And we have the next chapter! Thanks for all those reviews, alerts and favs :3

Disclaimer: I don't own anything that looks familiar to the world of Harry Potter.

Hermione lay on her bed and pulled her covers snug around her. The afternoon had been absolutely enjoyable even though she had been in Draco's company. In fact, he was really good company and an excellent listener. The image he saw in the Mirror of Erised surprised her initially but she took it to mean that he wanted to be better friends with both Harry and her.

His sincerity sent a lovely, warm feeling through her and she felt glad that her attempts at drawing Draco out of his shell had actually worked. His eyes looked more alive and there was a certain twinkle in them whenever he looked at her, almost as if he no longer saw her as something so dislikeable.

Her thoughts wandered back to the strange incidences in the train and in the Hospital Wing. Had Draco really called out to her softly in both instances or was it just a figment of her imagination? But it was her visit to the Hospital Wing which disturbed her the most. His voice had sounded so tender and sorrowful like as if he was pouring all of his regret into that 'thank you' which came deep from his heart. That thought sent a pleasant shiver through Hermione.

Sleep, Hermione, sleep, she muttered to herself and tried to push all thoughts of Draco out of her head. But the last vision that crept into her mind before she drifted off into a peaceful slumber was Draco's face as he turned away looking slightly flushed. She couldn't forget that look.

The next day, Hermione went down early to the Great Hall for breakfast before Harry and Ron awoke. As she passed the Slytherin house table, she noticed Draco staring at her. She nodded politely and he did the same.

"How's Draco Malfoy?"

Hermione stumbled over her foot and fell on the bench. She looked to her right to see Luna reading The Quibbler and smiling at it.

"Wha-what- we're not dating!" exclaimed Hermione, looking positively scandalised.

"Hermione, I was merely asking you how his condition is."

"Oh."

"So?"

Hermione bit her lip. "He's over there, Luna. You could ask him that since you were the one who brought him to the Hospital Wing."

Luna shook her head and gave a small laugh. "No, that wouldn't be the best thing for me to do. Anyway, Hermione, I'll be off now. Good luck with Draco."

Hermione opened and closed her mouth wordlessly and sat staring at Luna as she walked off happily. What in the world did Luna mean? Hermione turned to look at Draco, who was busy munching on a piece of toast and reading a book.

"Hermione?"

Hermione jerked up and saw Ginny standing opposite her, hands on the table and looking down suspiciously at her.

"Yes, Ginny?" gulped Hermione, hoping her friend hadn't seen her stare at Draco.

"Why were you staring at Malfoy?"

"I –"

"I know he's hot and everything but that doesn't mean you have to stalk him while he's having his breakfast," said Ginny as a matter-of-fact, sitting down.

"I –"

"And one more thing, where were you yesterday? I could've sworn I saw you in Honeydukes but then you disappeared all of a sudden!"

"I –"

"Harry told me that Ron plans to ask you on a date. Are you going to accept his invitation? Gosh, my brother is so lame."

"I –"

"Do you like Ron at all?"

"Ginny, let me talk," breathed Hermione, feeling slightly worn out by her friend's incessant rambling. "I was looking at Draco, not staring. Plus, I didn't go to Hogsmeade at all. I told Harry and Ron that I was going to stay behind in the library."

"Ah," said Ginny slowly, "so you were with Draco then? No wonder you keep staring at him. Must've had some intimate moments." Ginny nodded her head conspirationally. "I totally understand, Hermione. But I can't quite bring myself to like him, yet."

Hermione's face reddened. "Ginny! Nothing of that sort happened and I must remind you that I intend to draw Draco out of his shell by befriending him. He's always all alone!"

"Oh, so you were staring at him because he looked lonely. Go sit with him, then. I don't mind having breakfast on my own."

Hermione shook her head furiously. "No way. A Gryffindor doesn't waltz over to lounge at the Slytherin table. It's not at all polite."

Ginny raised an eyebrow. "Hmm… seems like there's still some House rivalry within you after all."

Hermione sighed. "I can't sit with Draco in front people but I don't mind talking to him."

"Too bad you can't do both now," replied Ginny, pointing behind Hermione.

She turned around to see Draco surrounded by a bunch of girls who were all over him while he was looking completely bored and tortured. Hermione shrugged nonchalantly but deep down, a little pang surfaced but was quickly suppressed.

"So do you like Ron?"

Hermione kept quiet for a moment.

"Hermione?"

"No, I don't. I can't think of him that way."

A few days later, Hermione stalked up to Draco and cornered him after class. Draco's shocked face was priceless and Hermione tried to control her mirth. Putting on her best stern look, she said,

"Why have you been avoiding me for the last few days?"

Draco, trying not to look guilty, cleared his throat and replied, "I have no idea what you're trying to get at, Hermione."

Hermione felt a tingle run down her back when he said her name. For the last few days, she had been imagining how it would sound like and her imagination wasn't as good as the real thing.

"Draco, I mean, why do you keep trying not to be near me?"

"Why… do I have to be near you?"

"Well, no," replied Hermione, looking away uncomfortably at the implied meaning of his statement. "Never mind. I'll get going."

Hermione turned around and was about to stalk off in her usual haughty manner but Draco caught her by the arm. She jumped at the contact and her face flushed immediately. "What?"

"Eleven tonight, at that place. Be there," said Draco, smirking, as he walked away.

Hermione stood still in complete disbelief. Had Draco just asked her to meet her at that room? With the mirror? And in the night, too?