He pulled back and I could see all of the color disappear from his face. I had expected him to panic of course, but part of me had hoped he wouldn't. Part of me had hoped he would for once know what exactly it was he was feeling. But he was a boy that had never been good about emotions, never really knew what positive emotions felt like. Of course he wouldn't know what to say or do.

„I don't expect you to say anything. Just... just give it a thought, okay?" I asked him and he nodded slowly. His hands were still around my waist and mine were still around his neck and neither of us was intending to change that.

"Draco?" I then finally murmured.

"Yes?"

"Don't act in a Malfoy-manner about this, okay?" My voice was back to sounding weak and nervous, all the confidence that I had a couple of minutes ago was gone.

"What do you mean?"

I gulped heavily. "Well don't handle this situation like you would have a couple of weeks ago. You wanted to change, remember? If you return my feelings than show me, if not then let me down in a nice way. I don't think I could handle it if you went around telling anyone and made fun of me." I had to swallow back my tears and looked down, scared of what the future would bring now that I had made this revelation.

He gently held my chin with his thumb and made me look up to him. His eyes met mine and I had never seen such an intensity in them. "I promise you I will not act in a Malfoy-manner about this. I will act in a Draco-manner." His voice was so clear and encouraging that I couldn't help but trust him about this. And that was a first for me. I had loved him for so long that it almost hurt to know that change would come, whether for the better or for the worse I didn't know yet, but I had never been able to trust him. Because even though that the decisions he had made weren't his, I never had known what they would be. How high they would be on the cruelty scale.

I smiled sadly. "Thank you." I whispered.

He just nodded and his face came closer to me again. As his lips laid on mine again, a heat rushed through me once again. If this was what it felt like to kiss Draco then I wanted to do it every day, all day, for the rest of my life. The kiss was sweeter than the last one, full of confused emotions that had even me baffled by them. I could feel all of his confusion and all of his fear. He was scared of what he was feeling. He didn't know how to deal with it.

I pulled back reluctantly. "Draco." I said, tears in my eyes. He didn't want to listen, he tried to catch my lips with his again, possibly trying to shut me up.

"Draco. You need to think. And you can't think if you're kissing at the same time. At least I can't."
He looked at me blankly. "I can't help you figure this out, Draco." I took his hands off me and a big frown appeared on his beautiful face. It seemed like he was pouting.

"Tell me when you know." I said quickly and practically ran out of the room before I lost the will to do so. He had some serious thinking to do. And I was scared of that. What if he found that he didn't love me back? What if he thought that emotions were too painful and he wanted to go back to being a true-to-death Malfoy? But he had promised me he wouldn't. And I trusted him. But what if he returned my feelings? What would happen then? His family obviously wouldn't stand in our way anymore, but what about my friends? Harry said he didn't have anything against it if I was careful, but would he really be able to deal with me and Draco being together? And Ginny had given me her approval as well, but what if she got jealous? Not because she liked Draco that much, I believed her that she didn't, but because she had tried to tie him down and had failed and I hadn't. And Ron had always been against it, what would he say? Would we never be able to be friends again? I shook my head as I ran down the stairs of the Grand Staircase. I shouldn't think about these things yet, what I had to worry about was his decision. I truly believed that he didn't understand his feelings and I didn't know if he would any time soon. Maybe it would just be too much for him. He was emotionally malfunctioning due to his family history and his terrible past. Just like he had told me, everyone in his life was replaceable to him. What if he would never be able to break out of that pattern? Tears were running down my cheeks, tears of fear and sadness. Fear because I didn't know what to expect and of what could possibly happen, sadness because it made me sad to see him so torn, so confused and in some way disturbed. On the other hand it seemed like a ray of hope that he had made all the revelations he had in the mere time of three hours. Maybe it wouldn't take him that long to figure things out after all...

I looked on my watch. Lunch had just ended and students would soon go to their classes, passing by me. I quickly wiped away my tears, not caring that I was still in my pajama. I had been sick today, I could afford to be wearing pajamas.

"Hermione? Is everything okay?" I heard Ginny say a couple of stairs up. I looked back and ran towards her, hugging her tight and letting the tears flow again.

"What's wrong?" She asked worried. "Did he... did he do something to you?" I could hear anger in her voice and I shook my head.

I heard her sigh relieved. "Come on, let's go somewhere less public. Other students will be here any minute." For the second time this day I followed someone into an empty classroom.

After I had explained everything that had happened to Ginny she just looked at me confusedly.

"So that's good. Why are you crying?" She wanted to know.

"Because I'm an emotional wreck and confused and scared!" I yelled out. She smiled sadly and ran her hand over my hair.

"Listen, I know that this is all scary. But change is good. He will either realize that he loves you too, and I'm pretty sure he will. Or he will let you down cautiously. He promised you. And in that case you at least know for sure and you'll never think about the possibility that maybe he feels the same way. Then you can get over it."

There was no use in telling her that I would probably never get over him. If I hadn't managed to do so the last six years then why would that change?

"I know that it's not a comparison, because quite frankly I don't think I ever really liked him. Looking back at it I think I just liked the idea of it. Of going all Romeo and Juliet you know... and yes I do know some Muggle literature. But anyway, I know that it's not a comparison, but I could just get over him when I realized that he would never think about me in that way. As soon as I knew that though, I got over him in about fifteen minutes. Due to you having stronger feelings and all I think it will take you longer, but it's possible. Very possible. And if he loves you too and figures that out, then everything's good anyway, right?"

I shrugged. Yes, of course it would be good, but then again what about Harry and Ron?

"So if him and I got together... can you promise me you wouldn't be mad?" I asked quietly.

"Of course, Hermione!" She immediately said and held my hand. "I love you and I'm happy if you're happy. It's true that I don't care about Malfoy too much right now, but that doesn't matter. Because I will learn to."
I smiled weakly. "And what about Harry and Ron?"
She moaned. "I don't really know since neither of them have spoken a word to me ever since our little incident. But I'm sure Harry would be understanding... he's really an amazing person." Her voice sounded oddly dreamy. Then it hardened again. "And Ron... well that prat will have to get over it."
I laughed a little and felt better. She was right, at least that decision would mean that I knew. That was all I could hope for right now.

"Hermione?" She asked, suddenly sounding very hesitant, almost nervous.

"Yes?"
"I was just wondering... does this mean that you have forgotten about my behavior yet?"

I smiled. "Yes, Ginny. It means exactly that."
One of the brightest smiles I had ever seen on her appeared all over her face.

"Hooray!" She yelled out and suddenly tears were streaming down her face as well.

"Gin, what's wrong?" I asked confused.

She shook her head. "Nothing, I'm just happy. I couldn't imagine what life would be like without my best friend. I just wish Harry and Ron would be as forgiving as you."

I smiled again. "Harry will be understanding eventually... He's really an amazing person. And Ron... well that prat will have to get over it." I repeated her words.

She smiled sadly. "I guess."

I rubbed her back. "Have you apologized to Harry yet? And tried to explain?"

She shook her head. "Every time I want to I just get scared."

I looked at her sympathetically. "Well I was always scared of admitting my true feelings to Draco and I somehow managed to anyway."

Suddenly a big grin was plastered on her face. "What?" I asked curiously.

She shrugged. "I just noticed that you started calling him Draco. That. Is. So. Cute."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever."

"Hermione and Draco sitting in a tree..." She began singing and I hit her on the back of the head.

"Stop it!" I laughed.

"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" She continued and ran around the room so I couldn't hit her anymore.

"Oh my god, Gin!" I yelled amused.

"First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a golden carriage!"

A/N: Hey guys,
I think the next chapter will FINALLY be from Draco's POV. Yay! Review, no matter if what you have to say is nice or not! And as always the friendly reminder to check out my new Dramione fic "Doloribus Mors" too :)

Love,

ShayleeRae