IV. What's Inside

"Hey Draco! What are you doing tonight?" Hermione asked excitedly.

"Um, I'm not doing anything. Why?" He asked.

Hermione smiled mischievously.

"What, what are you thinking?" Draco asked, starting to smile.

"Well uh, Devin, Heather, Sasha, Tyler, and I was thinking about going clubbing!" Hermione stated.

"Clubbing? Clubbing?! How much more violent could you get? Who goes around with a group of friends to go clubbi-" He started looking shocked.

"No, not that kind of clubbing," Hermione laughed, "the kind where you go out dancing, the muggle way! I was going to conjure a car, since I have my driver's license, as a matter of fact I just got it. But anyways, I was going to drive out of here and go check out the scene." Hermione stated slyly.

"Is there a catch?" Draco asked knowledgably.

"Actually yeah, kind of. See Devin and Sasha are going together, you know as a couple, same with Tyler and Heather, so uh, that would make us the, other couple." Hermione began to flush at the thought of those two being a couple.

Actually that wouldn't suck too bad. I'd like that actually. Draco's really hot and all but … Hermione stop it! What are you thinking? All you two are is friends and that's all it will ever be.

Draco groaned slightly.

"Fine. I'll go, I'll go. We're not a couple couple just a couple, no more, no less, got it?" He asked threateningly.

"Okay, okay." She surrendered.

But I want to be a REAL couple, I don't wanna go as your fake boyfriend. How can I possibly ask you out when all you want is a fake boyfriend for tonight?

׺׺×

"Mioine! This place is great!" Sasha screamed over the blasting music.

"I know! Why do you think I decided on this place?" Hermione shouted back … no reply.

"Draco! Draco! How do you like this?" Hermione turned to her 'boyfriend'.

"It's great! I can't believe I've never done this!" He yelled back. He was having the time of his life, with the girl he wanted in his life.

Just then, Christina Aguilera's song 'Beautiful' came on over the huge speakers.

Hermione and Draco looked into each other's eyes and tried to decide whether or not to dance with each other.

::Everyday is so wonderful, then suddenly, its hard to breathe …::

Hermione looked around to see everyone partnered up with someone, so they decided to go for it.

Hermione put her hands on Draco's shoulders, and he slowly placed his hands on her waist.

::Now and then, I get insecure. From all the pain, I'm so ashamed …::

Hermione liked being in Draco's arms. She felt so safe. It all felt so right. So she slowly laid her head down on his chest.

::I am beautiful, in every single way, words can't bring me down …::

Draco liked being with Hermione. She liked her being so close to him. She liked her presence, her aura.

Soon the song was over, but they stayed next to each other, just like they had been. Sasha, Devin, Tyler, and Heather immediately noticed this and they all smiled. That was their real goal, hook those two up. They saw how they were when each other was around.

׺׺×

"Is the potion ready Mione?" Tyler asked excitedly.

"Yeah, just about! Give me a sec to put it in a container!" Hermione replied. Hermione put some of the potion in a beaker and handed it to Tyler.

"Give this to Heather or Sasha, okay Ty?"

"Gotcha! See you later tonight." He replied and walked carefully out of the room to find the other to girls.

Hermione gave a heavy sigh.

Last night was incredible. I'm not supposed to fall for Draco, hell I'm not supposed to be friends with him! I shouldn't even be civil to them! But, I can. Those are Harry and Ron's rules not mine! Screw those prats. I want Draco whether I like it or not!

Hermione smiled to herself once she finally admitted it to herself.

"What are you grinning about?"

"Oh gees Draco! Don't do that! You scared the bloody hell out of me!" She yelled back holding her hand to heart.

"Sorry. So what were you smiling about?"

"Oh um, uh, n-no-nothing, nothing at all!" Hermione replied, choking out the words.

"It didn't seem like nothing from the looks of that smile." He replied grinning.

"It was nothing, just thinking about uh, my uh, dog. I miss him and I was just remembering the funny things he does. Yeah."

"Okay…" Draco eyed her suspiciously.

Ah, last night was the best. I loved having her in my arms. It was so great. Ah but she's a mudblo- muggle born. Ah, I can't even call her a mudb … mudbloo … THAT! What is wrong with me? Nothing, nothing's wrong, you just love her.

"I love yo-" Draco blurted out without thinking.

"What?!" Hermione yelled.

"I mean I uh, love your idea. You know the Truth Potion. Brilliant really!" He caught himself.

Fool!

Fool! You know what you wanted to say!

"Right. Well thanks. I got to be going, I think I'm going to go swimming. Maybe I'll see you there." Hermione said the last part, hinting she hoped she would.

"Got it." Draco replied. Hermione smiled and she left for the lake.

׺׺×

Hermione stripped down from a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie, to a 2 piece hot pink bikini that showed off all of her new womanly curves. She had to admit, she had changed before the summer and was still in the midst of changing more. Her hair was still a bit bushy but more tamed down, and half the time she used magic to make it sleek and shiny. She decided that next week, she would dye her hair auburn. Her eyes were no longer dark, chocolate, but now looked like warm cinnamon. She had definitely filled out and gotten taller, but she hid herself in oversized shirts and big pants, that is, until now.

Hermione folded up her clothes and set them on a bench near the lake.

She slowly got into the water, so she could adjust to the water.

Oh I wish Draco was here so he could see me, and oh, I want to see him SO bad. I mean, what is it with him and me. First we hate each other, then we're friends, now I like him as a bit more than that. Well, maybe I don't, I just think I do. No! I know I do!

Hermione was confused at her feelings towards Draco at this point, as was he. They both were confused at what they felt for one another.

׺׺×

Draco slowly made his way toward the beach, trying to decide whether she wanted him there, or if she didn't want him to be there.

Draco walked there, looking around at the scenery around him. He finally looked out towards the lake, where he saw a girl.

She's beautiful. Look at the curves on her! I wonder where Hermione is though. Anyways, that girl is bloody hot!

The girl slowly made her way out of the water and towards Draco. Once she was up close to him, Draco got a good look at her eyes.

Oh my bloody hell! It's Hermione. Her eyes, I can tell. Who knew she looked this good.

"Hey, I didn't think you'd show." She stated mildly, trying not to sound as if she cared.

"Well, I didn't know if you really wanted me to come or not." He replied in the same tone.

"Well I uh, I uh, didn't know if I wanted you to come or not myself." She replied truthfully.

"Oh, I see." He said gloomily.

"Well, come on in, the water's great!" She cried happily. Draco peeled off his shirt and followed Hermione into the water.