Disclaimer: Yep, I still don't own anything. I'm working on it, though. I'll let you know how it goes.
A/N: Wow…absolutely no one reads this…. that's okay, I suppose. If you do happen to read this, though, please review. It would be greatly appreciated and give me something to read when I don't have anything to do. So thanks, and I hope you like this chapter, because it's my favorite.
CHAPTER FIVE: THE ONE WITH THE KISSHermione walked towards class with her head down, not wanting to talk to anyone. It had been a few days since the confrontation with Harry and she still needed some time to think things through. The rational part of her mind was telling her that she too had always had a crush on him, but her more fanatical side was telling her to hold out for Draco. She knew that she had been hoping to one day be the one that he wanted, and she had thought, from the look he had given her when Harry had given his profession of love, that he felt the same. But it was futile, Draco had ignored her ever since, and they hadn't exchanged a single word. This is stupid, Hemi! Why don't you wake up and see what is right in front of you? There's a great guy that wants you and all you can do is fantasize about the boy that doesn't even know you exist.
Hermione sat down at her table and noticed that Draco was already there, making them the only two people in the room. "Hi," she said, putting her things down and walking towards him. She noticed that he looked tired and desperately wanted to ask what was wrong, but knew she couldn't.
"Hey. What do you want?" he asked, looking at her as though she had invaded his personal space.
Hermione looked at him and blinked, forgetting all the feelings that she had had moments ago. She shook her head and walked back to her table, furious that she had thought to talk to him. She took out her quill and started doodling on her parchment. Suddenly someone was standing in her light. "Could you please move?" she looked up and saw Draco standing there, looking down at her. "What is it?" she asked, lifting her eyebrows as to indicate that she was mad.
"Nothing. You left this at my desk," he dropped a book and walked back to his table, never giving her a second look. Hermione realized that in all of her confusion, she never thought to consider how Draco really is. Yes, he was good looking all right, but he's also rude and conceited. He wasn't for her. Hermione knew what her decision had to be. She couldn't sit there and think about Draco Malfoy all day. She had to face reality. She was meant for Harry, and this was her chance to be with him.
Everyone started filing into the room and Hermione spotted Harry and Ron, she flashed them a big smile when they came to their seats, hopefully signaling that she was no longer scattered about where her mind was. Apparently Harry had missed the boat, because he didn't acknowledge her at all. I've missed my chance, Hermione thought, he's not going to give me another shot. That was it and I blew it. I blew something special for someone that I'm only physically attracted to. Hermione looked in Draco's direction and squinted her eyes. He was the source of the problem, and all she had to do was eradicate him.
Draco walked out of Potions as fast as possible. He's couldn't sit there and watch Hermione try and get Potter's attention anymore. It's like she's trying to prove something, he thought as he walked around some first year girls who giggled as he passed. Draco rolled his eyes, not in the mood for their whispers. For once, Draco didn't want to be noticed, especially by them. There was only one person Draco wanted to notice him. "Draco!" he turned to see Pansy running up beside him, getting so close that he had to move over a few inches. "I've been looking everywhere for you!" Obviously not, since I'm only fifty feet out the door.
"Sorry, I want to get to class early," he said as she laced her arm through his. He shacked her off, walking a little faster. "I don't mean to be rude, Pansy, but is there a point to this?"
"Of course there is," she stood up a little straighter and held her books to her chest, "Draco I've been thinking, and I've decided to give you another chance. You've really grown over the summer, and I know you're ready to admit to what you did." Is this girl serious? I do not have time for this. Draco looked at Pansy like she had just grown two heads and started laughing. He couldn't help it; the whole thing was just too ridiculous.
"Pansy, we've never been together, we'll never be together, and I think you need to realize that I don't want you." He didn't even wait to see her reaction, he just kept walking towards the room.
I cannot believe that she would think that I'd want to be with her! She's crazier than I thought. Draco was beginning to think that everyone was against him all of a sudden. Harry Potter was surpassing the crazy chemistry he was having with Hermione, and he was constantly having to play duck and run against Pansy. All he wanted was for someone to tell him what to do. He walked into the transfiguration room, slamming his books down on his desk and lazily sat in his chair, ready for a long lecture to take his mind off his dramatic personal life. What I wouldn't give to be anywhere else right now. But he knew it was futile, he was going to have to admit that the attraction to Hermione wasn't going to go away so quickly, and Pansy wasn't going to stop until she got exactly what she wanted.
"Having a bad day?" Draco looked up to see Hermione standing beside him, a concerned look in her eyes. For a moment he forget about everything and just stared at her, but he quickly recovered.
"I am now that you're here," he said, sitting up straighter, never taking his eyes from hers. He noticed the dejected look she got as she turned and walked to her seat, and he heard her sigh as she sat down. This is a good thing. Make her hate you like she used to and this whole thing will be over. Dealing with Pansy is a lot easier than dealing with Hermione Granger.
Harry had heard earlier that Hermione was looking for him, and he knew that she had finally made her decision. As he walked towards the tower that her and Draco shared, he pictured all of the great possibilities for what she would say. He couldn't wait to be able to tell people that Hermione Granger was his girlfriend. The prettiest, smartest girl at Hogwarts was his girlfriend. Not Draco Malfoy's. Harry slowed down so as not to look too excited. He needed to look relaxed in case she shot him down. But Hermione would never do that to you. She feels the same. She has to. Deep down Harry had always known that there was something between the two of them. It was crazy, but he had always felt his pulse race whenever she came around, before he thought it was nerves, but know he knew exactly what it was. He wanted Hermione.
Harry came close to the Princess and stopped, trying to remember the password that Hermione had told him and Ron. Finally it came to him, "Pixie dust," he said, and the Princess opened her doors to reveal the beautiful common room.
He looked around and saw Hermione sitting near the windowsill. "Hey," he said, a huge smile spreading across his face. She turned and gave him a sweet smile, one that always made his heart drop to his stomach.
Harry sat down on the window with her and tried not to look nervous. It was funny, a few minutes ago he was more excited than a five year old on Christmas morning, but now a feeling of dread was coming over him. If she didn't feel the same, their friendship may change forever. No way, neither of us would let that happen. But even so, as he looked into her deep brown eyes, he couldn't help wondering if raising their relationship that level was worth it.
"Harry," she started, playing with the hem of her skirt, "the other day, when you told me…well when you told me what you did, I was really shocked. I couldn't help feeling overwhelmed. I mean, it was a lot to take it, you know? And I really appreciate what you've done. Letting me think and all, you've been so great, but now I think you deserve an answer." This was it. Harry was more than certain that she was feeling the same as he, and he couldn't hide the smile on his face.
"Hello?" Harry turned to see Draco walking into the room. He set his books down on the couch and took off his robes and loosened his tie. Harry shot a look at Hermione, praying that she was unaffected by Draco's appearance. He saw her eyes widen and her expression become unreadable.
"Hi, Draco," she said, and she turned back to Harry, "I'll talk to you tonight after dinner. I'll go up to Gryffindor with you," she got up and started walking to the steps up to her room and Harry rose, hanging his head down. So close. God I hate Malfoy so much.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Potter. Was I interrupting something?" Draco smirked and leaned on the wall. Draco knew very well what had happened a few days ago, he had been standing there when Harry had given Hermione his declaration of love. He had also noticed the flicker of jealousy that went through Draco's eyes before he was again masked by his look of sarcasm.
"You never mind, Malfoy. What Hermione and I talk about is none of your business," he walked towards the door, not looking back, fearing that Hermione might hear a fight that would erupt.
Suddenly he heard Draco laughing. It was quiet, but very distinct. "You're so stupid, Potter," he turned around, a look of pure seriousness was on Draco's face. "She doesn't want you. She smiles at you, yeah. She gives you a polite, friendly smile. Not the genuine, happy, flirty smile that she gives me every time I walk into the room."
Draco walked off to the stairs leading to his room, leaving Harry stunned by the door. He's lying, Harry thought, walking out the door and towards his own part of the castle. Why would Hermione be attracted to Malfoy? She's never been able to stand him. Nothing has changed. Deep down, though, Harry knew things had. Hermione was even more guarded this year than any other. Ron and I have to find out what is going on. Or we may lose her forever.
"What the hell is your problem?" Draco quickly looked up to see Hermione standing in front of him, hands on her hips and looking extremely pissed off. She's hot when she's mad, he thought, slowly looking her up and down, starting from her jeans all the way past her pink tank top to her perfectly straight hair. Malfoy, pay attention!
"I'm sorry? I didn't know I 'had a problem,'" he stood up, now looking down on her. He didn't appreciate being yelled at for no reason at all.
"You deliberately walked in on Harry and I!" her lips were in a pout and more than anything Draco wanted to roll his eyes and walk away, leaving this pointless argument behind, but he wanted to finish this. He was not going to back down.
"I don't know what weird shit has been going through your head, but I did nothing of the type. I walked in and you and Wonder Boy just happened to be having a conversation. How was I supposed to know that it was deeply rooted?" he raised his eyebrows to emphasize his point. He watched her chew her lip, thinking it over.
"You are so egotistical! You think that the whole world revolves around you! Well, I have news for you, Draco Malfoy, no one cares! Pansy is the only person that will ever care if you live or die. Your cruel antics and your snobby attitude will leave you very alone one day!"
Draco couldn't help thinking what all this had to do with him walking in on her and Harry, but thought that maybe this was just an argument that had been growing for a while. They both had their little quirks about each other, and had kept them in for quit some time.
"Oh, and your little self righteous act is going to earn you a fan club? Face it, Hemi, the only friends you have are those who are intellectually beneath you. Everyone thinks you're the smartest girl here. They all think you're perfect and you let it happen. Actually, better yet, you embrace it! You walk around with your nose in the air, praising yourself for the mediocre things you do, and make people think they're beneath you! You're just as snobby as I am, and you're just as egotistical. So don't start on that 'poor me' bull, shit! Because basically, you're sitting there, thinking that everything bad in the world that happens, happens because someone has a vendetta against you!"
He stared straight at her, not paying attention to the fact that they were so close that he could feel her breathing. He wasn't going to back down. This was a stupid argument that she had started and he wasn't going to stop until she realized how ridiculous she sounded. She had to know that they were too much alike to criticize one another. True, he was more egotistical that she was. He cared a lot more about himself than she cared about herself. She would put a friend before her own good any time, but the fact still remained- she was in this for herself. She knew that in the end, the only thing that mattered was if she was on top. Just like with classes. She made sure that she was always number one, and degraded all competition, which, consequently, happened to be Draco.
"Draco," she said, more calmly now, "I want you to leave me alone and do not ever compare me to you!" she turned and ran up the steps, slamming the door to her room.
Draco sat down, suddenly drained of all his energy. When Hermione had suddenly grown a backbone, Draco didn't know. What really bothered him, though, was that he had just let it happen. Where had his smirk gone? His condescending gaze that made all girls stop thinking? He looked up the stairs in the direction Hermione had gone. He knew that Hermione wanted him. He had known that for a while now. But in defense of her friend, she had ripped into him, knowing well that it could mean completely turning him off. He sighed, hanging his head. What she didn't know, though, was that her little stunt had totally turned him on.
Harry was practically jumping. Hermione had promised to talk to him about their relationship after dinner, and here he was, walking up to Gryffindor tower with her. He could hardly contain his excitement. He wanted to stop right there and demand to know if she felt the same, but was able to keep himself contained. Finally, after what seemed like a century, they reached the common room entrance. Harry recited the password and hurried Hermione in and sat her down into a chair on the far side of the room as he squatted down in front of her in order to be eye level.
Hermione laughed and straightened out her skirt, placing her robes on the armrest, "Harry, why are you in such a hurry?" her eyes were amused and he thought that he saw a look of pure happiness in them for the first time since they had arrived.
"Nothing, I mean, I just know that we need to talk. And I don't want anymore interruptions," he said, referring to earlier in her room when Draco had walked in, and the confrontation that had occurred between the two. "So…"
He looked at her expectantly, and noticed an unsure look in her eyes, that quickly vanished as she smiled again. Draco was wrong, he was trying to scare you. She loves you too.
"Harry," she started, taking his hands in hers and looking down at them while she talked, "when you told me what you did, I was completely flattered. Totally and utterly. I couldn't have imagined that you would ever feel that way about me. And, I must admit, that it was something that I have wanted for quit some time," Harry started to get closer to her, wanting more than anything to kiss her, "but, I can't jump into some sort of relationship. So, I'm asking you, as my best friend, to kind of take things slowly. I don't want to mess up what we have, you know?" she finally looked up at him, letting go of his hands, a pleading look on her face. A million thoughts were racing through Harry's head all at once, but the most clear was that she really did care, and she wanted this to work as badly as he did.
He leaned in slowly and kissed her lightly, noticing the smile that formed on her lips. "Of course I understand that, Hermione. Why wouldn't I? I think you're absolutely right. I want this to be perfect," he stood up, holding out his hands to her. She took them happily and stood up, walking with him over to the couch so they could sit together. Finally. I finally have what I want, Harry thought, looking into Hermione's beautiful brown eyes.
"Harry?" he heard her say softly, "do you think we should discuss anything?" she asked, looking at him with a very serious look. "I don't want us to keep anything from each other. Not that we ever have, but if there's anything you want to say, you should. You know, so we can start this new step fresh."
Immediately Harry thought back to what Draco had said, and how confident he was in what was being said. Harry had dismissed it moments ago, but now it was eating at him. What if Hermione did have feelings for Draco? That's stupid, if she did, she wouldn't be here right now. And she is. Which means I've won. She's chosen me. "No, nothing."
"Are you sure?" she looked at him questionably for a moment, and Harry knew that she could see through it. Hermione knew him well enough to be able to sense when something was bothering him. He decided that he might as well ask, to get it over with and out in the open.
"Okay, well, today, earlier, I had a conversation with Draco that bothered me," he saw her face tense, and a feeling of dread rose in Harry's stomach. Oh no, she knows. "Anyway, he said that, well, gods you'll think this is so silly," he gave a nervous laugh, as if to indicate that it wasn't that big of a deal, "he said that you were attracted to him. Isn't that stupid, Hermione?"
Harry saw Hermione's face go white and he was even more scared than before. This had to mean that Hermione did have feelings for Draco, "Harry, that is ridiculous. Actually, earlier, Draco and I had a little conversation of our own. I don't think he's going to be bothering us any time soon. We sort of…weeded through the situation." She gave him a killer smile and Harry could feel his shoulders relaxing, relieved that it had been nothing all along.
"Shit," she said, looking at her watch, "I really need to get going. I have some things to take care of." She got up and started walking towards the door, Harry walking after her. She turned and gave him another sweet smile, "I'll see you in the morning, okay?" she kissed his cheek, causing Harry to stop breathing for a moment.
"I'll see you in the morning. Bye, Hermione," he watched her go out the door and then closed it, leaning his head against it's frame and smiling to himself, knowing that the best was yet to come.
Hermione sighed, walking back to her common room. She had actually done it, and couldn't help but feel as though a weight had been lifted off of her. Soon, the whole mess with Draco would be over and it would be nothing but a distant memory, a crush that had come and gone. Hermione stopped, rethinking that last thought. Crush? I have a crush on Draco? It couldn't be. No respectable girl had a genuine crush on Draco. He was good looking, yes, every girl knew, and acknowledged this, but the smart ones didn't actually like him. They knew better. Hermione knew better. Stop overanalyzing, she thought, again walking towards the tower.
Once she reached the Princess, Hermione felt a new feeling of hyperawareness go into effect. She was always alert whenever she knew Draco was going to be in her presence, and up until this point, she had always thought that it was because he made her nervous. She walked in, seeing that Draco was sitting on the couch. He looked up, giving her a wide smile, the first that she had seen since she had talked to him before the Quidditch match. Hermione could feel her heart beating faster and knew that she must have been smiling like an idiot. She shook her head and walked to the couch, sitting beside him.
"So, have you decided that I'm worthy of talking to again?" he asked, cocking his head to the side as he looked at her. A brief flash of the argument they had had earlier that day went through Hermione's mind, and she immediately dismissed it.
"Yes, I suppose. Who else will I talk to if I don't have you?" she teased, giving him a smile to let him know that she was over the whole thing.
Draco looked at her a moment longer before laughing, the first real laugh she had heard from him in days, which caused Hermione to calm down considerably. "I guess you wouldn't mind that I borrowed the book you got from the library today for Potions, then, will you?" he held up the book he was reading, and Hermione furrowed her brow, acting like she was mad.
"Oh, Draco, I'll let it slide this time, but really, you need to ask next time. I mean, if you keep going into my room unexpectedly, you may one day find something I don't want you to see," she said, and immediately wanted to take those words back, seeing the playful smile forming on Draco's face.
"And what will that be?" he asked, his face coming closer to hers. Hermione could see the small halos of blue around his gray eyes and felt that she could melt into them. Stop, Hermione, Harry! Harry, Harry, Harry!
"N- Nothing," she stammered, trying to back away from him.
He blinked, and seemed to come out of a trance, but instead of leaning back, he started to tickle her, causing Hermione's body to jump. She tried pushing him away, but ended up bringing him closer. She was laughing so hard that she didn't even notice that she was falling off the couch until she hit the floor, causing a sharp pain to shoot up her spine. She opened her eyes and saw Draco was right on top of her, looking at her, into her it felt like.
"That hurt," she said simply, trying to make the situation as light as possible.
"Yeah, sorry," his voice was so soft she wasn't really sure if he had said anything or not, but she definitely saw him lean in closer to her, bringing his lips to hers.
Hermione felt like she was floating. This was the single sweetest kiss she had ever experienced. All she could think about was that Draco was kissing her and that she never wanted it to stop. She could feel it coursing through every vein in her body. Just as quickly as it had started, though, it stopped.
Draco pulled away and got up very quickly. "I gotta go. I have some things to take care of." He walked out of the room and Hermione heard the door open and close.
Oh God, what just happened. Hermione knew that he hadn't meant to do that, and she really wished it hadn't. She had just started something new with Harry, and didn't want it to be ruined. But, as awful as it sounded, she really, really wanted to kiss him again.