A/N –

A/N – hey guys! This is my first attempt at a fic so please R/R. unfortunately, I own nothing. Harry Potter belongs to the mind that is J.K. Rowling and the lyrics before the chapter are from a song called 'In His Eyes' from the musical Jekyll and Hyde. Enjoy!

UPDATE: yay! I finally figured out this format thing, hopefully the fic will be easier to understand now. J

CHAPTER ONE

"I sit and watch the rain

And see my tears run down the windowpane

I sit and watch the sky

And I can hear it breathe a sigh…"

Most of the leaves had fallen to the ground in beautiful shades of orange and red on the vast Hogwarts grounds. It was a brisk, yet beautiful November evening during Harry, Ron, & Hermione's 7th and final year at Hogwarts. Hermione stood in front of the long mirror inside her private head girl's quarters hidden in one of the castle's many towers.

"You look absolutely lovely dear," the mirror cooed. Hermione winced. Even after nearly seven years living in the wizarding world, she still had not grown accustomed to the idea of talking mirrors.

"Um, thank you," she replied awkwardly. Hermione smiled at the girl in front of her. The mirror was right; she did look lovely. She had grown to be quite the beauty, though she barely ever admitted it to herself. Today Hermione wore her best sweater – a turtleneck in a shade of deep maroon that had once belonged to her best friend Ron Weasley, but that he had long since grown out of, and seemed to fit her perfectly. Her long brown skirt fell just below her knees, to meet her favorite calf length boots. Hermione had long since learned that the only way to tame her bushy brown hair was to pull it back, and today she wore it in one long braid the fell just past her shoulders.

She took a deep breath and for the first time all day thought about what she was about to do, and more importantly, why she was about to do it. But although Hermione was without a doubt the cleverest witch at Hogwarts, she could not come up with a reasonably sane answer to her own question. It was all Ron's fault. Along with Harry, Ron was Hermione's very best friend, but sometimes he drove her completely mad. And when she was in one of her Ron-provoked frenzies, nothing could make her think straight

She couldn't even remember what that stupid fight was about anymore, all she knew is that it had drove her to do something that she would have never done in a thousand years had she been reasonably sane – except a date from Draco Malfoy.

Hermione looked at the clock, 6:50. Draco would knock on her door any minute. Here goes nothing…


"Can you believe it!?!" Ron yelled inside his dorm, which he shared with Dean, Neville, Seamus, & his best friend Harry Potter. Luckily, Harry was the only one in at the moment; and that's a good thing, because Ron had the temper of a rabid hippogriff, and no one likes a rabid hippogriff, not even Hagrid was that crazy. But Harry Potter was, or at least he appeared to not mind so much. He lay on his bed, tossing a small practice snitch in the air and catching it repeatedly.

"Actually, I can," Harry replied calmly.

"The nerve of her!" Ron continued, not paying attention to a word Harry said, "And I bet she did it just to spite me!"

"She probably did."

"Draco Malfoy…Damn it Harry can you believe the nerve!?!"

"I believe we've established that already Ron."

Ron, still not listening to anyone else but himself, gave out a loud humph, plopped onto his bed, and pulled the canopy closed. For a few lovely, gorgeous moments, Harry thought that it might be just possible that in his rage, Ron had completely passed out on his bed, for there wasn't a sound coming from behind the maroon curtains. But the second he allowed the thought to cross his mind the curtains ripped open, and Ron jumped to his feet once again.

"You know what Harry," Ron said with a look of satisfaction.

"What Ron," Harry sighed.

"This is all kind of funny," he declared, a broad smile creeping across his face. Then suddenly, he was completely encompassed in a sudden and huge case of the giggles so fierce that his ears were now turning a violent shade of purple, and he had to sit back down on his bed for lack of strength.

"That's it," Harry sighed as he caught the snitch one last time and sat up, "you've gone completely mad."

"You see," Ron continued in-between gasping for breath, "she's doing this to get me angry, but in reality the only one she is hurting is herself. She hates Malfoy just as much as us. Tomorrow she's going to come running back to my open arms, apologizing her cute little head off, and then all I have to do is beat the crap out of Malfoy and I'm the hero again. It's a win-win situation." Ron seemed completely smitten with himself at this moment, and he sat very proudly on his bed with a goofy, lopsided grin and purple ears. It was quite a sight…

"And what if she doesn't?" Harry said as he packed the snitch into his trunk and went for his coat on the rack by the door. Ron's smile was wiped straight from his face, and Harry couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "Right then, I'm off to meet Lavender," he said as he slammed the dorm door.

"Wait," Ron called after him, "what do you mean what if she doesn't? Of course she will…" That was when he realized he was talking to himself and suddenly felt very stupid.


Why was she so nervous? It was Draco Malfoy for crying out loud, Draco Malfoy. There was absolutely nothing to be worried about right? Right. So then, why was Hermione so nervous?

--KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK—

Hermione nearly jumped three feet off her bed. 'Deep breaths Hermione, just take deep breaths.' Slowly, very apprehensively, she approached the door. She stopped in front of the mirror to take one last look over herself before gently turning the handle. But it was not Draco Malfoy waiting for her outside, instead it was none other then Luna Lovegood, the wackiest creature at Hogwarts. Though Hermione didn't exactly like Luna, she learned to respect her after fifth year. Seeing as that not many people treated her with simple respect, Luna took this as a sign of friendship, and declared Hermione her best friend in front of the entire great hall one day at lunch. As embarrassing as the whole thing was, Hermione couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She could, however, easily see how it would be hard to respect a girl who wore vegetables for earrings.

Today was no different then any other, Luna did not even wait for a greeting before floating into Hermione's room and setting herself down on her bed, staring at nothing in particular and twirling a piece of her long hair with her index finger.

"Luna, I really don't mean to be rude, but I am kind of expecting company," Hermione said closing the door behind her, "so if you don't mind—"

"Hello Hermione," said Luna in her usual dreamy expression, "I've got some very interesting news for you today."

"Oh well that's nice," said Hermione, trying her best to be polite, "But I really don't have time—"

"Harry tells me you've excepted a date with Draco Malfoy tonight," Luna continued, "yummy fellow that one is, though he's not the nicest chap in the world…"

Hermione sighed, there was no use in trying to hurry Luna out, she might as well just listen to what she had to say and get it over with. "So what is it you have to tell me?" she asked, gently sitting down at her desk and folding her hands in her lap as if she was listening intently.

"Oh yes," Luna said, looking very proud indeed, "I just wanted you to know, that I don't think you should go out with Draco."

Hermione was taken aback. Could this be? Was Luna giving her real advice? There must be something else… "Why not?" She asked, a fake smile plastered across her face.

"Because you," she said, pointing her finger accusingly straight at Hermione as if she had done something terrible, "are in love with Ronald Weasley. And I don't think it's very fair to either of them that you go on pretending like this."

The smile was torn from Hermione's face. Her? In love withRon? Ron of all creatures…

"Luna, that's just silly," Hermione said standing up, "Now you really must go before Draco arrives. I'm afraid it would be terribly rude to have company over when he gets here."

Luna paused for a moment, and screwed up her face as if she was thinking very hard about something. Then she stood up, and walked to the door. "It would be terribly rude wouldn't it?" she concluded as she reached for the doorknob, "thank you so much for having me over Hermione."

Hermione sighed in relief, "Any time Luna."

"There is one more thing," Luna said as she opened the door, then turned to face Hermione, who held her breath, "I thought you ought to know that it is a well known fact that the Malfoy's use flobberworm dung as face wash. They say it's what keeps their skin in such good color. I personally find that a disgusting ritual and think the Malfoy's are rather pale if you must know. Take that into consideration before kissing Draco will you?"

Hermione fought hard to hold back a laugh. "Of course Luna, that you so much," she answered. Finally, Luna stepped out of the room, looking very proud of herself indeed, and closed the door behind her. Hermione slumped in her chair and looked at the time, 6:59. Draco still had one minute before he was late. And then it hit her, the awful, awful thought. What if Draco should try to kiss her?

--KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK--

Too late…


Could this be possible? Was this really happening? Was Hermione gulp enjoying herself? Her date with Draco was almost over now, and had gone unexpectedly well. He had arrived at her door exactly on time, looking good, no, stunning even. He was wearing a nice pair of kakis and a shirt that fit his chest perfectly... a little to perfectly, if it was up to Hermione... and what a nice chest it was... and then there was the jacket. That gorgeous, warm, and wonderful black leather jacket that Draco wore nearly every day.

They had started the date with a stroll through the gardens, wich by this time of year was mostly bare, and dying, yet there was something dreadfully beautiful about it. The two engaged in a real, intellectual conversation. 'Something I could never do with Ron,' Hermione thought to herself. Just after the sun went down, Draco led Hermione to one of the many Hogwarts greenhouses. Inside, were rows of baby magical plants usually stood in the center of the room, there was now an elegant dining table set for two, with food that nearly made one drool looking at it. Behind the table, Draco had charmed a Spanish guitar – Hermione's favorite instrument, to play smooth tunes in midair. But the most wonderful thing about the transformed greenhouse, was that somehow, Draco had convinced a good number of fairies – the beautiful, sparkly kind – to sit amongst the plants lining the glass walls, making it seem as if the stars themselves had floated to earth for the occasion. It was truly a breathtaking site.

The two had been chatting merrily for quite a while when Hermione could take it no longer. She had to know.

"Draco," she said quietly, "can I ask you a question?"

"Of course darling," he smiled. 'Darling.' Hermione liked the sound of that.

"Why... I mean...what..." she sighed, she wasn't really sure how to go about asking her question, "I must know. Why did you ask me out here tonight? I mean this is all beautiful but... but it's just not... you."

Draco put his hand up in a motion for her to say no more. It was understandable that she would be apprehensive about the whole situation. After all, up to this day the two had never, ever gotten along. Draco would be the first to admit that it was all pretty out of the blue.

"Hermione," Draco said very seriously, "I know we've had troubles in the past. And I admit that I've truly made an arse of myself these past years. But I really feel I'm a changed man." Here he took Hermione's hand in his and stoked it gently with his thumb. With nothing to light the room but candles, fairies, and the moon, Draco looked so handsome. Hermione had to force herself to listen and not get lost in those pale blue eyes of his. Which weren't anywhere near the vibrant blue of Ron's eyes, but beautiful just the same. 'Wait? Ron? No, not now. Back to earth Hermione, back to earth...'

"I really, really care for you Hermione. And I'd like to see where it... we... go from here." She was speechless. No one had ever said anything so beautiful to her in her life. But before she could come up with some words to put together, Draco, still holding on to her hand, had stood up, and led her to the enchanted guitar. And they danced. They danced for hours. No thoughts, no conversation. You can do that with dancing. You don't need to talk with your partner to communicate with him, dancing is communicating. It was all so beautiful. Hermione didn't know how long they had moved in sync with each other, or how close they had gotten. All she knew was that at that moment, Draco's face seemed very, very close to her own. And before she could react, his eyes were burning into her, and his lips had caught hers.

a/n: please R/R!