Hermione's Classic Dilemma

by: Starborn Angel

Disclaimer: JKR owns all these lovely characters. I would kill to have Draco (and Harry), though.

Timeline: 7th year, after the Second Great War.

A/N: I decided to make this story because I feel that there isn't enough Harry/Hermione/Draco goodness! I've been searching for something to read about their love triangle, and I failed to find any good ones. So I decided to make my own! Hope you like it, and please do not forget to review. (Or else.)

Special thanks to my beta, independentwriter-137, who's a Ravenclaw. It suits you, my dear. *winks playfully*

Now, on to the chapter!

Chapter One: Snowballs and Awkward Touches

Hermione sat down on the Gryffindor table feeling elated. It was almost winter - her favorite time of the year. She put treacle tart on her plate while humming. "Oh hi, Harry," she said nonchalantly, stealing a glance at him.

Harry's hair was as messy as ever, but his eyes were alight with happiness. She smiled at him and went back to eating her dessert. Hmm, she loves them in Quidditch gear. Maybe it's because of the leather, she shrugged inwardly.

"Hi, 'Mione," he replied, looking slightly flushed. He hastily got food in his plate and started digging in, looking anywhere but her.

"Harry, is something the matter? You look a bit red," Hermione asked as he ate. Her voice toned down to a whisper. "Are you blushing?" She giggled. "Harry!" She followed his gaze - wherever it was.

Merlin, she'll be the death of me, Harry thought. "Mmm?" He mumbled, chewing his chicken with a vengeance.

"Are you alright?" Hermione pressed on.

"Mmff," he affirmed.

Hermione chuckled. "If you're certain." She grabbed her Charms book and started reading. Boys, she mused, shaking her head.

A booming voice pulled them out of their own thoughts. Oh, of course it was Ron. "Say, Harry, Hermione, the 6th and 7th year prefects are inviting us to have a snowball fight after lunch. Let's go!" He was almost jumping with excitement. "Time to get back at those bloody Slytherins."

"No need to shout, Ronald," Hermione scolded lightly. Harry chuckled.

"Sure mate, let's go," he agreed. "Hermione? What about you?" Harry asked, turning his body to look at her expectantly.

"I think I'll pass - "

"Too scared to go on a snow ball fight, Granger?" A voice drawled.

"Merlin, what now?" Hermione muttered under her breath. She turned to see her co-Head standing right behind them, a smirk plastered across his aristocratic features. She raised a quizzical eyebrow.

"Sod off, Malfoy," Harry spat, putting a protective arm over Hermione's shoulders. Malfoy looked taken aback and Hermione inwardly froze; but she managed to control her senses to come back with a witty retort.

"Of course not, Malfoy. You're on," she replied, standing in her full height - which sadly, was about a head shorter than Malfoy.

He looked down at her amusedly and said, "Quidditch pitch in ten," to the Gryffindors. Malfoy walked out on them elegantly, flanked by Zabini and Parkinson.

This is gonna be a long day, she thought as they got up to go change into their winter clothes.

All geared up and ready, Hermione reluctantly trudged down the pitch, where almost all of the prefects were waiting. She let out a breath that she didn't realize she was holding. You can do this, just focus.

As Heads, she and Malfoy divided themselves into two groups, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff versus Slytherin and Ravenclaw prefects.

"Alright, settle down you ninnies," Malfoy bellowed, using the Sonorus charm. "Here are the rules: you have to get the enemy's flag at the end of their base. Try not to kill anyone. Oh, and if your sorry arse got hit by a snowball, you're out of the game. And… that's it," he nodded at them and winked at her.

Hermione's eyes widened for a fraction of a second and then she rolled her eyes at him. Cheeky git.

"Ready?" She asked. "In three, two, one - GO!"

All chaos erupted. Gryffindor was mostly on the offense battling Slytherin and most of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff remained at their respective bases. Hermione ran and ran, until she was not within throwing distance of anybody. Great Gryffindor courage, she mused. She hid by a tree and huffed. This is what you get for not having enough exercise, 'Mione!

She saw Ginny hit Goyle with a snowball square in the face. Hermione cringed and bit back her laughter. Hermione looked around and when satisfied that nobody had spotted her, crouched down and started to make snowballs in her hiding place. On the corner of her eye she saw someone approach her and she hastily threw a snowball at the intruder's general direction.

"You've got bad aim, Granger," Malfoy chuckled at her failed attempt to hit him. She sent him a glare that could melt ice and ran to the enemy's base. Malfoy's look of surprise was astounding. He was a second late in realizing that she was distracting him to get to their base. Ha! Serves him right, she told herself triumphantly.

Hermione started to laugh while relishing the exhilarating feeling of running. She looked back to see Malfoy running after her with longer strides. Damn, she'd forgotten how long his legs were compared to hers. She took in a breath and ran faster.

"HAHAHAHAHAH - AHHHHHH!"

In the last second - the flag was about two metres away - he caught her. Well, not really caught, since he literally grabbed her and slung her on his shoulder like a potato sack.

"What in Merlin's name do you think you're doing, Malfoy! PUT ME DOWN YOU STUPID GIT!" Hermione punched his back and tried to kick away but Malfoy had a firm hold on her waist. She blushed. Hermione felt his long slender fingers curved around her leg at an indecent manner. Indecent to her point of view, anyway. Malfoy's hand was barely above her knee.

When Malfoy finally put her down far away from their base, Hermione was left dumbstruck. "Was that really necessary?" She asked him. Instead of answering, he shrugged and grinned at her evilly, and started to walk away. Hermione was about to hurl a snowball at his blond head when she heard wild claps and cheers and heard that the opposing team had won the game.

Stupid Malfoy.

After the tiring match, she retreated to the Gryffindor common room. She had missed her dorm for six years, and wanted to spend time with her housemates. Hermione refused to go back to the heads' dorm room unless it was necessary. She didn't want to see Malfoy.

She was sitting near the fireplace holding Hogwarts, A History when Harry showed up at the portrait hole. "Hey, Hermione," Harry said, sitting beside her and offering her a chocolate frog. She accepted it and chewed on it with more force than necessary. The raven haired boy chuckled. "What's the matter?" He said, absent-mindedly touching her cheek.

She gasped quietly. Her eyes met Harry's and she blushed furiously at the contact. Well, this was a first, she thought to herself.

It felt kind of good.

"Er… sorry," he said awkwardly. "Ron's probably looking for me. Gotta go. Goodnight, 'Mione," Harry said, leaving her alone in the fireplace.

Hermione ran down to the Heads common room in a blur of bushy hair and robes. Why on earth did Harry have to do that? Bloody hell.

Well, he didn't really do anything wrong, Hermione. You're just too hormonal and now you blame it all on the poor boy, a voice said in her head.

Her mind was whirring. Do friends touch friends in the cheek intimately? They do, don't they? And for Merlin's sake, it was just on the cheek!

But the gesture was just so endearing… she mused as she ran. And it wasn't even a kiss…

Wait, who brought a kiss in the picture? He's your best friend! Stop thinking like this! If he knew that you were overanalyzing things again he would laugh right at your face.

"Well bugger me," she said, frowning slightly. Great. Now she was talking to herself as well.

"Granger," Malfoy nodded at her as she entered the Heads common room. He was lounging lazily at the green velvet couch while reading a book. His platinum blond hair was tousled and… and… perfect. Hermione gulped. He was only wearing his slacks, crisp white shirt and Slytherin tie.

Malfoy raised an eyebrow right back at her - oh gods, she must've been ogling him. She fought the blush that crept up her cheeks. "Like what you see?" He smirked.

"Malfoy," she replied in a clipped tone. "And no, I do not." Hermione could tell that Malfoy was amused at the sight of her. Here she was, her tie askew, her face flushed, and her hair a mass tangle of curls.

"Where's the fire?" He asked, the side of his lips quirking up the tiniest bit.

She scoffed. Now he was nice to her? Has the world turned upside down? His silvery gray eyes were burning a hole through her face. "Mind your own bloody business," she snapped and went into her room.

Focus, Hermione. You have a Potions essay to write that's due on January.

"Well, he really does have nice eyes," she murmured as she got out her quill and parchment.

A/N: Please tell me what you think. Should I continue? Because if you guys don't like it, I probably won't…

As you could see in the summary, I didn't put the 2nd pairing in - I only put Hermione G., just because I wouldn't want you to know who's she gonna end up with! ;)

Yes, I'm still your resident Slytherin. Anyways, I do hope you like it. REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! MAKE ME HAPPY! xo