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- Yes Hermione, I will say yes to you forever. -

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For the next part of my plan to work, I needed to be on good terms with Professor Slughorn. Luckily for me, I was a natural with potions, Professor Snape said so. Even when I told him that I needed his help to brew a poison to put in a wine bottle, he told me he doubted that I would need his assistance. Nevertheless, he agreed.

But I needed Professor Slughorn to be the one to gift the poisoned wine to Professor Dumbledore because when he is found dead, Professor Slughorn would be blamed because not only did he deliver the wine, but because he is the potions teacher.

The one problem that I didn't count on was Potter. For someone who hated the subject, he sure was doing well in potions this year. Not only did he win the Felix Felicis, which I desired dearly, but he also was the top of our class, even besting Granger. I bragged to Professor Slughorn about my grandfather, Abraxus Malfoy, whom I was sure he had known. I must have been too late though because the professor seemed to have eyes for Potter only. Potter and Granger.

A thought flashed through my mind. What if I could get Granger to ask me to be her date for the upcoming Slug Club Christmas Party? Surely then, I might catch the professor's eye. I smiled maliciously, but then I thought of what Professor Snape would say. He had to understand. I had a plan. I would only be spending time with Granger as part of our plan.

As much as I told myself that was the only reason I wanted to be her date, part of me longed to be the one that she dressed up for. At the Yule Ball, she had looked like a princess and it made me wish that I was the one who had asked her out. I had to go through that whole night dancing with Pansy Parkinson, someone who, other than my school house, I had nothing in common with, while watching Krum make my Granger smile and giggle. It was one of the most humbling experiences of my life.

I went to the library, this time looking for her, and indeed I found her, nose glued into another book. She was everything, determined, smart, confident. Everything.

"Hey Granger," I cooed at her, knowing what that would do to me if the situations were reversed.

She looked up to me hope in her eyes. Oh my Lord, those eyes. They were like shining stars on a moonlit night. Laughter in a room of regret. They were my light during this time of darkness. I admired her and she did me.

"Hey Draco," she said softly back. I sat down next to her, and I swore I saw her adjust herself slightly so that she was closer to me. "You look better," she commented. My face had resumed its usual extremely pale shade.

"Feel better too, I've had a bit of a cold the last few days." I explained away her observation of my awkward skin complexion from The Three Broomsticks.

"Merlin, I'm sorry."

"It's alright. Actually I have something to ask you."

She perked up, posture straightening and cheeks flushing, "Alright."

"I was wondering if you had a date to the Slug Club Christmas Party yet."

That made her smile ear to ear. I haven't seen her smile like that since last year. It filled my breaking soul with enough light to make it feel healed again. Her smile showed me that I could be good instead of completely a monster. Then again, I was using her.

"Are you asking me to be your date?" she enthused.

"No Granger," I teased, "You're supposed to ask me." I smiled at her, geniunely. She made me happy. This was something that Father didn't understand. It didn't matter to me what her blood status was, only that she made me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. For a second I wondered if I could be able to do both. Fulfill The Dark Lord's wishes, and date Hermione Granger. The hope fueled me. It made me feel truly excited for my days ahead for the first time ever.

She giggled sweetly, "Draco Malfoy..." There was my name on her lips again. "Would you like to go to Slughorn's Christmas Party as my date?"

I had expected to hear those words, but there was a way that she said them that made me shiver all over. A sudden temptation crept over me. I looked into her eyes longingly and she gasped, aware of what I was about to do. I knew that I shouldn't, but I've waited far too long for this.

I placed my hand behind her neck as I dove into kiss her. She didn't protest, just the opposite. With the same enthusiasm, she wrapped both arms around my neck, pulling herself closer to my body. When our lips touched, fireworks exploded through me.

This was my forbidden kiss, my forbidden love. I felt a form of a guilty pleasure. It made me feel in control of my fate. How did Professor Snape expect me to stay away from this?

We stopped briefly to catch our breaths before we pressed our lips onto each other's again. I felt the fire she lit in me. I was burning, burning, burning. I ran my hands down her sides, feeling her curves. She was an angel, my angel. She was all mine. I rested them just above her hips, and pulled her off her seat and onto my lap. She paused briefly to giggle, then, wrapping her legs around my waist, she leaned back in to the kiss.

"That's a yes I take it," she whispered into my mouth.

"Yes," I moaned. Yes Hermione, I will say yes to you forever.