"Hermione I love you."

The words tumbled from his lips effortlessly and she scowled.

"Forget it," was her reply, looking down and away.

"I can't forget it," he replied, sounding annoyed and her eyes met his. "I love you."

"You can't just say it like…like that!" she exclaimed and he looked at her dumbfounded.

"Oh I'm sorry, did I pronounce it wrong? Use the wrong language? Perhaps I should have grunted it in Troll? Then maybe your blasted muggleborn brain could comprehend it!"

Her mouth fell open and his face reddened as silence filled the room.

"See," she said softly. "You're so defensive Draco! You don't even know-"

"Don't tell me I don't know I love you!"

"Stop it!" she screamed. "Don't you understand? You throw the words out like you're ordering pumpkin juice or asking if the post has come." She stared at him earnestly tears brimming her eyes as he crossed his arms over his chest and looked away. "Love is not casual Draco!"

He opened his mouth to speak but she continued before he could interrupt.

"'I love you' is the most casual phrase in the English language. It means nothing!"

"Love means nothing to you?" he questioned, confusion and anger contorting his face in an ugly way.

"Of course it does," she replied exasperated. "But it doesn't seem to mean much to you."

"How dare you even-" he boomed but she put her hands up and he silenced himself, waiting for her to finish.

"The words I mean," she replied softly. "Those are not the three words I need to hear from you."

"What do you want from me then?" he scowled

"You know Draco. You know what I want." He sighed and looked away, running a hand through his hair. "I want the three words that mean something to you, Draco. The only ones that mean anything to you."

His eyes met hers and she could see him shiver before he looked at the floor. She took a step towards him, bending to try and catch his gaze again.

"I know you feel it, why won't you say it?" she whispered, reaching her hand out to cover his heart.

"Because it's not casual," he spat and she dropped her hand from his chest, anger and hurt filling her eyes.

"And we are?" she questioned her voice cracking despite her attempts to keep it from doing so.

His scowl melted and she saw a glimpse of sorrow and fear before his mask slid back into place. He reached out to her and she crossed her arms and shook her head, protecting herself from him. This did not deter him as he wrapped his fingers around her wrist untangling her arms and pulling her hands to his chest.

"This scares me…" was his declaration to her and she reached up to touch his face. "What I feel for you is not casual, Hermione. I know this because it's the most I've ever felt in my whole bloody life…" he paused and she thought she saw his mask flicker. "I want to tell you…"

"Then tell me," she whispered softly, gathering his clenched hands and pulling them to her chest so he could feel the beat of her heart, giving him strength.

"I love you Hermione," he whispered, watching as his fingers entwined with hers, and he said the three words that he had never said to anyone before.

"I trust you."