A/N: Beta'd by the lovely dtfbensolo! Seriously the best! Any mistakes after are my own.

"So, when were you going to tell us you were dating Granger?"

Draco opened his eyes to see his friends looming over him as he sat on the couch of the Slytherin common room. Draco crossed his arms, he had been trying to get a little bit of a nap as he hadn't been sleeping well for quite a while now. Just like pretty much everyone else who went through the war.

"Now?" He drawled as he raised an eyebrow. "I didn't realize it was going to be that big of a deal, Pansy."

"Not a big deal? Draco, this is Hermione Granger, the swotty Gryffindor princess who you have despised for the last seven years. She's best friends with Harry Potter, the person you hate with a passion. I just don't understand how all of a sudden you could be dating here. Not to mention but didn't you break up with Astoria like, yesterday?" Pansy said as she sat down next to him.

"Astoria broke up with me before the start of term, Pans. She's dating some bloke who works at the Ministry. She's already moved on, why can't I?"

"You can, of course you can, mate. We're just surprised it's with Granger," Theodore added as he settled onto one of the couches, Blaise joining in the space next to him.

Draco shrugged and leaned back onto the cushions, propping his right elbow on the couch arm, letting his head rest on his hand. "Do you all remember that party back in sixth year? The one where Potter and his sidekicks came to?" The trio of Slytherins nodded.

"Well, that's when it kind of all started. Theo, here, quadruple spiked the non-alcoholic punch. I had been drinking a lot due to…well you all know. So, I was pissed as was Granger. I'm not really sure how it happened but after talking for a while that night, we kissed."

Pansy gasped, "You kissed Granger!?"

"It's not that scandalous, Pans. Besides, we were beyond sloshed. Regardless, apparently we both felt something for each other, and I told her when I saw her this year. She felt the same. That's how we got here."

"I heard that she apparently approached you when you were heading down to the Quidditch Pitch. No one heard what you said, but you guys kissed there also," Blaise said with a wink. Draco simply nodded.

Theo raised an eyebrow. "Huh, that's nutters, mate. I had no clue you harbored feelings for Hermione bloody Granger."

Pansy shook her head. "I don't like it."

"I'm not asking you to like it, Pansy. I'm not asking for any of you to like it. I'm dating Hermione, and you can deal with it, or you can not."

"What will your father and mother say about this?"

Draco's eyes widened at her antagonistic tone. "My father is in Azkaban and my mother is on house arrest. They have no say in my personal life. I'm the head of the House of Malfoy now. I don't care what they say. You of all people should understand that sentiment." Pansy narrowed her eyes at him but stayed silent.

"Come on Pansy, times are changing. We should be happy for Draco," Theodore said with a wink to his friend. Over the last few years, Theo and Draco had become good friends. Draco would even go as far as to call him his best mate. Especially after the two moved in together; Nott's estate had been destroyed in the war and Malfoy Manor was a place that Draco could not stomach living in again. There were too many skeletons there for Draco, he needed a fresh start.

"If it was anyone else, I would be supportive. But I just can't stand her! She doesn't know our customs and doesn't have the courtesy to even want to know them. It'll never work out."

"Our customs are changing as well, Pans. If any of our lines are going to survive, we have to change," Theo said irritatedly. "There are only so many Purebloods left, and honestly we're all connected in some way. I personally don't want my significant other to be my seventh cousin three times removed."

"Well, it's not like inbreeding should be a concern for you, if you ever have a kid they would have to be adopted anyway," Pansy muttered derisively.

"That's incredibly insensitive," Theo replied, his voice soft and eyes distant, clearly hurt by what she said.

Draco let out a deep sigh and shook his head. "How do you still believe in the old ways after everything you have been shown, Pansy? Basically the entire wizarding community rose up against Voldemort, who was a half-blood by the way, to make sure we all have a place in the community. Not only that but half-bloods and muggleborns make up 90% of the entire wizarding world. This old-fashioned thinking will make you no friends, and quite honestly, I don't know if I want to continue being friends with you. Not if this is how you're going to treat Theo and my girlfriend," he said before standing up and making his way to his dorm. Before descending the stairs, he turned around for one final word, "That goes for anyone who has a problem with Theo or Hermione."

Draco struggled to understand how Pansy still thought that way. For someone who had such a terrible relationship with her parents, he didn't imagine she would continue the old ways out of familial duty. Draco shed those beliefs long ago, recognizing Sanctimonia Vincet Semper as an archaic ideal. When his parents were imprisoned, he was finally able to move out and become his own person; to be his real self and drop the facade of the Malfoy heir. The person who only Theo and Blaise really knew existed. They were the only two people he ever confided in about his feelings, about his anger at his parents obsession with blood purity and preserving the old ways.

As he flopped down on his bed he threw his arm over his eyes and focussed on slowing his breathing. No matter how hard he tried he wasn't going to get any sleep, he already knew that. Draco hadn't had a good night's sleep since the beginning of sixth year. As soon as he was inducted into the Death Eaters, he barely slept more than two hours a night. Which is why he tries to rest his eyes whenever possible.

Draco sighed as he flipped onto his side and pulled out the little drawer of his bedside table to retrieve the rolled up parchment from it. Reviewing the letter has become a habit, the practice brings a weird form of peace to him. Every once in a while when he's in a rage, reading her words helps calm him down.

"Sorry mate, I didn't think she would say something like that," Blaise was confiding to Theo as they entered the dorm. Draco placed the letter back in his drawer and sat up on his bed. "No worries. At least now I know where she stands," Theo replied as he sat down on his bed to the left of Draco.

"Hey, mate. Just so you know, I'm supportive of you and Granger. If that makes you happy, I'm happy for you," Theo said, laying back on his bed with a small smile. Draco nodded. "Thanks mate. Sorry about Pansy," he replied and Theo waved him off . Draco honestly hated the feeling of lying to his best mate about his relationship with Granger, but he couldn't do anything about it now.

"It was kind of a big shock to hear about you kissing Granger in front of the other Slytherins though," Blaise said, "I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see you and her this morning."

Theo nodded. "I believe it, but that's because I live with the bloke. I also have an eye for these things. It's obvious that Draco and Granger have feelings for each other." Draco scoffed and threw a pillow at his head. "Shut it, it's not obvious.

"Yeah it is mate, you totally have the googly eyes for our illustrious Head Girl." All Draco could do was roll his eyes and put his arm back over his eyes as he laid down again. He couldn't help letting his mind wander to a certain bushy-haired know-it-all.