Hermione's lips stayed pursed from saying his name. Temptation washed over Draco when he looked at them. Draco closed his eyes to try to regain his composure. He hardly had them closed for a few seconds when he felt Hermione place both of her hands on his chest. His eyes shot open, just as she rested her head against his chest. Hermione looked like she was listening to his heartbeat.

"You know just what to say," Hermione's words were slightly muffled by his cloak. "…To make me feel better."

Draco wasn't sure what he wanted to say at the moment. So, he just moved his hand off of her neck and went down her arms. His other arm still was around Hermione.

It's because I lo…I love you, Hermione Granger, Draco thought. Wouldn't it be so much easier if I could just tell you that?

Hermione giggled, breaking his train of thought. He looked down at her to see what she found funny.

"Draco, your heart…its racing." she said, sounding amused.

"And what's so funny about that?" he asked. He was hardly paying attention that his thumb was rubbing her arm. "It's doing its job. If not, I'd be dead."

Hermione jerked away from him with a panicked look on her face. Then, she buried her face in his chest and her fists clenched around his cloak, holding tightly.

"No, don't talk about being dead. I can't even imagine my life without you." she said to his chest, blushing.

Draco couldn't help but feel elated at her words.

"Don't worry," he said sweetly. Draco put his hand under her chin, so that she was looking up at him. "I will be here for you whenever you need me. Promise."

Hermione smiled at up him. She hugged Draco.

"Ok." Then, she let go of him and stepped back. Draco's arms fell limply to his sides. "I suppose that I should be getting in there." Hermione said, pointing her thumb over her shoulders to the Fat Lady's portrait.

"I guess so."

"Well, good night and sweet dreams, Draco."

"Yeah, you too."

With that, Hermione turned to the painting. She whispered that password and quickly vanished through the door.

Draco hardly paid any attention as he went back down to the dungeons.

Today has certainly had its ups and downs, but Hermione saying that she couldn't image her life without me. Wow.

The common room had very few people in it. Draco didn't care much; he head past them and went straight to his dormitory.

The next few days were dull compared to the last few ones. Draco was thankful for the peace. Pansy was avoiding Draco as much as she could. Ron and Harry were actually being friendly to Hermione, no longer asking her embarrassing questions. The three were, slowly, getting to the point where they could have a small conversation with each other.

"What a waste of a Saturday," Draco said, his chin in his hand, as he looked out the window to see the storm going on outside.

"Oh, Draco, don't be so morbid." Luna responded while turning a page in the book she was reading. She was sitting next to Draco and Hermione was on his other side.

"Ha, Malfoy just likes to sulk when he can't play outside on Saturday." Ron said from across the table. Harry sat next to him.

"Shut it, Weasley. Shouldn't you be practicing or something?" Draco retorted.

"Gryffindor is going to beat Slytherin, I promise ya!" Ron answered very proudly. Draco, being sarcastic, rolled his eyes at Ron.

Draco's two groups of friends were all sitting together at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. Most of them had finished eating lunch, but Hermione and Harry were still working on theirs. Luna was multi-tasking; reading a book her father had sent her, and keeping up with the conversation.

"Weasley, that haughty attitude of yours- it's going to get you in trouble." Draco warned him. "You might even take Potter down with you."

"Doubt that. I'm smarter than that. Unlike some people," Harry's eyes shifted over to Ron, "I learn from past experiences."

"Hey!" Ron said after he swallowed a mouthful of food, "I just like to have some fun myself." Draco and Harry just shook their heads at him.

"I have a question." Luna said. She closed her book, leaving a quill as a bookmark, and set it down on the table. "Why do you three call each other by your surnames?"

The three boys looked at each other for a moment before Harry spoke up.

"Malfoy made it rather clear that he preferred to go by his last name, rather than his first when we became friends." Harry barely looked at Luna as he answered her question. "For some reason, in our Second year, he said he didn't care about it anymore, but we already were already in the habit of calling him Malfoy."

"Strange bloke, that Malfoy," Ron joked.

"It would kill you to be serious, wouldn't it?" Draco asked Ron.

"Hey Granger," Ron said, ignoring Draco's question.

Ron smiled as Hermione looked up to him. Draco's stomach dropped, but he didn't let it show that he was bothered by it.

"Yes?" she answered. Hermione didn't keep her gaze on Ron for too long, before her eyes began to travel the immediate area.

"Just wondering, but who do you think is going to win the match next week?" Ron asked, leaning on the table.

"Merlin's beard, Weasley," Draco said.

"What? I can ask a question," Ron defended himself.

"Umm…" Hermione said. "…I'm not sure, but then again, I haven't really thought about it."

An awkward silence followed her answer, but not for long.

"Hermione, I want to ask you about some rune translations," Luna spoke up.

"Sure," Hermione replied with a nod.

"How about we go up to the library while we look at them?" Luna suggested, already getting up out of her seat. She accidentally brushed against Draco as she did. Hermione nodded and followed Luna's lead. The three boys said their farewells to the girls as they left.

"Have you two even started your homework?" Draco directed the question to Ron and Harry.

"Eh…" Ron looked down at the table at the thought of homework.

"Ha, I'm better off than he is," Harry said, pointing at Ron.

"Suppose you know what your Saturday night is going to be like." Draco said.

All three got up and headed for the exit of the Great Hall. They went their separate ways at the door, Draco went towards the dungeons, and Ron and Harry went upstairs. As he started climbing down the steps, Draco slipped his hand into his cloak pockets casually. He felt something inside, so he pulled out whatever it was. Draco found a neatly folded piece of parchment. He pulled the paper open to find a note scribbled on it.

Draco,

I'm not quite sure about this, but I think that I need to tell you something about Ron. Could you please meet me in the library about 20 minutes before dinner? Don't worry, Hermione won't be there.

L.L.

Draco felt troubled now.

What does Luna need to talk to me about Ron?

Disclaimer: Amanda (Archi) own no Harry Potter whatsoever! …Except maybe the books. But nothings hers! (Ours) …Everything belongs to JK Rowling!

Beta'd By: A La DarkAngel 3 =D Hehe. =D

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