Chapter 2- I Remeber It Well

I remember it well…

"Okay, so you guys understand what you're supposed to do at school this year?" asked Hermione kindly to the fifth year students. All of them smiled and nodded, and Draco said, "Okay, then you can all run along to your little friends…"

Many of the prefects looked dumbstruck and left.

"Draco, that wasn't very nice," said Hermione. Draco looked only slightly guilty.

"I just wanted to talk to you…" said Draco. Hermione smiled and cuddled up to Draco. They held hands and they just stared at each other.

Draco grinned widely, and Hermione was curious to find out what he was thinking about. "What are you thinking about?" she asked.

"The day we fell in love. Do you remember?" asked Draco.

"Oh yes…" sighed Hermione." I remember it well…"

This is how Draco and Hermione fell in love:

Some say it was actually out of pity, after all, the two had found each other pathetic in one way or another. Hermione felt that he was only a pawn in his father's legacy, while Draco believed Hermione was weak because she hid behind her books and her brains. It had occurred when Ron was in the hospital wing after he broke his wrist in a Quidditch game, and there for could not keep a check on the hallways that Friday evening.

Hermione was saddened by the fact that Draco Malfoy would be inspecting the corridors with her rather then her best friend, and was ultimately determined to avoid actually talking to Draco. Draco felt the same.

I guess you could compare their night together with a fairy tale; everything is horrible, you're miserable, angry, and lonely. But then something great happens, such as an enchanted candlestick tells you that the beast who has captured you only wishes to be your friend, or a plump woman with wings arrives out of no where giving you a few horses, a pretty dress, and a pair of glass slippers so you can go meet the prince. And then by the end of the story, you have finally reached a happy ending.

The only difference is, the good thing occurred unexpectedly. They only had each other, no enchanted candlestick and no plump woman with wings. This was simply misery with a different attitude.

Draco had nearly forgotten about his hallway inspecting duties when he was in his pajama bottoms and was about to fall asleep. After all, he normally did it with Pansy, and she was already asleep. When he realized that he was supposed to be in the hallways with Granger, he dashed into an old pair of jeans and didn't even comb his hair.

Hermione, meanwhile, was waiting in the entrance hall by the grand staircase. I knew he would be late, thought Hermione. If he doesn't show up, I swear…

Hermione tapped her foot impatiently when she suddenly spotted Draco running from the direction of the dungeons, panting. She shot him a loathing look and spat, "You're late."

"Sorry, Granger," mumbled Draco. His cold grey eyes looked up at Hermione as he bent to tie his shoe. He examined her face, and he realized how annoyed she was, and he actually felt somewhat guilty. It was hard to believe that a mudblood like Granger could have such an effect on your conscience.

Hermione's eyes were still looking down on the disgrace that she was to be inspecting the corridors with. This is how it's supposed to be… thought Hermione. Me looking down on him…

Draco finished tying his shoe and stood up next to Hermione, he was about a head taller then her, and he couldn't help but look down Hermione's pajama shirt.

"Nice pillows there, Granger," said Malfoy slyly.

Hermione gasped and scowled at Draco. "I knew you were a jerk, but I had no idea you were a pervert too…"

"Sorry, couldn't help but notice…" mumbled Draco. The two stood in silence for a while, and Hermione realized they were behind schedule.

"Come on, Malfoy, we've only got three hours to do this before we get in trouble too. Let's go," said Hermione quickly.

"Lead the way, Granger," sighed Draco. Hermione glared at him once more and continued to walk.

They were not finding anyone important besides teachers, house elves, ghosts, and Filch, and were ultimately bored. After all, what were they supposed to do? Actually speak to each other? One could not blame some one in that situation for being bored.

An hour had passed, and most of the teachers were either in their office, or sleeping. Filch was keeping a check on the restricted areas, and the house elves were probably busy attending to the house common rooms and what not, and were no where to be seen. The ghosts were probably doing something else where, and Hermione and Draco felt quite alone doing their duties.

Draco was of course as bored as he could possibly be, at least when he did his duties with Pansy they would go make fun of Moaning Myrtle. But what on earth could he do with Granger? She wasn't like Pansy, and she certainly wasn't like him.

Hermione was bored as well, although she liked contributing to her school she would much rather be doing this with Ron. He used to be able to joke around with her and manage to entertain her when things weren't very exciting. She glanced over at Malfoy.

Malfoy met her gaze. He looked at her suspiciously and asked, "What are you staring at, Granger?"

"Nothing really, I just thought maybe we should acknowledge each other if we're stuck doing this for two more hours," said Hermione.

"Well, fine, Granger. I'll just have an amazing time chatting with you. So, nice weather out lately, isn't it?" asked Draco sarcastically.

"Actually, Malfoy, I think the weather has been quite lovely out lately," said Hermione.

"What on earth are you talking about? It's been storming out for days," said Malfoy.

"I'm fully aware, Malfoy," said Hermione.

Malfoy looked at Hermione oddly and said, "You're an odd person, Granger."

"You've your opinions…" mumbled Hermione.

Draco glared at her again, but decided to ignore her odd statement about the weather, and turned away. He continued to face forward and continue walking on Granger's left side. He avoided her stare, although he couldn't help but let his eyes wonder. He glanced at her multiple times, just to know her expression, to know what she was thinking, and it was as if he could actually tell. He felt that she was thinking something along the lines of, Maybe this won't be so bad after all…, but after all, Draco did have a bad habit of expecting more then what was to come.

When Draco's eyes were wondering, he spotted Peeves the poltergeist on the verge of dropping a water balloon on Granger's head.

Draco had no idea why he did it, had no idea if he even willingly did it or not, but when that water balloon fell, he pushed Granger out of the way and got soaked with the water balloon himself.

"Hardy har har…" began Peeves."The little Slithery snake wet himself, did he? Hehehehehe…"

Hermione began to giggle. Malfoy's expression was priceless. He looked absolutely dumbstruck, but didn't have his usual scowl.

When Peeves disappeared, Malfoy looked at Hermione's giggling face and smiled angrily. "Real funny, isn't it, Granger?" asked Malfoy sarcastically.

"Come on Malfoy, you have to admit it was kind of funny…" said Hermione, still trying to stifle her giggles. Malfoy chuckled and looked away.

"Thank you by the way…" began Hermione."I would never be able to fix my hair again."

"Don't mention it…" mumbled Malfoy, still kind of smiling. Hermione found this odd. Draco was actually quite good looking when he wasn't so angry and rude.

Draco could swear on his life that Granger's eyes began to gleam. Draco couldn't say he wasn't happy about it, he obviously must have felt something for Granger if he instinctively pushed her out of the way of a water balloon.

"I bet you and your friends were really happy in our fourth year…" said Draco smiling still.

"What are you talking about?" asked Hermione.

"When that Moody bloke turned me into a ferret, remember?" asked Malfoy jokingly.

Hermione laughed again and said, "That wasn't Moody, and yes, I remember it well. Ron freaked out on me. 'I want to remember this moment forever, Draco Malfoy, the amazing bouncing ferret!'" said Hermione.

Malfoy even chuckled at this. "Do you like that Weasley chap?" he asked.

"Well, I've thought about it…" sighed Hermione."But he's confusing," she said.

"How's that?" asked Draco curiously.

"Well, I dunno. Every time he seems like he's going to ask me out, it's like he changes his mind and decided he likes some one else, or he might just be chickening out. I don't know," said Hermione.

"Oh, so d'you think you guys will ever be like, in item?" asked Draco.

"No, I doubt it. At least not while we're at Hogwarts," said Hermione.

"Hmph…"

They remained in silence for a moment, and then suddenly, they both suddenly realized that they were friends.

When they both came to this odd realization, they stared at each other, they stared for at least ten seconds or so, and finally looked away.

Draco learned a lot about Hermione, and that her hiding behind her books had nothing to do with weakness, but rather that she was responsible, possibly pressured into this odd responsibility.

Hermione realized Draco couldn't be exactly like his father. After all, would Lucius Malfoy ever push a muggle-born out of the way of any danger, let alone a water balloon?

This was too hard on Draco, he couldn't possibly be friends with a mudblood!
He had to find a way to avoid this. He waited about another ten minutes, until they came near a recently mopped floor. Hermione was walking with out notice of the water, and she continued to walk toward the puddle.

Will this work? thought Draco. Surely it will…

Hermione eventually fell into the puddle and fell backward into Draco, after all, they were friends now, why wouldn't he help her up?

Little did she know what was going through Malfoy's head. "Ew, get off of me mudblood…" as he pushed her away so that she fell onto the ground.

Hermione scratched her chin on the floor. And was in severe pain, not physical of course, but emotional. This was one of Hermione's bad habits. Jumping to conclusions about people. She jumped to conclusion often before, and she jumped to the conclusion that Draco actually wasn't so bad, and now she looked like an idiot.

"Ugh, I can't believe I actually fell for that!" screamed Hermione.

"Of course you did mudblood. You think I actually was nice because I wanted to be? I thought you were supposed to be smart, Granger."

Tears began to swell up in Hermione's eyes. Her face was reddening, and she couldn't think of better words to scream rather than, "I HATE YOU!"

After she screamed this, she ran down to the other end of the hall and stopped, leaned against a wall, and began to cry hysterically.

Now, when this kind of thing happens t most of us, we always expect it to get a little bit better, and think, They better come and say sorry! and normally, they never come, and they never say sorry. At least not right away anyway. But this time, it is not the case.

Draco's eyes continued to follow Hermione, and they never turned away. Not even when she slumped against the wall and broke into hysterics. Draco's conscience was going insane, and also, he was definitely a sucker for crying girls.

"Hermione, I'm sorry!" yelled Malfoy. He ran down the hall next to her, and slumped against the wall aswell.

"I'm really sorry, I don't know what exactly came over me. I guess, I dunno…"

"What were you so scared of Malfoy? Making a new friend? Maybe one who isn't exactly like your father?" cried Hermione.

"You know what? You're absolutely right!" said Draco. Hermione looked at Draco, puzzled, and wanted to know exactly what he meant.

"What d'you mean?" asked Hermione. Draco slid down so that he was now sitting on the floor. Hermione did the same.

"Hermione, you could never truly understand. I don't hate my father per say, but he's a cruel man. Did you know my first friend was a half-blood?" asked Draco.

Hermione shook her head, interested in what Draco had to say. "Yeah, his name was Jonathon Temple, he was my neighbor," said Draco. Hermione stayed listening intently.

"My father never knew Jonathon was a half-blood until he asked his mother about his father," said Draco. He stopped talking for a moment, and looked like he might begin to cry himself.

"D-Draco, what happened?" asked Hermione. Draco looked at Hermione's own tear-stained face, and felt that it was right to tell her.

"My father s-said that, th-that Jonathon was gone and he wouldn't be coming back. Then I over-heard him talking to my mum that night, and he said that, that…"

He couldn't finish. It hurt too much. Hermione looked at Draco's eyes and couldn't help but ask, "Come on Draco, tell me, what happened?"

He looked at her and he put together as much strength as he could. "He said he killed him. He killed a four year old, just because his father was a muggle," said Draco as a tear rolled down his face. "And he killed his mother too."

Hermione put her hand over her mouth, and saw that Draco started to cry a little bit more. Hermione pulled him into a hug, and could feel the cold tears against his warm face.

"I'm so sorry…" mumbled Hermione. Hermione placed her hand on Draco's still sort of wet hair.

They stayed like this for a long moment, forgetting completely about their prefect duties. When Draco began to pull his head away, he noticed Hermione's hand didn't leave his head.

Both of their hearts began to pound. Hermione's ears were ringing. Draco's face was growing red. Hermione met some one new. This was not the Draco Malfoy who had been cruel to her. This was not the Draco Malfoy who hoped Lord Voldemort would come and kill her and everyone she loved.

That Draco Malfoy didn't seem to exist anymore.

Draco looked at Hermione in a similar way to how he had been thinking of her all night, only now; those feelings were beginning to make sense…sort of…

Hermione's hand, still firmly on Draco's soaked head, began to slide down to his face. Hermione never realized how good looking Draco Malfoy really was.

But that didn't matter right now.

He leaned in to kiss her, and their lips moved incredibly close to one another's. Finally, they touched.

That is how Draco and Hermione fell in love.

"Oh, it was so easy then…" mumbled Hermione.

"I know love, it's gotten harder to keep it a secret. I love you so much- I don't think I can do it anymore…" said Draco.

"Draco, what are you trying to say?" asked Hermione nervously.

"Hermione, why all of this secrecy? I love you and you love me! Why should we act like this if we love each other as much as we say we do?" asked Draco.
"Because, Harry and Ron will never accept you, and your parents won't accept me either. This is something that nobody can understand, and why should we tell everyone and ruin it all when they never have to know," began Hermione as she chose to switch to a whisper. "And we can still be happy?"

Draco began to look angry. "Hermione, don't you understand? I don't care what my father and mother think of me anymore. My father killed a little boy, why would I care what a murderer thinks of me?" asked Draco.

Hermione's eyes saddened and she laid her head on Draco's shoulder. "I don't want to think about this now, later perhaps…" sighed Hermione. Draco didn't want to stop talking about it, but he felt that he should let her be.