Our Little Secret

A/N: I hope you like it! my other HrD fic came to screeching halt when i realized i had no clear direction with it - so i started another. Anyone who is wants to expand/totally take over "A New Day Rising" is completely welcome. Just let me know and i'll send you my stuff on it - if it helps. But if not..just let me know so i can take it down. Other than that - i want to say thank you to my betas - Lady WinterhartZ.C. and whateverworks. They do amazing jobs when they read my stuff - and they are doing it very quickly =) I hope everyone enjoys it, and please don't hesitate to leave me reviews - I always like to hear what my readers think. If i can't change this fic to fit your suggestions, i'll most likely take it into consideration when i write another.

Enjoy!

While we’re young and beautiful
Livin’ free and easy
Here without a worry
Dancin’ in our barefeet
Cause when the summer’s done
We might not be so young and beautiful
-Carrie Underwood; We’re Young and Beautiful

Chapter 1

Nearly 8 months prior, in July:

Hermione laughed as she watched her four-year-old cousin dance in the Atlantic Ocean. The little girl ran in and out of the water, screaming in delight as the cold waves crashed on the shore. Her little arms stuck out to the sides being held up by bright orange floatation bands. Immersed in the beauty of her tiny cousin, she did not notice the blonde walking their way.

“Cute kid, Granger. She yours?”

Surprised by someone’s recognition of her, she snapped her head toward the acknowledgment. She shielded her eyes from sun and frowned in confusion at whom she saw. “In a way. She’s my little cousin. What are you doing here, Malfoy?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing – this is a pretty rich neighborhood.” He sat down beside her in the sand. She laughed to herself when she noticed his Muggle shorts and t-shirt. She realized she had never seen his bare legs. Suddenly, she became painfully aware of her own attire: short shorts and tight tank top.

“Just because I’m Muggle doesn’t mean I’m poor. And why are you in a Muggle neighborhood?”

“We have a house here. Mother and Father decided to stay at the Manor this summer – so I came here.”

“Not interested in playing Death Eater this summer?” She looked back at her cousin, hoping he’d take the hint and leave.

“No. I guess not.” Hermione frowned. Looking back at him in curiosity, she found him drawing in the sand with his fingers. “Are you here all summer?”

His civility shocked her. Unable to answer his question, she asked one of his own. “What are you playing at?”

“Excuse me?”

“Why are you pretending to be a decent person?”

Sighing, Draco stood up and brushed off his pants. “It might surprise you to know, Granger, but I am a decent person. Maybe I’ll see you around.” Hermione watched him continue to walk down the beach, catching her breath at his stunning silhouette. Clenching her teeth to get a grip of her hormones, she stood up and dragged her cousin away from the water.

0o0o0o0

Later that night Hermione calmly got ready for a date. After the fiasco with Ron last winter, she was ready and willing to step back into the market. Hogwarts proved to be a difficult atmosphere to attract men when they knew Ron’s strong, undying feelings for her. It was summers and other vacations she was able to step out of her schoolgirl frame and be carefree. The cute Muggle, who lived in the summerhouse a few down from her own, had asked her out to dinner a few weeks ago. They had gone out several times between then and this particular night. He had kissed her and confessed he might have been falling in love. She was nowhere near at the same place as him, but she enjoyed his company and expressed her sentiments. She figured she’d let him down gently at the end of the summer – citing the distance between them would never work.

Dressed in her newest flirty summer dress, Hermione applied a little lip-gloss before picking a small purse and walking onto the porch to join her family. She chatted with them before Joe, the Muggle boy, walked up her front path. Waving to her family, she took Joe’s extended hand. He led her down the street to the small bistro Hermione loved.

“You look very pretty tonight, Hermione.” Joe smiled at her.

She beamed back up at him. “Thank you, Joe. You look very nice too. It’s a beautiful night for a walk through town.”

“Yes. So tell me more about yourself. We’ve been vacationing in the same town for years, we’ve gone out a few times, and I still barely know you.”

Hermione filled him with as much as she could without revealing her magical ability. He laughed at her description of her study habits just as they were reaching the bistro. Uncalculated by Hermione, Draco decided to eat out that very same night.

“You’ve got to be joking.” Joe laughed as he held the door open for her. “No 18-year-old actually makes study charts!”

Hermione blushed but was saved from a response as Draco interrupted. “She’s very serious. I’ve seen them.”

Hermione frowned at the surprised look that Joe currently sported. “You know each other?” Joe looked back and forth between the tall, handsome blonde and the petite, pretty brunette.

“Uh –“ Hermione was at a loss for words.

“We go to school together.” Draco answered as he handed the woman behind the counter his bill.

“You go to boarding school with him?” Joe asked her. His eyes darkened in jealousy.

“Uh. Yes. We attend the same school. But we aren’t really friends.”

Draco smirked as she tried to control the damage he was ensuing without being rude. “Yea. More like enemies.” He winked at her. “See you around, Granger.”

Hermione groaned as he walked out the door and left her with a very jealous Muggle.

It had taken her the entire night to distract Joe from the simple interruption. Every time she talked about her friends, he questioned her about the amount of males that went to the school and where they slept in relation to her own dormitory. Finally annoyed with his incessant questioning, she ended the night early claiming to have a headache. In actuality, she did have a headache from the stress of trying to save face to a boy she would never ever love. Sighing, she realized Draco Malfoy had just saved her from an unsatisfying summer. She decided to call Joe the next morning and tell him they couldn’t see each other anymore.

For the time being, she needed to relax. With her little cousin screaming in protest of bedtime, Hermione opted to walk along the beach. Everything always seemed better when she could walk with her toes in the sand.

She had made it to a worn down lifeguard tower when she decided that men, and love in general, were too difficult for even her to navigate. Hermione climbed the tower and dangled her feet over the side as she watched the early summer sun sink below the horizon.

“Your date is over already?”

Hermione groaned at the familiar voice. “Do you ever show up invited?”

For the first time in the seven years Hermione claimed to know the young man – he smiled. “I get invited when people want me around, but that’s rare. I usually invite myself. Exhibit A.” Draco climbed up on the lifeguard tower and, once again, sat beside her. “So. Bad date?”

“Yes. Thanks to you.” Hermione hung her head. “Some how I always pick the jealous type.”

Draco smirked. “I suppose my comment shook things up a bit.”

“Yes. He couldn’t get over why my enemy would have seen my study charts. And then he asked about my friends. Of course, most of them are male as well.” She sighed. “I’m better off ending it now, rather than when I tell him he can’t come visit my ‘boarding school’.”

Draco nodded. “You never told me how long you were going to be here for.”

Hermione looked up, curious to why he was asking and debating if she should answer. “Until the week before Hogwarts starts again. Then I go to –” She paused, knowing she could not tell him the true answer. “I’ll go visit Harry, Ginny, and Ron.”

“Ah yes. The Golden Trio. I wouldn’t expect you to go a whole summer without seeing those two.”

Hermione smiled slightly at the nickname. “I hate that – ‘The Golden Trio.’” She leaned back against the tower. “It’s so pompous. Ron loves it though.”

And there it was again, his smile. Hermione bit her cheek to keep from smiling in return. “I would have guessed that. I suppose it’s not very becoming from where you sit.”

“From your seat either - I would suppose.” She smiled, praying it he would think she was smiling to herself – regardless of the truth. “I see nothing ‘golden’ about being united over a war.”

Draco’s eyes widened in surprise. “That’s the only reason you are friends with them? The war against the Dark Lord?”

Hermione contemplated her answer as he brushed his platinum locks from his eyes. “It’s not the reason for my friendship with Harry and Ginny. I love them. Harry is the brother I wish I had, and Ginny is the sister. But Ron – he’s a git, who I only put up with, now, for Harry’s sake.”

“Well, aren’t you honest.”

Hermione smirked. The honest truth was she had no clue why she was being so forthcoming. She had no reason to be so with him, yet she felt comfortable in the moment. “Well seeing I’m so honest, how about you answer one. Who is your best friend?”

Without hesitation he answered while picking at the white paint on the tower. “Blaise. We both hate this war. Neither of us want to choose a side – but we know the minute we turn 18 we’ll have to take the mark.” Stunned to silence from his own open honesty, Hermione could not tear her eyes from him. He looked back at her and they stayed that way for several minutes. “Well?” His eyes searched hers for a response.

“Nothing. I’m just surprised – I’m older than you.” Both of the teenagers knew that was not what truly shocked her, yet both laughed at the naïve comment. It was that moment that Draco knew - she would change his life.

He continued to laugh, out of happiness, as he jumped down from the tower. It was happiness he could never remember feeling. He reached his arms up to her and said, “Well, you old maid, why don’t I walk you home. It’s too dark for you to go alone.”

She giggled at his joke and accepted his help down. If giggling at Draco Malfoy had not been enough to through her off balance, landing only inches away from his tall, broad body did. Catching her breath she took in his heavenly scent. She stepped away from him half out of fear of what was to come and began the short walk to her beach house.

By early August, Draco and Hermione seemed to never be apart – unless, of course, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy decided to visit their son. These visits halted their companionship and put Draco in a foul mood. Hermione, still unable to fully grasp the newly discovered Draco, secretly sighed in relief when they came to town. She was able to take a breath and reflect on their budding relationship.

It scared her. As a child and young woman, Hermione often dreamt of her wedding day with a faceless groom. The night she saw that faceless groom transform into Draco, she became scared. She felt as though she was diving head first into a whirlwind romance that was only going to last the summer.

Her parents’ apparent love for the blonde did not help Hermione’s anxiety over the relationship. They knew he was a wizard with whom Hermione attended school; however, neither Hermione nor Draco, filled them in on his position on the war – or his affiliations. As Muggles, they knew little of it. Hermione liked it that way.

Hermione’s mother once asked why her letters home never spoke of Draco. Hermione told her the truth – they had been enemies since first year. Her mother replied, “I suppose the best ones are always right under our noses and we need to stop looking at the sky to notice.” Hermione though it applied to Draco more than her, but agreed with her mother nevertheless.

Hermione could honestly say she never expected to fall for Draco so easily, much less – at all. Even so, when Draco wasn’t around, she missed him. Hermione and Draco decided they would not tell their world about their relationship, and that was why she would not see him for the next week. Ginny was set to visit, and they did not want their relationship getting back to Harry or Ron.

0o0o0o0

Ginny and Hermione laughed as they caught up while helping Hermione’s mother with dinner.

“And then he fell off his broom!” Ginny giggled as she retold a story about Ron seeing her and Harry kiss.

“Typical.” Hermione smiled.

“Here, girls. Please set the table.” Hermione’s mother passed them a stack of plates and utensils.

“Ok, Mrs. Granger.” Ginny smiled at the older woman.

“Please Ginny – call me Jane.”

Ginny nodded and the girls left the kitchen. A short time later they returned with an extra plate.

“Mom, you gave us one too many.”

“Oh? I gave you six?”

“No, five. Are you expecting someone else?”

“I just assumed Draco was coming, like always.”

Hermione’s stomach jumped into her throat.

“Draco?” Ginny croaked.

“Yes. You must know him. Draco Malfoy? Hermione’s boyfriend?”

“Excuse me.” Hermione left the room, waiting for Ginny to rush after her. The news was out – the secret news. Hermione was not sure what to say to Ginny now. Hermione quickly got to her room and sat on the window seat. She heard the door creak open.

“Mione?” Without looking at her best friend, she moved her feet to clear a spot for her to sit. “I suppose by your reaction, this is true. What’s going on?”

Hermione took a deep breath. “For about two months I’ve been seeing Draco. He has a house in town.”

“Ok. So he’s changed? You wouldn’t be with him if he hadn’t.”

“He hasn’t changed –“

“Then why are you with him?”

“Ginny. Let me explain. He hasn’t changed; he just doesn’t have his mask on. There is a lot you don’t know and think you do. I can tell you – he wants to be neutral but his father obviously won’t let him. I think – I think I’m falling in love with him, Ginny.”

Ginny didn’t say anything. She merely blinked, trying to process Hermione’s proclamation. Hermione remained silent as well, waiting for Ginny to adjust. Hermione knew she would have several questions.

“Do his parents know?”

“No. You and my family are the only ones who know. For obvious reasons, I want to keep it that way.”

“Are you going to tell Harry and Ron?”

“I hope to eventually. But as of now – Draco and I aren’t telling anyone.”

“What are you going to do when school starts again?”

“We haven’t discussed it. It’s a little difficult to bring up.”

“What do you want to do?”

Hermione smiled tightly. “I want to be able to walk down the halls of Hogwarts holding his hand. But you and I both know that’s impossible. I wasn’t lying – I’m falling in love with him.”

Ginny gave a small smile to her friend. “I have you kissed yet?”

Hermione giggled and dropped her head into her hands. She squealed, “Yes!”

For the rest of Ginny’s visit, Hermione was able to breathe easy. Draco even met the two girls at the beach one day. It was then that he proved to Ginny that was indeed different then how the world saw him.

“One thing I don’t understand, Malfoy, is why now? Why show your ‘true’ colors now?” Ginny passed Draco a sandwich that Hermione’s mother made.

Draco thanked her and took a bite – contemplating exactly how to answer her question. “I know this isn’t the best analogy, but I’m going to use it anyway. You, Ginny, were obviously born into a world of light – but say you were actually a dark person. You were not a product of your environment, and instead of understanding the ways of the Order, you directly connected with the Dark Lord.” Hermione frowned, thinking it was not at all possible. Draco continued, ignoring her skeptical expression.

“Of course you couldn’t go against everything your parents had taught you as a child, because you are a minor and cannot support yourself. So instead of being tortured into understanding – like you watched your father do to your mother –“ Hermione and Ginny gasped, Draco ignored it. “- you pretend to hate Muggles and Muggleborns. You pretend to hate Dumbledore and the Order, and you do everything in your power to fool your father into thinking you’re on his side.” Draco took another bite of his sandwich before continuing.

“I watched my father torture my mother into becoming a robot. I know she doesn’t believe the things she seems too, because she’s told me they are wrong. She’s the reason I truly am whom I am – but I can’t let anyone know. If I do my father will know that she had an influence over me, and probably kill her. So until the day I can leave the dark with my mother beside me – I will continue to pretend. Right now –“ He smiled at Hermione and took her hand. “When he isn’t here, I can show who I really and chase after my dreams.”

Ginny could not manage a breath of response, so she merely nodded and ate her own sandwich. Draco held Hermione’s gaze for a few moments before he was certain she knew he was speaking the truth. Hermione was certain she had fallen deeper in love with him at that moment. Not only had he bared his soul to her, but her best friend as well – so their relationship would be accepted.

0o0o0

Two weeks after Ginny’s departure, Hermione and Draco were cuddling on the beach watching the sun set. Hermione’s bags were packed and set by the door. She was set to leave in the morning, but the tension on the beach could be cut with a knife.

“So are we going to talk about this?” Hermione started.

“No.” She wanted to hope he was joking, but his tone was icy and cold.

“No?”

“What is there to discuss?”

“I don’t know?” her voice dripped with sarcasm. “Maybe what we are going to do and say and act like when we are back at Hogwarts.” Draco remained silent, his lips pursed in frustration. “Draco – we can’t leave each other tonight and not know what’s going to happen between us.” He remained silent still. “This was a great summer – that’s for sure – but maybe that’s all it is.”

Draco’s frustration boiled into anger. His normally placid face erupted in emotion. “You’re saying that the past two months was just a waste of time – a summer fling. You’re saying you feel nothing for me.” He pushed her off of him so he could stand.

His back was to her now, she propped herself on her hands, still sitting. “No of course I feel something for you – but this isn’t going to work. You and I both know that Draco! You’re the son of a Death Eater – unwillingly but inevitably going to take the Dark Mark. I’m the daughter of Muggles and Harry Potter’s best friend! You think this can work?”

He turned around and fell to his knees in front of her. “Yes.” He hissed. “I would do anything in my power to keep you as mine, Hermione. My heart is only whole when you’re around – and I can’t go back to being empty. I’ve breathed you in, and I refuse to breathe you out again.”

Hermione’s heart melted at his words. She knew she’d never feel for a man the way she has grown to feel for Draco. Tears brimmed at her eyes as his pleaded with her to keep holding on. Could they do this? “What do you expect this relationship to be like when we get back to Hogwarts?” She ran a hand through his blonde hair, his head tilted to feel every bit of her he could. “We can’t walk down the halls holding hands. We can’t kiss goodbye after breakfast in the Great Hall. We can’t attend the All Hollows Eve Ball together. What are you expecting?”

“I’m not expecting anything, Hermione. I know we’ll have to do this in secret – I know it will be tough on both of us. But I can’t go on knowing that you’re with someone else – knowing that someone else is making you happy in a way I can’t.”

“No one will ever make me feel the way you have this summer, Draco.” The tears had finally escaped her eyes. She closed her darling brown eyes from the world as she felt his thumb brush the salty droplet away. She never wanted to forget the feeling of his skin on hers – however so minute.

“Then we can do this, Hermione. I know it will be hard – but at least when I see you in the halls, you’ll know that I was dreaming about you the night before. You’ll know that my heart is beating faster because you’re around. And I’ll know the same about you. I can’t lose you.” Draco had to struggle to keep his own tears hidden from her. He wasn’t ready to lose the one person who had allowed him to be himself.

She had seen him at his best – lazily playing the guitar he hid from his father. Every song he wrote that summer was about her. He loved to watch her feet sway to the beat of an original ballad. He loved the smile she wore when he brought her a glass of the lemonade Mrs. Granger had made. She had seen him at his worst as well. He smirked at the memory of Mr. Granger insisting he fix the Granger’s fence after he punched it. His father had just left and informed him Blaise had deserted the Dark Lord. He did not punch the fence out of anger, but jealousy. She had watched him destroy the white pickets, and helped him paint the new posts as her father insisted on it being fixed the Muggle way. No – he couldn’t lose her.

She continued to stroke his hair, running the same memories through her own mind. She knew that if she refused him, her own heart would break. Was she willing to sneak around and yearn for him when he stood right in front of her? “Ok.” She whispered.

“Ok?” His eyes shined with hope.

“I can’t lose you either, Draco. But we have to be smart about this. It’s not Harry and Ron I’m worried about – it’s the Dark Lord. I’m more concerned that you, rather than me, will be discovered.” She was nervous about Harry and Ron discovering their relationship, but she knew they would never murder her. Dumbledore would never torture her because of her love for Draco. Love? Was it really love?

“I know.” Draco pulled her close. “We’ll be careful – our little secret.” His whisper slid down her spine.

“Yes.” She locked eyes with him and smirked – one he recognized as his own. It wasn’t surprising that it thrilled him - a piece of him had become a piece of her. “Our little secret.” She whispered in conclusion before pulling him into a passionate kiss.

Their last moments of freedom together were spent in complete ecstasy as the waves crashed on the wet sand, and the warm water cascaded around them. It was the first time Hermione had ever shared herself to anyone in such a way – and it was everything she had hoped and imagined. Draco’s heart filled with pride and love as he realized he would be her first, and secretly hoped he would be her only and his last.