A/N: Hello readers!! It's been over a month since the last chapter and I am (once again) terribly sorry. This is the first time I've had free time to actually write! Anyways…how are you guys enjoying the story so far? In fact, I have a request…I want to get into your heads so I want you to email me at and tell me how you wish the story to end or how you think it will end…and I'm not promising anything…simply that I'm curious. And if someone out there has an extremely, brilliantly, amazing idea (not necessarily the ending)…then maybe I'll use it in some form or another and I will acknowledge you so make sure you include your "name". However, I already have a way that I would like this story to go so I don't know if I'll be changing that completely. So there you have it. Now enjoy this brand new chapter…this is sort of my Holiday Gift to all you! Thank you for all your patience and loyalty. I will be back after the holidays but for now…Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May God bless you.
Disclaimer: Own only plot and nothing else.
"Mr. Weasley, I do hope that you are doing some sort of school work because if you're not, which I doubt because your book is closed, I will have to kick you out." Said Madame Pince's strict voice, her head hovering over the circle that Ron, Harry and Hermione had made. "Consider yourselves warned," and then added when her eye caught Hermione, "I'm surprised, Ms. Granger, that you are a part of this." And with that note, she left.
"Yes, Ms. Granger, I am bewildered that you are laughing in the school library. You know the policy, no having fun." Ron said, imitating the poor librarian's constraint voice.
This only made the three of them laugh harder, causing another "Hush!" from Madame Pince and annoyed looks from other students. Not being able to contain their laughter any longer without exploding in a fit, they passed through the library doors and out into the corridor, where their howling could be heard all the way down and into the next floor below. They had just stepped off a flight of stairs and heading out into the Hogwarts ground to pay Hagrid a "reunion" visit, when they rounded a corner and came face to face with Draco Malfoy.
The tension was too surreal that for a moment, neither side could do anything but stare. Instinctively, Hermione stepped towards Draco to give him a kiss but then remembered who was present and the fact that they have not gone public with their relationship yet. She couldn't very well give other students a heart attack by embracing the feared Slytherin, not since their Gryffindor-Slytherin battle has been so publicly famous through out the castle. Indeed, even the teachers knew about it.
Draco was the first to say anything. After staring daggers with Potter and Weasley, his eyes turned to Hermione. "Hi,"
Hermione smiled timidly, as though she was trying to communicate with him that she wanted to go up to him but didn't want to make the situation any more awkward. "Hi."
Another moment of icy silence.
Harry's eyes never left Malfoy's face, and Draco was well aware of it. They were both looking at each other as though they were having an invisible duel between them, one that no one could see but certainly feel. Anger and jealousy was boiling within Harry, and even more so when he, quite overtly, noticed how Malfoy's eyes seemed to soften as soon his field of vision touched Hermione. He didn't deserve her, was all Harry's thoughts were capable of making. He was scum, so below her that she shouldn't even be talking to him, let alone think he was any good for her. He was probably already manipulating her, little by little, trying to steal her away from them. Malfoy was pure evil and has done nothing to prove otherwise.
"So, where are you headed?" Hermione asked timidly. She was afraid to call him Draco in front of Harry and Ron. It was too casual, she thought, and we've just solved our problems. I can't afford to make them feel ill at ease.
Draco took a deep breath. "To see Professor Binns." He answered curtly.
"What for?"
He shrugged. "Something about my report on the disappearing Glaucentshire Goblins, in the 1600th. Apparently he has an issue to raise with me."
"Oh," Hermione said, "well, I hope everything goes well."
"Me, too."
Silence.
"Well, then," Draco said, wanting to get away from there but hating that it meant leaving Hermione, too. "I think I'd better go." I guess they all made up, he thought bitterly as he walked passed them and out of sight. The Golden Trio, back together. I bet they've now devoted their time wisely to turn her away from me. As if I'm going to let that happen. Why does she have to be one of them? This would all be much easier if she'd had other friends, anyone else but the two of them.
And then another thought came into his head. It might also help their situation if she was a pureblood. Draco, himself of course, didn't mind. He and Hermione were beyond that.
But his father wasn't. It was convincing his father that would prove to be the challenge. His mother would be a problem too but Draco had confidence that in the end, after spending time with Hermione, she would see that this beautiful girl, despite ancestry, was perfect for him. She had all the qualities in a girl Draco always looked for. Of course, he never thought he'd find it. Especially in her. But he did and he realized that this was something good, something real, for the first time in his life.
If people ever asked him to describe the feeling every time he saw her, every time he heard her voice or feel her touch, he wouldn't be able to. It was a sensation he'd never experienced before. And now he was beginning to think if every person even got to experience this. It was too wonderful for him.
Hermione made him feel like he was something, like he was someone. Not just a Malfoy, not just a Slytherin, but something more. She made him feel like he had a purpose in this world. It was during these moments that Draco would wonder and wonder if, perhaps, he was feeling more than partiality for this girl. If she made him feel this incredible, and that he spent all his time thinking about her and wanting to be with her and when he was with her, never wanting to leave, then maybe this really is something. But he didn't dare venture into that way of thinking. It was way too much. They've only been together for a few months. And they are still worlds apart. She had her own life and he had his.
Draco didn't even think that he had that capability to feel so much for a girl. He certainly never cared like this before. All his life he'd always been reserved about his feelings. The only two people in the world who had ever seen a 'soft' side, or rather a vulnerable side, of him were his parents.
When his father is being particularly hard on him, abusing him verbally and physically for not being the number one student, or not catching that damned snitch once again, Draco would get very frustrated – but he didn't show it. He never showed it – not to his father. Because showing weakness would probably be the worst mistake one could do to a father like Lucius Malfoy.
He had practically trained Draco as if he was his student, instead of his son. A master preparing his warrior for battle. Except the only battle this soldier would ever fight would be against his own teacher.
So instead of lashing out at his father, he goes inside his room and releases his anger there. Far from prying eye, or so he thought. His mother seemed to always know when he needed some comfort. Even though the world had a completely different concept of his mother, she was not the witch most people referred to. Once you get to know, she really was one of the best people he'd ever known. All in all, she'd been a very good mother to him, just afraid of her husband.
But then again, everyone had to fear Lucius.
Hermione stood there beside Ron and Harry. Neither of them talking. Everyone was still getting over the moment.
"Well," Ron said in a comical sigh, "that must have been the most awkward moment of my life."
"I'm just glad you two didn't do anything awful." Hermione expressed her relief. It was a miracle having gone through that alive.
"Don't worry about it, Hermione. I said I'd stop myself from hurting him and I keep my word." Ron said valiantly.
She laughed lightly. "Um, Ron. I actually meant Harry and him."
"Oh, yes of course. Good on you, Harry."
"Can we just go to Hagrid already? He must be waiting on us." Harry said. He needed some fresh air and something to distract him.
Hermione and Ron hurried after Harry, out through the Entrance Hall and heading out to the hut.
"Harry! Ron! Hermione! Back together now I see!" Hagrid greeted them as they sat comfortably on his gigantic couch. "Knew ye'd smooth it all out!"
The three of them looked at each other. "Yes, we have." Hermione answered.
"Well, it about time. 'been confusing when you lot 'ould come down here one by one." And then he looked at them with an almost parental tenderness. "I missed 'ye lot."
"We missed you too, Hagrid. But now we're here."
"Yes, yes y'are. Fang missed you too by the way. Anyway, what's 'been going on?"
After their visit with Hagrid, which took the rest of their afternoon and well into the night, Hermione walked back to Gryffindor dormitories with Harry and Ron. It has been almost four days since that night in the common room. The night they found her in agony, the night they became friends again. Things had gotten extraordinarily well for all of them; indeed, there were times when Hermione feels as though they were always in good terms. But as incredible as things have become, it has also been (over) four days since she'd been alone with her boyfriend – and she missed him terribly. Seeing him today out in the hall proved it. She was so tempted to jump into his arms and kiss him (because he looked ridiculously sexy) but she couldn't bear the thought of torture she would've bestowed on Harry and Ron. Getting through that encounter without a scratch or even a foul language was miraculous to Hermione.
Thinking about all this, she made up her mind. "I…err…don't think I'm going to head straight back to the dorms." She said, halting.
Ron looked over his shoulder. "And where are you going? Its almost curfew. Don't tell me your going to the bloody lib-" he trailed off and then said, "…oh…" as the reason dawned on him.
"How long are you going to be gone?" Harry asked. "Do you want us to wait on you?"
Hermione shook her head. "No, I don't think I'll be too long but anyway don't wait up for me. You don't have to."
"Ok,"
"Ok." And she turned the other direction.
Truth be told, Hermione wasn't even sure she was going to able to see Draco or not. There was no way o communicating to him that she wanted to see him tonight. Well, trying never kills you, and never does a bit of hope.
She was in the library, hoping against all odds that he, too, would get a 'feel' for some light reading. She headed down to their 'paradise', as their now referred to it. This was because this little library room was one of the very few places they could actually be together and still be on school grounds.
Hermione sat herself on the plump sofa, getting out a book, waiting for nothing. Besides, she reasoned with herself, even if he doesn't show, at least I got some reading done. but before she even finished a sentence, she felt something soft on her cheek.
"Draco!"
"What are you doing here?" he whispered in her ear.
"Waiting for you." She said, as she slipped in to his embrace. "I was just kind of hoping on random luck that you'd come down here."
"Well, the truth is, I was going to the kitchens when I saw you and decided that I wanted you more than I wanted the food."
"Oh, how special does that make me feel? To know that I am more important that you hunger." She said, rolling her eyes.
"Yeah, enough talk. Lets make out."
Hermione stopped, looked at him then shrugged. "OK."
Draco leaned in, grinning, getting ready once again for one of those nights.
Oh my gosh, was the only thought that kept repeating in Hermione's mind. How can anything feel this good?
They were now lying on the couch, her under him. Their kisses had gotten deeper and more intense, sometimes to the point that she just had to stop and take a breather. Draco, however, didn't seem to need anytime of rest. Because when she would disconnect her lips from his, he would take this time to slide his hungry kisses down her neck. His kisses were amazing and she felt so lucky to be the recipient of his wonderful lips. He always seemed to know just how to keep her on her toes. He would vary his kisses. He would start off really slow and soft, and when the feelings would get hotter, his lips would move faster and harder.
Draco was now caressing her neck with his lips, running his hands up and down her sides. Hermione was busy, too, touching his hair, his face and his arms. Her breathing was getting heavier and heavier and she could hear Draco groaning from the back of his throat. She moaned out loud when he bit down harshly, without hurting her, then slowly massaging her sin with his tongue. It was a moan she couldn't suppress. When Draco slid his knee between her legs and gradually applied pressure on her sensitiveness, she moaned even louder, wrapping her leg over his knee, wanting more of it. Draco moved his face back to hers to kiss her lips again, sliding his hand slowly under her shirt and riding up her torso. Hermione was hardly aware of this; she was too preoccupied with his lips and his leg, making her feel like she never felt before.
Draco, on the other hand, was fully aware of his actions. He didn't know how far he was allowed to go. His mind was telling him that she wasn't ready, that at some point she was going to stop him – but his body was telling him otherwise. But Draco knew who to listen to – but that didn't mean he couldn't try. With great care, he proceeded to run his hand up her shirt, feeling her shiver at his touch, furthering his desires even more. Oh god, he thought, how can she make me feel like this?
Hermione was now feeling out of this world. She forgot about everything: school, the room, even the fact that they may be caught. All she was thinking of was Draco. He was sliding his hand further up, at last reaching its destination.
Hermione moaned, feeling Draco cup her breast. His hand was big and warm and it was gently massaging it. It felt so good that she leaned up, pressing her body more into him so that she could feel more of it. Between his massaging and his grinding and his kisses, Hermione was sure that she had fallen in love with Draco. But it was more than just the physical connection. They were so compatible, that Hermione couldn't even believe that they'd only found each other. He was smart and ambitious, full of potential. He challenges her, allowing her to develop into a better person. Their relationship was refreshing, when they're not trying to hide it, anyway.
Is it always going to be like this? She thought. Sneaking around, hoping we'd be in the same room at the same time? I want to feel free to go up to him in the halls and hold his hand. But that doesn't seem to be an option right now.
As she was raking her mind for a solution, Draco proceeded to further. He was sliding his hand up her thigh, taking his time, savoring every moment of it. Hermione was enjoying his touches too. She knew she should stop him but it felt so good that she decided to let him on for a couple more minutes. But when he started to graze the inside of her thighs, his knee between her legs moving harder and faster, she knew it was time for a break.
Reluctantly, she grabbed hold of his hand and removed her lips from his. "Draco,"
Draco opened his heavy lidded eyes. He was breathing hard, his face was red and his lips looked swollen from all the action. He took a deep breath and said apologetically, "Sorry," and then confessed, "I just want you so much."
Hermione's heart skipped a beat. She loved it when he would say things like that, revealing just how he felt about her. "I want you, too."
"But…"
"…We can't. I'm sorry."
Supporting himself on his elbows, Draco lifted himself off of Hermione, giving much needed space between them. "So, what do you want to do now?"
"I don't know. What do you feel like doing?"
A moment of silence. "So, it looks like the three of you worked things out."
"Yeah, we've all made up."
"And you explained to them then?"
"Explained what?"
"Our situation…"
Hermione looked down. "Oh, yeah. That situation."
"What do you mean that situation? Isn't it the only situation?" He asked irritably, that caused Hermione to double take.
"Yes, it is. I just meant that Harry and Ron, or maybe only Ron, still doesn't believe that this is real. They thought that you were putting a curse on me or that I've gone completely bonkers."
"Well, have you told them that I'm not and you're not?" his voice rising.
"Yes," and then added, "and what's the matter with you? You sound angry at me and I haven't done anything."
Draco combed his hand through his hair in frustration. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to jump on you like that."
"Its ok." She said, moving to him.
"So how is it?"
"Its good. Sometimes it feels like its all back to normal."
"Do they still think of me as rotten as they used to, although I may already have the answer for that."
Hermione chuckled. "Lets just say that they're not exactly ready yet to welcome you with open arms."
"What if I come by the Gryffindor Tower and ask for you?"
She looked at him suspiciously. "Why would you?"
"Why wouldn't I? For an excuse I can just say that you've been your typical Gryffindor self and decided to work on all the Potions assignment we just got assigned for as partners. And then I'll look angry and voila!"
"Draco," Hermione cried, actually thinking he was being serious. "you can't do that!"
"Why not?" he asked innocently, trying to keep a straight face.
"Because…because people will see. And Harry and Ron. They'll know that you aren't really looking for me."
"But if I say-" Draco started, secretly laughing at the cute angry expression on his girlfriend's face.
"They'll still know! Please, Draco. Harry, Ron and I just got back together. The fight lasted longer than any other fight we'd ever had. And I don't want to start it all over again. Its too much of a risk."
Draco took a step back. "Oh. So Potter and Weasley are worth taking a risk for but I'm not?"
"What do you mean? What am I risking for wanting to lay low for a while just so that I don't anger my best friends again?"
Draco turned before answering. "Our relationship." He said coldly. He knew it was too good to be true. They'd had a similar fight like this not too long ago. He should've known that Saint Potter and Weasley are worth more to her than he is.
"What are you talking about?" she asked, "And how did we even get into this conversation? Weren't we kissing just a moment ago?"
"Yeah, that was a moment ago." Draco fired back, "a moment ago, I thought you were the best the thing in this damn world. A moment ago I thought you were worth the risk. A moment ago, I thought I had some glimmer of hope of finally being favored by over Potter and Weasley. But I guess not."
Hermione had to take a while before his meaning made sense. "What are you talking about? Is this some competition? Can't I like you yet not like Harry and Ron any less?"
"No."
"No, Draco! That's not how it should be."
"If you had to choose them over me, would you?"
"Yes," she answered instinctively but then thought again and realized that that may not be true. "I mean no. I mean…I don't know."
"Yes, you do." He yelled in indignation.
"Shut up, Draco! I don't. All I want is for you all to just get along." She said. "I'm just a little worried that they'll get mad again. Is that so bad? It doesn't mean that I want to stop seeing you all together. I would never want that. I want to be with you all the time. That's why I want to let them cool off still, so that when the time comes, they'll feel better about the two of us being together. I want them to see you the way I see you. I want them to know that you're not the person everyone thinks you are. I want them to know that I love you."
Hermione stopped yelling, Draco stood there frozen, and the whole room was in utter silence. Hermione bit her tongue. Why did I just say that? Oh my gosh, he is going to freak. He's going to think that I'm completely crazy.
But did you mean it? The voice inside her head asked.
I don't know. I think I do. Am I not too young to be in love? But then why do I like him so much. I can't stop being with him. While she was battling with herself in her head, the young boy in front of her spoke.
"What did you just say?" Draco asked, his voice timid and unsteady.
"What?"
"What?"
"What?"
"You said something."
"No, I didn't."
"Yes, you did. You said that you lo-"
"No, I didn't!"
His heart beating dangerously in his chest. "But do you?" he asked in a whisper.
"No, I don't." she answered in a panic.
Draco smiled. That was certainly unexpected. Never did he think he would ever hear those words from another person other than his mother. In all honesty, he didn't even believe that anyone could or would tolerate him long enough to genuinely like him – much less fall in love with him. But here he was, in front of the prettiest girl and most brilliant girl, he'd ever met, telling him she loved him. Draco didn't think that those three simple words, words that he'd read in a thousand books, would affect him so greatly. But it had – and only because it was Hermione saying it.
It wasn't the first time a girl had told him she loved him, but all those times he always thought to himself, no you don't. And this time, with Hermione, he was praying with all his power that she really did.
Draco took a step towards her. "You don't?" he repeated.
Hermione took step back. "No," she answered in a barely audible voice.
Draco moved even closer, put his hands on her slim waist and asked again – this time looking in her eyes. "You don't?" And before Hermione had the chance to say anything, he brought his lips onto hers gently.
The kiss was slow and gentle. Draco cupped her face in his hands, using his thumbs to caress her cheeks, making her weak in the knees. It was deliberately trying to change her mind – but not her heart. The embrace lasted for several minutes, but it could have been an eternity and Hermione wouldn't have noticed. Suddenly, she pulled away. "Draco," she whispered, looking down and speaking to his chest instead of face. She found out that she couldn't quite look him straight in the eyes, out of nerves and embarrassment she couldn't figure out. "I just want to say-"
"I love you."
At first it was silence, total and utter silence, just as it was a moment ago, and then Hermione's head shot up to his face, finding him looking at her intently in the eyes.
"Wha- what?"
"Err…I uh…" Oh great, he thought, here comes the nerves.
Draco had never ever said those words to another girl before. Even to his own parents that was very rare. And even though he'd heard them a thousand times over in his life, he always thought it would be hard to get them out. He was a guy after all. They were not creatures of sensitivity or anything emotional. So he always just thought that it would be hard to let their significant other to know what it is they truly feel.
But with Hermione, it felt almost natural. As though everything that happened before the two of them got together, after their secret was discovered and everything in between has been leading them to this moment. Draco didn't know how Hermione was going to react, its either good or bad right?, he asked himself. For all he knew Hermione could have been planning on telling him that it was all a mistake. But in the end, Draco realized, he didn't care. He had to tell her how he felt about her, tell her that someone thought she was wonderful because she deserved everything good in the world and more; tell her that he loved her because if he didn't, it was going to eat him alive.
"What did you say, Draco?"
"I said…I love you, Hermione."
She stopped, looked at him as though he'd gone crazy and shook his head. "No, you don't."
He then took a deep breath. "Yes, I do."
As he said this, he could see tears starting in her eyes. "You do?" she whispered, sounding sacred, almost hopeful.
"Yes."
Hermione stayed silent. She couldn't believe her ears. Draco, Draco Malfoy. Her worst enemy, the boy who was not too long ago determined to ruin her life was in love with her. Her heart was pounding furiously. Happiness overwhelmed her body, such joy that it was making her cry.
Draco, seeing her tears thought it all the way around. "This is the time to say something."
She gazed up at him, her eyes all glossy and her smile broad. "I love you, too, Draco."
Draco smiled back, feeling happy like never before. He leaned down and placed a long and promising kiss on her lips. A promise of commitment, that he will stay with her, defend her and love her for as long as he could. For in that moment, Draco realized that maybe this whole "love" thing that people talk about so much isn't such a bad thing after all. Maybe love could be the one thing that saves you.
Tada!! Ahh…crazy chapter! Wow, there you go. They finally said the words. I sincerely hope you are satisfied. I'm sorry this came so late…again. Please find it in your heart to forgive me. Anyhooz, that's it for now. So Thank you again. Review Review Review!! Later Dayz.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!