Author's Notes – well, it's the last chapter of this update, but hold tight and I'll post some more soon! Enjoy!
Disclaimer – Yup, it's mine. halo comes crashing to the ground Okay, so maybe that's not exactly true…
The early morning sunrise streamed through the large window, casting a warm glow over the two sleeping bodies, illuminating them like fallen angels. Both slept with small smiles gracing their faces, Hermione's wavy hair fanning out on Malfoy's muscular chest. As Hermione's alarm clock went off, they both awoke with a start, and she reached out an arm behind her to slap the top of it, turning off the irritating wail. Looking up, she noticed the tall boy, 'Draco?'
'Oh, I meant to leave once you fell asleep, but I guess I must've nodded off too.' he said sheepishly, 'Sorry.'
'No, it's okay.' she replied, smiling sweetly at him.
He unwrapped his arms from around her, and started to climb out of the bed, 'I, uh, guess I should go.'
'Yeah, um, you probably should.' she replied, Why don't I really feel like that?
'Well, I'll see you later then.' He pulled open the door to their adjoining bathroom, but then paused, 'Hermione?'
'Hm?'
'Are you okay?' He seemed genuinely concerned.
'I'll be fine.' She reassured him, and he left the room, as she pulled herself out of bed and headed toward her wardrobe.
Slinking into the Great Hall for breakfast, Hermione was aware everyone was staring at her, but nobody made any comments. She looked over at the Slytherin table; Malfoy was watching her, and he gave her a small, reassuring smile. He wasn't flanked by his usual cronies, and looking further down the table she saw Goyle, complete with black eye and swollen lip. She looked back over at Malfoy and raised an eyebrow. He just smirked in return. Bracing herself, Hermione sat down beside Ginny and silently helped herself to a slice of toast. She knew Harry and Ron were glaring at her, but she ignored them and concentrated on her food.
'Guys…' Ginny said in a low and slightly threatening tone, 'Don't you have something to say to Mione?'
Silence.
'Guys…' Ginny had definitely inherited her mother's tone.
Harry sighed, before turning to Hermione, 'We're – sorry.'
Hermione's head shot up from her plate at this unexpected apology from her best friend. 'What?'
'We're sorry. Aren't we Ron?'
'Uh, yeah.' Ron muttered, avoiding eye contact with her.
'No, I'm sorry!' Hermione cried, 'I was the one who did a terrible thing and kept secrets.'
'No, Gin explained the whole thing to us last night. We're just sorry we couldn't have been there you.' Ron admitted, finally looking up at her, although there was still a slight coldness to his blue eyes.
Hermione looked over at the younger witch, who just smiled in return, 'They weren't going to listen to me at first, but it's amazing what guys will do when you threaten to withhold a certain something from them.' She grinned over at Harry, whose cheeks tinged red, and then added, 'And once I had Harry, he got Ron to listen to me.'
'So you're not mad?' Hermione asked timidly.
'Oh, we're still mad.' Harry stated, 'But we'll get over it. We're mostly mad that you didn't tell us though. We would have got you the money.'
'I didn't want you guys to worry.' she looked down at her plate. Just at that, the morning post came, and a small brown owl dropped a letter in front of Hermione. It was in a muggle envelope, so she knew instantly it was from her parents. Dropping her toast, she ripped open the letter and quickly read it;
Dear Hermione,
Mum's treatment has been a success so far; the doctors are really hopeful and think it's possible she could make a full recovery. I can't thank you enough for the money, I don't know what we would have done without it. I'll write again soon to tell you how it's going.
Love, Dad
She broke into a huge grin and cried excitedly, 'Mum's treatment's working!' before adding quietly, 'It was worth it.'
'We're glad to hear it, Mione.' Harry said gently.
'Come on, we better get to Transfiguration.' Ron groaned, standing. Harry kissed Ginny goodbye, and the three seventh years headed off.
They were outside the classroom, the first ones there, when Hermione felt someone grab her wrist; it was Malfoy. 'We need to talk.'
'Sod off, Malfoy.' Ron threatened, moving protectively in front of Hermione.
'It's okay guys. Just go in to class and I'll be inside in a minute.' she instructed them.
'What? You've got to be kidding!'
'I assure you Harry, I am not kidding. Now go inside.' The boys weren't happy but the tone of her voice told them they had better do as she said. She waited until they had closed the heavy classroom door behind them before turning back to the blonde young man.
'What is it?'
'I thought we should probably talk about what happened between us last night.' He shuffled his feet and looked rather uncomfortable.
She noticed this, 'Look, Malfoy, it was just one night, just forget it.'
'That's the problem. I can't.' he looked straight into her eyes.
'What are you trying to say?'
'I'm saying that I think I'm falling for you.' His voice was gentle yet firm as he confessed.
Hermione was floored, to say the least, 'You're – you're what?'
'I'm falling for you. I've never felt like this before and I don't know what to do.' He looked up at her expectantly, but when she didn't reply he continued, 'I guess I'm just hoping you feel the same about me? I mean, I think you might but I'm not sure.'
'I – I – uh – I'm not sure either.' she stuttered.
'No, you do know.' he cupped his hand under her chin and tipped her head up so she was looking directly into his glistening grey eyes, 'Do you like me or not?'
She paused a moment, searching deep in those sincere eyes, before finally whispering, 'I do.'
'Well then, what are we going to do about this?'
'What do you mean?' she asked, confused.
He laughed gently, 'Who are you going to the dance with? I heard that idiot Finnegan dumped you.'
'Yeah, he did.' She said glumly, 'I don't have a date now. I was just going to go alone.'
'Want to go with me?' he asked.
Is he really asking me to the dance? What do I say? Could we really go together? What would people think? What would his friends do? What would my friends do? She took a deep breath before answering, 'We can't.'
'Come on Hermione. I pour out my heart to you and you won't even go a dance with me?' He looked hurt.
'It's not that. I'm just worried about how people will react.'
'Since when do you care what people think?'
'I don't usually, but after everything that's happened this week I just don't want to give anybody any more reasons to hate me. It's just too hard.' She looked down at the ground.
His expression tightened, 'So you're not willing to fight for what you want then? I obviously gave you too much credit.'
'What? How dare you? You don't know what it's like! I get treated like a common slut, whilst you get worshipped like some sort of hero for adding another notch to your bedpost!' she cried.
'Do you really think I've got it that easy?'
'Yes I do!' she spat at him.
'In that case, forget I ever asked you to the Ball, forget I ever said anything!' he roared, before storming into the classroom, kicking a chair across the room on his way to his desk to shocked looks from Harry and Ron.
'He what!' Ginny shrieked later that night, as she sat on Hermione's bed.
'He told me he was falling for me, and then asked me to the Ball.'
'And you said no?'
'I said no.' Hermione sighed.
'Why?' Ginny squealed, 'I thought you like him?'
Hermione sank down on her chair, 'I do. But I was worried what everyone else would think. And now it's too late to change anything.'
'You don't know that.'
'I do. He won't even be in the same room with me if he doesn't have to be, never mind speak to me.' It was true, he had gone out of his way to avoid her; any time she walked into a room he walked out of it. The only time he would be within ten feet of her was in class, and even then it was only because he had no choice; but she couldn't exactly discuss the situation with him in a room full of Slytherins, and she had a feeling he knew that.
'So what are you going to do?'
'Well, one thing's for sure. I'm going to be a fifth wheel with you, Harry, Ron and Jane at the Ball.'
Author's Notes – Well, next chapter is the Ball, and I'll try to post it asap!
