The next few weeks, Draco was being really nice. At first it was only in the common room, but soon he stopped calling her names altogether. Hermione liked it, but it was really weird! 'This new Draco Malfoy, but why has he changed?' thought Hermione in the common room when she was doing her Potion's essay on her cute, little, Gryffindor desk. She learned to call him by Draco too.

Neither of them caught the other coming out of the shower yet. They had enough sense to get dressed in the bathroom.

Draco still hadn't told her his little secret. Every time she asked him, he'd just say, "Not yet" She soon stopped bugging him.

"I'm going to go visit Harry and Ron, bye," said Hermione.

"See you," said Draco.

She said the password, and Godric Gryffindor's portrait opened. She went down a hall and stepped into the Gryffindor common room. She spotted Harry and Ron where the three of them used to sit before she got Head Girl.

"Hey guys," said Hermione.

"Hey," said Harry and Ron.

"Is Draco giving you any shit yet?" asked Ron.

"No Ron. He's being really nice," said Hermione. "You hear him in class and stuff."

"I told you he likes you," said Ginny.

"You're right," said Hermione. She checked her watch. "Crap, we need to go to a prefect meeting." She hugged them and her and Ginny left through the portrait.

"Wow, you got it nice here," said Ginny. She walked up to Hermione's room and looked around.

"Where's your bathroom?"

"Over there," Hermione pointed to a door.

"Well, that sucks," said Ginny.

"Not according to him," Hermione smiled and pointed at Draco. He smiled too. They left for the prefect meeting. They talked about Hogsmead dates and the Halloween ball.

"Good night," said Hermione and Draco. They left.

Hermione sat on the Gryffindor couch with her Potions essay. She still needed five inches.

"I'm ready," said Draco.

"Ready for...?" asked Hermione.

"I'm ready to tell you," said Draco.

"Ok," said Hermione. She moved to a sitting position. "Sit down." Draco sat next to her.

"Well, I like you. More than a friend," said Draco.

Hermione looked into his eyes. They were serious. He was not joking. "Why the sudden change of heart?"

"My heart has never changed. I always liked you. Since the day I saw you," said Draco.

"Then, why did you call me mudblood and all that?" asked Hermione.

"See, Crabbe's and Goyle's parents hated muggles. They were friends with my father," his eyes darkened, "If they ever saw me be nice to a muggle-born, they would tell me father," said Draco, his eyes darkened more.

"Ok," said Hermione. She didn't question his father. He clearly didn't want to talk about him. She didn't know what to say. She opened and closed her mouth a couple times. She didn't like him like that. "I'm very...glad... that you like me like that, but I only like you as a friend. I'm so sorry." She kissed his cheek and went to her room and locked it.

Draco sat there in front of the fire, staring blankly into it. He got up and decided to go for a walk. It wasn't late, just around 8:30. He'd have to get back to the common room before 11:00 that's when it sealed itself until 6:30 in the morning. He ran into Snape and Dumbledore.

"Sorry, professors," said Draco.

"What's the matter Draco?" asked Snape.

"Nothing," lied Draco. He didn't think it best to tell Snape that he liked Hermione. "Just felt like taking a walk."

"That's fine, just remember to be back in the common room before 11," said Dumbledore. Draco nodded.