HERMIONE POV

I was still super annoyed at Malfoys reaction. Not because he sounded kind of jealous, I was actually secretly thrilled at that, but because he called Matt a player. I mean, come on, pot calling the kettle black much! It was an hour into my date with Matt and although yea he was very hot, he couldn't really hold a concentration, or my eyesight. Apparently my legs were much more interesting to talk to. We were lying on a blanket on the top of the astronomy tower; we had just spent an hour looking at the stars whilst I explained all I know. I dunno if he was actually properly listening, but he did a really good job of looking like he was. Anyways, now were lying down again, kissing. I don't care how boring he is, the guy can most definitely kiss. It was all well and good till I felt his hand sneaking up my top.

"Wait, wait Matt" I said, sitting up
"What's up? You alright?"
"Yea yea, no I'm perfect, I just, I want to try it a little bit slow. I've don't the rushing into sex thing and it never turned out well for anyone involved. And to be honest, you're really nice and I want to try it slow"

I seen him hesitating and for a second I thought I had fucked up, but then he smiled, cupped my face with his hand and kissed me

"Alright, if it's slow you want, then we'll take it easy okay. Now we better get you back, it's getting late and I have a ton of work to do"

We walked back to my common room in silence. Not awkward per se, just semi-comfortable. When we reached the door, he pushed me up against the wall and kissed me. I soon forgot about the silence. He gave me one last kiss on the forehead but walking off.
I walked into the common room to find Draco sitting reading a book. He didn't look up when I came in so I figured I go sit beside him. He didn't look up as he asked

"How was you date?" he sounded bored
"It was nice. How was your evening?"
"Boring"
"Hey, we're friends right? I'm gonna ignore what happened by the way. Anyways, if a girl told you she wanted to go slow, how would you feel?"

He looked at me strangely before a hint of a smile came upon his face.

"Well if I really liked her, I would respect it. Yea I will admit it would suck, but if it's having, then it's worth waiting for"
"Really? Wow I had no idea you were such a romantic!" I smiled, I was actually genuinely surprised. I half expected him to say he'd dump her
"So since we're friends and friends share, why do you want to go slow with him?"
"Well, I've don't the rushed thing, just slept with a guy on the first date and in the end I just ended up alone. And I can't be alone anymore"
"Woah, shit. I didn't know. I'm sorry for being an ass earlier and freaking out. I just really don't like that guy, but you do, so since we're friends, I'll try not hate him as much yea?"
"hahaha yea, that would be great. Well listen, D, I'm gonna go upstairs and study for a bit. It was good to finally have a proper chat with you.
"You too G"
"G?" I asked
"Well since I always called you granger, I figure why not make it seem more friendly. That and it sounds better than H, and I get to say 'Sup G' like those cool people on muggle tv shows! Ahahha"
"hahah fair enough, even though the sup g thing sounds kinda lame I can live with it. Night!"

DRACO POV

I watched Hermione walk off feeling good and bad. Good because we were on friendly terms, bad because I really wanted to just shake her and tell her to cop on, Matt Crusoe never waits for any girl, no matter how sexy she is. And Hermione was one incredibly sexy girl. However, if being friends was the only way to be close to her, then friends is what we would be. For now anyway.

The next few weeks passed by uneventful. Myself, Hermione and Blaise started spending a lot of time together. And in the last week, Ginny started spending a lot of time with us as well. Unfortunately, Matt popped up every now and again as well. He spent the entire time pulling Hermione in for kisses and monopolising her time so much so that we might as well have not been in the room. Even Blaise and Ginny were getting pissed off with him doing it. Of course none of us would say it to her because according to Ginny, she was happy. I don't need to worry about it anymore though; I have my own girlfriend now. Yes, you heard me. Her names Laura, she's a fellow Slytherin. Good looking, horny and incredibly boring. Okay so it's not perfect. But since its obvious Hermione has no interest in me, I need to lose interest in her too. Everything was perfect, kind of, till Saturday night.

Hermione was out on one of her dates with Matt. She went out oozing sex appeal again in a tiny black dress and doc martens. She was only gone an hour when she flew in the door crying. I immediately jumped up.

"Woah Hermione, what's up?"
"Fuckin Matt. That's what's up. He broke up with me. Apparently he's sick of waiting. He says he likes me but I'm not worth the wait. Fucking prick. I was going to have with sex with tonight, and that's what he springs on me. He's such a fucking bastard. And you know what, I copped a feel during kissing, he's not even that big. Where does he get off thinking he's so amazing. I should have just listened to you and spared myself the waste of time and effort that was Matthew Crusoe"

"Hey don't beat yourself up G, it's not your fault, he doesn't deserve you anyway"

At this point I had my arm around her and I had pulled her in close. Her crying had stopped and she was looking up at me. I suddenly saw nothing but her eyes. I forgot about her being upset, I forgot about us being just friends, I even forgot about my date with Laura tonight. We started to lean in closer; we were just about to kiss when Laura knocked on the door. Hermione suddenly jumped up and ran to her room. I simply sighed and let Laura let in. I had no idea what just (nearly) happened with me and Hermione but I needed to forget it. She was too good a friend to me for me to jeopardise it by thinking with my penis. So to distract myself, I lifted Laura up and threw her on my bed. I immediately started stripping myself and her. Unfortunately for me, not even the sounds of Laura moaning my name could rid my head of Hermione so I stopped

"What's wrong baby?" Laura asked as I started to re-dress myself
"Laura, look, you're an amazing girl but I just can't be with you anymore"
"What? But baby-"
"Please Laura, don't make this harder for yourself. I'm not your baby. I know it, and you know it. I had fun with you, I really did but I just don't want to be with you anymore. I'm sorry"

I could hear her stifling her sobs as got dressed and left. I felt really guilty, I did. But I just couldn't be with her. To clear my head, I poured myself a drink and read on the couch.

HERMIONE POV

I ran to my room, changed into my negligeé I couldn't believe I had nearly kissed Draco. I couldn't believe I actually wanted to. He is my friend. Yes he is very, completely, unbelievably sexy but he was still my friend. I couldn't jeopardise that, could I? I mean he certainly looked like he wanted to kiss me too. Damn that Laura cow. Maybe I should go talk to him. I don't hear anything so maybe he sent her home and is just as confused as I am.

I got up and put jeans and a hoodie on and decided a walk to the Gryffindor common room was in order. An hour with Dora and Ginny would most certainly help clear my head, and help me before I did anything rash with Draco.

I arrived in the common room 20 minutes later. As I had hoped, Ginny and Dora were sitting up talking. They rushed up to hug me as soon as I walked in.

"Meme!"
"Hey guys, I could really do with a chat"
"What's up darlin'?" Dora would always call me darling when I was upset, my parents used to call me it when I was down.
I explained all about Matt and his unbelievable prick-ish-ness. I then told them about nearly kissing Draco, as which point they both just squealed.

"So have you talked to him about it?" Ginny was the first to be rational, Dora was still smiling.
"Well I was going to, just to see was there anything even there worth exploring. I still don't know my own feeling for certain ya know. I mean, yes I am very attracted to him, but is it just lust and an overactive libido talking, or do I genuinely like him."
"So do you?" Dora spoke after a few minutes of silence
"Do I what?"
"Like him? Now that you've given it some though, do you like him?"
"I think I do. Urgh guys, help me! Do I go anywhere with this?"
"Right, there's a Hogsmeade trip tomorrow, why not ask him to go with you. Don't specify whether it's a date or not, and see how he reacts"
"yea, yea, that sounds good. Right, I'm gonna go ask him before it gets too late"

I arrived back to the common room quicker than I would have liked. My stomach was in knots. What if he said no? I have a back-up yes, Blaise said something about Nott, but still, asking Draco was going to be so awkward. I took a few breaths to calm myself and walked into the common room confident.

"Hey Draco"
"Oh..hey" he looked a bit taken aback to see me, probably didn't realise I went out "I didn't realise you went out"
"Yea, I was just with Ginny and Dora. Listen, can I talk to you?"
"Yea sure, shoot" he said, putting his book down.
"Well as you know, tomorrow is a Hogsmeade day, and well, I was just wondering, if maybe, you would like to go with me?"

There was silence for a few moments and I immediately regretted asking him

"You...and...me...together? As in, in public, together?"

Wow. Rejection hurts.

"Urgh, well actually, you know I just remember I was already asked to go with someone, haha silly me forgetting. So I should go, I should go right? Yea I'm tired"

I got up to leave, I was humiliated.

"Wait, Hermione, let me explain-"
"No, seriously Draco it's okay. I get it. The wars over but the Malfoy name still has standards right"

As my statement met silence, I figured that was his way of silently agreeing, so I immediately turned on my heel and went to my room.

Wonderful. Fucking wonderful.