AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry I haven't updated as quickly as I usually do! I've been working on a new fanfic revolving around Daphne Greengrass :3 I'm sorry it's such a short chapter, just wanted to give you something tbh, and I'm not sure how I'm going to tie in everything together and come up with a good ending. Anyway, I hope you guys can at least ~tolerate this chapter, keep the love comin'! :D

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: OR EVEN WORSE, EXPELLED

When Hermione entered the common room, she saw Malfoy asleep on the loveseat. She didn't mean to stare but couldn't resist; his mouth was barely open and his platinum hair was sprawled on his forehead, giving a very handsome effect. Hermione pulled herself together.

"Malfoy. Wake up."

Malfoy stirred and opened his eyes slowly. Upon seeing Hermione he sat up.

"What took you so long?" He asked. His voice was husky, as if he was still half asleep, and Hermione felt butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

"I ran into McGonagall…" Hermione started, and began wringing her hands. "I told her about Blaise."

Malfoy stared in disbelief. Hermione had not shown any intention of telling anyone about Blaise previously.

"I told her I didn't want to take it to court," she continued. "He's not 17 yet, so he technically can't be charged as an adult because he's not of age anyway."

Hermione looked on the brink of tears. Malfoy rubbed his hand over his mouth.

"Come here," he said quietly, and took her hand. Hermione did not pull away as he expected her to, but instead let herself fall into his arms, breathing heavily on his chest.

"He's going to be expelled, she's talking to him with Dumbledore now – they're going to use Veritaserum on him if he refuses to confess," Hermione choked.

"It's going to be fine, trust me Granger," Malfoy said gently, "You'll never see Blaise again. No one's going to hurt you."

"But-where's he going to go to school?" Hermione sobbed.

Malfoy nearly laughed out loud. "Of course you'd think about his welfare. Well, I guess he'd continue his education at Durmstrang, his mother's rich enough to be able to afford it," he said thoughtfully.

Malfoy smoothed Hermione's hair and kept her close to him. Minutes passed by and the words Malfoy longed to say slipped out of his mouth into her hair.

"I meant what I said to you – I do love you."

Hermione surfaced from his chest and looked at him.

"I don't want you to say it back or anything, and I just want you to know this has nothing to do with the vow. I just wanted you to know."

Hermione nodded and took a breath. "I'm starting to…warm up to you," she said carefully, looking at her fingers while she spoke. Malfoy's heart fidgeted nervously in his chest.

"I just need time – I mean, Harry, Ron -"

Malfoy nodded.

Hermione sighed. "Can I – I mean, do you think I could sleep in your room tonight?"

Malfoy grinned mischievously, "But then, where would I sleep?" he asked innocently. Hermione punched him lightly on the arm, and he moved in for a kiss. Hermione's wet lashes brushed against his as their lips met. Hermione cradled Malfoy's head, bringing him closer to her. When she pulled away she took him by the hand and they made their way to his dormitory.

IIIII

When Malfoy woke up the next morning, the first thing he noticed was a mass of brown fluff in front of his eyes. He stirred and stretched happily, moaning slightly while he held in a yawn. Hermione turned over to face him.

"You're up," she said contently.

Malfoy smiled and put his finger to her cheek. Hermione bit his lip.

"Malfoy, what exactly did you do to Blaise? When I saw you two in the halls he was walking in a really odd-"

Malfoy sighed. "After you ran off when finding out about the Unbreakable Vow I stuffed him into a Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement. The cabinet's supposed to have a matching one, so it'd bring him to the other cabinet. It's broken – I tried to fix it last year – so he ended up in the mens' toilets."

"But Malfoy!" Hermione gasped, raising her body from the pillows, "That's really dangerous! You didn't know-"

"I know, I know," Malfoy said hurriedly. "But hey, I took a sip of the liquid luck, that must be it! That must be why he's alright now!" Malfoy grinned. "Guess your potion works," he said.

Hermione's expression softened and she slumped back into the mattress. Malfoy laced his fingers in between Hermione's and she looked at their hands. She raised her head up to him again.

"What about…you and Luna?"

Malfoy froze. He hesitated for a moment too long. Hermione whipped her hand from his as if it was on fire and got off the bed.

"Granger - "

But she was already out of the room, and with a loud snap, Malfoy could tell she was now secluded in her own dormitory.

IIIII

Malfoy ate his breakfast in silence, looking up every few minutes to see if Hermione had come down to the Great Hall. However, her usual place in between Harry and Ron at the Gryffindor table remained empty, though Malfoy did spot the two of them glaring at him. He responded with a rather rude hand gesture.

As he got up to leave, Malfoy felt the eyes of Ron and Harry boring into him, and he knew they'd follow him out of the Great Hall. Moments later, his suspicions were filled as Harry and Ron cornered him in the Entrance Hall.

"Where's Hermione?" Ron asked pointedly.

"Sorry boys, that's a galleon per question, and I don't think you could afford it, personally, Weasley," Malfoy smirked.

Ron growled and repeated his question.

"She's either in her dormitory or in mine," Malfoy answered venomously.

Harry looked taken aback. "What would she be doing in your-"

"Isn't it obvious?" Malfoy asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ron snarled and threw himself on top of Malfoy, punching and hissing like an angry cat. Harry pried him off after several attempts, ignoring Malfoy's strangled cries.

"Will your father hear about this?" Ron asked smugly. Malfoy's eyes gleamed but Harry yanked Ron by the sleeve and the two of them moved to the front doors of the castle and into the grounds.

Malfoy wondered vaguely if he could stand anyone else draining his energy when Professor McGonagall appeared at the staircase, and marched straight towards him.

"My office. Now, Mr Malfoy."