Chapter Three: Could It Ever Work?

"Surprised, yes. Disappointed, not at all, and to be honest, I was hoping it was you." she said with a nervous smile on her face. "Strange, though," she said, "Who would have ever thought we would be meeting each other, not to fight," she said as she giggled a little. "I guess I like you then," she said blushing furiously. "You like me? Since when, from what I've always understood, you despised me." Said Draco also with a sheepish grin on his face. He couldn't believe it, Hermione liked him, to think this time last year he was calling her a Mudblood and ridiculing her. Perhaps he'd always felt this way about Hermione but that was too small-minded to think of it. Maybe all those years of childish tease were to conceal his true feelings.

"Since the train, when you came in and weren't as mean as you usually were, I thought then and there you had changed, and now I know for a fact you did." said Hermione with such high hopes. The last thing she wanted was for Draco to have fooled her and for this to me all some mean joke that the Slytherins put together.

"Sit down" said Draco as he patted the open seat next to him on the soft blue blanket.

Hermione and Draco talked all through lunch, about school, friends, teachers, and to Hermione's surprise the Muggle world. Who would have thought they had so much in common, surely not them. Lunch was now over and Hermione was off to Astronomy and Draco had to go to Transfiguration. Draco asked if Hermione would meet him in the library after dinner and she agreed. He then softly kissed her cheek with his coral lips and said goodbye.

On her way to Astronomy Hermione was all bubbly. This was a feeling that she had never experienced even with Ron though she loved him very much. Krum didn't even come close because the feelings weren't mutual. Draco was nothing like she though he would be. Hermione had expected a self-centered, egotistical, no good death eater to be, just like his father. Hermione then lost of train of thought. She then laughed to herself realizing that she had it all wrong. She was excited to meet him in the library. Her afternoon classes went by quickly. Before she knew it,

it was time for diner. Ginny, Harry, and Ron were deep in conversation.

"So Hermione, who's this "foolish boy that finally realized?"," asked Ron as he smiled at Harry.

"Er-- no one, they never showed." she said awkwardly. Thankfully they believed that because she did not want to think of what they would say if she told them Malfoy showed up.

"Sorry to hear that Herm," Harry said sympathetically. Harry had been extremely apprehensive of the night ahead of him ever since Ginny had made that plan in the library. Ginny then got up from the table and nudged Harry to follow her. "But I've got to go, I've got homework. I'll talk to you later." He then followed Ginny up to the library.

"Harry I have to tell you--" Ginny began, looking at the floor and playing with her flaming red hair. Harry cut her off suddenly and said:

"Look Gin, I can't hide this anymore, I really like you and I well err-- would you want to be er--- my girlf-- " but Ginny interrupted and blurted out:

"Of course I'll be your girlfriend Harry! That was what I came up here to ask you but you beat me to it!" Ginny then hugged Harry around the neck. Both of them looked extremely relieved and content

Hermione saw Draco stand up from the Slytherin table and gave her a look to follow. Hermione then excused herself from her discussion with Ron, waited a minute or so, so it wouldn't be so obvious that she was going to meet Draco.

When Hermione arrived in the library she saw Draco sitting in a dark corner. She walked towards him and saw his eyes light up.

"Hey Draco, you wanted me to meet you here?" asked Hermione.

"Yeah, I was just wondering would you ever consider, uhh, going out with me." asked Draco while playing with his fingers, trying not to make eye contact. Hermione was extremely surprised by this question.

"Draco, I really want to say yes but I don't know if that would work out, you being pureblood and me being a muggle. It wouldn't work. I'm sorry," said Hermione looking extremely disappointed, she wanted to say yes to Draco but she couldn't it just would never be able to work out, what would his father say, or rather what would he do. How would Harry and Ron react, would they still care for her?

"No, Hermione don't say that, it can work, if we try." Draco then grabbed for Hermione's hand and pulled her down next to him. "Hermione if you don't want people to know then fine they don't have to know, it can be our little secret." Draco then put his arm around Hermione, "Please Hermione, just give me a chance." Hermione didn't know what to say. She was speechless.

"Okay then, if you say so but no one can know, no one," She then hugged Draco and they sat in the corner for a little longer then got up and went there different ways.

Back in the library Ginny and Harry were so surprised. They had heard the whole thing!