When Hermione walked into Potions, she realized two things: 1. They had a substitute teacher and 2. Harry wasn't there. Ron was there however, and Hermione went and sat next to him.

"where's Harry?" she asked.

"looking for you! Where have you been?" Ron said

"I needed some alone time" she didn't think this was the best time to say that she was in an empty classroom with Draco Malfoy.

That night in the common room Hermione waited for Harry and Ron to get back from dinner (she hadn't been very hungry). When they got back they were arguing. They looked up and saw Hermione. Ron elbowed Harry and then they were both quiet.

Later that night Harry went to sleep and Ron stayed to finish up some homework. After Harry had gone into his dormitory, Ron went over to Hermione and said " he's very mad, you know,"

"What? Why is he mad now?"

"about today in Potions when you were late"

"he's mad because I was late?"

"no! he's mad because Draco was late too,"

"oh! Ron!"

"I know it sounds ridiculous, but he's going crazy! He thinks you will become the kind of girl that hangs out with Pansy Parkinson or something like that,"

"but you know that's insane!"

"well…I dunno really, "

"Ron!" she yelled and she ran into her dormitory angrily

"why do I always get caught in the middle of things?"

The next morning, Hermione tired desperately to avoid Harry and Ron, but wasn't very successful. As she was going into the Great Hall for breakfast, she met Harry. "where's Ron?" Hermione asked.

"He's waiting in there for me! I said I was going to the bathroom!"

"oh, alright, do you want me to walk you there?"

"no! you just don't get it do you?" Harry yelled

"get what?"

"I came to talk to you!"

"ok about what?"

Harry took Hermione into the same classroom she had been in with Draco and sat her down on a chair. "Hermione, I know that …. I know that you like Draco" Harry's face twisted and looked as though he was going through an internal struggle. Hermione was silent. "but there's something you need to know"

"what is it?"

"well… I…"

"You what?"

After a moment Harry said in a very quiet, rushed voice "I like you too"

"well, I know you like me, Harry,"

"I like you as more than a friend Hermione!"

"oh, I see… "

They were silent for a long time, and then finally Hermione said, "well I'm very hungry, I should go get some food,"

"wait…"

"yes?" Hermione asked

"well aren't you going to…"

"what?"

"break up with Draco?"

Then, Hermione realized something. She didn't know if she was with Draco, she thought she wanted to be, but she didn't know if she was his girlfriend, or if she was just assuming things.

"Harry," she said,

"I'm… oh… I just don't know Harry!"

And she stormed out of the room.

That night, Hermione was thinking about so many things. She was thinking about Harry and how she hadn't noticed it before. When he first saw her, how he was trying to smooth his hair, and how he got extremely mad after the train ride, and when she was late for potions. It seemed so obvious now. Hermione was also busy thinking about Draco, and if she really was his girlfriend, or if he just always held a girls hands when he was apologizing for something. "But why would he apologize if he didn't like me, even if its just a little bit"

She was going down to breakfast the next morning when someone grabbed her and took her into an empty closet. Hermione screamed, but someone had their hand over her mouth. The hand let go and Hermione turned around to see that it was--

__Draco Malfoy__

"what are you doing?" Hermione asked

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you," Draco said

"oh, its alright, what are you doing?" she repeated.

"I need to tell you something, well, I like you a lot, and I'm really sorry about, Potter and Weasley, and that I am their enemy,"

Hermione just stared.

"but I just need to know if you like me, because if you do, then I'll try to get along with them, because I like you" then Draco blushed madly and looked down at his feet.

"oh Draco, so much has happened lately, and I don't know how I will be able to handle it all, you see, I like you too--"

"oh, you do? Thank goodness, it would have been really awkward if you didn't--"

"Draco, I really do like you, a lot, but it just all happened really quickly, and I don't know how I've come to this, I never thought I would fall in love with--"

"love? You love me Hermione?"

now it was Hermione's turn to blush "well, I just meant that-"

"don't worry, I know how you feel, I never thought this would happen either, it just did, and we have to deal with it, I know we should be together Hermione, I just know it!"

"oh Draco!" and then Hermione hugged Draco and held on for a long, long time.

Finally, they separated. "Draco, I need to tell you something," Hermione said at last.

"what is it?"

"well… Harry likes me"

"Potter? He likes you? He REALLY likes you, likes you?"

"yes I'm afraid so"

Draco just stood there, Hermione knew this would make him hate Harry even more, but she had to tell him.

After a long while, Draco said "and how do you feel about him?"

"oh! No, of course not, no, I just told you that I like you"

Draco gave a smile "good, because I don't know what I would've done if you liked Harry too"

"well, this is still a problem,"

"oh, I know, but not a very big one right?"

"well, yes actually, Harry expects me to break up with you,"

"WHAT?? WHY WOULD HE EXPECT YOU TO DO THAT? JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE HIS FRIEND DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD GIVE SOMETHING UP!"

"I know Draco, but Harry is one of my best friends, and now he likes me, and this must be very, very hard on him, because we've known each other for four years and you have been his enemy for four years and now we are getting together, it must be very difficult"

They were silent for a little bit, but then Draco walked up to Hermione and held her hands. He then looked into her eyes, and she felt as though he could see right through her, that he could feel her pain and know exactly what she's going through. Then Draco bent down slightly and kissed her, just a small kiss on her lips and then he backed away, but still held her hands. Hermione looked into his eyes and felt the urge to get closer and kiss him just like he had done to her. She took a small step forward and looked up at him, but then she thought of how Harry would feel if he knew she were in an empty closet, kissing Draco Malfoy, and she backed away.

"What's wrong?" Draco asked.

She just stood there and smiled at him, and he smiled back. Finally, they had to leave the closet. They hugged each other and left, both of them smiling.