only kissing for now and number two, we only move forward when I say so."

"Ok. I wasn't planning on going past kissing right now anyway so you have nothing to worry about, I promise", Draco replied with a smile.

Hermione smiled back, she was happy to her that response. She was a little concerned about what he would say but was glad he agreed. This time when Draco leaned in for a kiss, Hermione didn't stop him. He understood she was still uneasy being intimate and was not going to rush her.

XxX

Weeks flew by, Draco and Hermione were too busy to realize January passing into February. Professors began pilling more homework on all the seventh years to begin preparation for their exams. Dumbledore pushed Draco and Hermione to their limits every Sunday night in his lessons and McGonagall mentally exhausted them in hers.

Hermione rarely got to the chance to visit Harry and Ginny because of all the work. The only times she saw them was in class or at meal times. But Hermione was glad to see Draco everyday though she regretted seeing him more than her friends. She was drawn to Draco and it was hard not to be with him. She even skipped the last Hogsmeade trip to stay at the castle with Draco.

Valentine's Day shortly arrived. Hermione awoke that day thinking it was any normal day. She didn't keep up with the dates anymore. She went through her morning routine of getting ready for the day.

Draco knew exactly what day it was and was well prepared for it. A week prior, he ordered a necklace from a shop in Diagon Alley. It wasn't anything extravagant but simple and beautiful just like Hermione. It was a silver chain with a single sapphire tear shaped stone hanging from it.

Draco sat on the couch waiting for Hermione to come out of her room. He held the necklace box with a pink ribbon wrapped around it in his hands. He was nervous about giving Hermione the gift. He'd never given a girl a gift of any kind before. As he heard her door open, he jumped off the couch putting his hands behind his back. He turned toward her direction and greeted her cheerfully with, "Good morning, Hermione."

"Morning, Draco. Why are you so excited this morning?" Hermione asked as she drew closer.

"No reason at all", he replied smiling at Hermione as she stopped in front of him. Draco leaned forward and kissed her on the lips. He pulled away and brought his hands from behind his back, holding up the gift. "Happy Valentine's Day", she said.

Hermione looked at him, shocked. "I totally forgot that was today."

"It's alright. But this is for you."

Hermione picked up the black velvet box from his hands. She pulled off the ribbon and popped open the lid. She gasped when she saw the necklace. She looked back to Draco, "This is beautiful", she whispered.

Draco smiled, "I'm glad you like it." He picked up the necklace from the box and walked behind Hermione to put it on her. Once it was secured, he walked back around to face her. "It looks wonderful on you."

"Thank you, Draco", she said as she leaned in and kissed him. The kiss slowly turned into a snogging session.

Although the snogging didn't last long because they heard knocking at the door. Hermione pulled away from Draco, looking confused, "Who could that be?"

The knocking continued so Hermione walked toward the door and slowly opened it to see Ginny standing there. "Ginny! What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to come see you and show what Harry got me", the red head said happily.

"This couldn't have waited until breakfast?" Hermione was glad Ginny came by but she didn't have the best timing.

"Well I didn't want to be showing my gift off in front of everybody I just wanted you to be the first to see. Is something wrong?"

"No, no. Come in, Ginny", Hermione said as she ushered her into the common room.

Ginny entered the common room and noticed the necklace around Hermione's neck as she passed by. "Hermione, who gave you that necklace?" she asked.

Hermione's hand shot up to the necklace, "Um", was all Hermione could say.

Ginny looked at her friend waiting for an answer but she noticed Draco standing at the other end of the common room. Her eyes narrowed at the Slytherin as she stared at him then back to her friend. "What's he doing here?"

Hermione didn't reply. She glanced over to Draco and asked him, 'We have to tell her, Draco.'

'Are you sure? She wouldn't understand.'

Ginny looked back and forth between the two confused as they had their mental conversation. She then noticed Draco was holding a box, a necklace box.

Hermione finally looked back at Ginny, "This is going to be a difficult to understand at first and you're not going to be happy with it. Perhaps you should sit down while I explain. But first, what I tell you right now can not be repeated to anyone else or Dumbledore will be pissed with us."

Ginny glanced back to Draco before she walked over to the couch and sat down. Hermione joined her while Draco backed up and sat down on the stairs.

"Ok, Hermione, what's going on here? Are you and Malfoy…together?"

Hermione took a deep breath and answered, "Yes, we're together. But it didn't al start off this way. Let me start back before break in Dumbledore's office…"

"And now, we've been together for a few weeks", Hermione finished.

Ginny starred at Hermione speechless. She sat there absorbing everything Hermione had just told her. "I honestly don't know what to say about all of this."

Hermione nodded her head, "Yes, it's a lot to take in at once."

"The one thing that I don't understand is how you could be…intimate with him. I find the friendship part ok but a physical relationship with Malfoy? Are you alright up top?"

"I am sitting in this room, Weasley", Draco said defensively from the stairs.

Ginny ignored his comment and continued staring at Hermione.

"I know it's hard but I've put the past behind me. He's changed but this is one reason why you can't tell anyone at all. Harry will know eventually when Dumbledore thinks it's right."

Ginny glanced over to Draco for the first time since she sat down. He stared back and she could tell by looking in his eyes he was different. She wasn't completely sure about the situation but she had to trust Hermione's judgment. "I won't tell anybody, you can trust me", Ginny said with a smile.

Hermione was happy with Ginny's acceptance and threw her arms around her. Draco shook his head and held in his laughter at the two girls. Hermione glanced back at him and he immediately stopped.

"So, what did Harry give you for Valentine's Day?" Hermione asked to change the subject.

"Oh, he gave me this", Ginny said as she held up her right arm to her a gold bracelet.

Hermione held Ginny's writs steady as she got a good look at the bracelet. "It's lovely." She let go of her wrist and Ginny dropped her arm.

"Thanks. I do like your necklace. It is beautiful."

Hermione smiled, "Thanks. I'm glad you accepted this. It's been killing me not being about to tell anyone."

"I can imagine. But Malfoy, if you hurt Hermione in any way, I will take it upon myself to take care of you", Ginny said in a dead serious tone.

Draco nodded his head in agreement, "I understand but you won't have to."

"I don't trust you completely but if she trusts you and Dumbledore trusts you, I'll give you a chance."

"That's all I ask for", he replied with a smile.

Ginny didn't return the smile and looked back to her friend, "I need to be going. I didn't expect to stay this long and I told Harry I would meet him down at the Great Hall." Ginny gave Hermione another hug before getting up and leaving.

"O thought Dumbledore said not to tell anyone about us?" Draco asked rising from the stairs. He walked over to the couch but didn't sit down.

"I didn't tell her everything just enough for her to understand. If I hadn't, she would have thought you did something to me or I had lost it."

"Are you sure she won't tell?"

"She won't, I know it."

Draco shrugged his shoulders, "Ok if you say so. I'm not used to trusting people."

Hermione smiled up at Draco, "I know but you're going to have to work past that."

Draco glanced over at the clock, "Well, we missed breakfast so it's now time for class. I'll see you in Potions." Draco picked up his book bag and tossed it on his shoulder. He gave Hermione a peck on the cheek as he passed the couch.

Hermione picked up her own bag and left for Ancient Runes.

A/N: I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. I was worried I wasn't going to get it up by today but I stayed up last night typing this. Look for chapter 17 by Friday or Saturday.