Chapter Three

My eyes really see

I see you make your way through the crowd

And say hello,

Other people she didn't recognise at all, the tall boy walking towards her now for example. He wore a silver mask and black jeans with a shirt and looked more like a rock band member than anything else. He had messy dark blonde hair. She found herself a little surprised that she was disappointed that it was not Draco for one he would never let his hair get into a messy state. She was stood on one of the many balconies that were dotted around the hall and the boy walked across the floor whist keeping his eyes on her at all times.

"Can I have this dance?" He asked.

"Yes," Hermione smiled as they walked towards the dance floor the music changed to a slow blues song. Hermione felt the boy pull her in, as he danced perfectly never missing a beat.

She looked up at him and smiled she thought for one moment the boy had recognized her because he looked at her differently but he never missed a beat, continued dancing and she assumed she was mistaken.

She wasn't however Draco Malfoy holding her recognized her instantly. That smile was the same as he asked when he asked what treacle toffee was. He couldn't believe it he was holding Hermione Granger closer than he had any woman in his life and he loved it. She danced beautifully and looked stunning. He made it his aim to dance as he could with her. They out danced every couple on the dance floor. Never giving up or sitting down for even a second. At half eleven Draco pulled Hermione off the dance floor.

"I have something to show you." He said. Hermione let herself be led off the dance floor and as she swept past she heard Ginny say

"She said she was going to be here but I can't see her."

"Maybe she is disguised," Harry replied.

"But why wouldn't she come up to say hi to us?"

Hermione missed the rest of the conversation as she felt herself be led up the steps into the castle. Stood in front of the room of requirement she realized that the boy was trying to open the room of requirement. As the door swung open she saw the room was smaller than the last time she was here. There was fine roaring fire in the grate and two armchairs by the fire. A couple of back shelves lined the wall Hermione noticed muggle books such as the silver chair and a brief history of time amongst the magical books. A large clock on top of the bookshelves read ten to midnight. A large bed lay in the middle of the room Hermione looked at the boy.

"Is this why you brought me here?" she asked angrily indicating to the bed.

"No no," he said pointedly "I asked for a place where we couldn't be found where we could sit."

Hermione had no idea why but something in her told her to trust this boy. Something she rarely felt recently. Hermione removed her shoes and smiled at the boy. Draco felt his heart melt and lent in. Hermione felt his lips crash onto hers and she pulled him in. She had never been kissed before in her life. She wanted this boy to stay with her forever even though she knew nothing about him. He however clearly had other ideas. Draco felt himself melt into her and felt a curl of her hair flop onto his shoulder. He pulled away from her and took out his wand whispering a spell on Hermione who fell into a sleep. Draco placed the sleeping Hermione on one of the armchair taking a quill and piece of paper he wrote a note upon the paper.

Hermione,

I have had the most amazing night dancing with you. I wish I could stay with you longer but if you knew who I was you would not wish it. I will never forget you.

R

Be next morning Hermione read the letter she really thought she had found someone she could recreate to last night. She had no idea what he meant by you wouldn't or signing it R. The only thing she could really draw from this was that his initial was not R.

Hermione tied her hair back still curled it had returned to its original color. The green dress was still wrinkle free. It was early in the morning and after last night she doubted many people would be around the castle early in the morning. She walked up Gryffindor tower to her Head Girl room. Softly tiptoeing Hermione hung up the dress and slipped into her bed.

The next week was spent in a dream like trance for Hermione she ate little occasionally lost focus in class. Her friends began to notice something was different. Hermione had never felt so consumed by anything before in her life as these thoughts of her tall mystery boy took up.

For Draco it was hardly a better week he too could not think of anything else but Hermione both in her green dress on that night and her in class or in jeans at weekends and evenings. He tried to she if she was thinking of him but each time he saw her she seemed focused on her work. If he hadn't seen her make up and mask fade away he would not have believed it was her. Draco felt that he was going mad he had to know if Hermione was feeling the same way to him or he felt was going to explode.

He headed up to the second floor to a deserted room and flew out of the window on his broomstick. With Quidditch banned because of the threat of Voldemort. Draco had to admit he felt a rush of adrenalin as he kicked off the windowsill of the office. Hermione heard a tap on her window ignoring it she turned over. Grabbing her wand Hermione whispered

"Lumos," before pulling aside the curtain. Outside her window was that boy. She had only seen him a week ago but her hear fluttered at the sight. She pulled open the window and flew in. He was still wearing that mask so Hermione could not see his face.

"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked.

"I had to see you again," and Hermione smiled inside but managed to keep up a face of being angry. "You drugged me you could have done anything to me."

"I didn't drug you or touch you I just put you to sleep with magic you wouldn't want to know who I am."

"You keep saying that what is wrong with you the real you. How do you know what my reaction to you would be?"

It was Draco's turn to think. Hermione had surprised him by dressing so well and letting her hair down, figuratively, not to mention being great kiss. Maybe she would be more forgiving of his previous activities then she was giving him credit for.

"Ok," he said quietly "I'll show you who I am just please don't judge me."

"I promise." Hermione said seriously who on earth was this boy and what had he done to want forgiveness so badly from someone he barely knew.

The boy lent in to Hermione who smelt mint on his breath he kissed her forehead softly and gently.

"Just remember I am the same person on the inside."

"Fiante incantartium," he whispered on himself. He didn't even need to take off his mask Hermione knew who it was before he said a word.

"Malfoy?" She asked the very word hurt Draco. Firstly became he thought he had become more than his surname to Hermione and secondly became she said it in such a horrified tone.