Guys, here it is. THE GREATEST CHAPTER SO FAR!!!! Love you all for
reviewing. Here it is!!
Draco woke up bright and early but still mad.
After showering and skipping breakfast, he dragged out his cauldron.
He was going to make a Love Potion, and he was going to have tons of fun, at that.
Setting up Potter with Pansy, so his path to Hermione would be clear.
It was simple, yet brilliant. Potter wouldn't dare go by Hermione anymore. He'd be madly in love with Pansy.
Oh, for sure, it was hilarious. He'd even be free of Pansy.
Hermione might be mad after Potter dumped her. Actually, she'd be downright depressed, but after a little comforting from Draco, how could she resist?
And Potter would be publicly embarrassed, going out with Pansy. Everyone would make fun of him. It was foolproof.
He had to slip a dosage of the Potion into Potter's and Pansy's drinks during lunch. By dinner, Hermione would be all over him. Grinning, he set to work.
* * * *
Harry would have ignored Hermione the whole day if it wasn't for the fact that he had to watch her like a hawk. He persuaded her to come watch him and Ron play Quidditch the whole morning, an excellent remedy for both boys.
Walking into the castle for lunch, Harry remembered what was planned for tonight. Trying not to run for his life from Hermione, they sat down at the table.
Across the hall, Draco levitated the little vial of Potion, and it flew stealthily to the Gryffindor table quite unnoticed.
Potter looked the other way, and the vial emptied itself into his drink before zooming over to a dustbin.
Pansy wasn't there yet, and neither were any other Slytherins. Draco poured Pansy's juice and dumped Potion into it.
Back at the Gryffindor table, Harry had just put down his goblet after sipping. Activation in one hour.
Pansy sat down.
"Hey, Pansy," said Draco cheerfully. "I poured you juice." She looked at him suspiciously but then drank.
Draco couldn't help but grin. This had to be the best day of his life.
* * * *
An hour later, at the end of lunch, Harry had an odd feeling. Looking up, he saw Pansy smiling at him. He winked at her and looked down.
Hermione just stared confusedly at him, having just seen this. Was he trying to make her jealous??
"I'm going to take a nap," she announced. When no one answered, she left.
She had barely laid down on her bed when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," said Hermione, expecting an apology from Harry.
What she didn't expect, though, was Harry walking in and announcing simply, "It's over."
Surely she had misunderstood him. "What?" she asked calmly.
"It's over between us," he repeated. "Just thought you ought to know."
With that, he turned and left.
Hermione felt her eyes welling up. We had a little fight, she thought miserably. That wasn't major. Why's he breaking my heart?
She collapsed on the bed, shaking and trembling. I want to die, she thought. End all the pain. Her heart felt like it was being pulled out of her chest. I thought we were getting married! She thought. What happened? And with thought, she cried even worse.
She ran out of her room to the grounds outside, where she could curl up on the ground in her favorite spot and cry her heart out, even though there was none of it left.
* * * *
Draco had noticed the Harry/Pansy interaction already. The especially strong Love Potion lasted for two months unless Draco did a countercurse, which would not happen.
After escaping from Pansy, which wasn't hard at all, Draco took off to his favorite spot on the grounds only to find that it was occupied by none other than Hermione.
He sat down next to her. "What's wrong?" he asked, playing dumb.
"Go away," she snapped, wiping tears off her face.
"Is that a nice way to talk to a friend?" asked Draco. "What's wrong?"
"Harry just broke up with me, if you have to know!" cried Hermione in anguish, unsure of why the hell she was telling Draco this.
"Oh, how awfully sad," said Draco. Hermione missed the sarcasm. "Just cry it all out." He scooted next to her, daring to put his arm around her.
To his surprise, she hugged him closer. Wasn't she mad at him?
When Hermione was done crying ten minutes later, Draco was wearing quite an outfit of mascara and tears.
"Look at you," sniffed Hermione. "I got you all dirty." She managed a quick cleaning spell. Never gave up, did she? "Thanks," she said, wiping her eyes. "You helped."
Draco did the only thing that seemed to make sense at the moment. He kissed Hermione, and now she did not refuse.
When they tore apart for lack of breath, Hermione saw Draco in a whole new light: cute, comforting, and caring.
Amber eyes met quicksilver, and she blushed.
"Do you like me now?" asked Draco.
"Actually, yes, Draco," said Hermione, already feeling much better. "Harry was better as a friend than a boyfriend, I guess. I might have known it. I think I was trying to make him as the perfect boyfriend, and when he wasn't what I made him out to be, I just disappointed myself. You know? I overestimated him."
"Yeah, you seem to be recovering fast," stated Draco. "I mean, weren't you in love? And now you're kissing me?"
Hermione blushed more furiously still. "I. Well, I guess I saw it coming from last night. Maybe we weren't right for each other."
"Yes," he said. "Yeah, I suppose."
They sat in silence.
"Does Pansy like you?" she asked.
"Probably, but I hate her to death," replied Draco. "And don't talk about her to me." He mentally laughed. Pansy didn't like him anymore..
"Sorry," whispered Hermione. "Are we something now?"
"What do you mean, like a couple?" asked Draco.
"Well, are we?" wondered Hermione. "After this?"
"I don't know," said Draco. "Maybe, probably, most likely? What do you think? You pick."
"Well, if it's my choice, then," smiled Hermione, "I say definitely."
"Okay," agreed Draco. "Definitely. What are Potter and Weasley going to think?"
"Well, since Harry just broke up with me," she conceded, "he won't give a damn. And Ron, well, he doesn't have to know. Neither of them do."
"Good plan," he said. "What are you doing today?"
"Nothing," replied Hermione. "Reading, I guess. Tell Ron what happened. When's your birthday?"
"Are you always random?" Draco asked. "Why?"
"Well, I have to know if I'm going out with you," said Hermione, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Oh, how Draco loved those words.
"September 22nd," he answered. "What's yours?"
"Oh, that's so funny!" she laughed. "What a coincidence; mine's the 19th!"
"So you're older than me?" asked Draco, crestfallen.
"Only by, like, three days," said Hermione. "Trust me; it's okay. I was ten and a half months older than Harry. I'd like to find out more bout you, given for the past six years I've known you as a different identity."
"My favorite color's green; my favorite animal is a snake; my-"
"No, seriously," said Hermione, rolling her eyes. "Like tell me about your life."
"From the time I was born?" he asked.
"Sure," replied Hermione.
"Well, I was actually born in London," he started. "My dad's French. I speak French; my mum made me learn."
"Oh, can you say something?" asked Hermione eagerly. French guys were sexy.
"Something," repeated Draco. Hermione resisted the urge to slap him. He was so sarcastic. "Anyway," he went on, "we moved to Wiltshire, where I live now, when I was two."
"I can just imagine you as a baby," giggled Hermione. "A little fuzzy- haired, blue-eyed, perfect baby."
"Oh, shut up," he said. "So my mother started teaching me French at four until I completely got it at seven. My dad was never home, and I preferred it that way. Life was pretty boring until I came here."
"Well, if you had what I thought sounded like a good upbringing, what happened when you go to school?" she wondered.
"I don't know," said Draco. "Potter messes with your brain sometimes, you know?"
"Whatever!" replied Hermione, thought she knew he was evil because of his dad.
"So what was your life like?" he asked.
"Well," she began, "I was born in Liverpool and live there to this day. I, er, went to preschool and elementary school until Hogwarts."
"What is preschool and elementary school?" Draco inquired. Of course he wouldn't know. It was only for Muggles.
"Oh, well they're schools Muggles go to , like we go to Hogwarts. But preschool starts at three years old."
"That would suck!" exclaimed Draco. "Eight more years of school?"
"It wasn't bad," she returned casually. "So we're both only children.."
"What time is it?" he asked.
"Oh, you want to leave?" said Hermione. "It's 2:30."
"No, just wondering," he said.
There was silence for another few minutes.
Hermione started ripping out grass to entertain herself, as she could hardly stare at Draco.
Suddenly, he burst out laughing. He had a nice laugh, really. Irresistable. Typical.
"What is so funny?" she asked. "Fill me in!"
Draco could only point.
Hermione turned and saw, to her horror, Harry walking across the grounds hand-in-hand with Pansy!
"Oh, Merlin!" she sighed. "What is he doing?"
"I have no idea," lied Draco. "But it's pretty damn hilarious!"
"No, really, it's not," said Hermione. "It's just sad and pathetic, and he's probably just trying to make me jealous. I don't know why; he broke up with me in the first place."
"Maybe he really likes her," supplied Draco, adding to Hermione's confusion.
"Are you kidding me?" asked Hermione in disbelief.
"No," said Draco. "I mean, after all, you like me now. Isn't he free to like her? I bet he's thinking, 'Sick!' looking at you, too."
Harry caught Hermione's eye, merely gave her a frown, and turned back to Pansy.
"Merlin, that is so gross!" Hermione exclaimed. "I'd understand if she was hot or nice, but she's neither!"
"Talk about it," said Draco. "So just leave him alone."
"Do you like school?" Hermione wondered, changing the subject purposely.
"Not really," Draco replied. "It's just a pain in the ass."
"How could you say that?" asked a shocked Hermione. "I love school! Just not Potions."
"Potions is the only thing I like and can do," Draco said.
"Of course," remarked Hermione. "Snape favors you."
"How could anyone not?" he joked. "Speaking of favoring, who are you cheering for now? For Quidditch, I mean."
"Well, just because I like you doesn't mean I transferred to Slytherin," commented Hermione. "I'd get slaughtered alive if I cheered for you."
"So you're still rooting for Potter after all of this?" asked Draco.
"Well, yes, but I suppose I could wear a green bra," she said.
"You could," Draco agreed, "but no one would see that except for you."
"Well, you'd know I'd be wearing it, and that counts," said Hermione.
"Okay, change of subject!" exclaimed Draco.
"No, then you'd have to wear red boxers," said Hermione, "if I'm going to wear a green bra."
"Yeah, but you aren't on the team!" protested Draco. "That'd be supporting my opponents!"
"For me?" begged Hermione.
"Fine."
"So what do you want for your birthday?" she asked happily.
Draco thought 'You' but said, "Whatever."
"You probably don't want anything, do you?" she asked. "You have everything you've ever wanted; you're so spoiled."
"Am not."
"You are too!" said Hermione. "Mummy's little boy."
"I like my mum," he said defensively.
"Yeah, whatever. So, for gift ideas, you like Quidditch. I am definitely not getting you a Firebolt. Not that much money. What kind of cologne do you wear?"
"I don't know what it's called," he replied.
"Well it smells good," Hermione commented.
"Oh, you've smelled me?" Draco asked.
"I can't help it if I'm that close to you," she sighed. "I have to breathe. So find out it's name so I can get it for you."
"All right," he agreed. "What do you want?"
"Surprise me," Hermione replied.
"I'm good at surprises," he commented.
It was quiet again.
"Oh, there go Ron and Luna," said Hermione.
"That girl is insane, I swear," said Draco. "I have Transfiguration with her, and she just stares into space."
"You can say that again," laughed Hermione. "My best friends have the worst girlfriends."
"Well, my best friends- actually, they're not even my friends- don't even have girlfriends at all," he said.
"Crabbe and Goyle?"
"Yeah, they're such idiots," he complained.
"Do you have any real friends?" she wondered.
This struck Draco's nerves. "No," he said tensely.
"Probably because people don't take the time to get to know you," she reasoned. "I mean, you are really nice."
"Flattery will get you no-" he began, but he was silenced by Hermione's lips. A warm and emotional kiss, their best one yet.
They rolled over on the ground, Hermione on top of Draco.
When they broke apart, she asked, "What were you going to say?"
"Flattery will get you everywhere, actually," he said wickedly, smirking.
"I love your smile," commented Hermione.
"Well, I love your eyes," he returned. "Have you read Shakespeare?"
"Yeah, I was named after one of his characters," said Hermione. "But you read Shakespeare? He was a Muggle!"
"Yeah, well, we all have our faults," Draco replied. "Now would you like to get off me?"
"I like it like this," she teased, tapping his nose with her finger, but she rolled off. They both lied on their backs, looking at the sky.
"I'll have to bring you out here at night once," Draco said.
"Why?"
"Because I have to show you what I was named after," explained Draco. "The constellation Draconis."
"Oh, the dragon," realized Hermione. "How uncoincidental that you're in Slytherin. Who thought of that name?"
"Well, my dad wanted a rare name," said Draco. "I mean, his name is Lucius, you know, his dad's name was Alonso-"
"Alonso Malfoy," she cut in. "I don't like it."
"Neither do I. But my mom," he continued, "likes stars and astronomy and horoscopes and crap like that. She loves the constellation Draconis. And it's rare. I mean, no one else in the world is probably named Draco."
"Yeah," sighed Hermione. She cuddled into Draco's arms, resting her head on his chest. "See, there's that smell. It's like your trademark. Except for that smirk of yours."
He laughed. "Well your trademark is a huge wig.."
She would have slapped him if she was in the position to. "I don't have a frizz ball for hair anymore!"
"I know, I know," laughed Draco. "It looks better now. I was only joking."
"Well, if we're throwing insults," began Hermione, "you glued your hair down until this week."
"Yeah, but then I ran out of gel. Doesn't it look better this way? I've never left it down."
"It does look better," she agreed.
"Do you know how much easier it is for me to talk to you than say, Pansy?" asked Draco. "We've been talking for an hour, and I'm not bored."
"I'll take that as a compliment," she decided. "But I want to do something."
"Like what?" he asked.
"Well, what would you be doing on a Saturday afternoon last year, when we still hated each other?" asked Hermione.
"Homework, flying. That's it! I'll take you for a ride!" exclaimed Draco.
"Oh, Merlin, no," she said. "I'm so scared of heights."
"Just don't look down. And hold on to me. Please?"
"Fine," grumbled Hermione.
"Hang on while I get my broom," he said excitedly, sprinting off.
Five minutes later, he returned with his 5-year-old Nimbus 2001. (A/N I don't know why he still has that broom still. He just does.)
"I hate this broom," he complained.
"Remember when you loved it?" she asked. "In second year? That day when you called me a mudblood?"
"I remember," he said.
Hermione actually liked it better back then. Not having a crush on someone from Slytherin was better. But she realized that if she would have been given the opportunity to start this year over, she wouldn't have.
Her eyes started to water.
"What?" he asked. "What did I do?"
"You didn't do anything," she cried. "Well, you asked me out."
"I thought you wanted me to," he said.
"I did, but-"
"Then what's wrong?" he repeated
"Your dad," she sniffed.
Draco froze. "What about him?"
"He wouldn't approve of us being together," she sobbed into his shoulder.
He does, thought Draco. "He doesn't have to know either." He hugged her. "It's okay."
"I already had my heart broken once," she said. "Don't do it again."
"Shhh." He kissed her forehead. "How about that ride?"
"Sure." She wiped her eyes.
"Here, get on first," Draco said.
She sat down on the back, and Draco slid on in front of her. She placed her arms around his waist.
"Don't let go," he warned. "Catching snitches is one thing. Catching falling people is another."
"Well, as you've never caught the snitch, I don't feel too safe," Hermione joked.
"Ouch. Diss. Then I'll drop you," he said maliciously.
"Empty threat, Malfoy," she said in an attempt to sound evil. "We're still on the ground."
"Then I'll just- take off!" he exclaimed, pushing off from the ground.
Hermione screamed and clutched him closer.
"You're not in a position to make threats, Granger," he said, turning around and resisting the urge to laugh at her. "Literally. As you are hanging off the back of my broom."
"I'd smack that pretty pureblood face of yours if I could," she said. "But I don't want to fall."
"Then smack me when we get down," he answered.
"What?" she yelled over the wind.
"I said to smack me when we get down!" he shouted back.
"Okay!" Hermione bellowed. "Can we go down now? It's really cold up here!"
It happened in an instant. Hermione loosened her grip to push the hair out of her face, and Draco went into a breakneck dive. It was a mystery how he couldn't catch the snitch, but then again, no one was better than Harry Potter.
Hermione slid off the broom and free-fell tens of feet.
"Shit!" Draco swore. He hurtled even faster towards the ground, knowing all the while that he'd be too late.
As Hermione was about to hit the ground, screaming and flailing her arms, a Firebolt sped through the sky and caught her.
Hermione opened her eyes and found herself in the arms of her ex- boyfriend. Tears of gratitude streamed down her face. She hugged him closer, as they had just gotten off the broom
Hermione heard someone clear their throat. She turned and saw Pansy waiting, her arms folded across her chest.
Draco reached the ground and ran to Hermione, nearly tripping over his own feet.
"I'm so sorry!" he whispered. Hermione buried herself in his chest, shivering.
Hermione heard another "Ahem."
Harry turned to Pansy, but not before muttering, "Nice replacement," to Hermione.
"I hope she's worth it," replied Hermione, nodding to Pansy.
Harry nodded, too, and walked away, fingers laced with Pansy's.
"What a heartless prat," commented Draco casually. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have taken you up there. I shouldn't have dove down."
"I'm fine," Hermione said. "Just cold."
"Then let's go in," he proposed, wrapping his arms around her tighter.
They looked a perfect couple, wrapped in each other's arms, slowly walking up to the castle.
Maybe there really is a great guy behind that arrogant wrapping, thought Hermione.
Just then, Draco realized that the fear he'd felt course through him as Hermione fell, the way he loved it when she cuddled into him, meant that he cared for her. Maybe not love yet, but it was pretty damn close.
* * * *
Harry had just offered Pansy a broom ride. Anything to make her happy.
"Sure," she accepted.
Harry was just savoring the feeling of Pansy's arms around his waist when he heard a blood-curdling scream. He followed the voice just as a figure dropped into his lap. As he pushed chestnut curls out of his face, he realized it was Hermione.
Hermione, whom he had loved. He suddenly just didn't feel the same way about her; Pansy was his new target. As a friend, Hermione was fine, but no more than that.
He reluctantly let her hug him. Harry dismounted his broom, and Hermione ran over to Draco Malfoy himself. Well, so much for keeping her away from him.
That just didn't feel important to Harry anymore. It was Pansy he cared about.
"Nice replacement," he muttered.
"I hope she's worth it," replied Hermione.
She is, thought Harry.
SO GUYS!!! THAT'S IT!!! I KNEW YOU'D LOVE IT!! I'M ACTUALLY JUST ASSUMING YOU DO, BUT ISN'T IT GREAT?? I KNOW!!! FINALLY HERMIONE AND DRACO ARE TOGETHER!!!
Draco woke up bright and early but still mad.
After showering and skipping breakfast, he dragged out his cauldron.
He was going to make a Love Potion, and he was going to have tons of fun, at that.
Setting up Potter with Pansy, so his path to Hermione would be clear.
It was simple, yet brilliant. Potter wouldn't dare go by Hermione anymore. He'd be madly in love with Pansy.
Oh, for sure, it was hilarious. He'd even be free of Pansy.
Hermione might be mad after Potter dumped her. Actually, she'd be downright depressed, but after a little comforting from Draco, how could she resist?
And Potter would be publicly embarrassed, going out with Pansy. Everyone would make fun of him. It was foolproof.
He had to slip a dosage of the Potion into Potter's and Pansy's drinks during lunch. By dinner, Hermione would be all over him. Grinning, he set to work.
* * * *
Harry would have ignored Hermione the whole day if it wasn't for the fact that he had to watch her like a hawk. He persuaded her to come watch him and Ron play Quidditch the whole morning, an excellent remedy for both boys.
Walking into the castle for lunch, Harry remembered what was planned for tonight. Trying not to run for his life from Hermione, they sat down at the table.
Across the hall, Draco levitated the little vial of Potion, and it flew stealthily to the Gryffindor table quite unnoticed.
Potter looked the other way, and the vial emptied itself into his drink before zooming over to a dustbin.
Pansy wasn't there yet, and neither were any other Slytherins. Draco poured Pansy's juice and dumped Potion into it.
Back at the Gryffindor table, Harry had just put down his goblet after sipping. Activation in one hour.
Pansy sat down.
"Hey, Pansy," said Draco cheerfully. "I poured you juice." She looked at him suspiciously but then drank.
Draco couldn't help but grin. This had to be the best day of his life.
* * * *
An hour later, at the end of lunch, Harry had an odd feeling. Looking up, he saw Pansy smiling at him. He winked at her and looked down.
Hermione just stared confusedly at him, having just seen this. Was he trying to make her jealous??
"I'm going to take a nap," she announced. When no one answered, she left.
She had barely laid down on her bed when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," said Hermione, expecting an apology from Harry.
What she didn't expect, though, was Harry walking in and announcing simply, "It's over."
Surely she had misunderstood him. "What?" she asked calmly.
"It's over between us," he repeated. "Just thought you ought to know."
With that, he turned and left.
Hermione felt her eyes welling up. We had a little fight, she thought miserably. That wasn't major. Why's he breaking my heart?
She collapsed on the bed, shaking and trembling. I want to die, she thought. End all the pain. Her heart felt like it was being pulled out of her chest. I thought we were getting married! She thought. What happened? And with thought, she cried even worse.
She ran out of her room to the grounds outside, where she could curl up on the ground in her favorite spot and cry her heart out, even though there was none of it left.
* * * *
Draco had noticed the Harry/Pansy interaction already. The especially strong Love Potion lasted for two months unless Draco did a countercurse, which would not happen.
After escaping from Pansy, which wasn't hard at all, Draco took off to his favorite spot on the grounds only to find that it was occupied by none other than Hermione.
He sat down next to her. "What's wrong?" he asked, playing dumb.
"Go away," she snapped, wiping tears off her face.
"Is that a nice way to talk to a friend?" asked Draco. "What's wrong?"
"Harry just broke up with me, if you have to know!" cried Hermione in anguish, unsure of why the hell she was telling Draco this.
"Oh, how awfully sad," said Draco. Hermione missed the sarcasm. "Just cry it all out." He scooted next to her, daring to put his arm around her.
To his surprise, she hugged him closer. Wasn't she mad at him?
When Hermione was done crying ten minutes later, Draco was wearing quite an outfit of mascara and tears.
"Look at you," sniffed Hermione. "I got you all dirty." She managed a quick cleaning spell. Never gave up, did she? "Thanks," she said, wiping her eyes. "You helped."
Draco did the only thing that seemed to make sense at the moment. He kissed Hermione, and now she did not refuse.
When they tore apart for lack of breath, Hermione saw Draco in a whole new light: cute, comforting, and caring.
Amber eyes met quicksilver, and she blushed.
"Do you like me now?" asked Draco.
"Actually, yes, Draco," said Hermione, already feeling much better. "Harry was better as a friend than a boyfriend, I guess. I might have known it. I think I was trying to make him as the perfect boyfriend, and when he wasn't what I made him out to be, I just disappointed myself. You know? I overestimated him."
"Yeah, you seem to be recovering fast," stated Draco. "I mean, weren't you in love? And now you're kissing me?"
Hermione blushed more furiously still. "I. Well, I guess I saw it coming from last night. Maybe we weren't right for each other."
"Yes," he said. "Yeah, I suppose."
They sat in silence.
"Does Pansy like you?" she asked.
"Probably, but I hate her to death," replied Draco. "And don't talk about her to me." He mentally laughed. Pansy didn't like him anymore..
"Sorry," whispered Hermione. "Are we something now?"
"What do you mean, like a couple?" asked Draco.
"Well, are we?" wondered Hermione. "After this?"
"I don't know," said Draco. "Maybe, probably, most likely? What do you think? You pick."
"Well, if it's my choice, then," smiled Hermione, "I say definitely."
"Okay," agreed Draco. "Definitely. What are Potter and Weasley going to think?"
"Well, since Harry just broke up with me," she conceded, "he won't give a damn. And Ron, well, he doesn't have to know. Neither of them do."
"Good plan," he said. "What are you doing today?"
"Nothing," replied Hermione. "Reading, I guess. Tell Ron what happened. When's your birthday?"
"Are you always random?" Draco asked. "Why?"
"Well, I have to know if I'm going out with you," said Hermione, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Oh, how Draco loved those words.
"September 22nd," he answered. "What's yours?"
"Oh, that's so funny!" she laughed. "What a coincidence; mine's the 19th!"
"So you're older than me?" asked Draco, crestfallen.
"Only by, like, three days," said Hermione. "Trust me; it's okay. I was ten and a half months older than Harry. I'd like to find out more bout you, given for the past six years I've known you as a different identity."
"My favorite color's green; my favorite animal is a snake; my-"
"No, seriously," said Hermione, rolling her eyes. "Like tell me about your life."
"From the time I was born?" he asked.
"Sure," replied Hermione.
"Well, I was actually born in London," he started. "My dad's French. I speak French; my mum made me learn."
"Oh, can you say something?" asked Hermione eagerly. French guys were sexy.
"Something," repeated Draco. Hermione resisted the urge to slap him. He was so sarcastic. "Anyway," he went on, "we moved to Wiltshire, where I live now, when I was two."
"I can just imagine you as a baby," giggled Hermione. "A little fuzzy- haired, blue-eyed, perfect baby."
"Oh, shut up," he said. "So my mother started teaching me French at four until I completely got it at seven. My dad was never home, and I preferred it that way. Life was pretty boring until I came here."
"Well, if you had what I thought sounded like a good upbringing, what happened when you go to school?" she wondered.
"I don't know," said Draco. "Potter messes with your brain sometimes, you know?"
"Whatever!" replied Hermione, thought she knew he was evil because of his dad.
"So what was your life like?" he asked.
"Well," she began, "I was born in Liverpool and live there to this day. I, er, went to preschool and elementary school until Hogwarts."
"What is preschool and elementary school?" Draco inquired. Of course he wouldn't know. It was only for Muggles.
"Oh, well they're schools Muggles go to , like we go to Hogwarts. But preschool starts at three years old."
"That would suck!" exclaimed Draco. "Eight more years of school?"
"It wasn't bad," she returned casually. "So we're both only children.."
"What time is it?" he asked.
"Oh, you want to leave?" said Hermione. "It's 2:30."
"No, just wondering," he said.
There was silence for another few minutes.
Hermione started ripping out grass to entertain herself, as she could hardly stare at Draco.
Suddenly, he burst out laughing. He had a nice laugh, really. Irresistable. Typical.
"What is so funny?" she asked. "Fill me in!"
Draco could only point.
Hermione turned and saw, to her horror, Harry walking across the grounds hand-in-hand with Pansy!
"Oh, Merlin!" she sighed. "What is he doing?"
"I have no idea," lied Draco. "But it's pretty damn hilarious!"
"No, really, it's not," said Hermione. "It's just sad and pathetic, and he's probably just trying to make me jealous. I don't know why; he broke up with me in the first place."
"Maybe he really likes her," supplied Draco, adding to Hermione's confusion.
"Are you kidding me?" asked Hermione in disbelief.
"No," said Draco. "I mean, after all, you like me now. Isn't he free to like her? I bet he's thinking, 'Sick!' looking at you, too."
Harry caught Hermione's eye, merely gave her a frown, and turned back to Pansy.
"Merlin, that is so gross!" Hermione exclaimed. "I'd understand if she was hot or nice, but she's neither!"
"Talk about it," said Draco. "So just leave him alone."
"Do you like school?" Hermione wondered, changing the subject purposely.
"Not really," Draco replied. "It's just a pain in the ass."
"How could you say that?" asked a shocked Hermione. "I love school! Just not Potions."
"Potions is the only thing I like and can do," Draco said.
"Of course," remarked Hermione. "Snape favors you."
"How could anyone not?" he joked. "Speaking of favoring, who are you cheering for now? For Quidditch, I mean."
"Well, just because I like you doesn't mean I transferred to Slytherin," commented Hermione. "I'd get slaughtered alive if I cheered for you."
"So you're still rooting for Potter after all of this?" asked Draco.
"Well, yes, but I suppose I could wear a green bra," she said.
"You could," Draco agreed, "but no one would see that except for you."
"Well, you'd know I'd be wearing it, and that counts," said Hermione.
"Okay, change of subject!" exclaimed Draco.
"No, then you'd have to wear red boxers," said Hermione, "if I'm going to wear a green bra."
"Yeah, but you aren't on the team!" protested Draco. "That'd be supporting my opponents!"
"For me?" begged Hermione.
"Fine."
"So what do you want for your birthday?" she asked happily.
Draco thought 'You' but said, "Whatever."
"You probably don't want anything, do you?" she asked. "You have everything you've ever wanted; you're so spoiled."
"Am not."
"You are too!" said Hermione. "Mummy's little boy."
"I like my mum," he said defensively.
"Yeah, whatever. So, for gift ideas, you like Quidditch. I am definitely not getting you a Firebolt. Not that much money. What kind of cologne do you wear?"
"I don't know what it's called," he replied.
"Well it smells good," Hermione commented.
"Oh, you've smelled me?" Draco asked.
"I can't help it if I'm that close to you," she sighed. "I have to breathe. So find out it's name so I can get it for you."
"All right," he agreed. "What do you want?"
"Surprise me," Hermione replied.
"I'm good at surprises," he commented.
It was quiet again.
"Oh, there go Ron and Luna," said Hermione.
"That girl is insane, I swear," said Draco. "I have Transfiguration with her, and she just stares into space."
"You can say that again," laughed Hermione. "My best friends have the worst girlfriends."
"Well, my best friends- actually, they're not even my friends- don't even have girlfriends at all," he said.
"Crabbe and Goyle?"
"Yeah, they're such idiots," he complained.
"Do you have any real friends?" she wondered.
This struck Draco's nerves. "No," he said tensely.
"Probably because people don't take the time to get to know you," she reasoned. "I mean, you are really nice."
"Flattery will get you no-" he began, but he was silenced by Hermione's lips. A warm and emotional kiss, their best one yet.
They rolled over on the ground, Hermione on top of Draco.
When they broke apart, she asked, "What were you going to say?"
"Flattery will get you everywhere, actually," he said wickedly, smirking.
"I love your smile," commented Hermione.
"Well, I love your eyes," he returned. "Have you read Shakespeare?"
"Yeah, I was named after one of his characters," said Hermione. "But you read Shakespeare? He was a Muggle!"
"Yeah, well, we all have our faults," Draco replied. "Now would you like to get off me?"
"I like it like this," she teased, tapping his nose with her finger, but she rolled off. They both lied on their backs, looking at the sky.
"I'll have to bring you out here at night once," Draco said.
"Why?"
"Because I have to show you what I was named after," explained Draco. "The constellation Draconis."
"Oh, the dragon," realized Hermione. "How uncoincidental that you're in Slytherin. Who thought of that name?"
"Well, my dad wanted a rare name," said Draco. "I mean, his name is Lucius, you know, his dad's name was Alonso-"
"Alonso Malfoy," she cut in. "I don't like it."
"Neither do I. But my mom," he continued, "likes stars and astronomy and horoscopes and crap like that. She loves the constellation Draconis. And it's rare. I mean, no one else in the world is probably named Draco."
"Yeah," sighed Hermione. She cuddled into Draco's arms, resting her head on his chest. "See, there's that smell. It's like your trademark. Except for that smirk of yours."
He laughed. "Well your trademark is a huge wig.."
She would have slapped him if she was in the position to. "I don't have a frizz ball for hair anymore!"
"I know, I know," laughed Draco. "It looks better now. I was only joking."
"Well, if we're throwing insults," began Hermione, "you glued your hair down until this week."
"Yeah, but then I ran out of gel. Doesn't it look better this way? I've never left it down."
"It does look better," she agreed.
"Do you know how much easier it is for me to talk to you than say, Pansy?" asked Draco. "We've been talking for an hour, and I'm not bored."
"I'll take that as a compliment," she decided. "But I want to do something."
"Like what?" he asked.
"Well, what would you be doing on a Saturday afternoon last year, when we still hated each other?" asked Hermione.
"Homework, flying. That's it! I'll take you for a ride!" exclaimed Draco.
"Oh, Merlin, no," she said. "I'm so scared of heights."
"Just don't look down. And hold on to me. Please?"
"Fine," grumbled Hermione.
"Hang on while I get my broom," he said excitedly, sprinting off.
Five minutes later, he returned with his 5-year-old Nimbus 2001. (A/N I don't know why he still has that broom still. He just does.)
"I hate this broom," he complained.
"Remember when you loved it?" she asked. "In second year? That day when you called me a mudblood?"
"I remember," he said.
Hermione actually liked it better back then. Not having a crush on someone from Slytherin was better. But she realized that if she would have been given the opportunity to start this year over, she wouldn't have.
Her eyes started to water.
"What?" he asked. "What did I do?"
"You didn't do anything," she cried. "Well, you asked me out."
"I thought you wanted me to," he said.
"I did, but-"
"Then what's wrong?" he repeated
"Your dad," she sniffed.
Draco froze. "What about him?"
"He wouldn't approve of us being together," she sobbed into his shoulder.
He does, thought Draco. "He doesn't have to know either." He hugged her. "It's okay."
"I already had my heart broken once," she said. "Don't do it again."
"Shhh." He kissed her forehead. "How about that ride?"
"Sure." She wiped her eyes.
"Here, get on first," Draco said.
She sat down on the back, and Draco slid on in front of her. She placed her arms around his waist.
"Don't let go," he warned. "Catching snitches is one thing. Catching falling people is another."
"Well, as you've never caught the snitch, I don't feel too safe," Hermione joked.
"Ouch. Diss. Then I'll drop you," he said maliciously.
"Empty threat, Malfoy," she said in an attempt to sound evil. "We're still on the ground."
"Then I'll just- take off!" he exclaimed, pushing off from the ground.
Hermione screamed and clutched him closer.
"You're not in a position to make threats, Granger," he said, turning around and resisting the urge to laugh at her. "Literally. As you are hanging off the back of my broom."
"I'd smack that pretty pureblood face of yours if I could," she said. "But I don't want to fall."
"Then smack me when we get down," he answered.
"What?" she yelled over the wind.
"I said to smack me when we get down!" he shouted back.
"Okay!" Hermione bellowed. "Can we go down now? It's really cold up here!"
It happened in an instant. Hermione loosened her grip to push the hair out of her face, and Draco went into a breakneck dive. It was a mystery how he couldn't catch the snitch, but then again, no one was better than Harry Potter.
Hermione slid off the broom and free-fell tens of feet.
"Shit!" Draco swore. He hurtled even faster towards the ground, knowing all the while that he'd be too late.
As Hermione was about to hit the ground, screaming and flailing her arms, a Firebolt sped through the sky and caught her.
Hermione opened her eyes and found herself in the arms of her ex- boyfriend. Tears of gratitude streamed down her face. She hugged him closer, as they had just gotten off the broom
Hermione heard someone clear their throat. She turned and saw Pansy waiting, her arms folded across her chest.
Draco reached the ground and ran to Hermione, nearly tripping over his own feet.
"I'm so sorry!" he whispered. Hermione buried herself in his chest, shivering.
Hermione heard another "Ahem."
Harry turned to Pansy, but not before muttering, "Nice replacement," to Hermione.
"I hope she's worth it," replied Hermione, nodding to Pansy.
Harry nodded, too, and walked away, fingers laced with Pansy's.
"What a heartless prat," commented Draco casually. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have taken you up there. I shouldn't have dove down."
"I'm fine," Hermione said. "Just cold."
"Then let's go in," he proposed, wrapping his arms around her tighter.
They looked a perfect couple, wrapped in each other's arms, slowly walking up to the castle.
Maybe there really is a great guy behind that arrogant wrapping, thought Hermione.
Just then, Draco realized that the fear he'd felt course through him as Hermione fell, the way he loved it when she cuddled into him, meant that he cared for her. Maybe not love yet, but it was pretty damn close.
* * * *
Harry had just offered Pansy a broom ride. Anything to make her happy.
"Sure," she accepted.
Harry was just savoring the feeling of Pansy's arms around his waist when he heard a blood-curdling scream. He followed the voice just as a figure dropped into his lap. As he pushed chestnut curls out of his face, he realized it was Hermione.
Hermione, whom he had loved. He suddenly just didn't feel the same way about her; Pansy was his new target. As a friend, Hermione was fine, but no more than that.
He reluctantly let her hug him. Harry dismounted his broom, and Hermione ran over to Draco Malfoy himself. Well, so much for keeping her away from him.
That just didn't feel important to Harry anymore. It was Pansy he cared about.
"Nice replacement," he muttered.
"I hope she's worth it," replied Hermione.
She is, thought Harry.
SO GUYS!!! THAT'S IT!!! I KNEW YOU'D LOVE IT!! I'M ACTUALLY JUST ASSUMING YOU DO, BUT ISN'T IT GREAT?? I KNOW!!! FINALLY HERMIONE AND DRACO ARE TOGETHER!!!