"You should talk to him." Hermione told me one afternoon after a D.A meeting. I couldn't believe she was telling me what I should do, she had never even bothered to have a proper conversation with me before and I'd heard her saying unfriendly things about me on more than one occasion, tarnishing me with the same brush she used to paint all the Slytherins.

"And who are you to tell me what I should do?" I inquired, narrowing my eyes at her.

"His friend." She said firmly, "And as his friend, I'm worried about him. He's sorry about the way you think he treats you. It's crushed his spirit, he thinks he's made your life miserable but I'm sure you're quite capable of doing that yourself."

"Well at least I'm not an insufferable know-it-all who thinks she's on a higher level than everybody else but claims she's above discrimination against people." I said with a huff, collecting my bag and leaving the room of requirement. The door let out onto a different corridor than usual, Filch and the inquisitorial squad had found where we were training and had been doing their hardest to find a way in. I couldn't help but think Draco had followed me one afternoon to find out where we went.

I managed to make my way back to the normal corridor and walk up behind the group without much effort, "Are we eating dinner this evening Draco?" I asked loudly, startling the group who were studying the wall in hopes the door would appear.

"How did yo – Nevermind, yes we are." He replied, taking my arm and leaving Filch and the Inquisitorial squad staring at the wall in confusion.

"Did you follow me?" I asked as we made out way down for dinner,

"Yes," He replied and I was a little surprised but pleased with his honesty. "But before you get mad, it wasn't my idea. Pansy suggested we follow you and see if you lead us to Potter."

"It's okay," I told him, "You probably won't get in there anyway." I concluded and that was the end of the conversation, instead choosing to move on to more enjoyable topics.

A few months passed and Harry and I still weren't speaking but Draco and I were the center of most people's gossip. Though nothing had really happened between us – hand holding mostly, and only when we didn't think people were looking – that didn't stop the rumor mill from producing all kinds of stories. It was strange to be the center of attention for a change, even if it was all fabrication and stories.

"I heard a couple of first years whispering about us as I walked by the courtyard this morning," Draco said one afternoon while we were studying in the library, the O. were fast approaching and after the Easter Holidays next week they'd be all anyone had time for.

"Oh really?" I replied, not looking up from my potions textbook, "Anything interesting?" Draco shook his head, and got up to find another book from the shelves. Deciding I was done with potions I closed my book and followed Draco into the stacks. "Perhaps we could give them something true to talk about for a change?" I suggested nonchalantly, looking up at him for a second before wandering off into the maze of shelves. I was done waiting around for him to make a move, I was feeling a lot more confident with myself these days, I'd even stopped flattening my fringe every time it moved and let my scar show.

"Juliette, stop messing around." Draco called out and I heard the librarian shushing him from her desk on the other side of the library.

"Maybe you should come and find me?" I suggested back to him, earning my own shushing. I could hear footsteps approaching, even if he didn't want to play games, he'd play because I was. I found I liked to play games, especially when they were ones I always won and I was very good at hiding. I simply had to stay one step ahead of him among the shelves. I heard him turn down the next aisle over.

"Found you." He said and then let out a disappointed sigh when he realized he hadn't found me after all. I turned the next corner to meet him.

"You'll have to try hard than that," I said with a smirk to rival his own, twisting my long dark hair around my finger before disappearing off again.

This went on for a few minutes, the one thing about Draco that made this easy was his heavy footsteps, I could always tell where he was so when he managed to sneak up behind me and tap me on the shoulder it was understandable that I was more than a little startled.

"Found you," He declared as tried to stop myself from falling over from the surprise. I looked down at the floor to take a deep breath to steady myself when I noticed his sock clad feet, his shoes held in one hand. The little cheat had taken off his shoes to make his steps quieter.

"You cheated!" I faked astonishment, but couldn't help the grin on my face.

"Now about what you said earlier," Draco began.

"What about it?" I asked innocently but instead of receiving a reply, Draco wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close to him, dropping his own shoes to the stone floor, his other hand wound its way up to the back of my head, his fingers tangling in the long mess of my hair as he kissed me. His lips were soft as I'd thought they would be and I was filled with warmth from head to toe. My own hands made their way up to his neck, wrapping around him and pulling him closer still. It was probably the shelves around us but I could of sworn Draco smelt like books and apples which were his preferred snack food. I didn't want it to end but when Madame Pince, the librarian cleared her throat behind me I knew we couldn't ignore it.

I could feel my face getting hot, mostly from being caught kissing by a teacher but a little from the actual kissing too.

"Ah, I guess we'll be off then." Draco said, his hand firmly clasping my own, fingers interlocked. The librarian watched us disapprovingly as Draco slipped his shoes back on to his feet and she followed us to the door to make sure we left. Once out of the library I couldn't help but laugh at the situation which set Draco off laughing too. We walked a little further down the corridor still laughing before Draco caught me again and we were continuing our interrupted kiss.

AN: I dunno if this really fits in here but I just really wanted to write them kissing already... The fact that I've made it to chapter nine is seriously impressive for me. Gold Stars all round. ~RainbowVeins