As their lips met Hermione melted into Draco's embrace, he slowly licked her lower lip, and she opened her mouth allowing his tongue to dance with hers. She tangled her fingers into his hair and to hold him closer. His hands went to her hips pulling her body flush with his, then slowly trailed up her sides to cup her face.

"Professors?" At Neville's voice, the old enemies broke apart as if they were teens caught by the Herbology professor rather than his colleagues. Neville couldn't help but laugh at his two blushing friends. "I do apologize I didn't mean to interrupt."

"That's quite alright Longbottom, What did you need?" Draco gathered his composer first his pure blooded upbringing giving him the upper hand at the moment.

"I was just coming to talk to Draco and warn you that Ron is coming up here to talk to you." Neville gestured to Hermione. "I was walking up here with him but we ran into Luna, and I didn't want to wait."

"Let's go talk in the office so when Weasley gets here they can talk." The two men disappeared into the office as she stood there alone for a bit she thought of what just transpired, Hermione had been falling for Draco for years, but every time she gathered the courage to approach the topic something would come up. Once she had asked Harry and Ginny to keep Harold so their rooms would be empty and she could talk with no interruptions; However, her little man got sick and instead Draco helped her by taking turns staying awake making sure Harold didn't need anything. Another time she tried to confess her feelings to Ginny and Luna, but Teddy interrupted their conversation with questions about why his parents had to go away, and that made her mind wander to how she would explain it to Harold. What was she going to do? Could she handle telling not only Harold but Ron and Harry? Could he be serious about this face his friends and dishonor his parents' memory with a mudblood affair.

"Hermione?" Ron pulled her from her thoughts; she looked up to meet his sparkling blue eyes. "are you okay you look like you've been crying?" she hadn't realized she had started to cry.

"No I'm fine, what did you need?" He moved closer to her and spread his arms welcoming into a hug she hadn't felt in years.

"Don't lie to me, I don't need to know, but I'm here for you even if all you need is a hug." She stepped closer to him and set her head on his chest.

"Thank you" she whispered, "so what did you need?" he loosened his grip on her.

"I just wanted to ask if I could take Harold to a Quitage game this weekend. Harry and Teddy will be there,"

"Yes, as long as your not mad at or blame him for anything you can take him anytime you want."

"It would be dumb to blame him or you for that matter, its no one's fault, and now I just want to make up for lost time." she smiled at his words.

"Okay, you get him this weekend. Just don't let him fill up on junk food and ha managed to inherit his father's bravery so keep a close eye on him he tends to climb things." he grinned back at her. "Oh, he is at the Longbottoms during the day if you ever want to go see him."

"Thanks, Hermione, you're the best." He gave a quick kiss on the cheek and hurried off speaking over his shoulder. "I've got to head back to the pitch I'll catch you later."

Draco

once they had closed the office door Draco buckled "I kissed her, how could I do that?"

"Well from what I saw she seemed to enjoy it" Neville chuckled as Draco stood straight again.

"What did you need?" Draco had a hard look on his face.

"Nothing I just thought you wouldn't want to stand in that room with him after what I walked in on. So now that you've finally come to grips with your feelings when are you going to ask the lovely lion queen on a date, purpose, help her give Harold a little sibling?"

"I don't have feelings for her, at least I didn't think I did till Weasley came back. I kissed her I didn't even talk to her about it first." Draco sat at his desk elbows resting on his knees his head cradled in his hands.

"I've known Hermione for a long time, and I've never seen her happier than when she started working with you. If I know my friend as well as I think, then she has feelings for you too."

"That's not possible, do you know what I did during the war? She would never feel safe." Draco sounded defeated. However, Neville had an idea.

"I know you lied; you said she wasn't Hermione that she wasn't in their words Potter's filthy little mu.." Neville didn't expect to finish his sentence but also didn't anticipate how fast Draco reacted. The blond was instant across the room pinning Nevile to the wall his wand at the Gryffindor's throat. "Still think she wouldn't feel safe?" Draco lowered his wand to his side. "Why don't you think of that kiss and try to cast a Patronus?" At the suggestion, the Slitheren brought his wand back up, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and thought of how it felt to hold her. Neville was filled with joy as he watched a warm smile spread across the cold face before him and a silver mist seeped from the wand. "Draco," silver eyes opened just in time to see the mist fade.

"I've never managed that before, this is amazing. Neville, can Harold have dinner your family tomorrow night?" Draco's heart soared at the thought of telling her how he felt.

"Yes" was the snickered reply.