A/n: I love you guys…Reifa96lockheart, TheHarryPotterGeek, lovebooks-P.M, Double R Starr,dracoginnyscorpiuswood ,Kekepania1 ,melsocrazymarie, wintersnow387 and two guests for their review and support. I have a question…would you like me to always reply to your reviews? Coz I can if you'd like that …one of the guest review was 'i love your story you do JK proud!' that is the best compliment any fanfiction writer can get… I am flattered but I know I am not that good ,…I am working on getting better ;)

I Am a little rusty…so bear with me, it has been so long.

Here we go…

Chapter 24

"Draco"

That one word made his insides soar with happiness, she recognized him even though he didn't look a thing like himself. He smiled at her adoringly and as she opened her eyes he could see her amazement. All was right in his world now, he was thinking about stealing another kiss when suddenly he got turned over and felt a blow that broke his nose. Before he could comprehend what had happened, everything turned pitch black.

Hermione screamed as Draco hit the floor with a thump, standing behind him was a smirking Marcus who looked too pleased for Hermione's liking. 'He did not just punch Draco after he finally professed his love to her. He was going to pay' Hermione thought fiercely.

Hermione leapt at him like a lioness and punched his already broken nose twice making him howl in pain, he was too bewildered to defend himself and Hermione took it as an opportunity to give him another punch in the stomach and a kick to the groin. After she was done with him, Marcus was lying on the floor moaning while clutching his package. Everyone around Hermione cheered and quickly got back to dancing; the idiots. Hermione knelt at Draco's side and called, "Draco…Draco wake up."

There was shuffling behind her and she saw as Blaise and the rest of the gang make their way towards them. Blaise knelt on Draco's other side and said, "Sorry we couldn't reach you guys later. This crowd is crazy, lets get him out of here." Hermione just nodded and helped Blaise drag Draco towards the exit. The girls followed them into a nearby alley and apparated to their apartment.

They laid Draco in his bedroom while Hermione hovered over him with a worried look on her face. She fixed his nose and he groaned in his unconsciousness. She turned to the rest of the party and assured them, "he'll be fine, just bumped his head when he fell."

Ginny, always the curious one, asked, "So what exactly happened?"

They moved to the sitting room and Hermione narrated the whole story, leaving the part where they kissed and Draco told her that he loved her. she was not sure that she wanted that out yet, she needed to talk to Draco first. Eventually everyone left after telling Hermione that the party was amazing and how much fun they had except the last part anyway. She promised to owl them later and then went to check on Draco. The bump was turning purple that contrasted horribly with his pale skin. She moved to the kitchen and got a cold compressor filled with ice.

Hermione sat next to Draco, gently stroking the bruise and then carefully applied the compressor on the bump. Draco groaned at the sudden coldness but didn't wake up. Hermione kept her eyes on his face while gently applying the compressor; the bruise was fading a little. She smiled fondly at him remembering his words 'I love you'. A month ago she had been heartbroken over a relationship that had been a lie, then Draco had swept back in her life and everything changed. She had once heard a saying, 'I want a relationship where we talk like best friends, play like kids,
argue like husband and wife, and protect each other like siblings.'

She thought that this was it; her and Draco. Thinking back on it, she realized, Ron had her at her best but Draco embraced her at her worst. He did so much for her without ever asking for anything in return. She had done all she could, now she had to wait for him to wake up. She smiled and brushed her lips against his forehead and got up to leave when he grasped her hand and pulled her so that she landed on her chest with a squeak.

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Draco had been awake for some time now, he just wanted to enjoy the attention Hermione was showering on him. When she kissed his forehead his heart leapt with happiness and he wanted to kiss her so bad. Now she was lying on his chest staring at him with amusement. Hermione said, "How long have you been awake?"

Draco smirked and replied, "A while."

Hermione tried to get up but Draco kept a tight hold on her and then said, "I really meant what I said earlier, I just want you to know that, you don't need to say it back."

Hermione gave him a cheeky grin, pretended to try to remember something then asked, "I can't remember what you said, can you please remind me."

Draco turned her quickly so that now he was on top of her, hovering but not touching and looked into her mirth filled eyes and said, "You minx, you just want to make me uncomfortable by making me repeat it."

Hermione winked and replied, "Say it."

Draco crept closer to her and whispered in her ear, "I love you Hermione, I don't know when or how, all I know is that I want to be with you, make you smile, keep you happy. I don't want to be just a friend; I want to be so much more."

Hermione was pleased to hear that and then finally she leaned towards him and kissed him with all that she had. Draco returned the kiss with the same level of passion. After about five minutes of kissing they finally resurfaced to get some air.

Draco looked in her eyes and laughed, "Who would have thought."

Hermione smiled, "Yeah, who would have thought."

And they spent the night in the same bed just holding each other; that was enough for now.

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Hermione woke up from a blissful sleep with an arm wrapped around her. She looked up to find Draco still peacefully sleeping, he looked so serene without his usual frowns or smirks that Hermione just stared at him. There was a feeling bubbling inside her that she had never felt before, it made her feel warm inside and brought a smile to her face; maybe this it felt to be in love.

Draco moved in his sleep so that now he was nuzzling Hermione's neck. Hermione wriggled under him as it felt ticklish and that's how Draco woke up; Hermione's scent all around him and her wild hair tickling his forehead.

Draco mumbled something and snuggled closer to Hermione. Hermione giggled and said, "who would have thought that the Slytherin prince liked to snuggle. I wonder whom did you snuggle with while you were in school….Zabini…or maybe Goyle…or..

She was cut off by Draco's groan, "Don't continue or I'll be mentally scarred for life coz of your imagination. Let me just enjoy this before you suddenly change your mind about all this."

Hermione turned serious and shrugged away so that she was sitting on the bed now, while Draco looked at her with a troubled look. Hermione asked, "You think I'll change my mind regarding you. If anyone should be afraid of that, it should be me. You were the one who rejected me when I kissed you without it being an act. You were the one who talked about a dream girl whom you really liked."

Draco huffed and then finally sat so that now he was facing a confused and somewhat hurt Hermione granger. He took her face in his hands and said, "I didn't reject you, even at that time I was hopelessly falling for you. I was just scared that I was just a rebound as it had been such a short while since your breakup. I was just trying to be considerate; I guess I messed that up. And regarding my dream girl, Hermione whom do you think was the beautiful, smart, passionate, courageous and witty girl in our school ?"

Hermione just looked confused so Draco sighed and said, "It was you, you stupid wonderful witch."

Hermione sniffed and said, "Don't call me stupid Malfoy. Even if you are being incredibly sweet, I'll hex you to another century."

Draco laughed, "See, that's why I love you, no sappy emotions and all that."

Hermione chuckled, "I'll give you something sappy; a month back I had really thought that my life was over, you brought me back to life Draco and for that I'll always owe you. You became my friend and slowly you became more than just a friend; something so much more. You are incredible and witty and passionate and caring and I just…."

Draco held his breath as it seemed like his dream was going to come true. Hermione looked flustered but continued, " and I just…you know….umm…i.."

She was cut off by Draco's lips that made her forget what she had been about to say. When they broke apart Draco said, "I told you, you don't have to say it. its ok Hermione."

Hermione huffed, "But I want to say it because that's what I feel…I don't like to hide my feeling and I just want you to know that i….i love you Draco."

And then Draco was onto her like a thirsty man who had just received his first drop of water in days. He felt a rush of pure bliss when Hermione said those three magical words ..'I love you'… He would always remember this day, not everyone was lucky enough to be loved by a person whom they loved. After nearly passing out due to lack of air they resurfaced while gasping for air, then with a flair Draco got up and picked a white rose from a nearly vase and gave it to an amused Hermione and said, "Madame please give me the privilege to call you my REAL girlfriend, no more acting for Weasley's sake, I want the real deal now."

Hermione laughed at his dramatics and quickly pecked him as an answer and then Draco picked her up like a little girl and swinged her around. Their laughter echoed through the house as they bathed in the bliss of being in love; everything was finally as it should be; finally.

A/N: and I am also feeling like screaming on top of my voice…FINALLY..!

I am soooooooooo sorry for the delay, I am a terrible writer, I know. Thanks to kiki for pushing me to write (almost hexed me through the internet) This chapter is a little sappy…but hey most couples in love are just tha; sappy. haa..haa

Ohhh…how I would have loved to be in love….. *sigh* but hey I have you guys so please be a sweetheart and review me your love, hate, criticism….etc…

Love

Ash