As the new day dawned, Hermione realized what she had to do. She had to tell Harry and Ron that she was in love with Draco. She sat in her empty dorm for a while trying to figure out how to tell them. She decided to just be calm and casual.

She walked down the common room and took a deep breath. "Harry, Ron; will you come up to my room so we can talk about something?" she asked nervously. Ron suddenly thought that maybe Hermione liked him. How very wrong he was.

The boys walked up to Hermione's dorm exchanging nervous glances and shrugging at each other. Hermione's head still said not to tell them, but she just had to go with her heart on this one. "Ok…this is going to be very hard for you guys to hear, but will you promise to always be my friends…no matter what…through thick or thin and remember we're inseparable till the sky falls…"

Harry and Ron glanced at each other and both nodded and said in unison, "We swear Hermione…"

Hermione sighed; "I'm in love, you guys. I'm really in love…" she said nervously.

Harry and Ron grinned. "Who's the lucky guy?" Harry asked looking at Ron smiling thinking that Ron was the lucky one. Again, he was terribly wrong about that.

"Well, I have been seeing this guy for a couple of days and have been afraid to tell you guys. But we are really in love so I knew I had to tell you…" Hermione continued.

"Tell us already!" yelled Ron disappointed that the guy obviously wasn't him.

"Ok…I'll just say it boys because you are my best friends. I am in love with Draco Malfoy!" she said happy to get that off her chest.

The boys looked at each other and burst out laughing. "What a good one Hermione!" Ron wheezed obviously relieved that Hermione might still like him.

The boys laughed and Hermione closed her eyes in frustration. "I'm serious…and so are me and Draco. We are in love and there's nothing that can stop that." Hermione said firmly.

The boys' laughter ceased immediately. "Oh…" said Harry who had seriously thought this was a joke. Ron was crushed beyond belief.

"Are we still friends boys?" asked Hermione half not wanting the answer.

"Of course Hermione… We promised you!" said Harry and Ron in a jumble of words.

"Ok, well that's good. Ok well I have to go to meet Draco in the entrance hall before breakfast. Thanks guys!" Hermione said kissing each of them on the cheek. She promptly left the room leaving Harry and Ron staring in disbelief at each other.

She found Draco and smiled at him. "I told them Draco! We can officially be together in public…finally!" she said kissing him on the lips and putting her arms around his neck into a hug.

Draco and Hermione spent that Saturday together in Hogsmeade. It seemed like nothing could go wrong.

Hermione and Draco were in the Three Broomsticks when Hermione said that she needed to use the Lady's Room quickly.

Just as she was coming out of the bathroom she saw a face. A pug face that could only belong to Pansy Parkinson. She looked furious and Hermione's eyes widened. "Hello Pansy…How are you today?" she asked her.

Pansy growled and looked very mean indeed. Hermione just stood there not knowing what to do. "Excuse me, I have a date to get back to…" she said trying to make her way back to Draco.

"You won't be going back anytime soon!" Pansy yelled at Hermione. She then punched Hermione in the face. Surprisingly, it didn't hurt as bad as Hermione thought it would. Seeing as she weren't very hurt, Hermione punched her back. Pansy then threw a punch at Hermione with such force, that Hermione fell to the floor and Pansy walked away.

Meanwhile, Draco was wondering where Hermione was and decided to go wait by the bathroom door for her because he was a tad worried. He walked over by the bathroom door to find Hermione sprawled on the hallway floor.

"Mione, baby, who did this to you?" he asked picking her up as she put her arms around his neck. He was carrying her bridal style and she muttered the word "Parkinson" before blacking out.

Draco ran with Hermione in her arms to Pansy's table. "How dare you do this to her Pansy! What the hell is wrong with you?" he shouted angrily looking at his wounded girlfriend in his arms.

"She isn't good enough for you Draco. Some random Mudblood will never suit a Malfoy." Pansy sneered.

"I think I can decide that for myself, thanks!" said Draco.

He rushed out, still carrying Hermione and ran back to Hogwarts. He carried her to the hospital wing and placed her gingerly on a bed. "Madam Pomfrey!" he yelled, summoning the nurse.

She rushed in and began to question what happened to her. He explained that he and Hermione were going out and that Pansy was jealous and that she had attacked Hermione in the Thee Broomsticks. Madam Pomfrey shook her head and said to report Pansy, but Draco said it would only get Hermione hurt more. Madam Pomfrey said that Hermione might be out cold for the rest of the day, 12 more hours.

"She's worth a lot more than 12 hours…she's worth 12 lifetimes if you ask me…" Draco said kissing unconscious Hermione's forehead.

Madam Pomfrey smiled, "That is the nicest thing to ever come out of your mouth Mr. Malfoy. That, dear, is the mark of true love. When a woman changes you and makes you better; when another human being makes you what you always were inside but never showed it, you are in love…"