"You don't remember? Hmm…" the boy's eyes never left Harry's as he the boy approached Harry, "Well I can't blame you. I mean I was little and my hair," he gestured to his head, "Wasn't as it is now… I'm Carl Mahogany. My father is Jasper Mahogany. Our fathers worked together in the ministry before the Dark Lord rose again," Carl extended his hand out to Harry, "Pleasure to meet you, Draco," Harry grabbed Carl's hand and shook it once.

"Nice to meet you too… again. Where did we meet?" Harry asked. Draco had said nothing about anyone named Mahogany.

"It was a ministry lunch… Families were invited. You didn't seem too happy about attending. It's alright you were 12 then," Carl spoke in a monotone voice. He didn't seem to show any emotion, "How is your father?"

"He's fine. I'm tired and would like to sleep. Come on Pansy," Harry said as he placed his arm back around her shoulder and they walked down to the common room. Harry let her led him to the common room. They walked down the same corridor that he and Ron had walked down in their 2nd year with the polyjuice potion. She stopped at a picture of Salazar Slytherin.

"Vampires," She said and the door swung open revealing a green walled room with dark wood tables and silver linings on the couches and chairs in front of a blazing fire. The day had been rather long and Harry was really tired. All he wanted was to go to sleep. Pansy wished him good night and followed a group of girls up to their dormitory. Harry ventured slowly to the staircase towards the boys dorms.

"Hey Draco! How was your summer?" Blaise Zabini came towards him as he walked up the stairs to his dorm. Draco had told him which room and bed was his so that it was easy for him and so he didn't look stupid.

"Alright you?" Harry asked through a yawn.

"My father's been training me to become a Death Eater! He said that once I get out of Hogwarts that he'll ask the Dark Lord if I could join! He's been having me strength train for months! You should train with me! I'm sure your Father's already told the Dark Lord that you'd become a Death Eater. So what do you say?" Blaise finished slightly winded.

"I say that you talk too much and that I'm tired and am going to bed now," Harry said as he pulled the covers back from, once Draco's bed, his bed. The green and silver linins looked very appealing. Harry sunk into bed with out removing his clothes and pulled the blankets up to his chin. Harry slowly closed his eyes and had a fleeting thought as he drifted to sleep. How could I have ever been a Gryffindor? Slytherin is so much better. And he was out.

"Well," Ron stretched his arms, "I think I'm gonna turn in,"

"Yeah it's getting late and we've got classes tomorrow," Hermione commented. They were all sitting around the fire in the comfy chairs. Draco had been memorized by the brilliance of the red and gold together in the common room. It was much warming in the Gryffindor Common room then in the Slytherin Common room. Draco was beginning to enjoy being a Gryffindor.

He shook himself. That's no you talking. Don't listen. You're Draco Mal… Draco started to drift into sleep. He hadn't realized how tired he was. He reached the brink of sleep when,

"Harry's fallen asleep hasn't he?" Neville commented as he watched Draco.

"Huh?" Draco sat up making Neville and Hermione smile.

"Harry, why don't you go to bed? You're tired," Hermione commented. Draco looked at her and rubbed his eyes with balled fists.

"Come on," Ron said as he got up.

"Er… I've go to talk to you two," Draco said looking from Hermione to Ron. Neville nodded and walked up to the dormitory. Leaving Hermione, Ron, and Draco alone.

"What is it?" Ron asked annoyed.

"Do you guys think that we have to become each other completely?" Draco asked quietly.

"Probably… I don't know why?" Hermione answered.

"I… I'm beginning to think like a Gryffindor. Liking the house colors and scorning my own! It's getting harder to tell what's mine and what's his!" Draco whispered. Hermione looked concerned.

"Can we think about this later?" Ron complained, "I'm tired," he yawned again.

"You can go to bed Ron," Hermione told him, "We won't be up too much longer," Ron looked at Draco.

"You two better not do anything… You know what I'm talking about…. Good night," with that Ron walked slowly up the stairs to his bed.

"He's very suspicious isn't he?" Draco asked Hermione.

"Yeah…" she said her eyes still on the spot where he disappeared up the stairs, "He's only concerned though," she turned her attention back on Draco, "So what's been going on?"

"I keep getting these thoughts… Like 'it's not so bad being a Gryffindor' or 'How could I have ever been a Slytherin?' It's very confusing I don't know what is my thought or what is his," Draco put his face in his hands, "It's very confusing. I'm starting to even think more like a Gryffindor,"
"How do you 'think' like a Gryffindor?" Hermione asked she took Draco's hands in her own.

"You think nice things… You don't plot anyone's misery. You don't try and get information to blackmail someone. You have 'good' fun. You don't do anything maliciously,"

"I think Harry's going through the same thing. I watched him leave the Great Hall at dinner and saw him put his arm around Pansy without much trouble. Draco…" she gave his had a squeeze, "It's not just you… Maybe Harry is starting to think more like a Slytherin. Don't worry. We'll talk to him tomorrow. Ok?" Hermione brushed some of his hair out of his green eyes. Damn he was cute when he was confused. Is he like this when he's himself? Hermione thought.

"I'm tired," Draco blurted as he let go of her hand.

"Good night then," Hermione said as she stood up. Draco followed suit. She started to head for her dorm when a hand caught her elbow.

"Wait," Draco breathed in her ear, making her shiver pleasantly.

"For what?" Hermione noticed that there weren't any people in the common room. What is he doing?

"I know Ron said…" Draco buried his face in her neck.

"Dra- Harry…" she turned and faced him, inches away from his face.

"I know…" he started but she pressed a finger against his lips.

"I can't do this… I can't go out with you now… I'll wait till everything is right again… Ok?" Hermione informed him, "I'll tell Harry about this. It's just too confusing. I can't tell if it's you or him…" Should I tell him about last night? Hermione wondered. Her finger started tracing his jaw. It was the wrong face but the right person. As confusing as that sounds it was the truth.

"Hermione…" she hadn't realized that her finger was now twirling his hair so she pulled her hand away from him.

"Sorry…"

"I don't think you should tell Harry… It might break his heart," Although when he said those words he was trying to mend his own injured pride. She didn't want him. That was certain, but if she went out with Harry (when he was Harry) then he would still be able to have her for himself for a while.

"Draco," Hermione looked around to check if anyone was watching or listening, they weren't, "Don't think that you'll get me to your self if I went out with Harry, alright? I like Harry… not you," her heart gave a crack as she said these words. It cracked so loud that she wondered if he heard it too.

Draco didn't hear her hear crack over the loud echo of her voice in his head, I like Harry… not you. Thanks Hermione.

"Good night then," Draco said stepping away from her. He nodded to her in a gentlemanly way and walked past her to his dorm. The only thing that kept him walking was the numbness in him that had taken affect since she had started that sentence.

Hermione stood in the common room, tears running down her face.

"Draco," she croaked. He didn't react. Next thing either of them new was that Hermione was standing in front of Draco barring his path, "We can't do this," she whispered through tears. Draco lifted his hand to wipe away the tears but hesitated. Hermione couldn't take it and stood on tiptoes to kiss him. Draco was a little surprised but kissed her back. As they pulled apart she dropped her head on to his chest. Draco wrapped his arms around her as she cried.

"This is so confusing…" Hermione murmured.

"I know…"

"Harry and I talked last night," Hermione started. She didn't mean for those words to come out but now that they had started they continued to tumble out of her and wouldn't be stopped, "Harry invited me to the library at headquarters and we talked and he asked me if I liked you but I told him that I didn't but I lied and then he kissed me and it just wasn't the same and I called you an arrogant prat because normally you are, but something's different now. We kissed I realized that I do like you Draco and I don't know why. It felt wrong kissing Harry I can't explain it but it's just that everything that's wrong is so right when I'm with you. I don't know why but I really do like you Draco. I love you,"

They stood in silence for a moment. Hermione was shocked that she had told him everything that had happened last night and how she felt. Most surprising was that she told him that she loved him.

Draco was trying to digest what she had said. As he did a smile crept up on his face. Hermione saw it and smiled too. Draco started to laugh. First it was a quiet chuckle then it got louder. He grabbed her by the waist as she tried to quiet him and he pulled her close to him. He started to spin in circles. Finally after 4 or 5 rotations he set her down and gently kissed her.

"Wow Harry," Seamus chuckled as he leaned against the doorframe. Obviously Draco's laughter had woken a few people. Neville was standing behind Seamus and Ron was too. In the dark Draco and Hermione couldn't tell exactly how furious Ron was. Hermione blushed. Thankfully no one could tell.

"Sorry," Draco and Hermione apologized together. With one last peck good night, Hermione left for her bed.

"You'll see her tomorrow Romeo," Seamus smiled as Draco walked into the dorm room. Ron had gone to his bed and as Draco walked by he snapped his curtains closed. Draco furrowed his brow but then smiled to himself as he pulled the red and gold linen away so he could get in. He changed into his pajamas and hopped into bed. He fell asleep smiling to himself. Damn it's good to be a Gryffindor!