Disclaimer: If I were the author of the Harry Potter series Draco and Hermione would have been married by now. I own nothing ((except my plot)).

Posted On: October 28, 2006

----------------Pt 1 : Secrets, Suspicions, and Surprises---

Hermione awoke, rays of sunlight gleaming through the window of her Head Girl dormitory. She stood from her luxurious bed, thankful to have been given the privilege to use it. She drew back the curtains to the bay window and gazed, entranced as the sun rose above the horizon, outlining the many towers of the gothic castle of Hogwarts.

It was a daily routine she had gone about following for the past five months of school. Ever since the first day of waking up in these quarters she had been blessed with the wonderful view. Every day was new; every day was beautiful in its own way. Even if it were storming outside, it was a beautiful prospect.

She took a glance at the clock and sighed, times up. She then stood and headed towards the door which led into her person lavatory. She took a quick shower, brushed her hair and teeth, dressed up in her school robes, and walked out of room.

Once entering her eyes traveled the length of the common room briskly, hoping to see the Head Boy. No such luck. Well, she'd see Draco later tonight. He was bound to have set something up for the two of them. As tough as he may act to the world, inside, he was a hopeless romantic.

She continued to make her way down to the Great Hall happily, pondering what the day ahead of her may bring. Once there, she glanced unconsciously towards the Slytherin table and saw Draco sitting near his two friends, Crabbe and Goyle, along with the quiet, dark-skinned boy, Blaise. She walked to the Gryffindor table and sat down between Harry and Ron.

"Good morning! It's beautiful outside today!" she gazed up to the enchanted ceiling which mimicked the true sky that was outside the castle.

"Why are you so cheerful, Hermione?" Harry grumbled, throwing a breakfast roll onto his plate.

"Oh, come on mate, cheer up! At least you know you'll be getting a few valentines today." Ron said in a mock serious tone. Harry sent him a death glare.

"Being chased around throughout the day by musical greeting cards sent by giggling fourth years honestly isn't as flattering as it may appear." Harry always seemed to be a target for young hormonal teens on this particular day.

"Honestly, today will be great!" Hermione said brightly, trying to bring the optimism back into their conversation, "Today is the only day of the year completely dedicated to all couples and spending time with the ones you love."

"And who might you be spending your evening with that is making you so cheerful?" Ron raised a questioning eyebrow. Harry looked at her as well, wondering whom she was referring to as well.

"Oh, no one," she tried to keep a blush from appearing on her cheeks, "I just meant in general, for all couples." Both Harry and Ron gave skeptical looks but knew better than to question her again.

"So, what have the two of you planned for tonight?" she asked, diverting the attention from herself.

"I'm taking Lavender to Hogsmeade for dinner. I've made reservations at a pub for the two of us." Ron stated, forgetting about his suspicion of Hermione's words.

"I'm setting up dinner for Ginny and me in the Room of Requirements. I'm having Dobby fix up some food and set up candles." Harry blushed at his words. Hermione smiled genuinely, finding it cute how he got embarrassed over such petty things. Ron, however, narrowed his eyes at him.

"Harry, if you do anything to or with my baby sis-,"

"We will be sure to keep the information from you." Ginny interrupted Ron as she took a seat at the table next to Harry.

"So, 'Mione, what are you up to tonight?" Ginny asked politely, knowing full-well the answer.

"Nothing exciting, really. I'll probably stay in my common room for the night. Maybe pop into the library for a little while…" She gave her best attempt not to smirk. Ginny, alternatively, gave no effort to hide her coy smile.

"What are you two-,"

"Oh, look at that! Classes are going to be starting soon; we had better get going you two." Hermione gathered her things, stood from the table, and walked off.

"What's her problem?" Ron asked Ginny, knowing she knew the answer.

"I think you should mind your own business Ronald." She stood up as well, bid Harry goodbye, and walked out of the hall after Hermione.

Harry and Ron exchanged knowing looks. Something was amidst, and they would find out what it was.

&&&&&

Hermione tapped her fingertips against the desk impatiently, staring at the clock above Professor McGonagall's head table. It was the final class of the day, double Transfiguration. Time was passing dreadfully slowly and Hermione desperately wanted to see Draco. She had only seen him once the entire day, and they had been forced to ignore each other. He was in the presence of his Slytherin friends who would never accept the likes of Hermione.

It's not as if they were ashamed of their relationship, it was just the consequences of their actions if the school or public found out. The social reaction within the school was not what worried them most though. It was the possibility that Voldemort may find out. It was no secret that Draco's family -or at least his father- was in close ties with the Dark Lord and that Draco was fully expected to follow in his footsteps. They knew fully of the life-threatening position they would be in if the time came. But was love worth the risk? Was she even truly in love with Draco? They had been together for just four months now; was that too soon to admit feeling love?

Just then the students surrounding her began shuffling around and collecting their things. She followed suite and hurried towards her own common room once people began to leave the classroom. Hopefully there would be something (or someone) waiting for her when she arrived back.

"Fairy Wings." She said to the portrait with an elegant man painted onto it.

"Very well, very well." He spoke slowly and revealed the entrance at the same pace. Once it had opened enough for her to fit in she slipped through the entrance impatiently and pushed the door closed behind her, hearing a complaint from the portrait about under-appreciation of some sort just as he did every other day.

She looked around optimistically and found absolutely nothing. She frowned, maybe there was something up in her room? She rushed up the narrow staircase and walked to her room to find a single piece of parchment lying atop her bed. She rushed over, curious as to what it said,

Don't go to the Great Hall for dinner.

Meet me in the common room at 6:00.

Wear something comfortable.

-Draco

Hermione looked back to her watch, it was 4:00. That gave her two hours. She reread the message once more before smiling to herself merrily and heading to the vanity to begin her project of getting ready.

&&&&&

She glanced at herself one last time before leaving the bathroom. As Draco had requested, she had dressed herself in a pair of comfortable tennis shoes, tight muggle blue jeans, and had chosen a white halter top that showed just enough skin to be appealing, but not going overboard. She had charmed her hair to fall to her mid-back in soft waves. Her eyes were darkened slightly with tan eye shadow and black mascara and eyeliner. She grabbed her jacket, which was black, and headed down towards the main common room to await Draco's arrival.

As soon as she had stepped into the room there was a faint knock on the main door of the common room. She walked to the door and pulled it open happily to reveal both Harry and Ron.

"Hey guys!" she said with false enthusiasm, trying to shield herself from their view behind the door. They thought she wasn't going anywhere tonight and seeing her dolled up would do no good for her white lie. Unlucky for her, it didn't work.

"And where are you off to tonight?" Ron asked sternly after pushed the door open completely to get a better look at what she was giving her best effort to hide.

"Oh, no where." She lied nervously, "I've got a lot of studying to do though, and you two have to get to your dates so why don't we just talk later?" she said shutting the door, not allowing them to speak any further. Great, now she'd never hear the end of that!

"Something wrong?" Draco's voice rang through the room as the portrait's closing echoed about the room.

"No, nothing important. I'm so glad to finally see you today." She moved towards him and gave him a small peck.

"I saw Potter and Weasley, what happened?" he asked again suspiciously.

"Nothing. Nothing happened, everything is fine and today will be perfect." She smiled warmly, moving the thoughts of her two best friends to the back of her mind.

"If you say so. I've just got to grab a few things from upstairs and then we'll be able to leave." Hermione nodded earnestly and Draco moved towards his own dorm.

"Oh," he turned around and took a stop towards her, "you look beautiful by the way." he said before leaning closer to her and planting a sweet kiss on her lips.

"Thank you." she said unintentionally seductively. Draco cocked a brow and smirked and walking upstairs. Hermione waited a minute before Draco could be seen descending the stairs.

"You ready?" he asked. Hermione nodded again and slipped on her jacket.

"The portkey will be activated in about thirty seconds, so grab on." He held out a quill and Hermione took hold of an end.

"How did you get a portkey?" she questioned suspiciously.

"I'm a Malfoy." He smirked at her and she rolled her eyes playfully in return, "Oh, of course; how silly of me to forget your superior privileges."

"I agree." he smirked again.

"Three, two, one." Draco spoke and within the next moment they had gone.

&&&&&

Harry and Ron were walking down the hall solemnly after being kicked out of Hermione's dorm room and seeing Malfoy walking towards it.

"What the hell is she up to?" Ron asked, temper rising.

"Well, she's obviously going out tonight and she doesn't want us to know who she's leaving with." They walked in silence for a moment, an eerie revelation dawning on both of them.

"Yo-you don't think…?" Ron asked, wide-eyed.

"Hermione? Our Hermione? With… Malfoy?" Harry asked, taken aback at their like assumptions, "No… No, she wouldn't do that. Not after everything he's said and done."

"Think about it, Harry! Why else would she not want to tell us who she was going to be with tonight?" Ron was determinedly speaking, knowing it was a plausible possibility.

"Er, I don't know Ron. How about I just ask Ginny about it tonight? Speaking of which, shouldn't you be going to meet up with Lavender about now?" Harry reminded him.

"Oh, right! Well, don't forget to ask Gin." Ron said before heading off in the opposite direction of Harry, leaving him to worry about their current predicament.

&&&&&

Hermione looked around curiously, taking in her new surroundings. She was in, well, another common room. There were a couple of sofas, a small side table, a small kitchen area, and a… microwave? And a refrigerator? She looked towards her right, back towards the sofas to see a television she had overlooked. She turned around, bewildered, ready to ask Draco where in the world they were but found he was no where to be seen.

"Draco?" she called out a bit frantically. She heard a rustling of a curtain from behind and whipped around. She walked towards it and pulled it back cautiously, unknowing as to what would be revealed. When she looked, she let out a stunned gasp.

There before her was a beautifully decorated balcony complete with a round table for two, a candle lit on the top. But, that was far from the most exquisite part. She walked towards the railing and looked out into the sky at the view stretching out hundreds of miles before her. There will millions upon millions of lights and buildings towering over the two of them in every direction. She took it all, marveled at the site.

Suddenly an arm entangled around her waist and she heard a whisper in her ear,

"Do you like the view?"

"It's astonishing." She breathed.

"Look down, over the rail." He told her. She leaned forward slightly and turned her gaze down. It was high. She could hardly see the street from the height they were at. She jumped back at once and gave a small yelp of fright.

"Draco!" she slapped his arm lightly and he smirked, "You know full-well I don't like heights!"

"How could I forget? You never want to go flying with me. But, unlucky for you its dead fun to see you all wound up." His smirk remained plastered onto his face and he leaned in for another kiss and after a minute they were immersed in an intense snogging session. Hermione was leaning back against the railing for support and Draco continued to kiss her, making sure to lean closer towards her ever second, making Hermione lean farther back. It seemed like hours before she noticed what he was doing and she immediately broke away from his kiss when she had.

"Draco Malfoy!!" she cried, clinging to him as if her life depended on it. He lifted her back upright smoothly and gave her a disapproving look,

"Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you! It's just," she looked over the ledge again and shivered almost unnoticeably, "so high."

"I would never let you fall." He reassured her and moved away towards the table he had set.

"You're mad at me now, aren't you?" she said, sounding defeated.

"Of course not, but you do know I would never-,"

"I know Draco."

"I'm nothing like my-,"

"I know, Draco." She said cogently and brushed the subject away; she didn't want to ruin the moment, "The table looks lovely. And, from where each of us is sitting we get a fantastic view of this city! Where are we anyway?" she smiled and moved towards a chair to sit down in.

"Your seat," Draco beat her to it. He pulled out a chair for her and she nodded with a smile.

"We're in a muggle city. Did you see all the funny things inside? I think it's called a camera… the thing with the black screen that you can see your refection in…"

"That would be a Television." She giggled, "You need to take muggle studies." He snorted,

"Yeah, that'll be the day." He said sourly.

"Well, any how, which city is this? You chose to not answer my question the first time, I noticed."

"We're in a very famous place. Can't you tell which one Miss Know-It-All Granger?" He smirked playfully as he used her old nickname.

"Yes, well that certainly narrows it down to about ten thousand possible places in the world!" Hermione said back snootily, showing him up.

"Granger, look there." He pointed behind her, past her left shoulder. She turned and looked up at the skyline near an ocean.

"Oh… goodness, Draco." She was at a loss for words. She stood up once again and moved towards the balcony slowly, completely awe-struck, "I-I can't believe you did this. We're… oh Draco!" she moved towards him and practically leaped on him to embrace him.

"Only the best, for the best." He said smugly.

"New York City. Draco! We're in New York City! We're not even in Europe anymore! I can't believe you did this just for me!"

"I remembered you mentioning something about wanting to go to American sometime in your life. I wanted today to be special for you." He said sincerely, so completely different from the normal hard-headed character he was played out to be.

"Draco, I just don't know what to say. This is the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever presented me with." She was glowing with happiness, staring out at the horizon.

"You're quite welcome." He said arrogantly before setting a short, sweet kiss on her lips.

"Now, the food is going to get cold." Draco grabbed her hand and dragged her away from the view.

"Draco, this is amazing. You are amazing. I can't believe how much you have changed and matured since I've met you. I'm so proud of who you are now and who've you've become."

"You sound like my mum, My." He smirked and rolled his eyes, dragging her to the table.

xxxFlashback

"Watch yourself this year Granger." Malfoy's sharp voice showed no amusement.

"What, may I presume, are you going to do, ferret? Set off your Slytherin scum on me? You obviously are in no shape to take even me on." She looked him over. He had dark bags under his eyes and a look of exhaustion overshadowed his features. His eyes narrowed,

"Shut your unworthy mouth, Granger. For your information I don't need others to do my dirty work." He smirked at her after looking her over, eyes wandering her body through her robes. She looked at him, thoroughly disgusted with the boy. He wouldn't lay a hand on her! He was Head Boy and his position was at stake, plus, this was Hermione Granger he was talking to. He brushed past her smugly after she made no effort to reply and walked into his own room.

xxxEnd Flashback

"Honestly Draco, you've become so much more established since the beginning of this year. I was almost, almost, frightened of you at the start of this year." She moved awkwardly in her seat. She didn't want to think she still was.

"Er, sorry about that. I guess I could have been a bit easier on you." He shrugged, obviously not truly meaning a word of what he was saying.

xxxFlashback

"Mind your own damn business Granger!"

"Just tell me what's wrong. I want to help you." She pleaded with him, hating to see him in such distress. No, she didn't entirely like him, but no one deserved to have to live like he had been for the last month.

"You can't help me!" he bellowed as Hermione tagged along after him while he strode across the common room, headed for his dormitory.

"Please, just let me try and help. You never know what -,"

"This has nothing to do with you." He spoke through gritted teeth.

"Yes, it does. When I suspect something is serious or life-threatening to my roommate or fellow student it automatically becomes my own concern as well as your own. Just let me help you!"

"Get away, Granger. I don't need nor want your help so just fuck off."

"Accio Letter." She said sharply and the parchment zoomed into her own hands. She heard Malfoy curse and walk towards her and she began to read the message, backing as far away from Malfoy as possible all the while.

Draco Mr. Malfoy-

We regret to inform you that on the eve of October the 14th Mrs. Narcissa Malfoy was proclaimed deceased. We have recovered confidential evidence that points to the cause of death being the Unforgivable Curse. Due to the fact that Lucius Malfoy's whereabouts are currently unknown we request your presence in order to confirm final settlements concerning funds and property.

The paper was pulled out of her grasp and she was pushed forcefully against the stone wall of the common room. Hermione looked up to see a sinister-looking Malfoy glaring down at her,

"Granger! When I tell you something is none of your bloody business it means you should keep your filthy thoughts, comments, concerns, and actions to yourself." He roughly grabbed the left side of her neck and forced her face to the right and he leaned down to whisper murderously into her ear,

"Never, ever, pry into my business again. Do you understand me, mudblood?" she remained silent.

"Answer me mudblood." He twisted her face more to the right and she whimpered slightly. It must have been good enough for him because he roughly removed her face from his grasp and walked away incensed.

Hermione stayed up against the wall for a moment before talking a step away, shaking.

"I'm here, Malfoy, if you ever want to-," the door slammed shut, "talk."

xxxEnd Flashback

"I wasn't as dreadful as you're making me out to be. I mean, I had a temper but now you're trying to make my 'changed self' seem as harmonic as Potter or Weasley." He scoffed at the mention of the two names.

"I withdraw my comment about your becoming more mature." She narrowed her eyes at the rude comment.

"He's just so NICE. No one under that much pressure could be as 'lighthearted' as that guy acts. He probably just does it for the publicity."

"For your information Harry thoroughly hates all of the publicity he is given and only wishes to have a normal life. How would you like to be followed around by newspaper reporters and obsessive freaks who send you fan mail?!" she said strongly, making her point.

"He likes it." Draco said simply, not believing a word of his girlfriend. Hermione sighed,

"For now, I'm going to drop this subject. This is going to lead nowhere except an argument and I don't want tonight to be ruined by some petty statements thrown between us while we're bickering."

"Fine, but I'm still right." Hermione narrowed her eyes towards him but made no comment. She stuck her fork into the food before her, aggravated.

"Look at us. We're arguing like an old married couple." Hermione said, grinning, after a few moments of silence.

"We tend to do that quite often, do we not?" a smirk was playing across his face.

"What is it with you and that awfully attracted smirk of yours?" Hermione asked offhandedly.

"Attractive you say?" he smirked, yet again, "I don't really know. It's just a habit I guess…"

"Well, it's a bad one. You should get into the habit of smiling." She proposed; she had yet to receive a genuine smile from him.

"Smiling?" he sat thoughtfully.

"Well, it's only an idea. If your smirk is that handsome I could only imagine how charming a smile would be." She persuaded him, feigning innocence. He shrugged.

They continued their dinners until the two of them were full-up with food.

"That was delicious, Draco." Hermione said, scooting her chair back to stand.

"I must agree with you, I am a fantastic chef."

"You made that!" Hermione asked, amazed at his 'work'. Draco, however, laughed,

"You're gullible. It's adorable, My." She rolled her eyes and looked sideways,

"Sorry I believed you! I'll be sure not to trust you next time you say you'll make sure I don't fall off the side of a building!" she said exaggeratingly.

"Hey, that's not fair. That was a completely different topic. I wouldn't allow you to fall off of a skyscraper."

"You sound like a four year old, pouting like that." She smiled playfully.

"Ah, well, sometimes being immature is the only way to get what you want or prove a point." He gave himself a smirk of approval, "Now, back to the schedule I've lined up for the two of us." Draco moved towards Hermione and grabbed her hand gently and pulled her back into the room they had arrived in. He directed her towards the fireplace and removed a small pouch from his pocket. He opened the pouch and dumped some of the powder into his hands.

"Here." He held out the bad and Hermione gathered some of the dust into her own hand.

"You first or me?" Draco asked casually.

"Me. No you!" she said nervously, wondering where they were headed. He nodded and walked into the small opening of the wall.

"Clearview Pub, New York City." She saw him smirk one last time before he was captivated by a swarm of emerald flames. So, they were going to stay in New York. That made knowing what they were going to do even more nerve-racking! Hermione stepped into the fireplace after it had cleared and took one last look around at the beautiful room. Draco must have paid a fortune just to rent this out for the few hours they had stayed there. She sighed, spoke the words Draco had said minutes before, and threw in the powder, dreaming she could have gotten Draco a gift as magnificent as this was.

After being jostled around a bit Hermione found herself being ejected from another fireplace quite like the one she had just stepped into. But, before she hit the ground on the tile of her new surroundings a pair of strong arms caught her.

"Always there to catch m-," She began flirtatiously before stopping abruptly after she had taken a glance at the man who had broken her fall. This was definitely not Draco. He was quite tall, though not as tall as Draco himself. He looked around 5'11" and compared to her own 5'5" frame, that was high. He had dark brown eyes, tanned skin, and light brown hair. He was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a white polo.

"Oh Merlin I'm terribly sorry! I mistook you for someone else." She blushed furiously, not looking towards the nameless man, "Thank you very much for catching me." She looked up at the man and he smiled at her shyness.

"It's not a problem miss…?"

"Oh! You can call me Hermione. And you are?" she offered her hand to him.

"David, David Moore. Welcome to America." He grasped her hand and bent to place a kiss on it, making Hermione blush deeper crimson. Where on Earth had Draco gone? She looked around; he was no where in sight.

"Why, thank you very much. Actually, I'm here with my boyfriend. He came just a few moments before me. Did you happen to see him? Blonde hair, grey eyes?"

"Oh! I'm so sorry, I was quite forward. I had assumed you were here alone." He released her hand but didn't blush or give any sign of embarrassment. "Well, I haven't seen him. I didn't even notice anyone enter before you but, then again, no one else fell into my arms." He said playfully. Hermione giggled lightly. He had a charismatic sense to him just as Draco did… She gave him a strange look,

"I'm sorry, but do I happen to know you? You seem eerily familiar." She eyed him suspiciously.

"We may have crossed paths once before… in bed." Then he smirked. A Malfoy smirk. Hermione's face relaxed and she rolled her eyes at him,

"You wish." She said playfully and David began to pout. "Don't do that, it makes you look even more ridiculous in that form. Why on Earth have you changed your appearance anyways, Draco?"

"Well, we can't have everyone seeing us together once we're in public!"

"But we're in America, we don't even know anyone!"

"Hermione, do you know who Bill Gates is?" Draco asked obviously.

"Oh, of course I do! How in the world do you though?"

"That's not the point at the moment, but what is, is that I have heard of him. He is one of the most known men in the muggle communities, worldwide. Well, the Malfoy name is somewhat like the 'Bill Gates' of the wizarding world. But we're not only known for financial reasons." He scowled. Hermione knew how much he hated when people judged him by his name, his family history.

"Well, I guess that makes sense, but I'm going to feel very awkward holding your hand with you looking like someone who is not my boyfriend." She said sadly.

"Not just me! You too! You're almost as famous as Potter! You helped him defeat the Dark Lord, remember?" she looked at him, not really believing his words.

"What are you talking about!? No one is going to say a word to me." She said, brushing off the matter, "Now, let's go."

"Fine! But, if just one person confronts you, you're taking the potion I made for you." He said with a tone of finality.

"Fine. But, I assure you, no one will even notice me amongst the other thousands of people!" She said with an all-knowing tone of voice. Draco sighed and led her towards the door of the pub. She hurried over to it ahead of him, excited for what was behind it. Draco pulled open the door for her and she took a step outside. She let out an audible shriek when her surroundings came into view. There were shops lined up block after block. People, a countless number of people, were walking up and down the streets.

"Wow Draco!" she turned to him and hugged him tightly, "Draco! We're in Manhattan, aren't we?!" she shrieked, overjoyed. He nodded and reached for her hand again.

"Come on, let's head into some stores. There are a few wizarding shops scattered about the area that only magical folks can see."

"Draco! I don't have any money with me! Do they have a bank anywhere near?!" she cried.

"My, did you forget who I am?" she gapped at him.

"Draco! Oh Merlin! You can't possibly be meaning what I think you are…" she looked at him, aghast.

"Keep in mind that this is a one time thing. I don't normally going shopping with women, considering their actions when doing so. And, yes, I'm buying." He added quickly. Hermione stared up at him, beaming.

"Draco! I can't believe you'd do something like this for me! Thank you so much! I-," she stopped short, unsure of what to say, "Thank you!" she wrapped him in another tight embrace. When she finally let go he reached for her hand again and she immediately began to tug him in different directions,

"Oh! Let's go over here first! Doesn't that store look cute!?" He sighed but obliged. What had he gotten himself into?

&&&&&

A/N: Okay! Here's my newest, two-chapter story! What'd you all think? Please, please, please review and let me know! It's been quite a while since you've gotten anything totally new from me, but here is something ((finally))! Alright, well part two, which isn't as long as this, will be posted in a week or two, just to see how popular this little fic can get! I hope you all liked this and will like part two! Please note though: There are only two chapters to this story!!

Review Please