A/N:Sorry for the tremendous delay. But I was just a little disheartened over this nasty flame that I got. Anyways, here's a longer chapter in place of my apologies-->
A/N:Hope u guys won't be too disappointed over who this mystery or not so mystery person is.
Number of Words: 2094 words
Previous:"Hermione. Your back." He whispered as he emerged from the shadows.
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~*Chapter 12: A Definite Answer Please*~
Hermione gasped as she felt arms wrap possessively around her waist. She tensed up as her mind raced back to the night when she was attacked. Struggling, she tried to get a hold of her wand, or at least get a look at her attacker. But her movements only caused the attackers firm grip around her tighten.
'Just like what Malfoy does.' She thought as she remembered the melting kiss she had received a few weeks back.
"I sent you a ton of messages today. How come you didn't reply any of them?"
Hermione relaxed at the sound of Draco's voice.
"You aren't trying to avoid me are you?"
"I never avoided you. And even if I was avoiding you, what's it to you?"
"So you are avoiding me."
"Answer my question."
"You didn't give me a definite answer."
"Answer? I'm the one asking the questions here at the moment. And answer to what question.'
"The answer to whether or not you are willing to be my girlfriend."
"I already gave you my answer!" Hermione retorted defiantly as a blush slowly crept across her face.
"A definite answer. As in a yes or a no. 'Depends' is not good enough and it is definitely not a definite answer."
"Oh, so 'depends' isn't good enough for you is it? And since I said depends, it means I'm not good enough for you either is it?"
At her sudden outburst, Draco had let go of Hermione's waist. Hermione turned around and started jabbing Draco with her right index finger in his chest.
" That is exactly the attitude which got you 'depends'. Instead of a definite answer."
With a final shove, Hermione had successfully gotten Draco out of her room. She slammed the door in his face with a thud as if to say ' End of discussion.'
"But you like that attitude, don't you." Draco replied after a couple of seconds.
"Then why did I not say yes? Hm?" came Hermione's muffled response.
"Why didn't you say no?" At Hermione's silence, Draco continued. "If you really did despise my attitude, then you would've said no in an instant. Maybe, the reason for that is perhaps you actually like my attitude. Or maybe you like something else about me that surpasses my horrible attitude."
"I don't know what your talking about." She said primly. "Now if you'll please shut up, I would like to get to bed, and so should you. We have Transfigurations first thing tomorrow."
"Yeah. That's what you always do. Run away. You know you'll have to face this sooner or later. I'll get back at you for slamming the door in my face, Hermione."
"We'll see about that, Mister Malfoy." Came Hermione's faint voice.
Once Hermione was certain that Draco had retreated to his room once more, Hermione took out a piece of parchment, quill, ink and began to jot down a quick message to her best friend.
'Harry
Meet me in the History of Magic section in the Library after classes tomorrow night. I have an important matter to discuss with you.
Hermione
Hermione tapped her foot impatiently in the hidden, deserted corner of the Library. Harry had better get to the Library soon because they only had an hour before dinner in the Great Hall starts.
The tapping stopped abruptly and Hermione lifted her head to see a red faced, panting Harry rushing across to her.
"Hermione. What did you want to talk to me about that was so important?" Harry said breathlessly as he let his book bag fall onto the floor noiselessly and sank himself into a chair across from Hermione.
"Erm, Harry. You know that you're my best guy friend. Not including Ron, right?"
"Yes.."
"And since you are also buddies with Malfoy, you should know him pretty well, right?"
"Uh-huh." He prepared himself mentally for what he knew Hermione was about to ask. The worst was about to happen. Hermione would fall for Draco, then after a few days, Draco would dump her. Leaving Hermione down in the dumps and him to try to cheer her up.
"So, I was wondering if you'd give me some advice on how to get rid of Malfoy?"
"Get rid of Draco?"
"You see. Malfoy seems to have taken a liking to me, and he won't stop bothering me until I agree to be his girlfriend." The more Hermione talked about this matter, the more emotional she got. She hadn't realized how much she had wanted to talk to someone about it, but she didn't dare tell any of the girls for fear of unwanted rumors. "One moment, he's all sweet and innocent which is totally against his reputation. Next he turns back into his bad boy attitude. Then he becomes the hero. All tender and caring and full of thought. The next day, he acts as if nothing had happened and gets all romantic and Romeo-like. When that doesn't work, he turns back to his annoying, arrogant, self-centered prat who stalks you!"
"Basically, you want me to help you get Draco uninterested in you?"
"That's about it."
"Then I only have one thing to suggest to you... Give in to him and be his girlfriend."
"What?!?" Hermione half yelled, half whispered(Library: Silence is golden rule) and toppled out of her chair as the grand finale. She certainly did not expect this idea from her best friend. Not saying that she hadn't thought about it. But he was supposed to be supportive and either think up a scheme to help her get rid of Draco or talk to him himself since he was his best friends and all and try to persuade him into go after someone else or at least try to negotiate something out.
"That was certainly not the idea I was thinking you would suggest." She said, speaking her mind. Hermione quickly picked herself up as she noticed that her yelp and fall had cause her skirt to hitch up a great deal (as if it needed be any higher, she thought miserable) and piqued the interest of many male students near by.
"That's the only way to get him to lose interest in you. From what I've heard from you, he's been onto you for quite a while now and he still hasn't given up. Which means he's not going to give up until he has you."
"And there's absolutely no other way out of this?" Hermione groaned
"None, unless you enjoy the notion of him stalking you, that is. My only advice to you is not to get into the relationship too much or you'll end up getting hurt more than you already will." Harry concluded wisely
"Hermione, you have to understand that he no longer regards you as a conquest. He thinks of you as a challenge and he won't stop until he thinks he's won. You should know as well as me by the effort he puts into his grades that he doesn't , never gives up on anything."
"Thanks for listening to me, Harry. You'll be there for me when Draco dumps me, right?"
"Of course. What are friends for?"
At that, Harry gave Hermione a bear hug which she returned gratefully.
Draco placed empty bottles of butter beer all around the common room. Hearing the portrait ask Hermione for the password, he quickly downed a bottle of butter beer and immediately began to act drunk as soon as Hermione stepped through the portrait.
"Hermione." He whispered as he walked drunkenly towards her. "Hermione, why can't you love me? *hiccup* I've tried everything, but you still don't love me? Why? What did I do wrong?*hiccup*"
"Draco, stop drinking. You're not in your right state of mind."
Hearing her address him with his first name, Draco took is for a good sign. Taking a big gulp of butter beer, her teetered over to Hermione and fell on top of her. Holding her down with his weight. Draco opened his eye blearily and Hermione found herself, once again, staring up into those enchanting silver blue eyes.
Without warning, Draco's face began inching closer and closer to Hermione's rosy lips. She could smell the pleasant scent of butter beer in his warm breath. Finally, their lips touched. Remembering Harry's words, Hermione responded to his soft kiss. Feeling that he was being kissed back, Draco's eyes flew open.
Hermione opened her tea brown eyes in confusion to why he had stopped the kiss. Instantly, she noticed that Draco was no longer drunk.
He got off of Hermione and started to stammer his apologies.
"Oh Merlin. What have I done. I'm so sorry Hermione. I..I was just so intent to get you to accept me and I thought nothing would work. I sorry for being such a prat lately." He hung his head and looked down at his shoe to add to the effect.
"Yes. Yes, I will be you girlfriend." A surge of sympathy had ran through Hermione at his display of despair. With the mix of her minor crush on him that she had not yet found out about and sympathy, Hermione made her life changing decision.
Draco lifted his head up with hope in his eyes. Hermione smiled at the boyish grin he had on his porcelain features.
'And another a hundred and fifty points to the Slytherin Seeker for successfully capturing Hermione Granger the Snitch!'
"Um, Hermione. Since we don't have school tomorrow, would you have lunch out at Hogsmeade with me?"
"Sure. I'll meet you in the main hall before lunch."
"Okay. Good night, Hermione."
"Good night,...Draco."
"Morning Hermione." Her friends chorused as she approached the Gryffindor table to have breakfast.
"How'd it go with Draco?" Harry asked as soon as Hermione had settled herself across from him and Ron. Cho had decided it was time she went back to sit with her Ravenclaw friends. Ron seemed busy with buttering his toast, but was actually listening with an attentive ear.
"I said yes. Ron. Ron! Are you awake yet? Your toast is on your plate, so stop spreading butter on your hands! It's gross!"
~*Meanwhile at the Slytherin Table*~
Draco caught Hermione's eye and gave her a slow smile which she happily returned which caused Ron to become even more depressed than he already seemed which was a feat in itself.
"So, you finally got yourself a Gryffindor Princess. How long are you keeping this one?" Blaise questioned him.
"I don't know yet. I'll know after today's date. If she starts getting clingy than it won't last long. But if she isn't, I might keep her longer than most."
"Why? I mean she is prettier than most, but she doesn't seem any different. And won't Harry have a fit when he knows? You know how protective of he is of her. Won't let any of us touch her."
"One, she's hot, like you've mentioned before. Two, Weasley will be jealous. And I think she's already told them as you see Weasley's as silent as a grave. Not his usual annoying self. As for Harry, I've already dealt with him."
"Shall we?"
Hermione sat on Draco's broomstick, leaning back so the crown of her head fitted snuggly under his chin. She had never been good on brooms, so she ended up riding with Draco since he could steer for the both of them. They weren't allowed to use the coaches for they were the only ones to go to Hogsmeade today. Only prefects and heads had the privilege to go to Hogsmeade by themselves during the weekends.
After eating a light lunch at a quiet café, Draco and Hermione decided to take a stroll around the small town. Draco offered to buy something for Hermione and dragged her into a posh looking jewelry store.
Draco stood in a corner while Hermione took her time to pick out something for herself. Draco had thought that Hermione would pick out the diamond encrusted tiara that was on display in the glass windows of the store. But instead, she had picked out a pair of dangly silver earrings with her initials 'HG' on them.
"Didn't you like the diamond tiara?" Draco asked when he had paid for the reasonably priced earrings.
"It looked really nice. But let's be rational about this. Where and when would I wear a tiara? It's not like I'm a princess or anything. It'll probably just end up on a glass shelf for show. Not much use."
'Harry was right, Hermione is different from the other girls. I guess there's more to her than meets the eye.' s
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A/N:Thanks to ew(ew@ew.ew) for giving me my first flame for this story. And I just want to give a comment for future flamers. If you're going to flame me, please sign in first, or at least think up a better name than ew(ew@ew.ew) or an insult. And please try to give constructive critism instead of resulting to flames.
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DMandOBrhot: Thanks! Does DM stand for Draco Malfoy? What does OB stand for? Orlando Bloom?
~*~chicka~*~: Thx. I'll e-mail you.
WillowHarris1: Thanks! A lot of other people guess Adrien Pucey too. Hope you weren't too disappointed that it turned out to be Draco.
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Red Queen 1: Are there really so many dragon toys for Draco to give out to Hermione? Wow!
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lgobgirlie15: Thanks! I know I took a really long time to update this time. So I hope you're still reading this story.
tawny:Thanks! A little action? What are you hinting at? I like feedback and ideas from readers so I can tell what they want to see and what they like.
WoLfePaWs: Thanks! You should read the story where I got the little dragons from. It's really good and way better than mine because this one has a plot. Unlike mine.
natyslacks: nope, its Draco. Hope you aren't too disappointed. Thanks!
LiLbLueangeL1223: your user name kinda told me your b-day. And the mystery/not so mystery person is Draco! Thanks!
ICY*COOL: Oh well, at least you listed Draco. I'm hoping Pucey would be out of this story cuz we wouldn't want him coming back and hurting our dear Hermione would we?
em-strawberri-gurl: em, since you get hyper reading my story, maybe you shouldn't read it... will we get together on the 24th? Hm... I'm eating strawberries right now. Yum!
sumsum(Anonymous):Slytherin Seeker.
dracoandhermioneforever88: Thanks you for your review. Updating is what I'm supposed to do!
u no who: Why'd you pick Krum? I'm not that unpredictable am I?
Alatariel15: Of course that counts! Thanks!
Taintless: yes, it starts with a D. I'm racking my brains for ideas right now... Thanks!
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zou-chang: Did I make it seem like the person was Ron?
alex(Anonymous): can't understand my mind?...not many ppl can anyways. :P
LaTiNo HeAt: yes, I'm still writing. I just have to get back on track, that's all. It's been a while since I've written.
strawberryjam11:I'm planning on being able to get this story finished. I even have the ending planned out. But you never know, something unexpected might come out and I might just leave y'all hanging here. J/K
trixie(Anonymous): Thanks! A lot of reviewers are replying that they like it a lot better now that things have been slowed down. I guess the pace was going to fast, eh?
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A/N:If you've added me to your fav. Author or author alerts list, will you still review if you haven't? I really need the feed back and the motivation!!! Thanks to all those who did review though, I can't believe I got 144 reviews!!!
*Note: If you want to be notified when I've updated, write your e-mail address in your review and I'll add you to my list! OR you could just use fanfiction's Author Alerts!*
[Submitted on March 19, 2004]
BeanTaiPaw ~.<