What I\'ve Always Known

Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the plot.

A/N: I\'ve tried three times to post this chapter but it won\'t work...but let\'s try again. Please keep reviewing!


Hermione swallowed hard and answered.

“I want to be with you.” She whispered, looking as deep as she dared into those icy blue orbs. In one sudden movement, Draco swept her up into a hug.

Laughing along with him, Hermione wrapped her arms around Draco’s neck and held on as he impulsively twirled her around in a circle. When he finally set herself back down, Hermione had to clutch his shoulders until the world stopped spinning.

Still grinning broadly, Draco took her hand and led her boldly into the gates of Hogsmeade, not even attempting any form of discretion. Hermione moved closer to his side, smiling at all the staring students.

Their first real reaction came in the form of Seamus Finnigan, who came bounding out of the Three Broomsticks and came bounding up to Hermione. He opened his mouth to call out a greeting, spotted Draco, and stopped dead in his tracks. Hermione couldn’t help but tighten her grip on Draco’s hand, and he squeezed hers back reassuringly. Hermione moved into Draco instinctively, and he let go of her hand to put his arm around her shoulders protectively.

Quite contrary to what she was expecting, Seamus’s face suddenly split into a huge grin and he jumped up into the air, whooping as he landed. Before either she or Draco could register what was happening, Seamus swept Hermione up in a bear hug.

“I knew it! I knew it!” He chanted, squeezing Hermione impossibly tighter.

“Seamus?” Hermione squeaked. He was hugging her so tight she was starting to lose feeling in her legs. Seamus grinned and set her down, taking a step back to plant his hands on his hips and survey the happy couple.

“Well it’s about bloody time you two came out with it!” He said, holding out his hand to Draco, who shook it, looking bewildered.

“What do you mean finally?” Hermione asked. She thought they had been fairly clever concealing their relationship…

“Well, my first clue was the Acies Draught, and then I kept catching Malfoy-“

“Draco.” Draco interrupted gently. Seamus smiled at him before continuing.

“I kept catching Draco making eyes at you all through Potions and meals, and I guess I put two and two together.” He smiled at the pair of them, rather like a father surveying his favorite newly weds. “So how long has this been going on?”

“Um, well since we started patrolling I guess,” Hermione answered, glancing at Draco, who nodded his agreement.

“Do Harry and Ron know? Especially Ron?” Seamus asked, frowning slightly. Draco looked over at Hermione in time to see her face lose a considerable amount of color. She shook her head, staring down at the ground.

“Well you’re going to have to tell them sooner or later. I don’t think Ron will take too kindly to that meself.” Seamus said thoughtfully, raking a hand through his hair. Hermione snorted sardonically.

“Considering he’s acting like we’re engaged or something, I have a hard time believing he won’t hex me into oblivion.” Hermione sighed, leaning her head on Draco’s shoulder. Draco kissed the top of her head and Seamus’s grin made a reappearance on his face.

“Well, that doesn’t matter now. I’m just glad you’re happy Hermione. And you” Seamus turned to Draco “You hurt my Hermione, and I’ll permanently rearrange your face for you” He added, the grin never once sliding from his face.

“Seamus!” Hermione gasped, a little alarmed at how serious he sounded. Draco however, merely grinned and put his hand over his heart, and inclined his head slightly. Seamus laughed and kissed Hermione on the cheek before departing.

“That was-“Hermione began quietly.

“Unexpected” Draco finished Hermione’s thought and they both laughed, both pleased and shocked by Seamus’s obvious delight that they were together.

They continued on through the village, surprisingly encountering many people who had the same reaction as Seamus. Several Slytherin girls glared at Hermione openly, and she couldn’t blame them. Draco was easily one of the best looking boys in the school. She couldn’t help herself as she moved her hand down to Draco’s behind, making sure Pansy Parkinson, who was openly infatuated with Draco, saw. Draco caught on to her game quickly enough, and even stopped to give her a passionate kiss, not two feet from where Pansy was standing with her friends.

Pansy’s jaw almost hit the gravel road, as Draco openly slide his tongue into Hermione’s mouth and moved his hand down to gingerly squeeze her bottom. Pansy let out an angry shriek that sounded more like a werewolf than a 16 year old girl and stormed back up towards the castle, her friends hurrying along in her wake.

They had almost reached the mountain which they would be climbing, when Neville Longbottom came rushing out of a shop door, and collided hard with Draco’s shoulder. Since Draco was about twice his size, he merely swayed slightly, where as Neville was sent sprawling backwards onto the road, his right arm landing in a large mud puddle.

Neville looked up to see who he had bumped into and squeaked in fright when he saw Draco towering over him.

“Are you alright Longbottom?” He asked, holding out his hand to help Neville up. Neville stared at his offered hand, confusion written all over his round face. Hermione decided it was high time for her to make an appearance and stepped around Draco, leaving her arm around his waist.

“Hi Neville! Um, maybe you should come out of that puddle now, it’s hardly flattering” She said amusedly. Neville cautiously reached out his hand and took Draco’s, yelping as Draco pulled him effortlessly to his feet. Draco pulled out his wand, and Neville flinched, stepping back into the puddle with a splash, but Draco merely waved his wand and said “Scourgify! ” and the mud on Neville’s robes disappeared.

Neville now looked utterly perplexed and opened his mouth to speak when he was cut off by laughter behind them.

“Nice move Longbottom! You’d think with all that fat, he would have bounced now wouldn’t you?” Draco and Hermione spun around and found themselves facing Marcus Flint, captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team. Hermione’s jaw dropped; this was definitely the test for Draco. He would be lucky to stay on the Quidditch team if he was seen with people like her and Neville. Hermione stirred nervously as Marcus and his seven or eight Quidditch friends turned to look at her.

“Well” he drawled, raking her from head to toe, an unpleasant gleam in his eyes “Someone is certainly ripe for the plucking.” They all took a step forward and Marcus’s eyes came to rest openly on Hermione’s chest. She crossed her arms and stuck her chin out, refusing to quail under his arrogant stare.

“Too bad she’s a mudblood!” A buck toothed dark haired boy called viciously from the back of the crowd. In a flash Draco was standing in front of Hermione, his wand still clutched in his hand. He was pale and shaking with rage. In fact, in all the years Harry, Ron and Hermione had tormented him, she had never seen him looking so infuriated.

Marcus took a step backwards, looking a little affronted.

“Malfoy, what the hell are you doing? It’s not like we won’t give you a turn with her” He spat, looking around Draco to give Hermione another smug glance. Hermione moved back and Neville placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Draco opened his mouth to answer, raising his wand slightly, but Hermione beat him to it.

“Now now,” she said, coming around Draco to look at the coolly “I thought ladies weren’t supposed to fight?” She casually inspected her nails as she spoke. Draco and Neville laughed loudly, working out what Hermione had said long before Marcus had.

“Are you calling-you’re calling-I am not-you’re calling me a lady!” He spluttered, red with rage.

“Wow that must be record time for you!” Hermione said smugly, mock applauding him.

“You little bit-“Marcus took a step towards Hermione, fist raised, but Draco was much too quick for him. In one swift movement, he had struck Marcus just below the rib cage with the heel of his palm. Draco leaned back, looking as if he had merely swatted away a fly, while Marcus collapsed onto all fours, coughing violently. The rest of the Quidditch team drew back in alarm while Draco calmly folded his arms over his chest, flexing his muscles threateningly. Hermione leaned against him lightly, trying hard not to drool over Draco. One boy pulled Marcus to his feet and they turned to leave.

“Hey Flint,” Draco called after them. Marcus turned and Draco slid his arms around Hermione, resting his hand conspicuously on her hip. Marcus’s eyes traveled to that spot, then back up to Draco’s face, his body rigid with shock. “Call Hermione a mudblood again, and I will be forced to remove that awful tongue of yours. Also, you best leave Longbottom alone, because as you may recall, his mark and abilities in Herbology more than triple your own, and I know very well what he is capable of. I wouldn’t want to have to write to your family, telling them they must water you to keep you alive, such an awful waste of parchment.” He finished and elbowed Neville forwards. Neville hesitated only slightly before drawing himself up proudly.

Marcus hissed angrily and proceeded on towards the Three Broomsticks. Neville turned towards Draco and gulped nervously.

“Why did you-?” He began studying a pebble on the ground.

“I’m dating Hermione, I have never been happier and I don’t want to be the person I was.” Draco quickly explained, before his expression sobered. “Longbottom…or…Neville?” Neville smiled and nodded.” Neville, I am really sorry about how I acted towards you. You didn’t deserve that, and I’ll be lucky if I ever have half the strength you’ve shown over the last five years.”

Both Neville and Hermione stared at Draco, taken aback by the compliment. Hermione could tell by the look in his silver eyes that Draco meant it; every word.

“Thank you…um…” Neville said, looking absolutely floored, but not sure about the use of name yet.

“Draco” Draco answered.

“Draco, thanks, and don’t worry about it. I remember Seamus saying something about you two, but I didn’t really believe him. Well it’s great anyway.” Neville said, his plump face breaking into a grin.

“Thanks Neville. But, could you not say anything to Harry or Ron yet? I want to tell them myself.” Hermione said, and Neville nodded understandingly, before bidding them goodbye and heading off for the Three Broomsticks.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


“Why muggles do this on a daily basis, I will never understand.” Draco panted an hour later. He was laying sprawled on the floor of the cave in which Sirius had hidden from the Ministry of Magic in their third year.

Hermione was leaning against one of the cool stone walls, panting a little. She was sweating a little and had pulled off her sweater, but she wasn’t nearly s bad as Draco who had drops of sweat running down the sides of his face. Hermione had told him the story of Sirius on the way up, and Draco had listened intently, after promising not to tell anyone. By the time Hermione had finished, he was even sympathizing with Sirius, how no one believed him.

From the floor of the cave, Draco gave a slight groan and drew his wand out of his pocket. Flicking it lightly, he managed to conjure a small trickle of water, and held it over his open mouth, letting the water fall open. Hermione smiled and performed the same trick, closing her eyes at the simple pleasure of the cool eater sliding down her dry throat.

“I thought you said you had hiked befo-“Hermione opened her eyes and the words caught in her throat with a slight gasp. Draco had removed his sweater, and Hermione saw the years of Quidditch had done wonders for him. She let her eyes roam over his chiseled chest and abs, and slide over his biceps as he gave her a cocky half smile.

“Like what you see ‘Mione?” he asked quietly. Hermione closed her gaping mouth and took a deep breath.

“I’ve seen better:” she said, entirely unconvincingly. Still feeling much too warm, Hermione pocketed her wand and twisted the bottom of her shirt into a neat little knot underneath her breasts.

This time it was Draco’s turn to stare. She smiled smugly and stepped out of the cave into the evening air. A cool breeze picked up her hair and Hermione couldn’t help but sigh as it picked her damp hair off her neck and cooled her down immensely. Draco came out behind her, his shirt thrown over one shoulder, and Hermione led them over a small pile of boulders to a little shelf of rock.

She smiled and settled herself down on the shelf, letting her feet dangle over the edge. From where she was sitting, you could see the entire village of Hogsmeade, some six hundred feet below them, and just over the peaks of a mountain range in the distance, the sun was just beginning to set. Draco hesitated slightly before stepping out onto the shelf after her; he wasn’t a big fan of heights, but he would rather jump off the mountain than tell Hermione that. Draco settled himself behind Hermione and pulled her back onto his chest. They sat in comfortable silence as the sky was light up with the colors of a spectacular sunset. Rosebud clouds shot with gold drifted across the emerald green scenery and Hermione cuddled further into Draco, settling her head below his chin.

Pretty soon, the sun was completely behind the mountains and they decided they should be heading back. Draco pulled his shirt back on as Hermione started down a gravelly slope. They had little breath for talking as they struggled down the slippery mountain slope, checking for loose rocks as they went. Hermione had just spotted the village little more than a hundred feet below her, when a rock she was balanced on gave way, and she lost her grip. Turning quickly, she tried to grab hold of a hand support, but the rocks only followed her down the slope as she started to slide dangerously fast, feet first, towards a crevice in the rock.

“Hermione!” Draco called desperately, stumbling down after her as fast as he could.