The next day, Hermione woke up bright and early. Today was the day they were going to her house. The past night, she had stayed up late talking to Draco about the importance of not talking about magic. Being sure to emphasize how important it was not to use the words muggle, magic, wands, spells, curses, etc. Anything that might blow their cover. She was actually very surprised he was agreeing to all of this. She had known him since they were 11 and she had never thought him to be one to go a week without magic, with a mudblood, in the muggle world, with muggles everywhere he turned. He seemed like more of a guy who would rather shave his legs with a rusty cheese grater than have anything to do with anything non-magic. But, now it was 5 o'clock in the morning and she had roughly 4 hours before they had to leave, and it would take about 2 of those hours to wake up the lazy blonde. So she decided to start right now. Not to mention, he still had yet so pack! 'Slytherins!' She thought rolling her eyes and shaking her head.

She jumped over her bags that she had piled at the bottom of the stairs, very risky she knew, but she was too excited to care, and flew up the stairs, two at a time.

She tapped on the door lightly, "Draaaaacooooooo?" She said in a sing-song voice, "Are you awake darling?" She knew he hated when she talked like this. He always said it reminded him of his mother. On more than one occasion when she had done this when he was half asleep, he had, to his embarrassment and her amusement, called her mom. She put her ear up to the door and listened carefully, smiling when she heard the rustling of sheets and the grumbling of a cranky teenager.

She knocked again, harder this time, "Draco Honey, it's time to wake up!" She jumped a bit when there was a light thud against the door, 'That's one…two to go…', and laughed out loud when she heard him inside, "GOWAY!"

She knocked again, "Wake up ya lazy bum!" A second thud against the door.

'Two…one left…'

"LEEMEELONE!" She shook her head. He was such a morning person. Again she knocked, this time as hard as she could.

"GO AWAY WOMAN!" A third thud.

'Ok, no more…he has no more ammo.' She thought with a smile. She slowly opened the door and smiled smugly when she saw three pillows scattered around the door.

'I knew it!'

She looked up at his bed and just as she thought; saw Draco sprawled on his bed, tangled in his blankets, with no more pillows. Now all she had to do was get rid of the blanket and he'd definitely wake up. So she ran up and got a firm hold on the edge of the blanket. She took one last glance at him, tugged on the blankets with all her might. She knew what was coming so she ran to the furthest corner of the room and put the blanket over her head, giggling like she promised herself she never would. "WOMAN!!!!!" She covered her mouth hoping he wouldn't see her. Suddenly, she felt his arms around her and felt herself being lifted off the ground, then throw into the air. She let out a small scream when she felt herself hit the bed. Silence. She very slowly built up her courage and gripped the edge of the blanket. Carefully, she pulled the blanket down to her nose, just so she could see. She didn't see anyone. Even his broom was gone. She growled, 'He better not have flown away on me.' She sat up quickly, the blanket falling to her waist.

She looked to her left, nothing, then to her right, nothing. Even behind her, nothing. 'What the--?' She scooted to the end of the bed and let her legs hang over the edge. She huffed in frustration. This guy was always causing trouble. She threw her hands in the air, growling, and fell back on the bed, eyes closed. After a few seconds, she heard a soft chuckle. She opened her eyes and screamed when she saw Draco, floating above the bed on his broom, smiling down on her. She scrambled to get off the bed and far away as possible but it was too late. It was pretty perilous to even try. His broom was probably a bit faster than her on foot. He flew around then in front of her and jumped off his broom. She spun around and tried to run in the opposite direction. But, it was too late. He grabbed her around the waist and picked her, throwing her on the bed again. He put his hands on her hips, wiggling his finger threateningly. "Draco Malfoy, if you tickle me I swear I will kick you…" He just smirked at her.

"No you won't." She mimicked his smirk, "Try me." And try he did. He started to tickle her and after a few seconds of mad laughter from her, she kicked him hard in the shins. He jumped away howling in pain. "YOU ARE SO MEAN!" He said to her, pouting. She smirked, "I warned you." He stopped pouting and smiled, "Very true, however, that is no way to treat your darling boyfriend. The boyfriend any girl would like to have. You know, the hottest boy in Hogwarts? Yeah, that's what I thought."

Hermione just grinned at him, "I'm sorry…" she said, trying to not to laugh. He smiled at her and rolling his eyes, exited his room and started down the stairs. Hermione stayed put for a moment but her eyes widened and she jumped up when she heard a yell and a loud thud. She sprinted to the door and when she got to the door burst out laughing. She doubled over in laughter clinging to the doorframe so she wouldn't tumble down the stairs and join her graceful boyfriend in a heap at the bottom.

Draco had gotten down the stairs but obviously hadn't been watching where he was walking because he had tripped over the bags Hermione had left at the end. He stood up and brushed himself off, trying hard to keep his composure. Though he was finding it very difficult being that his girlfriend's doorframe support wasn't working and she was now sitting on the floor laughing, her arms over her stomach. He chuckled a bit at her, then picked up the bags and moved them aside. "At least I have the common sense to keep bags awaaayyyy from the stairs where there's the possibility of people tripping over them. I could've died just now. How would you live without me?! Especially if you were the one who killed me! It's hazardous I tell you!"

After a few failed attempts, she stood up and slowly made her way down the staircase. Even though it had been a few minutes since the incident, she still had quite the bad case of the giggles. Draco just looked at her sternly after which she cleared her throat and kept quiet. Draco just smiled and shook his head, then headed towards the stairs. Hermione watched in confusion, "Where do you think you're going?" Draco turned back around, "Would you like me to pack or do I just wear this?" He said, gesturing to his beautiful ensemble of boxers and a beater. Hermione snorted, "Yeah, that'll be a good first impression. I roll out of the fireplace in silk pants and a skimpy tank and I'm followed by a boy in boxers. My parents will LOVE you!" She said sarcastically. He laughed then continued up into the room, closing the door behind him.

Hermione shook her head slightly and stooped down and picked up the bags with the intention of moving them closer to the fireplace. However, she got distracted by the pillows strewn about the top few steps. She must have kicked them around and out the door when she was rolling on the floor dying in laughter. Thinking back, the picture of Draco on the floor in a tangle of arms, legs, and suitcases flashed through her mind sent her into another fit of laughter.

About 2 hours later, they were both dressed, packed, and ready to floo. Draco started heading towards the fireplace but stopped when Hermione grabbed his arm. "Wait, wait!" She said, "I can't just leave for a week without saying goodbye to Ron and Harry!" Draco's eyes flashed, "Since when do you talk to Potter?" Hermione slapped a hand to her forehead, "Bloody hell, I didn't tell you did I?" Draco shook his head. "Sheesh," she said quietly, most likely to herself. She then launched into the story of the goblet and the potions.

By the end of the story, Draco had plopped on the couch and was leaning back, his head against the cushions, staring at the ceiling. Hermione stopped talking, and he didn't respond. She moved closer to him and tapped him lightly, "Draco? You alive?" He nodded very slightly. She hesitated then stood up, "Well, I'm going to go say goodbye, try to be conscious when come back…" Then she backed up a few steps before turning around, and exiting the common room.

She then walked to Gryffindor Tower quickly, anxious to get back to her vegetable of a boyfriend. When she got to the portrait, with a quick "rumplestiltskin" she was in the familiar common room. Nothing had changed. It had the same plush chairs, with sleeping gryffindors curled up on them. 'Sleeping?! Still sleeping! Wow, they really need me back around here!' With a smirk Hermione lifted her wand, swirled it in the air, and closed her eyes concentrating hard. Suddenly, the whole of Gryffindor tower was filled with the indignant screams of gryffindors who had just been doused with water from a bucket that had mysteriously appeared above their heads. Parvati Patil however had already been awake and was getting ready for her day. She was curling her hair in the bathroom and came running out only to burst into laughter at the sight of her soaking wet roommates. Then it hit her. 'HERMIONE'S BACK!!'

Quickly running back into the bathroom, she dropped her curling iron into the nearest sink and sprinted out of the room, down the steps, and into the embrace of one of her best friends. "When'd you get back?" Hermione smiled, "Just now. By the way, I love the new look." Parvati gave her a look of confusion and conjured a mirror. The mirror dropped out of the air into her awaiting hand, and then was lifted up to her face. Parvati started to giggle at the sight. The entire left side of her head was filled with bouncy, shiny curls, and the right, was, well…poofy. Before she knew it, she was deep in conversation about Eric and Millicent. Parvati explained that Eric had told her they had broken up because he liked her, but when she realized that he had lied, she tracked him down, slapped him good, then found Millicent and explained the situation. Hermione was very proud of Parvati. She handled the situation very well, and even though Millicent and Eric were no longer together, at least Millicent was no longer dealing with a dishonest guy. But of course, he was a slytherin, couldn't have expected any more or less.

Over time, several wet Gryffindors had trudged into the common room, grouchy looks and glares firmly set on their faces. Seamus approached her, one of the few who found the situation amusing. During the summer his hair had grown, now long and curly, hanging in his eyes rather than short and spikey as it had been in their earlier years at the school. His usually curly hair was wet and hanging in his eyes. Pretty much all that was visible on him was the very bottom of his nose and his crooked grin. "Knew it was you," he said with a chuckle.

"Yeah," Colin piped in, "you're the only person who ever did that. Always making sure we were up in time for breakfast." Hermione just smiled, remembering the fond memories where she was up several hours earlier than necessary and insisted that people keep her company. So she had gone to Dumbledore, telling him that people were waking up late, and he taught her a spell that would conjure a bucket of cold water over the heads of sleeping people in the caster's desired area. She had used it on several occasions and everyone knew it was her.

"Hermione!" A voice called out from her left. She turned to see a sopping wet Harry (A:N..yummy) walking up to her. "Hows about a hug?" He said, arms open. Hermione's eyes widened, "Oh no! No hugs!" And tried to back away from the approaching boy. And that probably would have worked, had it not been for the sopping wet redhead who was waiting behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and Harry ran up wrapping them around opposite. "HERMIONE SANDWICH!" They both screamed in unison. Hermione let out a strangled breath, "so immature." They'd done this since first year. Honestly, you'd think they'd have grown out of it by now. She had to say though, it'd been a long time since she'd been 'Hermione sandwich'ed', what with Harry and all. It was nice to have it back, even though she could just feel her ribs breaking. "Air…" she said lacking oxygen. They both immediately squeezed tighter before letting her go and backing away. Hermione looked down at herself, her once dry, perfect clothes were now wet and wrinkled. 'Lovely.' She thought, rolling her eyes.

Then she remembered why she was there, "Oh yes, well good morning. But, I just came to say goodbye. I'm taking Draco to my house for the week. I love you all, and have a wonderful week off!" She then hugged Harry and Ron and turned to leave. "Wait!" A voice called out behind her. She turned around and saw Harry walking up to her. "Could you dry me off? And then, um, I would like to have a talk with …Draco." She gave him a huge smile, dried him off, and then dragged him towards where her boyfriend waited for her.

Finally, they reached the tower. "As one," she said, and then they entered. She released Harry and took a few steps forward scanning the room for Draco. He wasn't there. "Draco?" She called, and then she waited. No response. "Hmm, where did he run off to?" She took a few more steps forward until she was standing in the center of the large circular room. "DRACOOOO!!!" She called.

"Yes?" She heard from her right. She turned and frowned when she saw him stick his head out of his door, looking rather frazzled. "You did NOT go back to sleep!" She shrieked, advancing towards him. He held his hands up in defense, "Of course I didn't," he said innocently, "I was simply, shall we say, resting my eyelids. They were awfully heavy after I heard that you were friends with that Potter again," he said. He said the word potter as if it burned his tongue. He looked past her when he heard a throat cleared and sneered when he saw none other than Harry Potter come into view.

"What's he doing here?"

"He came to talk to you. He doesn't want things to be so bad between you two."

"That's all well and good but I have better things to do then talk to … that," He spat.

"Draco! Come on! Give him a chance here, it's not like he chose to do those things. We've been through this."

"Well what do you want me to do?! Invite him in for tea and crumpets?! No! You can't expect me just to forget what he's done to you…to all of us!"

Hermione was silent, thinking. She was about to reply, but she was interrupted by Harry.

"Look Malfoy, I don't want to be best friends here. I just don't want you to think I'm this terrible guy who beats his best friends as a pastime." Malfoy just sneered at him, but after looking at Hermione, and seeing the hopeful look in her eyes, took a deep breath and spoke.

"Fine, but I'm not about to sit while you ramble on for hours. Short explanations are fine. I already know the story anyways."

"Then, why do you refuse to accept that I'm not like that?"

"Because…You didn't see her Potter. If it was you who had to see your girlfriend carried into the hospital wing all bloodied and bruised wearing nothing but a cloak, only to hear that her "best friend" attempted to rape her, would you jump at the chance to become buddies? No, I didn't think so."

"Look Malfoy, I know what happened. I was there! I saw it! I just couldn't stop myself. Believe me; if I had the option to take back what I did, I would, no doubt. But, I can't, so we both need to accept that it happened and also that it's over. And it's most definitely not in my future plans to ever do it again." Draco stared for minute, and then took a deep breath. He walked down the steps and plopped on the couch, "Fine, talk." Harry approached him hesitantly, a part of him expecting him to whip out his wand and curse him to Australia. But he didn't, so he sat down and started to collect his thoughts. After a minute, he still could not decide exactly what he wanted to say or how to say it. Draco looked restless, impatient. "Well, are we just going to sit here and stare or are we actually going to try to accomplish something?"

Harry took a deep breath, "In a minute…Ok, well I don't exactly know where to start…Alright, I already know you are aware of the potion and who did it…"

"Who did it?? I don't know who did it…" Harry looked at Hermione whose eyes widened. "Oops," she mouthed, and then smiled awkwardly.

"Ok, well Pansy had Goyle do it. No one really knows why…but she was behind it."

Draco just stared into space, Ella's words echoing through his mind, 'She's going to tell Hermione…She's going to tell Hermione…' Then his conscience intervened in his memories, 'Tell her you dolt! Before Pansy does! It's so much better for her to hear it from you instead of someone else.' Draco argued back, 'I will, I will…just…later…' His mind was probably about to retort back but he'll never know, because his mental argument was rudely interrupted by Harry. "Malfoy?"

"Whaa?...Oh, yeah, I kind of figured it was her." Then he totally zoned out, his mind wondering. Should he tell her? But, she'd get mad. Yes, well she'd get over it. It'd take much longer for her to get over it if she found out from someone else. That is if she got over it at all. But, what if I tell her, then pansy ends up not even telling her. There'd be no point whatsoever. It'd just be her getting mad at me for no good reason. Finally, he knew Harry was done rambling because he was just staring. So he thought it a good time to nod. So he did. "Good," Harry said, feeling accomplished. "I'm glad we settled this. Well, you two have fun this week. See you later." Then he left. When Draco heard the portrait shut, he let out a huge breath and slumped on the couch. "Ok, now explain to me, what did he say?" Hermione rolled her eyes at him, "I knew you weren't listening. You were staring into nothingness and your eyes were bulging out of your head." He laughed, "Well, can you blame me?"

"Yes, now, all he was saying was that he was really sorry for everything he did and he would sooner kill himself than to do it again." Draco thought to himself, 'Well, I guess he's alright then. I kind of hope he kills himself though.' "Why are you smirking at Draco Malfoy?"

He looked at her innocently, "Oh nothing…" Then he stood up, "Come on you lazy bum, we have to get going."

She fell back on the couch, "I don't want to now! Everyone's getting along finally and now we have to leave," she whined. Draco laughed at her, "You're such a baby."

She jumped up and put her hands on her hips, "AM NOT!" This just made him laugh even more, "Sure sure, what ever you say." She crossed her arms, "Jerk," she muttered.

He gasped, "What was that Hermione Ann Granger?"

She looked away, "Nothing, nothing at all." He advanced on her, "Somehow I don't believe you…" He said suspiciously.

Her head snapped back towards him, "Are you calling me a LIAR?!"

He smirked, "And what if I am?"

"Well, then I supposed I'll just have to go spend the week with Harry. I mean, he's just such a nice guy and you just call me names!"

Draco dropped his jaw, "CROSSING THE LINE!"

She laughed, "Did he say if he had plans? Maybe I should just spend the whole week in his dorm with him…then I wouldn't have to deal with your incessant name-calling!"

She laughed as he exploded, "WAY CROSSING THE LINE! YOU KNOW WHAT?! YOU ARE SO FAR PAST THE LINE; YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE THE LINE! THE LINE IS A DOT TO YOU!!" She burst into laughter. "And, what, pre tell is so funny?" He said, breathing heavily, still recovering from his outburst.

She regained her composure and in the calmest voice she could manage said, "Your face."

He froze and just stared for about 30 seconds. Then it came, "WHY YOU LITTLE--!" Hermione tried to get away but it was too late. Once again she had been tackled by her boyfriend and for the second time that day was being tickled mercilessly. She just laughed and laughed.

He had no idea how much he meant to her. They had been going out for near 5 months now and he had never once left her side. He was always there when she needed him, always knew how to make her smile, and would stand up for her even if it put himself in danger. Finally, he stopped tickling her and picked her up, cradling her in his arms. He placed a light kiss on her forehead, muttered a spell causing their suitcases to float behind him, and headed towards the fireplace. And so, Hermione Ann Granger was off to introduce her parents to a man she was beginning to believe she was falling in love with.

A:N OMG! I am SO sorry it keeps taking me so long to update! You guys just need to remind me. Promise me that if it's more than a week before I update, email me like crazy and yell and yell until I do. Promise? Anyone who does gets a cookie… a beautiful cookie… a Draco Malfoy cookie! But that's just a cookie. If you review a lot…aw heck, I'll just give you Draco Malfoy!!!! After I'm done with him of course ;)

Much looooove

Marianne