"Hermione," a voice called from somewhere behind her. Hermione glanced over her shoulder to see Draco striding up to her from the Slytherin table. All eyes on her, Hermione turned to respond.
"Yes, Draco?" He stopped and stood beside, glaring down at a pudgy third year boy, whose name Hermione thought was Stewart, until he moved over to make room for Draco to sit down.
"We're going to Honeydukes together this weekend," he said matter-of-factly.
"Are you telling me or asking me?" she asked, raising her eyebrow in a fashion customary of a Malfoy. He grinned back at her.
"I was telling you," he said.
She glared at him. "I suppose I could ask you if you really wanted me to." His response was another glare.
"Fine. Hermione," he said, effecting his sarcastically pompous voice, "would you do me the honor of accompanying me to Honeydukes this weekend?"
"I would love to, Draco." Her voice held the same tone. He smiled and stood up, taking her hand and bowing over it, before once again walking to the Slytherin table. Hermione could feel her blush as Ginny knocked her on the shoulder.
"You're really going to go out with Malfoy?" Ginny looked like she had insisted upon jumping off a cliff.
"Why not? I think we'll have a good time, we have been so far." Ginny frowned at her. "Honestly, Gin, I don't see why you are having such a hard time with this."
"Because it's Malfoy, you're going on a date with Malfoy!" Ginny turned to her, barely containing her voice.
"It's not a date, we are hanging out as friends." Ginny rolled her eyes at Hermione.
"Honestly, Hermione, are you that blind? Malfoy doesn't see it as a friendly get together." She pointed back over to where Draco was whispering into a nodding Blaise's ear.
"He's Draco, he gossips. I'm sure he doesn't believe we are going on a date." Hermione stood up, done with the conversation, and grabbed her bag. "I'm going to class, I'll see you later."
She walked towards the door and soon heard footsteps next to hers. She turned to see Draco walking silently next to her, glaring at anyone who looked at the couple in a weird way. 'Surely he doesn't think we are together… I mean, for Merlin's sake, we are Draco and Hermione,' she thought as she walked on, allowing him to stay at her side.
Hermione walked into Honeydukes behind Draco, warranting a few odd glances from the students scattered throughout. They chose a small table in the corner, away from prying eyes, and she was thankful for that. As soon as their drinks were ordered, Hermione turned to him.
"So, Draco," she paused, "what exactly is going on between us?" She thought she saw a flicker of fear in his silver eyes, but it passed and he spoke with his trademark calm.
"What did you want to be going on between us?" Hermione thought about it, that wasn't an answer… though it was a question she should be able to answer.
"You didn't answer my question."
"Well you didn't answer mine," he sniped back.
"I asked first," she said in a voice declaring the little spat was over. At that moment the waitress came over and gave them their butterbeers. They sat in silence for a few moments, sipping their drinks before Draco decided to speak up.
"Fine. I don't know what is going on between us, but considering that we are on a date-"
"Wait? You think this is a date?" Hermione asked, "Oh God! Ginny was right."
"Well if it's not a date, what is it?" Draco countered, brows furrowed.
"I don't know. I thought we were just getting together, hanging out as friends, you know. I, uh, I think I need to go." Hermione fished through her pockets and pulled out enough money to pay for her butterbeer. When she found it she placed it on the table, stood up and walked to the door, going as fast as she could without actually running. She made it outside and was down the next lane before she was pulled into an alley and found found herself staring at Draco.
"What's wrong?" Draco asked. His eyes held concern and confusion. Hermione struggled against his hold, not wanting to be so close to him.
"Let me go," Hermione answered. Draco waited until she promised she wouldn't run off before releasing her arm.
"What's wrong?" he repeated. She sighed and crouched down so she was leaning against the wall, her legs spread out across the alley.
"I can't date you," she nearly whispered. Draco looked at her and his gaze was far different than before.
"What, is the Golden Girl to good to be seen with me? With a Malfoy: the Dark Lord's little minion?" His voice dripped with venom, far different than the caring Draco she had been hanging out with the past few weeks.
"You know that I don't think about you like that." She frowned at him. "Why would you want to go out with me, a mudblood?"
"You're not a mudblood though, you're a pureblood, like me." Hermione gasped, the realization dawning upon her.
"Is that what this is about?" she screeched, not caring who heard. "You want to go out with me now because I'm pureblood? What, think having me on your arm will help improve your family name? Is that it?"
"Now, Hermione," he started, looking sorry, "tha-"
"Stop right there, Malfoy! I am not here to help you, or your family, and I am not a tool to be used!" Hermione turned on her heel, ignoring when Draco called out her name.
She didn't stop until she could no longer see through the tears gathering in her eyes. She found herself near a tree and slid down it, ignoring the scraping of the bark against her back.
How could she have been so foolish, how could she have allowed him to lead her on like that? 'Damn Draco, wanting me because I'm a pureblood. How dare he, I was just as good of a person when I was believed to be a muggleborn as I am now, more so even.' she thought bitterly.
When she could think straight and stop the tears from streaming down her face, she stood up and moved back towards the castle. Reaching her dorm, she sat down on her bed and pulled the curtains closed around her. After casting a silencing charm around herself, she pulled her knees up to her chest and allowed her tears to flow freely again.
Not only had she ruined any future relationship she had with Draco, but she had probably ended their friendship, too. After what seemed like hours of sitting and sobbing quietly, despite the silencing charm, Hermione rolled over and willed her thoughts to slow so she could fall asleep.
It wasn't until the next morning at breakfast that Hermione realized just how wrong she had been about ruining her relationship with Malfoy.
