Disclaimer: All Characters belong to J. K. Rowling and her publisher.

AN: This chapter has a little surprise to it, some of you may have guessed what's going to happen, but, surprise!


Dragon Meets Brain

Chapter 2: Dreams and Reality

Previously In Dragon Meets Brain:

Her mother noticed where he was looking and said in his ear, "Hermione's got herself a secret admirer!" Hermione blushed at what her mother said. Her father paled a bit. Hermione said her goodbyes and entered the station. She glanced up at the sign that read 'Platform 9'. She approached the barrier. She took one last look at the muggle world and ran through.

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          Platform 9 and ¾'s came into view, but before she could stop, she slammed into someone. Before she fell, all she saw was blond hair. She looked around, still on the ground. She slowly pushed herself up, but her elbow was sore. She let her right arm fall back down and tried to push herself up with her one good arm.  As she tried to get up, someone held their hand out to her. She took it without hesitation.

          She shook off her robes and looked up. There, standing in front of her was Draco Malfoy. He looked so different. He was tall, 6 feet at the least, and was tan, a change from his normal, pale self. She didn't realize she was staring. He finally spoke up.

          "When you stop staring, maybe you would like to apologize?" He said with a sneer. Hermione blushed at the thought of being caught. She fumbled with her fingers. Hermione finally got her voice back.

          "Oh. . . Sorry!" She said fumbling with her bracelet. She had a weird thought it might have been him who gave it to her. He looked down at what she had on her wrist. He was at a loss for words. He remembered back when he was in Diagon Alley with his Slytherin friend, Rodney Hanson.

~*~ Flashback ~*~

          "So Rodney, what've you been up to over the summer?" Draco asked, a glint in his eye. Rodney was known as a womanizer, with a different girl every month, a week even. Though Draco couldn't talk, he wasn't much better.

          "Oh, nothing really, I know what your thinking, but I haven't been out with a girl all summer!" Rodney replied, somewhat proudly. Draco was at a loss for words, Rodney, not out with a girl? He was quickly brought back down to earth by his friend.

          "I've gotten all my stuff for school, I just need to pick something up at Henderson Jewelers. . ." He replied, this time looking somewhat guilty. He was suddenly very interested with his feet.

          "Finally got a steady girlfriend?" Draco asked, grinning at his friend.

          "Not really, kind of a gift to ask her to be my girlfriend." Rodney mumbled. He was still looking down at his feet.

          "Who is it? Anyone I know?" Draco asked, raising his eyebrows a bit. He was suspicious. If she was an acceptable to tell Draco, it wouldn't be so hard to tell him.

          "Not really. . ." Rodney said guiltily. He was terrible at lying. He blinked a lot and fumbled with his thumbs. Draco wanted answers. He put his hand on his shoulder and stopped him.

          "Look, who is it? I want answers, now!" Draco said with a frown. Rodney looked up and him and shrugged. He kept on walking and went inside the jewelers. Draco ran inside to see what he was getting. When he entered, he found Rodney talking to one of the employees, who was holding out a box.

          "Thanks a lot, I'm glad that you could get it so quickly, thanks again!" Rodney said, taking the box and opening it. Inside was the most beautiful bracelet that Draco had ever seen. It had little sapphires and diamonds in a pattern. It was set in pure gold. It was grand even compared to his mother's jewelry.

          "Who's that for? I want to know!" Draco said, almost whining. He wanted to know who was worth such a beautiful bracelet. Rodney didn't say anything. He just held the box tightly. "Fine, you don't want to tell me, then that's okay, I'll find out eventually.

          Draco left Diagon Alley, plotting. He would find out whom that bracelet was for, if it was the last thing he did. 

~*~ End Flashback ~*~

          Draco stood, shocked at what he saw. He felt a pang of jealously. He had been denying his feelings for her for so long, he couldn't anymore. Why would he be jealous of someone giving her a romantic present if he didn't like her? He loved, well, love was a strong word. . . He liked Hermione Granger.

He finally said something. "So. . . Who gave you that bracelet?" He noticed her face lit up a bit. She looked up at him and smiled. Not a mocking smile, but a sincere smile.

"Well, actually, I don't know, the person who sent it didn't say who they were. I got a secret admirer I guess," she mumbled, looking down at the bracelet. Hermione silently thought, 'He sent it, I bet anything. He's trying to find out if I like it!' She blushed. Draco didn't seem to notice but kept talking.

"Yeah, secret admirer. . ." He said, running his fingers down the bracelet. He blushed when he brushed her hand with hers. He quickly pulled back. "I have to go, see you around. . . I guess."

"Bye. . ." she said with a hit of disappointment. She watched Draco's retreating figure and went on with what she was doing. She pulled her cart towards the benches that Harry, Ron, and Ginny usually met her at. She couldn't help but notice that she was getting looks from a lot of the boys, some of them who hated her. She saw Harry in the distance. She got and idea to get the boys to stop staring. "Hey, Harry!? Over here! It's me, Hermione!" She screamed. To her satisfaction, most of the boys turned away with a disgusted look on their faces. Then she thought grimly, 'Am I that bad?' By the time she had finished thinking about that, Harry, Ron and Ginny had approached her.

          "Hey Hermione! How was your summer?" Harry said, giving her a hug. He looked at the girl before him. Beautiful, smart, and friendly. He could've slapped himself. 'What am I thinking? Hermione and I already discussed this. We don't have feelings for each other! I don't like her, do I?' She was everything he wanted. She could help him in everyway. She was what he wanted in a girlfriend. As Harry thought about, he realized it. He did like her. He always had. Even when he dumped her for Cho, he liked her. He was quickly shaken out of his thoughts.

          "It was great! My family went to Bulgaria and I visited Krum! He isn't mad at all that our relationship didn't work out. I just want to be friends with him." She didn't look the slightest bit sad. She actually had a grin on her face. She must've not regretted dumping Krum a bit.

'I may have a chance! She's not seeing anyone!" Harry thought, plotting how he could get Hermione back.

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And the plot thickens! What will happen? Will Harry earn her love back? Or Draco? OR the unknown Rodney? We will see, read next time! (I know the title is a bit self explanatory, but it may be deceiving! R&R! TBC!