its been a long time.

Secrets:

It was late noon and the sun had started to settle itself as a backdrop for the mountain scenery. Draco waited on a library balcony for his tutor wondering if she would even show, what with him showing her up in all of their classes for he second day in a row. For Draco the day had been a marvelous triumph and though his mood could hardly be anything less than content, the thought of having lost his tutor was somewhat… depressing in the least. Even though it was a blow to the ego to admit Draco needed her help, as well as to pay back Blaise.

"Ugh… Blaise" Draco muttered. He had almost forgotten about Blaise. He slapped his hand to his forehead as he let out an exasperated sigh, slowly slouching himself over. What was he supposed to tell her?

Draco lowered his head and his hands to the cool railing. "Drop a good word he says, as though there were one to drop." Draco groaned. Yes, now his situation was truly depressing.

"You talking 'bout me, mate?" came the familiar fake pained tone of Blaise.

Draco straightened up right, turned around and faced him. "Don't act like you don't know it's the truth."

"Yes, but I never thought I'd hear those words from you, my best friend… the shame."

"Are you always going to remind me of that unfortunate fact?" Draco sighed.

"What, that you shame me?" Blaise questioned.

Draco leaned against the railing, "No, the best friend part." He spoke lightly, bowing his head as though the thought deeply saddened him.

"What!" Blaise yelled.

" Anyway…" Draco started "What do you want?"

Blaise laughed, and threw Draco a note, "Just came to give you this."

Draco caught it. "What is it?"

Things you can tell Granger about me…" Blaise laughed.

"You wrote a list?"

"Just for the occasion." Blaise laughed again. "Well here comes your tutor so I'll be going now, and don't forget to tell her what's written on the paper and nothing more. With that Blaise was gone.

Draco stepped into the library and saw Hermione putting her things down on a table with a few transfiguration books already present.

He walked over to her and sat down. "You're late" he said.

"Get over it, after all this is my charity act. I don't think you have the right to complain." She retorted.

He stopped himself from looking angry and with great effort managed a "Sorry Granger, you're right."

Hermione looked taken aback but then shook it off and sat down across from him letting the silence linger a moment before announcing. "Well, let's get to it," In an unenthusiastic voice. "Take out your book." She said.

Draco leaned up to the table, "I didn't bring it."

Hermione was about to get upset but instead stood up from the table and took up her book.

"Where are you going?" Draco asked sounding by accident almost as concerned as he really was.

Hermione again looked shocked.

'why did I just say that?'

"I was just going to sit next to you so we can share the book." Hermione answered.

Draco could feel his face burning with embarrassment as she pulled out the seat and sat down placing the book between them. "You really want my help, don't you?" she asked carefull.

It was at this moment he realized he did not know what he was supposed to do in this situation.

So he pulled out the note that Blaise had given him, determined to change the subject. He read the first line.

'The sexiest beast I have ever met and I realize that I am inferior to his greatness'

"What's that?" Hermione asked.

Draco crumpled the paper.

'I should have known'

"Nothing." He answered, "let's just get to work."

They had been studying for only a few minutes and Draco was already tired of hearing her lecture. He couldn't help yawning in the middle of one of her long sentences. As he wiped the water that was clouding his eyes he saw Granger look shocked and offended. It was only then that he realized just how loud his yawn had been. He stood from his chair and stretched.

"Finished already?" Hermione asked angrily.

"No. I just need to take a break…all your droning…" he paused.

She looked really pissed now.

Draco sighed. "I need interaction when I'm learning. Like you ask me questions and vice-versa you know. When you keep talking like this it's just going in one ear and out the other, Granger." He said honestly.

Hermione breathed in deeply then huffed it out. "I see." Hermione looked around thoughtfully, stood up and stretched. "I guess you're right. Then, let's go for a walk and converse about transfiguration.

"Wait how's that supposed to help?" Draco asked following her out of the library.

She stopped and though for a moment. "I'm not all that sure but I think that if you told me what you know, don't know, like and dislike about transfiguration, I might be able to tell you why it is the way it is. I think if we really, you know, try to get each other, then I might be able to teach you without you even knowing it." She began to walk again. "Besides, I think the only reason you don't do that well in transfiguration is not because you don't know how to read the book, it's because you don't want to. And maybe if you and I just talk about it, you'll become interested or something. It's absolutely fascinating, you know. Seems like just the kind of thing you would like."

Draco understood but... "But what makes you think you know what I like?"

Hermione turned a corner. "I don't know. I guess it's just something to do with transition or something. You like to learn Malfoy, just like me, and turning one thing into something else is absolutely astonishing, don't you think. Learning how to change reality. Seems like something you'd be into. I mean as someone who likes to learn." She looked over to see his expression.

Draco looked a little shocked. He hadn't thought of it that way before. "I guess" he began hesitantly, "But I think that it is less interesting to me because I grew up around it. I mean, it must have been really exciting for you to come here, and here being Hogwarts."

"Of course!" Hermione almost yelled recalling the first time she set eyes on her Hogwarts letter. She laughed. "Well, I imagine that even full wizards like you are honored to be invited to Hogwarts. I mean, even if your parents came here, there's no sure guarantee for their kids right?"

Draco was finding this less awkward now hearing her laugh and talk openly about their parentage. "Yeah well most kids worry, but when you're the son of a Malfoy there's really no need." He said smirking slightly.

Hermione stopped.

Draco, for a moment walked on and then realizing she wasn't there; he stopped and turned to look at her.

She was staring at the ground and he couldn't see her expression.

Then she took a step toward him.

Draco was thinking of what he said wrong. "What did I do?" Draco murmured.

Hermione was walking to him now. Draco repeated a little louder "What did I do, Granger?"

She reached him and took his hand, looking up at him with a smile. "The greatest thing you could do." She laughed before pulling him into a hug.

Draco stood still in confusion, "The greatest thing I could do, Granger, would be to take you to my bed, but seeing as to how that's not the case, could you perhaps let go…"

She held tighter. "See you're doing it again. I haven't seen that smirk in what feels like forever. Everyone thought I was crazy."

"Did they really?" Draco said sarcastically.

She let him go and looked up at him deviously. "Shut up Malfoy. They thought you had somehow had a revelation but I told them that the same old egoistic Malfoy was in there somewhere and here it is. And Merlin can you believe I missed it. I was even starting to believe it too. You're one good actor Malfoy." She laughed.

'I'm so careless'

Draco smirked. "That's pretty rude of you Granger. Was that the reason you agreed to tutor me? Just to see if I really care about my work or to see if I had really changed?" Draco put on a solemn face. "That's really sad because I was actually enjoying talking to you, but if this is some kind of trick you cooked then I guess I'll just be on my way." He finished and started walking away.

'Let's see how this goes.' He shouldn't have let his guard down. But really all she had proved was that he was still a bit of a prat.

Hermione stood there for a moment, then caught up to him. "That's not why I came today…I told you I was starting to believe you."

"What exactly were you starting to believe?" Draco said making himself sound defensive.

"Well can you blame me…?"

'No, I wouldn't believe me either.'

She stopped in front of him. "Look Malfoy, I didn't mean to insult you. I just, ugh…" she took a breath. "You've been… different and I'm having a hard time accepting it, okay. So if you don't want me to help you anymore I'll understand."

Draco held back his smirk. "All is forgiven…" he said lightly. "Besides I need to improve in transfiguration and I'm not doing so hot on my own." He ran his hand through his hair meekly.

'Embarrassing yet true.'

"Good." Hermione began. "Well I was saying…no, um you were saying no need to worry about school… so did your dad pay your way in or something."

"Nice way to insult me." He laughed, "but yes… if need be they woul have-"

D.P.O.V.

I heard a hard, harsh whisper around the corner we were coming up to. "C'mon Blaise; Granger?" I heard Pansy laugh.

I stopped dead in my tracks listening harder. Granger bumped into my back and before she could muster a complaint I turned and pushed my hand against her mouth and held her to me tight to keep her from moving forward.

"Well I told Draco to put in a good word of two" Blaise whispered, and I could hear the humor in his voice, as though he too understood how ridiculous it had to seem.

"Ah… I see. A good word," Pansy fought against her laughter.

"Think what you want Pansy but we'll see who's laughing last."

I could hear the smile on his lips.

"I was just on my way to go check on him," Blaise commented.

I could feel Hermione pushing harder to get free of me, but I held her still.

"…And what makes you think he'll put in that good word?" Pansy scoffed.

"Because dear Pansy, he owes me…" Blaise laughed.

I could hear her audible shock as she sucked in a breath.

"…But how?" in a voice lower than a whisper.

Blaise ignored her and continued, "…And of course as we all know, that when you owe Blaise Zabini and fail to pay in full, what you owed will be doubled, and I know just the thing to ask Draco for if he's failed in this task… A small interest price if you ask me, considering what I did for him," Blaise sighed.

There was no response from Pansy and I could only assume that she was still in shock.

Fuck, how could I have been so stupid as to get stuck owing him something to him? What was that thing he learned about in that pointless Muggle Studies class? Oh yeah, the mafia, and he's been obsessed with it ever since.

"Well I'm off to find him," he said as his footsteps drew closer.

I pulled Hermione away from me, her red face looking about ready to explode with anger as soon as I'd free her mouth, so I kept hold of that at least. I used my other hand and put a finger over my mouth to signal 'silence' and bent low to her ear to whisper, "Please."

Maybe it was the utter and the complete look of pleading on my face, or maybe it was the fact that I may have been scaring her a little bit, but whatever the case, her face slowly unflushed and she gave a nod against my hand. I released her mouth and in the same moment grabbed her hand and sprinted for the nearest door down the hall, which, to my dismay, was a very small, and very packed broom closet. I pushed her in and closed the door closed behind me.

"What's going on?" she whispered.

I turned around and opened my mouth but just then I heard Blaise's steps coming around the corner. I pushed myself against her again, not to silence her, but because there was little else I could do in this small space to keep my balance. I planted both of my hands on either side of her head and I stumbled slightly, jabbing my right palm into the metal part of a mop, and pushed my body against hers. She tilted backwards, because of bad footing I suppose, so she threw her arms around my waist, and her head against my chest so as not to fall over. Yeah, talk about awkward. We heard the footsteps stop in front of the closet and pause.

Outside the closet.

"What do you want now?" came Blaise's voice, muffled though the door.

"Wait, you have to tell me how you did it. Draco never accepts help from anyone," Pansy yelled in a pleading voice.

Inside the closet.

I held my breath. Would he tell her about my plans and brag about how I ended up getting his help and owing him?

Outside.

"I can't tell you my secrets," he laughed.

Inside.

I lowered my head and let out a soft sigh of relief. Granger squirmed against me and for a second my mind drifted to taboo thoughts.

"Sorry," I whispered into her ear and I could hear a breath catcht in her throat. I realized that I hadn't helped the matter by apologizing.

Outside.

Pansy's voice raised, "You ass! You're cheating aren't you!?

Inside.

What is she talking about?

"What are they talking about?" Hermione whispered. Her voice vibrated my body, reminding me of our compromising position.

"I don't know," I whispered back, as more tension began to rise.

"What do you owe him?" she asked.

When I didn't answer she continued, "He said my name earlier…"

I was hoping she didn't hear that.

Outside.

"Pansy, don't call me a cheater just because I'm smarter than you," Blaise said lightly.

Inside.

"Granger, it's nothing really," I whispered, trying to think of a way out of this.

"Put in a good word?" Granger questioned more, obviously unaware of what they'd meant.

Outside.

"Blaise, you won't win. Don't think that just because you have the upper hand now, you will have it in the future," Pansy spat, trying to keep a lid on her anger.

Inside.

Then it seemed to have hit Granger and she tried to look up at me but only managed to get her chin over my shoulder.

"…As in you telling me something he wanted from me? What is it?" she insisted, her lips brushing lightly against my neck and my thoughts drifted again.

"Granger, it's nothing," I whispered.

"Nothing," she asked.

"That's right," I whispered, trying to ignore the feeling on my neck.

"What's right?" she pressed.

"That it was nothing," I answered, trying to pull my neck from her but a bloody shelf was in the way.

"What was nothing?" she asked, moving against me slowly, searching for comfort while still trying to stay quiet.

"The word," I grumbled.

"Word?"

"Yes"

"Which was…?"

"…About him liking…" I started, but then I realized what she was trying to do. "Stop it Granger."

She let out a small laugh and I could feel a smile against my neck.

"Very funny," I sighed, and tuned into the dialogue outside the door again. I guess I missed a good deal of the conversation but I could probably guess that they were plotting, which was reason enough to stay as far from them as I could for as long as possible. Here I was working on my own plan and my "friends" were conspiring against me.

Ouside.

Blaise's voice was dismissive now, "Well, I'm off to check up on Draco. Do as you wish but you won't win.

I then heard Pansy huff a sigh and storm away.

Hermione ducked her head back into my chest and tried to stifle a sneeze from inhaling all the dust in the closet. Lousy house elves in Hogwarts aren't good for anything. Perfect timing for a sneeze Granger. Blaise's feet moved down the corridor for an eternity and as soon as he was out of range, Granger sneezed. We held still for a moment and when he didn't return we each let out the breaths we'd been holding.

"Can we finish this tutoring session in the common room?" I asked, "I don't think it's safe for me to be out and about in the halls yet."

She lifted her head over my shoulder again. "Well how long are you going to hide in there for? It looks like you're going to have to face him sometime and since you're not 'dropping in any words' he'll come looking for you to make you pay double," she said, sounding like she was enjoying herself and it seems she heard more of the conversation than I had thought.

"Well, I'll just have to hide out while I can because I'm not going to help him," I said in an aggravated tone, dropping my head onto her curls. And then as a caught a whiff of her sweet smelling hair I realized that we were still…

I pushed off the wall falling backward onto the door, forgetting that I was supporting her. She fell against me and I reached my arms out to catch her, making sure she didn't hurt herself, or me as we fell.

"Are you okay?" I asked, surprised with myself at how easily these normally foreign words slipped from my mouth.

"I think so…" she murmured, standing herself up in the small space searching for something that would give her enough leverage. I put my hands on her waist to steady her while she searched. I listened to her shocked gasp, and her hands tapping on low shelves and cleaning supplies, then we both froze as we heard voices coming closer.

"…Think we should just jump out and make a run for it?" I laughed quietly, knowing exactly what the witnesses would think of that. I supposed she knew as well because her response was a small giggle and the sarcastic words of, "That won't spread like wildfire at all."

The nameless voices lingered in the hall and I could feel Granger's legs shaking from the awkward position. As if it were my first instinct, which it was but shouldn't have been, I slowly let my hands follow her curves upward in the dark searching till I got to her shoulders and pulled her against me, letting her legs rest from holding her unbalanced weight. She was breathing hard against me and I stifled a laugh and whispered, "Is that better?"

Her body shivered though it wasn't cold and her heart was thumping harder, and in the dark of the closet I let my smirk appear openly. I never thought that Granger would be enticed so easily. Right then the door flew open and we landed hard on the ground.

"Hermione?!" shouted Weasley. He had the Lovegood girl in his arms and their lips were swollen. Obviously they had been searching for a quiet place for some alone time.

"Ron!" Granger shouted, pushing off of me and getting up.

"Malfoy?" He said, confused.

"Oi," I answered.

"Luna…?" Hermione greeted with a hint of confusion.

"Why, hello Hermione," Loony replied in her spacey voice, beaming at Hermione.