Chapter 11- I Think I'll Be Brave

Granger was killing Him. When he started wanting her it was one of the biggest surprises of his life. Draco Malfoy wasn't one to be taken by surprise, but Merlin did she. Hermione Granger took him by surprise and lit up his whole world by just being herself. How many times would that happen to a person. Who was he to let her go?

Maybe it was because he didn't have to pretend any longer. It was plain to him that Voldemort had been wrong, so wrong. The blood flowing in Hermione's veins was probably purer than his. Draco wasn't sure how he'd come to that conclusion but now that he was there, he really saw her. He hadn't seen her before.

She was beautiful for one and so smart; smarter than he had ever given her credit for. She wasn't just a know-it-all but the most honest and true person he knew. Draco felt more for this one girl than he had ever felt in his life, except for fear. What he wouldn't give to be hers, but he never would be.

Pansy had been too forward that night in the Room of Requirement. She'd scared Hermione away unintentionally. Hermione didn't want to be with him even if she did develop feelings for him. Draco would like to think that she just wasn't the one, but he had a feeling she was and he was letting her get away by avoiding her. He felt like a sissy hiding away in the Slytherin head dorm. But he wasn't prepared for how much it hurt his pride and heart that she truly didn't want him. He knew she was attracted to him on some level but that was a given. Draco knew he was bloody good looking and he'd been told so for years.

No it wasn't attraction he wanted from her, well not only attraction. Since he realized what a loveless marriage his parents had he vowed to only marry a girl if he loved her. Being ten years old it didn't mean much then, but now it meant a lot. He was going to be eighteen years old, working in a large realty company once he finished school. He had his life set. What he didn't have was someone to share it with. That's what he'd wanted his whole life was for someone to care about him and what he wanted. Draco was aware he could be a selfish person but what if he could change that or what if someone could love him despite all of it? Was that too much to ask?

He truly hoped not because he couldn't give it all away without one more try. That meant no more hiding and facing Hermione like a man. It was strange how his heart pounded at the thought.

Hermione wasn't ready for the holiday break. Minerva had decided to send everyone home early and return on the normal day. Apparently the number of students attending would be dramatically lower. She felt an ache deep inside her for her parents and Ron, her best friend of eight years. They had been through a war together but it was the aftershocks that took him from the world. It was going to be so hard without her parents and him. But still she had something else. She had Harry, Ginny, the rest of the Weasely's.

Hermione was still waiting for something. Someone. Malfoy had still been lost to her and for some reason she just couldn't leave until she saw him. Two months and already he made such an impression. That's why she was sitting alone in the Great Hall. No one was around to watch her curiously. Just silence which was what she wanted.

"Hermione."

Her whole spine stiffened at his voice like it was connected to something inside her. He took a seat next to her and she could see his hands out of the corner of her eye. She knew she should say something but her words were frozen in her mouth.

"Oh." He said, "I guess I was right in the beginning. You don't feel anything for me, do you?"

Hermione was surprised that he could actually speak the words. She closed her eyes and tried to think of how to make him understand that she did feel something for him, she just didn't know what it was!

"I'll leave you alone then." His voice sounded broken. It tore at her heart and replayed in her head.

He stood up to leave and finally her body unlocked and she tripped after him. "Wait one damn second." She hissed, clutching his arm. He looked pained but didn't tear away from her. Then her words froze again and Hermione didn't know what to do to show him what she felt.

"I…..-

"You don't have to explain. I get it. I do." It didn't sound like he got it to her.

Before she could talk herself out of it she wound her hands around his neck and pressed her lips to his with a sigh. He let out a groan of surprise and want and that made Hermione confident. He wanted her and she wanted him. It was simple to her now.

Hermione welded her body to his, standing up on her tip toes to press her chest against his. She felt his hands grip her tiny waist with a strength that was purely masculine. It sent a rush of want through her and she kissed him deeper, harder and with more of herself than she thought she could give.

"Hermione?" He asked, pulling from her lips, but keeping the rest of them together.

"Yes?" She asked meekly, breathing hard.

"You know that your mine now right?" He said firmly not even phrasing it as a question.

Heat raced through her, "Yes!" She said and brought his lips back to hers.

Draco felt his chest fill with warmth. He had her! This was what he should have done the moment they got out of the room and knew everyone was safe. He should have to her and told her the truth. It would have been so much easier than waiting in agony and uncertainty for the past few days. The holidays were here but it felt like the year was just getting started not ending.

It seemed he, Draco Malfoy, always got what he wanted.

A/N: Well this is the end and I hope you guys like it! I got it done early so I thought I would post it now. Don't forget to review both chapter 10 and this one!