Chapter 7: Head Duties

"Hey!"

Draco and Hermione pulled apart and looked to see Ginny in the doorway.

"What would've you two done if Ron came in instead of me? You're lucky that I was able to get Ron to sit back down. He was pretty determined to come in here."

Hermione blushed and quickly pushed Draco away and continued to pour the pumpkin juice.

"Hermione, Harry and Ron suspect that something is going on. So if you don't want them to find out about this yet," She said, pointing between Hermione and Draco, "wait before you two snog in the kitchen. Ok? Oh, and they need to talk to you."

Hermione blushed again and brought the juice out and sat across from them.

"Hermione? Are you alright?" Harry asked, seeing fidget a bit and her red face.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah. I'm…" She cleared her throat, "fine"

"Um, Hermione," Ron started, "Can...can we ask you something?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Is there anything going on between you and Malfoy?"

"Why would there be anything going on between us? He's a stuck up arrogant prat. Why do you ask?"

"Well, that was actually the reason why we came. We had a feeling something was going on and we just had to find out."

"Well there's nothing going on. Is that it?"

"Yeah, we'll see you later. We have Quidditch practice, come on Ron. Bye, Hermione."

"Bye, guys."

They left and Hermione let out a huge sigh of relief. Ginny came out of the kitchen and sat next to Hermione. Draco waited a couple of minutes, and then stood in the doorway out of view of the girls.

"So, how'd it go?"

"It went ok; they believed me that nothing's going on. It's not like I lied to them, there isn't anything going on."

"Yeah. So is there going to be anything between you two any time soon? I mean, that kiss in the kitchen looked pretty intense."

Hermione smiled and sighed happily, thinking about the kiss. She looked at Ginny and shrugged.

"I don't know. I wouldn't mind it though. Just imagine the shock the people would have if the Gryffindor know-it-all and the Slytherin prince began dating," she said, with a smile.

Ginny laughed, "Yeah that would be something to imagine. Well, I gotta go Hermione, I'll see you later."

"Bye, Ginny."

"So you wouldn't mind, eh?"

Hermione jumped at the sudden voice and turned to see Draco in the kitchen doorway.

"How much of that did you hear?" She asked, suddenly.

"All of it. Especially the part about the Gryffindor know-it-all and the Slytherin prince dating," he said, with a grin.

"Yeah, so?"

"So, I think we should go down to McGonagall and get our schedule for patrolling."

Hermione looked at him with a curious look, "All right."

Draco smirked and walked to the stairs to his room to change, Hermione following him to hers. She went up to her room, smiling, and sighed as she thought about the kiss in the kitchen. She got dressed slowly and pulled her hair up into a pony tail. When she came back down into the living room, Draco was leaning against the back of the couch waiting for her.

He looked up and smiled slightly as she walked over to him.

"Are you finally ready?"

"You didn't need to wait, Malfoy." She said, with a smirk, poking his chest lightly.

"Oh well," he said with a shrug.

Hermione rolled her eyes and headed out of the common room, Draco behind her. As they made their way to the Headmistress' office, Draco moved closer to Hermione and slipped his hand into hers

"Um, Draco, what are you doing?"

"Well, I figured, if we were going to date, we should, you know, hold hands."

Hermione blushed, "But, we're not even dat--"

"I know," Draco interrupted, moving closer to her, "but I think, we should."

She smiled, "I think so too."

He smiled and leaned down to her and kissed her lips lightly. When they pulled apart, they looked at each other for a moment and smiled. They turned and continued to walk to the Headmistress' office for their schedule, Draco's arm around her shoulders and Hermione's around his waist.

********

"I still think there's something going on," said Ron, as him and Harry walked back to their common room.

"Well she said nothing's going on, so we should take her word for it."

"What do you think she was doing in the kitchen? It doesn't take that long to get a couple glasses of pumpkin juice."

"I dunno. Maybe Malfoy was being an annoying git and bothering her."

"I should've gone in there, like I wanted to."

"Hey, guys! Wait up!"

Harry and Ron stopped and turned and saw Ginny running towards them.

"Hey Gin, coming back so early?" asked Harry.

"Yeah, I figured I butted in enough for one night."

"What'd you mean you butted in?" Ron asked.

"I-umm, well, nothing. I just--you know, Hermione's trying to get used to the fact that she's sharing a room with that ferret, and with me being there, it just wasn't really helping."

"Uh-huh, so wha--"

"Ron, enough badgering, ok? She's not gonna tell you anything."

"Thank you, Harry." She kissed his cheek and smiled. "I'll see you after."

Ginny walked ahead of them straight for the Common Room. Ron didn't say another word to Harry about his thoughts. He loved Hermione and couldn't stand that she was sharing a room with Malfoy. He wanted her to share a room with him and no one else, and to love him, the way he loved her.

******

Hermione and Draco made it to McGonagall's office and went it.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy. What can I do for you?"

"We came for our patrol schedule, Professor." Hermione said.

"Ahh, yes. Here is your's Ms. Granger. And Mr. Malfoy, yours."

"Thank you, Professor,"

"You both start tomorrow night at nine o'clock. Report here a half an hour before and I'll explain everything to you both."

"Yes, ma'am. Good night," said Hermione.

They left and looked over their schedules. They patrolled every night for two hours each, starting at different times. There was only a couple nights each week that they would patrol together. They got back to the common room and looked over their times. They planned that they would meet each other every night and walk back to the common room together. Hermione looked at the clock and saw it was late, got up and headed for the stairs. Draco got up and followed.

"It's late Draco, I'm going to bed."

"Yeah, me too." Draco said, smirking.

"What?"

"You know I'm just across the hall if you need anything," he replied, winking at her.

"Well, thanks for that important information, Draco," she said, rolling her eyes, "but I doubt I'll need anything."

"Well, by the way you reacted in the kitchen earlier. I'd beg to differ."

Hermione rolled her eyes and embraced him. She stood on her toes and kissed him on the cheek before going into her room. Draco watched her, and then went to his room. The entire room was forest green and silver. He had a king sized bed with green sheets and silver pillow cases. He walked over to the bathroom and undressed, leaving only his boxers on for bed. He looked up and noticed another door at the other end of it. He was curious as to where it lead to, so he went and opened it.

When he looked inside the room, he was in shock. The other door opened to Hermione's room, he looked around and did not see her and decided to check out her room. He saw that it was a normal girl's room. Pictures of her with friends and family and make-up on her dresser, a full length mirror next to her closet and a desk for homework. He walked to her dresser and looked at the pictures. There were some of her with her parents, but most of them were her and Ginny. He laughed at the goofy faces they were making at the camera. He began walking over to her closet when he heard Hermione coming back up the stairs. Draco quickly rushed back to the bathroom and shut the door.

********

Hermione left the kitchen with a bowl of milk for Crookshanks. She could not find him and knew the milk would work. She went into her room and put the milk on the side of her dresser. She walked over to her bed and took her clothes off to put her pajamas on. She was just about to put her pajama pants on when she heard clawing and meowing at her door. She put her pants down and went to the door. When she opened it Crookshanks ran past her and under the bed.

"What is the matter?" She opened the door again and stuck her head out, but there was nothing there. "Crookshanks, will you get out from under there. I have milk for you." But he would not budge. She got down on the floor and stuck her hand underneath the bed and reached for him. She got up and walked to the other side of the bed and tried to get him, but he had moved to the other side. She went back over to the side she began on, got back down on the floor, and tried again.

"Crookshanks, come here kitty," she said, making kissy noises. "Come on, it's ok. Come on out."

"You know, Granger, bending over in little skimpy blue panties, definitely puts a smile on my face." Draco said, leaning against the door frame.

"Malfoy, do you mind?" She said, standing up and putting her robe on. "I'm trying to get my cat. He won't come out from…underneath my…bed." She muttered, as her eyes slowly looked over Draco's bare chest. Her eyes lingered on his chest and continued down to his boxers.

Hermione quickly shook her gaze and turned to get back on the floor, when she looked back at Malfoy.

"How'd you get into my room?" she asked.

"Oh, the bathroom," he said, casually, looking at his nails.

"What'd you mean the bathroom?"

"There's two doors. One from your room and one from mine, we also get to share that."

"Perfect," she said, sarcastically, "well, I'd like to go to bed now, do you mind?"

"No, not at all," he said, with a smirk.

"Please, leave Malfoy."

"Ok, ok, I'm going."

Hermione smiled when he shut the door and quickly put on her pajamas. She pulled the sheets back on her bed and slowly climbed it. She was surprisingly tired and as soon as her head hit the pillow, she drifted off to sleep, Draco filling her thoughts.

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