"Do you think I should talk to him?" Hermione asked, picking at her eggs. It had taken her a few minutes to change out of her gown and change her hairstyle. Through the change, she had almost lost her appetite. "I mean, he was pretty upset."

"He was in a bad shock when we left," sputtered George through a mouthful of food.

"Harry kept him in to try and calm him down. They should be here any minute," commented Fred, taking a sip of pumpkin juice.

"Hermione, don't worry," Ginny consoled. "Ron will let it go…Eventually."

"Thanks so much," the other girl said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "But…I just…I feel kind of bad."

"Why? Just because Ron doesn't approve of Malfoy, you think there's something wrong?"

"Gin! No…I mean, he just shouldn't be going insane like he is. I can see whoever I want to!" Hermione slammed down her fork.

"Hermione?" Fred and George asked, simultaneously.

"Are you-" began Fred.

"Alright?" the other twin completed.

"I'm fine. I just need to talk to Ron about this whole thing and get it straightened out now before he and Draco get into a fight and kill each other." She got up and dashed out of the Great Hall.

"Won't be much of a fight," Ginny snorted. "Ron would lose in under a minute."

"Hermione!" Malfoy called, chasing after his girlfriend. "Hermione! Are you alright?" He caught her arm and spun her around to face him.

"I'm fine. I just need to talk to Ron. You know…Make sure he'll be able to cope with us and not try and kill you."

"Like he could. And he'll have to learn. What else can we do? I'm not letting you break up with me just because of Weasley."

"I never said I was going to do that. You don't have to jump to conclusions."

Malfoy sighed, "it's my nature. What can I say? Anyway, why do you want to talk to him?"

"Because he was too upset than need be. Fred and George said that Harry had to keep him in the common room-"

"Wait. The twins know? Who else does?"

"Ginny and Harry. Bu-"

"That little…Hermione! Do you realize how bad this is? What if other word leaks out that we're together? It will be all that little git's fault and he will be mine," he hissed, pulling his wand to prove his point. Hermione smiled.

"You're very cute when you're trying to be mean, do you know that? You're like a small puppy trying to be mean. It's adorable no matter what." Malfoy glared at her.

"You make it very difficult to be intimidating when you tell me those kinds of things. Are you aware of that?"

Hermione smiled. "Yes," she replied. "I am. Anyway, Draco, I really should talk to Ronald. He does deserve some sort of explanation of why his best friend and his arch enemy are together."

"I guess. How are you going to explain it?" he inquired, leading her into a small, dark cavity. There, he wrapped his arms around her, as they swayed gently back and forth.

"Well…I'm not sure. I mean, how is it possible to explain why you love the person you do when the other hates him? I mean…how would you explain why you love me?"

"You're intelligent, funny, clever, witty, adorable, need any more reasons?"

"Yes," she grinned. He rotated her in his arms, holding his lips against hers for a few long moments.

"Good kisser," he whispered just after he pulled away. Hermione smiled.

"Thanks. You aren't so bad yourself, but I doubt that will win over Ron."

"So, how will you describe me?"

"Um…Well, I would say that you're actually pretty nice, cunning, sweet, and…well…I'm still not sure. We haven't even been dating for twenty-four hours. We are moving awfully fast aren't we?" Malfoy sighed heavily.

"I suppose. Would you like to take it slower?" he mumbled, obviously unhappy. Hermione let out a sigh.

"Don't try and guilt trip me, Draco, it won't work."

"Damn. It was worth a shot. I've just….wanted you for so long."

"How long is 'so long'?" she asked, leaning against the wall across from him.

"Er…..let's see….First year or so? When I noticed you hanging out with Potter and Weasley so much, I was afraid I was going to lose it."

"Lose it how?"

"I thought I was going to knock their heads off."

"That would have attracted me to you," she scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"Shut up. And especially after that hallway incident, I really had no idea what to think."

"What hallway incident?"

"You forgot?!" Malfoy cried, gaping at her. "It was in first year. You had just come out of the library…"

(Flashback)

A petite brunette with about six large books bustled out of the Hogwarts library. Her eyes were tired from the hours of reading and homework she had just done and was ready to go to bed early. Setting the books on the floor, Hermione Granger checked her bag one last time to make sure all of her scrolls were inside and accounted for. Picking up the books again, she set off down the hallway, her eyes glued to the floor as she ran through potions formulas in her head for the quiz tomorrow. Roots, rat tails, he- she thought just before she and her books were sprawled all over the ground.

"Whoops. Sorry, Granger," a steely voice smirked. Hermione's brown eyes glared up at the owner of the voice.

"Malfoy," she greeted coldly.

"What kind of 'hello' is that?" he asked in mock shock. "I don't even deserve that?"

"Nope," she piped, collecting her books. He watched her skitter across the floor, collecting books and papers that had flown all over the place.

"Here," he said, handing her her Transfiguration book. She snatched it out of his hands, nearly giving him a cut.

"Thanks," she growled. "You didn't spit on it, did you?"

"Why would I do that?" he retorted, pushing a blond lock out of his eyes.

"You're Malfoy. You do the calculating."

"I'm not a bad person, if you would just give me a chance."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I mean, don't study one Saturday so you and I could spend some time together and see I'm not such a pain in the ass after all," he smiled, very pleased with himself.

"Awww….Malfoy…." she giggled, eyes sparkling. She leaned in close to his ear as she pulled her wand out. "Petrificus totalus." She stepped quickly to the left, allowing Draco Malfoy to crash onto the floor face down. Hurriedly, she collected the rest of her things and rushed off to the Gryffindor common room.

(End of Flashback)

"I was very proud of the bruise I gave you," she reminisced. Malfoy grimaced, rubbing his nose.

"I'm so glad," he uttered, glaring at her. She smiled, giving him a quick peck.

"You've delayed me too long. I do need to talk to Ronald, provided he isn't already in the Great Hall. I'll check there first." She gave him another, longer, kiss.

"What was that for?" he inquired with a smile.

"For saying that we can slow down. I'm glad you respect me." Malfoy gave her a quick kiss back.

"Go talk to Weasley," he whispered, squeezing her hand. She gave him one more grin before ducking out of their small area.

Hermione walked into the common room and immediately saw the back of Ron's head. He was sitting on the couch, staring into the smoke from the dead fire.

"Hey, Ron," Hermione said quietly. He jumped, turning his torso around to see her. He pushed his lips together, trying to avoid exploding.

"Hi," he finally managed to utter.

"Have you had breakfast?"

"No. I'm thinking things over."

"Great. Maybe you'll have an open mind now. Look, I owe you some sort of explanation. Listen, and then talk. I really like Draco. You just have to get past the fact that he's a jerk to almost everyone. But, when he and I are alone, he just….changes. He's so great. I wish you, Harry and him would all stop shouting insults at each other and try to grow up. And….he really likes me for me. With Viktor, I don't know…something didn't click and I'm never sure why he likes me. With Draco, everything is simply wonderful and it all seems so right," she sighed. Hermione looked at Ron, whose mouth was hanging wide open.

"What the hell did you drink this morning!?" he bellowed. "Fire whiskey?! Hermione, you are saying this about DRACO MALFOY! He's a terrible person. Besides, you're a mudblood!! Why would he like you? A very jerky pureblood likes a workaholic mudblood. Do you honestly think he loves you?!" Ron's breathing was hard from his yelling. Hermione's eyes glossed over as a single tear fell down her face and slipped off onto her robes.

"Well, thank you Ronald. I'm glad you understand," she choked. "I'll see you later." She got off the couch and sprinted up the stairs. Two seconds later, Ron heard the thud of the girl's room.

"Good going, Ron," Ginny cried, bashing her brother in the arm.

"How long have you been there?!" he replied, rubbing the throbbing pain.

"Long enough for her to explain it to you and for you to be a total imbecile. You're worse than Malfoy," she seethed. Ginny stared at her brother in a mix of awe and anger as she trotted up the stairs.

What the hell have I done? he thought to himself.