Disclaimer: I own nothing.it's JK Rowling's.bummer
Hermione didn't go back to her room that night. The confused and mixed up

emotions she was experiencing prevented her from staying in her normal dorms. She

wouldn't allow him to see her like this, to see how much he affected her. Besides, a

break from him would do her good. Coming anywhere even in the vicinity of him would

probably make her head explode. So instead, she stayed in Gryffindor Tower with the 7th

year girls claiming her desire to catch up with Parvati and Lavender.

Her cover story worked rather well considering no one questioned her on her

motives. The two girls that Hermione had spent 6 years rooming with embraced her offer

with extreme enthusiasm. So the night was spent discussing boys, makeup, and

clothes.but the fact that Hermione didn't care about makeup or clothes limited her

choices. Then there were boys, which was also a subject Hermione didn't wish to chat

about with the two largest gossip queens in the school. And even if she decided she

didn't care that the entire school knew her business, there was the added bonus of Draco

being her 'enemy.' Now how would that look? Hermione had to talk to someone about

it however, and the only person she could think of was Ginny. But she couldn't do that

until they were alone, and that wouldn't be until at least tomorrow afternoon.

So Hermione endured the long pointless conversation with her two friends,

although Lavender and Parvati did most of the talking. On top of this, she spent the

evening tossing and turning not being able to fall asleep. It was as if every hour that went

by would make her more and more awake instead of more tired. If I fall asleep now I can

still get 5 hours of sleep. If I fall asleep now I can still get 4 hours of sleep. 3 hours, 2

hours, 1 hour. And it was around the 1-hour mark that she dozed off, only to be

awakened again.

Breakfast in the Great Hall wasn't fun, to say the least. There was all this talking

that Hermione was normally able to block out, but seemed to be magnified by 100 this

morning. The result was that she was already developing a headache, and the day had

barely started. The bright sunlight of the bewitched sky ceiling wasn't helping matters

much either. Of course she tried as hard as she could to appear normal. She wouldn't

give Draco the satisfaction of seeing the effect her had on her. And then there was that

feeling she got about every 5 minutes that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand

up. The feeling that someone was watching her.

She won't even look at me. She knows I'm staring at her and she won't even look

at me. And where was she last night? Not that I was worried or anything, but how was I

supposed to know that she got in safely? Draco slammed down his fork for the third time

that meal in frustration. He was starting to attract stares from his fellow Slytherins, and

rather than facing that he got up and left the table. Of course, she saw him leave, but did

not follow him. She wasn't ready to face him, considering she had no idea what to say.

They avoided each other's eyes all through Care of Magical Creatures, although

they were both stealing glances every once and awhile. At the end, somehow the both

had to stay a little after class to clean up. Ron and Harry said they'd stay, but Hermione

shooed them away. Neither Draco nor Hermione knew if they intentionally stayed so that

they could talk in private, or if it was just a coincidence. Either way, they were both

there together, searching for the right words to convey what they felt. They were also

both failing miserably.

"Why" "I" They had both spoken at the same time, making the situation even

more awkward, if possible. "You go first." Draco said.

"Ok." She said tentatively. "I was gonna say why don't we just forget about last

night. I mean we both realize that it was a mistake, and we both know we can't let it

happen again. I think the best thing to do is to just act like we do normally when we're

together." She looked up at him at her last statement, trying to find out how he felt about

what she'd said.

"I think that's a good idea." With that, he started walking back up to the castle

alone. Why is it that what she just said makes all the sense in the world, but it makes me

miserable? What was I gonna say if she let me talk first? The same thing as she said,

just in different words? Or was I thinking in the complete opposite direction of her train

of thought. Was I hoping that somehow she and I would be together? He shook his head

and went to drown himself in some homework before his next class, because at least that

still made sense to him. When did Hermione Granger become more complicated than

NEWT Arithmancy?

I can't believe he agreed to what I just said. I mean, I guess I was expecting it. It

was the only logical agreement to come to. Ok so I'm happy about all of this.God why

didn't he fight me about this? Why didn't he fight for me? I need to talk to someone

right now. "Oh Ginny, thank God you're here. Listen, do you think you can skip your

next class? I really need to talk to you-alone."

***
After the girls were situated in Ginny's room, Ginny finally took the initiative and

said, "What's going on Hermione?"

"Before I start, I have to have you promise. You can't tell anyone what I'm about

to tell you, not even Ron or Harry." She anxiously looked at Ginny to see her reaction to

this dramatic statement, but she was surprised to see Ginny expressionless and calm. I'd

have thought that would have made her interested at least.

"So, do you swear?"

"Of course I do, I would never tell anyone. You know that."

"Ok well, the thing is that for the past week something different has being going

on with me.and a boy."

"Really? What boy is it?" Ginny seemed to finally be getting interested in the

conversation. "Is it Viktor?"

Hermione stiffened at the name, but continued on never the less. "No it's not

Viktor. Anyway the thing is that this guy is different. If it was just some normal guy it

wouldn't be a big deal. But he's not exactly the type of boy I should be involved with."

She turned away from the red head and walked to the window. Her face took on a

strange expression that Ginny couldn't identify when they both noticed it was lightly

snowing outside. "What am I gonna do Ginny?"

"Well, the first thing you have to do Hermione is tell me who this mystery boy is.

It can't be as bad as you're describing."

"Ok , ok I'll tell you." She took a deep breath. "It's Draco." She whispered and

then held her breath in anticipation of Ginny's reaction. The silence in the room was

deafening, but she still didn't dare turn around to look Ginny in the eye. If she had, she

would have seen the anger burning in her eyes as soon as Hermione said Draco's name.

Ginny quietly grabbed her ward and started walking towards Hermione with her

weapon pointed directly at her 'friend's' back. "Draco, but how? Why?"

"I don't know how it happened, it just did. It's been different somehow ever

since we started school this year. Actually, it's been different ever since this." She

stopped herself just in time. She was about to mention the incident that happened over

summer break to Ginny, and she had never told anyone about that. She wasn't sure if she

ever would. It was something private between her and Draco. No one else needed to

know about it.

"I know he's been an insensitive asshole all these years. But I can't help it, he's

changed. Sure he's still annoying half the time, and he's insensitive, and.oh I just don't

know." She paused and then continued on, this time with a dreamy expression on her

face as she continued to stare out at the snow. "But I do know one thing, he sure is one

hell of a kisser."

Ginny's wand was about one inch from Hermione's back when she spoke. "You

don't have to tell me that Hermione, I already know how he kisses. Or didn't Draco ever

tell you about us?"