Draco sat up quickly as Hermione turned to look at him – her big brown eyes taking in everything from his ice blond hair to his strong chest. He stuttered, trying to think of something to say and wishing that he had thought to wear a shirt for his 3am ice cream run. Ever since he had found out about his true birth and heard his father's pleas to Voldemort, sleep had been rare for Draco. If he was lucky he got as much as three hours in a night, and so mostly he lay awake in his bed just thinking. It was this time that Draco hated most, because thinking about his life, or rather, what used to be his life, and the way that he acted was too much. How could everything he had ever thought be a lie? His whole life had crumbled. He would never, and could never, be the same, even if he wanted to. And so, Draco, desperate to have something to take his mind of what had happened had found that ice cream not only distracted him, but also, made it easier for him to sleep at least an hour more each morning.

Draco's attention was suddenly caught by Hermione's arm slamming the fridge closed. She moved quickly, and Draco could tell she was embarrassed by the thin, see-through material of her nightdress. Slyly, he let his eyes linger on the curves of her breasts which were hardly hidden by the flimsy material. She coughed loudly. Draco cursed, she had obviously caught him looking. He glanced up to her now bright red face.

"You frightened me," she said, almost whispering, "I…err…I didn't see you there"

Draco sighed.

"Sorry," he said, "I should have said something. I wasn't expecting to see you down here, I thought you'd be asleep…I umm often snack late at night though" he finished, gesturing to the ice cream. Hermione laughed nervously and Draco cringed inwardly.

"I often snack late at night" What was he thinking? This was one of the smartest witches in England. If he wanted to seem smart he would have to try twice as hard. Draco inhaled and tried to relax himself. He had charmed hundreds of witches before without having a problem, what was it about Hermione that made him all tongue tied and nervous? And wait…since when did he want to charm Hermione Granger! He pushed the thought to the back of his mind and concentrated on being as normal as possible for the time being. He patted the couch next to him and motioned for Hermione to sit. She sat down, her short nightdress riding up her legs.

"So Draco," she whispered, taking a sip of lemonade, "What's keeping you up?" Draco looked confused. Hermione pointed at the ice cream.

"Come on!" she laughed, "No one eats ice cream at 3am in the morning without having a reason." Draco sighed.

"It's complicated," he said, "Have you ever just felt like you weren't at all the person people thought you were…or even that you thought you were?" Suddenly the playfulness of Hermione's eyes was gone, and instead replaced with one of contemplation.
"I know exactly what you mean," she said quietly. "I mean…this might sound stupid, and I am sure whatever it is you're going through is probably more profound, or bigger or whatever, but that's how I felt – how I feel – after the whole Harry thing. Everyone expected me and Harry to end up together, even I did. I never thought to question it or anything. I mean, everyone thinks of me as this goody-two shoes who only studies and never thinks about anything else aside from homework, but that's not true either. Maybe that was me when I came here, but it's definitely not me now." Draco just looked at her, admiring the way she had spoken so openly with him. He who used to be her former enemy. She really was an amazing girl. Hermione, however, looked embarrassed, clearly taking his silence for another meaning.

"Sorry," she started, "I didn't mean to just ramble on. It's just ever since Ron got together with Lavender and well Harry and Ginny started going out I just haven't really had anyone to talk to…you know?" She blushed a deep red and began to sit up. "I should go…"

"No," Draco took her hand and pulled her back to the couch. "Thanks Hermione. Thanks for letting me know that someone else feels the same way as I do, even if the situation isn't entirely similar. And just for the record," he added, "I know you're not a goody-two shoes but you're definatley one of the smartest people I know"

Hermione blushed deep red again and grinned. "So…did you hear about Snape?" Draco shook his head.

"Well apparently," she giggled, "He proclaimed his love for Trelawney when he got drunk at the welcome back feast!"

Draco burst into laughter as Hermione fell back onto the couch, silently shaking with giggles. Maybe everything was going to be okay this year. Different yes, but definitely okay.

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The next day both Draco and Hermione had double advanced charms followed by double advanced potions and then double advanced transfiguration. And, for the first time in days, Draco actually felt tired. It seemed as though the long night was also taking its toll on Hermione, who yawned almost constantly during breakfast and knocked over her cereal twice. And yet, the day was perhaps one of the happiest that Draco had had in all his years at Hogwarts. The good thing about taking advanced classes was that neither Crabbe nor Goyle would be in them, which, this year, allowed Draco much more freedom to talk to whoever he liked without getting confused looks from either of his friends. Although Hermione and Draco did not sit together in any of their classes (Hermione choosing to sit next to Ravenclaw seeker Mira Dean and Draco next to Blaise Zambini), the two stole secret glances at each other in every class. In fact, Hermione, remembering her and Draco's conversation about Flitwick the night before, broke into such a fit of giggles during charms that she was asked to step outside and compose herself – a first for Hermione Granger.

The best part of Draco's day however, came that night. It was after dinner at which McGonagall had announced the next trip to Hogsmeade would be that weekend, and so Draco had been sitting on the couch in the common room trying to figure out a way to tell Crabbe and Goyle that he wouldn't be going. He couldn't face spending a whole day with them, listening to them insult half bloods and then praise him the next minute for being so pure. He had hardly seen them at all since school started, and he would prefer to keep it that way. Suddenly the portrait had opened and Hermione had walked in, her long brown hair swept elegantly up into a practical bun on her head. She stopped when she saw him.

"Hey" she said smiling, "How was your first day?"

"I think I'll live"

Hermione laughed, "Yeah, potions is going to be hell this year though. I think Snape is planning to give us about three times as much work as last year."

Draco grimaced. Why was he so awkward around her! He had been with girls before, yet he had never experienced this. He was always so nervous when it came to Hermione. And yet, he felt as though he could really talk to her. It was strange…really strange.

"So. Are you going to Hogsmeade this weekend?" he asked, unsure of where the question had come from. Hermione smiled, she had a beautiful smile he thought.

"Yeah I think so. Well Ron and Lavender and Harry and Ginny are probably all going to go together. I don't really want to tag along so I said I'd go with Mira. You know, Mira Dean? How about you?"

"Me?" he asked, "Oh yeah I'm going. Maybe we could meet up for a butterbeer or something at the three broomsticks"

Hermione looked at him, and odd expression on her face and suddenly Draco wished he had never asked. He had been foolish to think she'd want to meet up with him. She was still Hermione Granger, friend of Potter and Weasly and he was still Draco Malfoy, prince of Slytherin.

"I mean, if you can't it's…" he started to say, but she cut him off.

"Actually," she said, smiling, "I'd really like that. A lot." She gave him one last smile and sauntered up the stairs to her room. Draco grinned – for the first time since the summer he was excited about something, and this something was Hermione Granger.