Witches, Wizards, and Muggles alike,

OH my goodness! I awoke this morning to find that I got two reviews! TWO! I was so excited! It's the little things in life, right? Anyway, in the hour before I have to go to work, I am here in the busiest part of campus writing away. Granted, no one is hereyet… because why would college students be up this early? At any rate, please enjoy. I appreciate those that review!

Also, this is random but the other day I was thinking about how cute it would be to have a love story about Seamus Finnegan's parents. You know, "Me dads a muggle, mums a witch. Bit of a nasty shock for him when he found out." I don't think we ever learn anything more but I think their story would be a great one! Someone should write that….

Well, I will stop blabbing. I'm excited to get the next few chapters up.

Love,

SweetSlytherinPrincess

Locomotive

Chapter XVI

The weekend could not have come fast enough for Hermione Jean. Despite her internal worry, each new day was filled with suspense and excitement for her. After what had happened in potions class a few days before – while she did harbor some embarrassment and guilt – she also felt liberated and excited. Never before had she fathomed herself as someone who would do such a thing! She'd been breaking the rules at Hogwarts since day one, but never in this sort of way.

She laughed at herself for feeling so giddy over Draco Malfoy. Much of her still unable to wrap her head around it. But she figured the sooner she stop fighting it, the sooner her stress levels would go down. It was difficult, though. Still in the back of her mind she felt as though it was all some big joke and the carpet would be pulled from under her at any minute.

And then there was Ron. Well, not just Ron – the entire wizarding community. Hermione had gotten lots of publicity, being given such honors after the war. In a way, she was famous. Nothing like Harry was, but people still approached her randomly. Malfoy had a similar situation. His family name very much damned – his face flashing across the Daily Prophet quite often. It would cause a commotion if for some reason the people upstairs got word that a member or the order and a former servant of the Dark Lord had an ongoing romance. The Weasley's would surely think her mad. Though, she felt that with enough explaining to Harry, he would accept it. Ginny too.

But Ron….. Oh Ronald! Her heart would surely break at the sight of him. His hurt, his pain. How betrayed he must feel. And it was all her fault. Many nights alone in her bed she tried as best she could to erase the picture of Malfoy, and replace it with the red-head…. But it never worked. Whatever romantic feelings were between them before had seemed to flicker out as the fire was ignited elsewhere.

Hermione sat before the mirror, raking through her hair in an attempt to calm it into a more pretty fashion. She let her curls pull forward, and held some to the side with a pretty braid, finished with a modest clip. She studied her face. There was a light dusting of freckles. Her lips a soft pink. She shuffled around a moment and moisturized her face, trying her best to apply the tiniest amount of makeup. A bit on her lashes, soft rogue. She then dressed in a hurry, making sure to dress warm. Then she hurried for the door, spritzing a bit of perfume as she exited.

With a pep in her step, she made her way through the vast, twisting corridors of Hogwarts until she made it outsid – most of the halls having been empty due to the early hour. A little way down the path, she saw him there. Tall, straight. His broad shoulders squared perfectly. He dawned all black, with the exception of his Slytherin scarf wrapped perfectly around his neck. In the cold autumn morning he stood there, his breath coming in crystalized clouds. There was a pang in her heart as she neared, the sight of him bringing a warmness to her heart.

"Good morning." She said with a wide smile. He turned to her, his brows raising and a smirk playing at his lips.

"Good Lord Granger. He are hunting for ingredients not going to a party." His hand reached up and caressed her cheek as he laughed. She blushed and straightened as though it didn't matter either way to her what he thought.

"Yes, well. Let's get started then." She paused, her eyes squinting. "Draco, what ever did you do you your face?"

He blinked innocently.

"What? Am I not devilishly handsome?" He asked. She gave him a rough push at his shoulder and scoffed.

"Your lip."

"Ah. That." He traced the small yet rather unattractive split that was in the left corner of his mouth. "Don't worry about it."

"I'm worried."

"I said don't."

"Too late."

"Get off it, Granger."

"What happened?" Her eyes were smoldering, and he looked at her with an annoyed scowl.

"Hermione," He began. "Please, let it be for a while." His voice was even, and stern. She sighed and shoved her hands in her pockets as they started off down the path to begin searching for the first ingredient needed for the project. The walked a long way, mainly making small conversation and poking fun at one another. After quite some time, they found themselves surrounded by beautifully twisting trees. The growth on the forest floor blooming up around them.

"This seem like the place?" Malfoy asked, a bit unused to the wild outdoors.

"Yes, see there?" She pointed. "See how all the brush is a deep green, almost purple. That's a sign."

Malfoy smiled at her, and she grinned back.

"Well this wasn't that difficult."

"No. But it's the first ingredient. Plus, it's the preparation of the root that is the real challenge."

"Well I had planned on being out here all day." He said. She tilted her head. "C'mon. Let's sit." He led her over to a fallen tree, and the sat down upon it easily. Malfoy pulled a parcel of wrapped crackers and an apple. He handed her a few, and pulled a small knife from his pocket to begin slicing the apple up for the both of them. She munched happily, her legs swinging.

"Hermione." He said, handing her slices as they became available.

"Mhm?"

"Weasley is at Hogwarts." Hermione froze, and stared at him. "And I don't mean the female one."

"Well obviously!" She huffed, dropping her hands in her lap. Her head bowed.

"Don't worry about it." He said, moving closer to her. She shook her head. "I'm serious. I've already warned him."

Her head shot up and she stared at him with fury.

"Warned? You mean you met with him already?"

"It wasn't welcomed, trust me." Malfoys face tightened, and he felt anger pulse through his veins. Hermione turned to face him, and her hand came up to feel the side of his mouth.

"That's where this is from?" There was worry in her voice. Malfoy sighed, and Hermione did not need any further confirmation. She pushed her hands in her hair and groaned. "I'm so sorry…."

At this Malfoy laughed and Hermione blinked at him in confusion.

"Don't be sorry, love." He began with a grin. "Look, the Weasel showed up in my room. I'm sure he had a better speech prepared, but he basically went on about how you were his and I need to stay away."

"And you said?"

"Obviously I told him he was severely misinformed." Hermione smiled softly and looked forward, a certain sense of gladness washing over her. "He got huffy, I let him take a few bashes at me, and then he left. I'm sorry I didn't tell you right away."

Hermione grinned, turning to him again. What was that she heard? An apology? She didn't even think the word was a part of his vocabulary.

"So, what will you do when he comes to you?" Malfoys voice was tight, and his eyes locked on hers. He was surprised to find that she was beaming up at him, a cute smile on her face.

"I'm a big tough girl…" She started.

"You will cry."

"Yes, perhaps."

"I'm positive." Malfoy said with a roll of his eyes.

"Well, I'm sorry that it's a bit heart wrenching to break your best friends heart with the worst news he could imagine. I think the only thing worse would be if it were Harry instead of you." Hermione said with a tartness. Malfoy smirked.

"So you're my woman then?" Hermione's mouth hung open, and a flush crept across her cheeks. His eyes bore into hers, searching for an answer.

"That's a very odd way to say it…" She stammered, break his stare to look at the ground.

"Answer me."

Hermione shuffled her feet.

"No one has ever wanted to label me that way…" Her voice was soft.

"What did Weasley define it as then?" He questioned.

"Well, I don't know. We never put a label on it I guess."

"What an idiot." Malfoy scoffed. Hermione frowned, uncomfortable with his rudeness. "When you have something so precious… so important... You must claim it before it is whisked away from you." He leaned closer to her and tilted her chin up gently.

"You see, a woman like yourself is something to be prized. And a woman like yourself needs to be reminded that she is worth everything. Not cast to the side with no real idea of what she is." Hermione was confused, but too entranced by his gaze to worry about it.

"Hermione, you are mine. My woman. Soon you will be my lover. All of these things. There is no question. You won't need to lay awake at night and wonder what exactly this all is – or means." Malfoys tone was soft yet stern, and his eyes grew cloudy with a flavor of lust as he watched her reaction. He leaned in and closed the space between them, placing a gentle kiss on her lips.

"I know it will be hard for you to say now. I understand. But soon you will have to profess it to me. That you are my woman, and I am your man." He stood then, disliking the vulnerability of their current conversation. AS he shoved his hands in his pockets, he casually walked over to the patch of fantastically colored brush and inspected in carefully. When Hermione didn't follow, he turned to gaze at her over his shoulder.

She was crying. The black she had carefully applied smudging down her cheek.

"Oh, love… what's wrong?" He said, shaking his head. She wiped her face and rushed towards him, throwing her arms around his neck as she sobbed.

Never had they embraced. He'd kissed her. Had her in his lap. Had his hands between her legs. But never had they engaged in such an intimate and personal act. He was stiff for a moment, but soon relaxed and wrapped his strong arms around her tiny middle and buried his face in her hair – breathing in the intoxicating smell of her that mixed with a pleasant muggle perfume.

"Thank you, Draco." She said in a muffled voice against him.