A/N—I love all my reviewers! Thanks to my beta, lana_la_banana—check out her story, it rocks! Please check out my other story, I'm having a block on it. It's called Embrace the Darkness

Shades Of Grey

Chapter Eight- What Transpired

          Hermione shifted ever so slightly in her seat and glanced uncomfortably at the man sitting next to her. Severus Snape was never one for small talk, and meals were no different than any other time. She sighed at her bad luck. For the last week she had been living in Hogwarts, she had somehow managed maneuver her way out of sitting by him. But today she had been so immersed in finishing her Transfiguration essay that she didn't even notice that she was late for dinner. The result had been having to suffer through an entire meal next to a man whose hygiene wasn't top notch. Tonight was the last day before the rest of Hogwart's student body returned. She was a little nervous about seeing Harry and Ron again. After their fight, she had exited from the portrait hole and met with them.

          She had calmed them a bit, and soothed Ron's ridiculous fears, disguised as accusations, that she preferred Malfoy's company to their own. But there was still a bit of a rift between her and Ron. Harry, she thought, was fine. He can usually forgive his friends fairly easy.

          Malfoy's behavior was…different. More different than usual, at least. Instead of the fervent animosity he usually expressed, there was a lack of feeling. Only a few cutting insults ever acknowledged her existence. And frankly, Hermione preferred insults to indifference. She was just so…lonely. It was almost like back in first year, when she had no friends and was mostly alone all of the time. Books were very interesting and necessary things, but even Hermione wanted some interaction with people! Draco disappeared a few times to talk with Professor Snape, and Hermione was never comfortable in confiding with authority figures on personal matters. So that left her by herself many times.

          Hermione hated the silence that left her alone with her thoughts. She couldn't seem to shake memories, and many times, she was left crying over something that reminded her of her parents. She knew that talking about what had happened might help, but there was no one to confide in. So that left bottling up all her feelings, and trying to go on. But it didn't seem to be working.

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          Draco walked slowly up the hallway towards the portrait. He whispered the password to Hera, who was fervently shooting murderous glances at Zeus. After assuring Hera how strongly he supported her in her "righteous anger" against her husband, he walked through the portrait hole. Sighing, his black cloak fell onto the scarlet and silver couch and he walked slowly upwards towards his room. After the laughing incident a week ago, he had been continuously freezing Hermione out. The very last thing he needed was to confront certain…feelings he may have felt. He slumped against the wall, as his thoughts overran the wall he had eradicated exactly one week ago.

          He didn't hate her. He had to face the fact that he no longer looked at her as The Mudblood, or even as The Know-It All. She was no longer one of the many faceless people that haunted Hogwarts hallways. Ones that were too insignificant to receive anything more than a few cutting comments. She was Hermione Granger, one of the few people who had ever seen him laugh. Sure, it wasn't really much, but it meant a lot more to Draco. A lot more than it should.

          Draco's eyes slid to Hermione's mahogany door, and his ears strained to catch the sound that he had been hearing distantly for the past week. Snape had informed Draco of Hermione's parents' deaths, and Draco had some suspicions about his father's involvement. Could it really be a coincidence that the Grangers were murdered the same night that his father was fleeing for his life after a Death Eaters meeting? Knowing that his father, a powerful man in social society and Voldemort's inner circle, was on the run was little by little swaying Draco farther and farther away from his previous path.

          At this moment, Hermione's room was silent. Then a creak of the portrait and quick footsteps betrayed her approaching presence. She walked silently up the stairs, shooting him a glance as she neared him.

"Can I borrow a book?" The one book that was the key to his essay had been checked out of the library by Hermione for the past week. No doubt she was trying to memorize it. 

"Finally, the great prince acknowledges my existence. Oh, I feel so honored." She shot at him sarcastically.

"Look, you have had Frustrating and Uncommon Transfiguration Spells long enough. You can only analyze a book for so long!" Her eyes flashed furiously as he practically demanded the book that she had checked out.

"As a matter of fact, this book happens to be quite fascinating. I think I may have to keep it…for the rest of the year!" Groaning exasperatedly, Draco stomped after Hermione as she whirled into her room.

"Do you sincerely want me to fail?"

"Yes! Now get out of my room!"

"Just give me the book! I'm already late for a meeting with Snape!"

"Well, perhaps if you are late he will have some extra time to take a bath. The stench was horrible this morning," she mumbled under her breath. Draco snorted; she has a point.

"That's true."

"I honestly don't know how you can sit so close to him in you meetings. It's not so bad in classes, but, by Merlin, some distance is required to breathe!" They glanced at one another, their eyes twinkling, conveniently forgetting the fact that they were agreeing on something for perhaps the first time.

"I've been sorely tempted to cast a fresh breath charm on him more than once," joked Draco, surprising even himself. But Draco cracking jokes wasn't as surprising as when Hermione broke into laughter. He smirked amusedly, before shooting a surprised glance at Hermione. She looked back at him, just as shocked.

"Well…I have to get back to my essay," she said, a bit flustered.

"Perhaps I'll wander the halls for a few more minutes. Extra time in that bath would do him some good," responded Draco as he slipped out of her room.

          Hermione didn't start on her essay for awhile, for laughing is much more fun. 

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          Draco stood in the hallway, leaning against the gray, stone wall, and contemplating what had transpired. He had joked and smiled, once again, with Hermione Granger. When he was around her, he felt like he could…smile. This worried him. He was a Malfoy and a Slytherin. Malfoys did not allow their feelings to be revealed, and were the cold, unfeeling family that everyone knew and hated. He felt different around Hermione.

This worried him a great deal.

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          Hermione sat patiently on the wooden bench waiting for Harry and Ron to arrive. She smiled as hordes of students poured through the doorway, the sounds of laughing and chattering echoing through the Hall. She hugged Ron and Harry quickly as they sat on either side of her. Waving energetically to Ginny, her attention was pulled to the two squealing girls that ran up to her side.

"Hermione! You look great!" Hermione blushed as Parvati and Lavender threw compliments on her.

"Guys, please! My hair just straightened a bit! Sit down, for Merlin's sake!" The girls laughed and glided down to settle by Ginny. Hermione smiled in greeting at the many familiar faces that passed her way.

"Hermione! You look particularly pretty this day!" flattered Dean, followed by a wink from Seamus. Hermione blushed furiously, for the second time that day, and shooed them away. A glare emitted from gray eyes went unnoticed by all. 

          Throughout this time, she kept shooting small glances at the blond boy on the opposite end of the hall. Draco Malfoy was confusing. Hermione prided herself on her ability to figure out problems and understand complicated concepts. But she couldn't figure out Draco. One moment he's an arrogant git, and the next he's civil. She wanted to learn what lay behind his gray eyes and that impenetrable mask that he wore so well. And that's what it was; a mask that cannot be broken.

 Or perhaps, she thought quietly, nobody's tried.

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A/N—I really appreciate all of my reviewers- it really helps me. This chapter would have taken MUCH longer if there were less reviews!

I LOVE YOU ALL! THANKYOU SO MUCH!

OPTIONS FOR NEXT CHAPTER

1. More guy attention for Hermione (I know there was just a bit this time)

2. Detention!

3. Glimpse of Lucius

Queenanneus- There will be a fight in the Trio..but later. This chapter focused a bit more on the feelings they may have. It was a must for later chapters.

Amber Lee1- I put a little bit of jealousy in there, but I thought if I put a lot it would have their relationship be progressing much too fast. He's just coming to terms with the fact that he doesn't hate her, so that may have been too much too soon.

Little Black Star

A nony mouse- I tried to show how he is not sure how to react in this chapter, b/c I do think he would feel confused. Thanks—I tried not to make him OOC at all.

Love 2045

Meg- There was a bit of jealousy in there, but not too much. That would've been too soon. I decided that a fight would come later—A big one!

Apollonia2—I think Draco would be a little possessive, but that phase will come later!

Brown eyed took

Natyslacks—Thanks! I feel flattered! Ah! I did a bit of the jealousy option, but perhaps there will be more in the next chapter. Definitely looks at her differently now! 

FireSorceress1- Thanks! A big fight in the group will come later. A really really big one

Dea Lorn- I absolutely loved your review. I don't think I got a nicer and more complimenting one. I try really hard to keep the characters in character for at least the beginning of the story.

FOR EMBRACE THE DARKNESS (my other fic)

 Queenanneus- I think I may rewrite the entire thing, and just keep the plot. Total writers block. Thanks for reviewing!