Disclaimer: I own nothing of the world of Harry Potter. They belong to J.K.. I just use them like sock puppets for your entertainment. Enter sock puppets that look like Draco and Hermione

Authors note: Thank you for the reviews, it does my young little heart wonders to see that you readers like my lil story. Lol. I gave my thanks at the end of the chapter. I'm trying to get this one published quickly because I'm going out of state for a week and not sure if I'll be able to update while I'm gone. Sorry if it's not very long.

Hermione knew he was smirking before she actually saw it. That damn smirk had an aura of it's own. In return for the smirk, Hermione gave him a steely glare. Against her hopes, the smirk didn't even waver.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Hermione asked, setting aside the Daily Prophet neatly and pushing her plate away.

"Granger, is there a problem with just wanting to keep you company?" He asked, putting on an amazed face and raising his delicate blond eyebrows at her standoffish stance.

"Keep your wand hand above the table at all times, Malfoy." She warned, her voice low. His smirk did dim a little after that.

"I could say the same to you, Hermione Granger." Draco replied, his voice low and dangerous. He motioned in the air with his hand above the table.

When Draco stirred the air with his long, pale hand a cool but spicy scent hit Hermione head on. It confused her. How could a young man, who had been so vile, smell so bloody good? Hermione casually sniffed the air, searching for that enticing scent. She found not a single trace of it.

"What cologne do you wear, Malfoy?"

"What?" Draco asked, his open mouth showing off his food. Hermione raised one eyebrow.

"Cologne? You know the stuff men put on to smell better. That cool but spicy scent that you wear?" Hermione pushed, sipping at her goblet.

"I don't wear cologne, Granger." He told her. Then he let loose a wolfish grin. "Why? Do you like the way I smell?"

"As if. I was documenting that stench so I would never buy such rotten garbage." She said, snorting in disgust. The act either wasn't impressive enough or he didn't really care for it because he kept that obnoxious grin on his face.

"If you saw so, Granger." Draco drawled, standing up. "Meet me at the path for Hogsmede at dinner." He turned to walk away.
"What in Merlin's name for?" Hermione asked, stunned. He turned back, that damnable smirk in place.

"For dinner. I eat in Hogsmede when allowed. See you at dinner." With saying that, Draco walked out of the Great Hall.

Hermione stared after him in shock. He didn't even ask if she'd go to dinner. He demanded it. Hermione felt her face flush in anger and her fists clench tightly. With a shriek, she stood and stomped angrily out of the Great Hall.

Once Hermione was back in her dorm, she was in a right fit. She threw things about and complained loudly.

"How dare he just tell me to meet him! He has no right!" She yelled and sat down on her bed, shoving aside the curtain roughly. "With his perfect damn hair and bloody flawless skin!" She kicked at the post to her bed. "And that damn enticing smell." She scowled. "And his annoying, bloody smirk." She looked at her trunk. Then sighed, defeated, and standing up. "Now what should I wear?"

As Hermione walked down the stairs to meet Draco, she tried to think of a time that she truly hated Draco Malfoy. Yet no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't think of a single time that she did. The only thing she could ever remember feeling was disappointment and pity. Even through all the insults to her friends and slurs about her birth, she never really hated him. How could you hate somebody who only behaves the only way they know how? His father raised him to act like that, and Hermione couldn't blame him entirely. Maybe she was being naïve and too forgiving, but underneath it all, he might be a good guy. Well, he would be after she deflated that monstrous ego of his.

Smiling, Hermione rounded the corner and saw Draco waiting for her by the path. She tried to smile, but mostly got just a grimace. Walking foreword, she kept her hands at her sides and her wand in plain view. Just in case this was a trick. She saw him glance at her wand and hands then back up at her face.
"Ready for dinner, Granger?" He asked, the smirk in place. Damn that smirk. Hermione came to stop in front of him.
"Malfoy, the next time you want to take me to dinner, ask first." Hermione told him, crossing her arms over her chest and keeping her face neutral. Malfoy looked confused.

"But I did ask you to dinner." He stated, rubbing his chin. Did he shave or could he not grow hair on his face?

"No, you told me that I was coming to dinner. If you ever get the psychotic urge again, ask me." Hermione told him, walking off down the path. It took him a second, but he caught up.
"My apologies then, Granger. Next time I will refrain from assaulting your delicate sensibilities by asking you." Draco told her, walking slightly in front of her.

"Excuse me? My delicate sensibilities?" Hermione burst out. She reached down and picked up a hand full of snow. "You egotistical prat!" Hermione launched her snowball at him and hit him in the back of his head. He froze, his muscles clenching up in surprise. He turned and smirked at her.

"If you're quite finished, it would be nice if we could make it to dinner before the sun goes down." Draco drawled. Hermione glared at him and stalked past him.

There weren't any of Hogwarts students in Hogsmede. There weren't many other people either, just those that lived and worked there. Most of the shops were closed, but the Hog's head was open and that was their destination. The sun was starting to set, only half of it was visible and it was getting colder.

Once inside, Draco got them a table and ordered two butterbeers. Sitting down with him was awkward. He kept his eyes on her. Hermione looked anywhere but at him. She would look at him for a second, but that was about it. They were finally able to order and the food didn't take long to get to their table.

"So…" Hermione started, taking a bite of her potatoes. " Why exactly are you doing this?" She asked.

"Why am I doing what? Draco asked, not looking up from his own plate. Hermione took another bite.

"Why are you being civil to me and not insulting me?" Hermione asked, looking up at him expectantly.
"Do you want to spend the holidays alone? Do you want to sit by yourself in the library or your dorm, wishing you could be with scarhead and weaselbee?" Draco asked, his voice bitter.

"Their names are Harry and Ronald. And it doesn't matter to me to be by myself." Hermione told him. " I didn't want to spend my holidays with somebody who insults my friends." She scowled at him.

"My apologies then, Granger. But I don't want to spend my holidays by myself." Draco told her, not looking up.

"Then why did you stay at Hogwarts?" She asked, eyebrow raised.
"That's none of your business!" Draco growled, his eyes still on his plate. Hermione looked up sharply.

"Well excuse me!" She told him, rolling her eyes and going back to eating. Draco watched her for a moment more.
"You look nice in green." Draco commented a moment later. Hermione looked up, surprised.

"T…Thank you." She said, a small blush creeping up her cheeks.

"If you don't mind me asking… Why aren't you with Weasley?" Draco asked casually, picking at his food. Hermione looked up sharply.
"I don't see how that's any of your business!" Hermione huffed, a little embarrassed.

"What if I want it to be my business, Granger… Even if it is just between us?" Draco asked, leaning forward and raising an eyebrow. That wolfish grin was back in place, but this time it seemed like more.
"W…What do you mean?" Hermione stuttered out, looking into his deep silver eyes and feeling the warm blush creeping up her face.

"What do you think Weasley would do if…"

"If?"

Endnote: Sorry about the cliffhanger, not sure what to write quite yet. Wait till I'm back from my trip and I should have the inspiration. Thanks to my reviewers!

Basketballstarhottie: Thanks for telling me you like it, you were my first reviewer.

Struttersmama: You'll be able to understand his actions better as the story goes along. Don't worry, it'll become clear later on. And what he said in this chapter for the reason wasn't really all of it.

Skinnyrita: Glad you like it.

Stillsearchin2413: I'm gonna get to your stories ASAP, lol. Thanks for the rating.

Dracoslover1313: Thanks you

PaigeyLovesHim: Thanks for the enthusiasm and the compliments.

Punkindoodle: I'll be sure to up the rating, just for you, lol.

Kellie: Thanks, I'll be sure to finish.

Gwinna: The reason Hermione didn't go home was because it was a last minute thing not to go with Ron, Harry, and Ginny. Up until that moment by the Black Lake, she was still going to go. She kind of wanted to be alone because of her feelings. If she were to be around some of her loved ones, and then she'd actually have to interact with others. She didn't realize that staying she'd have to deal with Draco. Thanks for reading.

Remember my lovely readers, I do write for me, but for the most part, I write for all of you and your entertainment. Read and review perty please.