I Am a New Day Rising

A/N: Not all the chapters will be direct continuations of each other, but I wrote two and three together and realized after that it needed to be split up. The title of this chapter is from “One Sweet Love” By Sara Bareilles.

Thank you Kamikawi for the excellent advice and betaing. =) wonderful as always.

Baybeetricia ~ I’m so sorry he annoys you. I’m sure he’ll be put in his place..eventually.

paigeey07 ~ I loved the ending as well =).

Smurphy ~ I’m sorry to squash any dreams of evil ron – but he was just in another compartment with Dean. (shrug).

fallingstar93 ~ I’ve contemplating the pansy/ron ship…You’ll just have to stay tuned I suppose =)

Heidi191976, Avanell, and Anya ~ Thank you!!!


Chapter 3: Have I Already Tasted My Piece of One Sweet Love?

For the rest of the short trip to the castle, Ron tried desperately to get Hermione’s attention the way in which Draco had. To Draco’s delight, however, Hermione’s attention stayed fixated on the magazine she had already finished reading. She mumbled incoherent acknowledgements to Ron along the lines of “uh huh” and “mm” and “uht”. When Draco realized that Hermione was slowly inching toward him, he silently praised Ron for being ridiculously annoying. By the time they had reached the castle, Hermione’s thigh was flush up against Draco’s. Draco had just shifted to wrap his arm around her in order to preserve his comfort, but the carriage door magically opened signaling their arrival in front of the castle.

Draco got out first and helped Hermione out of the carriage. The two did not wait for the rest of the carriage occupants before moving on. Draco wrapped her arm around his as they walked towards the Great Hall. On the short walk, Draco stayed silent as Hermione waved and said hello to the many friends she had yet to see. Hermione did not let go of Draco’s arm once. He nearly skipped into the castle he was so happy. Of course, skipping was hardly becoming of a Malfoy. He may have changed his views completely, but too much change in a matter of a year may be pushing it. So he remained in his usual air of high society, proud of the pretty little thing on his arm. Who wouldn’t be incredibly proud if they had the most beautiful and the most intelligent witch in Hogwarts on their arm?

When the students entered the Great Hall, they counted five tables instead of four. The table in the middle of the Hall had the school banner hanging over it. Figuring it was for the returning seventh years, they all sat at the table. For Draco, a new table most likely meant a new house. He sighed in relief at the prospect of living with his new friends this year. Being a traitor in Slytherin would prove too much for Draco to handle. His emotions could only take so much. Then he looked down at the lovely young woman on his arm, and he smiled at the prospect of still living close to her. He wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but he had been terrified once they got to Hogwarts that Hermione and Harry would desert him.

As they sat down across from Ron and Harry, Draco noticed the clear divide in the students’ house loyalty. Slytherin and Gryffindor settled on the far end of the table with Ravenclaw and Hufflebuff between them. Draco, of course, sat smack bang in the middle of the Gryffindor section, unconsciously latching onto Hermione from involuntary nerves. Hermione had Seamus to her other side whilst Draco sat beside Neville. Draco nodded politely to both young men while trying to ignore how Seamus’ mouth hung open. Ron snorted at Seamus’ reaction and muttered something to Dean, who was sitting beside him.

After the initial shock of seeing the Prince of Slytherin escort the Princess of Gryffindor, the group settled into a comfortable conversation about house pride.

“It will be a little different,” Dean commented.

“Well, I’m looking forward to not having screaming first and second years around the common room,” Hermione rested her elbow on the empty table, cupping her face with her hand.

“Here, here!” Harry and Draco chanted at the same time.

“Plus,” Hermione continued, “it makes things a bit less awkward for Draco.”

Neville looked apprehensively at Draco, but Draco ran with the comment. “Very true. I’ll have you,” he said and looked at Hermione quick before glancing around at everyone, “guys to keep me company.”

Ron snorted. “Don’t count on me.” Dean snickered in agreement.

“Never have, never will,” Draco responded calmly, without missing a beat.

Hermione gave him a small smile and then spoke over Draco to ask Neville about his summer vacation.

“Oh it was really great!” He smiled. “You know after…uh…everything.” Hermione nodded as he continued. “My grandmother took me Italy for a few weeks. It was awesome.”

“Wow. I’ve never been to Italy.” Hermione smiling, her eyes showing she was imagining herself in the European country.

“You should go sometime. It was amazing.” Neville agreed. “You have a house in Italy don’t you, Malfoy?”

Draco looked up in surprise at being spoken to. “Uh. I did. Father sold it.”

“Sold it?! Why?”

Draco’s face fell. “It was my mother’s favorite home.” He answered honestly. “Too many memories.”

Neville nodded. “There is a lot of that kind of thing happening these days. We sold my parents house finally.”

Draco nodded. He was grateful Neville did not curl up into a ball at his honest answer. “Time to move on I suppose...” he mused.

“As much as possible.” Neville added solemnly.

Just then the first years were herded into the Great Hall. They split into two groups as they walked past the new table. Hermione smiled at their bewildered expressions as they gazed wide-eyed around the Great Hall. She remembered her experience walking into the hall like it was yesterday. She was not as naive as the others in her class, having read ‘Hogwarts: A History’ about four times before leaving home. The returning seventh years cheered obnoxiously when the first years were sorted into their own house; save Draco that is. He cheered, just with more decorum, seeing Gryffindors surrounded him.

Once all the little ones had been sorted accordingly, Dumbledore rose before the students and welcomed them back to the school. “Hogwarts, the same as us, has missed the peace. It is going to be our job to remain peaceful throughout the year. I look forward to watching all of you return to a normal, joyful school year. Would all the returning seventh years, I will call you eighth years, please wait at their table until Professor McGonagall comes to speak with you after the feast. Thank you. Tuck in.”

“Not as enlightening as usual.” Harry reflected.

“Well, Potter, he is getting up there in age.” Draco said.

“Yes, but doesn’t wisdom come with age?” Harry said.

“Of course, but so does exhaustion. He probably can’t stand or talk for very long these days. Or maybe it tires him to think of catchy speeches.” Draco replied, shaving off a large part of the pot roast for his meal.

“So, Malfoy, what NEWTS are you taking?” Neville said, changing the topic.

“Uh. Lets see. Potions, obviously, Transfiguration, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Muggle Studies.”

“Muggles Studies? Really?” Harry said. Hermione and Seamus listened as well.

Draco nodded as he swallowed his food. “My father is opening up a Muggle branch of his investment firm. He figures he can use magic to be more efficient with his information for his clients, and therefore better than other Muggle companies. He’s talked to me about taking it over when I graduate.”

“Cool!” Neville said. “Surprising – but cool.”

“You?” Draco asked Neville.

“Well Transfiguration, Charms, and DADA, like you. But definitely not Potions – I’m taking Herbology instead. And instead of a fifth NEWT, I’m going to be a teacher’s assistant for Professor Sprout.”

Draco raised his eyebrows. “How’d you get the TA job?”

Neville shrugged. “I asked. I knew if I took any other course I’d probably wouldn’t pass. It counts as a NEWT. Hermione, Harry? What are you taking?”

“I’m in the same classes as Draco, except Muggle Studies, as it would be pointless for me to take it. Instead I’m taking Arithmancy. I’m hoping to get a job at a research company after Hogwarts – you know making new spells and potions.” Hermione said.

“Ambitious.” Harry commented. “I’m doing the same thing as you, Nev; the internship thing. Except in DADA, obviously; to get an extra NEWT for my Auror exam. And then I’m taking Potions, DADA, Charms, and Transfiguration with these two.”

The conversation died down and Hermione started to talk quietly with Seamus about his own NEWTS level courses this year.

“If you don’t mind me asking, Longbottom, why are you being so nice to me?” Draco said.

Neville did not seem fazed in the least. “I know we’ve had our differences, but Harry is a really close friend of mine. He owled me a lot over the summer and you were topic of a few letters.” Neville looked at Draco. “He told me you two became mates. I trust his opinion.”

“But Ron’s your friend too. As you can see he doesn’t approve.”

Neville shook his head. “Ron and I have never really been close. He’s a right git, always has been.” Neville spoke with an air of honesty that made Draco like him immediately. He smiled at the young man. When Neville smiled back, Draco realized he had just made another friend.

Half way through dessert, Harry sighed dramatically and pouted at Hermione. “We are out of chocolate crème pie.”

“So?” Hermione took a bite of her apple crisp. “I didn’t eat it.”

“Hermione!” Harry whined. “Please go get some more from the girls.”

“Why don’t you get it?” Hermione laughed at his antics.

“Oh come on, Nee. You know Harry can’t go down to ask those girls for pie. Ginny would get so jealous.” Draco answered as seriously as possible, trying to help his friend. Everyone at the table knew Ginny wouldn’t give two wits if Harry went to get chocolate pie from the Gryffindor girls.

“And why can’t you do it, Dray?” Hermione smirked at Draco.

“You two have nicknames for each other?” Dean asked.

Hermione nodded at him and turned back to Dray. Her Dray. “Well?”

“Uhh...” Draco tried to think quickly.

Luckily, or unluckily as Hermione saw it, Harry beat him to the punch. “You know that you don’t want him going over there to a gaggle of girls.”

“And why’s that Harry?” Hermione pushed for an answer, blatantly trying to maneuver away from being their servant.

Harry, ready to cause a stir, answered. “Oh come on, Mione. He’s the Slytherin Prince Bad Boy who finally has a heart and tons of mystery? Do you really want those Gryffindor cats to steal your thunder?”

Hermione looked surprised at first, then blushed and realized Harry had hit it right on the nose. She let out an uncharacteristic growl before getting out of her seat and walked toward the girls, and the pie.

“Are you two dating?” Neville asked.

Draco shook his head, still smiling from her cave in.

“So she’s free?” Seamus asked.

Draco frowned, not knowing how to answer.

“No.” Ron answered.

“Oh so you’re dating her?” Seamus proposed.

“He wishes.” Draco snorted.

Harry laughed. “Hermione’s not seeing anyone, but I wouldn’t get too attached, Seamus.”

Seamus looked back and forth between Draco and Ron, before looking down at Hermione. “Well whoever gets her is going to be one lucky guy. Have you seen her ass in those jeans?”

All six of the men looked at Hermione’s retreating form. Draco sucked in a breath. Her round backside swayed seductively as she sauntered down the Great Hall. He felt a twitch of arousal in his belly. “There’s no denying that.” He muttered to the others.

“When did she take off her robes?” Ron asked.

“When she sat down.” Draco replied still watching Hermione. “I thought you were interested in her. You sure don’t pay attention to her.”

Ron glared at Draco. “I know her far better than you do, Malfoy.”

“I beg to differ.” Harry answered. “I’m going to say that seeing she’s spent nearly every waken moment with Malfoy this summer, he’s got a little bit on you this year.”

“We’ll see.” Ron muttered. Hermione reached her destination and the young men reluctantly turned their attention back to the food.

“Hey, Lav.”

“Oh hey, Hermione! How was your summer?”

“Wonderful. I was wondering if you guys finished your chocolate crème pie yet?” Hermione looked over at the rest of the gossipy seventh year girls.

“Uh.” Lavender grabbed the rest of the pie and smiled at Hermione. “Nope. Did the guys eat all of yours?”

Hermione laughed and nodded. “And Harry’s lazy and didn’t want to come over and get it himself.”

“Oh. I figured it was for Draco.” Hermione frowned, not wanting to start rumors about herself. Lavender continued. “Don’t worry, Hermione. We aren’t talking about you. Actually,” she looked at the girls and started to get up. “Do you mind if I come over with you. I see you have an extra seat down there.”

Hermione cocked her head to the side in confusion. “Of course.”

“See you girls later.” Lavender grabbed her handbag and robe and followed Hermione. “Thank you.” She hissed.

“What’s up?”

“You should know I asked McGonagall if I could room with you this year.” Hermione raised her eyebrows as they walked. “My mother has some ties in the Ministry and found out how we’d be rooming this year. Anyway, I can’t take being with those girls anymore. So catty, don’t you think.”

“Well.” Hermione glanced at Lavender. “Yes.” She was looking forward to maybe starting a closer friendship with Lavender. The only girl friend she had was Ginny, but even with one-year difference it was hard to maintain. There was no denying Lavender would have to prove she had released her gossipy ways – at least her gossiping about Hermione.

Hermione took her seat next to Draco, handing him the pie. “Oh lovely. You’re so protective.” He smirked at her.

“I like to keep what’s mine.” Hermione teased. Draco smiled at her open flirting.

Lavender sat between Hermione and Seamus. “Hello, boys.” After they had all greeted her in return she asked them about their summers.

“So what brings you over here?” Draco asked.

Lavender smiled politely at him, trying not to step on any toes. “You know, a girl can only take so much gossip. Nearly seven years of it was enough for me.” Hermione smiled at her new roommate.

After dessert had been cleared from the tables and the rest of the students had filed out of the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall came to the head of the table. All eyes focused on the professor as she began her speech.

“I know not all of you are as excited to see me as I am to see you.” She started. “I hope that you ‘eighth years’ will embrace this year. It’s high time for you to have a school year without the threat of Voldemort.” She paused and looked at the somber faces in front of her. “But on a happier note. The rules!” All the eighth years groaned and she smiled inside as she pursed her lips to keep up her facade. “Yes. Well. Listen closely. We have put all of you in one dorm. You will not wear your house colors; you will wear the school emblem on your robes. The Headmaster and I are hoping all of you will break down the barriers between the houses.”

“Good luck!” Hermione couldn’t identify who called out.

“That’s enough.” McGonagall called out to the group. “As I was saying. Like all the other houses, yours will be divided between male and female. Because there are considerable less of you than in any one of the houses, you will be rooming with only one other person. You’re names, like always, will be on the outside of your door. This year – all of you are adults. We are treating you as such. It will be much like a Muggle University in that respect.” The group of young adults started whispering excitedly. Hermione rolled her eyes, trying to hide her intrigue and nerves about Draco possibly being in her room. “You will be allowed to have a member of the opposite sex in your room. However, he or she will have to be invited into the room in order to get in. Once he or she is invited in, they can get in whenever they like. Keep that in mind. Moving on.

“You will also be allowed to go to Hodsmeade every weekend. You are hear to finish your classes, yes, but we want you to feel as though you are still of age. Please treat this privilege with respect. As for your studies, you will have your classes with the current seventh years. You will have two less classes than them, however, because this year they are required to take electives. Don’t let that keep you from finishing your assigned work. As you are older, I expect all of you to be more responsible for your work. Well, I think that covers everything. Are there any questions?”

“Do our doors lock?” Someone called out.

“You’re a wizard, Mr. Boot. You figure it out.” McGonagall answered as the other students snickered.

“Do we have a Quidditch team?” Harry called out.

“Yes, Mr. Potter. However, you are not eligible to win the House Cup. You will play all of the other houses. I suggest the four players that were going to be captain this year get together and plan out tryouts. You can only have one team.” Harry and Draco frowned and glanced at each other. Hermione sighed, knowing it was going to cause a problem.

“Where is the portrait?” Hannah Abbot called out.

“Ah yes. Well that’s important isn’t it? It’s actually not a portrait. The entrance to your common room can be found on the first floor, down the hall from the first year’s History of Magic room. There you will find a new statue of Merlin. Tell him the password; the secret door will slide door open. The password is Lemon Drops. Yes, yes. The Headmaster chose it. It will change in a month. You’re dismissed.”

Slowly the group of eighth years got up from where they were sitting. “I didn’t notice it before,” Hermione whispered to Lavender as they left the Great Hall, “but there are a lot of people missing.” She looked around. “This may sound morbid, but not all the people missing died in the war.” It was not a secret that many of their classmates had died in the final battle or those leading up to it.

“Yea. My mom said that a lot of families moved away from Great Britain after the final battle. You know – to get away from it all.” Hermione nodded, and they walked in silence as they made their way to the first floor statue.

The walk from the Great Hall to the eighth years’ dorm was short, to say the least. The students, besides the Slytherins, did not see anything special in the common room. Hermione noted it looked pretty much like Gryffindor tower, except it wasn’t in a tower. The walls weren’t completely red and gold, but instead had a tasteful mixture of all the house colors. A massive fireplace stood in the center of the far wall with several armchairs and couches around it. Hermione was looking forward to curling up with a good book on a cold day. The inevitable wizard’s chessboard was already set up in a corner near the hearth. A small melancholy smile appeared on her lips as memories from previous years flooded her mind.

Hermione was yanked away from her reverie when Lavender pulled her toward the female hallway. Their room was quite easily found as it was one of the first rooms in the long hallway. Simply furnished, it contained two beds, two wardrobes, two desks, and two small closets. There was an overhead lamp that was extremely bright so Lavender charmed it to dim slightly.

“Well looks like we’re going to have to go shopping.” Hermione mused as she fiddled with the school blanket. There was no way to hide her disappointment with the room. However, Hermione never gave up the chance to shop. Her mind was already buzzing with a color scheme plan.

“You’d think they’d give us the nice rooms, but I guess not.” Lavender huffed and fell back onto her bed. “I know that we can go to Hogsmeade every weekend, but can we go to Muggle London?”

“Probably not. But we can order things through town.”

“True.” Lavender rolled to her side and propped her head up with her elbow to look at Hermione. “So. Tell me what’s going on with you and Malfoy.”

Hermione blushed and started to change into more comfortable clothes. Not being shy about her petite body, she stripped down to her knickers and walked to her wardrobe. “Nothing really.”

“I don’t buy it. You flirt like maniacs.”

“Well I flirt with Harry sometimes too, but he has a girlfriend!”

Lavender laughed. “You do not flirt with Harry like you flirt with Draco. It’s painfully obvious you two want each other.”

“He doesn’t want me.” Hermione slipped on a pair of pajama shorts she had bought before she left. “Can we talk about something else?” Hermione whined as she pulled a matching top over her head.

“Of course. Lets discuss who we want to be let in our room.”

“Good idea. Lets come to an agreement – because there are some people I do not want in here. Like Blaise Zambini.”

“Mmm. Yes. Terry Boot is a no no.”

“Really?” Hermione asked. “I think he’s kind of cute.”

“Maybe so, but he’s been trying to get with me. And I’m trying to get with Seamus, so it’s counterproductive.”

“Ok. And I know this is going to sound weird, but please do not invite Ron in.” Lavender raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Just…don’t.”

“One day you’ll have to explain that to me.”

“One day.” Hermione wasn’t ready to divulge her discomfort over Ron’s attraction to her. Everyday Hermione tried to push Ron away, it seemed as if he gripped her tighter. The more she felt his desire to be around her, the more she wanted to escape. She did not want to be around him, but Harry did. She did not want to come between Harry and Ron, ever. She hadn’t told anyone that information, and she wasn’t going to start with Hogwarts most recent ex-gossip queen.

“But Harry and Draco are ok?” Hermione nodded to Lavenders question. Lavender shrugged. “Let’s say that if anyone we haven’t discussed comes up – we’ll ask prior.”

“Sounds good. Oh and Neville is ok.” Lavender smiled at her as she got up to walk to the door. “See you later. I’m going to hang out in the common room.”

“You aren’t going to read the required reading for your class tomorrow?” Lavender asked seriously.

Hermione didn’t turn around but answered as she walked out. “I’ve already read it once.” Lavender grinned as she changed in the room. Maybe a fun Hermione would be a good thing; less stress over schoolwork, more socializing. She was glad she requested to be in a room with her. Maybe they would rub off on each other.

Draco arrived in the common room a few minutes before Hermione. “Well I’m not going to miss the dungeons, that’s obvious.” He said to no one in particular as he sat in an oversized armchair.

“I tend to agree, Malfoy.” Theo Nott sat down in the armchair opposite Draco’s. He reached over the short table between them and held out his hand.

Draco shook his hand and smiled at his housemate. “Did you have a good summer, mate?”

They talk with slight apprehension about their summers. Draco explained what happened with him and his father, and Theo showed his jealousy of their ‘freedom’. Although Theo’s parents had never taken part in the war, for either side, everyone assumed that because Theo was in Slytherin, he was a Death Eater.

When Hermione walked into the common room, she saw Draco and Theo in a conversation that looked very serious. She didn’t know Theo very well, and if she had, she would have known he always looked serious.

She walked over to the armchair Draco was sitting in, and gently put her hand on his far shoulder. Without looking he knew it was Hermione from her touch; it sent a shiver down his spine.

“Hey. You know Theo Nott, right?” He smiled up at Hermione. His breath caught when he noticed he could see pretty much all of her leg from the length of her pajamas. The shirt she wore clung to her curves causing him to shut his eyes tightly in order to calm himself.

When he opened them again, Nott had Hermione’s left hand in his and kissed her knuckles. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person.”

“S-same.” Hermione stuttered. It was not as though Hermione was attracted to Theo, but his confidence and intensity shocked her. She had never talked to Theo before, always thinking he had thought himself one better than others. She finally understood the old adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

Draco was not at all thrilled with her stuttering reaction to his introduction. He wrapped his arm firmly around Hermione’s petite hips and pulled her to sit on the armrest of his chair. At the same time he shot daggers at Theo, who was smirking at Draco’s claim. Theo was half expecting Draco to start relieving himself on her leg like a common mutt. Silently, Draco cursed himself for feeling so protective over her. He had no right to, but he could not help but feel threatened.

Draco snuck a look at Hermione. She looked slightly surprised herself, but she gave him a small smile before squeezing his shoulder lightly. She walked around the front of the armchair just as Harry, Seamus, and Lavender joined the group. Harry smirked as he watched Hermione nestled herself beside Draco in the oversize chair. The chair was large enough so they were not sitting directly on top of one another, but she could have chosen a number of other seats. Harry secretly hoped that they would open up to each other soon.

As the number of eighth years in the common room multiplied, the conversation quickly turned to Quidditch. It was clear to everyone the largest problem to overcome was who would be Seeker. The Seekers of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff had graciously bowed out of the race, knowing full well that Draco or Harry should take it. The problem was Draco and Harry were pretty much equal in skill these days. Harry was a natural from the start, yes, but Draco worked extremely hard over the years to match Harry.

“All I’m saying is, I don’t think you should get the position just because you were the youngest Quidditch player in a century!” Draco exclaimed exasperatedly.

“Dray. Calm down. I don’t think Harry is saying that at all.” Hermione tried to help ease the situation a bit. “I just think he’s trying to say it’s not fair that he DOESN’T get it for that very same reason.”

“Exactly!” Harry grinned at Hermione. Draco however scowled. Hermione frowned at Draco’s reaction.

“I was just trying to help.”

Draco grunted and ran his hands through his hair with frustration. “How are we going to figure this out?”

“How about a competition?” Neville chimed in. “Seems like the simplest solution, doesn’t it?”

“So we let the snitch go and whoever gets it first plays Seeker?” Harry asked.

“Pretty much.” Neville said, sitting back in his seat. “Fair and square.”

Hermione frowned again. She knew the decision could be made no other way, but she also new she would have to console one of her friends. She did not see an easy out of this situation. She huffed dramatically. Draco placed a hand on her bare thigh to relax her. The skin he touched burned under his fingertips. Her eyes snapped up immediate locking with his. His cheeks were red. Hermione figured he was blushing from embarrassment, but Draco was flushed from arousal. Her skin was sinfully smooth under his. Wordlessly and reluctantly, he took his hand off of her thigh and placed it on his own.

He turned back to Harry. “Sounds like a good idea to me. The only way really.”

“Next week then? Friday? After classes?” Harry propositioned.

Draco calculated it in his head. That gave him exactly a week to practice. “Friday it is.” The determination in Draco’s voice sent a shiver up Hermione’s spine. He was so damn sexy when he talked Quidditch. He looked more alive in that moment than Hermione had seen him all summer. Quidditch was his constant, his rock. Hermione thanked Merlin Hogwarts hadn’t taken that from him this year. She only hoped Harry would not either.

The rest of the night the Quidditch players scheduled similar competitions for the rest of the positions as well. Hermione was dreadfully bored with the whole ordeal, but sitting next to Draco kept her content.

Once and a while his arm would bump hers or his fingertips would brush her skin, and she would be in heaven. Her heart beat faster every time it occurred, and the smile on Draco’s face made it seem like he had done it on purpose. I’m sure he didn’t do it on purpose. However, her thoughts were scattered when the house elves delivered everyone hot chocolate. He wanted marshmallows to put in his drink, but Neville, a few feet to the right of Hermione, was hogging them. Instead of asking Hermione to reach over and obtain the sweets, he reached behind her, leaning close to her body. She was pushed into the cushioned arm of the chair as he reached past her.

“Enjoying your cocoa?” He whispered in her ear. His hot breath caused her to accidentally release the smallest of moans.

She took a moment to compose herself before turning her face to look at him. Their faces were centimeters apart. “A girl can’t say no to chocolate, Dray.”

He continued to whisper to her. “I was a little surprised when you took one. Usually you’re against sugar this late at night.”

She smiled sweetly at him. Her reply was thick with seduction. “What can I say? I’m easily tempted.”

Draco raised an eyebrow and brushed a stray curl behind her ear. “I’d claim the opposite.”

“Well if I was tempted by something that was as sweet as this hot chocolate, it would be very easy.” She mused taking a sip of the steamy chocolate.

“And what happens if it is?”

Hermione smiled sweetly. She hoped they were talking about the same thing: him. “Then once I taste it, I won’t be able to get enough.”

Draco returned her smile. “And how do you decide to give it a taste?”

Hermione threw her head back and laughed loudly. It drew the rest of the young men in the common room to them. “Oi!” Harry called out smiling. “What are you two talking about?”

Hermione didn’t stop looking in Draco’s eyes and answered. “Indulgence.” She winked at Draco and put down her half empty mug. She stretched and yawned. “Well I think I’m going to head to bed, guys.”

She walked over to Neville and kissed his forehead. He smiled and said goodnight. Theo raised an eyebrow at Draco as if to question what she was doing. Draco shrugged, “She always says goodnight like this.”

Hermione bent down to kiss Harry’s cheek, giving Draco and Theo a generous view. Her short shorts rode up as she bent at the waist and revealed the very tops of her thighs. Draco groaned and gulped down his steaming chocolate.

“Good god.” Theo said sitting back, not breaking his eye contact with Hermione’s backside. “Where was she hiding?”

Draco clenched his teeth in efforts to not punch his friend. “Watch it, Nott.” He hissed. Theo smirked and turned to look at the fire.

Hermione laughed at something Harry said and then made her way to Ron. Draco’s fist involuntary tightened as he saw the smile Ron threw at Hermione. She bent down to give him a quick kiss on the cheek, but he placed his hand on her hip to stop her from leaving. She glanced down at it, removed it, and said goodnight before walking toward Draco.

Draco calmed immediately when he saw her heading his way. He sat up a little straighter in his chair and flashed her the most amazing smile he could muster. “My turn?” He asked greedily.

Hermione laughed. “You’re favorite part of the day?”

“Of course.” She smiled down at him as she bent down to kiss his cheek. Her hand slid from his cheek to his neck. Her fingers traced his pulsing vein causing his lower region to pulse too.

She pressed her plump lips against his cheek and whispered, “Good night, Dray. Sleep well.”

“Good night, Nee. Sweet dreams.”

She stood up slowly fighting the urge to kiss his eyes, nose, ears, and lips. She smiled sweetly at him, ran her thumb over his cheek and backed away. She moved to the girls hallway and on her way called, “Good night, boys,” over her shoulder. All five young men watched as her hips swayed as she retreated. There was no denying she had blossomed over the years, and every male Hogwarts student appreciated it.

A/N: Ahh yes this was a long one. I must warn you not to get to attached to chapters this long – I’m fairly certain this is the product of word vomit (shrug). I hope you enjoyed it though.