AUHTOR'S NOTE: Hey guys! So there'll be one last chapter after this one, and then a little epilogue because I have a cute idea for it C: Hope you guys are happy with how the story is going, and thank-you so so much for the reviews! Y'ALL ARE MY FAVOURITE. xoxoxoxo

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: STUDYING

Hermione didn't like the idea of lying to Harry and Ron, but she felt it wiser to lie and say she was studying in her common room while they practiced Quidditch than to tell the truth and say she stopped attending their practices so she could snog Malfoy's brains out. The trio mostly met for meals in the Great Hall and sat together in classes, and Hermione assured herself that the boys were busy with their own girlfriends (Ginny and Lavender) to be upset.

Malfoy and Hermione were quite cozy indeed: they spent most of their time in bed or chatting animatedly by the fire; though a large chunk of their time together was filled, of course, with Hermione's beast-like behaviour while studying now, for their NEWT exams.

"Granger relax, you know your stuff," Malfoy said, playing with a fuzzy lock of her hair.

Hermione whipped her head suddenly. "Do you not understand these are the most important exams of our lives?"

Malfoy raised his eyebrows at her. She laughed nervously.

"I think you need to take a little break," Malfoy said soothingly.

Hermione looked thoughtful. "Yes, Harry and Ron should be studying outside, I can check up on them and see if they're getting any work done. Maybe they'll even test me."

Malfoy's smile was strained. This did not exactly sound like a study break, but then he imagined Hermione running to the pair, snarling about moonstone and ancient rune symbols and grinned. He would probably be able to fit in a nap while she was gone.

"There you go," he said, and Hermione beamed. She pecked him a quick good-bye and managed to fit eight heavy textbooks in her bag before hurrying to the grounds.

IIIII

Hermione saw Harry and Ron sprawled out in the shade by a large beech tree, not looking particularly studious. Harry looked like he had at least tried to study; an open book lay beside him, though Ron seemed to have given up before he sat down, his books still in his closed bag several feet away.

"Honestly, you two," Hermione said.

Harry squinted in the sun and grinned at their friend. Ron however, grabbed his bag and used it as a shield.

"Don't make us study!" he cried dramatically.

Hermione sat down in front of them.

"Alright," she said simply.

Ron threw his knapsack away from his face.

"Alright?" he said indignantly.

"Yes, I'm supposed to be taking a break anyway," Hermione said patiently. Ron eyed her suspiciously but then relented and gave a sigh of relief.

"So, Hermione, what've you been up to lately? We barely see you," Harry started.

Hermione looked startled. "Oh, er, mostly studying," she laughed nervously, "lots of things to be crossed off the planner, you know…"

Harry raised an eyebrow. She could tell he did not quite believe her. Hermione put a small fist to her mouth and coughed.

"What about you two? How are Ginny and Lavender?" Hermione asked quickly.

Ron groaned and slumped back on the ground. Harry gave him a concerned look.

"Well, Ginny and I are fine, lately we've been spending a lot of time at the library, but Ron and Lavender have got into another row."

Hermione wasn't honestly that surprised; Ron and Lavender broke up every fortnight, and got together for the sole purpose of snogging for missed time. She murmured sympathetically in Ron's direction who waved it off.

"What about you, 'Mione?" Harry asked with a little smile, "I think it's time for you to find someone-"

"What?" Hermione spluttered, turning beet red. Since when did Harry give out advice on romance?

Ron sat up, alert. "You know, I did hear McLaggen say he thought Hermione-"

Hermione put her head in her hands and shook it. Could this get any more embarrassing? She supposed it could be worse, she could be having this conversation while single or lonely.

"Cormac isn't -"

"Cormac?" Harry asked. "Since when are you two on a first name basis?"

Hermione was about to retort when Ron interrupted.

"Hermione, what's happened with Zabini?"

Hermione was relieved at the change of topic, no matter how less amusing it was.

"That's right," Harry said slowly, "Now that I think of it, I haven't seen him in a while."

Hermione put her hands in her lap and nodded. "Malfoy gave me Veritaserum and it allowed me to tell him what happened, even though Blaise had tried to modify my memory. Then he told me what happened."

Harry and Ron gaped. They had only known about the Imperius curse and the Veritaserum after Malfoy had told them. Hermione had not spoken of Blaise, and they had not known he had put a memory charm on her. Hermione told them how she had not wanted to tell them anything because she didn't want them to worry; about Blaise and Malfoy and the Vanishing Cabinet; how she eventually went to McGonagall, and how Blaise had been expelled.

"You were too easy on him, he still should've gone to Azkaban even though he's not of age," Ron said darkly. Harry nodded.

"I'm just glad it's all over with," Hermione said.

Harry furrowed his brow. "So Malfoy – saved you, didn't he?"

Hermione was taken aback, but nodded.

"He also came right to us when he found out Blaise had cursed you," Harry said quietly. "He told us you were alright, and that we shouldn't tell anyone what had happened so that you could decide for yourself what to do with Blaise."

Hermione opened her mouth in surprise. She had not known this.

"He's really not that bad – Malfoy," she said in a small voice. There was a little silence before Ron snorted.

"Let's not go that far," he said.

IIIII

Malfoy woke up and smiled to himself lazily. He had just had a dream that involved a very naked Hermione and several homework planners. He looked over to his night table and saw his wand, a glass of water and his little vial of Felix Felicis. Grinning at himself for dating quite a genius, he rolled out of bed, wearing nothing but a pair of white silk boxers. He heard the sound of pages being flipped and made his way to the common room where Hermione was sitting on the loveseat, mumbling to herself.

Hermione looked up to see a demi-god standing on the steps. She eyed Malfoy's slim figure. His chest was so smooth and his hair such a light shade of blonde it was like he glowed in the dimly lit room. She blushed.

Malfoy grinned. "You don't have to turn red every time you see my chest, Granger. We are together now, after all."

"We are?" Hermione asked in surprise.

Malfoy frowned. "Aren't we? We told each other we're in love, and we shag and cuddle…"

Hermione laughed. "I suppose. We just haven't made it official yet."

"What would make it official?" Malfoy asked, sitting on the couch beside Hermione.

Hermione cringed slightly. "No longer hiding our relationship."

Malfoy nodded. "You mean from Potter and Weasley, in particular, don't you?"

Hermione nodded.

"Well," Malfoy said slowly, "the best thing to do would be to tell them before you said good-bye to them on King's Cross. That way it's out in the open and you have a quick escape," he grinned.

Hermione laughed. "Be serious, Malfoy. These are my friends. But I guess keeping it to ourselves until exams wouldn't hurt…I mean, I don't want the news to distract them from their studying."

Malfoy snorted.

"What about you?" Hermione asked worriedly. "It'll be more difficult, won't it? The Slytherins aren't exactly understanding-"

"Please," Malfoy said, putting a hand up, "they're not true friends. They're followers. They'll follow me or they won't. It's not like I'll address the whole house directly. People will just…find out."

Hermione found this a bit sad. She thought about her own friends and how'd they take the news. Horribly, no doubt. Though after time, she knew they would accept it. Harry would first no doubt, and then Ron later. Although Malfoy had been a bully, he had truly grown, and was still in the process of changing. He could not erase his "Mudblood" insults or his taunts of Ron's lack of wealth or Harry's lack of family, but he could try to replace them. Hermione thought of Ginny. She, perhaps might be understanding: she knew what it was like to pine after someone when nothing should come of it.

Hermione leaned towards Malfoy and laid her head against his shoulder. She weaved her fingers in his and smiled to herself, wondering how much of a scene Harry and Ron would cause when realizing she was dating Malfoy.