(July 5th)

Nexxxxxxxt one! Thanks to all for the reviews! Keep up the good work! Read and REVIEW!

Disclaimer: See chapter one

Chapter 6

Hermione bustled down the empty corridor, thoughts buzzing. She couldn't believe that just happened. No, it had to have been some weird messed up dream because there was no way in hell that she would have ever kissed Draco Malfoy without being seriously deranged. She thought back to the kiss; his soft mouth against hers, his large hands tracing circles on her skin… She felt blood flood her cheeks as she remembered each moment, each touch, each feeling… NO! I do not have any feelings towards Ferret Boy, other than extreme hatred. I mean his aunt tortured me in his house while he just stood there. Watching me suffer. Without thinking about it she looked down to the multiple long scars, trailing down her forearm.

She shuddered remembering the amount of pain she had experienced that day and hoped that she would never have to go through it again. No, it was a momentarily lapse in judgement. A simple error not to be repeated. She found herself at the doors of the library. She sighed. But just to be on the safe side I should try to avoid him. He is Draco Malfoy; ex-death eater, pureblood, hater of muggleborns, Slytherin sex god, has a simply divine body and- No! No! No! This won't do. With that she strode into the library to throw herself into her favourite chair by the fireplace, determined to forget Malfoy altogether.

…

Back in the common room, Draco was pacing in front of the fireplace. The furniture around them had instantly reappeared when nine o'clock hit along with returning their wands and the door unlocked. What was she playing at? He pondered, still walking around. It couldn't be that Hermione Granger, enemy for seven years actually had some feelings for him other than pure blinding hatred? Sure they had tried being friends, but that didn't work out. And that only lasted like what, a month? That doesn't count. God, girls are so confusing. He thought about how it had started; first thing they were insulting each other, like they usually do, but he had noticed this time that when she got angry her hazel eyes flashed ruby. Her tanned skin flushed as her temper got the better of her and he had to admit it started to turn him on when she ranted.

Next thing he knew Hermione was kissing him and none too gently either. Her small hands tangled into his short hair sending shivers through his body and one hand slid down to the back of his neck massaging the point below his head. It felt so good that he lost all his senses and kissed her back until she couldn't breathe. She had looked so beautiful, her skin glowed as he raked his lips down her neck and kissed the base of her throat. She made the most beautiful moan and instantly he was hard. She held him tighter as he abused her collarbone looking up to see her eyes closed and mouth slightly ajar. He couldn't take it anymore. He wanted her. Right now. He had felt her hands leave his head and rake his stomach, sending his nerves into frenzy. He had started to fumble with her shirt buttons, kissing her senseless when that damned clock had rung.

It startled them both, bringing them back to reality. He had just stared at her, watching her open and close that cute mouth unable to speak. He had tried to move towards her when she abruptly jumped up mumbling "I-I um… Sorry about that. It won't happen again. I-I have to go" and ran out of the portrait. And now he was here. Still pacing the living room. What was is suppose to mean? He thought about the beautiful girl, curly hair that was silky soft, eyes that you could fall into and skin that was softer than the highest thread-count sheets money could buy. "I think she's quite beautiful really. And she's smarter than all of us combined". His friend's voice replayed in his head.

Blaise was right. Compared to Pansy she was better in everyway. Smarter, Prettier, more dignified and a bit conservative but that wasn't a bad thing. But he already knew that. They had -briefly- been friends. He learned so much about her in those short few weeks. He had liked everything he had seen but he had to go fuck it up and now they were back at square one. Again. But that kiss… It had to mean more than just a hormonal error. Why would she apologize if it hadn't? He stopped in front of the fireplace, placing his palm on the mantle and staring unseeing at the dancing flames. I guess I've got some things to think about.

…

For days Hermione avoided Malfoy as if on pain of death. She would be sitting with her friends in the Great Hall and would feel eyes burning into her skin and look up to see the blonde boy staring at her. Quickly she excused herself and rushed from the hall. A few times Harry would follow her, concerned about her sudden nervous behaviour.

"Come on Hermione, would you please tell me what's wrong?" He kept stride easily with her hurried pace. He had gone with her after two weeks of her peculiar behaviour. Hermione set her course for the library, speeding towards her favourite corner in the back.

"I told you, everything is fine. I'm just anxious to start studying for our Christmas exams." She dumped her books down on the table and stood looking at them for a moment.

"It's not even November yet. You may be able to fool everyone else with that crap, but something is wrong. I tend to be a little more observant then Ron." She laughed a little bitterly.

"Yes well between stuffing his face with food and goggling at Lavender he doesn't really notice much else." Harry tilted his head to the side studying her.

"Does that bother you?"

"What the food? I'm sort of use to it by now." He shook his head and took a step closer.

"No the fact that he's moved on." She took a deep breath before looking at him in the eye.

"Not really. I mean we only dated for a few months. And I've moved forward too in my own way." She thought about Draco and she knew that Ron definitely wasn't the issue. Harry squinted his green eyes at her.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She just stared at him and for a moment she wished she could talk to him. He was her best friend, he always knew what to say but this was different. Nothing's happening anyways. After she didn't speak for a few minutes Harry enveloped her into a hug, squeezing her lightly. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his chest. They stood there hugging, when Harry felt dampness through his tee shirt. He felt her shaking and looked down to see tears streaming down her face. "Hey, hey now. Don't cry." He wiped away the tears with his thumb. She nodded but she kept crying anyways. He lifted her slightly to sit her on the table. "Why are you crying?" She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, not able to find her voice yet. "Whatever it is I'm here to listen. You know you can tell me anything." Not this. She thought and she peered at him for a moment. He grinned at her and she hiccupped.

"Nothing worth wasting our breath on. Just stupid things really. I'm fine Harry." Hermione smiled.

"Hermione—" She interrupted him.

"Really, I'm alright. I'm just a little stressed out." And really damned confused. "Clearly I haven't been getting a lot of sleep." For many different reasons, but that's not the point. She wiped the tears onto her sleeve and Hermione sat on the table letting her breathing relax again. Harry continued to gaze concerned at her. "Harry…" She spoke warningly. "Stop looking at me like I'm a crazy person. I. Am. Fine." She emphasized each word and he sighed.

"Okay, you win. But if I see you running out of the Hall one more time—" He pointed a waggling finger at her in a mock seriousness that rivalled McGonagall's stern look. She couldn't help but laugh. He in turn grinned back and leaned forward to kiss the top of her head. Then he shoved all her books into her bag and threw it over his shoulder.

"What do you think you're doing?" She protested, jumping off the table as he set off for the exit.

"Enough's enough. You need to go outside now." She was jogging to keep up with him now.

"But it's freezing outside!"

"I think you can remember a few spells from our travels last year." She opened her mouth to argue and he stopped her. "Don't even think about it. Time to get some fresh air. No exceptions." He grabbed her hand and dragged her outside to the willow tree by the lake. They spend the entire Saturday under the tree, watching the yellow leaves fall and reminiscing on old times over the years.

It wasn't long before the sun had set that they trudged back up to the school, cheeks flushed from the crisp autumn wind and the long hike. They said goodbye in the entrance hall and Hermione turned to the stairs leading toward her common room. She walked into the room to smell something wonderful. Is he…? No… He hadn't cooked anything since their fight a few weeks ago. Whatever it was he was doing it smelled heavenly. Damn him and his fine cooking! She strode across the common area determined to get across the room without having to look at him.

"Someone looks a little flushed. Potter take you for a ride on his broomstick? Bet he's the first one to try." A snarky voice drawled from the kitchen. She stopped in her tracks for a moment, taking a deep breath before looking at him squarely in the face and allowing herself to speak.

"You know what Malfoy, I don't care what you say, because last time I checked you don't actually care about anything I do because to you I'm just a hideous insufferable Mudblood. So goodnight." She turned on the spot and marched to her room, slamming the door behind her.

He stared at the closed door with his mouth slightly ajar. Not once had he ever heard her call herself a Mudblood. She had been so calm when she had spoken. Her eyes were glassy and look was cold. Similar to a Slytherin's really. It was like the kiss never happened. His heart sank at the thought. I don't know why I'm upset about this. I should be relieved really. She's right; since when did I care?

Since last month. If not before. The other half of him reasoned. He dumped his stir-fry in the garbage, suddenly his appetite had disappeared. He can't possible think of her that way. It's Granger. She had this effect on him. And no girl had ever had an effect on him. Normally it was the other way around. One moment he was angry with her; his old Slytherin self telling him she was a filthy Mudblood and not to be thought of other way than to insult. Then next he was daydreaming about doing some very naughty things with her in the library that involved them screaming out in pleasure. And right now he didn't know what to think. Tell her how you feel. One part of him was saying but the devil on his shoulder was telling him to make her life a living hell.

I need to go to bed, was the only thought that really mattered at the moment. This whole rollercoaster was driving him insane. He waved his wand and everything was clean once more before he too went to his room and shut the door.

...
Another week pasted with the two Heads ignoring each other. Malfoy would switch from mean insults to silent peculiar stares from day-to-day, which just confused Hermione even more. Every night she had dreamed about him, waking up in a sweat and feeling fairly unsatisfied. Clearly my mind has no control over my body. She huffed to herself as her heart jumped when Malfoy entered the dungeons taking the usual seat next to her. They had remained courteous in public to maintain the image of 'House Unity' and to keep them for getting into trouble. But during their hour session each weekday night they remained silent, staring at opposite points in the room.

Halloween was approaching this Friday and Hermione was desperate to have something take her mind off Malfoy. Her and Ginny had gone down to Hogsmeade to pick out costumes and much to Hermione's dislike Ginny picked out a skanky outfit for her.

"You look so hot Hermione. Damn. I wish I looked like that." She looked down at herself. She was wearing a skin-tight black dress with several small horizontal stripes. It barely covered her bottom and the back was cut open to her waist showing too much skin for her liking. Along with the costume were a set of black lace bunny ears and a fluffy white pompom for a tail. Ginny had forced her to wear a pair of tall leather boots with a buckle at the top. "You look so bad-ass. Harry is going to lurve it." Hermione rolled her eyes. Ginny was wearing a teeny-tiny nurse outfit that had just about the same amount of fabric as hers.

"For the last time, Harry is my friend. Best friend. I'm not trying to impress anyone so why do I have to dress like this?" Ginny shook her head.

"Never hurts to have a back-up option. Anyways you need to let loose a little bit. You've been so MIA the past month and the times that I have seen you, you looked like shit. No offence." She added quickly. "Just have some fun! Hook up with some random boys. You know there are some hotties in Ravenclaw that would kill to see you like this." She gestured to her body. "You've got to stop hiding it and start flaunting it!" The brunette sighed; she knew she wasn't going to win this argument.

"Fine. But you have to make sure I don't do anything stupid alright?"

"Deal." The small girl shook her hand. "I'll be your babysitter." They both laughed and went to change before purchasing their outfits.

oooooooo Halloween! We all know what happens on Halloween hehe.

~FunkyMonkey