Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter (BUT I forgot to say this in the last chapter…I own that dude Aurick!)
Authors Note: Rayeanna: Well, like I said, I want this to go slow; Draco will end up liking her soon! ^^
Jinx: Well, I thought that maybe this is gonna take place in 6th year or…something ^^;
Kara: Aww! Thank you!! ^____^.
To everyone else, I LOVE YOU! ::hugs::
Hermione stared at Malfoy for a moment. "Wh-what?"
The Slytherin grinned. "I said 'why don't we use first names?' Get that?" He smirked and ran a hand through his hair.
Hermione blinked. "Uh…Okay, Ma-Draco." She corrected herself. She glanced nervously at Professor McGonagall, who was writing something on a piece of parchment.
Malfoy grinned, Here's my chance…he thought. "So, Hermione, why are people saying that you like me if you don't?"
She looked at him for a moment. "W-well I don't know! Why don't you ask them!"
The Professor looked up from what she was doing and looked at Hermione from over her glasses. "A-hem."
Hermione nodded an apology at the Professor and looked back at Malfoy, who was snickering. "Like I said, ask them."
"Well, they say it's because they've seen you staring at me lately." Jackpot.
Hermione felt furious. I can't believe he's asking me all of these ridiculous questions! He has something up his sleeve. He wouldn't be this nice to me for no reason…She stood up, "Professor," She looked over at McGonagall, who had looked up from her parchment, "I can't do this." She glanced sideways at Malfoy.
What the…He thought, staring up at her.
Professor McGonagall sighed. "Certainly, Miss Granger. Take a seat elsewhere," She looked over at Malfoy, "Mr. Malfoy, you may leave."
Hermione looked up and watched Malfoy walk away. She sighed. "I'm sorry Professor…"
Professor McGonagall smiled. "Don't fret, dear. The only reason I did this was because you two need to get along. But, you just can't change a persons' feelings, can you?"
Hermione nodded. "I suppose…"
The Professor smiled once more, "You may be excused, Miss Granger."
Hermione got up and nodded, before grabbing her things and walking out the classroom door. When she got out into the hallway, she looked around for Malfoy, yet she had no sight of him. Sighing, she made her way to the Gryffindor common room.
She made her way up to her bed, ignoring the looks she was getting from the other Gryffindors who had heard of her supposedly liking Malfoy. She dressed into her night robes and slid into her cover. The last thing she thought of before drifting off to sleep was the way it sounded when Malfoy said her name.
The next day, Pansy and Millicent approached her as class ended. "Oh, Mudblood, have you heard!"
Hermione sighed and looked up at her, "Listen, Pansy, you—,"
"So you haven't. Ah. I see," The blondes' eyes filled with hatred, "Don't go around thinking that Draco likes you. He's only being nice to you because of a bet he made with some other Slytherins."
Hermione's eyes widened. "W-What?" It all makes sense now…She turned, disgusted with herself for even thinking that he could like her, and ran out the classroom door.
Two weeks had passed and the rumors of Hermione liking Malfoy gradually died down. She tried her best not to even look in Malfoy's direction. That didn't stop her, unfortunately, from liking him. She sighed as she walked into the Grand Hall. When she sat down next to Harry and Ron, the redhead looked slightly pink. He smiled at Hermione as she sat down. "Hi, Hermione." He said quietly.
Hermione nodded a hello to him.
Malfoy was sitting across the hall, staring at her. What happened to her all of a sudden that night? He heard Aurick call his name. He turned to him, "What?"
Aurick grinned. "You didn't get her to say it yet, did you?"
Malfoy sighed, "You never said when I had to get her to say it, so shut it." And with that, Aurick walked back to his seat.
Ron lightly touched Hermione's arm, "Um…Hermione?"
Hermione glanced over at him. "Yes?"
"Do you um…doyouwanttogototheChristmasBallwithme?"
He blurted it out so fast, Hermione barely could understand him, but she did. She smiled widely, "Sure, Ron."
He sighed, relieved. Harry grinned.
Malfoy sighed, "This has been getting stupid." He got up and walked over to the Gryffindor table. "Hermione,"
Everyone turned around and looked at him, stunned.
Harry looked back to Hermione, wide-eyed.
Hermione turned her head slowly and looked up at him. "What?" She tried her best to sound as cold as she could.
Malfoy sighed and grabbed her arm, "I have to talk to you."
Hermione was startled at this.
Ron stood up quickly. "Malfoy—,"
Hermione shook her head, "No, Ron. Wait here." She rose, to Malfoy's surprise, and walked closely behind him out of the hall. Harry and Ron watched her walk out, confused.
Malfoy turned around to face her, "You've barely looked at me."
"Why should you care? I'm just a dirty little Mudblood, right? Don't want to be seen talking to me—," Hermione shot at him.
He grabbed her arm and prepared to say something, but she interrupted him.
"I know all about you're stupid little bet! You don't even care about…about my feelings! So stop calling me by my first name and leave me alone!" She smacked him hard against the face and turned on her heel, the tears threatening to fall, and walked down the long hallway.
Malfoy stood there for a moment, his eyes downcast, trying to process what she had just said to him. He prepared to chase after her before hearing a blood-curdling scream. "Hermione…"
Ahh! Hopefully I can think up something for the next chapter…sorry this was so short…. I'll really try to make the next chapter longer! Promise! ;; Review please!