Hermione felt content as she snuggled a bit more in her corner of the couch, the bright flames she'd produced, licking the earth and warming the hand that she'd let fall off the improvised bed. They'd spent the best evening she'd had in years. After the emotional meeting she felt as if a weight had lifted off her shoulder and things had seemed to fall back into place. She'd then remembered a certain passage about linking magic and realised she could simply create a charm to pass on the wards.
The fact that she'd succeeded only at her third attempt had set her right back on track. Lavender's help and simple presence had been a strong pillar to hold on to, and it'd helped her clear her ideas. Draco's had only been a bonus. She was talented, she had a career perspective and as long as she had a purpose, she'd be fine.

After that they'd all settled in the lounge and played a few games, mostly the men though, and drunk all the butterbeer Harry possessed, only to have to call Kreature for firewhiskey after about two hours.

The conversation had expectedly drifted out of work related things to become a passionate argument about Quidditch for Blaise, Dean, Ron and Harry, all the while playing exploding snaps alternately. Neville and Draco had played a really smart and sneaky chess game for what had seemed hours, and Lavender and Hermione had been like hypnotised by their playing, encouraging both men and laughing at loud at their playful sneering comments each time one had made a wrong move.

Then, had come a time where everyone had been a bit too drunk to keep playing properly and they'd all settled on the couches and armchairs to listen to one of Harry's stories. This time he'd told the Godric's Hollow tale. Dean, whom alcohol had given a voice, had told a few Dumbledore's Army stories where he'd been alongside Neville, Seamus and Ginny. He'd told how he'd been snatched before the final battle too, which had led to battle talk, and to Neville's brilliant intervention that had been to kill Nagini.
Hermione would have thought that speaking of the battle of Hogwarts would have considerably darkened the mood, but it hadn't. They'd avoided any painful or sad mention and kept it to the fight side, sharing a few curses and hexes experiences, everyone adding their bit in the conversation.

It had only been late in the night that Hermione had finally let herself close her eyes a moment. Lavender had been on the opposite side of the couch, snuggled against her armrest.

Now, Hermione realised, as she didn't hear loud voices any more, that Lavender had taken her feet and put them onto her lap so that she was comfortable and that they had both fallen asleep like that.

She could hear the regular roar of the fire, and she felt content. She thought that her friends were probably in bed, and realised she had no wish, nor any proper reason, to move from the couch. She'd just settled her mind on sleeping there when she realised that someone was still in the room.

She couldn't decipher what the whispers were saying and it was so low that she didn't recognise the voice. Opening her left eye a crack she saw nothing. She was next to the fire, the armchair facing her empty. Sleepily concentrating, she thought that the voices were from the desk by the window. It was where Neville and Draco had played all evening.

Frowning she turned her head slowly and quietly to the large clock at the wall and saw that it was five in the morning. She rubbed her eyes and pricked her ears to listen.

"He's insufferable when he's this drunk." Draco. She didn't know how, but she knew he was talking about Blaise.

"Is he in bed yet?" Harry.

"I had to fucking tuck him in but yes he is." He growled in a louder voice.

"Shhh …" Chuckles mingled with the shushing. Harry was apparently still drunk and Hermione had trouble remaining silent too as she imagined Draco tucking Blaise in bed. Now she was sure it was him, Draco would never do that for anyone else.

"Shit you didn't wake them up?" Draco was surely talking about her and Lavender since no one else seemed to be in the room.

"No, they look peaceful, it's not that often." There was a shuffle and Hermione closed her eyes the instant, fearing that they might get closer to the couch. Which they did, with muffled and wary steps on the carpeted floor. She froze, and pretended to still be asleep, why though, who knew. Draco hummed in response, the throaty sound close to her. He seemed to be at the back of the couch now, and when Harry spoke again, he was obviously right there too:

"Ron's right they look like two clods of straw with their hair like that." Both men chuckled and Hermione had to really refrain herself from slapping Harry's little goggled face. Instead she breathed slowly and managed to keep still.

"Sure we don't wake them up? They'll ache in this position." Whispered Draco.

"Leave them be, they won't have nightmares together." After a moment of silence, where both men had remained still at the back of the couch, Harry murmured again:

"Let's go to bed."

"Go ahead I'll fetch my wand first."

Hermione heard what she presumed to be Harry's stumbling footsteps go for the door, which he left ajar after wincing at the screeching sound it made.

"Night Malfoy."

"Night." Hermione couldn't believe the friendliness between both men. They were drunk certainly but it was still good to see it could happen. She didn't hear Draco move though, and felt the urge to frown. After what seemed an eternity she heard a quiet sigh, and felt him bend over the couch. She boiled in anticipation as a finger tip brushed a strand of hair off her face. She prayed he couldn't hear her heart hammering in her chest, but she knew he was smiling.

Then something happened that made her heart stop and sent butterflies to her stomach.

She could smell his cologne and the remains of the acre sent of firewhiskey from his breath. She could feel his warmth as he bent further in and then his lips brushed her forehead ever so slightly before he was off the couch and gone, leaving the door ajar behind him.

Her heart was hammering in her chest as all confused feelings vanished. She had no doubt he would never have done such a thing if he weren't drunk, but he had. He'd kissed her forehead, which was the most affectionate gesture a man could do. Harry had done it countless times as he thought of her as a sister, and Hermione knew that it meant respect and strong affection.

She stayed still a moment as she reflected on her own reaction to his gesture, her heart slowly returning to a normal beating rhythm.

Upon his drunken state, Draco had taken a decision. Butterbeer night was his new favourite thing.

As the evening had been unexpectedly pleasant, even when Blaise had started mocking everyone incoherently, he'd realised he'd felt at his place. The weasel had mostly ignored him, but still laughed a bit at one of his jokes, Potter had been the most friendly he'd ever been and Draco hadn't found it in him to not return the tone. As for Thomas, Draco had listened to his story telling with interest, as it had described a totally different Hogwarts from his own memories. He hadn't dare tell his own stories but he was confident he would be able to someday. Longbottom had behaved as friendly as he'd ever been before, and had even warmed up to Blaise too. Maybe Draco's thanking earlier in the evening had something to do with it, but he had realised he was grateful for the ex-slumpy potato's start of friendship. The girls had cheered and encouraged their game for a large part of the night and they'd laughed a lot. No one had judged one another, no one had shouted or insulted anyone, Shakelbolt had been right, they all came from far.

They'd ended up all too drunk to maintain a coherent conversation which had triggered a lot of laughter too, as the girls had started falling asleep on a couch.

Now, as Potter was the last to go to bed, and after tucking in a horribly irritating Blaise Zabini in bed like a fucking four year old, Draco kept watching Hermione sleep for a moment.

Potter was right, she looked peaceful. A bit tensed on the shoulders though but nowhere near the state he'd found her two nights before, having a nightmare. Brown was weirdly resting her hands on Hermione's feet, her legs all tangled in an impossible angle, while Hermione was laying half atop her, resting her wounded leg straight. She'd walked almost normally since the day before, and Draco was glad that she was finally healing.

As he returned his attention to her face, her eyes flickered under her eyelids and he couldn't resist. A strand of hair was covering her nose and that tiny freckle he liked so much. With the tip of his finger he moved it to the side and now it came into view. The smile that took his face was only taken away by the fact that she was breathtaking. Unthinkingly and probably because he was too drunk to control his urges, he leaned in and kissed her forehead.

Then he realised what he'd done and what a creep she'd thought he was if she woke up and practically ran out the room.

He had to make a move. Soon, he had to try again or he'd loose his mind for good.

On Saturday morning, or more lunch time, everyone apparently woke up with a strong headache. Blaise was the one who seemed the most affected in Hermione's opinion. He stumbled on his feet, a deep scowl making his face ugly, as he grabbed a chair at the kitchen table. Hermione smirked at him as a good morning, and he rolled his eyes. He'd been the last to stir and as they were all gathered around the table, a plate of Kreature's pancakes facing them, but not eating much. He yawned loudly before grimacing in apparent pain.
Hermione took it to herself to do something. She stood and went out the kitchen where she summoned her beaded bag. When she came back in the room, Draco's eyes darted to her but quickly drew back to his plate, making her smile. Harry was watching her bag frowning questioningly as she sat back down between Neville and Lavender.

She silently accioed the vials she was looking for and as she settled the three little crystal bottles on the table, Harry grinned.

"This bag is magical." Being raised by muggles, Hermione understood all too much the saying, as well as Harry's smile, it was full of memories.

"Perspicacious." Mocked Blaise, apparently being hangover didn't alter his sense of sarcasm.

"It's a muggle saying you troll." She said, pushing a vial to him. "Drink half of that before you become more irritating." Draco chuckled as Blaise pouted, but still took the pepper up.

She pushed the two other vials to the centre of the table and waited for the others to take some. She took half of the last bottle herself, even if she hadn't drunk so much, she didn't feel that good.

After breakfast, Neville was the first one to stand, and bid his goodbyes, saying:

"I'm late to Mungo's. Harry I'll be there at nine tomorrow if that's all right. I have an appointment with regulation and control at eight about the clandestine shop."

"No problem. See you tomorrow." Neville nodded and after giving them all a smile, was out the room. Soon, Dean stood too, and Lavender followed.

"Do you want me to come back after work this week to practise on wards again Mione?" She asked before they reached the door.

"If you'd like. But I'm positive I can manage from there. Actually I was thinking I could try on Blaise's place right away."

"All right. I'll come by anyway."

"Course. See you." She winked and after Dean's tired: "See you tomorrow, bye Mione." - name calling being the first time ever – they were gone.

Ron decided to stay around a bit longer, and when she'd expected at least Draco to pout, nothing like that happened. Ron stretched his arms above his head and offered:

"What do you say we go for a quick fly? Still have your brooms Harry?"

"I do but we can't fly around here, it's a muggle neighbourhood."

"There's the usual place, we just need to apparate."

"Oh, all right then. S'been long."

"Yeah. Malfoy? Care to see if he can still beat you? Zabini?" Asked Ron to Hermione's bewilderment. He wasn't being sarcastic or sneering, Ron was genuinely asking from what she could see of his facial expression. Having asked the question still screwed his mouth in an ugly twisted smile, however he didn't look like he was only offering to be polite.

"Err … why not?" Was Draco's wary response.

"Not for me. I'll take a nap." Growled Blaise and by the time it was decided they'd call George to join them, Hermione was completely taken aback.
When she'd wished for a moment with Draco at some point during the day, to do what, she had no bloody idea, she saw herself being left alone in the house with Blaise. The tired dark skinned man waited for them to be out the room to express his surprise too.

"I can't believe he agreed to that. The weasel twin can't stand him."

"I know. I can't believe it either." He shook his head and stood, then turned to her with a wicked smirk:

"Don't stay alone here, come take a nap with me." Hermione rolled her eyes as he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"You're a pig." She said. He chuckled and grinned, the pepper up was starting to work.

"I'm joking, but do come up to the lounge, you'll explain the thing you did with the wards. You'll need me to ward my place right?"

"Right."

Now that he was sober again, Draco couldn't believe what mess he'd put himself into. Riding a broom in a magical field near the Burrow, with Potter, and two of the weasel clan, was the worst idea he'd ever agreed upon. Plus, he'd left Hermione at Grimmaud when he'd only wanted to have a moment with her.

But the weasel's offer had seemed as if he'd been handing Draco an olive branch, some sort of peace agreement, and Draco hadn't been able to refuse. Especially because he'd realised upon the git's warning from the precedent night, that the redface knew somehow that something was going on with his best friend and ex-girlfriend, and instead of trying to murder him, he'd simply warned him to behave, as if he'd accepted things.

Draco knew he'd only been doing it for her, exactly as why he'd accepted the weasel's offer, for her. They had something in common now, something that could put the both of them on fire if they didn't get along well enough. Draco knew he didn't live up to her wrath, and the red git had apparently come to the same conclusion. Whether anything happened between them or not, Draco wouldn't risk loosing her over the puke-inducing idiot. He knew perfectly well that nothing would ever come between the golden trio.

There was still a slight wave of tension as they side-along apparated to the field, their brooms in hands. As their reached the centre of the meadow, situated atop a hill, they could see a tall skinny figure with bright red hair walking slowly towards them, a large trunk levitating at its side.

The Weasley twin, Draco had no idea what his first name was, reached them and greeted the others cheerfully, only nodding sharply at Draco. He didn't say anything and Draco remembered that their last encounter hadn't been so pleasant. Smiling at the memory of Hermione's parchment insults, he let the others open the trunk and mounted his broom. Potter did the same almost simultaneously, and before any of them could think of it, they were racing to the sky together, their competition spirit a strong remembrance of their Hogwarts shared flights.

Draco pushed himself to his limits until he could see nothing more but blue sky around him. He shot a quick glance at Potter who was watching him, his speed decreasing. They stopped going up at Draco's nod and looked down. The Weasleys were now only small silhouettes on the hill, and the houses dark squares.

"Got carried away a tad." Smiled Potter and Draco had to comment:

"Old habits die hard." Potter chuckled but didn't move to go back down and Draco had to admit he had no wish to go down either. They stayed like that a moment, the frisky wind freezing his hands, until Potter pointed a finger to a house down the other side of the hill from the rum shape of the Burrow.

"That's Lovegood's house. Father I mean. And next to it, there, Diggory's." His frown deepened at the last name, and he turned his gaze away. Draco remembered all to well Cedric Diggory, and how his life had abruptly ended, making his own life change, never to be the same again. Frowning he also reckoned the badges he'd made for Diggory, and more importantly against Potter, during the three wizard tournament. Maybe speaking of their passed away champion wasn't really thoughtful, since he knew that Potter had badly lived through his death, but the last evening had opened many doors between them, and Draco felt like they could still remember some of the not so painful things together.

"Remember the nice little badges I made for him?" He smirked, his blankness mask in place, but still wary of Potter's reaction. The last smiled, rolling his eyes.

"You're a wanker Malfoy."

"Why thank you. I thought you appreciated them."

"Well although I can't say I liked the inscription, after reflection I'm flattered with the gesture. You must have spent a lot of time charming dozens of those things for your sworn enemy. Maybe you liked me more than you let show." The smirk that took his mouth under his goggled playful eyes was alien to Draco's sight.

"I see we Slytherins have finally gotten to you Gryffindors." Then he scowled, remembering aloud as Potter snorted. "It took days to make those sodding things. But the look on your face at the result were worth every minute spent on them." Potter chuckled then, and Draco followed. He watched him a moment after that, a serious frown making his glasses lift, and then opened his mouth:

"Can I ask you something Malfoy?" Draco sensed at the changed tone that it wouldn't be something to make him laugh, but the golden boy didn't seem confronting so he tempered his answer:

"Depends."

"I'll take that as a yes." He said with a small smile that flattened right away. He paused a moment before finally asking:

"Do you really like her?" Draco was completely taken aback by the unexpected question. Of course Potter knew too. He'd mingled with Blaise. Why hadn't he realised that sooner?

"Err …" Should he be honest with him? Would it bring back conflict between the two of them? They surprisingly got along well enough, without being too friendly, which was just fine with Draco. Would saying the truth shatter that fragile civility?

"Malfoy?" Draco shook his head and his questions away doing so.

"Yes." He simply answered, his voice quiet.

"Do I need to worry?" His question went out in a calm tone, with no warning behind it, and strangely without any concern. It was as if he asked out of principle, knowing the response already. Draco almost snapped at him but thought twice. Potter had talked with Blaise, he was just verifying for himself how things were. Surely, and his tone was only confirming that, he knew Draco wouldn't hurt her.

"No."

"Shit." Potter's face screwed in an ugly grimace.

"What?"

"Err … I kind of hoped … You know … Don't take this the wrong way but … it's odd." Draco only cocked an eyebrow at him so he would keep going, but understood the feeling all to well, even if he'd dismissed it long before.

"It's you … I mean, with her you were … And she was … She likes you too you know? I didn't believe Zabini but … I can see it." Draco felt his heartbeat start racing in his chest as a smile took his face. He couldn't control it, and his mouth just wouldn't flatten again.

"You sure?" He still managed to ask and Potter nodded fiercely:

"Right I am. The look on her face when you came with us … She's not that subtle you know …"

"That I know." They fell silent a moment, where Draco gathered his cheering thoughts, having Potter's confirmation that he actually had a shot with her made him want to fly back to Grimmaud the instant and kiss her senseless. Urge he refrained of course. Turning his attention back on the other man he sought for confirmation:

"So if I were to try something with her you wouldn't cause any trouble?"

"You haven't already?" Was his startled answer. The hell to it Draco decided to be honest.

"I was interrupted. So?" Potter chuckled and smiled:

"Why would I? If it finally makes her happy …" Draco nodded, smiling. This was out of the way and he hadn't even had to work for it. Looking down he scowled:

"Only the weasel left then."

"He won't cause any trouble."

"Sure he will, he warned me. Said he'd kill me in a very painful way if I hurt her." Countered Draco.

"It's only fair given our history. Trust me though he won't bother you."

"Mm, I don't know." Potter sighed and then confessed:

"We talked about it last night. He was pretty drunk but he was more angry because I didn't tell him than because of it." Draco couldn't help his sneering comment then, old habits did die hard, especially with Potter, but it was more on a playful side of things then.

"Oh, really? I don't really appreciate being the subject of your pillow talk with your lover Potter." The man managed to roll his eyes and chuckle at the same time, his face screwed uglily.

"You're a wanker." Then, he offered his hand to Draco, and in a defeated tone, as if it pained him, though Draco could see it was only an act, he said: "Peace?" Draco only smirked and he kept going: "I think we manage just fine since all this happened. Better than before anyway. But for her sake Malfoy I'd like your word that it will stay like that."

"Only if you're not too irritating." Draco kept smirking, but still took Potter's hand.

"I return the condition."

"Fair enough." He said, and they shook hands.

"We should head back down before they think you're trying to kill me."

Smirking, Draco started fast right away and as he went down to join back the others, heard Potter's loud swearing. He'd win this race.

Blaise snored. After explaining the part he'd have to play in her warding of his place, Hermione had stayed in the lounge, legs extended in front of her on the couch, a book in hands. Blaise had fallen asleep on the armchair, his feet resting on the coffee table, and his mouth wide open.

She couldn't concentrate. First because Draco was in her mind, knocking in the middle of every sentence she read, as if she was a teenage school girl having a stupid crush on him, and second because Blaise's snoring was as loud as the Hogwarts express.

Shutting her book down fiercely and practically throwing it on the coffee table didn't wake him up, he didn't even stir.

At that moment she realised he looked quite like a troll. Her nickname was on point. They'd brought tea and biscuits with them and cocking her head to a side she contemplated the idea of trying to throw a piece of one in his noisy mouth. Would she miss?

"Always snoring." Draco's grumble made her jump, she hadn't heard the door over the loud rattling noise that came out of the troll's parted lips. Draco was at the door frame, a shy smile on his face topped with the remains of a frown. Hermione almost smiled at his torn and ruffled sweater. His hair was a mess too, though it was noticeable he'd tried to smooth it with a hand. He wasn't quite catching her eyes, certainly because she was staring, so she shook her head to sweep the thoughts away.

"I was thinking about throwing something in his mouth." She tried. His nervousness was pushed aside, replaced with a wicked smirk as he stepped to the couch.

She sat up and he joined her, shuffling next to her. Then, he murmured:

"I've been wanting to try since I moved in." He grabbed a biscuit in the plate, crushed it in crumbs in his left hand and offered her his palm, his nastily pleasant smirk still there. She almost blushed and lowered her gaze to the crushed biscuit. She grabbed a pinch between two fingers, her heart starting to hammer in her chest as she brushed his palm. She was definitely loosing it. She needed to put herself together. As his smirk slowly morphed into a smile, she cowardly went for annoying Blaise to escape his stare. It wouldn't be as easy as Lavender had predicted. Especially if, as she'd now accepted how she felt, she was a mess around him.

She wouldn't be. End of discussion. Concentrating on Blaise's open mouth, she couldn't repress a smirk too and he chuckled quietly before guiding:

"Aim for the nose. Bigger target. Shall fall in his mouth." His tone was so serious that she chuckled. She did as bid then, and the crumbs landed on Blaise's forehead, to fall at his side. They both felt slightly disappointed, judging by Draco's pout.

"Let me try." He pleated his eyes, his eyebrows meeting and, lifting his right hand, a large amount of crumbs between two fingers, he threw the ammunition at Blaise. This time it landed right between his eyes and as he didn't even stir they both had to cover their mouth not to laugh out loud. It took a moment for them to regain some sort of composure and when he whispered:

"Try again." She realised he'd put a hand on her shoulder to regain her attention. Hermione decidedly returned to the stupid but mirthful game, as he lifted the plate he'd rubbed his hand from the crumbs in.

Her second try was better aimed and the tiny pieces of biscuit spread all over the top of his face this time. They'd landed right at the tip of his nose, and fallen everywhere around it. They froze in anticipation as Blaise wrinkled his nose, probably tickled by the nice decoration they'd thrown at him. He didn't stir though and they both had to hug their ribs, all the while Draco still grabbed another pinch of biscuit. He missed his target, refraining his laughter making his hand shake and Hermione decided to go bold. She crushed another biscuit in her hand under his wide stare. Then she lifted her fist to Blaise, and gave a pointed look to Draco, a wide smirk spreading on her mouth. He bit his lower lip hard and nodded in approval. The sight was so encouraging that she only obliged. She threw her fist full of biscuit right at Blaise's face and crumbs landed everywhere on him, their target reached, as he couched and jumped at the same time.
Draco and Hermione burst out laughing at the exact moment his eyes snapped open, completely bewildered and shocked. Hermione landed against Draco's shoulder, giggling like a nutjob as he laughed a clear and joyous sound, pointing a mocking finger at Blaise.

"WHAT THE FUCK ?"

Hermione laughed her heart out as Blaise rubbed off his face roughly, angrily glaring at them both. Draco was giggling uncontrollably against her and she found that she had no wish to stop laughing to explain herself. Blaise then stood and with a furious step walked out the room fuming:

"Bloody fucking idiots …. Can't sleep in peace in this Salazar forsaken shit house!"

"Hey! That's my fucking house you troll!" Barked Harry's voice in response from the landing.

"I don't give a shit!" Was what he got for answer, only doubling Draco and Hermione's laughter as a door banged loudly. Harry came in the lounge as they started calming down, and upon the sight, sighed:

"I don't want to know. I'm heading to Meda's tonight. Is that all right with you Mione?"

"Yes. Is Ginny …" She couldn't finish her sentence as the memory of their public argument resurfaced.

"She'll come around don't worry. We might have a Sunday brunch next week. Molly's still arranging things but we could talk there. Malfoy you're invited too."

"Oh, yes. Could be nice." Nodded Hermione. Draco only wrinkled his nose in distaste, tears of laughter still prickling his lashes. As he didn't answer, Harry sighed and said:

"All right I'll tell her then." He then turned around and advised: "Behave." with a little smirk before walking out the door.

Behave, sodding bastard. After their conversation at the flying field, Draco was sure he'd said it on purpose. Potter definitely had some Slytherin in him and if it was a mocking peace he wanted, that was definitely what he would get.

Draco pouted but realised he was finally left alone with her. He'd wished for a moment with her all day, and now that he was granted it, had no idea what to do or say. Of course he couldn't just jump on her, even after their shared moment of before. He turned his gaze to her after a few quiet seconds and apparently she didn't feel any braver, she was stubbornly staring at her hands, which rested folded on her lap. Draco felt like it was time for payback. She was supposed to be the Gryffindor after all. And honestly, he had to confess that with the emotional past few days, he missed their banter.

"Hufflepuff." He huffed, shaking his head in false disappointment. Her outrage made his mouth spread into the largest smirk ever as hers fell agape. It only lasted enough for him to notice though, that she was smirking too.

"Git." What? He'd won already?

"Does it mean I'm right then?" She probed a hand on her hip in a mock manner of her own lecturing posture:

"Certainly not." She countered, her smile only hint that something had change in their banter. Draco couldn't hold his smirk for too long, for his need to laugh obligated him to bite the inside of his cheeks. And she was no better when he answered, sneering:

"Mm, see, I think I am."

"In your dreams ferret." She spat back. He almost laughed at the name calling, it felt so odd now that they called each other by their first names.

"My dreams do not include you, you know-it-all." He tried.

"I should hope so, you wanker." She fired back fast. His answer was instinctive.

"Liar."

"Maybe." She taunted, and her new smirk was crushed under her top range of teeth as she bit her lower lip. Shit what was she saying? It had a double entendre Draco didn't comprehend, and the fact that the lip under her teeth was reddening didn't help him clear his thoughts. She chuckled at his lack of answer and smirked fully. That's when he remembered it. The way he'd said the same word to her. The way they'd been inches apart, bent over the table, when nothing had yet transpired between them, except for the banter. Draco remembered all too well how he'd felt afterwards. Now he felt something more. Even if he was a nervous wreck too, he hid it well and all he wanted to do now, was lean in and kiss her. But he needed to make sure first.

"What are you trying to say Hermione?" She pinched her lips together in consideration and opened her mouth only to close it right after. She took a deep breath and then cursed, lowering her gaze to her hands:

"I … Shit, I'm not good at this." He didn't like the defeated tone, and seeing as he'd done it once already, and that she hadn't pushed him away, he lifted his hand to her chin. He made her look at him but she didn't really need guidance, for at his touch, her face had sought his.

Her whiskey orbs were swirling as he saw her breathing increase in rate, and her eyes widen. He saw the very subtle pink blush that spread under her freckles. Her gaze was piercing and hypnotising. He couldn't tear his eyes off of her and after a moment, she smiled. It was all he needed, and the same bubble of courage as the night before swelled up in his chest.

He leaned in slowly. She'd get time to back off this way. She closed her eyes only when he was almost touching her, and his lips brushed hers.