Hermione ran back to Gryffindor tower, stopping only to quickly remove the cloak, and shove it back in her bag before she reached the Fat Lady's portrait. She gave the password quickly, and hurriedly made her way up to her room, hoping against hope that she had made it back before Ginny so she could go straight to bed, and avoid talking about what had happened after Draco took her away. Alas, when she entered their room, Ginny was sitting on Hermione's bed, legs criss-crossed, flipping through a quidditch magazine.

"How did I beat you back?" Ginny asked, looking up when she entered, throwing her magazine back over to her side of the room. Hermione walked in, dropped her bag next to her trunk, and fell on to the bed, face first. She said something, but Ginny laughed. "Sorry Mione, didn't quite catch that."

Hermione flipped over, and bent an arm up and covered her eyes with it. "Draco and I went to Flourish and Blotts."

Ginny laughed. "How did you come back without any new books?"

Hermione groaned, then sat up. "I don't want to talk about it. I just want to take a shower and go to bed," she said, looking over at Ginny.

Ginny eyed Hermione suspiciously, then looked at the back of her head. "What did you and Malfoy do in the bookstore?"

Hermione started patting the back of her head, and her eyes widened. "Nothing!" She jumped up and started to running towards the bathroom, but Ginny's quidditch reflexes were faster, and Ginny tackled Hermione on to her bed. Hermione tried to fight back, but Ginny straddled her, and pinned her arms above her head. "Liar! Now spill!"

"Get off me!" Hermione said, trying to kick Ginny in the back. Ginny laughed and moved off Hermione, and pointed a finger at her.

"Spill. Why does your hair look like you got shagged?"

Hermione sat back up and glared at her. "It does not."

Ginny smirked. "Trust me Mione. I've had freshly shagged hair, and it looks remarkably similar to yours right now."

Hermione blushed, and looked up at the ceiling. "We didn't shag."

"But…" Ginny prompted, waving her hand in a circle.

"He kissed me." Hermione said, squeezing her eyes shut, but regretting it almost immediately, as Ginny started whacking her with both hands. "Ow!"

Ginny ignored her. "What was it like? Is he any good? I mean, you've heard the rumors about what he can do in the boudoir right?"

Hermione opened her eyes, and stared at her in disbelief. "Really Gin? You're not telling me off for kissing him?"

Ginny finally stopped hitting her and shrugged. "You're stuck marrying the guy. And honestly, if he didn't belong to you, I could be tempted to jump him just to find out if he was any good in the sack."

Hermione shook her head. "I cannot believe you. And he doesn't belong to me! He is his own person."

Ginny laughed. "Whatever. But how was it?"

Hermione looked at her. "How was what?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "The bookshop," she said sarcastically. "The kiss you idiot!"

Hermione started blushing, and Ginny ooed. "That good, huh?"

Hermione fell back against the bed, and grabbed Ginny's pillow and shoved it over her face, and screamed into it. Ginny grabbed the pillow, and ripped it away when she was done screaming.

"I want details."

"Haven't you ever heard of privacy?" Hermione asked.

Ginny shook her head. "I have six older brothers. There is no such thing."

Hermione was silent for a moment, leading Ginny to wonder if she was going to have to start slapping her again, when, "I asked if he remembered the first time we met."

Ginny thought for a moment. "On the train right?"

Hermione shook her head, messing the back of her head up even more. "No, we met in Flourish and Blotts before the school year began. He was the person who introduced me to Hogwarts: A History."

Ginny's jaw dropped. "You're lying."

Hermione sat up. "He was really nice that day. I thought he was going to be my first friend at school."

Ginny leaned back against one of the posts on her bed. "So what happened?"

Hermione looked over at her and shrugged. "I was a muggleborn, so he stayed away."

Ginny nodded. "So how did he react?"

"He apologized." Hermione said slowly.

Ginny's eyes widened. "He did?"

Hermione nodded. "He apologized for hurting me first year, for calling me a mudblood, for saying he wished I died, for fourth year, and for all of the inquisitorial squad shit," she said, the words tumbling out.

"Hang on, what happened fourth year?" Ginny asked. "I thought you didn't care about the hex with your teeth. You thanked him even, which just pissed him off."

Hermione's eyes widened as she realized what she'd said. "It was the teeth."

Ginny narrowed her eyes at her. "You're lying again. What really happened in fourth year?"

Hermione was silent for a few minutes. "He kissed me in fourth year."

Ginny sprang up to a kneeling position and screamed, causing Hermione to cover her ears. "How is this the first time I'm hearing about this?"

Hermione scrunched her face, clearly uncomfortable. "Because I didn't want anyone to know!"

Ginny sat back down. "Wait, you got back after Harry and Ron the night of the Yule Ball, and when you came back, you said you didn't want to talk, and your hair was all messed up. Did he kiss you then?"

Hermione nodded, blushing furiously.

Ginny looked at her closer. "Did you do anything else that night?"

Hermione turned redder, and Ginny gasped, and covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes wide. "You naughty, naughty girl!" she said in a whisper as she lowered her hands.

Hermione started shaking her head, waving her hands in front of her. "We didn't have sex!"

Ginny gave her a look. "Did you have an orgasm?"

Hermione started reaching for the pillow again, and Ginny grabbed it and threw it across the room. "Well?"

"Don't make me answer this!" Hermione pleaded.

Ginny smirked. "If you can't talk about them, you shouldn't be having them."

Hermione glared at her. "Fine! It was my first kiss and my first orgasm! Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Ginny smiled smugly. "So are the rumors true? Is he any good?"

Hermione made to stand up. "I'm done having this conversation with you."

Ginny grabbed her hand, and pulled her back down on the bed, then let go. "Alright, alright, I won't ask for anymore details, but how does him apologizing for everything lead to you kissing him."

Hermione looked down, her hair covering her face. "He said that of all the things to be sorry for, he wasn't sorry for fourth year, and then he kissed me. And I just stood there for a minute, not having any idea what to do, but then it was like something in me just switched, and suddenly I was kissing him back. Then next thing I knew, he was lifting me up, and I was against the bookshelf, and it was really fucking good!" She cried, putting her hands over her face.

Ginny choked back a laugh, and moved next to her and put an arm around her shoulder. "So you enjoyed a kiss with a boy you have history with, and now have to marry. I can think of worse things. At least you know the wedding night will be good."

Hermione uncovered her eyes, and looked at Ginny, disbelievingly. "You're worse than Ron at comforting people."

Ginny snorted. "Please. So I'm guessing you didn't go all the way tonight either."

Hermione shook her head, and tucked her hair behind her ear. "No, I stopped it. And I set some ground rules."

Ginny thought for a moment. "What are the rules? And can I enforce them with him?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "No kissing."

Ginny quirked an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yes. I don't trust him not to want more."

Ginny looked at Hermione, not believing her. "You don't trust him not to want more, or you don't trust yourself to stop next time?"

Hermione glared at Ginny, but ignored her. "We also have to go slow. Get to know each other, go on dates."

Ginny nodded. "That makes sense I suppose."

Hermione looked down at her hands. "I did say he could hold my hand though."

Ginny roared with laughter. "Hermione Granger, that is the most first year thing I have ever heard!"

Hermione looked up, anger flashing in her eyes. "For your information, that was his one request to our rules!"

Ginny stopped laughing and clutched her chest, amusement still evident on her face. "That is the most sickeningly sweet fucking thing I've ever heard."

Hermione rolled her eyes and stood up. "I'm going to take a shower."

Ginny lay down on her front, and propped herself up on her elbows. "So I'm assuming that dear Theo has no idea about any of this?"

Hermione shook her head. "I'll fill him in on the dating agreement tomorrow."

"And the fourteen year old sexy time?"

Hermione shot a glare at Ginny. "Don't you dare breathe a word of that to him. I already told Draco I wouldn't tell Theo."

Ginny smiled. "I have brothers Mione. I know that there are some things they just don't need to know."

Hermione walked over to her trunk, got her pajamas out, and stalked into the bathroom. When she got in, she turned the shower on, and set it to the coldest setting.

The next day was a Saturday, so Hermione purposefully didn't set an alarm. Ginny did however as she had quidditch practice that afternoon. She got up and pulled on a pair of courderoy trousers, and a warm jumper, and went downstairs with Ginny. The girls started walking over to the Gryffindor table, when suddenly, something warm slipped in Hermione's hand, and she found herself being tugged to the opposite side of the Great Hall by Draco.

"Hey!" She said, whacking his arm with her free hand. "When I said you could hold my hand, I didn't mean this!"

Ginny, noticing that Hermione wasn't still with her, jogged to catch up to her, glee evident on her face.

"Morning Malfoy!" She chirped. Hermione glared at her, annoyed that Ginny was doing nothing to help her out. Finally they reached the Slytherin table, and Draco dropped her hand, and motioned for her to sit across from Theo silently. She glared at him and sat down with a huff, reaching for a piece of toast.

Theo looked up from the morning paper. "Good morning."

Hermione glowered at him. "Is it?"

Ginny laughed, sitting down next to her. "She's just pissed that my alarm woke her up this morning."

Theo looked at Hermione, who was grumpily chewing her toast. "It's a bloody Saturday."

"Monday through Friday, she's up at the crack of dawn, and last to bed. But Saturday and Sunday, wake her up before 10:30, and she's a grouch until 1."

Draco had sat next to her on her other side. "Good to know," he commented, and Ginny who had been taking a sip of tea started choking. Theo glared at Draco, then reached for the coffee pot, and poured Hermione a mug.

"Thanks." She muttered.

"Why coffee?" He asked after she had taken her first sip.

She inhaled the smoke, then set the mug down. "My dad did a year abroad in the States when he was at Uni, and he said that he couldn't get a decent cup of tea anywhere. But they drink coffee over there first thing in the morning. When he got back, he was addicted to the stuff. Drove mum mad, because she thought it was disgusting, but dad used to let me have sips of his, so I learned to like it."

Theo looked at her, slightly confused. "What is Uni?"

"It's similar to a mastery program, except there's a whole school for them, and you sort of need one to get a job in the Muggle world." She explained. "My parents did the first level of them, and then did another round, to become dentists."

Theo nodded, not quite fully understanding.

Hermione turned to Ginny. "You never told me how things went with Harry last night by the way."

Ginny scowled. "I don't want to talk about it."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "And yet I had to talk about my night?"

Ginny shook her head. "We argued, he said stupid things, and then he asked when next Hogsmeade weekend was."

Hermione nodded her head, not pushing the subject. She looked around the table. "Where is Parkinson?"

Draco smirked. "We don't think she made it back last night."

Hermione's eyes widened. "What?"

Ginny frowned. "I don't like this," she muttered.

Theo chuckled. "Maybe introducing our troublemaker to your troublemaker was a bad idea."

Ginny gave Theo a rude gesture, and he grinned back. Hermione looked concerned though. "Should we be worried?" She asked.

Draco shook his head. "She'll show up eventually," he said, unconcerned. When Hermione didn't look convinced, he slipped his hand under the table, and found her hand with his, and squeezed it.

Theo eyed Draco. "Hands where I can see them." He said in a dark voice.

Draco pulled his hand back up. "Happy?"

Theo narrowed his eyes. "No. Unless she gives explicit consent to you touching her, you keep your hands to yourself."

Draco smiled. "She agreed to date me."

Theo dropped his muffin that he'd been about to bit into. "What?"

Hermione looked between the two friends, Draco smiling triumphantly, and Theo looking ready to murder him. "It was my idea Theo," she said quickly.

Theo looked at her. "You don't have to do this."

Hermione crossed her arms. "Marry him? You told me that I do. So if I have to marry him, I'm going to date him first, make sure that we know we can tolerate each other first."

Theo shook his head. "Marry him, and then go live in a property by yourself!"

Ginny snorted. "Right, that's a perfectly logical solution."

Theo glared at her. "Not helping."

Hermione stood up. "Last I checked Theo, this wasn't your decision. Now if you'll all excuse me, I'm going to the library." She stepped over the bench, and walked out of the Great Hall.

Draco stood up to follow her, but at a look from Theo, he sat back down, and sighed. "We're going to get married someday Theo."

Theo looked back down at his paper. "Doesn't mean I have to like it. She's my sister, you're my best friend. That means I know you too well, and I know you're not good enough for her." He looked back up. "I know all the girls you fooled around with and I have every right to be concerned for her, and not want you touching her right now."

Ginny choked on her tea and started coughing. Draco looked over at her, and gave her a funny look. But before she could say anything, Pansy had come in and sat down next to Theo. She grabbed the coffee pot and poured herself a mug.

"Nice shirt." Ginny commented. "Looks an awful lot like the one my brother was wearing last night."

Pansy ignored her. "What's got Theo's knickers in a twist?"

"He's pissy because Hermione has decided to date ferret boy, and he doesn't like it." Ginny answered. "So how concerned should I be that we're going to end up related?"

"Honestly Theo, grow up. Them dating is a good thing. At the very least, they'll figure out how to not kill each other, and best case scenario, they'll have a good fuck, and Granger might actually loosen up for once."

Theo looked like he might puke, and Draco looked extremely uncomfortable. Ginny just laughed. "Are you going to answer any of my questions?" She asked the blonde girl.

Pansy rolled her eyes. "First he went down on me, then he fucked me on the counter in the shop, on the floor, in his lab, and finally we passed out on the sofa in the office. When we got up this morning, he bought me breakfast, and then snuck me back in through the murder tree. I couldn't find my shirt, he loaned me his, and there is absolutely no chance of me ever becoming a Weasley. Happy?"

Ginny grimaced. "A bit more information than I needed to know."

Pansy smiled. "He did decide that he's going to open the shop back up again."

"What?" Ginny exclaimed.

Pansy shrugged. "Over breakfast, I told him he was being pathetic. That the war wasn't fought for people to just wallow over what we lost. I told him to stop surviving, and start bloody living."

Ginny gaped at her. "That worked?"

"No." Pansy said. "But the blow job I gave him after, and the promise of more convinced him."

Draco laughed, and Ginny stood up. "Right, and on that note, I'm going to quidditch practice."

She waved goodbye and left the great hall.

"Did you seriously sleep with Weasley's brother last night?" Draco asked, taking a sip of tea.

Pansy nodded. "It was fun. And he was very good about it."

Theo looked at her concerned. "Did you tell him about last year?"

Pansy looked down at her coffee. "He figured it out, and he asked for consent at every turn. It was extremely comforting, and I felt very safe."

Theo relaxed. "If I need to intervene, let me know."

Pansy rolled her eyes. "Worry about your sister. She's the one who just agreed to date the 'Slytherin Sex God,'" she said, pointing at Draco.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Thanks Pans."

Theo narrowed his eyes at Draco, and pointed a butter knife in his direction. "She is not like the other girls you've fooled around with. She is my sister, and you will treat her with respect. If I find out anything untoward has taken place, I will make sure the contract goes away in a way you won't enjoy."

Draco nodded. "Just so you know, I told her about the dowry last night."

Theo grimaced. "How did she react?"

"She wasn't happy at first," Draco said honestly. "But I told her that it was getting set aside for her to do with as she pleased."

Theo nodded. "I'll make sure to talk to her about it soon."

Draco stood up. "I'm going to go study."

Before Theo could say anything, he left the hall as well. Theo rubbed the space between his eyes, knowing full well that Draco was going to go find Hermione and trying to decide if he should stop it.

"Let him go." Pansy said, reading his mind. "They have to get used to each other, and she's never going to get comfortable with him if they don't spend time together."

Theo put his hand down and looked at her. "I know that logically, but I also know that he's done a lot of shit to her, and I'm struggling with that, and trusting that he isn't going to hurt her."

Pansy sat there for a moment thinking. "He is going to hurt her again."

Theo glared at her, and she continued, "But if they learn each other's ticks now, and figure out a way to like each other, it will make it easier for them to make up, and be happy down the road."

Theo sighed. "I'm going back to the common room. You coming?" He asked.

Pansy nodded, and the pair stood up. As they walked back down to the common room, she linked her arm with his. "So how are we going to deal with our little snitch?"