A/N: DAMN WRITER'S BLOCK! I AM SOOOOOOO SORRY FOR THE HOLD UP!! Writer's block and a lot of school projects have been keeping me offline for a hella long time. But I tried making this chapter as interesting and long as I can. SO here ya go!!! Chapter 9 MIGHT be the last chapter, I'm still thinking...

Disclaimer: Me? Own Harry Potter? Maybe someday...(yea right!)

Chapter 8: What Do You See?

"Draco...what exactly are you doing?" Hermione asked with a slight shiver in her voice.

"Something I've been wanting to do since our first date..." Her breathing became rapid as she watched what Draco was about to do. Draco felt his heart accelerating as he leaned in. Then finally, their lips met.

It started very soft and gentle at first, since Draco didn't want to scare Hermione off.

I'm kissing Malfoy...I'm kissing Draco Malfoy......oh wow I'm kissing Draco Malfoy! With that thought in mind she slid her hands up and down his chest once before wrapping them around his shoulders.

Once he felt her responding he smiled against her lips and started tracing them with his tongue. Before both knew what was going on, half of Draco's body ended up over Hermione on her bed, probably wrinkling Snape's essay pretty badly. But she didn't care. All that mattered was that she knew that at least someone wanted her with this much passion...

Meanwhile, Draco was starting to feel a little light-headed; something that has never happened while he was making out with someone. But he didn't want to stop. Feeling Hermione in his arms and tasting her, he just felt complete.

He started leaving light kisses along her neck. Hermione couldn't help but let out a little moan. This made them both become conscious of what was going on. Draco stopped kissing her and looked into her chocolate brown eyes.

"Hermione...I...-"

"What Draco?" she whispered softly.

"I think I may love you."

The fact that he said 'love' startled her for about a millisecond. But she wondered if Draco was telling the truth, or just simply messing with her head. By now, though, neither would surprise her.

Hermione pushed Draco out of the way gently and got up. She felt as if there were birds, not butterflies, in her stomach. She contemplated this whole situation and there was a very uncomfortable stillness.

"Hermione...now would be a good time to say something." Draco said getting up to face her.

"I...I don't know." She lied, and not very well.

"You're lying. You can't kiss me like that if you didn't love me either!"

"I...I was caught in the moment..." she replied as her voice trembled.

"No. Hermione...look into my eyes. What do you see?"

Reluctantly, Hermione looked up at those enticing gray-blue eyes. In them, she saw something that she has never seen before. Not even in Ron's. There was longing, love, and fear all at the same time.

"...I see...you. The real you." He slightly smiled at her answer and rested his forehead against hers.

"So, what does that mean?" he whispered.

"I think it means, that I may love you too." He smiled softly.

"Good answer." They resumed kissing until both their lips were swollen.

### Potions class the next day seemed odd to Harry and Ron, well, to Harry anyways. Ron isn't very perceptive to situations like these. It was even more odd while Snape was pairing up partners.

"Bulstrode, Weasley; Parknson, Potter; Malfoy, Granger..." Just as Harry turned to his best friend to give her a sympathetic look, she seemed peculiarly relaxed. She gathered up her books and sat next to a grinning Draco Malfoy. Harry furrowed his brows in confusion.

"POTTER! Get over here!" screeched Pansy. Harry cringed. Jesus! I swear the girl is like a howler monkey.

"Hello, love." Draco said in voice soft enough for Hermione to hear, but not anyone else.

"Hi." She replied, giving him that small smile that gave his heart skip a beat.

As she sat down, Draco watched. He couldn't have been happier

"Hermione. Would you mind meeting me tonight in the quidditch field?"

Hermione let out a subtle blush. "Of course. Why?"

"I just...want to talk to you..."

"Ok. How about 8:00?" Draco nodded.

"Then it's settled. I better get the ingredients..."

Draco watched her walk. An image of a glowing angel gliding came to mind. Gliding? Glowing angels? I must be going soft... But if being soft was a consequence for being with Hermione, he'd take it in a heart-beat.

Harry and Ron stared at Draco with disbelief.

Why is he looking at Hermione like that? Thought Harry.

I'm going to rip him to shreds and feed him to the birds! Thought Ron. He barely noticed Draco eyeing his ex girlfriend hopefully.

Hermione couldn't help but smile as she gathered the ingredients. Who knew that she, Hermione Granger, mudblood, would kind of almost sort of love Draco Malfoy? But yet, she couldn't help wonder what Draco wanted with her out on the quidditch field.

"Ms. Granger, I think you have enough pumpkin seeds. Take a seat." Drawled an annoyed Snape.

"Sorry, Professor.

###Hermione just finished working on some Transfiguration homework (figures) and lay down on her bed. She looked at her pocket watch. 7:30...I should probably get ready.

Hermione changed from her robes into something comfortable. Some stylish worn-in jeans, a wife-beater, and a gray wool jacket over it. Her hair was up in a messy bun and had some light makeup on. She crossed checked herself in front of the mirror and left.

Draco paced around the quidditch field. He was feeling apprehensive on what he was about to ask Hermione. This was definitely not him. Draco Malfoy NEVER asked anyone to go steady with someone...HE was the one that was always asked.

Ugh...I feel queasy...

Draco had knots in his stomach and wanted to throw up from nervousness. Certainly not a turn-on for women, though. He had a lump in his throat and he could barely breathe.

Strange feeling......but I like it...

"Draco?"

Draco spun around in excitement to see a very casual Hermione smiling at him. He could feel his palms getting sweaty. Damn hormones...

"So...is there a reason you wanted to see me in this very cold December night?" she asked walking towards him.

Draco wiped his palms on his pants before walking towards Hermione as well. He took her dainty hands in his large ones (you know what they say about guys with big hands right??? Haha sorry had to say that. ::cough:: TOM FELTON IS SEXAY ::cough::) and looked into her deep brown eyes.

He took a deep breath. "I...I want to talk to you"

Hermione had an inquisitive look on her face but smiled nonetheless.

"ook..."

Draco led her to one of the goal posts and they sat down. Hermione sat between Draco's legs as he leaned against the post. She rested against his chest while he wrapped his arms around her and inhaled her scent. Somehow, he just felt more comfortable about what he was about to do.

"There was a reason I asked you out this night." Hermione's eyes were closed but let out a small "Hmm?" ushering Draco to continue.

He hesitated. She felt his chest rise up and down. It was soothing to hear him breathe.

"What do you think...I mean...Do you think...Will you be my girlfriend?" Draco rolled his eyes at his own question. "Will you be my girlfriend?" What the hell? What am I? A muggle boy band?

Hermione eyes opened slowly at his question.

She turned her head to meet his eyes. All of a sudden, flashed of the near future came to mind. Ron yelling at her, Harry's disapproving glare, people in the Great Hall whispering and giggling, Dumbledore and that damned twinkle in his eye...

"Hermione?" She blinked. Then she noticed. There was something hopeful in them that she'd never seen before...and that scared her. Abruptly, she stood up and startled Draco.

"Um...I-I'm sorry...I've got to go..." She looked at Draco one last time before leaving.

"Hermione! Hermione wait!!" Draco called after, struggling to get up.

Hermione could feel tears forming in her eyes, but she didn't dare cry. Not now.

"Hermione!" A hand grabbed her arm and spun her around. "What...What is it? Why are you running?" Hermione took deep breaths. Draco could see her eyes shining with tears.

"Draco...we...we can't do this. I-I..." she could feel her eyes stinging and had to get out of there. Without another word she tried to run again, but Draco was much stronger than she was.

"That's not an answer. Why can't this happen?"

"Because!" She looked at the grass beneath them. There was no way she could make eye contact.

"Because what? Is it so hard for us to be together? Is it so hard to accept that I want to be with you??" Draco asked almost angrily.

"I-...I"

"You what? Look at me." Hermione's eyes stayed on the grass. Draco used his finger to tilt her head for her eyes to meet his.

"I'm just...I'm scared." She said in a whisper.

"Of what?"

"Of..." Hermione could feel the words twisting her throat. "I'm scared of you...I don't want to get hurt Draco..."

Draco stared in disbelief. His grip loosened and she took this as her cue to run away.

He stayed frozen. He replayed her words in his head until it became nothing but gibberish. "I'm scared of you. I don't want to get hurt... I'm scared of you. I don't want to get hurt...I don't want to get hurt..."

A/N: Well...? What do you guys think? I thought about it and the next chapter is going to be the last chapter of this story. This was really supposed to be a mini-fic anyways. I'm thinking of making a one-shot. A whole love triangle thing. Well if you want the next chapter, REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW!! Aww I miss reading new reviews from you guyz!!!!! MuCh MaHaL! Oh and PS: Please read my new one-shot "Just a Dream". I'd appreciate if you reviewed that too!!