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He once again moved closer to her. Hermione looked into his eyes, his smile. They were both glowing with delight. This time, no one could disturb them, no one except for Dumbledore, and that was very unlikely. Hermione felt Draco's breath on her cheeks, it was cinnamonny. He had just had a cinnamon mint. Hermione smiled as a very strong whiff came up her left nostril. Then it happened.

Draco had finally gotten his kiss. Hermione could feel tingling starting from her lips and going throughout her body. His lips were soft and wet. They were pleasant. He put his arms around her waist. She fell back onto pillows. He was now on top of her. The kiss glued them together. He started to run his hands through her hair. She just held onto the back of his shirt. She felt his hair touching her forehead. She loved the way his lips felt, and the way it made her feel.

Hermione felt that a one minute first kiss with someone was long enough, so she pulled her head back. She was taking short breaths. He just looked at her lovingly. "I've liked you since forever." He said with a grin.

"I know," Hermione said. He laughed and then kissed her again.

The next morning, Hermione walked into the Great Hall for breakfast on Saturday. She was greated by Draco, who kissed her in front of everyone. She quickly, but politely backed out of his embrace. She was blushing. "Not in front of the whole school." She whispered, happy that he had made a display of affection towards her.

"I don't care if we were in front of the whole world. I love you Hermione. I LOVE YOU HERMIONE!" He screamed at the top of his lungs so everyone could hear. She smiled.

"That's good to know, now let me eat my breakfast." Hermione said walking over to the Gryffindor table.

"But Hermione, you sit here now." Draco said, pointing to the head table.

"Yeah I know, but I haven't talked to Harry and Ron since... forever!" Hermione said. "I promise I'll spend the rest of the day with you." Hermione said with a smile. He smiled back, one of those smiles that could make a girl melt on the spot. He turned and she silently screamed in joy to herself. She walked over to Harry and Ron who were sitting without their girlfriends for a change.

"HARRY! RON!" Hermione shouted at them and sat between them.

"HERMIONE!" They both shouted and hugged her at the same time. She blushed.

"I haven't talked to either of you since, right after the funeral." Hermione said matter-of-factly.

"I know!" Harry cried. "I miss you." He flung his arms around her once again and kissed her cheek.

"Wow, thanks Harry!" Hermione said, knowing that he loved his girlfriend very much, and was just happy to see her. At that moment a fork dropped very noisily over at the Slytherin table. Hermione heard sharp footsteps. Harry suddenly turned around as did Hermione, to see Draco standing in front of him, menacingly.

"Right now Potter, me and you outside. She's mine!" Draco shouted. He pushed Harry's shoulder. Harry just looked at him calmly.

"What is he talking about Hermione? 'She's mine?'" Harry asked puzzlingly.

"Uh, I meant to tell you." Hermione said blushing again. It made her few freckles stand out and her lip gloss look even more shiny. Draco noticed this and wondered if she could look more hot. "Me and Draco kissed last night." Then she turned to Draco. "It meant nothing, I promise, Harry has his own girlfriend, he doesn't need me. Please, it was just a friend thing." Hermione pleaded with Draco. Draco took one look at Hermione and knew she was telling the truth. He hugged her tightly.

"I'm sorry, so sorry Hermione." He said.

"It's fine." Hermione said.

"What's this about you and him kissing?" Ron asked suddenly stepping into their conversation. Hermione went bright red.

"Uh..." Hermione said.

"We're an item." Draco said proudly looking at Hermione. Hermione turned to face him.

"We-We are?" Hermione asked flabbergasted.

"Of course. I love you." Draco said. He kissed her cheek.

Hermione didn't feel love, not love at all. It was way to early. Maybe Draco had really loved her all those years, but she couldn't forget the countless names and horrible scenes and just she loved him all the sudden.

"I like you too." Hermione said weakly. Apparently, Draco didn't mind.

Draco looked at her. "I understand that this might be a very slow relationship. I realize I was horrible to you before, and I sincerely apologize for that, and I'm willing to spend as much time as we need to make this work." Draco said. Hermione wondered if their was a more perfect 'boyfriend.' She smiled to herself. "I'll meet you in Potions." Draco said, squeezed her hand and then left, having finished his breakfast. Hermione sat down with her two friends after all the confusion. She picked up a plate of bacon and started eating.

"What's this that you and him kissed?" Ron asked. Hermione thought she knew what was going on.

"I like him now Ron. I'm sorry." She said.

"Sorry, for what?" Ron asked with a very fake expression.

"What do we have first?" Harry asked to help Hermione out.

"You don't know yet Harry? It's the last day of September, we've been here for a month, and you still don't know the schedule." Harry smiled.

"I just rely on you, what's the point?" Harry asked with a littly boy look.

Hermione sighed to herself. Sbe was loving her friends so much. And deep inside, a little part, teeny weeny part, still liked Harry.

Despite her small feelings for Harry, Hermione liked Draco very much. He was the perfect boyfriend. He was so kind, and understanded everything she said, and wanted to hear what she had to say. He was in every way the hottest guy at Hogwarts. Halloween was on Friday, and on the Friday before Halloween, Hermione sat down at the head table with Draco. They talked about everything imaginable. Hermione gazed into his eyes and saw her future, a very very good future.

Dumbledore stood up before their plates and bowls emptied after breakfast, interrupting their conversation. "Boys and girls, I have an announcement to make. We will being having, for the first time since 1981, a Halloween Ball. Despite the excitement all of you have, it will only be for sixth and seventh years, though you may invite someone younger to be your date if you wish." Dumbledore sat down and immeadiately swarms of boys crowded around Hermione asking her to go with them. She ran out of the hall with Draco. She laughed when they finally found refuge in the library.

"We have class!" Hermione remembered.

"Well, come on then." Draco said grabbing her hand and running with her out to Charms. "I'll leave you here." He said. She turned around to face the door because she saw a couple more boys heading in her direction. "Don't I get a good-bye kiss?" Draco asked sweetly. She turned back around and grabbed his hair. Many boys watched as she gave him the most passionate kiss as she could. They sat there stunned. They walked away sulkily. Draco however, was loving this kiss. He started to really get into it and he dropped his books at his feet, which barely missed Hermione's left foot. Suddenly an angry Professor Flitwick came out of his classroom and ran right smack dab into Hermione's back. She quickly broke away from Draco.

"Mr. Malfoy, get to class. As for you Miss Granger, get your books and come in here." Professor Flitwick gave her a warning glance and closed the door. Hermione turned to face Draco.

"Well, I guess you better go to class." Hermione said sadly.

"I guess I should." Their was a pause as they both picked up his books. "But I think that maybe I should kiss you again first." She was leaning down grabbing his books for him. He grabbed her face gently and sank down to his knees. He pulled her to him and kissed her.

She thrust his books at him. "Come on now," She said playfully, "get to class!" She smacked his behind playfully and he laughed.

"I'm getting you back for that!" Draco shouted after her.

That same day, but later in the evening, Hermione fell down on a couch in her common room before the fire. She was so tired. She hadn't seen Draco at all except for meals, and then she had just done Patrol Duty. She was exausted that she couldn't really move. Suddenly she saw a bright pink notice that was shouting at her on the board of announcements. She found enough strength to walk up to it and read it. As she was reading, the hole opened up in the portrait and Draco came in. "Did you hear?" Draco asked holding up the same notice that Hermione had been reading. "We have a Hogsmeade trip the day after Halloween." Draco said. Hermione was so tired, that she just fell to the floor. She had fainted.

The next morning Hermione woke up in the hospital wing. Their must have been thousands of flowers, all from her admirers. Their were also so many cards, that they took up three night stands. "She's awake!" Someone cried. Hermione looked around and saw Draco, Harry, Ron, Ava, Axia, Delancie, Aylen, Amy, and several other boys all surrounding her bed. Madame Pomfrey came bustling over to her bed after hearing that her patient was awake. Draco reached over and pushed hair out of her eyes.

"You okay? You took a pretty hard fall last night." Draco said.

"YOU WERE WITH HER LAST NIGHT?" Ron shouted.

"Ron, calm down." Delancie said patting his shoulder. "She's fine now." Delancie reassured him.

"If you touched one hair on her head..." Ron said threateningly.

"I touch her head a lot, I'm her BOYFRIEND." Draco said emphazing the last word. Ron looked about to punch Draco.

Harry restrained Ron along with Delancie while Madame Pomfrey talked to Hermione. "You just fainted from not sleeping enough Miss Granger. I insist that you stay here for at least another night. And whenever you sleep four hours or less from now until the end of the year, come see me. You have a rather rare sleeping condition." Madame Pomfrey said. Hermione wondered how rare, but at the moment she couldn't be worried about that.

Madame Pomfrey left and as soon as she was in her office with the door shut, the boys besides Harry, Ron, and Draco all shouted at her.

"Will you go to the Halloween ball with me?" Dean Thomas asked.

"No, no go with me!" A boy from Hufflepuff Hermione had rarely seen said.

"No, they're not worthy, I've loved you since forever Hermione!" A sixth year Gryffindor told her.

"Look, I don't intend to go with any of you, though thanks for asking. Can you please all leave so I can talk to my friends?" Hermione asked as daintily as she could. One boy looked about to say something else, but another shushed him. They all left.

"Well Hermione, I know you want time with your boyfriend, and me and Aylen should be going to finish transfiguration." Harry said. Those two left.

"Hermione, we hope you get better!" Axia and Amy said and left.

"I have to go too Hermione. Get well soon!" Delancie said. "Come on Ron."

"No, I think I'll stay." Ron said, obviousily trying to make anything between Draco and Hermione not happen.

"Ron..." Delancie said dragging him out of the wing.

"I - want - to - stay" Ron said but Delancie was determined that he would come with her, so they left together.

So now who was left was Ava and Draco.

Ava could sense that she should leave by the way the two love birds were looking at each other. "Well, I best leave now, I can feel something big." Ava said, smiled, and left.

"Just us now." Hermione said, straightening her quilt.

"Hermione, this is going to be hard." Draco said biting his lip.\

"Will you go to Hogsmeade with me after the ball on Saturday? And the ball?" Draco asked.

Hermione took his hand. "I wouldn't dream of saying anything else." Draco smiled at her and kissed her hand. "We're alone." Hermione whispered.

"In that case..." Draco smooched her with his soft lips that were meant for hers. Amy Davenport walked back into the room right in the middle of them kissing. What she saw made her very very angry at Hermione, even though the two had become friends.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH HIM!?" She screamed at the top of her lungs. Somehow, Madame Pomfrey didn't hear.

The two broke apart and saw Amy standing in the entrance with smoke coming out of her ears. "Uh, kissing him." Hermione said sheepishly.

"I'm gonna kill you, he's supposed to ask me to the ball." Amy ran up to Draco and tried to kiss him. They didn't even get close to each other.

"Get offa me!" Draco shouted. "Hermione is my girlfriend, I love her very much, and you're JUST my friend." He said as calmly as he could. Amy huffed at the two of them.

"I brought you a card Hermione." She said placing it on her nightstand, having trouble fitting it.

"Thanks." Hermione said quietly. Amy left.

"Thank goodness you said yes!" Draco said wiping his brow. "I thought you might say no." Draco laughed a little as if this was funny.

"Of course not." Hermione said thinking about Harry.

Over the next couple of days Hermione's love for Harry became less and less. She began to realize that Draco truly loved her, and wasn't just saying that. She was almost at the point to saying she loved him back, but her heart still felt a little pang every time she saw Harry.

Hermione found her way down to breakfast the day before Halloween, and the Halloween ball. Even though they were all going to Hogsmeade in two days, they were all allowed to go there between 6-7 that evening to purchase things for the ball. All stores that didn't have anything to purchase for the ball wouldn't be open. Hermione went to lessons, and right after dinner she grabbed her purse and left. She knew it was only five, but she knew the guard who stood over Hogsmeade, and could easily get in before everyone else. She slipped unoticed out of the Great Hall, at least, she thought she did. Draco came up to her and flashed his perfect smile. Hermione flashed him one back, quickly thinking of an excuse to get away. She didn't want Draco to know about her dress, as the ball was formal. "Hey baby." Draco said casually.

"Hey cutie." Hermione said back, playing his game.

"Where you going so quick after dinner? Into another man's arms?" Draco asked sarcastically.

"No, I'm just off to see Harry about the homework, I need to ask him something." She said, remembering that Harry was up in his room as he hadn't been hungry for dinner.

"Can I come with?" Draco asked innocently.

"Baby, as much as I want you to, I gotta really get some homework done. The NEWT's are coming up soon. I'm so sorry." Hermione said, trying to act it.

"Oh, it's fine." Draco said removing his arm from around her shoulders, "I'll see you tomorrow at the ball then, meet me at the library so I may escort you into the hall. Okay?"

"Yup," Hermione said rushing away while checking her watch. It was 5:10 already. She hurried out to the train. The man at the entrance to the train asked her what she was doing.

"My uncle runs Honeyduke's, and he sent me a letter asking me to come right away." Hermione pulled out a letter she had written herself specifically to get past this guy. He let her on the train and they went at top speed to Hogsmeade. Once there, Hermione was allowed to roam as freely as she wished. She went to the dress place first.

Another very good reason Hermione had to get here early was that she wanted to have her pick of the dresses. She knew that their was only one dress of each kind, and that many people would try and want the same one. She browsed through the racks looking at each one carefully. She decided she should either wear something black, orange, silver, gray, or gold, as they were all Halloween colors. Hermione looked at all the dresses, and decided orange was to bright for her taste. She didn't want to be dull, so that ruled out gray. She wasn't a goth type of person so that ruled out black. Hermione browsed through all the gold and silver dresses.

She finally narrowed it down to two. One was a silver dress with short sleeves that was a ballroom dress and went down so far that it just barely missed the ground. The other was gold with spaghetti straps, hugged her body, and laced up in the back. It was sparkly, but not to flashy. It came down to a little past her knees. She decided to buy the gold one with tan stockings that the place also sold.

She checked her watch as she went outside to the chilly air. It was 5:45. She had spent almost half n hour picking out her dress. Hermione went to the shoe place next. She bought gold shoes that showed her toe nails and her heel. Then Hermione went to the beauty salon. There she bought gold nail polish, a real gold necklace that covered up the naked part of her neck, and a golden bracelet that jingled when she moved her wrist. She also bought lots of bobby pins and hair ties.

Hermione checked her watch once more as she exited the shop. It was 5:55. Hermione had five minutes to get back to the train with twenty dollars out of the two hundred she had brought here. Hermione rushed back to the train, but saw one more shop that she wanted to enter. She rushed into the shop, bought a black shaw that covered up the whole upper part of her body. Hermione rushed to the train and got on at exactly 5:59. The conductor brought her back to Hogwarts. With her many bags Hermione sneaked out the back of the train once it arrived at Hogwarts because she didn't want the other kids to see her as they were getting on. She saw Draco with Ron, Ron looked about to punch Draco, but Draco seemed that he was trying to be friendly. She smiled to herself, knowing that Ron was still jealous after all this time.

Hermione had the bathroom all to herself for the next hour. She painted her nails gold, shaved her legs and under her arms, and tried on the dress in the full length mirror. Hermione thought it looked wonderful. Hermione stole the golden hairspray that was Lavender's off of her nightstand and put it in her bureau, hidden away. Hermione knew that Lavender would not find out it was missing for another month.

When the other girls finally got home Hermione was just safely putting away her dress in the part of her closet that no one looked through. Her shoes were safely hidden under her bed, and her shaw was hanging up next to her dress. "Hermione, you missed it, the dress shop was a mess. Everyone was claiming this one silver dress with short sleeves. It was like a ballroom dress."

"Who got it?" Hermione asked curiousily, knowing it was her second choice.

"Uh, it didn't make it out of the shop. Someone ripped it trying to take it from someone else."

"Oh," Hermione said. "Well, I'm off to sleep, I'm tired." Hermione said.

She tucked herself in and made sure not to brush her nails against anything, as they were still drying. "Who did your nails?" One girl asked curiousily. "They look great, with the little silver black cats on them."

"Uh...I got them done a week ago." Hermione lied.

"Oh." The same girl said.

The ball started at eight and went until four in the morning. The next night at seven, Hermione excused herself from the dining table and went into her Gryffindor Common Room where she had hidden her things from last night; she didn't want Draco to see her before the ball. All the other girls were still down at dinner while Hermione did her hair up. She put it in a bun, with lots of Sleek Easy's. Then she took certain parts and curled them to make them bouncy. Then she did her make-up, white eye shadow, sparkly red lips, and blush. She also put on mascara and foundation. Hermione changed into her dress, careful not to mess up her hair. Then she put on the necklace and the bracelet. Amazingly none of the other girls saw her in the closet when they were doing their make-up and hair. Hermione wasn't thinking this, but Hermione looked a lot better then all of them combined. When they all finally left, Hermione put on her shawl,stockings, and shoes. They fit perfectly. Hermione looked in the mirror one last time, then she went down to the library at exactly seven. Draco was standing in the refrence section, looking around for his partner. Hermione surprised him.

'Holy $h!t' Draco thought. 'Can she look any more hot? Any guy would be so lucky to have her.' Hermione walked up to him. "You look beautiful." Draco said staring at her.

"Thank you Draco, you look very handsome yourself." Hermione told him truthfully. Draco was definitely one of the top five hottest guys in the school. But Hermione topped all the girls, especially on this night.
When they arrived at the Great Hall which had been decorated with glowing pumpkins, black and orange banners, black cat statues, and black and orange balloons, all the boys stopped talking and stared at Hermione. Draco held on to her tightly. The music started to play as people found their partners. They were sitting down in the middle of the first song when Draco asked, "Would you like to dance?"

"Sure," Hermione said. The song wasn't slow, but wasn't fast either. Hermione brought color to her cheeks because she was dancing so hard. It was so much fun! Then came a slow dance. Draco wrapped his arms around her and she leaned on his shoulder. Almost immediately a 6th year Ravenclaw boy tapped Draco on the shoulder.

"May I cut in?" The boy asked. Hermione had to consider; he was very cute. Draco looked around and saw that people were switching partners often, so he agreed.

Hermione danced with the boy for the rest of that song. Then came another medium tempo, then another slow one. Again, a boy, Dean Thomas, tapped offered his hand to Hermione. "May I?" He asked her politely. Hermione accepted his hand and they danced, with daylight in-between them. The next slow song, many boys came up to Hermione, but she told them all of, saying this was Draco's song. Draco smiled down at his partner, who was shorter then him by a full four inches. Her shape fit perfectly into his, her head fitting right under his chin, and her skinny form slipping right into his hands.

All the boys were gaping at Hermione, and their girl partners kept huffing away, frustrated with their guy. Hermione must've danced with over fifty boys that night, but saved four special songs for Draco. Every time she told someone to back off, Draco would love Hermione so much, that he just wanted to, he didn't know, just something good. When mostly all the girls had left at four, and all the boys were still gawking at Hermione, the dance ended. Draco took Hermione back to their common room. Hermione settled in by the fire and took her shawl off for the first time that evening, revealing her laced-up dress.

Draco's mouth actually dropped. Hermione laughed and shivered at the same time. The fire wasn't going for once. "Are you cold?" Draco asked.

"Yeah, I better put my shawl back on." Hermione said grabbing it.

"No, don't do that." Draco said sitting next to her. "I'll get the fire going, and you can share my jacket with me until you're warm." Draco said, trying to make her look as sexy as possible. He loved her so much.

"Okay." Hermione said. Draco sat next to her and put his coat around her. She was instantly warm, from his jacket, and his body heat.

"Since we're this close..." Draco said and kissed her gently. Then he kissed her more passionately and intensely. Hermione grabbed his back.

"Hey, before I turned my father in, my mother taught me how to give massages, do you want one?" Draco asked Hermione.

"Yeah, I think I've been a little stressed lately." Hermione said.

"Wait right there." Draco said. He ran up to his room and got two bottles, one green, one blue. He went back down and saw her sitting on the fire, looking so pretty it almost made him bring a tear to his eye for he thought something this pretty shouldn't be in my complicated world. "We're gonna need a table that you can lie on." Draco said after he had recovered.

"Dumbledore won't mind if I..." She magiced a table up that had a blanket and a pillow, and was about four feet off the ground.

"Perfect." Draco said. Hermione laid down on her stomach. "Uh, I'm gonna need you to take off your dress."

"Draco, you pervert!" Hermione cried.

"No, you can wrap a towel around your bottom half, and I won't be able to see anything that you'll be lying on." Draco said. Hermione had to agree, so she went upstairs, took off her dress and shawl and shoes, and got a towel. She wrapped it around her and went down. When she laid down on the table, she tugged the towel down so that it was around her waist. Draco couldn't see anything at all. He started to rub her back, then he chopped it with his hands. Then he grabbed the green bottle and squirted the lotion inside onto his hands. He rubbed it into her perfect, tan, skin. Then he got the blue bottle which was scented lotion and rubbed that in. Hermione meanwhile was feeling more and more relaxed. Draco was doing a great job. When Hermione felt his hands rub into her spine she twinged a little, but then felt more relaxed.
"You know," Draco said pressing into her skin, "I think you're the most beautiful girl in the world."

"Thank you Draco, you're quite handsome yourself." Hermione said.

Draco was afraid to say what he was going to say next. He didn't want to pressure her into anything she didn't want to say, but he had to say it again. "I love you Hermione," He bit his lip wishing that she would say the same thing back.

Hermione shivered, but not from the cold. Those words made her spine tingle and her feel happy and worried at the same time. She was happy that he would say he loved her, but worried that he would want her to say the same thing back. "I...I love you too." Hermione said, stuttering at first. Draco's hands immediately stopped moving. She turned to face him.

"You do?" He asked, looking like a fat boy in a candy store.

"Yes," Hermione said, sure of herself, but still thinking of Harry. Hermione couldn't help it. 'I'll love Harry forever, that's just the way it is.' She told herself.

"We better get to bed, Hogsmeade tomorrow," Draco reminded her. Hermione pulled the towel up around herself and then got off the bed. Draco made it disappear while Hermione went upstairs and changed into pajamas.

The next morning Hermione got up and splashed cold water on her face. She put on her make-up and tied her hair into a neat bun. She got dressed in white pants and a light blue shirt with a snowflake on it. When she went to the Great Hall for breakfast, everyone stopped and stared. They all thought she had broken up with Draco since they hadn't come down to breakfast together. Immeadiately guys came up to her to ask her if they wanted to go to Hogsmeade together. Hermione had to explain over and over again that Draco had just stayed up late and would be down shortly. All the boys went away with a frown. When Draco finally came down Hermione took their permisson slips and gave them to Filch, the caretaker. Filch let them go to Hogsmeade.

When they got there, Hermione and Draco held hands and discussed where they should go first. Hermione thought that she should just stop the bugging before it started and go to Honey Duke's first. Draco was delighted. They went in the store and Draco went right over to the 'death-by-chocolate' section. He spent over an hour looking at all the choices. When he finally made his decision and purchased fudge, white chocolate, and caramel filled chocolate, he gave the white chocolate to Hermione.

Hermione was delighted and took him to Cupid's next, a little cafe where couples talked (and kissed). Draco knew well what was going on, and as soon as the couple got their hot chocolate, Draco took her hand and kissed her. Hermione blushed red as Harry and Aylen watched them, as well as Ron and Delancie.

When they were all finished with their hot chocolate, Draco stayed to pay the bill, while Hermione wandered around outside. She had just gone down a blocked alley-way and turned around to see Ron. "Hey Ron!" Hermione said and rushed up to him. She hugged him and he hugged her back.

"How you doing Hermione?" Ron asked in a very friendly way.

"Fine, how about you and Delancie?" Hermione asked.

"Great." Ron lied.

"Well, I best be going, Draco should be done paying any second." Hermione said and tried to get past Ron.

"Do you want to chat some more first?" Ron asked innocently.

"No, I really must go," Hermione said.

Ron blocked her again. "I want to talk Hermione," He said firmly this time.

"Okay, shoot," Hermione said giving in.

As a response Ron quickly leaned down and kissed Hermione. He wouldn't let her go. Hermione tried to get past him, but she couldn't. "Look Hermione, I love you." Ron said.

"I love you too," Hermione said sarcastically. "Get off," Hermione said. Ron kissed her again.

Hermione looked past Ron's shoulder to see Draco, staring at the two of them. "DRACO!" Hermione said, but knew he had seen the wrong thing. He cried as he ran away. Ron finally let her go. She ran after him, but didn't prevail.

Hermione ran into the castle but couldn't find Draco anywhere. Finally, she reluctantly went down to dinner, alone. She saw Draco sitting at the Slytherin table. She went over to him but several of his friends came up to her.

"What do you want with Draco?" One boy asked who looked rather a lot like Harry.

"Move," Hermione said cooly.

"No," Another girl said who looked like Lavender.

"I need to talk to him."

"He doesn't want to talk to you, go eat dinner with your friends." The Harry-Boy said.

"He is my friend." Hermione said almost crying with aggrivation.

"Not anymore. Not after Ron's kiss." Lavender-looking-girl said.

Hermione faced the Gryffindors. She sat down between Harry and Lavender. "Hey Hermione," Harry said.

"Hello," Hermione said looking at her shoes.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked, but Dumbledore started to speak at the same time so Hermione was saved from answering. When dinner was over Hermione went up to the head dorm. She saw lights on in Draco's room, so she knocked on the door to try to talk to him.

"Go away Hermione. You hurt me. Leave me alone." Draco said. He sounded like he was crying.

"Draco please, let me explain." Hermione said.

"NO! GET AWAY FROM ME YOU FREAK!" Draco said. Hermione was offended, so she just went to bed.

The next couple of days Hermione and Draco didn't speak to each other. In those days many boys asked Hermione out, but she said no to all of them. One night Hermione went down to dinner almost falling asleep from the heavy-loaded classes. Hermione went to sit at the head table for once. When she had finally taken her first bite of chicken she was interrupted by a tap on her arm.

"Yes," Hermione said looking up.

"Hi Herm, can we talk?" Draco said. Hermione was so amazed that she started to choke on her chicken.

"Yes, sit down." She said after a gulp of water. Draco took the head boy seat and they turned their chairs to face each other.

"Hermione, Harry just told me what happened in the alley with you and Ron. It seems that Ron told Harry about it, Harry was disgusted, and knowing that you were upset, Harry told me. I'm so sorry I wouldn't let you explain, and I'm so sorry I called you a freak. I just, fell in love with you, and then you hurt me, but now I know the reason why, and I'm so sorry."

"It's okay," Hermione said. "I made a couple of mistakes too."

"What I don't understand though, is, why did you tell Ron you loved him? Do you have a thing for him?" Draco asked.

"No, I was just being sarcastic. I promise." Hermione said. The two hugged and kissed. Many boys watching them groaned, and all the girls went back to eating their meal. The happiest couple in Hogwarts was a couple again.

The next thing she knew, Draco had left to use the bathroom, and Ron came up to her. "Get away from me Ron," Hermione said not looking at him.

"I just wanted to say I was sorry," Ron said quietly, but Hermione heard.

"Really?" Hermione asked cautiousily.

"Yes. I'm in love with Delancie. I just don't know what came over me. I just felt, I don't know, I just saw your lips and I wanted to kiss them." Ron said still not looking at her.

"Well, I guess that's okay. Just promise not to do it again."

"Promise." Ron said. The two hugged. "Can I walk you to your common room? I've never seen it before." Ron said. Hermione showed him to the portrait and said the magic password. When the hole opened up, Hermione led him through it and gave him the grand tour.

"Oh crap," Hermione said realizing that she had just left Draco, "We gotta go back and get Draco. He's looking for me." Hermione said and ran downstairs to the fireplace and sofas.

Ron ran into her, knocking her against a wall. "Ron, what are you doing." Hermione said fighting him. He held her wrists though. Hermione thought it was just a playful game. She started laughing. "Get off!" Hermione said chuckling.

Ron leaned down and Hermione fought even more, realizing this wasn't a game. "Ron, you promised!" Hermione said. She kicked everywhere she could reach, but it didn't affect Ron whatsoever. Ron kissed her...again. Hermione just kept kicking and tried to move her head, but he just kept closing back in. Eventually he stopped.

"Thanks for the tour," He said and left. Hermione fell asleep crying, and Draco didn't want to bother her.

The next couple of days were very uneventful except for a quidditch match, Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw, where the Gryffindors slaughtered the Ravenclaws. One morning at breakfast, Hermione and Draco were discussing their Winter Break, which would start in a month, when the Owl Post came in. Hermione watched with glee as an owl with a large package dropped in front of her. She opened it to see it was a birthday present, because her birthday was tomorrow. Draco saw and immeadiately smacked his forehead; he had forgotten to get her anything. Hermione read the card aloud.

Dear Hermione,
We love you as always, and wanted to with you a happy birthday. Hope it's a good one, and look forward to seeing you at Christmas time.
Love from,
Your grandmother

Hermione laughed. "Thanks grandma!" She said. She hugged the closest person to her, which happened to be Draco. Draco smiled. At lunch, Draco made an excuse to go to his room, and Hermione knew he had forgotten. She loved how he wanted to make it seem like he had remembered.

The next morning, a Saturday, Hermione woke to find a smiling Draco and a bundle of presents on the foot of her bed. As soon as he saw her eyes flutter he flung his arms around her and kissed her forehead. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Draco said into her ear.

"Thanks," Hermione said rubbing her ear, laughing.

"Whoops, sorry! Happy November 28th!" Draco said.

"Thank you!" Hermione cried hugging him back.

She started unwrapping the present from Delancie. It was a pair of shorts that said dancer on the back. "Aww, thanks Delancie!" Hermione cried. Next came Axia's present. It was a pair of quidditch BIG socks and a nice hat and mittens to match. They were perfect with red and gold trimming. And so it went on. Ron and Harry both gave her chocolate, Aylen a nice bracelet with "English Girl" on it. Ava gave her a big teddy bear the size of Hermione. Amy gave her a gift certificate to any clothing store on Diagon Alley. Lastly, but not least of course was Draco's present. Hermione shook the little box. She couldn't tell what it was.

When she opened it she saw the word "Timmany's" Which was a very fancy jewelry company. "Draco, you didn't!" Hermione cried. Most of their things were over 700 dollars.

"I couldn't resist." Draco said. Hermione gave him a thankful glance and then opened up the box. Inside was a tiny locket with 'Herm' writtern upon it. It was real gold, and had a very nice gold chain. Hermione opened up the locket and inside was a moving picture of her and Draco. Draco was kissing Hermione and Hermione had her hands on his back. "Awww, Draco!" Hermione said. She looked at him. She kissed him.

"Happy Birthday Sweetness," Draco said.

"Thank you Darling!" Hermione said. To anyone outside their group of friends, they would have sounded like a married couple.

All that day, Draco and Harry went everywhere with Hermione and shouted out for all to hear that it was her birthday. Every time someone looked in their direction she blushed. When Draco finally went to the library Hermione grabbed Harry and took him into a broom closet with her. "Harry, thank you so much for setting things straight about me and Ron to Draco. I owe my heart to you." Hermione said.

"No problem Hermione, are you still mad at him?" Harry asked curiousily.

Hermione was mad at Ron. He had tricked her into kissing him a second time. She had known him since first year however, and she couldn't forget that. "I don't know. Does he still like me?" Hermione asked.

"Well, I don't know. But, I know that he loves Delancie. You're just the girl that he's always wanted, and Delancie's the girl that he will come to love and marry. This phaze will pass, believe me. Look, I just want to see my friends back together like the old times. Ever since you became head girl and Ron and I got girlfriends everything has changed. We never talk anymore, and more fights are starting to brew when we finally do talk. I want to start spending more time with you and Ron. Aylen will just have to understand that my friends come first." Harry said.

"Oh Harry, everyone can understand you with that perfect smile." Hermione said playfully.

He kissed her hand, "You're knight in shining armor is here Madame." He said sarcastically.

"Why thank you oh so handsome prince." Hermione said. She lept onto his back and they rode out of the closet right into Professor McGonagall. The two burst out laughing, rolling on the floor while the professor got up to dust herself off.

"What, may I ask, were you two doing in that broom closet?" She asked huffily.

"Having fun professor, you should try it some time!" Harry cried. He swooped up Hermione, swung her on his back, and went riding galliantly away.

"Kids," Professor McGonagall said with a smile. She knew that this was their last year, and that she would miss them. They were already 17, and would be making their way in the world in just a few short months. The professor took a deep sigh, picked up her books, and continued on her way.
That next week Hermione and Ron made up. Hermione trusted Ron again, and he didn't make any more advances towards her. The three friends started to hang out again. Draco, Aylen, and Delancie understood that the three had been friends for a long time and accepted the fact that friends came first. However the three friends also spent lots of time with their loved ones, so that they didn't feel neglected.

Harry and Ron won the next quidditch match against Hufflepuff. The time flew by. One morning found Hermione in her bed, the Monday before they got off for Winter Break. Their last day of school was Saturday. Hermione woke with a yawn and got out of bed. She showered and dressed and went down to breakfast.

Almost as soon as she got there Dumbledore started the morning off with the usual morning announcements. It was all very boring until...

"For the first time ever, we will be having a Christmas Ball. Since all of you did so good at the Halloween Ball, we decided to try this. It will be only for 7th years this time though. That is all, have fun!" Hermione rushed out to the owlrey. She wanted to be unique this year and ask her grandma to buy her a dress. On Thursday night the dress arrived, and the ball was tomorrow, Friday. She opened up the carefully wrapped box and inside found a beautiful red dress. It had green trimming and the pattern of white ornaments sewn into it. Hermione suspected that her grandma had put a charm on it so that everyone's attention was magically drawn to the dress and Hermione. She put it away and saw matching red shoes and green nail polish.

The next night, Saturday, Hermione met Draco in the library again, and he was astounded by her dress. She had left her hair down for once, and her make-up was perfectly done. Everything that she wore matched, and he felt extremely lucky to have her as a girlfriend.

Draco also looked nice. He was wearing a black tuexdo with a rose in the jacket pocket that changed from red to green coloration. He had styled the front part of his hair up, for the first time ever, and it had a nice effect on his face.

They ambled to the Great Hall, talking and laughing as they walked, and was completely surprised to see a big crowd all pushing to get into the locked doors. "What's this?" Hermione asked, looking around for a teacher. Suddenly she found one, one who was coming right towards her.

"You two -" breath "I need you-" breath "now." Professor Dumbledore managed to say. He was clutching his side and his breathing was fast and short breaths. Hermione and Draco hurriedly followed him thinking something bad had happened. They followed him to his office, where about four other professors were. Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape got up from their chairs immediately so the two students could sit down. Hermione hestitantly took the seat; Draco sat next to her. The two looked at each other and then Dumbledore who had seated himself behind the desk.

"Draco, I have some very bad news. I wanted to bring Hermione along because I know you two are close, but if you want her to leave, I'm sure she will understand." Draco looked at Hermione.

"Of course she can stay." He said. "But only if she holds my hand." He whispered the last part. She took hold of his hand, which was extremely sweaty and hot. She squeezed it and he smiled.

Draco braced himself for the worst. "Your father is dead Draco," Dumbledore said. Draco relaxed. It wasn't that big of a deal, he had betrayed him before. But it still was sad.

"That's all?" Draco asked.

"Well, yes." Dumbledore said obviousily surprised by his response. "Do you want to know how he was killed?" Dumbledore asked.

"I guess," Draco said casually.

"He was killed by a deatheater. He killed someone without permisson, we are told." Dumbledore said.

"Well, if that's all then I think we'll leave." Draco said. Dumbledore nodded and the two left. Outside of the room Draco grabbed Hermione's hand, or at least, he tried too. She withdrew her hand. "What are you doing?" Draco asked when he had tried and failed to grab her hand a second time.

"Getting away from you. Your father just died. You realize that? HE DIED! You can't just talk about him that way, even if he was mean to you and he was under Voldemort, he's still your father."

"I hate him though Hermione. He was for Voldemort! I don't care if he dies. Come on, let's just go to the ball. Please?"

"Fine." Hermione said and walked quickly to the ball.

At the ball she did only one slow dance with Draco and did all the others with at least thirty boys. When the ball was over she went up to her bedroom immediately and quickly changed, washed her face, and brushed her teeth. She was in bed reading when she heard a knock on the door. "Come in," She said angrily and Draco walked in.

"Hermione, can we talk? I know you're mad at me, but you have to understand, he wasn't a father-like figure. Even before I betrayed him he would beat me and my mother was my only source of happiness. I hated him from the beggining. When my mother died and my happiness ended I realized he was bad."

He sat down on her bed. "But he still helped bring you into this world. You have to accept that, no matter if he was Hitler!" Hermione said.

"Who's that?" Draco asked.

"Never mind. Just accept the fact that he was your father."

"But he wasn't my father. He was a mean and nasty neighbor who visited often. At least that's what it seemed like." Draco said.

"Well, good night." Hermione said. She kicked him off her bed and turned out the light. She heard Draco stomp out of the room. The couple was officially broken up.

The next morning when Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table without Draco coming in with her, everyone knew something was wrong. Hermione was tired and she just collapsed on the bench and sat on Harry by mistake. "Whoa, their is already someone in this seat," Harry said playfully. He grabbed her waist and moved her over, sitting inbetween him and Ron.

"Oh sorry Harry," Hermione said in a tired voice, not looking at him.

"Where's Draco?" Ron asked.

"We broke up." It seemed like the whole school had been listening because as soon as she said that a Ravenclaw sixth year came up to their table and asked Hermione out. She declined.

"You know, we leave today for Christmas Break." Ron said.

"Yeah I know," Hermione said. More boys were flocking up to her by the second. Then she saw Draco amble into the hall looking at Hermione's table. What he saw disgusted him. He had just broken up with her, and all those guys had already found out and were displaying their love for her. He was jealous. 'Get away from her, she's mine!' He said in his mind, and then remembered, she wasn't his anymore. He sighed.

Meanwhile Hermione was having trouble talking to Ron and Harry because of the many boys. "NO I WILL NOT GO OUT WITH ANY OF YOU! IF I LIKE YOU I'LL ASK YOU OUT! GO AWAY!" Hermione shouted.

They all left. "You tell em' Hermione!" Harry said and slapped her hi-5. She was still so tired though.

"Anyway, I was about to ask... do you want to come to the burrow with Harry over the holidays?" Ron asked.

"Uh, I can't." Hermione said reluctantly. "I have to stay here as head girl and patrol the halls for the students left here."

"That s u c k s." Ron said.

"Yup," Hermione replied.

"Do you want us to stay here?" Ron asked. "No wait, I can't. I have to go home and see Percy. Dad and him have finally made up and I'm supposed to come home to see him." Ron said. "I'm sorry Herm." Ron said.

"It's okay," Hermione said.

"You want me to stay Herm? I would, I'd do anything for you." Harry said giving her an unexpected hug. "I would though, really, do you want me to stay?" Harry asked sweetly.

"No, I'm fine." Hermione said.

"But you haven't touched your breakfast." Harry turned to Ron. "Ron, I've decided to stay here, please give your mother my warmest regards." Harry said. Quickly after he stated this Dumbledore announced anyone who was leaving for Winter Break should report to the trains now. Ron left Hermione with a kiss on the cheek and shook Harry's hand. Then Harry led Hermione into the empty Gryffindor common room and they wizard chess. Even Aylen had gone home.

That night was Hermione's first Winter Break patrol. She had to do it with Draco. The two didn't talk, except the occasional "sorry" when one bumped into the other. When the three long dreadful hours were over Hermione went up to the boys' Gryffindor dorm to find a sleeping Harry. She woke him up and they played Gobbstones. He beat her. Then he persuaded her to sleep in the boys' dorm because it was only the two of them. She slept in the bed next to Harry that night.

The next day Harry and Hermione did their homework. At lunch they noticed their was only three students staying at Hogwarts besides themselves. A Ravenclaw first year, a Hufflepuff fifth year, and Draco. Why Dumbledore had made her stay, she didn't know.

Meanwhile Draco had noticed that Harry had stayed. He got very suspicious. He still loved Hermione, and wanted her back. He thought about her all the time, and saw her in his dreams. He had begged Dumbledore the Friday night that they had a fight to make her stay, and he had made up some excuse. But stupid Harry had messed it up and he had stayed too. This messed up Draco's plan.

That night Harry and Hermione took a walk around the lake, and Hermione told Harry everything that had happened between her and Draco after and before the ball. She had wept on his shoulder. He hadn't cared.

That night during patrol Draco said hi to Hermione. She had said hi back, but that had been all the dialogue for that night. Draco was running out of time to make progress with Hermione. It was only one and a half more weeks until break was over. The next night he actually had a conversation with her, and later in the night Hermione told Harry that she still considered Draco her friend.

The very next night the two patrolers were patroling the halls when they saw the Bloody Baron. "Quick, in here!" Draco shouted and pushed her into a broom closet.

"What are we doing in here?" Hermione asked.

"The Bloody Baron..." Draco said weakly.

"You're honestly afraid of him?" Hermione asked.

Draco knew she was onto him, "No." Draco said truthfully. "Look, I love you. Please, I'm so sorry about the way I acted. I know he was my father, and I have accepted it. I just really want you back. Please will you be my girlfriend again?" Draco asked her pleadingly.

Hermione hesitated. She knew this was coming, but all the same she wasn't ready for it. "I'll think about it," Hermione said. But deep inside she knew she still loved him. The two had friendly conversation the rest of the night.

When Hermione finally got back from patrol duty she went straight to Harry. He was sitting at a table in the dorm waiting for her. "We need to talk." Hermione said sitting in the chair across from him. "Draco asked me out again," Hermione said.

"Good. I was getting worried about you. You realize you haven't eaten since the ball on Friday? And you've been shedding all over me. You're hair is falling out," Harry said.

"What?!" Hermione screamed. She tugged at her hair.

It came out in her hand. "You should say yes." Harry continued. "From the way you talk about him, and how often you talk about him, I know you still love him. Say yes Hermione," Harry said.

"I will," she said with a grin. "I'll tell him tomorrow at patrol."

The next night Hermione had worn her most sexy looking top and pants; she was wearing a blue tight top and white tight pants. As soon as Draco saw her, his jaw literally dropped. He didn't say anything. Hermione walked silently up to him and they started to patrol. At almost the end of the three hours Hermione felt it was time to tell him. Almost the same time as she was thinking this Draco pushed her into the same closet as before. "Have you thought about what I asked you?" He asked her.

"Yes I have. And my answer is yes." Hermione said. Draco came toward her advancingly and she backed up against a wall.

"Thank god Hermione, because you look so d a m n sexy in that outfit." He said. And then he kissed her hard. He started to actually grab her butt, for the first time ever. "That is one good piece of @$$!" He said. She laughed and they continued to make out. "Holy crap Hermione!" He said. She just silently started to kiss his neck. It was getting very hot when Draco's watch beeped two o clock in the morning. Patrol duty was over. Hermione and Draco didn't care at first and kept kissing, but then Hermione wanted to tell Harry, so she insisted on leaving.

"One more night in Gryffindor Tower, and then I'll be back!" She called after him. She ran up to the Gryffindor Tower in her clogs and found him asleep on the couch.
"WAKE UP!" She shouted in his ear.

"Wha-" Harry said on reflexes getting up. He yawned. "Oh hey Hermione. How'd it go?" He asked her.

"Great, I told him and we kissed the whole night." Hermione said gleefully.

"That's awesome. I want some lips!" Harry cried. "Aylen's I mean," He said as an after thought. Hermione laughed.

"Don't worry Potty, I know you love your girlfriend." She teased. He chased her around the whole entire common room until he caught her. He grabbed her and picked her up.

"I AM STRONG MAN!" He shouted. He set her down gently on a couch which she bounced on once. Then he sat next to her. "It's great you got him back Hermione. With the way he treats you, I'm sure that he loves you." Harry said matter-of-factly.

"Well aren't you just Mister Love Expert!" She cried. He chased her again but this time to no prevail. She locked herself in the bathroom and brushed her teeth and washed her face. Then she finally came out and changed. Harry was waiting for her when she came out in her pajamas. As she went into the common room looking for him he grabbed her again. She giggled.

"Come on, let's go to sleep," He said and carried her off to bed.

The next night Hermione was back in the head common room. The rest of the break passed well and then Ron came back. Hermione filled him in on everything over a walk around the lake. Their was another ball, in which Hermione spent all of the slow dances in Draco's arms. The homework was loading up on them as the NEWT's were only a few weeks away.

Then one morning about a month until NEWTS, Hermione recieved a letter from a very familiar owl, one she had not seen since summer. It was Viktor Krum's owl. She quickly excused herself from breakfast and went up to her room to read her letter.

Dearest Hermione,
I have not written to you for many a months, I know. I have slowly come to realize that I love you, true love. I write this letter to ask you to be my wife. In Bulgaria, where I live, you are allowed to get married at the age of eighteen, which would be your next birthdays. You could finish out your education at Hogwarts, then come to live with me in an apartment. There we you could be my number one supporter for quidditch. Then, when you turn eighteen we would be married. Please do this Hermione, I love you. I need you and your body. Please please except my marriage proposal, and write back right away, even if the answer is no. I love you Hermione
Your love and future husband, Viktor Krum

Hermione gasped for breath. She fanned herself. "Oh my god. Oh my god!" Hermione had a panic attack; she started to freak out. She screamed, kicked, screamed more until someone Draco came up to the common room. She quickly hid the letter in her pocket and let him carry her to the Hospital Wing. There, Madame Pomfrey gave her a special potion and let Draco stay to try to calm her. Hermione still couldn't breathe very well, and the edge of the letter sticking her in the side wasn't helping her forget Viktor's letter much. She didn't want to let Draco know about the letter yet though.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" Draco asked soothingly when he finally thought she had calmed down somewhat.

Hermione broke out into hysterics again. "I -" She tried to speak but the short breath and Draco's finger stopped her from talking. Once she had calmed down again, he kissed her.

"Okay, I'm not asking that question again, but what can I do to help?" Hermione thought.

"Can you please just love me right now? I need your help; I need to receive love."

"Of course," Draco said. He kissed her again and wrapped his arms tightly around her. Then Madame Pomfrey came in.

"Please children. Draco, I'm going to have to ask you to leave, visiting hours are over."

"Please professor, he calms down. He helps me. Please let him stay?" Hermione begged.

"Well, I guess if it helps the patient..." Madame Pomfrey bustled off and before she was even out of sight Draco swooped down on Hermione and kissed her again.

"If love is what you need, you're gonna get lots of it." Draco said in-between kisses up and down her neck. Hermione felt a tingling sensation up and down her body, especially in one very private area. She let Draco hold her and kiss her. It felt so nice. From somewhere outside the Hospital Wing faint slow dancing music came on. Draco immediately put her in his arms and they started to slow dance. Hermione felt warmth around her waist where he held her, and the occasional kiss made her tingle up and down. His breath on the back of her neck made her feel warm, and when he whispered in her ear, he whispered soft sweet things that comforted her. She forgot all about the letter.

The next couple of days Draco stayed with Hermione in the Hospital Wing 24/7. She was only in the Hospital Wing because she would break out in screaming everytime she noticed the letter poking out from under her pillow, where she had put it. Draco kept his promise and she got lots of love from him.

A week after Viktor's letter, Hermione was in the Hospital Wing for the last day. Draco was off getting all of their homework for them to do tonight, when Hermione heard a tap on the window. She looked out the window and saw Viktor's owl, Juke. She screamed and slowly let the owl in. The hot spring wind came flowing in the window along with the owl and grasped her. She suddenly had the urge to go outside, but she had to face the letter first. She let Juke fly back out the window with a little of her breakfast and sat down on her bed. She opened the letter carefully.

My love,
I have not heard from you in response to my previous letter. I repeat that I love you and want to marry you, and I wish to have a reply soon. My parents wish to meet you as soon as you take the NEWT'S. I hope you will respond because my heart will break if you don't.
The one that loves you,
Vicky

Hermione took it calmly. "What does he mean previous letter?" Draco said. She jumped. He had been reading over her shoulder, and he had surprised her.

She quickly hid it, but it was to late, he had already seen. "Hermione, what previous letter? I didn't finish reading what it said." Hermione knew she had to tell him, and that now was the time. She went over to her pillow and took out Viktor's first letter. She handed it over to him. Draco dropped the books and quills he was carrying on a table and quickly read the letter. His face had no expression as he motioned to see the second letter. He read this one as well, and then turned to face Hermione. "Are you going to reply?" He asked, still expressionless.

"Yes, I suppose I should." Hermione said, resenting the letters.

"What are you going to say?" Draco asked.

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