Disclaimer- Don't own Harry Potter!

Author's Note- I have decided that I am in love with fieryred20. I don't want to disappoint you! Thanks for reviewing so often, smooches to you. This chapter is a bit of an explanation chapter too. I like the next chapter so I'll have that one out in a day or so. Scout's Honor.

Chapter 6

Draco gasped. It felt as if he had been hit in the stomach. "Come now Granger, who is it?"

"Millicent. Bulstrode." Snape was watching, surprise written all over his face.

"You've got to be kidding me." Draco snapped, disbelief apparent.

Dumbledore practically giggled with excitement. Inter-house unity at its best. He smiled at Hermione.

"Alright then," he stood, "Millicent Bulstrode please come here." Draco was staring at Hermione who was glaring at him with fury in her eyes. He was still beyond surprised.

"I think you're lying." He muttered to Hermione who just raised an eyebrow, "I'll see if she's your friend or not." He and Hermione both turned to watch Millicent approach. Millicent nodded at the professors and Draco and smirked at Hermione.

"Malfoy. Granger." She spat, "Headmaster."

"Bulstrode," Draco spat back, "Hermione here thinks you two are friends!" Millicent looked at Hermione in question and she saw Hermione nod. It was time for their secret friendship to come out of the woodwork.

"Yeah, Malfoy, we are." Malfoy stared at her.

"But you… you're a SLYTHERIN!" he spluttered.

"Wow, Malfoy, You're just so clever." Hermione laughed.

"What's going on Hermione?" Millicent asked, the hate gone from her voice. She was bewildered at her friend's actions. "I thought we weren't going to be friends in front of everyone?"

"We weren't, I like spending time together too much to wreck our relationship by Malfoy or someone from your house or mine knowing, but I need your help."

"What do you need?" Draco was staring at the two and Snape, who was listening in, was following his example.

"Lis, it seems as though I am to marry Malfoy."

"No fucking way!" She glanced at Dumbledore who smiled at her, "Erm… no way! When?"

"In two days." Hermione said sadly. "It's a bit rushed but Professor Dumbledore as well as the other professors believe it's the best thing to do."

"I knew it!" Millicent shouted pointing her finger wildly while causing quite a few looks from students sitting at the tables. "I thought so!"

"You thought what Bulstrode?" Draco barked.

"I always thought you two would be perfect for each other."

"WHAT?" Snape, Draco and Hermione shouted at the same time.

"The sexual tension between you two is almost too much. I was just waiting for when he," she gestured towards Draco, "would try to shut you up by smooching you! Enemies become lovers!"

"I would not have kissed her!" Draco shouted. The students were watching the scene play out with humor. Hermione liked that Draco was flustered over what Millicent was saying and decided to join in. She winked at Millicent and began to play along.

"Really, I was hoping he would. It's like the saying, 'There's a fine line between love and hate."

"Totally! It would have been perfect." Draco was staring wide eyed.

"He's just such a cutie." Hermione chuckled.

"Um… I don't think ---" Draco tried to edge in.

"So, did you kiss him or did he kiss you? Was it love at first kiss or what?" Hermione smirked at Millicent.

"Oh it was all me. He's too much of a wussy to ever kiss me. I have to initiate evvvvverything... if you know what I mean." She winked again.

"Even…."

"Oh yeah! I think he's afraid I'll bite him." She laughed, "Not that he doesn't like being bitten." Millicent laughed and Draco was staring at Hermione, mouth agape.

"You did no such thing! I don't like when you touch me!" Draco whispered frantically to Hermione. She had to take a deep breath to keep from laughing out loud. She dared a glance at Snape who was 'covering' his ears looking disgusted. Dumbledore was grinning wildly. Millicent chuckled again.

"So, he doesn't try anything?"

"No, like I said before, you'd think for such a hussy he'd be a bit more forward."

"Granger! You haven't kissed me!"

"Don't deny anything, baby. We can all read through your mask."

"I think you are afraid to touch me, you bookworm!"

"Lis, that's his nickname for me. He likes to think of me as one of those silent and sexy types. Come to think of it, I'm anything but silent." Hermione was laughing now, as was Millicent.

"Oh yum, Minee! I can't wait until you tell me all about you're prowess."

"It's all me too."

"Granger! Shut up! You aren't anything! You are a know- it- all bookworm and a virginal and innocent" he said the words mockingly, "know it all bookworm at that!"

"Oh really Draco?" She purred, catching him off guard. He looked at her questioningly. Hermione jumped at the chance and pushed her lips against his, not realizing that the whole room was watching. Draco was shocked but immediately began responding. He was a guy and when a girl basically pounces on a guy, he responds. Draco put his arms on her waist and Hermione kissed him harder. Then he groaned. Hermione pulled away, confused, as he stood staring at her. Why did I do that??

Millicent was practically jumping for joy. "I see you do have to initiate everything, Minee." Hermione shot a fast glance at Draco and grinned to herself. I might as well keep playing along.

"And Lis," she laughed, "I'm pretty good at it too!" Millicent burst into laughter as Draco's pale cheeks flushed red.

"Shut up!" He yelled at the two giggling girls. He was feeling disgusted with himself. He never should have responded to her! She was a mudblood. The scum of the earth and he, knowing this, had still responded to her kiss. "Everyone is watching." Snape was still staring horrified at him.

Hermione pulled herself together and made one more retort at Draco, "Now they'll know what I do to you!" Draco glared at her and was about to walk away when Dumbledore, spoke to them, "Hermione, Draco, Millicent. I'll call a carriage and it will come and get you in about 10 minutes. Please go right outside the front gate. Now, I'll make the announcement to the student body. Oh and girls, try not to upset Mr. Malfoy too much." All three nodded, Hermione looking suddenly ashamed.

Hermione knew that teasing Draco was wrong, but it was just so easy! When he was flustered she felt connected to him. It was hard to explain, but whenever Draco was worked up Hermione was calmer than normal and the tension in her body seemed to alleviate. She would never have been so forward with another guy (Besides Harry and Ron) but when she was around Draco she felt a need to prove herself and if flustering him (while flustering herself) was the only way to do it she would.

In addition, it wasn't like she got to laugh and be girly with Harry and Ron. Millicent was her outlet and she loved playing along with her. It wasn't that often that she got too. Abruptly Hermione faced Dumbledore, "What announcement sir?" she asked, bewildered.

"Your marriage announcement," He smiled at Hermione's frown and stood up to face the students that were watching the commotion with great interest. "I see all of you realize something is going on up here." He motioned to the three students in front of him, "I trust that you all remember what happened yesterday," He watched as the students nodded. "Well, the choice Mr. Malfoy made yesterday, though he didn't know it at the time, was a major choice. He is Ms. Granger's fiancé." The collective gasp was nothing short of what Dumbledore expected, "Now, if you all must know there will be a wedding by the lake next Sunday. Around 10:00 in the morning Ms. Hermione Granger will become Mrs. Hermione Malfoy. I expect all of you will attend the ceremony and the reception afterwards. The reception will continue until 10:00 that night. Dinner and lunch will be included. Please, now, excuse yourselves and head to your next class." He sat back down and smiled reassuringly at Hermione, "Everything will work out just fine. Now go get changed and head out to the carriage with your fiancée and your friend here."

Hermione and Draco weakly nodded and started out.

Draco watched sullenly as Hermione and Millicent Bulstrode strode out of the great hall chatting avidly about what had just played out.. He followed them, his mask of indifference failing and his face contorting with fury. Who did Hermione Granger think she was? How could she have embarrassed him so publicly? Why was Millicent her best friend? HOW was Millicent her best friend? What about the baby weasel, weren't they close? When did Hermione and Millicent meet? What went---

"Malfoy, let's go, Lis and I don't need anything from our rooms." Draco, wrapped up in his thoughts, merely glared at the girls and stomped through the door, trying not to pay attention to their laughter.

They had only been sitting in the carriage for 5 minutes when Draco's temper flared. He had been trying to ignore them but only 5 minutes of incessant chatter was enough to put him over the edge. "Just SHUT UP both of you. My God, Granger, I thought you were annoying before but you've made an all time high! And you, Bulstrode, what's with this sudden change in attitude? You're never friendly."

They both merely smirked at him and continued on with their conversation. Two minutes later his anger was flaring up again.

"Okay fine, you won't shut up. At least keep me entertained. How did you become friends?"

Hermione smiled at Millicent and turned to Draco. "It was 6th year on the first day of school. We were both heading out of the great hall and I absolutely hate walking alone. I like to have someone by me to chat with. Lis, here,--"

"I'm not that way. I don't like to talk with anyone usually. But—"

"I asked her if she would walk with me until we had to part ways."

"What about your hatred towards her Granger? Didn't you hate her? Remember that duel?"

"Well, yeah, but everyone deserves a second chance."

"Even though I had had at least 20 chances! I didn't want Minee to walk with me. I refused her companionship and began walking away." Millicent said as she chuckled.

"Yeah, anyway I just followed behind. I wasn't upset that we didn't walk together, per se, but I was kind of disappointed. I hadn't insulted her or anything."

"You hadn't. But I was a little bit more close minded at that time and you weren't up to my… level… and so I decided not to give you the time of day."

"Then Peeves came." Hermione laughed. "He had his arms full of all sorts of junk. Food I think."

"Oh it was awful. We were hit with olives, I believe, and pickles and, the stupid ghost, he threw a dung bomb or three at us!"

"We both screamed and ran into a classroom. It was funny looking back on it. Lis and I sat there for at least 10 minutes and Peeves finally left."

"We hadn't even spoken. Minee got up first and opened the door. She peered around it and than turned to walk out. I was getting up to go out the door to. I left the classroom and Hermione was leaning against the wall."

"I asked her if she still didn't want to walk with me."

"I was amused by her persistence and said okay. We didn't talk at all and just before we left to go to our common rooms, Minee says, 'Thanks for not locking me out of that classroom.' I shrugged, nodded at her and began to walk away when I realized, I could ask her for her help with Transfiguration, even though the class hadn't even started yet. I really suck at it and she really doesn't. She agreed and—"

"I began to help her. We only spoke during our little sessions if it had to do with a spell or if she was answering a question that I had. Finally after about 4 months, the silence broke. Harry, Ron and I had a big fight about some stupid thing I can't even remember. Lis and I had already become comfortable working with each other and I really needed to talk to someone."

"I listened. We talked."

"She got much better at Transfiguration and eventually our sessions weren't needed but I liked talking to her."

"And I liked talking to her."

"And so we continued to meet and still do. Now look at us. Best friends and sitting in a carriage approaching Hogsmeade. Rather crazy, no? And Millicent, I'm sorry I didn't let you know about my 'secret summer'." Millicent smiled and nodded and changed the subject, much to Hermione's pleasure.

Draco grunted and looked out the window. They were almost there. Thank Merlin. The whole 'finishing each other's sentences' was freaking him out.

A/N- This chapter was just introducing Millicent's relationship with Hermione. She's going to be a semi important character later on. Oh, sorry if that seems out of character for Hermione. I like to think that while she's a study girl she also appreciates people and she can have the occasional relationship with other people. Next chapter will be posted Tomorrow night.

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