A/N- Thanks for the reviews my lovely fans, I appreciate it! Also, I'd like to tell you all that this chapter kind of comes from this one fan fiction that I read, called Hermione's Homework. If you want to read it because I suggested it, then go ahead cause it's really good.
And just so you know, this isn't exactly the best chapter ever. At this point I'm only writing to finish, so it's not going to be well written and it's going to go a tad quicker than I wanted in the beginning. Also, it was rather quickly revised. Thanks if you read it anyway.
The people who win the prize are…
WishFlower, Musette Fujiwara, bumble-beeoncrack, and Lame Guest.
If your name was mentioned, you WILL be contacted. Except for you Lame Guest. I'm just going to dump you in a story. Unless you want to review me what you want to be? A friend to Hermione or Draco? The home wrecker? Sooooo? And what do you want to be called?
Hermione was in a state of panic. Her entire day had been spent mostly on worrying about- well, her entire life. She assumed that Draco was the one that cast the summoning spell on her paper. If he was, then he'd know that she still harbored feelings for him. It was the only logical guess. Who else would want it? But if someone else had taken it, they would spread rumors. And if they spread rumors, her life would be a living nightmare filled with constant embarrassment.
She walking to the Great Hall for dinner by herself. She'd told Harry and Ginny not to worry about her and just to eat their food without her. The real reason she made them go was so that she could have time for worrying without anyone seeing her. Now that she was in the halls though, anything that hinted at her being panicked was covered by a smooth, emotionless face.
The moment Hermione rounded the corner, a solid form collided with her.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly, not looking up, "I didn't mean to-"
"Just watch where you're going Granger." It was the cold, but unmistakable low voice of Draco Malfoy.
But today it wasn't as harsh as she remembered. He seemed almost excited. He wasn't glaring at her, insulting her, or even smirking. He was just… looking. Observing her like she was a mystery that he had to solve.
"Please don't tell me you saw it," she uttered before she could bite her tongue.
"What in the world are you talking about?" And with that, she knew the answer. Just the expression on his face told her everything. His eyes were dancing with amusement and he smirked like he never had before.
After bumping into Draco, her appetite disappeared. Hermione decided not to go to the Great Hall altogether. Her embarrassment was too great. She ran to her dorm room and waited for her best friend to arrive. Maybe she could give advice to save whatever dignity she had left.
About twenty minutes later, a red head popped from the crack in the door.
"Ginny! I did something really stupid!" Hermione yelled, before Gin even got completely through the door.
"What was it you did this time?" she answered tiredly.
"He saw it! He saw what I wrote!" Hermione cradled her head in her hands. "What am I going to do?"
"Sweetheart, I don't know what you're talking about until you actually tell me. But I'd bet a hand that this has to do with Malfoy."
"Well, yeah. See, I wrote something about Draco. He wasn't supposed to know about it, but somehow he saw me. Then he went and stole it from me, read it, and now I don't know what to do!"
"What was it?"
"It was-"
Knock, knock. There was an owl outside the window. It pecked angrily at the glass, willing for it to open so it could get in. Knock, knock.
"Well, aren't you going to let it in, Hermione?"
"What would it even be? All the mail is delivered in the Great Hall."
"And, where were you during the meal? I'm not surprised it tried to find you."
The window flew open by itself and the owl dropped what it was holding onto a desk. The envelope was a dark shade of green and in bright silver ink that seemed to be glowing, Hermione's name was elegantly marked.
"Open it, open it!" Ginny screamed.
"I don't want to. It looks Slytherin and right now, I'm still suffering from the effects of mortification by one," she sighed.
"Fine I'll open it for-"
"No, no! I'll do it myself. I'll even read out loud for you," she cleared her throat nervously. (A/N- You may want to look at the last chapter to see what Draco's talking about.)
Reasons Why Hermione Granger Is Wrong About Me
1) I realize that I've criticized you all the time, but it's how I function. Do you really expect me to change the way I am so quickly? We haven't exactly been dating very long. It's not enough time to change my entire personality.
2) I do try to get what I want all the time, but isn't that something you've liked about me? And as for me being selfish, I'm sorry. The fact that I wanted you to be mine - alone - in the library, still, is terrible. But when I saw Gaytish making moves on you, I was ready to explode. I admit that I am selfish when it comes to you, even when you aren't mine to keep to myself.
3) What you consider your flaws, I consider your most adorable traits. And it was really hard to point them out when you had that makeover thing going on. I'm happy that now you have your old amazing cuteness that I've always remembered you for back. So, stop thinking that I don't like your "flaws" and start thinking that I love them.
4) I certainly do not think that you are a mudblood. I know I called you it the other day, but I was angry and I'm terrible with my temper. I'm not very good with self control.
5) I am a liar, but if you asked me a question straight out, I wouldn't be able to tell you anything that's not true. The only thing I lied to you about was my plan to get my status back. I swear other than that, I was telling the truth. I even meant it when I said that I liked you way in the beginning.
6) I would never cheat on you, and even though I've been with many women in the past, I haven't cheated on any of them. And if I were to cheat on you, I would immediately force Blaise to Avada me. I don't want you to be hurt by me again.
7) So you do really like me, do you? Well, I like you too. No, that's an understatement. I more than like you in so many ways for so many reasons.
8) I always hear you. Even when I'm angry I hear you. I told you that I'm bad at controlling my temper already and I'm sorry for it. And by the way, I like to think of myself as a drama king, not a drama queen.
9) What in the world makes you think that the houses we're in matters? I don't care, and you shouldn't either. The real reason that Potter and Pansy have are together is that they gave it a shot and tried to make it work. I don't like to say it, but maybe we should follow their footsteps.
10) I don't think I'm capable of being with another girl anymore. You don't have to worry about the pain that it would cause you. And also, that Weasley thing was a low blow - completely uncalled for. I can't believe that you would go back to that prat. If I have my say in it - which I will, you're going to be with me for a while.
"Well, you going to tell me what that was?" Ginny asked, confused.
"You wouldn't understand unless you saw what I wrote, and it seems as though he's managed to cross out the entire thing and rewrite it."
"Well, it certainly is sweet, though, right? It means he's giving an effort. It means he cares."
Hermione lifted her eyes to meet her best friend's. She looked at Ginny seriously, considering her.
"Gin, you've been acting a little differently. You don't defend the people who hurt me- let alone any Slytherin, you insult them until even I can't handle it. What's so important now that it's set a part from everything else?" she said slowly. "Why are you so into this?"
After a moment of silence, she spoke. "Because you're not being your old self. I just wanted to help in some way to get you back and if Malfoy was the way to do it, then so be it, that's what I was going to get you. Trust me, I've been doing so much more than you would believe to get you stupid idiots to apologize to each other."
"What did you do?" Hermione asked carefully.
"I just kind of teamed up with someone-"
"With who?"
"Blaise Zab-"
"Slytherin!"
"And best mate of Draco Malfoy! All I did was give a certain person a certain potion that made him fall in love with you. Actually, let's not into any more details, it's not important. All that matters is that it worked."
"But we haven't made up."
Ginny stared at Hermione for a moment, her eyebrows raised. "I'm going to go see my partner in crime. Trust me, you'll stop moping by one o'clock tomorrow morning. Go to the Room of Requirement at midnight and don't ask questions."
I must be subtle about this. I can't let it slip. He can't know that Ginny planned this, Blaise thought to himself.
"Hey, mate, do me a favor and go to the Room of Requirement," Blaise ordered, thirty minutes before midnight.
"Why, is it important?" Draco replied.
"Yes, fairly important."
"No, thanks," he said, not bothering to find out what it was. "I mean, it's kind of late right now. I don't really want to go walking around randomly in the halls."
Blaise frowned. "Would you go if I begged?"
"I don't think so," he paused, "No. I wouldn't."
After a moment of silence, Zabini couldn't handle it. He gripped his friend's shoulders tightly, yelling desperately, "Please, Draco! There's a Gryffindor who will bloody castrate me if you don't!" he said, dropping to his knees and looking up at him pleadingly. Then his eyes widened when he realized what he said, "Oh, shit! I wasn't supposed to say that last part. Now she will castrate me."
"Would this Gryffindor happen to be a certain Ginny Weasley?" Draco inquired, causing Blaise's eyes to widen. "I'm not blind, you know. Just because I've been sad for a while doesn't mean I don't notice things. Calm down, I won't tell. And I'll go too because I have good feeling about this."
"You do seem to be in a good mood. You're even smirking again."
"I guess that's how you're supposed to feel when you decide you want to make up with the one you love. I've written her a sort of apology/ love note. I'm hoping it'll do some sort of good."
Blaise had heard about that. It was the reason why Ginny had contacted him in the first place. When she found out about whatever the note was, she ran him down and forced him to be sure that he get to the former DA headquarters.
"So you love her?"
"I didn't say that."
"Yes, you did. In passing."
"No, I didn't."
"Yeah, you did."
"No, I- Never mind! I'm going."
The door was shut silently as he entered the Room of Requirement. Hermione was sitting, her back pressed to the wall, before Draco, the list in hand. She appeared to be rereading it. Again, and again, and again. He stood there in the darkness, not knowing what to say. So he didn't say anything for a while.
But he needed to, so he smirked and said, "Are you trying to memorize it, Granger?"
Her had flew to her chest in surprise. "Were you just watching me the entire time? How long have you been there?"
"Long enough to know that you either don't believe what I wrote, or enjoy it so much that you never want to forget," his voice had an edge of sadness to it.
After a moment of silence, Hermione felt the need to explain herself. "I stopped liking Ron after a while ago. I just wanted to get back at him. He hurt me, it made sense at the time. And anyway, he hates you."
"Well, I hate him too. I'm also ecstatic that you don't like him anymore. Do you know how much it felt like hell when I read that you wanted to get back with Weasley if because you wouldn't have me. You probably don't even know how much worse it was for me when I saw that stupid Professor trying to get at you. I'm not very good at sharing."
"You don't have to worry about being good at sharing when it comes to me because I'm not leaving you again."
"Oh, please, I left you," he waved her comment off, "Which was a stupid mistake, mind you. I will definitely not be doing a repeat of that. I'm not sure if I could live without you again," he confessed.
"I don't think I would have told you what I did about the Ron situation for a long time if this hadn't happened, though."
"I know for a fact that I wouldn't have the nerve to tell you that I used you as well. I would have just kept it a secret because I would be afraid that you would leave me," Draco said, still not moving from his spot in front of Hermione. "I just want you to know, though, that it was stupid of me to even consider trying to get a better rep by doing this, by hurting you." Then he smirked again, "I deserve a punishment. Maybe you should spank me."
She rolled her eyes. Trust Draco to turn something serious and - supposedly - heartfelt into a joke. But that was one of his better traits.
"You know, Professor Gaytish never really liked me. I think it was all Ginny and Blaise. She told me that they gave someone a potion to make him fall in love with me. My first guess as to who took the potion is obviously going to be him."
"That's a serious relief because otherwise, I'd be a bit more protective of you than I would be in any other class when we go into Defense Against the Dark Arts. Oh, and he would be facing some serious charges for forcing himself onto you."
"Let's not tell anyone about that, okay?" Draco responded with a nod.
He walked toward her, sat down beside her, and pulled her into his lap. She didn't argue, but instead stared into his eyes, smiling softly.
She sighed. "You know that I'm sorry, right?"
"I guess I should say I'm sorry too," Draco's voice sounded unsure, as if he wasn't used to apologizing to anyone. "Which I am - Sorry, I mean. I am sorry."
"You're really bad at apologizing out loud. You should stick to paper." Hermione leaned against Draco's chest. "Did you really mean all the things you wrote? A lot of them seemed a bit romantic for you."
"I wouldn't have sent it to you if it wasn't true. And you are right. It's a little too romantic of me." He brushed back a piece of stray hair behind her ear, making her flush. "It wouldn't be wise to expect it again until I decide when you're going to say yes to me when I propose."
"How do you know I won't say yes right now?"
Raising his eyebrows, he said, "Marry me?"
"Okay, you're right. I won't say yes yet, but I still love you."
"Well, that's good cause I love you too." So help him Merlin, he had finally admitted it. He loved Hermione Granger.
A/N- I'm thinking maybe I should end it there. But I don't think I should at the same time because it doesn't feel done yet. So, why don't we make a deal, you give me as many reviews as you can with suggestions about what to do the next chapter and maybe I will post another one. Should I make it an epilogue? I think I should. The idea for what should happen is already formulating in my mind. Yeah, maybe I should do that.
Sorry, don't bother listening to my weird train of thought. Anyway….. Just in case this is the last chapter EVER for this story, I'm going to thank a few people who have stayed with me this entire time (or a bunch of it anyway).
bumble-beeoncrack
reina13
nature love 95
loslote
leakingpenholder
And the sometimes there people…
Random Reviewer
Violet Saphira Darling IheartDracoandRon
Avani
I just want you to know that I adore you guys in every possible way right now because you decided to read this horribly written, almost quit several times, just trying to finish the damn thing piece of work here. I can't believe you like it enough to actually follow through with reading it!
Review away! Seriously, I will drop dead if you don't give me enough reviews. How will you get an epilogue if I'm dead?
