The days passed quickly with Malfoy. He took her to do all the traditional muggle entertainments that were popular around the area. They went bungee jumping of the bridge which was probably the most terrifying experience of her life. He had laughed at her and then she had laughed back and in no time at all she was about leap of the bridge whilst not being entirely sure how she got there. They went on the giant swing and on the zip wire, then Hermione had insisted that they went elephant riding. Four days after their arrival in Victoria falls they were lounging on the grass in front of the hotel. She found herself wishing she didn't have to say what she knew she had to say. Malfoy looked up from his book at her, he could tell from her expression what she was going to say. It was weird how he seemed to be able to tell what she was going to say before she said it.

"You're going home" He said flatly. His eyes were fixed on her and she wished they weren't because they seemed to be discouraging her from going anywhere.

"I have to, I've got a job to get back to, I've already been away too long." She said.

"Is that the only reason?" He asked, She wanted to turn her face and look away but something about his expression kept her eyes in place. With anyone else she would have to have asked what they meant but somehow she could read him just as well as he could read her.

"You're thinking about Ron." She answered bluntly. She wasn't sure when the time had come when she could say his name without a sharp stab in her stomach but it had. And she loved it, every single moment of it. Something strange flitted over Malfoy's face, just for a moment it was twisted and full of anger.

"Are you going to go back to him?" He asked just as flatly. His face had returned to its cool mask that he had worn throughout their years together at school. She recognised it now. He was scared, of what she wasn't sure. For some reason it made her angry.

"Do you still really think that little of me? You know what he did to me, how he made me feel! I would have thought by now you knew me well enough to know that I am not that weak. Not anymore." She heard herself yelling at him. Angry more at herself than him, she jumped up and walked off. It wasn't long before she heard footsteps running after her. She stopped, gazing out at the African landscape. Turning around, she saw him behind her. He held his hand out, asking her to stay.

"Leave me alone, please" She begged. For a moment he faltered beneath her icy tone, but he straightened up, strengthened by his resolve.

"No", he said quietly, so quietly she could barely hear.

"What did you say?" She asked incredulously. People never stayed with her. Ron and Harry got scared off by her when she was angry and she'd never had any other friends who she was as close to. She kept expecting him to turn around and leave.

"You know what Hermione you need to stop always assuming the worst!" He was yelling now, "Not everyone is out to get you, stop feeling sorry for yourself!"

"How dare you say that to me? All our years in school I was always the one who was picked on. And if that wasn't enough I spent my years battling the most evil wizard who ever lived. Harry and Ron would have died without me countless times. I nearly died more times then I can remember! And now to top it all of you hate me now too!" She felt the tears spilling out of her eyes and tried frantically to hold them back.

She was waiting for him to shout back, but silence fell over them. Except it was the loudest silence she had ever not heard. He was staring at her, his grey eyes were filled with an emotion she couldn't name yet it was filling her own eyes. He took a step towards her and another and another. She couldn't move, her feet were frozen to the ground. He was so close. The air between them seemed to be alive, crackling with electricity. It was surrounding them, binding them together. His hand reached out and tucked a loose hair behind her ear. Just that simple touch seemed to double the electricity. Hermione wanted to move, but she didn't want to at the same time, she was transfixed in the moment. She made to take a step backwards but Malfoy reached out and grabbed her by the waist. There was no space between them now. He slowly leaned forward and, his eyes never leaving hers, he kissed her. The butterflies in her stomach seemed to erupt into fireworks. Her hands moved up to stroke his blonde hair as he pulled her even closer. The electricity was crackling louder than ever, as their kiss continued. Suddenly he broke away,

"Hermione" He whispered. They were still wrapped up in each other. He rested his forehead against hers.

"Draco" She whispered. It hadn't been anything like she had ever experienced before, it had been... she couldn't describe it in a word. But it had left her hungry for more and that in itself scared her. The emotions she had let in would never leave her now. She was smart enough to know that everything had just changed. But she didn't want to think, not now