Chapter 2: Not Fooled By Charm
The note in Hermione's jacket pocket went unnoticed the entire week, until it was time to catch the train to Hogwarts.
Hermione settled into a compartment with Ron and Harry, ready for a long trip. Hermione had her nose in a book and the two boys got to talking about Quidditch. When Hermione was reading time always seemed to go faster than usual and before she knew it, she felt it was time to change into her robes.
"Hey you two," Hermione said. "Get out; I want to change into my robes."
"Oh come on Hermione, you can change in front of us," said Harry. Hermione just looked at him and that was all the two boys needed to leave.
As Hermione took off her jacket Draco's note slipped out onto the floor. 'What's this?' Hermione thought. She opened the note and read..
HG
Sorry for all the times I've hurt you, called you names, tripped you, cursed you and made you cry. Only now have I realised just how much hurt I've caused you and I swear, on my name, that this year I will change. Hopefully, you will notice.
DM
Hermione read the note again and again and again trying to think of whom DM was. She changed into her robes and had completely forgotten about her two friends standing outside until she heard a loud noise.
She went outside to investigate and saw Draco Malfoy up against the wall with Ron closing in. Just as Ron was about to swing Harry grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
"Don't you EVER come near Hermione, Malfoy!" Ron shouted. 'Malfoy?' Hermione thought. 'DM - Draco Malfoy. My secret admirer? Yeah right. There's got to be some trick'.
"As much as you may hate it Weasel, I am Head Boy and Hermione is Head Girl, so we have no choice, but to spend most of our time together discussing school issues. Which is exactly why I'm here now asking to talk to her," Draco replied.
Ron had nothing to say to that as it was true, so he and Harry went into the compartment to change into their robes, but not without a passing comment from Harry.
"You lay one single hand on her or do anything to upset her, I will make it my personal mission to bring you down."
"Cool off Potter. It's not like your dating her or anything." When the compartment door closed Draco turned his attention to Hermione where he saw his note tightly clutched in her hand. He gave her a smirk.
"Well Hermione. Welcome to the first of many.. civil conversations between us." Hermione couldn't help fuming at the way he acted like the last 6 years of hate were nothing.
"Why the hell are you calling me Hermione. And what is this?" She held up the note in her hand. "Your idea of a joke is it?"
"What happened to being civil?"
"Malfoy this is not funny!"
"Of course it's not funny, it's not supposed to be!"
"Then why'd you do it? What was the point?" Hermione was almost screaming at the top of her lungs.
"Because I LIKE YOU!" Draco couldn't believe he had just said this and he hoped that no one was listening. He would have to wash his mouth out with soap when he got to Hogwarts.
Hermione just stared at Draco. He looked so vulnerable standing there and it was almost as if he had changed.
"Malfoy, poor poor malfoy," she said in a sweet voice as she made her way closer to him.
"Yes, poor me." Draco had a smirk on his face and was thinking that his job was just too easy. He couldn't believe that he had swung Granger so quickly, but he shouldn't have been surprised. He had girls dropping at is feet all the time. All he had to do was turn on his charms and he had any girl he wanted. Why wouldn't it work on Granger?
Hermione looked up into Malfoy's grey eyes.
"You know Malfoy. We'll be sharing a common room together this year."
"I know," he said smiling.
"And a bathroom."
"I know."
"And we'll be spending a LOT of time together.. alone." Hermione had a very seductive smile on her face.
"I know."
"But don't you ever expect more than friendship." Hermione said still smiling sweetly. "On second thought, don't even expect friendship from me. EVER!" In a flash her face changed and she was glaring at Draco. She then threw his note in the air and pointed her wand at it. It exploded into tiny pieces that fluttered to the ground as she walked back into her compartment and slammed the door shut.
Draco just stood there and watched Hermione walked away. 'Looks like this will be harder than I thought'. Draco couldn't help thinking this as he waved his wand bringing all the pieces of paper back together so that the note rested in his hand as if it had never been touched. He then said a small spell that made the note disappear from his hand and appear in Hermione's hand. He then walked back to his own compartment to change into his robes.
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Sitting in her compartment she felt something land on her hand and was shocked to find that the note was back there.
"What's that Hermione?" Ron asked.
"Nothing," she said quickly hiding what it said from view. Harry couldn't help feeling suspicious.
"Look Hermione, if Draco's done or doing something to you that you don't like then tell us, please." Hermione just smiled and assured the boys that everything was OK. She then pocketed the note and settled into deep thought. 'I lied Harry; he is doing something I don't like. But if I don't like it then why aren't I complaining to the boy? What if he means it? What if he really does like me? Well, I'm not going to give him the satisfaction he wants. He'll have to suffer'. Many thoughts like this went through her mind, but one thought in particular kept coming back. If she didn't feel comfortable with what Draco was doing to her, then why wasn't she doing anything about it? Did she want him to do this to her?
