G'day mates! What's kicking? I have two really cool projects I have to do. One is in Social Studies, I have to pretend that I'm in an Indian tribe or region and learn about their life styles and present it. And second is in Math. I have to plan out a trip that I'm going to take when I'm grown-up. I have to find out how much each thing costs. But I don't know where I want to go. By the way, I don't own anything.

The next morning Jillian came running to Hermione's room to get details.

"So how did it go?" she asked, plopping down.

"Wonderful. We're not officially boyfriend and girlfriend yet, but we're seriously dating. He is such a great guy, and today I have to go to this tournament. If I win, I get prize money and I could move out of here and into my own apartment." Hermione said happily.

"I'm so happy for you. I guess Draco wasn't my guy, but I'm happy that he's yours." Said Jillian standing up and walking out.

Hermione went took a shower, washed her hair and put on her leotard and her purple and silver nylon pants and jacket. Jill did her make-up. White eye-liner, silver eye shadow, clear lip-gloss, light blush and she painted her nails purple.

"Thank you so much Jill. I'll tell you how it turns out." Said Hermione, after adding more spray to her hair.

"Knock 'em dead 'Mione." Said Jill, giving her the thumbs up.

&&&FRONT OF GYM&&&

"Are you ready?" asked Draco, taking her hand.

"I think so. Did I mention how nervous I was?" asked Hermione, looking up at the big blue and white sign.

"Yes. The whole way here. Don't worry, you'll do just fine. I'll be there and so will Ron and Harry. Just have faith." Said Draco pushing her forward slightly.

"Names please. I need the coach name and the contestant." Said this lady, chewing neon orange gum.

"Contestant, Hermione Granger and coach, Draco Malfoy." Said Hermione, starting to shake.

"Ok, you guys will go right after Liz Evans."

Draco nodded and took Hermione over to the chairs. She could see Ron and Harry on the other side, cheering her on. This made her a bit less nervous.

"I think I can actually do this. I've practiced enough and I know what I have to do." Said Hermione, talking to herself more than Draco.

"You see. You have to believe. After this, we can forget all about it and move on to the next one. And each time, you'll get better and better." Said Draco, rubbing her back.

"You are so sweet." Stated Hermione smiling.

She gave him a hug and they just stood like that for a moment until one person before Liz on the beam, Hermione's best. It turns out that Liz was pretty good, although she had hopped a bit when she landed. Which gave her a 9.788.

Hermione walked up and she took a deep breath. She tried to remember being alone with just Draco when she was practicing. She pretended no one was there but them, Ron and Harry. This actually helped. She mounted and did her routine. When it came time for the dismount she remembered what Draco had said about not too much air or she wouldn't have time to open up and she landed perfectly.

"That was wonderful. Let's see what your score is." Said Draco, pulling her to him.

Hermione got a 9.888! Draco picked her up and spun her around. She just started and was in second place after this girl named Sara Olsen from Spain. Hermione had a dark purple and light purple stripped with silver stretch velour leotard.

"That wasn't so bad. I feel great now, I can do this." Said Hermione, smiling brightly, waving to everyone.

Next up were the un-even bars, Hermione's next best event. Draco lifted her up slightly and she did her stuff, only she slipped just a little but that didn't hurt her score too much. Once again the crowed clapped and cheered. During the break while walking to the next event, Draco handed her some water.

"Thanks. Wish me luck." Said Hermione, taking a big swig of water.

"You'll do great. This is your second best event, you'll do perfect and then we'll only have to worry about the vault." Said Draco, smiling brightly at her.

After Liz did hers, Hermione walked up brightly and began. She did wonderfully, when she finished all the crowed were cheering loudly, especially where Ron and Harry were sitting. Hermione ran over to Draco, his arms extended waiting for her.

"You were fabulous! Everyone is going to have a hard time beating you in this event!" exclaimed Draco, kissing the top of her head.

Soon it was time for the last event, the vault. Hermione was so nervous, she wasn't that great in this event. If she couldn't get an 8.777 then she wouldn't even get to stand on the podium. When it was her turn she stepped up, she got some chalk and began to run. She remembered what Draco had said about thinking about someone that you hated, when she tried that nothing happened. She went over and skidded across the mat. The crowd gasped. Hermione put her hands to her face and ran out of the stadium. Ron, Harry and Draco followed.

"Hermione, where are you?" called Harry.

"We want to talk with you, please come out." Ron said out.

"Please 'Mione. Don't you want to watch the others?" Draco asked hopefully.

There was no answer. They continued to search for her until Ron spotted her across the street sitting in a swing. Her hair was coming out and her make-up was running around her eyes.

"That was absolutely the worst moment in my entire life. I don't want to go back inside." Said Hermione, starting to cry again.

"Don't worry about it. There will be other tournaments that you can enter, and I'm sure that you'll nail those." Said Harry, squatting down beside her.

"I can't and I won't. This was a stupid dream of mine and I should have never tried to follow it. I should have gone on to become something else, like a medi-witch or something." Hermione answered not looking up.

"It wasn't a stupid dream. You did great in everything, even that last part. At least you tried to do it, there are other people who won't try it and you did. That makes you really special." Said Ron, patting her back.

"Can I have some time with her for a moment guys?" asked Draco.

Ron and Harry reluctantly got up and mouthed the words; "I'm watching you." Draco walked over to Hermione and sat down in front of her.

"'Mione, you know how you were going to get an apartment. Well since you're out of the running for the money and all." Stated Draco, loosening his tie.

"What about it, you're making me feel worse (sniff) you know." Said Hermione, wiping away fresh tears.

"My house is just too big for one person. And I was wondering would you like to live with me?" asked Draco, smiling hopefully.

Hermione was stunned by the news. She never expected him to ask her something like that. She nodded her head smiling down at him.

"You're the best ever! Thank you so, so much!" exclaimed Hermione, and fell into Draco's lap.

He took her in and hugged her close to him. She was beautiful even when she was crying or unhappy. They laced hands and walked back to the auditorium to watch the awards being handed out. Harry and Ron walked over to them shortly after.

"Have you guys worked everything out yet?" asked Harry, running his fingers through his already messy hair.

"Yeah. I'm moving in with him now. Of course I'm going to have my own room." Said Hermione, when Harry and Ron glared at Draco.

"Well that's for the best I suppose. We'll help you move in and then we can go and do something together." Said Ron, looking at the group.

They all agreed to meet and help her move her little bit of stuff and then they would go out.

MADAME SUMMIT'S

"Hermione, did you win?" asked Jill, bounding down the stairs.

"No, but that's alright. These are my best ever friends, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley." Hermione stated.

"Please to meet you." Both boys said, nodding.

Jill's eyes locked with Ron's. Hermione, Harry and Draco left to give them some time. When they reached Hermione's room Harry looked around.

"You actually lived in this small room?" asked Harry as Hermione started folding her clothes.

"Yeah. This is the boarding and I have to share a bathroom with all of the other girls. Which reminds me, I have to take another shower and get changed. I'll be back in a moment." Said Hermione, grabbing something out of her trunk.

"I take it you told her, she seems a lot happier." Said Harry, folding some pink jeans.

"Yeah. But we're not like serious, serious yet. Just more of for real dates." Draco stated, getting some clothes out of the closet.

Harry nodded when Ron and Jillian came up.

"Hey guys. Where's Hermione?" Asked Ron, walking in.

"She went to take a shower and get changed. What took so long to get up here?" asked Draco, putting in some really nice flower buckle heels.

"No reason. Is it ok if Jill comes along with us? Her being a friend of Hermione's and all." Said Ron, blushing.

Harry looked up and you could see a weird glint in his eye.

"Sure Ron. Anything for Hermione." Said Harry, when Hermione walked in.

She was wearing 80's styled blue jeans with a thin white belt and a tight red shirt that was short so you could see her belly button. Her hair was in a cute ponytail with glitter. And she had on white eye-liner and clear lip-gloss.

"So what's up guys?" Asked Hermione, walking in.

"Ron was wondering could Jill come with us tonight?" Stated Draco, putting away some of her books.

Hermione looked over at Harry and saw there was this weird glint in his eyes still and Hermione got the hint. She too now had that same weird little shine. They finished packing quickly, and hauled it out to Ron's new truck. Jill and Harry rode with Ron while Hermione went with Draco.

"Are you sure you don't mind me staying with you? I always clean and I tend to rearrange things and a lot of other things too." Said Hermione.

"Of course I don't mind. I wouldn't mind you doing any of those things; it's your house now too. Did I mention that I have a stable?" asked Draco, turning a corner.

"No, I don't think you did? Does it have horses or something else?" asked Hermione.

"It has horses. One or two could be yours if you like. I have too many things that I can't wait to share with you." Draco stated kissing her cheek.

Hermione blushed and continued looking out the window. Soon they pulled up to a nice house surrounded by grass and trees and there were stables and two lakes, a path, swings and right in the middle of it all was a quaint house make of bricks with a chimney.

"You live here?" asked Hermione.

"It used to belong to my grandmother. I came here every other summer to be with her and that's why there are swings and a riding path. Come on, I want to show you inside." Said Draco, taking her hand and leading her in.

Inside the house looked nothing like the outside. When you walked in, there was a light above the door, a closet and a bar. Over to the left there was a nice living room. There was a nice black velvet couch and a love seat, a glass coffee table and the fireplace. To the right was the dining room, a red wood table and four wire chairs with red cushions. Next to the table there was the kitchen. There was your average stove, refrigerator, counters, cabinets, a sink, dishwasher, and a microwave.

"Do you like downstairs so far? There's more, over there is the side porch. And over to the left next to the stairs, that door leads to the laundry room and let's go upstairs." Said Draco, taking her hand and leading her up.

They walked up and found the first door to the left to be the linen closet. On the opposite side more off to the left there was a nice black, white and green marble bathroom with a whirlpool roman style bathtub. On the left side of the hallway there was Draco's room, kind of like the Slytherin common room. Next they moved to Hermione's room. She opened the door and saw an elegant shiny brass-plated bed with a very, very soft mattress and a white bedspread with pink bows and a soft pillow with the same pattern. She had her own walk in closet and a small vanity area with lights around the mirror. Her carpet was cream colored and soft. She had a really nice window with curtains.

"Do you like it?" asked Draco.

"I love it. This room is even better than the one in my parent's house. Thank you so much Draco!" said Hermione running to him and wrapping her arms around him.

He smelled her hair and her self. She smelled like fresh oranges. Harry, Ron and Jill came up with her trunk and knocked on the door.

"Some great house you have. Hermione is so lucky to stay here. I don't think she would have liked our apartment." Said Ron, dropping his end on the trunk.

"I don't think so either. So what do you guys want to do?" said Harry, plopping down on the trunk. Ron and Jill followed.

"We can go to this great 50's place that I know of. They play all of these old songs, and they have a skating rink and we can have burgers, fries, and shakes. So what do you think guys, want to go on this great adventure?" asked Hermione.

They all nodded in agreement and they all got into the truck and went off to this place called 'The Ages'.

A/N: HI EVERYONE! I'M SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG TO UPDATE. IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, JILL IS GOING AFTER RON NOW, LEAVING HARRY ALONE. BECAUSE HERMIONE HAS DRACO, RON HAS JILL AND WHO DOES HARRY HAVE... YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE. ONE HINT: THEY ALREADY KNOW EACH OTHER AND HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR A WHILE NOW. : ) LATER DAYS.

-JENNIFER