Chapter 10 Picnics at the lake

"Tell me again why we agreed to this?" Ron said annoyed at the fact that he was going to a picnic along with Malfoy.

"Ron, I've told you a hundred times already, it's to get Malfoy out of our lives, remember?" Hermione said as she fixed her hair.

"Yes, I know that but why do Harry, Ginny Pansy and I have to come along?" Ron retorted.

"Because, you guys will be distracting Malfoy. Say, you have tantrums or whatever. But not too scandalous ok?" she said. "Let's go."

Ron rolled his eyes. Harry and Ginny were waiting outside the Gryffindor tower with Pansy. "Merlin Ron you take really long time to dress. Maybe even longer that a girl would." Ginny said before they headed to the lake.

Pansy and Ron walked side by side with each other, holding the other's hand. Ginny and Harry did the same thing and Hermione noticed how she was the only one walking along with no one to hold her hand.

She never thought of it before really, she thought it was kind of stupid to have a boyfriend. But to realize that every time you hang out with your friends and they take their girlfriends with them, you seem to feel kind of out of place or even the fifth wheel. She didn't want that. It was something never dreamed of becoming. But what could she do? Every possible guy that asks her out she had turned down already since she explained of her business.

Hermione sighed sadly. She was never going to have a boyfriend or have the feeling of being treasured.

Upon arriving at the lake they saw that Draco was already there leaning at a nearby tree. He seemed shocked that Ron and Harry along with their girlfriend were there.

"Why are they here?" he asked casually.

Harry and Ron left the explaining to Hermione and set up the big blanket. "Well, it's a part of the training. Uhh, it tests whether you…err get distracted if someone else is there." Hermione said.

"Are they going to flash their chest at me?" Draco pointed at Ginny and Pansy who looked surprised. Harry and Ron reddened in anger.

"No!" Hermione said quickly. "They are just going to be… distraction in another form."

"Oh,"

"Let's continue on then." Hermione enlarged a picnic basket that she kept inside her pocket. They started eating and the boys, surprisingly, talked about Quidditch while Hermione and the two girls talked about the training.

"Weasley, that keeper from Strike Elites (A/N: I made it up.) can't even block a single shot!" Draco exclaimed.

"Well those bloody beaters from Light Shacks (A/N: I made it up too) can't even hit the bludger right!" Ron said in an equally loud voice that caught the girls' attention. They feared that the two fought but were shocked to hear laughter.

"You should've seen those beaters who hit the bludger to the referee." Draco laughed hard.

"Well you should've seen that bloody keeper who held the quaffle and slipped. The points went to the other team!" Ron laughed too.

Harry looked at the two thinking of whether he should keep them away from each other or to let them be. He decided the second would be best. The girls on the other hand smiled at how they were getting along.

"You've really improved Draco, Hermione." Pansy commented.

"Thanks, I believe he was very determined that's why he changed." She smiled, taking a sip from her teacup.

"Too bad he likes another girl. I would've wanted him for you." Ginny said.

Hermione stopped drinking. She stared at Ginny with eyes widened. "You're kidding right?" Hermione said.

"No," she replied plainly.

Hermione stared at her blankly. She knew that she thought of it sometimes but she didn't know that Ginny thought about it too. She sighed knowing it was impossible to happen. Imagine, Draco Malfoy, the guy who tormented her for the last six years, fall in love with her? No way. It was too good to be true.

0000

The four were restless when they returned to the Gryffindor tower. Hermione let her body fall on the soft sofa and closed her eyes. "Wow Hermione, you seem really exhausted." Harry commented.

"Aren't you?" Ginny asked. Hermione knew that something was behind it.

"It depends." Harry said while approaching Ginny who just giggled.

Ron rolled his eyes and sat across Hermione. "You have to admit 'Mione, Malfoy's really improving." Hermione stared at Ron before smiling.

"He really is, isn't he?" she asked still smiling.

"Well, See you Hermione, I have to do some…err…stuff." He said nervously.

Hermione laughed at him and nodded. "See you," she turned to leave when she remembered something. "Oh and tell Harry and Ginny to take it easy." She laughed again and left.

0000

Hermione walked fervently toward the Head's tower. She was about to tell Malfoy about his improvements and that he was ready when she heard some people talking.

Now, Hermione wasn't the type to eavesdrop. But it can't be helped since the voices were too familiar. She turned to one corner and saw Kimberly Rivers along with Padma Patil and some other friends of hers. She strained her ears to hear their conversation.

"Hey Kim, aren't you flattered that Draco Malfoy's head over heals for you?" Padma asked.

"Huh? No not at all. I actually find it really annoying. I mean couldn't he take the clue that I'm not interested in him. He's just wasting his time you know," Kim replied.

Hermione couldn't believe her ears. After what he'd gone through she's planning on turning him down? Hermione felt sorry for Draco. He didn't deserve it.

"Are you sure about that?" another Ravenclaw asked.

"Of course, I'd never like someone like him. He's evil." Kim said.

Hermione headed toward the Head's tower immediately.

0000

Draco was really feeling very happy at his improvements. He knew that Granger and her friends noticed it too. He couldn't wait to show it to Kim so that she'd like him. He had decided that he would show it at the Graduation ball.

Now, Draco still thought constantly about Hermione's question of wanting Kim just so that he'd get laid. But he doubted it. He knew it was something more, or was it? He couldn't really decide clearly. All he knew was that he wanted Kim badly and he would do anything to make her fall for him.

0000

Hermione sat on her bed still thinking of the conversation a while ago. She felt really bad for Draco. He didn't deserve everything that was about to happen to him. He had done his best to change and that damned Kimberly Rivers is too damned blind to notice. She felt her insides churn in anger. She wanted to murder the woman for being so stupidly blind.

But then that got her into thinking. Does she really want to do it and for Malfoy of all the people? Hermione sighed. She really had it bad. She knew she couldn't deny it any longer. The feeling was too big to throw it aside.

'I'm so stupid. I should've been more careful of what was happening. Why didn't I even keep my distance when I knew that his petty compliments and soft touches are making me blush already?' she thought.

'Because you hoped that he'd return your feelings, that he'd grow to like you after you help him,' an inner voice said.

'That's stupid.' She rolled her eyes.

'Then why are you decided to kill that Kimberly Rivers for planning something that would hurt him?'

'Because…'

Hermione stopped. The question stumped her. Why did she really? It was just like it was what's right. It felt right. Hermione groaned in frustration before admitting.

'Because I'm beginning to fall for him,'