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Thirteen

"But he's Malfoy, Hermione! Draco Malfoy! Can you really trust that Draco Malfoy likes you? He's hated you since the first day of our first year! Hell, he hates Harry and me as well! Would he really want to go ou with someone who associates with 'Weaselbee and Saint Potter'?"

"Shut up, Ron, you don't know the half of it. He's changed," I snapped.

"No he hasn't!"

"YES HE HAS!" I roared. "WHY ELSE WOULD HE HAVE KISSED ME?"

Ron stood, looking at me, absolutely dumbfounded. "He kissed you?"

"Yes, he did. D'you mind?" I asked, my hands on my hips. Ron just stared at me.

"That's it, that's just . . . . that's it," he muttered, walking away. He pretty much sprinted up to his dormitory, leaving me to stand there and watch him.

"What did I do?" I asked as Ginny and Harry walked into the Common Room.

"I dunno, don't get me involved," Harry said, following after Ron. The only two people left in the Common Room were Ginny and I, still in our prom dresses.

"Ginny, what did I do?" I asked again.

"Well, Ron's kinda pissed because of you and Malfoy," she said, sitting down on a sofa nearby. I sat down next to her.

"I know, but why? I mean, he was pissed about Krum, too. He just doesn't like me getting with any guys," I said.

"It's not that, Hermione, it's just . . . I dunno, I can't say. I'm not supposed to say any of this stuff," she said quietly. "Besides, I have to go to bed. I'll talk to you tomorrow, Hermione."

"Fine," I puffed, and I began walking back to my dormitory, where I knew Malfoy would be waiting for me. Perhaps Operation Jealousy wasn't exactly the best idea after all.

I knocked on the door three times, to signify that it was me. Malfoy opened the door and said, "Hey, babe. Where have you been all night?"

"Oh, I just had to talk to Ron for a minute," I murmured, avoiding his gaze. He leaned in and gave me a gentle kiss. I accepted it, but rather warily.

"What's wrong?" Malfoy asked. "Did Weasley give you a hard time?" He escorted me inside, one arm wrapped around my waist.

"A bit," I lied. It was more than a bit. I would be lucky for him to ever talk to me again. I had never felt so miserable.

"What did he say?"

I sighed and said, "The same stuff I said to you earlier. How do I know you're not just using me?"

"Because I wouldn't do that, sugar. I've changed. Everything about me has changed, besides my good looks. Something about you has made me want to change, want to get to know you. It's like you've triggered my intuition. I could barely consider myself a Slytherin anymore," he said sweetly.

"Really?" I asked.

"Of course. Why would I lie to you? Now, don't worry your pretty little head with things like Weasley and Potter. They will realize in time that I am different. For now, just rest."

He kissed me again, then turned back to his dormitory and murmured, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," I murmured back, realizing that he was an amazing kisser.

What was I thinking? Ron was right, this was Draco Malfoy. He didn't really like me. He was just using me.

Or did he?