The party had been going full on for 3 hours. Hermione and Draco had moved from the dance floor on to the canapés. They talked and laughed together for a while. Slughorn gestured to the band to stop playing for a minute,

"Come on boys, take you're girls on to the dance floor for the last song."

Draco turned to her,

"May I have this dance?"

Hermione gave a laughed and agreed. They got on to the dance floor and Hermione said,

"Thank you for this. Its been a great night."

Draco nodded,

"Yeah I hope to do this again sometime."

Hermione glanced up at the ceiling, mistletoe. The next thing she knew Draco's arms were around her pulling her in to a passionate kiss. She let out a small gasp and Draco pulled away.

"Whats the matter Granger?" he teased, "never been kissed before?"

Hermione's face was still shocked,

"No no-"

She was cut off by Draco who was kissing her again. Hermione kissed back this time. Just like in hogsmeade her body felt warm at his touch. She pulled away, breathless. Draco smirked at her, gasping to catch her breath.

"I know I'm irresistible Granger but there's no need to go over the top."

Hermione caught her breath and glared at him,

"You kissed me." She said accusingly,

"You KISSED me."

Draco laughed and turned round,

"So? You looked really nice tonight and we've been spending a lot of time together lately, plus, you kissed back."

Hermione turned the colour of their anti-hiccuping solution,

"I did not... Oh my gosh I did."

Draco turned back round,

"Its a Malfoy curse. We are, as I said, irresistible."

Hermione scowled at him,

"No your intolerable."

Draco snorted,

"Who are you to say that after you KISSED me? Look I kind of... like you."

Hermione's expression softened,

"I feel like I cant like you back. I mean there is so much standing in the way of our relationship. Your muggle born hating father. Harry and Ron. Gryfinndor and Slytherin-"

Draco waved his hand as if they didn't matter,

"My father doesn't have to know and neither do Potter and Weasel. As for gryffindor and slytherin why does that matter?"

Hermione looked at him pleadingly,

"I just don't want us to go too fast."

He smiled and hugged her, stroking the top of her head. He looked at the clock,

"Its eleven shall we go back?"

Hermione nodded and rubbed her eyes,

"Yeah I'm pretty tired."

So they left the party after pushing through the clumps of people. Draco suggested that they go to Hermione's common first. When they got to the entrance the fat lady was snoozing. Hermione was about to nudge her awake when she turned to Draco,

"Thanks. For a great night, I had loads of fun."

Draco nodded,

"Yeah so did I." He then bowed teasingly and kissed her hand,

"Until next time."

She smiled and watched him as he walked back down the corridor and turned the corner. The fat lady woke up and said grumpily,

"Are you going to tell me the password or just stand there?"

"Sorry, um fairy lights."

The fat lady swung open allowing Hermione in to the deserted gryfinndor common room.

The next day on the way to class Hermione realised everyone from her year were walking in the opposite direction. Harry was amongst them and he grabbed her hand,

"Hermione, come on didn't you hear that Dumbledore has requested all the sixth years in the great hall. He wants to talk to us."

He walked off before Hermione could ask him anything else. Hermione attempted to run after him, but was soon trampled by some rather large slytherins. She slowed her pace to a fast walk and followed everyone else in to the great hall. When she sat down at the gryffindor table saw that up on the teachers table sat, not only Dumbledore but a nervous, fidgeting Slughorn. He unexpectedly got up and began to speak,

"Hello everybody, sorry that you're lessons were interrupted for this announcement. Professor Dumbledore wishes to tell you some news concerning the slytherin and ravenclaw dormitories."

Hermione looked over at the slytherin table, they all looked confused so obviously they weren't aware of this 'change' yet. Dumbledore walked up to the podium and Slughorn resumed his place at the teachers table. Dumbledore cleared his throat and began,

"Hello sixth years!"

Hermione noticed he looked slightly cross eyed and he seemed to be smiling far too much than their usual solemn headmaster.

"I have decided that I will be doing up the ravenclaw and slytherin dormitories the muggle way! This means that I will NOT be using magic to change them, and they will end up just like a muggle bedroom, with muggle elektixty!"

Slughorn walked up to the podium, more anxious than ever, and whispered something to Dumbledore. Dumbledore sat back down and took off his shoes and put his feet up and closed his eyes. Slughorn glanced at him and turned away,

"Well students, although this may come of a surprise to some of you I'm sure a change like this is what a brilliant school such as this needs. Anyway due to that, the ravenclaw and slytherin sixth year dormitories will not be used for the rest of this term, maybe even the rest of the year."

Angry murmurs filled the hall and Slughorn held up a pudgy hand,

"Gryffindor will be sharing dormitories with slytherins and ravenclaw will be sharing with partner for potions class will be the person who is moving in therefore you will have double the amount of people in the beds are being moved right now by house-elves and will be ready shortly. Until they are, go and find your partner."

Hermione was horrified. She had to share with Draco Malfoy. Even though she knew she had kissed him, she still didn't feel particularly warm to him. He was, after all,Draco Malfoy and she had been tired that night and, after a few mugs of watered down firewhisky, she was more sleepy than ever. What with him looking more attractive than usual, she had kissed him back. She wasn't proud of it and certainly didn't 'like' him as much as he supposedly liked her. She thought that now was the time to try and stitch up her friendship with Ron. In the common room he avoided her and during class he refused to sit next to her. Harry and Ron weren't sitting far from her, trying to forget about hogsmeade, she moved along so she could talk to them.

"Wow isn't this weird? Sharing our dorms with slytherins."

Ron looked at her stonily,

"Maybe you and Malfoy can have some fun. He can kiss you and you two can live happily ever after with You-Know-Who as your babysitter. I'm sure you would like that, after all I didn't see you complaining in hogsmeade."

Hermione's smile turned to a glare,

"Well I'm sorry I was just trying to get our friendship back on track. Look, I didn't kiss him, HE kissed ME. How is it any of your business who kisses me?"

Ron's ears were slowly turning scarlet,

"Its my business because I don't want you to get hurt by that sneaky... ferret! At least you guys haven't KISS kissed. It was just on the cheek, right?"

Hermione flushed desperately wanting Ron to trust her again. No lying.

"No- I mean yeah. In hogsmeade."

Harry and Ron both looked at each, their mouth hanging open,

"You mean to say that you and Malfoy have- have KISSED?! On the lips?"

Hermione's whole face was magenta and she lowered her voice to a whisper,

"Yes, for your information I went to Slughorn's party with him last night and he- he, he kissed me, ok?"

Ron turned to Harry accusingly,

"Why didn't you tell me? You were at the party, didn't you see them?"

Harry's shocked face turned in to a thoughtful one,

"Actually... I don't think I did. Slughorn dragged me off to meet some of his old students who worked in the ministry and half of them were journalists so I had to wait around for ages while they asked me stupid questions."

Ron looked even more furious at this,

"So Harry was being paraded around like a trophy while Hermione was kissing Malfo-"

Suddenly Hermione felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked at the hands. Long fingered, pale. Draco.

"Weasel," said Draco in his lazy drawl, "I know you like Granger here, but she's taken."

He massaged Hermione's shoulders. Hermione was about to contradict him when it occurred to her to just play along. Ron had been really annoying and now all she wanted to do is get him back. Angry fire filled her and she turned to Draco and kissed him hard and quickly. Still clinging on to Draco's shoulders Hermione turned to Ron,

"Yeah I'm taken so don't bother begging on your knees for me!"

Ron narrowed his eyes fiercely but Hermione could see how hurt he was deep down.

"Don't worry I won't."

He stalked off to sit further down the table, leaving Harry's mouth agape. Hermione looked at Draco and found his grey eyes searching her.

"What?"

"I thought you didn't like me."

Hermione looked at him almost desparingly as she grabbed her scarf.

"I don't properly like you as a- a boyfriend or whatever but Ron's being such a PAIN."

Now it was Draco's turn to look confused,

"So?"

"So, if Ron thinks we're together then he will be really annoyed. Sorry I just needed to make him angry at that moment. I just felt like I wanted to punch him."

Draco showed her his smooth, pale knuckles,

"Well you should have got me to punch him, I have surprisingly strong knuckles you know."

Hermione slapped his knuckle hard making him draw back and nurse his hand.

"Stop it Malfoy."

Slughorn was up at the podium again,

"The dormitories now have the correct amount of beds inside, and all of the right clothing and baggage. Gryffindors and hufflepuffs, take your partners to the dormitories and help them settle in. Also Professor Flitwick has put charms in your rooms to stop the boys getting too close to the girls and vice versa. I know the rules of the boy and girl dormitories are being broken but its easier for the teachers if you just share with your partner in potions, instead of us putting everyone in new partnerships. However, IF I hear of any silliness within boy/girl dorms you will be moved immediately."

With that Slughorn nodded and dismissed them.

Malfoy smiled smugly,

"Come on Granger, lets go."

Hermione desperately wanted to punch HIM now, but she satisfied herself with a scowl in his direction. She took his hand without speaking and propelled him all the way up the staircases and towards the fat lady.

"Baubles." she muttered.

The fat lady swung open and didn't bother to close, for although Hermione and Draco had been lucky enough to be within the first group of people, there were many more to come. Hermione opened the door to her dormitory and saw Lavender Brown showing Blaise Zabini around. Malfoy smiled genuinely this time,

"Blaise! Great some sanity!"

Hermione roughly grabbed Draco's scarf and pulled him towards the bed next to hers.

"There you go."

Blaise gave Draco a pitying look,

"I cant believe that you have been stuck with Granger. You would have thought they would at least give you a half-blood or better still, a pureblood."

Draco gave a little chuckle at this, but turned to Hermione in mock sadness,

"Hey, I thought you were supposed to help me feel welcome."

Hermione gave a sarcastic smile,

"Oh sorry I thought with your 'surprisingly strong knuckles' you should be able to fend for yourself."

Draco ignored her and fell on his bed dramatically.

"Ahh I'm so tired."

Hermione looked her clock,

"Its only ten o'clock in the morning!"

Draco sat up and arranged his pillows so he was comfortable,

"Great, we still have half of our school day left."

Blaise picked up his timetable,

"We have a free period right now until its lunch and THEN we have lessons."

Draco smiled and lay back contentedly, Hermione rolled her eyes and gave him a poke. Draco opened his eyes,

"What?"

Hermione plonked a book on his chest.

"Hellooo? N.E.W.T's coming up?"

Malfoy got up angrily, pushing books in to his bag.

"Alright, alright Granger. Cant you just have some fun for a change?"

Hermione first instinct was to tell him he was wrong. But then suddenly she realised she DID work hard. Too hard? All she compared her work to was Ron and Harry's. Ron did FAR below the suggested amount and Harry did mostly the average amount, but sometimes less if he had quidditch practice. Ok well now was the time where she could let her hair down. She knew she was fine with her N.E.W.T grades but her conscience made her study more. Well Draco was right she needed to let go.

"Fine, lets have some fun. What do you suggest?"

Draco looked surprised but grinned,

"Well I wasn't thinking of anything intense but you know, maybe you could get a little closer..."

Hermione stared at him,

"I didn't mean like that kind of fun. I meant, you know games or whatever."

Draco sighed,

"How old are you? Five?"

Hermione perched on the edge of his bed,

"No I'm serious, lets pull a prank or something. Come on, who really annoys you?"

Draco saw that Blaise and Lavender had left and Parvati Patil and Theodore Nott had just walked in.

"Um Pansy can sometimes get on my nerves."

Hermione laughed,

"Really, Pansy? Last time I saw you two together you were flirting with her."

Draco dusted his shoulder,

"Ah what can I say? The ladies love me."

Hermione put on her most disgusted face,

"Really? Whats so 'attractive' about you that us ladies cant resist?"

Draco began to count on his fingers,

"My amazing looks, my impeccable table manners, my skill of charm and-"

"Your arrogance?"

Hermione suggested. He raised one eyebrow.

"Ah so I take it none of these qualities attract you?"

Hermione laughed,

"Nah I could take you or leave you if you know what I mean. You are far to full of yourself for my taste."

Draco put a hand on his heart pretending to look offended,

"Full of myself? Well not everyone thinks that, I've had plenty of kisses you know... Anyway we're going off subject, do you still want to play a prank?"

Hermione jumped back on to her own bed and lay down, looking up at the ceiling.

"Maybe another time actually, I'm enjoying listening to you. So who have you kissed then?"

Draco took a deep breath,

"Uhh... You."

Hermione looked expectantly at him,

"Yeah? Any more?"

Draco's face turned a faint shade of pink,

"Fine whatever. Your the only person I've- I've wanted to kiss. The other time I was kissed, was by Pansy at the yule ball. I didn't really like her but she thought I did..."

Hermione smiled,

"Yeah Pansy has got a pretty big crush on you. So how come I was the only the one you have wanted kiss? I mean you have never been particularly nice to me, Harry or Ron."

Draco looked upset,

"I know and I'm sorry for it. I never hated you as much as I said I did. My father told me to hate muggle-borns and thats all I ever knew. As for Harry and Ron they were never nice to me and of course my natural instinct was to treat them the same way. I truly am sorry that I said all those horrible things to you when I was younger. And I'm sorry for kissing you, I didn't mean to make things uncomfortable between us."

Hermione turned over on her bed and looked deep in to his eyes, they were as grey as a stone on the beach.

"You are two different people. Just be yourself. Please."

Draco shook his head,

"No. I know its hard to understand, but I have to be the way I am for my mother and father. If I sent a letter to them right now saying that I kissed you, I would get about ten different howlers from people in my family back."

Parvati and Theodore had long since left so Hermione reached across the gap between beds and took his hand,

"I promise you I DO understand. Just be yourself for me."

The bell rung loudly and Hermione jumped violently and fell out of her bed with a loud thud. She pulled Draco down with her and he landed on top of her.

"Geroff you big hippogriff!"

Draco grabbed on to the edge of his bed and hauled himself up,

"Come on," he took her hand and pulled her up.

"Lunchtime!"

Hermione pulled her bag over her shoulder,

"Yep see you in class."

She walked out.

Towards the end of the day they had a potions lesson. Hermione was feeling fairly happy when she walked in because in transfiguration, she managed to turn two rabbits in to a pair of fluffy slippers. In herbology she had also earned 20 points for knowing the correct uses of a squawking cornosia, a purple plant useful for treating bites by crups if you eat the roots. In potions Slughorn announced their next theme was 'animals'.

"Animals huh? Seems like a hard one."

Draco said nudging Hermione. Slughorn had gone back to his desk and was smoothing out his jacket while letting them chat between themselves.

"Yeah... I think I have an idea. I'll have to look in the library later though."

Hermione smiled, she loved the library.

Ok thats it, its kind of longer than usual but yeah :) it will make up for the huge gap we left between updates :D anyway hugs and kisses and i hope you like it!