Here we are at Chapter 3! Once I hit four it will truly be a milestone. Sorry for the lack of update, but my mum has had to get the internet service cut off, so I can only post when I can access the internet (right now I'm on my dad's computer.) When school starts it should get a bit easier, but for now the most I can even consider promising is every two weeks. Sorry. Anyway, I of course want to thank my beta reader, Chelsea, who you can find under the penname A Happy Little Bumble Bee. Now then, READ!

Thanks:
Zack- It is not rushing. It is going at a perfect pace if you ask me. Anyway, other than that, thanks!

princessdza- I'm glad you're enjoying the details! I'm also incredibly flattered that you want to add me to you're C2 community, and of course you can! I will try to read one of your stories as soon as I can get the chance. It may be a while, but I promise I will! Sorry the update wasn't as soon as the last one.

mysteriouscharm- Do you really think so? I always thought of his character that way...I think I eased up on the arrogance in this chapter though. Do you approve?

Dominique-That is so cool! So sorry I can't dish it out any faster! Anyway, I hope you like this chapter!

HiraTsubasa-I have to say I felt a bit bold writing that line, but I figured in the context it wasn't so bad. I have to say the first time I ever read him saying something of that sort in a fic I was a bit shocked too. I agree completely that the concietness and paleness suit him best. And I'M asking for your opinion!

mousewolf-Well...this chapter for one (hopefully). Anyway, you be the judge of how silly it is.

princessdza-I'm glad you like the humor. I never thought I was good with comedy, so it's nice to know someone gets it.

Thanks to all of you for taking the time to review! Love ya, HHBL

Chapter Three: A Simple Question
A few more days passed for our Hogwarts students, and soon it was the Hogsmeade weekend. The streets of the wizarding town were bustling with students. Their pockets were filled with products from Zonko's and Honeydukes, and for the most part the expressions on their faces were those of a cheery sort.

One of these students was Hermione, who was sitting with Ron and Harry in the Three Broomsticks. They had enjoyed their day in Hogsmeade so far; their pockets, like many others, were filled with sweets, and the butterbeers they were sipping were as delicious as ever.

Regardless, there was something pulling at Hermione's brain: she had not spoken to Malfoy in several days. While she knew she shouldn't let it bother it proceeded in doing so anyway.

They had spoken every day for two weeks, and then he had simply stopped coming. In a way, she missed those conversations. It had been something different. After al, one didn't get to have a conversation with their enemy everyday. Of course, this was not all that was making her think of the Slytherin...

NO! I won't let myself think that way!

She quickly turned her attention to Ron, and then just as quickly wished she hadn't. He was eating a lemon meringue pie, and it must have been one of the most astonishing and disgusting sights the bushy-haired girl had ever seen. She noticed that the remaining member of the Dream Team seemed to have the same feeling.

"Um...Harry, Ron, I think I'll go of on my own for a bit." She said this trying to sound as casual as possible, but Harry got her drift.

"Alright, see ya later," he replied in exasperation. As she left Ron looked up from his pie.

"Did I do somethin'?" he asked through a mouthful of pie.

"Nah, Mate. Of course not." Harry further reassured him with a pat on the back.

The female of the trio had made her way to the local bookstore. She browsed casually through the isles without realizing that she was in the company of a certain "Sex God."

"Well, well. If it isn't bookworm Granger. Come to find a good read?" she heard a familiar drawl tease.

"Yes, actually," she replied without missing a beat, "Though I must say that I'm quite surprised to see the Sex God of Slytherin in a book shop. I imagined you'd be off snogging someone."

"It's nice to know you were thinking of me, but that does make it appear that you don't know everything."

"Whoever said I know everything?"

"Well, nobody ever came out and said that you know everything, but you sure do act like it."

"I most certainly do not."

"Liar."

"I am not!"

"Okay then. Name something you don't know much about."

"Um..." she racked her brain for something, but for every subject came a dozen facts.

"Shit," she muttered.

"Did you just curse? My, my, it must be hard for you to think of something if you're cursing over it." The Gryffindor scowled at this.

Then it hit her.

"You."

"Wh-what?"

"You. I don't know much about you at all. I talked to you everyday for two weeks but I still don't know much about you."

"Oh...well...maybe you should get to know me then," Malfoy suggested tentatively.

"I...I should?"

"Yeah, why not?"

"Um...ok." The Head Girl felt her cheeks start to tinge. The silence began to get tense, but the moment was recovered by her clever friend.

"Hey, are you hungry?"

"Yes."

"Good, 'cause I'm starving. Let's get something to eat."

And so the two teens found themselves in the Three Broomsticks, eating to their heart's content. They didn't talk much during much of the meal, contrary to the Slytherin's resolve that they would get to know each other better. What conversation there was added up to the usual silly banters they always had.

The fact that they weren't making much headway bothered Hermione, and so she broke another of their silences to confront the issue.

"So, what is it I need to know about you?"

"..."

"Well?" The air surrounding them suddenly got tense. It was the kind of atmosphere in which a conversation could go down many different paths. Both of the students sensed that. Malfoy sat in the silence for quite some time before answering.

"I..." the blonde seemed to be trying to figure out what to say without much success. He sighed in confusion. "I-I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"I mean that I don't think I know myself well enough to answer that question." The air around them changed in that instant. It was still tense, but a different sort of tense: one in which Hermione wanted desperately to offer words of comfort, but knew she couldn't without touching on subjects like the death of Dumbledore.

"Hum...well, how about we star somewhere simple. What's your favorite color?" the Head Girl asked, trying to brighten the mood. The blonde got the hint and replied in a happier tone.

"Well-" but she didn't let him finish.

"Please tell me it isn't black, silver, deep green, or crimson. That would be so stereotypical."

"Actually, my dear Gryffindor, it isn't any of those colors," he told her in a mocking voice.

"Well...what is it?"

In a dramatic fashion, Malfoy reached into his robes and took out a ring. It was encrusted with diamonds surrounding a rather large purple stone. The color to it was rich and deep; it was possibly the most beautiful color violet Hermione had ever seen.

"This," he told her, still quite dramatically, "is the family wedding ring. It has been past down for generations. My father put it on my mother's finger at their wedding. And as long as I can remember I have absolutely loved that color violet."

"It-it's beautiful." Hermione looked at the stone for a moment, admiring it. Then something occurred to her. A small giggle escaped her lips.

"What's funny?" Malfoy asked, slightly befuddled.

Oh, I really shouldn't. But...

"It's just occurred to me. Your favorite color is the international gay color."

"What?"

"Purple. It symbolizes gayness."

"What are you implying?"

"Oh...I don't know..."

"You're not saying—"

"Well..."

"You-you don't think I'm.."

"If the color's purple." She shrugged her shoulder with this in an if-the-shoe-fits fashion.

"It's not purple, it's violet."

"They're synonyms."

"You know I'm not."

"Of course." She then gave him a sarcastic wink. This caused the other teen so much frustration that he felt he had to make his point clear.

"I AM NOT GAY!"

The whole of Hogsmeade must have heard him for the way he was shouting. Certainly the entire pub did, as they were all staring at him. Hermione looked at him in amusement.

"I never said you were, now did I?" A smirk to rival a Slytherin's graced her features.

"I-I guess not." Slowly he sat down, and even more slowly the customers of the Three Broomsticks went back to their own conversations.

Though it was hard to tell with him, Hermione though she saw Malfoy's cheeks tinge slightly pink. However, before she could fully investigate, he had already made his usually smooth recovery.

"Pale or tan?"

"Honestly!"

"When are you going to answer my question?"

"Never."

"Oh, come now. You shouldn't say 'never.' It just might happen."

"Fine then. What should I say, O Wise One?"

"You should say it will happen when something you know won't happen happens. That way you know it won't happen."

"Ah."

"Well, are you going to rework that sentence or not?"

"No. I think 'never' works just fine. It's not going to happen."

"Okay, if you say so..."

"Well, I do, and I'm Head Girl, so you'd best hush up before you get a detention."

"Oh, abusing our power are we? Could a little of my Slytherin charm be rubbing off, Miss granger?"

"Are you calling me 'charming,' Mr. Malfoy?"

"Well yes, I suppose you are charming. For a mudblood anyway."

"Watch your mouth, or it'll be ten points from Slytherin."

"Oh, I can just feel the charm washing over me."

The rest of the day went by in the same way. The two strolled through the winding streets of Hogsmeade, visiting the many shops along the way. Neither of them bought anything more than some candy, but then neither really felt like it either.

The conversation was varied. At times it seemed they could talk for hours, but then there were times when neihter of them could find anything to speak of. It was in these times that one of many silences would take place. Some were awkward, especially if they had come across a touchy subject, but for the most part they were comfortable and only broken by a sarcastic remark or seemingly out of place sentence.

Though it would seem this would not be the most interesting day, both students enjoyed it thoroughly and were sorry to see it end. However, they had reached the doors to the Great Hall and knew that they would soon have to sit on opposite sides of the room.

"Well, I supposed we'd better go in then," Malfoy stated after clearing his throat.

"Yeah, but...Malfoy?"

"What?"

"Today...it was fun. I mean...well...maybe the 'Evil Slytherin Prince' isn't so bad after all."

"I know what you mean. But don't tell anyone."

"Oh right. You've got that reputation to keep up."

"Yeah..." his voice trailed off as he looked away, almost as though he was regretting something., But again, before Hermione could study his expression properly he recovered, changing the subject.

"Um, are you planning on attending the Halloween Ball?"

"Of course."

"Do you have a date?"

"No, actually."

He isn't going to...No, of course not. He is still Malfoy.

"Oh. I see."

There. It was just curiosity

"Would you like to go with me?"

HE DID!

"Yeah, sure. I'd love to." Hermione was barely aware of what she was saying for her amount of shock. And yet a sense of happiness and giddiness washed over her. Before she knew what she was doing she had given him a friendly sort of hug and retreated to the Gryffindor table, leaving Malfoy staring after her.