A quick note about Mandy: The name is in the first Harry Potter book, but the personality is inspired by my friend Amanda.

Disclaimer: I don't own it…how many times must I say that?

Chapter Three. Confusion.

Hermione could hardly focus throughout classes the rest of the day. Ron and Harry kept asking her why she was being so quiet and even Professor McGonagall noticed the strange behavior of the bushy-haired girl.

"Miss Granger, are you quite well?" She asked after noting that Hermione's hand had not flown up to answer the question she asked.

It took Hermione a moment to realize that everybody was staring at her. When she did she immediately sat straighter and started speaking.

"Um, yes, you see, if you turn a snake into a pencil you must be conscious of the poison since--"

"Miss Granger, what are you talking about?" Professor McGonagall interrupted.

"I'm sorry Professor; it's just that I wasn't really listening..." Hermione forehead wrinkled in confusion as the strange words came out of her mouth.

A few of the girls gasped. Ron and Harry stared open-mouthed at Hermione. Professor McGonagall looked slightly alarmed.

"Well, Miss Granger," She said. "I never dreamed that I would have to say this but...please bring your attention back into my class until it is over."

"Yes, Professor..." Hermione said quietly.

"Wasn't really listening?" Mandy repeated in amazement. "You? Not listening to a class? Well, Hermione I've heard a few tall tales before, but this tops them all."

"I'm not joking!" Hermione said.

They were walking out on the lawns. Lessons were finished for the day, and all the students were outside, enjoying the unseasonable good weather.

"Hermione, what could possibly distract you so much, that you wouldn't listen in a class? You of all people."

"Um...well..." Hermione glanced at Mandy. She decided that she should tell her friend what happened.

She told Mandy about the books that fell on her, and about Draco helping her. She was about to come to her point, when her words faltered.

"What's wrong? What happened next?" Mandy asked.

"Well...he...he..."

Mandy looked confused at her friend's shyness. Hermione took a deep breath and spoke calmly and clearly.

"He kissed me."

Mandy's brown eyes grew wide with surprise and she exclaimed.

"HE KISS--!"

"Not so loud!" Hermione said, clasping a hand to Mandy's mouth to drown out her final syllables. A few of the other students in walking by glanced back at them laughed and kept going.

When Hermione was sure Mandy had calmed herself down a bit, she let her go.

"So..." The Ravenclaw started. "Draco Malfoy...kissed you?"

Hermione nodded.

"Wow...well...what did you think about it?"

"I'm still kinda figuring that part out, actually..."

"But did you like it?"

Hermione blushed at the girl's blunt attitude. "I...yes, I mean...I've always thought Malfoy was a complete toad, the way he acted...but the way he acted with me in the library...I have a hard time believing that was him."

"Do you believe it?" Mandy asked.

Hermione thought for a moment. "I do, but there's still a part of me that's afraid to be too trusting of him. It is Malfoy we're talking about."

"That's true. But do you remember anytime in the past when he might've acted nice? Or looked like he didn't really want to be mean to you?"

"There was a time..." Hermione said slowly. "It was third year. Remember when I punched him in the nose?"

Mandy nodded.

"Well, I ran into him after that, when we were both on our own. He said some pretty harsh things. I was hurt by his words and I remember feeling tears well up in my eyes. Even though I acted the way I normally would with him, I'm pretty sure he noticed the tears. At dinner that night, a small Slytherin kid came up to me and handed me a rose with a green ribbon around it. I asked who it was from and the kid said he'd be in big trouble if he told me. The kid went away and I examined the inner side of the ribbon," Hermione smiled. "What the sender of the flower doesn't know is, I recognized the Malfoy Family Insignia."

"It was probably from him then!" Mandy said excitedly.

"Yes, I always thought so myself."

"Hermione, I think he must like you. Why else would he be so nice to you?"

"I don't know..."She said uncertainly. "Why the sudden change? Why now?"

Mandy thought for a moment. "Well...He is in Slytherin...and he has that horrible family history behind him. Maybe he just acted nasty for so long to keep up appearances?"

"If that's the case, what's changed?"

"Maybe he has. He could be tired of ignoring his feelings for so long. Wouldn't you get fed up after a while if you had to pretend to hate the one you love?"

Hermione blushed. "D-Do you think he really is being sincere?"

"There aren't many people out there who kiss people they hate. I think you should go with it. See if he starts acting nicer, or talks to you more."

"Alright, I suppose I could do that..." Hermione said.

Mandy grinned. "Great! I can't wait to find out how thing work with you two!"

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "You act as if we were already together."

"Trust me, Hermione. I know these things. It won't be long now."