Hi everyone! So I hope you enjoyed my first chapter, I don't like revealing too many things at once, but I love dropping subtle hints as best I can:)

I would also like to thank those who reviewed, so thanks! I also previously said I would try to update this story as much as possible and as quickly as possible, and I shall!

Enjoy :)

Chapter 2: Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Hermione

The next morning in the Great Hall, Hermione sat next to Ginny and Harry, half-listening in on their conversation about what they were wearing to the Halloween ball. Hermione had almost forgotten about it, especially after yesterday's events. Now, she really wanted to forget about it, as she would no longer be attending it with a date, and still had to plan it with Draco.

She sighed, thinking about Ron, but also about what happened with Draco. She was genuinely hurt by what he'd said. She thought they'd made progress in their civility since school started, but that clearly wasn't the case. "What's wrong 'Mione?" asked Ginny, who also seemed to be staring at her like she had something stuck in her teeth.

Hermione looked up from her daze, as she clearly hadn't been paying any attention to their conversation anymore, "Nothing Gin, I just… don't think I still want to go to the ball, considering my current circumstances," was all she said.

Ginny, giving her a pitiful look replied, "My brother's a right foul git sometimes," then, looking at Harry and then back at Hermione, she added, "you don't need a date to the ball! I'm sure many girls are going without one."

Ginny then gave Hermione a smile of reassurance, and Hermione took it. "You know what Gin, you're right. I planned this ball, and I should very well attend it, date or not."

"Aye that's the spirit," added Harry, "you'll also have us to hang out with… except when we're dancing." And he then gave a wink.

Hermione smirked at that, "That's if you even dance, with the two left feet you have it might be slightly difficult Mr. Potter." And they all started laughing. Hermione had almost forgotten about how hurt she was, until she starting feeling weird. She felt like she was being watched, so she looked around the Great Hall.

As soon as she started doing a sweep with her eyes of everyone in the Great Hall, she noticed several people had been looking at her… mostly boys in particular. Then, her eyes landed directly on the Slytherin table—more specifically on the Slytherin Prince himself. He was also staring right at her and not breaking his stare for even the slightest moment. It was dizzying and very confusing… had he not deeply insulted her less than 12 hours ago? She wanted to roll her eyes at him. She wanted to flip him off. Where did he get the nerve to look at her that way? Why was he even paying her any attention? His eyes said one thing, but the rest of his face said something else.

Hermione wouldn't shy away from a challenge though. He wanted to stare at her like that? She would stare back, and she did. They were having a staring challenge, and the only time their eyes would break contact was when one of them would look up and down at the other person's appearance.

Draco smiled then, and got up. He was evidently going to potions, which he and Hermione had together.

Hermione felt very uneasy afterwards, with other people still looking at her like she was a piece of meat or something… so she excused herself from Harry and Ginny, and made her way to potions with Slughorn.

Draco

He had taken his seat at the back of Slughorn's class, as per usual. He had been relieved when he was in the Great Hall and heard it was time to go to class, he couldn't handle another minute in there.

Draco had just spent the last 10 minutes before class having a staring contest with Hermione Granger, and felt hot. Like sweaty hot, and he was never sweaty hot (except for after Quidditch). He'd never noticed how pretty she had become, with her hair no longer frizzy, and with pretty caramel highlights. Her body was no longer at the awkward pre-pubescent stage, but had developed nicely into a proportional hour glass figure, with toned yet long legs. The best though, were her eyes. Yes, her face was also quite pretty, but her eyes could melt someone, and that's what they had nearly done to him.

No, he didn't like her, but he couldn't deny her beauty, and the effect it had on him. It was almost like it had happened over night, and apparently he wasn't the only one who had noticed. The entire Slytherin table had chattered during all of breakfast talking about Granger's sudden prettiness. She had always been pretty, but now she was beautiful? 'What the hell Draco? You hate her!' he told himself mentally.

Putting all his mushy Hermione thoughts aside, he needed to think about how to get his revenge.

Draco was snapped out of his revenge reverie when a familiar floral fragrance filled the air, and an all too familiar voice filled his ears. "Good morning, Malfoy," she spat.

He looked up knowing whose face he'd be met with before he could even see, and there she was, sitting in the seat joining his desk. 'Quite daring,' he thought to himself.

Keeping his classic smirk intact, he lazily moved his eyes to meet hers. He almost forgot what he was going to answer, but then said "Granger," almost purring, "you didn't let me thank you for last night." He'd decided he would get a rise out of her before surprising her with a nice cold serving of revenge.

"Thank me?" she looked incredulous, "I threw tea in your face," she whispered, as class had begun.

"Yes," he replied, "you most certainly did throw tea in my face, which I did not appreciate whatsoever." He looked at her then, just to see if her face would reveal any emotion, but it didn't. He took the time to notice up close how much she'd changed, in all the years he'd known her, she was definitely at her prettiest. Was she this pretty yesterday though? He didn't bother dwelling on that.

Draco didn't know that Hermione was emotionally stunned right now, but he was expecting something in retaliation. He quite enjoyed their bickering.

She wasn't answering though, and for the entire class he kept looking over to see if she was paying him any attention, but she ignored him and just took notes the whole time. It was infuriating, how could she dismiss him like that?

At the end of class, Hermione got up first, and right before exiting the class she looked back at Draco and said, "Just so you know, I was simply asking a question to make conversation, because I thought we could be friends. But you'll always see me as a filthy mud blood," he flinched at the word, "so I won't waste my time. Good bye Malfoy." And she left.

He now felt even guiltier than he had yesterday. Here Hermione was trying to extend an olive branch between them, while Draco was coming in with a chainsaw and cutting down the entire olive tree. He sighed. 'Why am I like this,'.

Hermione

As she walked out of class and into the hallway, Hermione felt a weight being lifted off of her shoulders. She had finally stuck it to him, and the look on his face was priceless. He actually looked… ashamed. And rightfully so, she thought. After all they'd been through in the last 8 years, with the war and seeing people they love die all around them, you'd think people would become more empathetic towards one another… but not Draco it seemed. After the horrific events Hermione had gone through in his own home, he still thought so lowly of her. She'd show him. After all, she knew he'd been trying to catch her attention the entire class, and had deliberately ignored him.

Finally feeling victorious about something in her life, Hermione's moment was taken away all too soon by none other than Ron Weasley.

He'd been following her out of potions, and she'd only realized once he tapped her shoulder. She spun around quickly and with her wand at the ready—some things never change, not even after you've won a war.

"OH, you scared me Ronald!" she said while putting her wand away.

He seemed nervous, like he'd never spoken to her before… and his cheeks were red. Hermione found it rather odd, so she raised her brow. "Hi, uh, 'Mione, I uh—just wanted to talk about yesterday with you if that's alright?" he asked nervously.

She debated walking away from him. What more could he have to say? Was he going to make things even worse?—Could things get even worse? "Okay, out with it then," was all she could muster.

He seemed surprised at her forwardness, it had been a while since she'd fired at him.. he quite missed it. "Well, you see, I regret acting the way I did with you yesterday. I made it seem like what we had wasn't important to me," he breathed, "but it was, and just because we can't date doesn't mean I don't want to keep our friendship." He looked at her in the eyes and simply said, "I'm sorry Hermione."

Hermione didn't know how to react, because on one hand, she also still wanted to maintain their friendship that had blossomed for 8 years, but on the other hand, she felt scorned by him. He had left her for someone else, and had been extremely insincere about it. He was apologizing though, and Ron was never one for apologies, which had to mean he meant it? Not knowing what else to say, she simply answered with the truth, "I appreciate your apology and I too, would like to remain friends, but I can't forgive you right now," she sighed while trying to keep her composure, "you really hurt me."

Not wanting to continue the confusing conversation, she spun on her heels and walked away from him, unaware of him staring at the back of her skirt, and the rest of her body in the process.

Side note, Hermione obviously has no idea that she is now very attractive, and as for the how/why, we shall see.

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