Potions was a slight bit easier for Hermione to concentrate in. Though she knew, with her luck, the one time she wasn't paying attention, would be the one time she would be called on for an answer. So she sat still not daring to see if Draco looked at her again. She simply faced the front with nearly unblinking eyes and concentrated on the lesson, created her potion on changing hair colour temporarily, perfect. Even though no one else in the class seemed to get the potion quite as perfect as Hermione's, Gryffindor was awarded ten points but none were taken from Slytherin, as professor Slughorn was too kind.

Soon the class ended and everyone shuffled quickly out of the room, even Slughorn left quickly for the staff room, to "have a word with professor McGonagall on her exceptionally bright students" of course that was rubbish, he was probably really going for a quick swig of fire whiskey. Nearly the entire class had left all except Hermione, Ron, Harry, Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle. Hermione took a while to gather her books hoping her friends would leave before Draco so she would have a chance to speak with him.

"Hermione?" said Ron pausing at the door "aren't you coming? It's lunch," he said with a large grin (Ron loved to eat)

"Oh yes, I'll just be a moment, don't wait up" she said reassuringly pretending she was reading something from the textbook. When she saw the two leave and turn the corner she closed the book and turned towards the opposite side of the room, where Draco and his Posse stood. Draco had been eyeing her suspiciously, yet also his eyes with a tad of hopefulness. Hermione drew a deep breath then walked towards the boys, hoping the small change she had seen in Draco wasn't imagined.

"Oy!" called Crabbe "what'd' you want granger?" she asked eyeing her with disgust, but she looked past him to Draco.

"I wondered," she said looking into his eyes, which looked surprisingly soft "if I might have a word"

"And what would a mudblood like you be wanting with a word with Malfoy?" asked Goyle crossing his arms threateningly

"Goyle" said Draco sternly not breaking eye contact with Hermione "it's fine, I was meaning to talk with granger anyway"

"But-" began Crabbe

"Just get out will you!" Draco called looking at them sternly shoving his hand in the direction of the door. The two walked out slowly glimpsing back at them before leaving and slamming the door firmly behind them. "Privacy is such a privilege these days" said Draco his expression warming as he smiled down at Hermione, and she couldn't help but smile back.

"I wanted to know, Malfoy," said Hermione placing her books on the table "why the sudden change in heart?" Draco stood silently for a moment staring down at the floor. Then lifting his head to look at her again.

"Draco" he said with a small grin "you can call me Draco" Hermione was taken aback by his words, but nodded

"Oh, okay then. Draco" she said feeling slightly awkward

"Much better!" grinned Draco widely "well to answer your question" Draco began apparently thinking hard of what to say next "I've decided to… change my ways you could say"

"Alright…" urged on Hermione

"I don't want to be mean to you any more" he said a look of both sadness and happiness spread across his face. Hermione examined his words carefully

"You don't want to be mean to ME any more, or mean in general?" she asked confused

"Well… I guess mean in general, but I am Um. I'm… well I'm doing it for you I suppose" he said flushing a light pink, which looked extremely odd on his pale skin

Hermione raised her eyebrows sharply and was at a lose of words "oh" was all she could manage to say. Draco rubbed the back of his neck obviously feeling quite awkward and even, Hermione suspected surprised, a little… shy? The silence only made the conversation more awkward so Hermione decided to break the tension "I see. Why are you changing for me exactly?"

"Um I don't know," answered Draco quick and sharp. Hermione didn't believe it for a second, now she wanted answers, she didn't know why. Usually she couldn't care less about Draco's motives but now she cared about almost nothing more. Draco sensed she didn't believe his answer so he sighed and a smug smile grew across his face. Slowly he began to advance on Hermione, but with every step he took towards her she stepped back. Hermione's breathing quickened slightly and a small shot of pain coursed through her head when she finally backed up so far, she was against the wall. Draco only moved closer until they were so close Hermione could smell his breathe, which to her surprise was almost mesmerizing. Her head began swimming with confusing and anticipation, she felt as though she had drunken a little too much butterbeer as Draco's chest was nearly pressed against hers and her pulse quickened and she grew even more dizzy. Draco smiled at her seductively "what's wrong?" he asked mockingly "afraid I may kiss you?" she said with a large tooth filled grin. Nothing came out of Hermione's mouth except for a few stutters trying hard to find the right words "shh" whispered Draco placing his index fingers to her lips then backing away slowly wait no come back! Where are you going? Screamed Hermione's head, but she kept quite. "Slughorn may return at any moment, we should be going he said returning and placing her books in her hands, then walked backwards towards the door gazing at Hermione's almost dumbstruck expression "I'll see you later" he said as he opened the door "Hermione" with that the door closed and Hermione felt her heart slow and her breathing return to normal. He had never called her Hermione before, and to her astonishment, she liked it. And she thought, though trying hard not too, of how sexy and wonderful it sounded being said from Draco Malfoy's lips.

Hermione didn't see Draco for the rest of the day. Her heart was still pounding and she kept going over what had happened in her mind, while she sat non-consciously ignoring her two friends as they rambled on about next weeks quidditch match against Slytherin.

"DON'T YOU THINK HERMIONE?" Ron's loud voice (which was roaring loudly in her ear for some reason) broke her daze as she cuffed her right ear leaning away from him.

"Honestly Ron, do you need to shout?" she asked a tad annoyed

"Well you aren't listening to us!" he shouted again lowering his voice when Hermione shot him sharp daggering eyes.

"You've been very distracted all day Hermione" Harry pointed out gaining her attention "what's up?"

"Nothing. Really." She said sharply as the looks on the boy's faces showed they didn't believe it was nothing. "It's just the mid-term exams is all. They've got me on edge and I'm just having trouble focusing I suppose…"

"YOU are worried about exams," Ron said raising his eyebrows "Hermione you're the brightest witch of our age! I mean you really are naturally brilliant, you should be enjoying yourself and not worrying about things like the exams. You're going to do just fine" he said as Hermione thought how odd it was for Ron to be trying to make her feel better, when usually he would ramble on about how HE was doomed and she should be helping him.

"Thank you Ronald" she said with a smile, and he returned it.

Soon the common room cleared out as everyone headed off to bed. The three of them stayed a while after everyone left. They sat by the fire making small talk, and Hermione tried eagerly to pay attention, but it was so hard with the day's previous events. Eventually Hermione decided she needed to sleep and told the boys goodnight.

Hair combed, teeth brushed, and nightgown on, Hermione climbed into bed worn out. Shay lay for a moment clutching one of her spare pillows against her upper body, which reminded her suddenly of how close Draco had been standing in front of her, making butterflies go wild within her stomach. Hermione moaned rubbing her head. She didn't like that she was spending so much time thinking about some stupid boy. Some stupid ferret faced git of a boy. Hermione corrected herself in her mind, smiling lightly. He wasn't much of a git any more… she wondered what Harry and Ron would say if she told them he had changed. I don't even know myself that he's changed at all! Thought Hermione angrily; this could all be some practical joke Malfoy had been playing on her. That's right Malfoy. She would never call him Draco again now that this was all some kind of prank to get a good laugh. But she also didn't know if that was for certain either… she shook her head violently "go to sleep…go to sleep" she whispered to herself trying to get rid of all this madness. No matter what is was, she need not trouble herself with what happened or what was going to happen. She just needed some rest. And with that Hermione fell into a deep sleep.

"Stop it! Let me go!" panted Hermione; Draco had her pinned against a wall in the girl's lavatory on the second floor.

"Stop fusing!" he hissed "kiss me, now" he hissed in her ear and Hermione having a whiplash of emotions stopped fusing and kissed Draco deeply. He pulled away and spat at the ground "how dare you kiss me you filthy mudblood!" his voice bellowed and echoed off the bathroom walls. Crabbe and Goyle emerged from behind him laughing menacingly. Draco joined in with the laughter as he grabbed her wrists and threw her to the ground, her body hitting against the cold hard marble floor. One of the sinks closest to her exploded and the water washed over her head.

Hermione shot up in her bed with a start, wiping water from her eyes to see Ginny hovering over her, bucket in hand. It was only a dream thought Hermione sighing with relief. Her mind had been such a jumble falling asleep that even her dreams had taken on her problems.

"'Mione!" called Ginny snapping her fingers in Hermione's faces.

"Yes Ginny what is it?" said Hermione slightly flabbergasted Ginny decided to wake her by dumping a bucket of water on her head.

"It's a Hogsmeade weekend! Come on get up, get dressed. We're meeting the boys downstairs to leave in two minutes… HURRY UP!" ordered Ginny as she ran off to the fifth year girl's dormitory to get dressed. Ginny had just began dating her long time crush Harry Potter, and seemed to always be eager to spend time with him.

Hermione shrugged out of her Nightgown and pulled on a pair of boot-cut jeans and a dark purple sweater. Applied her make-up then set off down the stairs where the other three sat waiting by the fire.

"Everyone ready then?" asked Harry smiling, and the three set off for Hogsmeade.