Chapter 5

Hermione was deep in her reading when something roused her from her text. Music had started playing in her room. She looked around and walked out the door into the common room and shouted above the music with her entire lung capacity, "Hello, Hello? Excuse me - Draco?"

"What a pleasant surprise," came a low toned drawl from the chair by the fire.

"Are you aware that this music is playing everywhere in the Head's quarters?"

"It's not, just here and in your room...I thought you'd be pleased?" he said with innocence. "So what are you doing in your room?"

"Reading."

"Surprise, surprise. Anything interesting?"

"Why yes, it's quite interesting actually."

Draco got up and pulled a large bag from the side of his chair and walked over to Hermione and handed it to her.

"For you, something to start the new term with."

Hermione was taken aback, she didn't know what to think or say. She pulled out a large leather satchel with her name embossed on the flap. "You didn't have to do this," she said.

"You hate it, it's lame." Draco replied trying to pull it away from her to throw it in the fire.

She pulled it back. "No, I love it. You just didn't have to do it." She smiled.

Draco held back a smile in return and continued, "Do you think you can pry yourself away from your reading to join me on the terrace for a spot of tea? I know it's relatively late and all being 10:00pm, but we are young."

"Well, I suppose your proposal was only mildly insulting, so maybe I'll consider it. Give me a minute."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Just as Hermione was back through her door and out of sight, Pansy's head appeared in the common room fire.

"Fuck her yet?" she said sarcastically.

"I'm working on it!"

"Loser!"

"Blow me!"

"Owl me later." and she was gone.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Hermione went back into her room, got her cloak and brushed her hair a bit. She didn't know why, but she was going back to her bureau to look in the mirror one more time and without realizing sprayed on perfume. She left her lip gloss in the bathroom and strolled over to the a joining door and walked in.

Unbeknownst to her, Draco had stepped in for his nightly shower before their rendezvous on the terrace. Hermione stood there, mouth agape, even though the bathroom was full of steam. For there, completely in the buff, she could plainly make out all of Draco's forbidden features. He was drying off when he felt a blast of cold air. He turned to her unfazed and said, "would you mind turning around while I put on my boxers?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry...this is so embarrassing," she blushed.

She grabbed her gloss and headed out of the bathroom back to her room. She almost started hyperventilating, but calmed and pulled herself together. It's just typical Malfoy, she thought and strode out onto the balcony. When he finally joined her, she couldn't help but say to him, "You know it amazes me so that someone as charming as you could be so manipulative."

"We're not going to start this letter nonsense again are we," he sighed.

"What was my favorite part of the letter? Oh, right - 'even more treacherous that he is attractive, he has never uttered a single word without some dishonorable intention...every woman he has successfully pursued has regretted it. Stay away from him.'"

Clearly shocked a bit by the bluntness of her words, however true they may be, he turned to her and replied, "You know, you could at least have the decency of telling me who's bad mouthing me so I might have the opportunity to confront them."

"Not a chance."

"You are right you know," he coaxed her.

"About what?"

"About what you said today...I've done some things I'm not proud of."

"Look, I wasn't trying to give you a hard time."

"No, it's okay...I mean...I look at you with all your morals and values and you seem to be happy in your choices...I envy you, no bullshit."

"Really?"

"Seriously, I mean, you've got everything going for you...you're smart, you're determined...you're...beautiful...you're everything I'd want in a girlfriend."

Visibly taken back when Draco told her he thought she was beautiful, she didn't know what to say except, "You know I'm seeing someone?"

"Oh, yes, the infamous Victor," Draco continued without hesitation. "It's funny how you've never mentioned him to me until now."

"He's backpacking through Europe," she offered quickly. "He's great, I really miss him."

Draco didn't think she sounded very convincing, "I care," he huffed.

"I'm sorry, but you're not my type."

"Honestly?" Draco replied quite shocked.

"Honestly, 'you're smart, you're determined, you're...beautiful,'" she mocked. "Listing all my qualities on your fingers isn't gonna get you anywhere with me. The best you can hope for is my friendship and you're walking a fine line at that."

She sipped the last bit of tea from her cup and walked back into the common room leaving Draco to mull over her last comment.

"Good night, sweet pea!" was all he could muster to say...she had practically left him speechless.