A/N-Bah! I'll be honest. This chapter could be so much better! Lack of time was a huge factor in this update. I also had quite a sticky situation with one of the memories! I almost forgot to include it which would have been a disaster. I had written seven pages where Draco reveals his feelings and then I went OH! Woops! So, I had to re-write how he ugh! Never mind! Don't worry about being polite. I know it sucks...The only part I liked about this chapter is the essay and the girl that wrote it. She's so loveable! Just like my reviewers! Especially Phantom of a Rose. I love you girl!

Chapter Eleven

Weakness

After dinner Hermione walked into her dormitory and yawned. As she removed her robe she felt something in her robe. She pulled out the piece of parchment she had folded up the day before. Poor little third year girl. I almost forgot about this. Hermione opened the parchment and lay back on her bed to read it.

My Prince Charming, Draco Malfoy

My first day at Hogwarts, three years ago was an intimidating one. Being muggle-born has never exactly made my life as a witch easy. I was certain that finally coming to this school would surely make me feel as if I belonged some where. I was wrong. As I walked down the train in search of a compartment, I was stopped by a rather large Slytherin girl who I later found out was Pansy Parkinson. She shoved me into her compartment and forced me to sit next to another large girl, Milicent Bulstrode. The girls took turns shoving me back and forth and then began practicing hexes on me.

Just as I was about to pass out as I lay on the floor, a boy stepped in looking furious. He was tall, blonde, and very handsome. He yelled at the girls about having their priorities mixed up and scooped me up into his arms. He told them he was going to bring me to the Head Boy and Girl's compartment. The girls whined and protested but stopped as soon as he gave them a deadly look. He brought me into an empty compartment and sat me on the seat. He sat across from me looking very concerned. He asked if I was alright. I began to break down as I told him about all the fears I had about school and being a muggle-born.

He smiled and shook his head mumbling something about irony. He said there were only two sides to be on in our world. He told me about wizards in our world who view lineage as the most important thing of all. He said there were wizards out there willing to kill people like me for no reason other than my blood. As I began to cry he stood and sat next to me. He wrapped his arm around me and smiled. I couldn't help myself……I smiled back. He told me that I needed to make a choice. I was going to let people like that ruin my life or rise against them. He said that he was a close friend of those girls that hexed me.

He told me that he was raised to believe the same as them. He was faced with making a choice as well. He wouldn't tell me what it was. He kept saying that it didn't matter which side any of us were on as long as we felt it was the right side and stood up for what we believed in. He sat there with me in that compartment until I stopped crying. He kissed my forehead and wished me luck at Hogwarts. Just before he left the compartment he told me to stick to my beliefs and not let anyone try and change them. He winked and closed the door.

Ever since that day, I've tried to do what he said. I've stood up for myself and not let others influence my beliefs. Unfortunately, I've not been able to get him out of my head. I'm lucky enough to say that he remembers our short encounter in the compartment that day. He often winks at me or gives an encouraging nod when I pass him in the corridors. He won't speak to me but I know he's rooting for me all the same. It doesn't bother me; he has a dangerous path in front of him. He has to face things I barely understand.

Pro's

I love his voice……He's Head Boy now so I get to hear him speak quite often. When he speaks, you can't help but want to do whatever he says. Thank goodness he's a gentleman. I love his smile……Even though his smiles are few and far between, they're genuine. Whenever I am lucky enough to see a smile I get this burst of energy wanting do anything possible to keep him from stopping. I love his walk……He looks as if nothing scares him. I wish I could be like that. I love to watch him fly. He makes it look so easy. I love the way he looks at the Head Girl. If she only knew how he felt about her. She's so lucky!

Con's

The side he's chosen.

I was instructed to write this essay for the purpose of working out the Pro's and Con's of Draco Malfoy………Although it's an enormously unfortunate fact that he's chosen the dark side, it's not enough for me to stop secretly caring for him.

Rose Phantom

Ravenclaw, Third Year

Hermione wiped her eyes and hugged the parchment to her chest. I hate you Draco Malfoy! Hermione ran to her bag and took out the heart shaped pictures and headed for the hospital wing. She opened the doors quietly and noticed Rose, the blonde third year Ravenclaw sleeping in a bed. Hermione sat at the chair next to her and placed the pictures on the table. She arranged them so that Rose would see them when she awoke. Hermione whispered. "Looks like you've got things all figured out. I've been such a mess over him. You've accepted the path he's chosen. You don't like it, but you've accepted it. Maybe I should finally do the same." Hermione smiled at the peacefully sleeping Ravenclaw. "You're a smart girl Rose…So much smarter than me."

Hermione noticed Madam Pomfrey doing some paperwork in her office so she went to speak to her. "Hello Madam Pomfrey."

"Hermione dear! What are you doing here so late?"

"Oh, I was just checking on Rose. How is she doing?" Hermione asked as she fingered some jars on the shelf.

"Oh just fine dear. I'll release her in the morning. She's quite a spirited little thing." Madam Pomfrey said as she pointed at Rose. "Oh dear, another visitor? Will you let him know that visiting hours are over? Goodnight."

Hermione nodded but then gasped as she realized Draco was standing near Rose's bed. He noticed the pictures on the table and smirked. Hermione walked out of the office and cleared her throat. Draco's head shot up but then hung low. "Oh…What are you doing here mudblood?"

Hermione smiled indifferently. "Just checking on a fellow muggle-born….You?"

Draco shrugged. "Same as you. Just checking on her. Pansy's an idiot."

Hermione nodded. "Yes, you said that yesterday…Well in so many words."

Draco yawned. "Well seeing how she's alright, I'll be going."

"Wait! Don't you want her to know you stopped by? It would make her day." Hermione said quickly.

Draco shrugged. "You can tell her for me. I need to get some sleep."

"Goodnight Malfoy."

Draco scoffed as he left. "Right."

Hermione shook her head and headed for her dormitory. The next morning she preceded straight back to hospital wing. She was delighted to see Rose sitting up in her bed chatting with another blonde girl. Hermione didn't want to interrupt so she pretended to be looking for Madam Pomfrey.

She heard Rose grunt in frustration. "Are you just asking to get slapped Heather?"

The other blonde girl, Hermione assumed to be Heather, laughed loudly. "Well what do you expect me to say? How long have you had those pictures of the Head Boy?"

Rose crossed her arms in frustration. "It's none of your business!"

Heather wiped her eyes and raised her hands innocently. "Alright, if I promise to pretend like I never saw them, will you then promise to give up on him?"

Rose shook her head and looked the other way. "He's not mine to give up Heather."

"I know. But Rose, those pictures make you look like you're a stalker." Heather said jokingly.

"Ugh! No they don't!"

"You're a stalker Rose!"

Rose stuck out her tongue at her friend and spoke menacingly. "So! You're a stalker's friend!" The girls began to giggle uncontrollably and tease each other about other boys in the school they fancied.

Hermione decided to leave things alone. Rose obviously had her head on straight about life and didn't need any advice from Hermione. She left the hospital wing and headed for class. She completely ignored Draco's existence the entire day. When she returned to her common room that night, she was surprised to find Draco sitting on the couch in a deep discussion with Blaise. They immediately stopped talking and looked up at her curiously. Hermione sighed and forced her eyes to the ground as she headed for her room.

She heard Blaise chuckle as she entered her room. "You're right…She is."

Draco snorted in laughter. "I told you! Took you long enough to notice."

Hermione sat on her bed and strained her ears to hear the rest of their conversation. Unfortunately, they began to whisper making it impossible for her to make out what they were saying. I'm what? What took Blaise so long to notice? Who cares Hermione! If you're not careful, you'll be a stalker! Just ignore everything about him! Nothing matters except the fact that he will become a death eater. Hermione glanced over at her book lying on the floor from when she had thrown it. But it still doesn't make sense! Maybe I should just reveal the rest of the memories? Maybe I'll observe something useful to use against him in the war……Oh my God! That's it! He was acting like a completely love sick git in the memories! Surely I was smart enough to get him to divulge something of value about the dark side! I should have been in Ravenclaw!

Hermione plopped down on her bed and brought the tip of her wand to her temple. "Recurio."

A blurry figure was slowly coming into focus. The figure was pacing and its voice was beginning to come clear. It was Draco in the library.

"I swear to you that I'm telling the truth. I think you're beautiful Granger. But I guess you don't believe me." He placed his hands in his pockets and began to pace. "It's my own fault you don't believe me. All those years of insults. I had to do it alright? I had to!"

Hermione sniffled and looked at him in shock. He dropped to his knees in front of her with a look of desperation. He grasped her hands and held them to his heart. "I'm sorry for who I've been. I'm sorry for how I've treated you. You never deserved any of it."

Hermione opened her mouth to speak but Draco covered it gently with his hand. "I'm not done. I was horrible to you because I couldn't stop thinking about you. I was cruel because I was afraid if I wasn't, you'd see right through me. I was afraid you'd figure out how I truly felt about you."

Hermione was breathing heavily as she whispered. "How do you-how do you feel about me?"

Draco smiled shyly. "Isn't it obvious? I'm completely a mess over you. You Granger are my biggest weakness."

Hermione gasped and brought her hands to her mouth. She whispered as she began to shake her head. "No. No. No."

Draco smiled and nodded. "Oh yes." He laughed and bat his eyes. "Yes Granger….You are. Yes, yes, yes….You can keep shaking your head and whispering no all day. The fact remains that I'm nothing less than head over heels for Hermione Granger, the mudblood, the brightest witch of our age, the Head Girl, a member of the Golden Trio, and the hottest girl at Hogwarts."

Hermione stammered. "Why…Why Malfoy? Why are you telling me this?"

He chuckled. "You asked."

"I don't-I don't know what to say?" Hermione whispered.

Draco laughed loudly. "Well I don't expect you to say the same if that's what you're thinking! This has been going on for sometime now for me. It's something that I know can never progress into anything more than a feeling. I accepted that a long time ago. I'm just glad that I'm able to tell you." Draco stood and stretched. "But that's another reason for all the years of insults and tormenting. I've been trying to make myself hate you or at least dislike you in some way."

"And you don't?" Hermione asked in confusion.

"Sometimes you make it impossible for me to hate you Granger."

Hermione laughed nervously and massaged her temples in thought. "This is all wrong." She looked up at him with a frown and inquired sternly. "Why are you telling me this?"

Draco swayed back and forth. "Because I've always wanted to?"

Hermione shook her head furiously and shot up. "No! It's because you're a coward!"

Draco flinched in shock and then spat back. "What?"

Hermione yelled so loudly that the entire library rumbled around them. "You're telling me this because you have nothing to lose! You are a coward!"

Draco was obviously put off by her reaction to what he thought would be a favorable moment and crossed his arms awkwardly. "How do you figure that?"

Hermione charged at him and pointed her finger into his chest. "You are taking advantage of the fact that in two days, I won't remember a thing you said! You are lifting a tremendous weight off your shoulders by revealing this to me! And it will all be obliviated away the day after tomorrow! YOU SELFISH BASTARD!" She slapped him across the face and headed for the double doors. She pulled at the handles furiously and screamed. "Let me out of here you evil ferret! I hate you!"

Draco walked up from behind causing Hermione to whip around and raise her finger in the air. "Stay away from me or I'll make you wish you never met me!"

Draco scoffed and looked at her as if she were crazy. "I'm already starting to wish that…Believe me." Hermione looked at him in rage as he smirked at her. "God you're a feisty little thing aren't you?" He unlocked the doors with his wand and smiled curiously at her. Hermione stepped closely to him now bearing her own smirk.

She slowly snaked her hands up his arms and onto his shoulders. She leaned in and stared at his lips as she whispered. "Coward."

Draco grunted loudly and then crumbled to the ground in pain. Hermione had kneed him square in his groin and took off towards his room. He yelled and moaned loudly. "Ugh! Granger! Get back here!"

Hermione practically jumped up the stairs in a panic. She darted into his room and backed into the corner. She was panting heavily with her eyes focused on the doorway. She could hear him slowly and clumsily making his way towards the room as he groaned in pain cursing her name. He finally reached the doorway and propped his arms on the both sides of the door jam. He too was panting heavily with a look of pure hatred and disbelief.

Hermione's heart was practically beating out of her chest in fear. Now, he's going to kill me. Draco stumbled over to her with his hand pressed firmly on his lower abdomen and a painful expression across his face. He kneeled down in front of her and breathed in deeply as Hermione eyed him in fright. "I guess…Urgh!…I guess this means…I'm not your weakness."

Hermione grimaced. "Good guess you stupid prat!"

Draco chuckled but then winced in pain. He squinted up at her. "I guess I expected a completely different response."

Hermione scoffed. "What in the hell did you ex-"

What was sure to be a witty response was muffled by Draco's lips against hers. She tried to pull away but he leaned against her, pinning her against the corner. He pulled her closer to him and clutched her face in his hands. He wasn't kissing forcefully, just passionately. Hermione couldn't deny that his lips were causing her stomach to flip and her toes to curl. She parted her lips and let him in.

This caused Draco to moan and run his fingers through her hair. Hermione started to push him away but he quickly protested. She sighed loudly and mumbled. "Malfoy….Malfoy."

Draco breathed deeply in disappointment while releasing her gently. He helped her up and they both sat on the edge of the bed. Hermione fidgeted nervously as Draco laid back. "What happens now?" He asked casually.

Hermione shrugged and wiped her lips. "I don't know. But please don't do that ever again. I don't think I could stomach it."

Draco laughed loudly. "Now who's being cruel?"

"I, unlike you haven't been harboring hidden feelings, Malfoy. I, unlike you don't hide from anything. Just because you have some silly attraction towards me doesn't mean I feel the same for you." Hermione said with a trace of enjoyment.

Draco sat up with a hurt expression and spoke with sarcasm. "By all means, don't spare my feelings Granger. Let it all out. Tell me how revolting I am in your eyes."

Hermione sneered at him. "As if you've ever taken my feelings into consideration! Am I supposed to just put six years of torment and cruelty aside because you've decided to temporarily confess your feelings for me?"

Draco shrugged with a grin. "I guess that would seem a bit selfish."

"You guess? Honestly Malfoy!" Hermione said bitterly.

Draco laughed. "Alright! It's selfish! There I said it….Can we finish-"

"Absolutely not! Ugh! You are unbelievable!"

Draco sighed and spoke with disappointment. "Fine then. So really, what do we do now?"

Hermione smiled. "Well first of all, you can tell me where all this weakness rubbish came from. I must say I'm having an awfully hard time believing it."

Draco nodded and spoke confidently. "It started in first year really. I didn't actually know much about you. I just always seemed to notice you. I guess you always stood out amongst the other first years. But then, when I found out you were muggle-born, I was infuriated at you for it. I would actually go back and forth. One moment I hated you, the next I couldn't do anything but think about you. Either way, I was always thinking about you."

"Why on earth did you…How on earth did this come about?" Hermione said as she covered her eyes in embarrassment.

"I thought I just covered that."

"No, I mean how does a pureblood raised by an evil death eater develop feelings or weakness for a mudblood?" Hermione said as she looked into his eyes.

Draco gave her a puzzled look. "It's not that difficult to fall for someone like you Granger. It's much harder to snap yourself out of it actually….I still haven't figured how to do that yet." Hermione shook her head as she stifled a grin. Draco pulled her face towards him. "Look, you're beautiful, smart, and witty. What's not to fancy about you? But, I will say that your passion for things is what attracts me most to you."

"My passion?" Hermione asked curiously.

Draco gave a serious look as he nodded. "I've never seen someone so passionate about books. Even my Mother doesn't cherish them as much as you do. Don't take this the wrong way but as stupid as I thought that SPEW thing was, I still loved how dedicated you were. The interest you have in learning and preparing for classes is incredible. No one's more committed to getting top marks than you. And your friends. You're completely devoted to them no matter how brainless and weak they are."

"Malfoy!"

"Sorry…But they are!" Draco said smiling.

Hermione nodded. "I've heard enough….Oh and it's S.P.E.W., not SPEW."

Draco laughed. "I know, I just wanted to hear you correct me. I like it when you do that."

"You like it when I correct you?" Hermione said in disbelief.

"Yeah, it doesn't happen that often. It gives me a funny feeling. I like it." Draco said as he blushed.

Hermione ruffled his hair and shoved him playfully. "Stop being charming before I lose my mind."

"Hmmm. So I shouldn't tell you how much I love the fact that you have more knowledge than half the professors at Hogwarts?" Draco said flirtatiously.

"Stop it!" Hermione laughed.

"I think McGonagall's terrified you'll swipe her job from right under her nose."

"She is not!" She laughed again.

"Okay I'll stop, for now…I want to take you somewhere tomorrow. Somewhere outside the house."

"You said I couldn't leave until the day after tomorrow." Hermione said quickly.

"Well it's still on Malfoy grounds. The spell covers the entire property, not just the house. Will you come?" Draco said hopefully.

Hermione looked at him with a frown. "That's not what you said earlier. You said-"

"I know what I said! So I'm a liar! I'm sure you're positively stunned! Now will you come?" Draco asked.

Hermione laughed and eyed him suspiciously. "Alright."

"Good…..Are you hungry?"

"Yes. You?"

Draco rubbed his lower abdomen and scowled. "Thanks to you my stomach's taken refuge in my throat at the moment…Not to mention other parts of my body." He said hurtfully.

Hermione stroked her hand up and down his stomach and whined. "Oh dear, the poor Prince of Slytherin had his manhood attacked by a furiously vicious Gryffindor. You want Mione to make it all better?" Draco's jawed dropped as he rambled incoherently. Hermione laughed and resumed her normal voice. "What's wrong?"

He shook his head as he stared with a stunned expression. "Only you, Granger. Only you could make whining sound like a lullaby."

"Why thank you! I happen to think whining is an art that's perfected over time."

"Whatever Granger. I'll get you some lunch." Draco walked awkwardly towards the door.

"Stop milking it for God's sake!" Hermione yelled.

"What? It hurts! A quarter of an inch to the left and I wouldn't be able to produce an heir. You almost ruined the future of the Malfoy's!…Not to mention the dark side." Draco said jokingly.

Hermione lay on her side and propped her head on her hand. "You, produce an heir? With who? You hate Pansy!"

Draco shrugged. "That's just one of my lists of problems Granger. Don't remind me." He left a laughing Hermione alone in his room as he headed down stairs to get her lunch. The remainder of the evening was spent with Hermione doing everything possible to keep the conversation off his feelings and weaknesses. She didn't quite feel that allowing him to reveal anymore pinned up emotions was fair to her. She wasn't about to contribute to or encourage his selfish blabbing. She really didn't believe him anyway.

The next morning was spent in the library. Hermione read, Draco watched. Hermione sighed, Draco smiled. After a few hours, Hermione cleared her throat in frustration. "I think you're confused."

"Why's that Granger?" Draco said dreamily.

"You're not a mess over me, you're obsessed with me."

"Ha ha. Very funny." Draco said and then checked his watch. "Can we go now?"

"Oh alright. Will I have time to finish these books later?" Hermione said while she pointed at a large stack of books on the table.

Draco shrugged. "Knowing you Granger, yes."

He led her out of the library and onto the grounds. Hermione was amazed at how friendly the grounds looked compared to the Manor. They didn't seem to match in her eyes. After about an hour, they reached a steep clump of boulders. Draco immediately began to climb leaving a scowling Hermione below. He looked down at her curiously. "What?"

"You must be joking!" Hermione yelled up at him with the hopes that he didn't expect her to follow.

Draco chuckled at her terrified expression. "I've never really been known for my sense of humor Granger! Come on!"

She sighed as she clumsily began to climb up after him. Hermione reached a very steep boulder and looked up at him helplessly. Draco was laughing hysterically as he extended his hand to her. "Come on Granger you can do it. Haven't you ever read a book on rock climbing?" Hermione took his hand shyly as he helped her climb a large boulder. "I come out here when I need to think about things. It helps me clear my mind." He laughed hysterically again as she struggled to reach the top

Hermione giggled. "You know, a pensieve involves much less hiking."

Draco looked at her with an embarrassed expression and chuckled. "I know…But it doesn't have quite the same effect as this. This is my favorite spot."

Hermione blushed at the thought. Draco Malfoy is showing me his favorite spot. I must be dreaming. "It's magnificent."

He had led her to a small cave atop the group of boulders that overlooked a field of wild flowers and ponds. "I would have never thought something as beautiful as this could exist on Malfoy grounds."

Draco looked at her adoringly. "Well you're here aren't you?"

Hermione looked down shyly as Draco smiled. "Am I? Why is this happening Malfoy?"

He lifted her face to his with concern. "What do you mean?"

Hermione pulled away and sighed. "Why is this happening? All of this! What's going on? Why did you bring me here?"

Draco wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Does it really matter? Do you really need to know?"

"Yes." She whispered as she turned to him and looked into his eyes. There was something different behind them that she had never seen before. They looked peaceful and happy. And they were looking deep into hers as if they were searching. Hermione looked away but Draco cupped her face in his hands bringing her back.

"Please don't look away." Draco said as their eyes locked again.

A tear slid down her cheek as he pressed his forehead against hers. Hermione's voice cracked. "I don't understand any of this. It's like you're a different person. I'm so confused." Hermione sighed heavily at how wonderful it felt to be so close to him. "No more lies. Why are you being so nice to me?"

Draco wiped away the tear and clasped his hands around hers. "Because you're letting me. Because I've always wanted to bring you to this place and share this with you."

Hermione broke from his embrace as tears started to flow freely. "BUT WHY? WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS? HOW COULD YOU KNOWING WHAT'S TO COME? NONE OF THIS WILL MEAN ANYTHING TOMORROW!"

Draco whispered from behind her. "It will mean something to me."

Hermione whipped around in anger. "You are the most selfish person I have ever met!"

Draco looked at her in shock. "How is that selfish? I don't have control over what happens tomorrow! All I can control is what I do today…With you."

"YOU CAN CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW MALFOY! YOU CAN! BUT YOU WON'T!"

"I can't! I've already told you! It has to happen. For everyone's protection, it will happen!" Draco yelled as he started throwing rocks into a pond below. Hermione scoffed and started to pace. "Look, I just figured I could tell you how I felt about you….I've always wanted to." He walked over to Hermione who gave him a death stare. He placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed gently. "Please let me tell you."

She scoffed and shoved his hands away. "I thought you already poured you're icy heart out yesterday! Are we back to this rubbish of weakness already? Why bother playing head games with me Malfoy? You're just going to erase it all anyways!"