Disclaimer: belongs to jkr-all but plot

A/N: OK, this one's not really that grand, either (wow, I'm not really advertising well for myself) BUT I promise the next chapter will be juicy!! Sorry the Hogsmeade visit is so short, but I'm already running long, and sorry I have about half a snippet of F&G, they're my faves, but don't really have a place in this story! (But I'm making up for the lack of f&g in this fic by writing a Fred fic! Soon to come)

For all of the students at Hogwarts, the weekend could not come quickly enough. Everyone was excited for the Hogsmeade trip on Saturday, and the Halloween feast on Sunday.

Hermione and Draco had not spoken since he had called her that name in Potions. Each went out of their way to avoid the other in their rooms. When Friday night rolled around, and they hadn't spoken again about their project, Hermione decided it was finally time to say something. She found Draco sitting in his chair, reading.

"Draco?"

"What do you want, Granger, I was really enjoying not having to hear you talking all the time," he replied snidely.

Ignoring him, Hermione went on, "I just wanted to remind you that we're meeting Snape and Lupin tomorrow after dinner in the conference room off of the Great Hall." She paused, "And, I am not going to bite back, despite your best efforts, do you understand me?"

Draco glared at her, "I'm not stupid, Mudblood, I don't need you to keep my date book for me. As far as you 'biting back' as you put it, I'm not trying to get anything out of you, I'd like to talk to filth such as you as little as possible, do you understand me?"

Hermione stared hard into Draco's eyes for a moment, swiftly turned, and walked in to her room. She walked through the othe portrait hole in to the Gryffindor common room. She looked around, and saw Ron sitting by the fire. She marched over and plopped down next to him.

Looking up at her, he said, "Hey, Mione, what's wrong?"

"Malfoy! Of course! I hate that stupid git! He thinks he so much better and stronger than everyone! Why can't he realize he's just like everyone else?! He's driving me mad, Ron!" she exclaimed.

"Well, you know he's always been like that, Hermione, and I guess you can't teach an old dragon new tricks so easily."

Hermione sat there and thought for a few moments, when suddenly she jumped up.

"Ron, where's Harry?"

"Errr.. He should be out of the shower, probably changing up in our dormitory."

"Great!" Hermione got up, and dashed up the staircase to the boys' dorms. She approached the 7th years' rooms, and knocked.

"Come in," came Harry's muffled voice.

Hermione walked in, and was surprised to see Harry standing there with only a pair of pants on, his hair dripping wet. 'Well, not too shabby, I suppose!' she thought.

"Hermione!" he gasped, "What are you doing in here?"

"Harry," she blurted out, "I want to be your girlfriend, ok?" In a move Hermione never considered herself for, she walked over to Harry and kissed him hard on the lips. 'Once again, here I am kissing Harry Potter! What time are we leaving for Hogsmeade tomorrow? Oh, oh, back to kissing Harry, whoops!' When she broke away, she gave Harry a satisfied smile and left.

Ron was still in the common room, and when she approached him, he stared expectantly at her.

"So," he began, "you've got a boyfriend now, don't you?"

"Yes!" She paused. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I'm not looking at you like anything."

"Well, fine, I've got to go to bed, we're leaving at 10 o'clock tomorrow sharp, see you then!"

Later on that night, two Gryffindors laid in their respective beds thinking 'Take THAT, Draco Malfoy, I'll show you!'

The next morning, Hermione woke extra early. She walked over to her wardrobe and opened the doors, searching for a good outfit. She rifled through and finally decided on a pair of tan corduroys and a deep maroon sweater. After her shower, she styled her hair so it was smooth and shiny, out on a bit of make-up, and looked herself over. Nodding in satisfaction, she went out in to the study.

Hermione was surprised to see Draco asleep in his chair. She walked over to him, and saw that he had the picture from his nightstand clenched in his hand. Hermione felt her stomach drop. Suddenly, Crookshanks knocked a book off of the desk, and Draco woke with a start. He saw Hermione and attempted to hide the picture.

"What the hell do you want, Mudblood?" He looked at her with venom in his eyes.

As she had last night, Hermione simply stared into his eyes. Draco stared right back. For a moment, Hermione thought she saw something. as if he wanted to tell her something, but it was gone in an instant. Once again, she turned and left.

"See you at 6:30 Draco." She called over her shoulder.

A moment after the door closed, Draco stood up, and walked to his room. "Fuck off, Mudblood!" he yelled, and slammed the door.



Hermione grasped Harry's hand as they walked towards Zonko's. Ron glanced over and secretly shook his head to himself.

The trio entered the joke shop and promptly had to duck something shooting at their heads.

"What the.. FRED!" Ron bellowed.

Fred Weasley, grinning, can over to them.

"Sorry ickle Ronniekins, just testing out some new stuff! Oy, George, the Terrible Trio is here!"

"Hello mates! Good to see all of you again! Are you lot hungry? What say we go to Three Broomsticks for a bit of lunch? Our treat."

Hermione smiled, 'I'm so glad Harry decided to give that money to the twins, it really helped them out. Not to mention solved Ron's dress robe problem. She chuckled to heself.

After Harry and Ron purchased a few new gags, the five of them set off for Three Broomsticks.

For the next few hours, they all walked around, but Hermione couldn't help but be preoccupied by the interviews that evening.

Finally, Harry spoke up, "Mione, are you ok? You seem a bit distant."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just thinking about our interview tonight. Would you be terribly mad if I went back to Hogwarts early?"

"But Hermione." Harry started.

Ron, elbowing Harry, broke in, "Of course not, Mione, we understand! Go back, we'll catch up to you at dinner!"

Hermione glanced at the two of them, and gave Ron a grateful smile. She leaned over to Harry and gave him a peck on the mouth.

"I'm sorry, I'll make up for it later, promise," she whispered.

Harry nodded, and Hermione walked away.

"What in the Hell did you do that for, Ron?"

"Harry, that interview is a big deal to her. And you know we're not doing anything important here, I don't see what the issue is!"

"The issue, Ron, is that she'll be with that arse, Malfoy, you've heard the things he says to her!"

Ron began to say something, but decided the better of it. He just shook his head and sighed. "I suppose I see where you're coming from."

Back at the castle, Hermione went back to her room. As the portrait swung open, and she stepped in, she suddenly emitted an audible gasp.

A/N: Sorry, another one, but I have a question, who the FROCK is Mary Sue? I mean, I know it has something to do with Snape. B/c I might someday write a snape fic, and I was checking the reviews of one other snape fic, and they were verbally assaulting the poor author, spouting stuff about mary sue. So, can I get some help? (I'll prolly be getting some verbal assaults, too, soon. oh dear)