Eighth year was going swimmingly for the most part. Draco was on probation meeting every requirement so far and somehow became head boy. He even was able to pretend to be a normal 18 year old and be with his friends.

Well only when he was drunk that is.

Leave it to Pansy and Theo to come up with this drinking game. The rules were simple tell the truth, full truth with all the details or drink the cheapest nastiest concoction they found and or made. Draco's refined palate was not meant for this, and as it turns out the cheap stuff had a quicker effect than the stuff that actually tastes good.

Tonight he was in the old Slytherin dorms once again as Hermione was patrolling the halls as head girl. They had an agreement. If one of them wanted/needed time with friends the other would allow it no questions asked as long as it wasn't more that 3 times a month.

"All right Draco deary now that we've shown just how awful this stuff is now we can get to the real questions" Theo said with a lazy drunk smile, "I want to know if you've found any of the Golden Trio sexy"

Pansy laughed "I could answer that one for him. He's sooo obvious."

Draco raised his glass far past the point of caring "Go on then I'll tell you if you're right."

"Well let's see," She started, "The Weasel is an obvious turn off he is so loud and clings to the others with very little to say for himself unless you count that Gryffindor 'bravery', Potter is cute you aren't blind but you don't swing that way," She took a sip of the concoction. She always did like the burn.

"Granger on the other hand…" She turned to face him, "You absolutely think is sexy. And not just because of her looks. You love how she speaks out and is soo unapologetic. Plus I've seen the way you stared at her and still stare." She looked back to Theo, "You should see how he looks at her if she has a sugar quill absolutely sinful." She shook her head with a smile and a small laugh.

Then they looked to Draco for confirmation. He, in turn, looked rather surprised. He hadn't expected that. In fact he was thinking she was going to say how all of them were not his type or frankly literally anything else than what she said.

"Well Pansy it looks like you hit the nail on the head but rules are rules. Draco?" He smiled, lifting a brow waiting for his friend to confirm.

Draco couldn't look at them so he looked to his drink, "Weasel is beyond a turn off and no I'm not blind I can see why people swoon over Potter…" He took a swig of the better stuff for courage, "And yes Granger is sexy. I think she is the most beautiful witch I have ever laid eyes on and I can't tell if I first noticed her at the Yule Ball or when she broke my bloody nose the year before. She is so smart and kind and too good for him. Too good for me as well. I don't stand a chance any way. I've already caused her enough pain to last multiple lifetimes and will never be able to make up for it."

Pansy and Theo stared. While yes the whole truth is expected as part of the game neither expected him to say that. After the war he would drop his walls around them and Blaise on rare occasions but this is something that neither experienced with him. He was so vulnerable, Hell even when he dated Pansy they never went deep. She learned more about him as a friend than she ever did when they dated.

They shared a knowing glance as Draco carried on talking about Hermione and how it was such an impossible feat for her to fully forgive him (even though they've already had this conversation a few times and has been told multiple times that she forgives him). He swore up and down that the only reason they are close now is because they have to share head boy and girl duties. And it was so impossible for him and Granger to be more than that he didn't even entertain the idea of it ever becoming reality. Because somewhere in his rambling he let it slip that he never felt this way before and was so scared of screwing everything up. The pair stared wide eyed, letting him ramble on both wanting to not only see just how far he'd go but also genuinely liked seeing their friend be honest about his feelings like this.

He was usually so guarded that moments like these also seemed impossible but with Pansy and Theo in charge the impossible is fairly easy to accomplish.

The next day Draco woke up with one of the worst hangovers he's had in his life and very few of his memories of the night before. He remembered the start of that stupid game where he found out Theo and Blaise had been casually seeing each other and Theo wanted more. He remembered Pansy saying something about a threesome with Luna and some Hufflepuff bloke. He remembered being asked about Granger and then it got so hazy. He knows he gets more than loose lipped when he drinks so his imagination is probably worse than what actually happened. At least that is what he tells himself.

He took a potion to help with the hangover and came out of his room ready to go to breakfast to find his friends with matching shit eating grins.

"What are you two up to." He is not asking, he knows that look too well.

"Oh, nothing we're ready to tell you about." Theo answers playfully, turning towards the exit.

"Right, nothing we should tell you." She smirked.

He glares, "What is this about." Walking closer to follow them.

"Pout and glare all you want your tricks don't work on us now come along we're already running late." Pansy exits the common area following Theo out.

When they arrive at the great hall Blaise is waiting for them, "Glad you lot decided to join us."

"Sorry love we had a rather late night"

"Without me?"

"Don't say that! We invited you and you were the one who decided you needed to study. But you missed a very interesting game."

"Oh?"

Draco cleared his throat, "Rules."

"Oh, please don't worry I won't tell a soul about that wonderful thing you said about someone at a different table" He grinned. This earned another glare as Pansy smiled and Blaise looked confused and intrigued.

"Looks like I missed quite an eventful evening."

"Don't worry there will be more. Maybe next time we do it we can invite all the eighth years. That would be very interesting."

"Like that would ever happen."

"You never know I thought I was going to be the next Mrs. Malfoy and look at me now, head over heels for Luna Lovegood. Speaking of, hello darling what are you doing over here?"

Luna smiled and leaned down to hug her girlfriend, "I came by to say hi," she looked to Theo and Blaise, "your auras look lovely together such a pretty shade of pink." The boys shifted uncomfortably.

While his friends were distracted he allowed himself to glance over towards the Gryffindor table.

And there she was.

Hermione sat with her messy curls draped over her shoulder with her nose in a book. Her head resting gently in her palm while biting softly on the nail of her thumb. Their eyes met briefly. She seemed off. She looked exhausted. He mouthed "Are you ok?"

She mouthed back "Later."

So there was a reason, he thought. He noticed for the past week she had been studying more than usual. He felt bad asking her to cover his shift so he could drink with friends but it was also the only thing he could think of that would force to to take some kind of break. But by the looks of her she was even more worn for wear.

He turned back to his friends and continued eating. Luna called to him, "Draco be careful, worrying can attract some very nasty things."

She was no doubt alluding to some creature she believed in and while he sometimes humored her he did always wonder just how she was so spot on when it came to emotions.

"Right my apologies. I'll try to avoid that."

"Oh come on what's got our dragon so worried?" Theo teased.

Draco sighed, "Nothing I can't handle I best be off anyway. Head boy duties and all." He stood waving byes to his friends and glancing once again to Hermione. Only he took notice that she was eating alone. Well as alone as someone could be in the hall. Potter and the Weaselette were on one side completely in their own world and Weasel wasn't even there.

He left to start is patrol of the halls before classes start.

After a few classes Hermione went to the library. She needed some time to herself. She sat alone in her own little corner in the far back of the room where no one would go, unless they were looking for her.

She was trying to distract herself with NEWT studies but she found herself far too distracted. She was getting frustrated and all because of her stupid ex boyfriend.

One night, about a week ago, when she patrolled the halls at night, she heard noises. She thought it was some hormonal sixth years and was prepared for a typical embarrassing exchange but then she heard Lavender Brown moaning Ron's name.

SNAP

"Damn it." She looked at the broken quill and fished in her bag for a new one.

"Granger?"

She looked up to see Draco Malfoy with his arms crossed but his face surprisingly soft, "Yeah? Did you need something?"

He shook his head, "No, not really just checking in. Are you ok?"

She wanted to laugh, of all the people to notice something was wrong it would be him. While they had grown much closer since the year started and even more so once he apologized and she had forgiven him, it still wasn't the years she had with Harry Ginny or even Luna.

"Do you want the honest answer?"

He took a seat next to her, "Of course."

"No." She looked down at her papers and Draco waited for her to elaborate.

She was breathing heavily and still he waited.

She took one last breath, closed her eyes and told him, "I found Ron...with Lavender."

He didn't make a sound so she glanced out of the corner of her eye to see if he was still there. He was. She saw his fist tighten and his knuckles turn white. She decided to let her gaze make its way up to his face and saw pure rage. Her eyes widened slightly. She had seen him angry more times than she could count but this rage was new.

"What?" He kept his voice quiet but it sounded so deadly.

She felt her voice breaking and then she felt the tears. She hadn't allowed herself to cry since that night.

Draco casted a silence charm over the area then he pulled her close.

Immediately the rage dissipated and he was trying to comfort her. "Shh, I've got you."

She appreciated he didn't say things would be ok because that was so far outside of their control. Being held by him was an odd sensation. He was so much taller than her she was practically engulfed by him. One hand was soothing her hair while the other was making small circles on her back. It was a very nice feeling.

"I'm sorry. I'm a mess."

She started to pull away and as much as Draco hated it, he didn't want to push her. So he let her retreat.

"Yeah, but you have a right to be." He sighed pulling his hands to himself, "Please say that Weasel is suffering."

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "No. Sorry-"

He stopped her, "You have nothing to be sorry for. If you want help getting revenge I'm here."

She let out a puff of air, "As much as I appreciate that I'm not sure. Do I want him to hurt? Yes. Do I want to get back together with him? Absolutely not. In fact I don't think I'll be able to date for a while."

"We can still hurt him. Physically, emotionally, psychologically? You name it."

"Again thanks, but I'd feel way worse if my only friend who noticed went to Azkaban for me." She tried to joke.

I'm your friend? "I'm the only one who noticed?"

She paused. Shit.

"When did it happen?"

She looked down again, "A week ago."

And Draco was mad again, "A week, a fucking week Granger? No one saw? Merlin I thought you were in one of your study modes that's the only reason I even asked if it was ok if you took over my patrol last night. I thought you were burying yourself in work and I was trying to force you to take a break but you were distracting yourself. And-"

A sob stopped him from continuing.

"Shite I'm sorry." He grabbed a handkerchief and gently reached for her. She took it and leaned in as she tried to dry her eyes. He held her again.

"Hey," He gently guided her head to look in his eyes, "Would getting absolutely wasted and have a two person Weasel bashing party help?"

She allowed herself to let out a small laugh, "You know it just might. As long as you bring some drinks."

"I promise nothing but the strongest, you know Pansy and Theo made a truly awful but strong drink last night."

"I think I'll pass but thank you." She wiped her eyes again and handed him back the handkerchief, "And thank you for being here but I have class soon."

He nodded and helped her gather her things, "I'll see you later."

Later came and both Hermione and Draco were in their common area drinking and talking shit. They were both sitting on the floor leaning back on the couch. Draco had an arm around her and she was leaning into him.

"Gods you wouldn't believe the shit he tried to pull when I caught him. He had the audacity to say that you were supposed to be patrolling and how if you had caught him you wouldn't have told me because-"

"Wait, wait, wait, He thought I was the better option if he got caught because I wouldn't have told you?!"

"I know! He said some bullshit about you still hating me and that he would've been blackmailed but he still would've had me! LIKE I'M SOME SORT OF FUCKING POSSESSION!"

He leaned his head away at the sudden outburst, "Let me make one thing extremely clear. I would've told you as soon as I could. I also would've petrified both of them so that everyone would've seen because they deserve to be-"

"No no no hurting or petrifying or anything with malice I don't want you to leave me."

"Never." His voice dropped making the hairs on the back of her neck stand.

She giggled letting the buzz in her head speak, "Careful a girl could take that the wrong way and I just got out of a very nasty relationship."

He smirked looking into his glass, "You need to be the careful one. Once Hogwarts knows you're single you'll have every bloke trying to get in your pants."

The alcohol was speaking for her again, "Including you?"

"Careful what you wish for Granger." He teased enjoying this game.

"Oh now I'm wishing for you?" She laughed and leaned closer to his chest.

His heart was rapidly beating. He took a breath, thanking every god above that he was a lot less wasted than last night, and tried to pivot the conversation back, "I'm serious Granger. When they know you're going to have a line of guys asking you on dates. Merlin even people who just was a casual shag."

"Ugh I know. I wish there was a way to avoid that."

"Only thing I can think of is a fake boyfriend who you'll eventually develop real feelings for but think he doesn't feel the same and vice versa leading to multiple misunderstandings and an eventual happy ending."

"Draco..." She slowly turned her head and he pulled his head back to look her in the eyes only to see the most mischievous glint he's ever seen, "Do you read romance novels?"

He looked away "I will neither confirm or deny it."

"I can't believe it! Next you'll tell me Romeo and Juliet is your favorite."

"I'd never say that because that is not a love story. It's about a 17 year old who 'falls in love' with a 13 year old. The guy literally get's dumped goes partying and the poor girl talks to him and he thinks he's in love. No no that will never be my favorite romance but Much Ado About Nothing, hilarious and definitely up there."

"Oh who's first on your list of great romances?"

"Easily Darcy and Elizabeth they-"

She slaps his arm and sits straight up, "You have to be joking! You've read Pride and Prejudice?!"

"Ow Merlin Granger that stung. Yes I've read Pride and Prejudice it's only one of the greatest romances of all time."

"But it's a Muggle book?"

"Yes? What of it?"

"I just didn't expect you to have read anything Muggle besides Shakespeare."

He smirked, "I'm just full of surprises Granger."

"That you are." She found herself yawning and leaning back on Draco.

"Come on, you need to get to bed."

"But I'm so comfy."

"Maybe you are now but in the morning you won't be." He goes to move causing her to grumble more.

"But Dracooo- Ah!" He stood and picked her up tossing her over his shoulder, "I'm not a sack of potatoes!"

"It's only till I get you in your bed calm down." He walks while she is squirming on him and eventually gets to her room and plops her on her bed.

She falls back and gets under her covers, "Goodnight" She said sleepily. He nods, "Night Granger."

He softly closes the door and leans back against it.

Dracooo

He holds a hand to his head, "Fuck." I'm going to have dreams about that.