Chapter 10 Not What She Expected

"What is Draco Malfoy doing staring at you?" asked Ginny with a raised eyebrow.

It was breakfast the next morning. They were all sitting together as usual. Hermione was in a dream-like state and didn't even notice that Ginny was talking to her.

"Uh… Hermione?" asked Ginny.

Hermione still wasn't responding. It wasn't like she was reading or doing homework either. She was just kind of staring off into nothing.

Ginny pushed Hermione's shoulder.

"Oww! What was that for?" asked Hermione.

"I've been trying to talk to you and you haven't been listening at all," said Ginny.

"Oh," said Hermione quietly, "So what did you need?"

"I asked why Draco Malfoy was staring at you," she said again.

Hermione immediately looked up and over at Draco. He gave her a small smile and Hermione felt herself blush as she smiled back.

"Oh. My. Gosh," said Ginny as she observed, "Hermione Jean Granger you are totally in love with Draco."

Hermione snapped out of her trance.

"Huh, what? No… I am most definitely… not," she struggled to get out.

Ginny just laughed at her.

"Oh right. Uh huh. Like I'm going to believe that after I just witnessed that one. You know the crazy part about this?" asked Ginny.

"What?" asked Hermione.

"He totally likes you too! Now spill it all because something HAD to have happened in order for him to act like that," said Ginny.

"Umm…" said Hermione as she bit her lip.

Of course, just then Lavender walked over.

"How's everyone's morning?" asked Lavender as she sat down next to them.

"It's absolutely fantastic," said Ginny, "Hermione over here is about to reveal why Draco Malfoy was staring at her and why he smiled at her and she smiled back AND blushed!"

Lavender gave a shriek of excitement.

"Nothing happened!" said Hermione.

"Oh bloody hell, Hermione tell the truth for once in your life," said Ginny.

"Uh, fine! But don't make a big deal out of it!" said Hermione.

Ginny and Lavender smiled and then gathered in close.

"So after we tried on dresses I went back and we had dance practice again. It was really nice. We talked a lot and were getting along really well surprisingly. Then we talked about each other's non-dates for the ball I guess. He said he wanted to ask someone and I said I did too. I know it's not me so don't even bother thinking it. He's not sure if he is going to ask anyone. Anyways so we were just having a good time and then we decided to keep hanging out. He took me on a broom ride," said Hermione as she smiled.

"What? Draco Malfoy never lets anyone touch his broom let alone ride it!" said Ginny.

"That is so romantic," sighed Lavender, "So what else. There's still something you're leaving out. I can tell."

"Well… we were just talking and… well… I think he almost kissed me," said Hermione shyly.

Ginny and Lavender both squealed.

"What would it be like to have those lips on yours!" said Ginny excitedly.

"Hermione you are so lucky! He so likes you!" said Lavender.

"No he doesn't! He would ask me to the ball if he did and he might have kissed me," said Hermione, "I'm not going to get my hopes up."

"But what if he's your Mr. Perfect? You're just going to let him go?" asked Ginny.

Hermione thought for a second.

"I guess not…" she said.

"Go after him!" said Lavender.

Hermione thought about the situation even more. Then she smiled to herself.

"Yeah I think I will," she said.

They were right. If he really was Santa's gift to her then 1) Santa had a weird sense of humor for sending her the enemy and 2) she would absolutely love it if it was him.

Hermione was excited to go to potions class. Everything was going great. Nothing could bring her down.

The students stepped into their chairs and Snape took to the front of the room.

"Today's potion requires working in pairs. I'll do the pairing," said Snape.

Hermione inwardly groaned. Well this had the potential to ruin her perfect day. Hermione listened for her name as Snape listed off the pairs.

"… Granger and Malfoy…" said Snape in his list.

Hermione was suddenly excited. Today really was going to be great after all. She picked up her stuff and walked over to where Malfoy was sitting. She couldn't help but smile at him.

"What are you smiling at, mudblood?" asked Draco darkly as she reached the table.

Hermione froze.

"Excuse me?" she asked confused.

"You heard me the first time. I don't need to repeat myself unless you want to hear me call you a mudblood again. You know I won't hesitate," he said with a smirk.

Hermione heard the Slytherins around him start to laugh. She sat down carefully in her seat. What just happened? Why was he treating her this way? I mean he didn't have to be like he was when they were alone, but he didn't have to treat her that horribly.

"Malfoy?" asked Hermione sweetly with a smile.

"What, Granger?" asked Draco sounding annoyed.

Hermione's faced instantly turned into a look of death as she said, "I wish you died in the war. Nobody would miss you. In fact we'd be celebrating the fact that we never had to put up with you again."

Draco's face soured and then he gave her a confused look. Hermione just continued to glare at him.

For the next hour they worked in silence.

As soon as class was over and they were excused Hermione ran from the room as fast as she could. She was hurt and couldn't hold her tears in any longer.

Sorry I missed yesterday! I got really busy... anyways here is the chapter and it's 'hot off the press' so it might have more errors than normal. Feel free to correct what you see.

Thanks for the reviews!