Draco didn't hesitate, he kissed her back passionately. Hermione reached up to tangle her fingers in Draco's pale white hair, loving the soft feel of it between her fingers. Hermione's entire body felt alive, like she could feel every inch of herself. Hermione could feel Draco's thick, strong hand pulling her waist as close to him as he could. She could feel his tongue lightly grazing her lips, taunting her. She could feel his other hand hot against her thigh, just slightly under the hem of her dress. She didn't even pull away when Draco unbuttoned her coat. He let it fall off of her soft, dark shoulders. Hermione moaned in protest as Draco suddenly removed his hand from her thigh to unbutton it, but she was satisfied when he tangled his fingers in her mess of hair.

Draco was so overwhelmed with the feel of her that he was almost trembling. He wanted so badly to just push her against the wall and press against her until he couldn't tell where his body ended and hers began.

Hermione was so short that she had to stand on her tiptoes, and lean into Draco for balance. He was more than happy to support her weight. Hermione couldn't help but let out a soft moan when Draco bit her lower lip, and Draco moved from kissing her lips to her neck because he didn't want to stop her from moaning by having her mouth otherwise occupied.

Hermione tore off Draco's shirt, exposing his defined muscles. "Draco," she moaned quietly into his ear, so that her breath fell across his bare collarbone. Draco groaned at the beautiful sound of his name falling from her lips. He had never heard anything sound so good, especially not his own name. But coming from Hermione's perfect, full lips, Draco suddenly loved the sound of his own name.

Draco pulled lightly on Hermione's hair, angling her neck back so her lips were once again at his mouth, and kissed her. He moved his other hand back to her thigh, and slipped it further underneath her dress.

Hermione pulled away then, but Draco gripped her waist and pulled her back towards him, then reconsidered. He pulled back, "sorry," he said roughly.

"It's fine," Hermione said breathlessly.

"I've been wanting that for a long time," Draco said.

"Really?"

"Come on," Draco said, taking Hermione's hand and pulling her out the door.

. . .

Draco apparated them back to the party, and they found everything pretty much as they left it. Ginny was yelling at Ron, Lavender was looking bored, and Luna was dancing.

Ron saw Draco and jumped up, but Ginny pushed his shoulder back down, hard. Draco held up his hands in surrender, "I'm not here to fight, I'm just the messenger."

"Potter," Draco addressed the calmer wizard, "would you like to know why Hermione stole your wand and ran off to Italy?"

"And broke off our engagement, and hurt Ginny," Ron added.

Draco glared at him, "yes, and that."

"I think it's about time," Ginny said.

Draco intertwined his fingers with Hermione's and pulled her closer to her former friends, and sat down in the grass in front of them, even though he was in a clean light grey suit that matched his eyes.

Draco told them the whole story, which caused Hermione's skin to burn because of the tongue-twisting hex at times, but she bit her lip and soldiered through it.

When he was done, Ginny said, "why didn't you just tell us? I know you were hexed, but you managed to tell Malfoy."

"I didn't think it would matter. Betrayal is betrayal. And after what I did… how could you possibly forgive me? I couldn't bear to face you all again."

"Bullocks!" Ron said, "you didn't have to do anything. You made a choice to betray Harry, and to leave Ginny when she was injured.

Hermione looked down, tears in her eyes, "I know," was all she could say.

"Hermione," Harry's word sounded like a sigh, whether of relief or of exasperation Hermione couldn't say, "I just miss you. My new wand is better anyway, I've hardly felt sorry for the loss of the old one. I just wanted you to talk to me, to value our friendship enough to fight for it, enough to at least try and work it out!"

Hermione's eyes widened, "I'm so sorry Harry! You're right, I should have tried, I just… I couldn't bear to be around you when we weren't friends."

"Forgiven," Harry said instantly. Hermione, we've been apart long enough. I don't want my son not to know you."

Ron gasped, "Ginny! You're pregnant?"

Ginny blushed, "Harry!" she chastised, "was that really the time," she said in a way that Harry knew meant she wasn't really mad.

"Harry," Hermione melted into him with a long overdue hug.

. . .

"Hey," Pansy said cheerfully, sporting a brand new short black and golden dress by some famous designer Hermione couldn't remember the name of. Hermione was wearing a deep blue loose dress with bronze stitching from the back of Luna's closet.

"Hello," Ginny greeted the witch back, wearing a pastel yellow dress and all black jewelry.

"Hi Pans," Hermione smiled.

The witches talked and laughed together as Harry, Draco, and Neville gorged themselves on party food and Ron and Luna talked out on the balcony. Ron was still pouting, but he was lightening up slowly. Ginny could tell he and Draco would eventually find too much in common to continue hating each other.

Draco crossed the room to Hermione, and placed his hand lightly on her lower back. He was wearing a deep red suit with a golden button-down underneath.

"Hey there," he purred. Pansy rolled her eyes, "Thanks for the invite Gin, love the theme I look absolutely dashing in your house colors by the way, Gryffindor would've been lucky to have me!." He said, leading Hermione away as she called goodbyes over her shoulder. "Let's get home," he whispered low in Hermione's ear.