Disclaimer: I still have not turned into J.K. Rowling, what a pity -_-

Chapter Thirty

Draco opened the door and almost immediately a pillow was thrown at his head.

"What the-?" he was cut off as he ducked.

"WARDS!" she screamed. Hermione Granger had spent the last few hours pacing back and forth in fury. She was the hero, she was supposed to help save the day but no. Draco Malfoy kept her locked inside his home with no means of escape.

"What did you expect? Can't have you running around trying to save the day."

"Maybe I wanted air!" she feigned like she was lacking oxygen over being trapped inside the home.

"Yeah, alright, like I don't know you better than that." he said walking towards Hermione, who stood by the door frame to the living room.

"Oh you know me better than that?" eyebrow raised, she put her hands on her waist.

"Yes, in fact, I do." he said, stepping closer and accepting the challenge he was given.

They were so close. So close it took every ounce of restraint Draco had to not just throw himself at her and snog the hell out of her. He would have done so, had she not been so persistent on speaking.

"Well?" Hermione tapped her foot impatiently.

"Well what?" surely she had not been reading his mind and was expecting a kiss. No, that would be too easy.

"Well how did it go?"

"Fine." he shrugged. Draco walked into the living room, took his cloak off and threw it on the couch before moving to start a small fire in the fireplace. "They'll be knocked out until they've been given the counter potion after they've been obliviated. It will take them a couple of minutes to wake due to being kept asleep for so long but that's fine, gives the ministry enough time to get them settled in their newly un-dark arts homes, believing everything's fine." he sat down on the couch.

"So how long will that take?" Hermione took up residence beside him.

"Supposedly, two months minimum. It's not an easy task. You have to obliviate hundreds of Death Eaters, wipe out a lifetime, give them new memories, give their families memories that match, ran sack their homes to make sure everything matches up. Everyone at the Ministry is working on it in some way or another but I guarantee you, six months."

"Six?" that sounded like an awfully long time but she supposed it was about right. It was a lot of work to give a group of Death Eaters and their families new lives.

"It's a lot of work and they're thinking it isn't, but I know better."

"Do they need help? I can help-"

"You are not an obliviator-"

"But I've done it befo-"

"You are not a professional."

"With some training-"

"By then, it would be too late."

"Help ransack the homes?"

"Believe me, you do not want to be anywhere near what they may have. It could give you nightmares for months."

"I can handle whatever they've got-" and with that, she was cut off by Draco's lips.

What could he say? He couldn't take it anymore. She was so persistent and confident and beautiful and smart, yet so incredibly stupid and stubborn. With the Death Eaters gone and no one, but the rest of the public, to judge them they could... well, that wasn't certain. Did they have a future? Even though they'd been getting closer, things were about to change all over again. She could finally leave and then what? Would she even waste her time on him? His days spent with her were, interesting to say the least and even though sometimes she hit a nerve, well, he quite enjoyed it.

With her, you never knew what was next. What was she going to say? What was she going to do? Hermione Granger was beautiful, smart and gosh he couldn't get enough of her, no matter how much he tried not to get tangled up in the beauty that was her.

So he kissed her.

Softly, gently, lovingly. With all of his longing, all of his need. Screw it if she didn't want him back, screw it if she didn't want to kiss him. This moment was all he wanted, even if it was just for the time being. He would resolve any other issues when they got there. For now. He just enjoyed the ride.

"Granger- Hermione." he whispered and corrected himself as he pulled away. He cupped her face.

"What does this mean, for us?" she stared at him and he stared at her. He didn't know. There was so much yet nothing that could happen from this point onward. It was up to them.

"Well... I... suppose this means, you could... go home. If you'd like." he hated to say it. He wanted to lock her up and keep her there forever, but Merlin knows what kind of a nightmare she would be if he kept her there out of her own free will.

"Perhaps, maybe, I should... stay." he couldn't contain his smile. "You know, in case anything goes wrong." she added, trying to act cool. "If that's okay with you of course."

"Hermione Granger, I would love for you to stay." and he captured her lips once more.

A/N: Reviews are love!