The L word was one that did not come easily to Draco. But it had taken Hermione Jean Granger only five months and sixteen days to coax it out of him. She had swept him away completely, wrapped him around her finger more quickly than he could've imagined. There was much to love about Hermione, and he had known it all. Her personality was unmatched, her body unrivaled, her brain unparalleled, her heart unwavering, her entire being unequaled. Not a single person he knew could measure up to her. Thus, it wasn't a complete surprise when the words had come tumbling from his lips one windy August day, seated on a picnic blanket overlooking the recently repaired Hogwarts Castle. Her enchanting chocolate eyes had widened in shock before her perfect pink lips had curled into a gleeful smile. She had promptly launched herself into his lap, kissing him full on the mouth and wrapping her arms around his neck as his own arms wove around her small waist. When she had pulled away, her eyes glittered with joy as she had repeated the words to him. Later, she had shyly admitted that she had never told a man she loved him before, and he told her the same in a hushed voice, sure that his eyes betrayed the immensity of his confession. That had been the first night they'd spent together, doing nothing more than sleeping, cradling each other close as their hearts beat synchronously. He had never felt more relaxed, more safe, than that night.