A/N: I do not own Harry Potter and anything recognizable from the Potterverse. Oh, and I apologize too, for the very long delay in updating. I have been very busy lately, but today I finally sat myself down to write this chapter. Yes, i wrote this just today and pushed myself to finish the whole chapter just so I can finally update. I hope you will be patient with me because I will definitely finish this story. And by the way, there may be parts at the end of this chapter that may seem cheesy, but it works for me. Enjoy! :)

Hermione woke up to a wet sensation on her face. She opened her eyes and was face-to-face with a big, slimy tongue. She sat down and patted the dog on the head until it stopped.

"You're Celine, Draco's dog. It's good that you're not tackling me to the ground anymore." The golden retriever sat down beside her and nuzzled her hand.

"Seems like you've grown on her. She doesn't let just anybody touch her, you know." A smooth voice form behind her said.

"Draco! How long have you been standing there?" He sat down on the blanket across her and looked at her face. How he longed to just hug her and kiss her and just hold her in his arms.

"A couple of minutes. Margarette said you were sleeping out here."

"Hmph! I wasn't sleeping! I simply dozed off…I was reading this book and—"

"Relax. I was just joking."

"Hmph!" She suddenly found Celine more interesting.

"You know, I missed you." Hermione continued to avoid eye contact knowing that she was blushing like some teenager.

"Are you mad at me for disappearing for days after our date?"

"No, but I thought you had changed your mind."

"Sorry about that. Bad timing, I guess."

"It's okay, you're here now." She slowly turned to face him and smiled. He smiled back.

"I'm glad." For a moment they were both just silently looking at each other, but it wasn't awkward like Hermione had thought. It was nice.

She stood up and stretched out her hand to him.

"Well, aren't you going to show me around your home?"

The afternoon was spent walking around the farm, exchanging stories and just getting used to the feel of each other.

Draco showed her his favorite places, especially the ones where he could be alone to think. It was an open field with wild grass as tall as they were. It was like a maze and Hermione didn't know where they were going. She couldn't see anything, but Draco seemed to know where they were headed despite the visual difficulties. After a while of walking they were in an area where Draco claimed as his. It was a barren spot that was hidden by the tall grass. He'd lie down and stare at the sky for hours and Hermione thought that it was actually refreshing.

After a while of just lying on the grass and finding shapes in the clouds, they started to walk back. When they got to the barn, Hermione asked about the work he did in the farm. He proudly enumerated them and even demonstrated some for her to see.

"You are not the boy I grew up with." In the hours that they spent together, she already felt at ease with him that she didn't stop to think to censor her words anymore.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You came from a very wealthy family so when we were young, you were really spoiled. Everything you wanted, you got with just a snap of your fingers…or better yet, a whine." She chuckled at the last bit. "I don't think you've ever worked in your life."

"Was I really that bad in school?" Of course he knew that he was that bad and possibly—no absolutely worse than she was letting on, but he wanted to hear what she had to say, wanted to hear what she really thought about him.

"You were." Hermione paused and wondered if she should tell him about their all-hate relationship. She didn't want to keep lying to him. What if he regained his memory? Then he would think that this whole relationship was a lie. She'd spent the whole afternoon with him and she felt that it was time to tell him the truth. However he would take it was up to him, but she definitely couldn't keep up with this lie anymore.

"You were such a bully in school. You always picked on me and called me names." The way she said it told him that he had hurt her greatly all those years ago even though all he saw was defiance from her.

"Did I make you cry?" He knew Hermione was strong and that she would never yield to the likes of him. It was one of the things that he admired about her, how strong-willed she was that she would proudly stand up for something she believed in. Not once did he see her shed a tear and it makes him wonder where she gets all that courage.

"Yes, all the time. But I never cried where you could see me. I didn't want you to get a hold of another reason to tease me with." She smiled, but he could see that she got misty-eyed just thinking of all the things he put her through and at that moment all he wanted was to hold her in his arms and tell her his secret, tell her that this was a charade he was playing, that he remembers everything and lied about forgetting and that he was in this situation because he was—is irrevocably, without a doubt head-over-heels in love with her. But the timing wasn't right and he didn't want to just blurt it out so instead of following his better judgment, he pushed it to the back of his mind.

Draco took a step closer and ran his thumb under her eye where a single tear threatened to fall while his other hand held hers.

"I'm sorry, Hermione…for hurting you so much. I wish things were different between us then." And this was the truth even though Hermione would think that this was an empty apology since he couldn't even remember what he did, but deep in his heart he was truly sorry for hurting this amazing girl.

She stepped back and smiled at him as he kept his hold on her hand.

"That was then…you were just a boy and I was just a girl and we just lived different lives. But we're here now. We're okay, right?"

"More than okay." He smiled back and said, "So tell me Hermione, we haven't been that boy and that girl in a very long time. It doesn't seem like we're living different lives anymore."

"Why don't you tell me then, Draco?"

"I think that this would be a perfect time to start, don't you think?"

"I'd very much like that."

There was a comfortable silence between them as they just took the time to enjoy each other's company. They we're both smiling, still holding each other's hand when Draco noticed Hermione crinkle her nose, something she did when she was deep in thought. He'd seen that look a lot of times when they were in school before she'd raise her hand and question the professor and there was no mistaking that something was bothering her.

"What's wrong?"

"I was just wondering about something."

"What is it?"

"Well, don't take this the wrong way, but most amnesia patients are always curious about their past. They'd ask questions about their family, friends and everything especially if they know that that person could be the only link to their life. But the whole time we've been together, you've never asked me once. It was I who brought it up and you didn't even ask when I was telling you about our childhood."

"Maybe because I like it here that I don't care to find out anymore." He let go of her hand and turned away.

"That's just not the way it works."

"I've been here two years. This is my life now and I feel like I finally fit in. There is no need to go dig up a past when I'm happy here." There was an edge to his voice and he was starting to panic. He was running out of things to say to her and he was sure that he will be caught. Where was his lying abilities when he needed it? Has he lost his mojo already?

"All the more reason you should find out. Don't you even care about the people you've left behind? Your family must be worried sick!" She was frustrated and she hadn't realized she had raised her voice slightly. "I was scared and worried sick when you disappeared, sad and confused when they gave up and said that you were dead! But I understand why you wouldn't care about me because you hate me, but what about your mum? Didn't you even think about her?"

Draco didn't know what to say so he just hugged her until she calmed down. Hermione knew that not all patients react the same way, they do what they can do to cope with this kind of loss and maybe this was how he handled his. She didn't mean to have a repeat of their first date, but she was just so frustrated that all of her bottled up emotions when Draco disappeared just seemed to seep out of that tight bottle she usually keeps.

Before any of them could say anything, they heard Margarette call out that dinner was ready and that they should come before the food got cold. They both walked back to the house in silence, a very awkward silence.

Dinner seemed fine, they were both able to converse with the old couple without any problems, but it was obvious that tension was floating around the air. After dinner, Hermione helped with the dishes until Margarette noted that it was getting late and asked Draco to drive her back to her cottage. Hermione thanked the couple for their hospitality and said her good-byes, hoping to see them soon.

The drive was silent, but it wasn't because they were angry at each other. They just had too much on their minds.

Draco was still processing what Hermione let slip about her being worried when he disappeared. 'Did she care for me all those years ago? No, she was probably mistaken with the feeling of happiness now that her childhood tormentor finally got what he deserved. She did say she was confused.'

Hermione on the other hand was beating herself up for saying too much. Would he figure out her feelings with what she had said? She almost told him she loved him earlier tonight but bit her tongue before she could. She didn't want to be like those girls who threw themselves at him. She wants to be sure that he at least felt the same way about her.

Draco stopped the truck, alerting Hermione that they had arrived. She turned to open the door when Draco said, "Let me walk you to your door."

Draco walked a little ahead beside her, still wondering if she really did care for him, when he felt her hand gently grab his. He stopped and looked at their hands and then her face.

"I'm sorry, Draco. About what I said."

"It's okay. I should've thought about that. Maybe you are right about me being spoiled and selfish."

"You were a spoiled and selfish boy, but you have grown to be a kind and caring man. I can tell all those years even though we've never had a single conversation with each other. We had never been friends before, but I was proud to see you become a better person." She squeezed his hand reassuringly.

"But we're friends now, right?" she nodded her head in response. "Would it be too soon to hope for something more?"

She smiled at him and continued walking to her porch. "Let's just take one step at a time, but I do see it as a destination." Draco liked the sound of that.

They reached her door and she noticed something on her step.

"What's this?" She asked as she bent down to pick them up.

"Oh! I got you those this afternoon when I got back. I was hoping to surprise you at the clinic, but they said you had the day off. I've searched every where and when I couldn't find you, I just left it here knowing you'd see them when you got back."

"Nobody's ever given me flowers before. Well, except my dad."

"You should be warned then, now that I'm here, flowers will be a common fixture in your life." She smiled happily at him.

"I'd rather you give me the ones you grow than buying from the shop. The flowers you grew in Margarette's graden were amazing."

"You're amazing, Hermione." She blushed as she looked up to his face, moonlight lighting up his handsome features. She held her breath as Draco put his hand on her face and drew closer. To her it seemed like forever until his lips finally touched hers. It was a sweet and gentle kiss that had promise for a new start for them.

"I'll see you tomorrow then?" Hermione asked when they broke apart.

"Yes, and I have something to tell you. I'll pick you up at the clinic." There was no turning back for him now. He had made up his mind to tell her tomorrow.

Hermione waited at the door until he drove off and was no longer visible. She ran up to her room and collapsed on her bed as she touched her lips. Draco kissed her. She had been wondering how his lips would feel for a very long time and now that she had a taste of it, she was definitely sure it was better than what she imagined it to be. She was still tingly and happy and her heart was still racing. She definitely wanted to be in a relationship with Draco, but before anything else, she also had something to tell him and tomorrow would be the perfect time to do so.