A/N:

Written for the January Event over on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments)

Pairing: Draco/Hermione

Chocolate Frog: Bonus – Maximilian Crowley – Challenge – Write a non-canon Pureblood/Muggleborn story

Complete

The war was over, and if there was one thing that Draco had learnt, it was that you had to tell the ones you love how you feel before it was too late.

As he had walked away from Hogwarts with his mother and father, he had felt a pang in his heart at the thought of never seeing Hermione again, of never having the chance to tell her that he was sorry and that he cared for her deeply.

It was with this new outlook on life that Draco sought Hermione out in the library one afternoon. He had taken the first few weeks of the new term to make an effort with the muggleborn, and to give her the chance to know the real him, instead of the arsehole that he showed to the entire world; and now Draco was ready to man up and tell Hermione how he felt.

Unsurprisingly he found the Gryffindor with her nose in a book, she was biting her lip softly and had her eyebrows furrowed. Draco had learnt that this meant that she was so engrossed in what she was reading that an explosion could happen right next to her and she wouldn't notice.

"Hermione," he said, tapping her on the shoulder softly, making her jump.

"Where's the fire?" she exclaimed, dropping the book onto the table. "Oh, it's only you Draco. Are you okay?"

Draco glanced down and his feet. His heart began to beat erratically, and his palms began to feel sweaty.

"No. Yes. I mean it will be - hopefully," he stated indecisively.

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows at the Slytherin. Never in the seven and a bit years she had known him had she seen him nervous.

"Draco," she said placing her hand in his. "What's on your mind? Whatever it is, you can tell me."

Draco raised his head and stared into her dark chocolate brown eyes and saw the sincerity. He just hoped that he wouldn't scare her off when he told her how he felt.

Before he knew it, his mouth was moving and he was blurting out his feelings for her. "I love you Hermione."

He threw his hands to his mouth and began to walk away from the brunette, not wanting to hear the rejection that was sure to come.

However, Draco didn't manage to get more than two paces away before Hermione tugged lightly on the hand that was still in her grasp and pulled him back. "I love you too Draco."

And then she kissed him. Draco felt complete, and knew that if he could spend the rest of his life with her lips against his then he would be the happiest man alive.

A/N:

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