Draco Malfoy: A Man of Many Personalities

The next evening arrived in a heartbeat, and Hermione was more nervous then she'd ever been in her life. Why did Ace want to see her? After all, he was the one who broke things off with her. He should have no business with her anymore. But apparently he did, and Hermione's curiosity got the better of her as she left her common room at nine o' clock sharp. Ten minutes later, she was staring at the large, oak door of Ace's bedroom. She drew a sharp breath before knocking, noticing that she was slightly trembling at the same time.

Ace answered the door wearing a tight black t-shirt and tight dark jeans. He smiled lightly as he beckoned for her to come in. Hesitantly, Hermione finally walked into the room and sat down on the now too-familiar sofa. She watched Ace as he made his way to the couch and sat down next to her. Then he turned his whole body so that he was fully facing her, giving her his full attention. Hermione did the same.

"Hello." Hermione finally said.

"Hey." Ace replied.

"Ace, I don't know what this is all about, but apparently you're with Parvati now so-"

"I'm not with Parvati!" Ace cried. "She just came over one night and…I dunno… things just happened. But we're not, like, dating or anything!"

"Whatever, you're still sleeping with her-" Hermione began.

"Once!" Ace corrected. "One time! And the last time, too. Sorry, but I'm nineteen, okay? That's what I need to do. It's something that I crave on."

"So that's why you "dumped" me so suddenly? If that's what you can even call it. You would fool around with me but you wouldn't ask me to be your girlfriend or anything like that. You tell me that you think we should just be friends, but that's what we were, Ace! And then you flaunt you nasty little sex affair with Parvati in the Three Broomsticks-"

"What about you kissing that Potter! What the hell was that!" Ace demanded. "Obviously you only did it to spite me."

"Actually, it was to spite another friend, but whatever you want to make up in your little head is your business. I don't really care anymore." Hermione said.

"That's not the point." Ace said. "The point is that you kissed him."

"There's nothing going on between us!" Hermione cried. "You can sleep with my roommate but I can't kiss my best friend! Come on, what the hell is that!"

"There is a difference." Ace pointed out. "I'm the guy. I have to do that, that's what I'm saying."

"And us girls don't have our "cravings" at all?" Hermione shot back.

"Not you." Ace snorted.

"What's that supposed to mean!"

"Just that you're square."

"I am sick of people calling me square!" Hermione shouted. "Just because I'm not ready to have sex yet does not mean that I'm square!"

"In my book it does." Ace replied, simply.

"Well then you need to get an updated book." Hermione said in an icy tone.

"Hermione, I did not ask you here tonight to argue." Ace said exasperatedly.

"Then why did you?" Hermione challenged, coldly.

"Because I needed to talk to you." Ace replied.

"About?" Hermione shot back.

"Just… talk to you." Ace ended, rather lamely. "I kind of miss you."

Hermione was taken aback. "You… you miss me?"

"Yes. Since I saw you kiss Potter. It kind of triggered something in me and made me miss you so much." Ace explained.

"I miss you too." Hermione whispered.

Ace grinned his infamous smile. "That's why I asked you here tonight. I want things to work between us again. And now I'm asking you out. Hermione, will you be my girlfriend?"

Hermione looked completely stunned. She was lost for words; this was her dream, the one thing she'd been dreaming about the last few weeks since Ace "broke up" with her. She sat there for what felt like hours, thinking over the situation.

"Uh, Hermione?" Ace asked. "What do you think?"

"No." Hermione whispered.

"What!" Ace cried.

"No." she repeated.

"But…but why?" Ace stuttered. He was possibly even more shocked than Hermione was at the question and at her own answer. And honestly, she had no idea why she had just rejected the boy of her dreams. All of the possible reasons that popped up in her head all seemed petty and stupid.

"Because…because… well, school is really stressful, and…er… I…"

"You what?" Ace challenged angrily.

"I like somebody else!" Hermione blurted out.

"WHAT?" Ace hollered.

"I like someone else. I have to go now, Ace. I'm sorry. Bye." She stood up abruptly and left his common room before he managed to say another word regarding the situation.

Why did I say that? Hermione asked herself. I don't like anyone else. I don't think I do, anyway. I would know if I did! But then why did I say it? As an excuse? I know I like Ace, but why would I not go out with him? This was my dream!

"Silver Meadow!" Hermione cried to the mermaids basking in the warm, radiant sun. They had changed the password recently, and the blond mermaid looked as though she was hoping that Hermione had forgotten it. Since she hadn't, that mermaid's face fell into a look of disappointed as she swung the portrait open.

Of course, there was Malfoy lounging around on the gorgeous, violet sofa. He appeared to be waiting for her.

"And?" he asked, expectantly.

"What?" Hermione shot back.

"What did the twit want?" Malfoy asked as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Screw you Malfoy, I don't feel like putting up with your bullshit right now, okay?" Hermione sighed, exasperated.

"He didn't try to get you in bed again, did he?" Malfoy asked, sounding concerned.

"What's it to you? I don't get you, Draco. I mean, Malfoy. First you hate me, then you want to be friends with me, then you don't want to be friends with me, then you kiss me! What the hell is wrong with you?" Hermione demanded.

"I'm a very complicated person." Malfoy answered simply.

"Yes, I got that." Hermione replied. "Why did you kiss me, Malfoy?"

"What's wrong? Don't think that anyone would want to kiss you?" Malfoy asked. "Believe it or not, you're not as terrifyingly ugly as you may think you are."

"I don't think I'm ugly." Hermione defended. "I'm quite happy with how I look, thank you."

"Whatever." Malfoy said.

"Whatever? That's all you have to say? Come on, Malfoy! Did you kiss me to try and make me forget about Ace?" Hermione stipulated.

"No." Malfoy answered.

"Did you kiss me because you felt sorry for me?" she insisted.

"No."

"Then why?" Hermione demanded. "Why? I just don't understand-"

Malfoy stood up from where he was sitting. He carefully walked over to Hermione and stood right in front of her. She looked up into his mysterious, gray eyes and realized how significantly taller he was then her. Malfoy placed both of his hands on Hermione's face, holding her and keeping their gaze locked. He then lowered his face and kissed her gently. This time, Hermione did not pull away. From the moment their lips met, it was as though a spark had been ignited. Malfoy did not pry his way into Hermione's mouth; she opened hers willingly and Malfoy let his tongue slide in and gently caress hers. Their kiss was slow and passionate, just like in the movies.

The kiss continued as they moved in unison over to the couch. Hermione fell onto it and Malfoy fell on top of her. His tongue began to thrash around wildly with hers doing the exact same. Malfoy held Hermione's hips as she twirled his hair around her finger, and Hermione noticed that his hands were not even attempting to find their way up to her chest.

Malfoy pulled away and gazed into Hermione's chocolate brown eyes.

"Why did you stop?" Hermione whispered.

"What, you want me to go further?" Malfoy asked.

"No. It's just that I'd doubt that you would stop with any other girl." Hermione explained.

"Just shut up." Malfoy said. He kissed her gently, then conjured up a warm, golden blanket. They cuddled together, with Malfoy's arm around Hermione's shoulder and Hermione leaning on Malfoy's chest. She loved rising with his every breath, and before she knew it her eyes were slowly closing before drifting into a great night's sleep.

"Coming to my party, Hermione?" Lavender asked Hermione the next morning.

Hermione was startled. Her thoughts had been back in the previous night. It felt so wonderful, so safe to be in Malfoy's arms. When she awoke this morning, she was lying on the couch and Malfoy was nowhere to be seen. Now, at the breakfast table, she was wondering why he had disappeared so suddenly and where he had disappeared to.

"Huh?" Hermione asked.

"Are you coming to our party! It's Saturday night in the Room of Requirement." Lavender explained.

"The Room of Requirement?" Hermione asked, still startled at being pulled away from her thoughts.

"Yup. Are you coming?" Lavender persisted.

"Um, yeah. Sure. I'll be there." Hermione nodded.

"Excellent!" Parvati cried, with Lavender nodding in agreement. "We'll see you there."

Hermione watched Lavender and Parvati go down the table to the next set of people, pushing them to come to their party as well. She had a feeling that the two girls' would be inviting the entire school to their little fiesta. Perhaps Hermione would ask Malfoy to go with her…

Suddenly, Hermione spotted Malfoy. It was as though the moment he entered the Great Hall, she sensed his presence. However, he was not alone. He was accompanied by none other than Pansy Parkinson, Hogwarts whore. What the hell? Hermione asked herself. She gave Malfoy a quizzical look, but he appeared to have either not seen her or be ignoring her. Pansy was clutching onto his arm as though her life depended on it, and she seemed to cackle at every little thing Malfoy would say.

Hermione had seen enough. She stood up and strode over to where Malfoy had just taken a seat at the Slytherin table.

"Hello, Draco." Hermione smiled. "I was wondering if-"

"What the hell is this little piece of mudblood trash doing at my table?" Pansy shrieked.

Millicent Bullstrode stood up and cracked her knuckles, threateningly.

Blaise Zabini cracked up laughing. "Maybe the little mudblood wants to become a Slytherin!" he stood up and gazed into her eyes. "You have the most beautiful eyes…" he said, seriously. Then he cracked up laughing. Pansy and Millicent howled in agreement.

"Get the hell out of here, stupid Gryffindor bitch." Blaise said this time genuinely serious. "I don't want to get muggle rabies."

The whole Slytherin table shrieked in laughter. Hermione looked shocked and appalled. She glanced over at Malfoy for support. Surely he would stand up for her. Defend her. But he just sat there, sinking lower and lower into his chair.

"Fine." Hermione said. "Fine! I'm gone!" She turned hastily and ran back to the Gryffindor table, plopping herself down and dropping her head in her crossed arms on the table. She continuously lifted her head and endlessly banged it on the table.

"How could you think he's changed?" she asked herself. "He's never changed. He will never be able to change. What made me think any different?"

"Talking to yourself?" A voice asked.

Hermione lifted her head to see Harry peering down at her.

"Hello, Harry." Hermione said, immediately.

"Hey." Harry replied. "Look, I wanted to apologize for-"

"No apologies necessary." Hermione cut in. Then, instantaneously she asked, "Would you like to go to Parvati and Lavender's party with me?"

"What!" Harry cried, flustered. "You want me to… I mean, of course I do!"

"Excellent. Pick me up at eight." Hermione ordered.

"Will do. See you then." Harry said, still stunned at Hermione's change of heart.

What am I doing? Hermione asked herself. I'm taking advantage of Harry, that's what I'm doing. But why? To get back at Ace? To get back at Malfoy? To hurt Harry for being such a jerk lately? She had no idea. All she knew was that there was going to be quite a few angry people at the party on Saturday night, and it would all Hermione's fault.