Chapter 6

Neither of them mentioned the night before on their patrol that Sunday night. In fact, they didn't really even talk at all. After spending some time studying together again that evening, they left their things on the coffee table in front of the couch and set about doing their patrol; they were set to go until 11.

The next couple weeks went by much the same. Classes, Quidditch for Draco, library for Hermione, and they kept their routine of studying together in their common room.

Hermione did notice, however, that Draco seemed to be more comfortable around her these days. Or that's what she assumed, judging by how often they were actually touching. A brush of the hand here, knees resting against each other, and twice now she had leaned back on the couch and found Draco's arm across the back of it, his hand coming almost all the way around her.

Hermione didn't know what to think.

Soon, Halloween was upon them. To the joy of the students, Halloween was on a Saturday this year, and it was also the first Hogsmeade weekend.

"Come on 'Mione, just skip out on head girl duties one time, come to Hogsmeade with us," begged Ron.

"You know I can't Ron. McGonagall wants us out to keep an eye on things. I already told all the prefects that Malfoy and I would take it this time, so they can enjoy the holiday. But I promise that I'll meet up with you guys at the Three Broomsticks later this afternoon for a drink, ok?"

"Fine," Ron grumbled, turning back to his breakfast plate.

Students were starting to leave the long house tables in groups, heading to Filch at the doors and out to start the walk down. Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Lavender were just getting up from their spots, wrapping up in coats and scarves, when a tall shadow walked up.

"Ready, Granger?"

Hermione, who hadn't gotten up yet, looked up and met Draco's eyes. He stood next to her, hand outstretched.

"Oh, yes, let's go," Hermione replied, taking Draco's helping hand and standing from the bench.

She let go as soon as she was standing, smoothed her hair back, and started to walk past her friends. Ron was simply staring at her, while Ginny shot her a knowing look, and mouthed 'have fun'.

"What the hell was that?"

"Nothing Ron, don't worry about it," answered Ginny.

"No, really, did 'Mione just take Malfoy's hand, and then walked away like it was nothing? Like they're friends?"

"Honestly Ron, if only you paid a little bit more attention to the world around you, you would actually see things!"

"She's got a point, mate," laughed Harry, clapping his friend on the back.

With a huff and a smile Ginny got up from the table, motioning Harry to come with her, and they walked out of the great hall, leaving Lavender and Ron behind.

Draco strolled alongside Hermione in comfortable silence through the Hogwarts gates. He had to slow his stride for her to be able to comfortably keep up; his legs were much longer than hers.

"Where to first?"

"Well, we aren't really going anywhere," Hermione answered, "McGonagall just wants us keeping an eye out, so I suppose we go along the high street, maybe check into Honeydukes, and probably also Zonko's"

"Alright, lead the way." Draco would have preferred to just do a quick walk and then hole up in the Three Broomsticks, but he knew better than to argue with her.

They had just started their walk through Hogsmeade when Hermione startled him.

"Why are you being nice to me?" she asked, perhaps a bit louder than necessary.

Draco frowned, "What?"

"You. Lately you been… well actually pretty pleasant company. Why?"

"I'm sorry, would you rather I do nothing but shout at you or insult you?"

"No, I just mean it's different. Never mind, forget I asked."

Draco rolled his eyes. "I'd rather just have a good final year, ok? With the way everything has gone the last few years, can't I just enjoy myself?"

"Of course, but that doesn't explain why you're being nice to me, specifically. You always hated me."

"No, I didn't. Not really at least. I mean, you're still an annoying know it all sometimes, but I don't hate you."

Hermione lifted her hand to swat his arm with his last comment, but he caught her hand in his own. He gave her a look that she couldn't quite make out, something between amusement and frustration possibly. He dropped both their hands, but instead of letting go, he wound his fingers in hers.

Hermione blushed, but didn't let go. They walked down the high street hand in hand, occasionally stopping into stores to do a little of their own shopping. Draco teased her mercilessly about the amount of parchment Hermione picked up at Scrivenshafts, the girl wrote longer essays than anyone else. They stopped into the Three Broomsticks for a warm butterbeer before going back to the castle. Sitting at a booth towards the back, they talked and enjoyed their drinks, oblivious to the looks that others were shooting their way.

When it was time to go Draco stood first, and again held out his hand to help Hermione out of her seat. Only this time she didn't let go after standing, instead lacing her fingers through his again. With a flutter in his chest and a spring in his step, Draco lead them out of the pub and up the path to the castle.

As they reached the doors, Hermione turned to him.

"Thanks Malfoy, I had fun today."

"No, thank you. I'll see you later," he replied.

Before he let go of her hand, he raised it to his lips, and placed the smallest of kisses on her knuckles. He smiled once more, dropped her hand and turned into the decorated Great Hall.

Hermione stared after him for a moment, before slowly making her way inside as well. It had been such a small gesture, but it had caused a warmth to spread throughout her whole body. She was still contemplating what it meant when she found her friends and sat down next to Harry, they had been waiting for her.

"Have a nice day then?" Harry asked, grinning at her.

"What? Oh, er, yes, fine. Good day," Hermione stuttered, not really looking at him. Judging by the looks on Harry and Ginny's faces, they had noticed her and Malfoy walking around today.

"What the hell 'Mione, we waited for you in the Three Broomsticks, but you never showed up," complained Ron.

Damn. She had forgotten about that. She couldn't even recall if she had seen them in the pub.

"Er, sorry, Head duties and all, couldn't get away."

Ginny leaned around Harry to whisper to her, "We saw you and your friend walk in just before we left to come to dinner. Seemed like you were on a date."

She heard Harry snort.

"It was not a date," came her whispered reply. "We were on patrol, that was it!"

Ginny sat back up in her seat, "Whatever you say." Harry chuckled. Ron looked like he had no clue what was happening, before he got distracted by Lavender grabbing his arm.

Hermione couldn't help glancing at Malfoy across the Great Hall as they all ate. Occasionally, he was looking back at her. Was it a date?

After dinner everyone set off for their common rooms. The Halloween feast was always great, and they were all stuffed. Hermione broke off from her friends on the sixth floor, wanting nothing more than to get up to her room and get to bed. On her way up the staircase to the seventh floor Draco joined her.

They entered their common room, Draco standing aside to let her go in first. Hermione went straight up the stairs to her room, Draco not far behind her. She opened her door, but stopped and turned instead.

"Thanks again Malfoy. Today was great."

"I agree," he said, stepping closer to her in the hall between their rooms.

"Well, good night then," Hermione didn't move.

"Good night, Granger," Draco stepped closer still, he was right in front of her now.

Before Hermione had a chance to think, Draco lowered his head, and ever so gently brushed his lips on hers. Without thinking she raised her hands up to his chest, grabbing onto his shirt. They looked at each other for a split second, before crashing together again.

Draco snaked his hands around her waist, while Hermione went from gripping his shirt to wrapping her hands around his neck. He kissed her deeper, running his tongue along her bottom lip. She gladly responded, parting her lips to give him access.

In one smooth motion Draco picked her up, and she responded by wrapping her legs around his waist. They backed against Hermione's open bedroom door, their tongues battling and teeth nipping. His hands came down to squeeze her backside. Their kiss broke, and Draco moved along her jawline, down her neck, to a sensitive spot just above her collarbone.

"Malfoy," Hermione threw her head back with a small moan.

As Draco kissing and nibbled at her neck, she could feel the heat pooling between her legs. Never stopping what he was doing, Draco turned around walked towards her bed. Setting her down on the edge, he placed himself between her legs again, returning to kiss her, hands now on her waist.

Hermione scooched up the bed until she was laying down, Draco over her. She ran her hands down his back, grabbing his shirt and pulling it over his head. She could feel his hard length against her thigh as she ran her hands over his back and chest, letting a small moan escape her lips. With a mischievous grin she pushed his shoulder and flipped them over, so she was now straddling him.

Sitting up straight she removed her own shirt. Clad now only in a pale pink bra with lace trimmed cups, she ground her center down on him and bent to kiss him again.

"You're going to be the death of me woman," Draco growled, claiming her lips once more.

To Hermione's surprise, however, after just a minute or so, he shifted them again, so that they were side by side, and pulled back from her. Stroking her cheek with his thumb, Draco looked at her, placing more gentle kisses along her lips, cheeks, and then one final kiss on the tip of her nose, before standing back up.

"What? Where are you going?" Hermione asked, bewildered.

"If I don't leave now, I won't stop," Draco replied, bending to retrieve his shirt.

"Who says I want you to stop?" Hermione snapped back.

Smirking, he made his was back to her open door.

"Good night, Granger."

He closed her door behind him. Hermione huffed and fell back against her pillows.

"What the fuck."

A/N: I made a slight adjustment to this chapter, after HPfan125 pointed out that I fudged up, and Ginny is not dating Harry. Apparently I need to reread my own story. =)