Author's Note: JK Rowling created this world, I just like to visit. I have been getting a lot of writing done in this story this week as it is the holidays and I am sick. I cannot promise to keep up a chapter a day, but will try to update often. I have a feeling this is going to be a long one! Merry Christmas all!
Draco and Hermione spent the winter break of fourth year stealing moments with each other. Sometimes they were making out, other times they talked and learned more about each other. During the holidays it was easy to slip off from their friends with excuses, but the Sunday before classes started, they realized they would soon have to interact in front of others.
"Harry already expects something. He knows I am not studying in the library, but for now he is letting me be. He is working on his egg and that helps distract him. But he's caught some of our stolen glances across the great hall at meals. As soon as we act differently in class he will know." Hermione fidgeted, pulling her shirt back on after an exuberant session of kissing.
"Scar head is always too wrapped up in his own drama to notice anything. Besides, we are just going to start off by being civil to one another, not making out in potions. Calm down, things will be fine. Besides, if what is going on here is real, well people will find out someday." Draco pulled his shirt back on as well.
Hermione goggled at him a moment. "You mean that don't you? You really want us to work out?"
"Of course I do Granger. You have opened my eyes to so many things, plus you're quite hot." He winked at her.
She rolled her eyes, "Merlin help me, but I want to see where this goes as well. If anyone ever told me that I would want to date Draco Malfoy…"
"They would have told you to get in line." He teased, but pulled her into a warm embrace. "Let's just be nice to each other in public and see where things go from there. I could care less about our friends, I just need to make sure my father doesn't harm you."
The very next morning it happened that Draco was entering the great hall at the same time as Hermione and her friends. He stopped and motioned for them to go before him, his eyes on Hermione the whole time.
Ron, as always, was the one to mouth off first. "Want to jinx us behind our back ferret?"
"Well I would prefer to jinx you in your ugly face, but I have decided you aren't worth the trouble. I was simply letting a lady go in first. You can stand out here all day for all I care." He gestured again, "Granger."
"Thank you D… Malfoy." Hermione smiled tentatively at him and walked through the doors. She heard Harry hiss something at Ron and then they followed through. She went and sat down so that she could see the Slytherin table and smiled again at Draco. Sure Ron was a jerk, but true to his word Draco was treating her differently in public. She also saw him throw off some advances from Pansy. Good, Draco was spoken for whether others knew it or not.
Ron sat down across from her and immediately became distracted by food. Harry on the other hand whispered in her ear as he sat next to her. "So what is going on with you and Malfoy? Since when does he call you a lady and is civil? Is he the reason you have been disappearing ever since the Yule Ball? Have you been sneaking off to be with him?"
Hermione blushed. She knew Harry would figure it out. Question was did she come clean now or deny everything. "He's not who we always thought he was Harry. Things have been different since the ball. He comforted me after…" Her eyes trailed to Ron. "Something changed that night."
"He comforted you? Are you sure this isn't some scheme of his Hermione? Lure you in and then do something dreadful?" Skepticism was written all over Harry's face.
"He's not using me!" Hermione hissed loud enough to draw Ron's attention.
"What are you two on about over there?"
"Nothing." They said in unison. Even Harry knew that it would be best not to draw Ron into this. With Ron paying attention Harry let the matter drop, though his eyes kept flickering between Hermione and Draco. Hermione was careful to not be alone with Harry during their morning classes and sat close to Ginny at lunch. However they had potions with the Slytherins next and she knew he would be watching her and Draco's every move.
As they gathered in the hall waiting for Snape, Pansy started taunting her. "Hey beaver. Haven't seen you with Krum lately. Did he wise up and dump you?" She looked to Draco for approval and was only met with a scowl.
"Shut up Pansy, your jealousy is showing." Draco barked in return.
Everyone in the hall looked shocked, Pansy most of all. "But Draco darling…"
"How many times do I have to tell you that I am not your darling?" He spun away from her and walked away from most of the Slytherins, Crabbe and Goyle half following him confused.
Harry observed the whole interaction and once the doors opened he whispered in Hermione's ear. "We need to talk tonight."
Hermione nodded and looked up to see Draco watching the exchange. His face was passive and there was no smirk, but there was fire in his eyes.
When the double period was done Draco made a show of moving slowly, so Hermione followed suit having to practically chase Harry out. She and Draco slowly walked out together, looking to see if anyone lingered in the hall. "Sorry about Pansy." He said barely above a whisper.
"Don't worry about it. I'm used to it." Hermione shrugged.
"But you shouldn't be!" Draco exploded. "I can't believe that I used to think things like that were funny! I'm so sorry for these past three years."
Hermione put her hand on his arm. "I know. Thank you for standing up for me today."
"Is that what you and Potter have been whispering about?" Draco asked, a hint of jealousy in his tone.
"Yes. He knows. He knew at breakfast. He wants to talk tonight. I'm going to tell him the truth. Well the truth without some of the finer details." Hermione shrugged. "He's my best friend."
Draco nodded. "We better head to dinner."
Hermione reluctantly agreed. "I wish we could just walk in together."
"What's to stop us? I'm so sick of letting the expectations of others come before what I want. It's just walking through some doors at the same time. What's the big deal?" With that Draco grabbed her hand and started pulling her towards the great hall. Before they got there he dropped her hand and she immediately missed its warmth. "I guess we shouldn't set the whole school talking yet."
She nodded. "No I suppose not. Us be civil is more than enough to kick up the rumor mill." With that they walked into dinner, smiled at each other and went their separate ways.
Hermione had been right. When they walked in some of the noise dimmed as people from all houses watched them. After they parted she could feel people staring at her, most of all her fellow housemates. Harry was watchful as ever, Ron glowered at her and Lavender and Parvarti raced to sit by her.
Lavender started, "Did you and Draco Malfoy just come in together?"
"I heard that Viktor Krum thought you were seeing someone else since the Yule Ball! Is it Malfoy?" Parvarti added.
"How are you getting all of these hot guys?" Lavender continued.
"Rubbish." Ron interjected. "You hate the ferret right Hermione?"
"Well, Malfoy and I have been talking lately, trying to move past our old grudges against each other." Hermione said, tentative as what to say. Telling Harry the truth was one thing, telling the whole school was something else. She glanced up to see Draco seemed to be getting similar treatment, with Pansy looking angry and getting in his face. Oh boy, they really were going to create a scandal and just by being nice to one another. Imagine if anyone knew about their secret trysts.
"You've been talking to ferret face? Come off it! He's evil Hermione!" Ron spat, going red and raising his voice.
"No he's not! He's changing, growing up. He's not the mean boy we met first year." Hermione found her own temper rising.
"You're defending Malfoy? What the hell is wrong with you Hermione?" Ron stood up.
"Sit down Ron. Hermione can be friends with whomever she chooses. Even Malfoy." Harry put a hand on Ron, forcing him back down into his seat.
"No one is friends with Malfoy except other snakes." Ron glared at Hermione.
"Well then Granger must be a viper Weasley because she and I are friends." Draco said, having come over during all the commotion. "Things looked heated over here. Are you okay Hermione?"
"Yes, thank you Draco." Hermione gave him an awkward smile. Looks like the cat was out of the bag. Before she could say anything else and anguished cry broke out and Pansy ran from the hall. Hermione looked around, every eye in the hall were on her and Draco, even the professors looked at them in shock. In for an inch, in for a mile Hermione figured, "Want to sit down and have dessert here Draco?"