This fanfic is dedicated to Fox McCoy and Awks

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Harry Potter

Chapter Three

Heading off in the direction of the lake, Malfoy took notice of Hermione's confused look, and couldn't help but smile. Hermione looked over at him, and Malfoy immediately stopped smiling, looking slightly embarrassed.

"I don't know why you don't smile more often. You look good when you smile, almost as if you weren't completely evil." Hermione said, smiling back at Malfoy. Even more embarrassed now, Malfoy looked away from Hermione, not wanting her to see him smiling at her comment about him looking good.

"Here we are." Malfoy announced when they reached the edge of the lake. Completely frozen over, Hermione sighed at his beauty.

"Here? We are just at the lake. What could we possible do here?"

"For the second smartest person in our school, you're pretty thick." Malfoy replied.

"Second, who am I second to?" said Hermione knowing exactly what his response would be, but she pretended to be offended by the comment anyway.

"Well, me of course," replied Malfoy in his usual cocky attitude.

"From what I can remember, I am the one tutoring you Malfoy, not the other way around."

"Yeah, only because you want to be closer to me. I know your secret Granger, you are in love with me, and I think it is about time you just came out and told me." Malfoy, trying to keep a straight face while saying this, cracked, and began to laugh. Hermione, once again, felt herself attracted to the blonde haired Slytherin.

Attempting to change the subject, Hermione asked, "Since I am apparently not a smart as you, Malfoy, would you mind educating me on what we are doing here?"

"Skating, of course. You know how, right?"

"Well, no actually," said Hermione, looking down at her feet.

Sliding the bag off his shoulder, he pulled out a pair of skates and handed it to her. "Ah, finally the student becomes the teacher. I'll show you how, it's easy enough. Hope those are your size." He said pointing at the skates. When he turned around to get his own skates, Hermione preformed a simple shrinking spell. "Reducio!" she muttered quietly, and the skates shrunk one and a half sizes, making them an eight. Better, she thought.

After lacing up her skates, Malfoy offered her his hand to help her up and onto the ice. "Now, it's really all about balance. All you have to do is glide, I'll hold onto you at first, so you don't fall."

"Thanks." Hermione took hold of his hand and he led her onto the ice. Moving along stiffly at first, holding tightly on to Malfoy, she glided along the lake. "Like this?" she asked.

"Perfect. You're a natural..." but midway through his sentence, she slipped, dragging Malfoy down with her. He fell directly on top of Hermione so their faces were mere inches from one another. They both stared at each other, lost for words on the position they found themselves in. "Ow," was all Malfoy could say.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to, oh God, are you..." but this time Malfoy interrupted her, smirking.

"So, maybe you're not a natural." He said, and they both started laughing. He removed himself from on top of her (though grudgingly), and pulled him self up, dusting snow and ice off himself. Leaning down, he reached over to help Hermione up. Wrapping her arms around his neck, he lifted her up onto her feet. "You okay?" he asked her, with a look of genuine concern.

"Fine, thanks. Sorry about that, I guess skating just isn't my thing."

"You just need practice; you're going to be good at it, as long as I'm your teacher." Said Malfoy, smirking.

"Well, as long as you are modest about it," she said laughing.

They stayed out on the lake until the sun had completely hidden itself behind the trees of the Forbidden Forest. Curfew was extended during break for those who stayed at school, but they still felt that it was time they headed back to the castle. After talking off their skates, and putting on their other shoes, they walked away from the lake, and Malfoy noticed Hermione rubbing together her bare hands.

"You crazy, Granger?" Malfoy asked. "It is about four degrees out."

"What?" Hermione asked back. Malfoy then took hold her hands, and brought them up to his face. He cupped them, and then began to blow on her ice cold fingers, while rubbings his hands against hers.

"Nice try. I am not letting you get sick Hermione, and then use that as an excuse to not tutor me anymore." He kept a straight face, still warming her hands. He used my name. Not Granger, but Hermione. She couldn't help but liking how her name sounded when he said it. She stared at him, he was extremely handsome. She thought of earlier today when she was in his arms, then of when he fell on top of her.

"Let's get you out of the cold," he said after spending several silent moments warming her hands. Malfoy then took one of her hands and began running towards the school, Hermione trailing after him. After finally getting inside, she let go of his hand. Today was all too surreal for her. She untied her cloak, and removed her scarf.

"I'm sure there is still some dessert left over from dinner, if you are hungry. Want to go see..."

"I'm fine. I am going to go... to my room. I'll see you tomorrow, I guess. Uh, bye then." She stalked off before Malfoy had time to say anything in return. She had to get away from him. She wasn't sure what he was up to, but no Malfoy would act like this, not to a muggle born anyway. Reaching the portrait of the Fat Lady, she told her the password, and then collapsed in to a chair. Today's events confused her, but she had to admit, she didn't hate it. Maybe this Christmas break would be more tolerable than I thought it would be, confusing yes, but definitely more tolerable.

Malfoy watched her walk away from him until she turned the corner and was out of sight. What was all that about? He thought. Did I say anything to offend her? Does she know? Entering his room, he couldn't stop thinking about her. When he held her, why did it feel so right? Why did he want to kiss her when they fell on the ice? It's Granger, a mudblood. I hate her, I hate her friends, I hate her house... but she is very beautiful. Stop it, Draco! It's Granger! But he couldn't help but think maybe this vacation won't be as awful as I anticipated. He walked into his bathroom and ran a cold shower, hoping to forget about the brown-eyed girl.

A/N: Here is chapter three... please review!!