Hello! How are you guys? I am good as pie. This is my FIRST Harry Potter oriented story. :D PLEASE! PLEASE! Read and Review. Lol. Well thanks for your time.

I own nothing…sadly.

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"Why did you change this year?" The voice startled me as I woke up from my trance. I was surprised to see him in our dorm at such a time. Usually he was out with his friends or with a girl that would gladly swear that he was the sexiest man alive. Even more surprising was the fact he was actually talking to me. The half mark of the year was coming up and until now he never spoke a word to me. I sighed and sat up from the couch in front of the fireplace.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Draco." I slurred his name for the fact that I have never called him by anything other than Malfoy. He seemed to recognize the same thing for he gave a soft laugh. He walked over to the couch and took a seat next to me.

"You have changed quite a bit from the passed few years, Gran--Hermione. Why change the last year of school?" He asked. He didn't look me in the face but kept his head turned towards the fire place. I glanced over at him to see his blonde hair draping over his eyes, which seemed to be strained as if he was sleep deprived. That's when I saw his hair was soaked in a light sweat and his face showed a light sheen. I suddenly placed my hand on his forehead to see if I could get a temperature. The movement not only surprised him but me as well, I was known to be a know it all and always trying to help if needed but I was never known to lend a willing hand to a Slytherin. But he looked innocent and…soft tonight. Instead of dropping my hand and cowering like an idiot, I kept my hand on his head to continue to observe his temperature.

"You feel warm. Not quite hot, but you probably have a bad cold." I mumbled. And that is when I saw it for the first time. He didn't rip away from me, yelling cruel names, or smirking at me as if I was a mud blood trying to put the moves on him, he looked at me and…… smiled. A real whole hearted smile with his teeth showing . I suddenly let out a breath that I don't know how long I held.

"Pompfrey already diagnosed me. I do have a cold, it will pass. She rambled on about Quidditch being ridiculous and irresponsible kids most of the visit. Blah, blah, blah…." His smile faded as he wiped his face off with the end of his robe. "You still haven't answered my question."

I sincerely didn't want to answer. Everybody this year has been secretly wondering and asking each other why I had changed over the break. Truth be, I was tired of being…boring. I got a new hair cut… big deal….I changed my wardrobe to something more fitting…so what, every girl has a time where they need to be feminine….I wanted a new color so I dyed my hair burgundy….what's so spontaneous about that….it's not…its only shocking because I did them. The clean cut girl went….weird. Let me paint a picture for you just so you can truly imagine how I look now. I cut my hair until it was an inch below my chin, it's an …off purple I suppose you could say and straight…curly hair was getting hard to handle, a form fitting blouse on with a skirt that comes a couple inches above my knee. I know it seems harmless enough but not with these people. They look at me as if I were diseased. Ron has been trying to show his affection for me, and Harry has adapted nicely to the change. Most guys are staring and drooling all because they think I some how decided to become easy. Foolish gits. I wanted to feel pretty. I wanted to feel different for once. Only Draco has had the bravery to ask me why. But He has been going through the same thing. He came back solid as ever. He no longer wore a brave face but was truly scared underneath. No, he was strong. He never cringed away from a fight, he endured any punch or spell. He no longer bragged a great deal, only when it came to getting a girl, which didn't take long. The last time that he and Harry ended up on hostile ground, instead of throwing insults or running away like a frightened bunny, he went face to face with him, ready to fight…without wands. He has changed far more than me. He had built his body up along with his personality. He went from lanky to muscular. In my opinion, his father instigated these changes. Draco seemed to never be enough for Mr. Malfoy so he changed…completely.

"I needed a change. Being clean cut was annoying. People need to realize this is the new Granger." I answered him. He just kept staring at the fireplace as he nodded.

"Change needs to happen more often." He smiled again but this time it was more of a smirk. I decided I wanted an answer for his change.

"What's your reason?" I asked. He gave out a sigh and turned towards me.

"You do not repeat this. To anybody…" he paused waiting for my nod to continue. "My father has grown sick. He cannot tell me what I can and cannot do any longer. Without his constant nagging I found it within in myself to change, to become stronger. For all I know he could die tomorrow and I won't be in his shadow." My mouth clenched together when I realized what he was saying. He wanted his dad to die just so he could live his life the way he wanted out of his dad's constant inspection. Instead of being disgusted…I understood. Every body could see that Draco's father was over bearing and a selfish git.

"So his death would mean you would actually have a life?" I asked the question knowing the answer.

"Yes. For so long I thought I was who he was making me be, which is why I didn't object. But as soon as I started to make my own decisions he interfered and started to rule me over once again." He answered. He talked so elegant, so smooth, I couldn't make my self believe this was Malfoy. The picture of his dad with a weak vocabulary that included nothing but insults.

"I know you think I am selfish and shallow, and by which you are right. I am those things...It's just who I am. But I am not willing to kill the world of muggles and mudbloods alike just to leave the world in pure bloods. I won't walk along side the dark lord with a mask. I may be spoiled, egotistical but I'm not that cruel. Or cruel enough to be apart of the dark eaters." I was stunned. That is the most he ever said or confessed to me. He has changed. His bad qualities were who he was, but he also possessed good qualities that lit up the room when he released them. He seemed nice and caring, but I wondered how long this would last.

"Draco, you don't have to tell me all this. I mean I am interested and want to hear more but you and I still belong to different worlds, and it doesn't seem like you either way, to tell me such things." I then made a move that startled me. I reached over and took his hand. His hand was large, his fingers long and white. I held it within my hands and smiled as I began to get nervous. He didn't move or say anything. Maybe he was stunned. Or disgusted.

"I want to tell you all this. You know that my peers are ridiculously stupid and aren't even close to caring about my problems. Then again I don't know why you would but I know your intelligent enough to understand." He was right. I knew his friend were dense and their mentality matched that of a tree trunk. And I also understood.

"I care because to me you are a person…pure blood or not, you're a person to me." I confessed the truth. To me everybody had equal opportunity no matter what. He sighed and pinched his nose as if he were having a headache.

"I must tell you what I have been feeling. You are driving me mad. At the beginning of the year I had no problems with ignoring you, but you grew on me. Your smiles, and the way you laugh, it made me want you. Your beauty, and talent are breath taking….. I have recognized and analyzed everything about you in the past few weeks." He paused and waited for me to say anything but I was frozen. He just continued.

"When you get into the shower, you like to sing muggle songs. You dance when your bored, and every time I walk in here you just give me a smile and act like I am worth your smiles. You know I am with a girl moments before I walk in here but you still give me the benefit of the doubt, as if I wasn't a sex god with a million problems to back up my pitiful actions. You amaze me, Hermione Granger. And I think I have a crush on you." He put his face in his hands and took a deep breath and let it out.

"Damn it, I said too much. Damn, damn, damn." This made me giggle. I reached over and lifted his face up from his palms. I wanted to spill the truth to him. So I did.

"After what I have seen and heard from you tonight, I think I might have a crush on you too, Draco Malfoy." I giggled again and watched his face lighten up. Then I went for it. I went for his lips for a kiss. And he gladly welcomed my lips. Our lips worked together as if they have been waiting for this. A fire ignited, and a shock went through my entire body. His tongue licked my bottom lip, asking to explore my willing mouth. Our tongues tangled and seemed to be in a battle as our lips held each other. We finally broke apart, both of us gasping for air. He pulled me into his lap and I rested my head against shoulder. I body was on fire, and his was the only thing that could put it out. I didn't know if this was good or bad, but assumed bad. I wanted him.

"Wow, doesn't that leave us in a tight situation." Draco said has he rubbed my back.

"It does." I answered simply. A few minutes passed and I fell asleep. I woke up the next morning on the couch by myself.