Chapter 2
She sighed contently, and stood.
"I'm going to the tower." She said, looking at her best friends, who were still sitting. The sorting had just taken place, and then the three of them feasted on the wonderful foods the kitchen elves provided.
Ron had his mouth full, and was unable to speak. Harry looked up at her though, swallowing a big bite of roasted chicken.
"Mmkay 'Mionie, see you up there later." He said.
"Okay," She said, and started to walk away, and then turned back to him, "And don't call me 'Mionie, you should know better." She shook a finger at him, and then walked away. She quietly shoved though her thoughts, landing on Malfoy, and a sudden pang hit her stomach. There was no reason to this feeling, and it frustrated her. 'I really shouldn't be feeling this,' She thought as she saw the stairs to Gryffindor Tower, 'All he did was smile.but there was something in his eyes.' Again she sighed. She was about to take the first step up to the tower when she felt a hand clasp over her mouth. She was about to scream, but someone whispered in her ear and the stomach tightened and her heart began to race.
"Don't scream," the voice said.
"Mhm," she mumbled. He released his hand from her mouth, and she felt him take her hand.
"Come with me." Malfoy said.
"What?! No!" She whispered loudly. He made eye contact and she found herself melting. 'Get a hold of yourself for God's sake!' She thought, and stiffened. "I am going *anywhere * with you." She tucked her hair behind her ear with her free hand.
"Just trust me," He said. She looked around, 'No one is around, no one would see..' she thought. 'No!' She silently argued with herself. Suddenly, she found her legs following him, and her hand still in his. And what scared her most is that she could not stop herself.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Just trust me," He said again.
"Why should I?" she thought aloud, and to his back. "You have no reason to," he answered, "But you just wait and see." They headed up stairs and more stairs, and though corridors Hermione had rarely remembered. Then he stopped in front of a large wooden door she had never seen or noticed before. "Here," he said, turning and smiling at her. Again she felt her knees weaken. She regained herself again and noted she was tired of playing this game. He unlocked the door with his wand and pushed it open. Hermione gasped. It was a very large stone balcony, over looking the grounds, and a beautiful pink, gold, and orange sunset.
"Oh my gosh," she said nervously. She put her hands to her mouth. It was the most gorgeous sight she'd ever seen at Hogwarts.
"I know isn't this great?" He said.
"Draco I would never expect something like this from you." She ran her hand through her smooth hair. She wandered over to the stone railing and leaned on her arms.
"I thought you'd like it." He said.
"How would you know what I like?" she snapped.
"Just a feeling." Said Malfoy, "And you called me Draco again." He was leaned next to her, but not looking at her.
"So?"
"You never call me by my given name. It's always been Malfoy." He explained. He released a content sigh.
"Well you *are * a Malfoy and you will always be. I shouldn't be here." She turned to leave, but again felt his hand on hers.
"I'm not like them." He said simply, locking eye contact.
"You act like it."
"Used to act like it," he corrected.
"But what about all the 'mudblood' stuff?" she asked. This just didn't make sense to her anymore.
"You see who I hang out with, I can't act like that around them. They'd think I'd gone soft." He explained. She knew he was telling the truth because the look behind his eyes was telling her so.
"Is 'going soft' a bad thing?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"If you hang around with that sort, yes." He answered smiling. He was still holding onto her hand.
"Since when did you start to take girls up here?"
"Tonight I suppose. You're the first person I've shared this place with." She went back to the railing and leaned on her elbow, looking at him.
"Since when did you, er, wanted to take me up here?" she asked.
"For a while now I guess," He said, looking out over the grounds.
"Why me?" This question had been rocketing around in her head for a while now.
"I'm not sure about that either," he said, looking back at her, "You're smart, and pretty."
"Oh please," She rolled her eyes.
"What?"
"Smart and pretty?"
"Yes, that's what I said," Malfoy said, "and I mean it. I've actually admired you for a while." She rolled her eyes again. "Why don't you believe me?" he asked quietly.
"Because! You're Draco Malfoy, and as far as I'm concerned you're still evil, rude, uncivilized, you can't hold your tongue, you're a smart ass, and oh, did I mention evil? And the fact you called me names, and picked on Harry and Ron."
"Alright, Alright! But you know, you're not little miss perfect either! You slapped me in third year!"
"Well you deserved it!"
"I did not."
"Did too!" Soon, both of them were arguing like a pair of two year olds. After a few minutes of childish bickering Hermione put her hands up to silence Malfoy before he could retaliate.
"Listen, I shouldn't be here," she pointed to the door, "I'm leaving." And she started to walk away, but stopped ten feet from the door, and turned back to him. "What did you expect out of this little visit anyway Malfoy?" she placed her hands on her hips.
"I'm not sure," he said. This seemed to be his answer for almost every question she asked.
"You don't know much do you?" She said.
"I just thought maybe you'd appreciate it and we'd be able to sit and talk." He looked like he was desperate. "Hermione, just stay with me please?" She couldn't believe her ears! Draco Malfoy was begging her to stay with him!
"Not today, not tomorrow." She said, "But I'm not going to say never." She didn't know what made her say something like that, but it was impulsive.
"Fine," He said, "But as you know, I don't give up easily." He winked and smiled. 'How could he be so- so- *sweet * at a time like this?!' She thought. It was frustrating for her and she was starting to get seriously annoyed.
"Dra- Malfoy," said Hermione, "Whatever you want to happen between us, isn't likely to happen, you should know that."
"Anything can happen." He said simply and smiled.
"Good-bye Draco." And she left. She realized her mistake the second she closed the door behind her. She had stayed way too long. The smile was getting to her and starting to stir something inside her that she didn't like. Something that drew pictures in her head. The two of them sitting on the balcony one night, gazing at the stars and sitting closely..
"No!" she said aloud, "No." And she headed back for Gryffindor Tower. It was sure that Ron and Harry would ask questions of where she had gone. Especially Ron. He was so protective. It made Hermione smile that she was cared for so much. Then she realized when she got the Fat Lady, no one had told her the new password! She yelled angrily. Then she stormed off to the Great Hall to see if Harry and Ron were still eating. Knowing her luck, they probably wouldn't be there.
"Lost Granger?" She rolled her eyes to the ceiling and grimaced. She spun around. It was Malfoy with Crabbe and Goyle.
"No, I'm fine thank you." She spun back around and entered the Entrance Hall.
"Why aren't you in your Dorm Ganger? It's getting late," his voice was definitely back to slimy and it was almost a relief.
"Why is it any of your business Malfoy? You should be in yours as well." She said with out stopping or looking back that the three people who followed her.
"Ah, but see, I am a prefect, and making sure you follow rules is my business." He said.
"I am also a prefect, and I am not currently breaking and rules so BUZZ OFF!" she yelled.
"Touchy, Touchy Miss Granger." He was now surely acting like the Malfoy she remembered slapping across the face. Was he acting this way because she walked out on him, or because he was with Crabbe and Goyle? She had no idea.
"Damn right I'm touchy Malfoy!" she spun back around her wand pointed directly at him, and she could see real fear in his eyes. "I haven't had the best day Malfoy, and if I do recall, you made a great ferret." She smiled evily. "So if you don't get out of my face for less than 5 minutes I will have to make sure everyone remembers what a bouncy little ferret you make." He threw his hands up to his chest.
"Come on Hermione, you wouldn't do that would you?"
"Would you like to bet on that?" She raised her eyebrows at him. She said a few well-chosen words and cast the spell at his jaw. He wouldn't open his mouth and he was yelling, or trying to anyways, in surprise.
"That spell is only temporary and I'm hoping it will keep you out of my way for a while." And she turned to leave again, but stopped, "And that's Miss Ganger to you." And into the Great Hall she went, while Malfoy tried to pry his jaw open. The spell would wear off in about an hour, and she was sure he'd be back, bugging her even more. She felt a little guilty casting the spell on him. He had shown her a wonderful sunset, and he sounded like he had good intentions at the time. "Bah," she said. And waved away the thought of him.
She sighed contently, and stood.
"I'm going to the tower." She said, looking at her best friends, who were still sitting. The sorting had just taken place, and then the three of them feasted on the wonderful foods the kitchen elves provided.
Ron had his mouth full, and was unable to speak. Harry looked up at her though, swallowing a big bite of roasted chicken.
"Mmkay 'Mionie, see you up there later." He said.
"Okay," She said, and started to walk away, and then turned back to him, "And don't call me 'Mionie, you should know better." She shook a finger at him, and then walked away. She quietly shoved though her thoughts, landing on Malfoy, and a sudden pang hit her stomach. There was no reason to this feeling, and it frustrated her. 'I really shouldn't be feeling this,' She thought as she saw the stairs to Gryffindor Tower, 'All he did was smile.but there was something in his eyes.' Again she sighed. She was about to take the first step up to the tower when she felt a hand clasp over her mouth. She was about to scream, but someone whispered in her ear and the stomach tightened and her heart began to race.
"Don't scream," the voice said.
"Mhm," she mumbled. He released his hand from her mouth, and she felt him take her hand.
"Come with me." Malfoy said.
"What?! No!" She whispered loudly. He made eye contact and she found herself melting. 'Get a hold of yourself for God's sake!' She thought, and stiffened. "I am going *anywhere * with you." She tucked her hair behind her ear with her free hand.
"Just trust me," He said. She looked around, 'No one is around, no one would see..' she thought. 'No!' She silently argued with herself. Suddenly, she found her legs following him, and her hand still in his. And what scared her most is that she could not stop herself.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Just trust me," He said again.
"Why should I?" she thought aloud, and to his back. "You have no reason to," he answered, "But you just wait and see." They headed up stairs and more stairs, and though corridors Hermione had rarely remembered. Then he stopped in front of a large wooden door she had never seen or noticed before. "Here," he said, turning and smiling at her. Again she felt her knees weaken. She regained herself again and noted she was tired of playing this game. He unlocked the door with his wand and pushed it open. Hermione gasped. It was a very large stone balcony, over looking the grounds, and a beautiful pink, gold, and orange sunset.
"Oh my gosh," she said nervously. She put her hands to her mouth. It was the most gorgeous sight she'd ever seen at Hogwarts.
"I know isn't this great?" He said.
"Draco I would never expect something like this from you." She ran her hand through her smooth hair. She wandered over to the stone railing and leaned on her arms.
"I thought you'd like it." He said.
"How would you know what I like?" she snapped.
"Just a feeling." Said Malfoy, "And you called me Draco again." He was leaned next to her, but not looking at her.
"So?"
"You never call me by my given name. It's always been Malfoy." He explained. He released a content sigh.
"Well you *are * a Malfoy and you will always be. I shouldn't be here." She turned to leave, but again felt his hand on hers.
"I'm not like them." He said simply, locking eye contact.
"You act like it."
"Used to act like it," he corrected.
"But what about all the 'mudblood' stuff?" she asked. This just didn't make sense to her anymore.
"You see who I hang out with, I can't act like that around them. They'd think I'd gone soft." He explained. She knew he was telling the truth because the look behind his eyes was telling her so.
"Is 'going soft' a bad thing?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"If you hang around with that sort, yes." He answered smiling. He was still holding onto her hand.
"Since when did you start to take girls up here?"
"Tonight I suppose. You're the first person I've shared this place with." She went back to the railing and leaned on her elbow, looking at him.
"Since when did you, er, wanted to take me up here?" she asked.
"For a while now I guess," He said, looking out over the grounds.
"Why me?" This question had been rocketing around in her head for a while now.
"I'm not sure about that either," he said, looking back at her, "You're smart, and pretty."
"Oh please," She rolled her eyes.
"What?"
"Smart and pretty?"
"Yes, that's what I said," Malfoy said, "and I mean it. I've actually admired you for a while." She rolled her eyes again. "Why don't you believe me?" he asked quietly.
"Because! You're Draco Malfoy, and as far as I'm concerned you're still evil, rude, uncivilized, you can't hold your tongue, you're a smart ass, and oh, did I mention evil? And the fact you called me names, and picked on Harry and Ron."
"Alright, Alright! But you know, you're not little miss perfect either! You slapped me in third year!"
"Well you deserved it!"
"I did not."
"Did too!" Soon, both of them were arguing like a pair of two year olds. After a few minutes of childish bickering Hermione put her hands up to silence Malfoy before he could retaliate.
"Listen, I shouldn't be here," she pointed to the door, "I'm leaving." And she started to walk away, but stopped ten feet from the door, and turned back to him. "What did you expect out of this little visit anyway Malfoy?" she placed her hands on her hips.
"I'm not sure," he said. This seemed to be his answer for almost every question she asked.
"You don't know much do you?" She said.
"I just thought maybe you'd appreciate it and we'd be able to sit and talk." He looked like he was desperate. "Hermione, just stay with me please?" She couldn't believe her ears! Draco Malfoy was begging her to stay with him!
"Not today, not tomorrow." She said, "But I'm not going to say never." She didn't know what made her say something like that, but it was impulsive.
"Fine," He said, "But as you know, I don't give up easily." He winked and smiled. 'How could he be so- so- *sweet * at a time like this?!' She thought. It was frustrating for her and she was starting to get seriously annoyed.
"Dra- Malfoy," said Hermione, "Whatever you want to happen between us, isn't likely to happen, you should know that."
"Anything can happen." He said simply and smiled.
"Good-bye Draco." And she left. She realized her mistake the second she closed the door behind her. She had stayed way too long. The smile was getting to her and starting to stir something inside her that she didn't like. Something that drew pictures in her head. The two of them sitting on the balcony one night, gazing at the stars and sitting closely..
"No!" she said aloud, "No." And she headed back for Gryffindor Tower. It was sure that Ron and Harry would ask questions of where she had gone. Especially Ron. He was so protective. It made Hermione smile that she was cared for so much. Then she realized when she got the Fat Lady, no one had told her the new password! She yelled angrily. Then she stormed off to the Great Hall to see if Harry and Ron were still eating. Knowing her luck, they probably wouldn't be there.
"Lost Granger?" She rolled her eyes to the ceiling and grimaced. She spun around. It was Malfoy with Crabbe and Goyle.
"No, I'm fine thank you." She spun back around and entered the Entrance Hall.
"Why aren't you in your Dorm Ganger? It's getting late," his voice was definitely back to slimy and it was almost a relief.
"Why is it any of your business Malfoy? You should be in yours as well." She said with out stopping or looking back that the three people who followed her.
"Ah, but see, I am a prefect, and making sure you follow rules is my business." He said.
"I am also a prefect, and I am not currently breaking and rules so BUZZ OFF!" she yelled.
"Touchy, Touchy Miss Granger." He was now surely acting like the Malfoy she remembered slapping across the face. Was he acting this way because she walked out on him, or because he was with Crabbe and Goyle? She had no idea.
"Damn right I'm touchy Malfoy!" she spun back around her wand pointed directly at him, and she could see real fear in his eyes. "I haven't had the best day Malfoy, and if I do recall, you made a great ferret." She smiled evily. "So if you don't get out of my face for less than 5 minutes I will have to make sure everyone remembers what a bouncy little ferret you make." He threw his hands up to his chest.
"Come on Hermione, you wouldn't do that would you?"
"Would you like to bet on that?" She raised her eyebrows at him. She said a few well-chosen words and cast the spell at his jaw. He wouldn't open his mouth and he was yelling, or trying to anyways, in surprise.
"That spell is only temporary and I'm hoping it will keep you out of my way for a while." And she turned to leave again, but stopped, "And that's Miss Ganger to you." And into the Great Hall she went, while Malfoy tried to pry his jaw open. The spell would wear off in about an hour, and she was sure he'd be back, bugging her even more. She felt a little guilty casting the spell on him. He had shown her a wonderful sunset, and he sounded like he had good intentions at the time. "Bah," she said. And waved away the thought of him.