****I'm not J.K Rowling. I don't own Harry Potter.****

Chapter 4

Hermione continued on her search for her schoolbooks. She smiled as she found one of them, and then looked at the list again.

 "Hmm." She said to herself. " I think this book would be over there." She looked up a sign that said "Potions" hanging over a shelf in the far corner. She slowly made her way across the bookstore, looking at books on the way. As she got closer, she saw Samantha talking to someone. The person she was talking to was hidden behind a shelf so she couldn't see them. She guessed it was Ron, Harry or her French friend. She picked up another book and flipped through it.

Finally her curiosity got the best of her and she started toward Samantha. Just a little closer and she would be able to see this mystery person. Almost there. Hermione gasped. Samantha was talking to Draco Malfoy! She stopped and stared at the two. She wasn't sure if she should go over and say something to them, or just let them talk, and warn Samantha later. She knew that Ron had talked to Samantha about Draco before. And she clearly remembered them talking about him last night when they were telling Samantha all about Hogwarts. Maybe she forgot. Maybe she didn't realize she was talking to their archenemy. Hermione stood there debating whether or not to interfere. Finally she decided that she would just remind Samantha later about Draco. She nodded and continued on to the corner shelf, pretending she didn't see them.

"What year are you in?" Draco asked politely.

"I'm in 6th year." Samantha responded. "And you are in…?"

"6th also. What a coincidence." Draco smiled again.

Samantha remembered clearly the conversation she had had with Harry, Ron and Hermione the night before. And she remembered Ron telling her all about Draco Malfoy. He was "evil" and she had been told not to go anywhere near him. But he seemed perfectly nice. She decided not to judge him until she knew him better.

"Do you know anyone at Hogwarts yet?" he questioned further.

"Oh, yes actually I do." Samantha told him. "I know my boyfriend, Ron Weasley and-"

Draco cut her off. "Weasley?! Your boyfriend is Weasley?" his mouth fell open.

Samantha nodded, and raised an eyebrow. "Yes, he is. And I know my friends, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. I'm guessing you know them."

Draco nodded, his mouth still hanging open. He finally closed it and continued the conversation. "Well, yes, Weasley and I are acquaintances, as are Potter and Miss Granger and I." He stopped and stared at Samantha for a second, making her very uncomfortable. " Anyway, it's good that you know someone going in. It wont be as awkward that way."

Weasley's girlfriend. Well Well. Isn't this nice. This should be fun. Draco thought. Then he smiled again. "If you need someone to show you around Diagon Alley, I am available for the day. I would love to help you."

Samantha smiled too. "I appreciate it, Draco. That's very sweet of you, but Hermione is showing me around for the day. Um, you can join us, if you'd like though." She offered.

Ooh, just what I want. To spend the day with Granger. But, this could be good. This could be very good.

"I'd love to." He smiled, yet again, this time very slyly. Samantha didn't notice though.

"Alright. I'll go and tell Hermione."

Samantha walked away, toward where Hermione was standing in the corner.

He's not so bad. She said in her head. He seems very much like a gentleman.

"So, she didn't mention the owl she sent you?" Ron asked Harry, for the second time.

"Ron, I told you. She kind of mentioned it. She said I never really answered her question."

"Why didn't you answer her question? It's not that hard. Just say 'Madeline, I'd love to go out with you.' Come on, Harry. What's stopping you?"

"I don't know. It's just, like something's telling me not to. I don't know why. She's a really nice girl. And she likes me." Harry said, stopping in front of a store window and staring blankly inside.

Ron stopped too. "I don't understand you sometimes. You've got a great opportunity and you wont take it." He picked up a broomstick that was sitting in front of the store. "This is nice."

Harry nodded. Ron sat the broom back down. "What could be stopping you? Do you like someone else?"

Harry shook his head. "You know I don't. That's not it. I don't know. Can we just, not talk about this right now?"

"Ok." Ron said shrugging. "But, don't be surprised if someone comes along and snatches Madeline right up. She is quite a catch, Harry."

Harry looked at Ron suspiciously.

"Not me!" Ron said slugging Harry's arm. "I am perfectly happy with Samantha. I wouldn't give her up for anyone. I wonder where she is. I miss her."

"You saw her less than an hour ago."

"I know." Ron said, smiling sheepishly. "I can't help it. I hope she's having fun with Hermione."

"I'm sure she is. Now, we need to go on over to the bookstore."

They walked silently down the street for several minutes. Harry stopped suddenly.

"Umm, Ron, I…uh…I think I need to get something else. Back here. Back the other

way." He whirled around and pulled Ron's arm.

"Woah, Harry. What's your problem? You just said we needed to go to the bookstore."

"Yes, but I forgot something. Something very important. We need to go back this way."

Ron jerked lose from Harry's grip. "Are you mad? What's wrong with you?  You are acting really strange. Is there something you don't want me to see down there?" he turned around and began looking over the crowd of people in the streets.

"No!" Harry said pulling Ron with him again. " We need to go this way."

"Harry! What do you need to get that is so important?"

"Um… I uh….I uh… I need to get…"he stuttered.

"I knew it! You are trying not to let me see something down there. Is it Samantha? I want to see!" Ron jerked lose from Harry again and turned around. He started walking back toward where Harry was trying to get away from. Suddenly, he saw it. His face went pale and he squinted his eyes in disbelief and anger. It was Samantha, walking with Draco Malfoy. Both of them were grinning widely and talking and laughing.  Draco put his arm around Samantha's lower back and led her into a store.

Ron began breathing heavily. His face got red, and he gritted his teeth. 

Harry, who had come and stood beside Ron, spoke. "I'm sure she doesn't know who he is Ron. I am sure that-"

"I'll kill him. I'll kill him if he takes her away from me. If he moves in on her, or if he does anything mean to her, I'll kill him!" he started toward the store they had gone in to. Hermione met them in the doorway. "Ron!" she said stopping him. She had an angry look on her face.

"Hermione what's going on?" Ron said putting his hands on her shoulders. "Why is Samantha with Malfoy?"

"She… she…" Hermione was obviously mad.

"Ok, calm down, both of you. This is not that big of a deal." Harry patted Ron's back and looked at Hermione. "Just calmly tell us why Samantha is with him."

Hermione shook her head. "She isn't with him. I promise, it's nothing like that. We just met him in Flourish and Blotts and she just invited him to come with us!"

"I've got to talk to her." Ron said making his way in the store.