Chapter 4 – Coupled Up

Harry's POV

The Golden Trio were sat in the library trying to think up partners for each other. Ron frowned, "I don't know why you won't just marry me Hermione."

Harry sighed, "Ron drop it. You screwed that one up... Right Hermione lets think about you first..."

"What about Seamus?" Ron asked.

"He's with Fay now," Harry answered.

"Wayne Hopkins?" Ron suggested, "You know from Huffflepuff."

"Megan Jones," Hermione replied.

"Justin Finch-Fletchley?"

"Are you trying to kill the poor girl?" a voice asked from behind them.

"Malfoy, piss off," Ron retorted, "this has nothing to do with you."

"I don't think I will... I'm feeling particularly interested in this conversation." Malfoy took a seat opposite Hermione and stared into her eyes, "besides I heard that Finchey boy has started seeing Lisa Turpin."

"Oh... Oliver Rivers..."

"What's with all the Hufflepuffs?" Draco asked, "he's with one of those Patil twins. You know the Ravenclaw one... Paddy, is it?"

"Padma," Hermione corrected him.

"Ernie?"

"God no," Hermione answered, "besides he's with Morag MacDougal."

"What about Smith?"

"You really are trying to kill her aren't you Weasel?"

"Piss off," Ron was going slightly red.

"He's trying to get with Sue Li," Harry told the group.

"Terry Boot's with Susan Bones..." Hermione thought aloud.

"And you don't want to change your mind about Corner?"

"Hell no!" Hermione laughed.

"Stephen Cornfoot?" Harry asked.

"I guess it wouldn't be awful..." Hermione frowned.

"But far from perfect," Draco finished her sentence. Hermione looked up in surprise, nodding sadly.

"Kevin Entwhistle?" Ron asked.

"He's with Sally-Anne and before you say it; I am not going out with Anthony Goldstein..."

"Well then you're out of options," Ron shook his head, "Stephen Cornfoot it is."

"Hang on a second," Draco frowned, "what about the Slytherins?"

"As if any of the Slytherins would go out with Hermione!" Ron scoffed.

"And why wouldn't they?" Draco asked angrily.

"She's a muggleborn," Ron explained as if Draco were stupid.

"That doesn't matter anymore," Draco was growing exasperated.

"Fine... well Zabini is with my sister and Goyle is with Bulstrode... so that only leaves you Malfoy and Theo..."

"What do you think Hermione," Draco looked her in the eye, "do you think you could ever give me a chance?"

"Hang on a second," Ron couldn't believe his ears.

Hermione bit her lip, "Ron shut up..." She looked at Draco seriously before nodding her head.

Draco jumped to his feet, "you won't regret this," he leant over and kissed her on the cheek before leaving the library.

"I can't believe that just happened," Harry laughed, "Right now it's my turn..."

Hermione's POV

Trying to find the boys' girlfriends was a bit of a challenge. Harry said no to every girl going and every girl going said no to going out with Ron. Hermione decided to write a list. She was sat in the common room. Everyone else had gone to bed, except for Draco of course who was sat next to her reading a book. Over the last few days since that strange moment in the library this had become something of a routine. Every night they would sit together, not always talking but they were clearly very comfortable together.

Available girls...

Rionarch O'Neal

Daphne Greengrass

Tracey Davis

Pansy Parkinson

Mandy Brocklehurst

Draco looked over at Hermione's list, "what are you doing Hermione?"

"Trying to find Harry and Ron girlfriends..."

"I see..." Draco smirked. "Do you want a hand?"

"Please," Hermione smiled as Draco put his book down.

He took the list, "well for a start we can cross off Davis. Theo asked her out this morning... O'Neal? She's a Gryffindor right?"

"Yeah pain in the arse as well..."

Draco chuckled. "Harry can't stand her," Hermione continued, "and Ron's already slept with her and wasn't particularly kind to her..."

"Ok, so O'Neal is a no," Draco frowned, "Mandy Brockenhurst? I don't know her..."

"Neither do the boys."

"Well maybe they should try getting to know her..." Draco laughed. "You know, I shouldn't say this but Daphne has a crush on Potter and Pansy has a crush on Weasley. If they'd just do something instead of sitting on their backsides..."

Hermione laughed, "I'll try and encourage them in that direction."

"Good girl," Draco laughed. "and if that doesn't work one of them can marry Brockenhurst and the other can have Lovegood... you're all friends with her aren't you?"

Hermione nodded before leaning her head on Draco's shoulder, "are you tired love?"

"A bit," Hermione yawned, "but I'm not ready to go to bed."

Draco grinned, "good because I'm not ready to let you go either." He pulled her round the waist so that they were spooning on the couch, "get some sleep... I'll wake you up before everyone else wakes up."

Daphne's POV

"Daphne?" Daphne turned around to find Harry Potter stood behind her looking incredibly awkward as he ran a hand through his messy hair.

"Are you alright Potter?"

"Yeah... look do you want to go out with me sometime?" Harry was blushing now.

Daphne grinned, "yeah that would be great."

"Great," Harry smiled, "there's a Hogsmeade weekend this morning. I was thinking we could go with some friends. If I bring Ron could you bring Pansy?"

"Sure," Daphne smiled.

"Malfoy and Hermione will come as well, and Ginny and Zabini. If you like you could invite the other Slytherins; Nott and Davis."

"Ok, I will," Daphne smiled, "I'll see you on Saturday."