Conversation in the Astronomy Tower

Draco mock frowned at Hermione, and nipped her neck, wrapping his arms around her. "I know somewhere we could go. A private place."

Hermione sighed softly, but she didn't move away from Draco. She put her hands on his waist and kissed him softly on the lips. "I love you, Malfoy, but I'm....um....er... I've read books about it, of course, but.."

"You've read books about it," Draco deadpanned. "It's not hard, well, actually it helps a lot if it is hard, but trust me, that's not a problem."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I'm can feel that's not a problem," she answered, then stood silently for a long moment. "You've done more than read books about it, haven't you?"

"Yes. Pansy and another girl."

"Oh," said Hermione. "With Pansy recently?" she asked stiffly.

"No, not recently. Never at Hogwarts, it was during the summer, before you and I, started dati-- er, meeting secretly."

"Well, she must not have liked it too much if she doesn't mind you've stopped."

"She loved it," Draco said indignantly. "But she liked it so much, she decided to see how it was with just about every other boy in Slytherin, a few in Ravenclaw and I think she even went as far as to try it with a Hufflepuff. So, quite obviously, that was the end of that as Malfoys do not share."

"Hmmm...she always did seem to be a bit of a slag. Who was the other person?"

If there had been more light, Hermione would have seeaco's cheeks were slightly red. "Er, Millicent Bulstrode," he muttered.

"Millicent Bulstrode? That, that complete and utter cow?"

"It was at one of my parents' parties. I was a bit drunk, she took advantage of me."

Hermione cocked an eyebrow at Draco. "She took advantage of you?"

"I tried to get away, but she outweighs me by at least a stone."

"What sort of parties do your parents throw?"

"I refuse to answer that question despite the fact that you can not possibly think any less of my parents, even if I answered that question," Draco said, looking away from Hermione and out into the night sky. "Nor could you probably think any less of them than I do," he finished quietly.

"Malf - Draco," Hermione said softy, caressing his cheek. "Your parents don't deserve you."

Draco kissed her forehead. "I have a question for you," he said, not meeting her gaze and fidgeting with the clasp on her robes.

"Dra - Malfoy, um, no, I'm just not ready, but it's not that I don't want to, because I do, it's just -"

Draco put a finger on her lips and shook his head. "No, not that. I may not be as smart as you, but I did figure out the answer to that question earlier in our conversation," he said with a wry grin. "I want to ask you if..."

"Yes?" Hermione prompted when his voice trailed off.

"If...if you would go to the Yule Ball with me?"

Hermione let out a small gasp. "You want us to go to the Yule Ball together?"

"Well, I rather assumed you would hex me if I tried to take someone else."

"I would," Hermione said. "But, if we go together, everyone will know. Your parents will find out eventually...and..."

"My parents will know before we finish our first dance, but, I just can't be bothered about what they think any longer. I love you, Hermione Granger, and I want the world to know it."

Hermione wrapped her arms around Draco and gave him a tight hug and then kissed him on the lips. "I love you too, Draco Malfoy," she said, as she sniffled a bit.

"Are you crying?" Draco asked, wiping the tears away from Hermione's cheeks.

"I cry when I'm happy," she said, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Interesting. Malfoys don't even cry when they're sad. So, that's a yes to the Yule Ball?"

"Yes," she said lifting her head and kissing him again. "But the answer to the other question is still, not yet."

"I wasn't going to ask again," Draco said as if wounded. "Tonight," he added with a smirk.

Before Hermione could answer, a distant sound of footsteps caused her to let go of Draco hurriedly, but not before giving him a quick kiss. "Time to pretend we were just patrolling," they both said simultaneously, straightening their robes and heading off in opposite directions.

Draco walked the circular balcony of the Astronomy Tower, fixing his clothing as he walked. "This is going to make the Christmas Holidays very interesting. Might even warm up Malfoy Manor a bit," he muttered under his breath thinking of his parents' reactions to finding out he was dating Hermione Granger. "Oh, I belong in St. Mungo's most assuredly," he sighed and then as he reflected upon this thought he added, "Hopefully my parents won't have me committed there."