Apologies for the delay everyone. As I am sure you all know, 2020 has been a wild ride and not in a good way. I am hoping to find more time to write in coming weeks, but we shall see. Just as a friendly reminder, make sure to be aware of where you are mentally and how the people in your life are doing. This has been a trying time for everyone in so many ways and a simple message checking in means so much.

I'm sorry for any typos that might be present. I read over it but wanted to go ahead and get it posted sooner rather than later since it has been far too long since you all have had a new chapter for this story. This chapter is dialogue heavy and not as steamy as the chapter name might suggest. Communication is important in relationships and there will be plenty of steam in upcoming chapters.

Also, if you are enjoying this story go and check out my other story, Lessons on Cauldrons and Companionship. It really gets into what the 8th year would be like after the war and it has been such fun to write. It is not Draco focused (it is eventual Sevmione) but Malfoy is very prominent and I have loved delving into his character in that story's setting.

Enjoy the update, fingers crossed I'll bring you another fresh chapter soon and I hope you are all doing as well as possible considering the dumpster fire that has been 2020.

The Jersey

drip…drip….drip…drip…drip

Fat ink blots were slowly dropping and bleeding onto the previously immaculate NEWT studying timetables whilst a rather disheveled Gryffindor distractedly chewed on her quill.

Hermione was surrounded by books, notes and parchment but her brown eyes were unfocused as her mind wandered.

He was definitely avoiding her. It had been over a week since their little… escapade in the library and she had only seen him in passing in class and in the Great Hall. Occasionally she felt his gaze but by the time she would look up or turn his direction he was nothing more than a pale blonde blur quickly headed the opposite direction.

Hermione was jolted from her thoughts as a tightly wadded up bit of parchment hit her square in the nose. Blinking and glaring up she saw Ginny staring at her with her arms crossed sporting a determined look.

"I mean really 'Mione. You are so out of sorts. You are surrounded by books and parchment and you hardly seem excited. What is going on?"

Hermione gave her a weak smile.

"Just behind in studying for my NEWTS and haven't been sleeping. That's all."

The perceptive redhead narrowed her eyes.

"You are brilliant at many things but lying has never been one of them."

Sighing and leaned on the table toward Hermione she stated in an understanding tone, "Well whenever you are ready to tell me what is actually wrong, I am always here."

This garnered a real smile from Hermione as she began collecting her things.

"I think I will take a nice long bath to help me relax and sleep."

Ginny smiled mischievously and wiggled her eyebrows.

"It's the middle of the night and you aren't supposed to be wandering the halls. I adore it when you break rules."

The brunette laughed at her friend's approval and turned toward the dorms.

"Don't forget to scrub the ink stains off your face while you're in there!" Ginny called playfully as Hermione went up the stairs to put away her books and grabbed all that she needed for a nice long bath.

Most assume that Hermione's favorite place in all of Hogwarts is the library. Do not misunderstand, it is incredibly treasured and holds a special place in her heart but there are a few other locals that also sooth her soul. One of those other places is the prefect bath.

The sheer contentment of it always made her feel better. The combination of the warm water, the lightly fragrant bubbles and the way the steam danced in front of all the stained glass was the trifecta of relaxation.

It also helped that her favorite time to indulge in a particularly long bath was in the dead of night. Perhaps she liked the feel of wandering the halls when she was not supposed to or maybe it was the way that the sheer emptiness of the halls and bath did not feel eerie but rather as if she had Hogwarts all to herself.

Sitting her stuff on a bench near the tub, she sat on the edge and turned on the many faucets. She could not help the deep sigh that left her as she leaned back with her hands resting behind her and her head tilted back against her shoulders with her eyes closed. As she listening to the continuous gargle of water filling her mind drifted back to one particularly handsome Slytherin.

That man was an enigma. She was still dizzy with all that had happened between the bookshelves. She did not even know if her hands shaking during their tryst had been her usual residual tick from the cruciatus, her nervousness or being so overwhelmed by emotion. Plus, if you get into technicalities, they had been passionate but had not had sex. Rather, they had somehow managed to both climax whilst pleasuring the other. It was the most she had ever felt with another person sexually. Sure, it had been exciting and sweet if not a little nerve-wracking the first time with Krum but nothing even remotely close to what she had felt while spread across that library table what felt like eons ago. Even other experiences, both with others and individually, she had never come as hard.

She still could not help but blush when recalling all the things that had occurred in the library. She was wrestling with the feelings that lingered since. Yes, the obvious ones like pleasure and the sense of danger at being in public but never once during the enter encounter did her trust in him waver. She was completely comfortable and safe in his arms. This was something that she had realized soon afterward and had hoped would be a shared sentiment.

However, even though his behavior had changed post library it had not been for the better. He seemed to not even be able to be in the same space as her.

Did she do something wrong? Did he regret what they had done? Her stomach filled with shame and embarrassment at the thought that he was mortified of their indiscretions in one of her favorite places in Hogwarts. Was there still lingering prejudice for him? Was there too much history from before?

Sighing heavily and rubbing her eyes, she realized that the tub was nearly overflowing. Standing and shedding her clothes she slowly sank into the bubbles savoring the scalding temperature. As Hermione was lulled by the soothing heat of the bath, she missed the distinct sound of the door opening and closing.

Rapidly blinking her eyes open, she was startled and frozen by the sound of approaching footsteps. She was shocked to see the very blonde who had been haunting her thoughts. It was as if she had thought hard enough that he simply manifested. His face mirrored her surprise for a split second then quickly shifted to be both blank and cold. Turning promptly and without a word, he began to head toward the door.

Regardless of only having the frothy water and bubbles as cover, Hermione lurched forward while splashing water toward the direction of the door and Draco.

"Wait!"

Her exclamation was both louder and more dramatic than intended thanks to the profound echo that bounced throughout the stone room.

After a beat, without turning around, Malfoy sternly responded, "What is it, Granger?"

What did she want from him? She wanted him to stay. She wanted answers. And most importantly, now that she had had a taste of the compassion and warmth he could give, she wanted him.

Her mind was reeling, and she did not know where to begin. This was the first time that her thoughts had been so clear and focused. She wanted him and had to do something about it.

Apparently, she had taken too long to reply, and he turned towards her waiting for an exclamation. Once he turned, all he could see was how utterly beautiful she was in that moment. Her skin was flushed and glistening golden and her riotous curls were a crown from the steaming bath. Her face was turned toward him and decorated with deep gold freckles. Deep brown eyes were wide and pleading with a furrow in her brow while her lips were pursed in pained and confused thought.

His temper flared. Why was she upset? What right did she have to use that hurt look on him? She was the one who treated him as nothing more than a dirty secret. She was the one who couldn't stand to be in his presence immediately afterward. She was the one who had just left. She did not even turn in her hurtfully prompt escape from the library. How dare she look at him as if he hurt her. And how dare it make his heart ache.

Why is his so angry? She thought as she saw his face shift from controlled blankness to a pursed and angry expression reminiscent of their early years at Hogwarts.

"What is it Granger? Wanting to walk on the wild side and have a taste of Slytherin when no one will know the wiser?", he spat out venomously.

She lurched back as if he had struck her. First, she was shocked, the she was livid.

"How dare you! How dare you speak to me that way when you could not have even sparred a glance at me since the library!"

She was getting louder and louder with every word and her voice echoed menacingly against the stone wall and shaking panes of stained glass.

"You act as if I am dead to you even though I have never felt more alive than when we were together in the library. How dare you belittle that and act as if it is nothing."

She was breathing heavily, flushed and her curls were crackling with magic as a heavy silence followed in the wake of her proclamation.

Draco was frozen to the spot. First, he was processing her painfully loud proclamation. Could it really be? Is that how she really felt? Secondly, in her haste and tantrum she had stood up leaving only smattering of soon to be gone bubbles to ensure her modesty. Instinctively, Draco turned away. He might be frustrated with her, but he was a gentleman.

Hermione still not the wiser to her rather bare state misinterpreted the movement.

"Really?! You cannot even look at me now? Do I really mean so little that we cannot even have a conversation?" Hermione said as each word lost strength and her voice began to waver with emotion.

"Granger, I simply assumed that you wanted me to actually listen to what you were saying rather than be distracted by your current state of undress." Draco said in a somewhat exasperated tone while pinching his brow.

Hermione gasped and quickly plunged back into the water comically until only her face was exposed and her chin was within the bubbles.

Draco turning toward Hermione could not help but laugh at the deeply blushing brunette.

"So, you can still laugh and smile then?", Hermione queried. The blonde's laughter abruptly stopped, and he cast a tense look her way.

Taking a breath and gathering all the courage she could manage; she looked deep in the grey eyes of Draco Malfoy and asked the question she had been wondering for weeks.

"Did I do something wrong?"

There was a heavy pause while Draco seemed to be struggling with what to say. Finally, casting his eyes downward with his hair falling across his face he responded.

"You left."

Hermione quirked her head in confusion. What did he mean? He was the one who had thoroughly avoided her. Then realization struck. As soon as they had put themselves back to sorts the bell had rung and with all the adrenaline she had panicked and run to class.

Groaning and smacking her head, she turned to Draco.

"I am so sorry Malfoy. I was processing and going a million miles and minute and just on instinct left for class at the sound of the bell. I just assumed we could meet up later to talk or leave a note to meet but then you seemed so cold and distant."

Draco turned hopeful eyes toward he and saw the sincerity across her face. Nervously running his hand up and down the back of his hair he looked at Hermione with question across his face.

"Well, now that I know you ran off as part of your top-of-the-class student instincts and not because I was a dirty secret to you, what did you want to talk about?"

So many thoughts were whizzing through Hermione's head at his question and it was dizzying. But looking into the stormy eyes of the handsome blonde smiling gently at her she knew all she needed to know.

"It meant something to me. It meant a lot. You made me feel so comfortable and safe and I trusted you completely which is not always easy for me. I loved every second of it and have loved being close to you and even just passing notes. I regret nothing. Did it mean anything to you? Do you have any regrets?" Hermione said quietly but clearly.

"Just one." Hermione's heart began to sink.

"I wish I had not been so hurt and jumped to conclusions so quickly when you left. It was terribly Gryffindor of me." He said with a joking look of bewilderment and disgust.

Hermione laughed heartedly and sent a large wave toward the joking blonde soaking his clothes.

"Hey! You are going to pay for that!" With a wolfish grin, he ran toward her while she laughed and tried to tread water to get away.

Draco came to the edge of the oversized tub and leaned down. Hermione froze at his proximity and with a smile leaned in to kiss him. Their lips met in a gentle kiss that soon evolved into something more. It was not the passionate somewhat frantic kisses of the library or even the gentle kiss they shared first, but a kiss that was of understanding and exploring the other as if time was no issue. Pulling gently away, Draco looked back into Hermione's brown eyes and tucked a wet curl behind her ear.

"What is this Granger? What are we?" His eyes were worried but hopeful.

"Please call me Hermione." She said with a warm smile.

"Hermione, you did not answer the question." Draco responded with an exasperated smirk while emphasizing her name.

"I don't know. We definitely are no longer enemies," Draco snorted loudly at that and gave her a sarcastic look. "but we just recently crossed into friend territory,"

"I don't know about you, but that is not usually how I spend time in the library with my friends."

"Will you let me finish?" Hermione huffed, "but we have blown past the friend title as well… I guess the question is, what do you want us to be?"

They both looked at each other for the answer.

"Well, I can clear this up I think." Clearing his throat dramatically, he turned to Hermione with his chin raised slightly.

"Would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me next weekend?"

His response was unexpected and threw her for a loop for a split second. She could only imagine the looks and questions their presence would garner. But she didn't care. She had been used to attention, not always good, since her role in the wizarding world as one of Harry Potter's best friends. She knew she could handle it.

"I would love to."

Flashing a bright smile and ducking quickly to peck her on the mouth, Draco had never looked happier.

"Brilliant. That's that then. We are officially dating."

Worry crossed Hermione's eyes at his boyish glee.

"Draco, you know this is not going to be easy though, right? People are going to be very nosy and very vocal."

"Just because you are the top of the class does not mean the rest of us have the IQ of a troll. Of course, I know that. It will be bad for both of us. There will be rumors and potentially newspaper coverage. I can see it now," He gestured his hands in a sweeping motion as if reading a marquee, "Ex death eater and disgraced pureblood, Draco Malfoy, targets genius muggleborn war heroine, Hermione Granger." Hermione leveled him with an unamused glare.

"Don't give me that look. You know that people will think of us in those terms. Plus, I am sure some will accuse me of imperioing you or using you to boost my not so great status."

"Well who cares what strangers think anyway." Hermione stated with a determined nod.

"You think our friends will think better of it? I don't know about you, but I think they will be a harder sell than strangers."

Hermione had not thought about that. She knew that if her friends could see Draco now, they would support them dating, but could they get past their knee jerk responses? She would start with Ginny and Luna and then go from there. She was already dreading that conversation with Harry and Ron.

Hermione squared her shoulders and looked determinedly at the blonde.

"It won't be easy, but it will be worth it. It might be an idea to keep our relationship under wraps for a little while until we can introduce the idea to our friends in a more controlled way. That way they can know before the floodgates burst."

Draco thought this over and squelched down the trickle of fear that he would still be a secret. Her plan made sense and was their best bet to be able to get to know each other as peacefully as possible.

"Sounds like a plan to me." He leaned down and placed a sweet kiss across her lips. As he got up, they both noticed the slight tremor to his hands.

"I am going to let you relax and enjoy your bath." Hermione looked up at him in surprise.

"But I will see you tomorrow.You were onto something regarding wolfsbane and I have a plan to test it out. Tomorrow after dinner. Meet me in the classroom in the dungeons by the tapestry of the green dragon. We can began brewing," He then looked at her lustfully and raised one eyebrow, "and maybe explore other things as well."

Hermione swallowed audibly and felt her stomach clench in excitement. Draco noticed her response and his eyes burned even more.

"Until tomorrow Hermione" and then he left with the resounding sound of the heavy door closing.

Despite the warm water, Hermione shuttered in excitement for their rendezvous tomorrow and at the unfamiliar but seductive sound of her name in his voice.