Chapter Fifteen – You would have never guessed

Both Hermione and Draco walked together towards Hermione's house, making useless small talk. The more Hermione got to know him, the more she realized that he wasn't as cold-hearted as she thought.

On their way to Hermione's house, they passed a popular hang-out spot for the local teenagers of the neighborhood. Hermione stiffened slightly, and quickened her pace a bit. 'Why does she look so tense?' He wondered.

"Hermione?"

Both Hermione and Draco turned around at the same time.

"Claire!" Hermione squealed. Draco looked politely bewildered. "Draco, this is Claire, a good friend of mine. I hardly ever get to see her, since I'm away at school all the time. Claire, this is Draco…" Hermione trailed off, unsure of how to introduce him. 'Should I introduce him as my boyfriend? He might mind…' She thought worriedly.

Claire looked Draco up and down. "Good choice, Hermione" She said finally. Hermione giggled nervously. "How's school?" She asked, turning back to Hermione. The two girls talked for a bit, about grades, subjects, and other relatively boring academic subjects that didn't interest Draco the least.

"So what about Viktor? You mentioned him a couple of times in your letters…" Claire said. Draco's attention was immediately re-focused. 'Viktor? Viktor Krum! She's not dating him, is she?'

"Oh, yeah, Viktor. We're friends, and nothing else." Hermione said, looking straight into Draco's eyes. Draco, however, wasn't entirely convinced.

"So are you two…?" Claire began, looking between Hermione and Draco. Hermione bit her lip. As much as Draco hated conversing with muggles, he decided to step in.

"Yes." He said, glancing at Hermione. She smiled.

"Awwww! You have a boyfriend!" Claire cooed. Hermione blushed. Draco snorted in a dignified way.

"So what about you? Anyone special?" Hermione said, trying to keep the conversation off of her. Claire's face suddenly lit up.

"Actually, yes… Hold on, I'll get him…" Claire said, before dashing off towards a group of teenagers. Hermione reached for Draco's hand and squeezed it lightly. She ran back with someone. "Hermione, Draco, meet—"

"BLAISE?!" Hermione and Draco exclaimed in unison. The black-haired boy's jaw dropped.

"Malfoy? GRANGER?!" He said, with equal surprise.

"Err, do you three know each other?" Claire said, looking between the three of them.

"You know what? How about we all come over to my house, and talk this out…" Hermione said hastily. The last thing she needed was a scene in front of a bunch of muggles.

Draco, on the other hand, was panicking. 'He seen me with Hermione! He seen me with Hermione!' His mind chanted. 'I'm doomed! My perfect Malfoy reputation will be ruined… Is she worth this?' he asked himself. Honestly, didn't quite know at this point. 'Actually, we're not that bad off… He's the one dating a muggle. Hermione is so much more than that…' He rationalized with himself. Then he laughed quietly; Blaise was dating a muggle!

"What's so funny, Malfoy?" Blaise asked, his eyes narrowing on his blonde friend. Draco looked over at Hermione, who gave him a murderous look.

"Nothing, Zabini." Draco said, keeping a straight face. Claire looked nervously between the three again.

"Why do you guys keep calling each other by your last names?" Claire asked curiously. Hermione burst out laughing, causing everyone to look at her, as if she had lost her mind.

"Because… We aren't all exactly friends. Well, Draco and Blaise might be, but they both used to hate me. Well, at least Draco did." Hermione said sheepishly.

"Malfoy, you have some explaining to do" Blaise said, smirking.

"Look who's talking! What were you thinking… A MUGGLE!" Draco exclaimed. Hermione nudged him painfully in the ribs. "Ouch, woman!" He yelped, causing Hermione to give him a very sharp look, and Claire to giggle.

When they arrived at Hermione's house, everyone took a seat in the living room. Hermione sighed, not knowing where to start.

"We know Blaise from school… We all go to the same school." Hermione explained. "Now, how did you two met?" Hermione asked.

"Well… We met at Kings Cross. Just after I got off the school train…" Blaise said. "But please, tell me... How did the know-it-all and the prince of darkness hook up?" Blaise said, leaning back in his chair and smirking. Hermione glared at his nickname for her.

"Our moms' met at Kings Cross, while waiting for the school train. They're practically inseparable now. It's disgusting. We've been forced to spend time with each other, and well… I bloody well will not to go into details." Draco said, taking up his spoilt, arrogant tone.

"Prince of Darkness? You look more like a cuddly, sweet boy…" Claire said, giggling. Hermione and Blaise joined in her laughter, but Draco however, did not find it amusing.

"I am bloody well not a cuddly, sweet boy!" Draco said coolly. Hermione laughed nervously, placing a hand on Draco's leg, rubbing it gently.

After changing the subject a couple times, they all found a safe subject: schoolwork. "Is anyone hungry?" Hermione asked, after an hour or so. "We could go out to a café for a drink or something…" She suggested. Claire grinned.

"Hey, that's a great idea!" She said, getting up. Hermione followed suit. Blaise and Draco looked at each other, shrugged, and stood up, alongside.

"And just how do you plan on getting there, Granger?" Draco asked, smirking. "There's no way I'm doing anymore walking" He added stubbornly. Hermione shaked her head.

"Then you can stay here alone, Malfoy, and starve." Hermione said, imitating his smirk.

"Oh, you guys! It's only a block or two away..." Claire said, rolling her eyes.

"Get moving Malfoy, you lazy prat" Hermione said playfully.

"Don't you dare give me orders, woman!" He countered, a smirk on his pale face.

"Remind me why you two like each other, again?" Blaise said, looking between the couple. Hermione and Draco both shot Blaise a death glare.

"We're both going, then. See you later, then…" Claire said, a knowing smile appearing on her face. Her and Blaise walked out the door, Blaise's arm around Claire's waist.

"Fine, lets get out of here, then." Draco said, walking ahead of Hermione. Hermione rolled her eyes. 'What a drama queen…' Draco walked up to the door, opened it, and then did the unexpected;

"After you, m'lady"

He held the door open for her.

Author's Note: Wowee, I've been so busy. Thank you all who reviewed the last chapter, and who sent me e-mails! :o) I certainly did not forget about this story, I've just been uber busy, that's all. Personally, I feel the characters getting more and more OOC as the story goes on, lol. Let me know if this chapter was too OOC, annndd.. please let me know what I can do to improve it :oD

Like usual, I don't have time to answer to all your reviews, sorry! At least I updated though, right? :oP Keep the reviews coming—Even if I don't answer them all, I most certainly do read them all!

I luff my reviewers! 3