I was on cloud nine. All I could think about the next day was that Hermione had said yes to me. Granger! Said yes! I couldn't stop grinning, and that didn't even bother me.
This was so unlike me. It wasn't usual for me to be so… goofy in regard to a girl. I was always icy and didn't dare show much emotion in fear of becoming too attached. God, what was I doing?
Hermione and I had agreed to keep the whole thing quiet for a while. A Slytherin dating a Gryffindor was absolutely unheard of at Hogwarts, and I felt awful about ruining "tradition". However, we felt that we could be the ones to break that cliché. We were different. We were Granger and Malfoy, two of the most well-known and respected names around school. It only made since that we would be together… right? Ugh, the technicalities of it all were getting to me. "Draco," my internal voice said calmly, "Chill. Seriously. You're not in a committed relationship, for Merlin's sake! You're just dating. People can date. Relax."
That was a nice form of reassurance, but I kept being afraid of what my friends would think. Surely Crabbe and Goyle would tease me mercilessly for being attracted to a mudblood… already, just the thought that they would refer to her as a mudblood made me want to bang their heads into a wall. I couldn't believe how ignorant I had been in the past when I called her such a hurtful thing, and I was extremely mad at myself for doing so. The amount of hurt and pain I must have inflicted on her… I felt like such a douche.
I waited for her outside the door after Potions the next day. She looked so beautiful, which wasn't anything outside of the norm. Still, it felt good to be able to think these things about her without hating myself for it or feeling incredibly guilty.
"Hermione." I said, looking her up and down.
"Draco." She responded, blushing, the hint of a smile playing at her pink lips.
"Last night was… well, let's just say it was the best night I've had in a long time," I started out.
"Mine, too." She cut in coyly. This time, though, she grinned wholeheartedly.
"Really?"
"Yes… I've been wishing that would happen for the longest time now." Hermione sounded hesitant. I felt another wave of happiness wash over me, making me beam even more than I had been earlier, which caused me to look like a bloody moron…but the best part was that I couldn't have cared less.
"Hermione… Can you meet me in the Room of Requirement again tonight? I've realized that there are some things that I feel I need to discuss with you."
And uneasy expression settled over her features as she said, "Is everything alright, Draco?" I shivered slightly as she said my real name.
"Yes, yes, everything couldn't be better," I said genuinely. "I just feel like I have to get some things off my chest, is all."
"Oh. Okay then… I guess I'll see you tonight." She turned to go.
"Hey, Hermione?"
"Yes, Mal-Draco?"
"Don't be late this time." I said, my face twisting into my trademark smirk as I turned on my heel and walked away.