A/N: I'm attempting longer chapters for more enjoyment. :D Hope you like it.
Recap : "Hey, Hermione," said Draco, "Wanna hang out again sometime?"
"Sure," replied Hermione with a smile, "Why not?"
Chapter 6
A few days passed since the date with Draco and now it was the day before Halloween. Hermione wasn't sure how she felt about Draco. This was the Draco that's been so malicious to her and her friends. It was a mixed feeling, that churned in the back of her head. Draco sometimes gave her discreet smiles that made her stomach fill with butterflies. Then a thought hit her like ten ton anvil: What would Harry and Ron think? The idea of their reactions made her pale.
"Hermione? Hermione?" She suddenly snapped back into reality. It was Harry. Hermione realized she had her elbow in her hash browns and the ends of her hair swimming in her orange juice.
"Just breakfast and you're already daydreaming?" Ron teased. Hermione squeezed the juice out of her hair.
"I'm not hungry," Hermione said quietly, "I'm going to the library." She picked up her things and left.
"What do you think is wrong with her?" asked Harry, looking at Hermione leave. Unexpectedly, Draco got up and left the cafeteria.
"I told you, it's Malfoy," said Ron taking a sip of his milk, "Something up, let's follow her." No sooner as he finish his sentence, Lavender Brown sat beside Ron.
"Hi, Ron," she said nervously, "Your hair looks nice, today." He heard Parvati Patil and a few friends giggle behind them.
"Uh, yeah, thanks," Ron said, checking his hair incase it was a joke, "So, what's up? I'm kinda in a hurry." He looked back and forth from the entrance and Lavender.
"I'll go find Hermione," Harry whispered to Ron and left.
Hermione went to the far back desk in the library. She rested her head on the cold wooden surface. The smell of pages from old books overflowed in the air and warmth from the light fell in on Hermione's cheek. For once when she was in the library, she wasn't planning on studying or reading a book. Not many people were in the library at this time. She had about 20 minutes of clearing her head until she started class. Hermione shut her eyes…..
"BOO!"
"AHH!"
"HUSH!"
Draco started laughing, trying to be quiet. He was obviously the one who scared her and made her scream. The librarian, annoyed, told them to quiet down, even though she couldn't see them behind the bookcases.
"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked aggravated from being disturbed.
"Wanted to talk to you, I saw you leave and followed you here," Draco said causally. He slouched in the wooden chair next to Hermione.
"Okay, well, what do you want?" Hermione said avoiding Draco's subtle blue eyes.
"I wanted to know if you could hangout with me tomorrow for Halloween," said Draco. He turned Hermione's head with his hand gently, so their eyes could meet. The tenderness of Draco's hand felt especially pleasant for Hermione after the unfeeling cold of the table.
"That sound agreeable," Hermione said leisurely. Draco gave a cheerful smile which made Hermione want to smile, too.
"Great, I'll see you later," said Draco. He got up and waved goodbye to Hermione. Draco left and Hermione sighed with relief.
"Hermione?"
Hermione turned around and saw Harry looking back at her.
"Harry! Did you- What are you-Why-" Hermione stuttered, she didn't know what to ask first.
"I heard most of it. What do you think you're doing?" Harry hotly. Hermione got up from her chair looking guilty.
"It's complicated! Please understand!" Hermione said hastily, "Of all people, I know you'll understand. Please! Don't be mad."
"It's Draco, for Pete's sake!" Harry said with a bit of disgust, "And what will Ron think? He'll be furious." Harry started waving his hands around in distress.
"I know, I know! Just don't tell Ron, yet. Please…" Hermione pleaded. Harry looked down at his feet.
"You'll have to tell him, soon…" said Harry quietly, Hermione nodded, "I'll say I didn't see anything. I s'pose it's okay with me. Better get to class before long." He looked up at Hermione, waved goodbye, and turned his heel to leave. Hermione stood there for a while with the dust visible from the light.
Harry met up with Ron in the hall. Harry didn't speak, until Ron broke the silence.
"Lavender said she predicted herself talking to me today in the tea leaves thing," Ron said humorously, "What do you think she exactly saw? My face?" Ron imagined Lavender looking into a cup with Ron's face and laughed.
"Oh…" Harry said tonelessly, looking straight ahead. Ron raised an eyebrow.
"So, what happened with Malfoy?" Ron asked curiously, looking at Harry.
"Nothing, Malfoy went to the bathroom and Hermione was at the library," lied Harry, "She said for me to tell you hi." Ron seemed to believe it. In Divination, Lavender talked to Ron, again. This time she said she just felt talking to him. Ron blushed a lot in that class that day.
Next day
Blaise and Draco were walking in the to Potions class. Draco could feel himself winning the bet anytime soon.
"Guess what, Blaise?" Draco said with anticipation.
"You ran out of hair gel?" Blaise laughed.
"Wrong, again, my friend," Draco said, "I got another date with Granger. So, you'd want to shave maybe, so everyone can see you clearly when you streak." He smiled triumphantly.
"You know, Draco, it seems like you might be falling for Ganger," said Blaise teasingly, "Going soft, are you?"
"She's nothing more than a bet, okay?" Draco said quickly, "She's mudblood, I could never fall for her."
"Sure, whatever you say" said Blaise, "Anyways, I bet you haven't even kissed her, yet." Draco scowled. He had to admit his didn't kiss her, yet, but he only had one date with her so far.
"Blaise, if you betted anymore than you do now, you'd be in debt up to your ears," Draco said jokingly, "Anyways, there's Hermione. Later." Hermione was standing next to the Potions class door waiting for Harry and Ron.
"Hey Hermione," Draco said, "Let's go." He grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the classroom.
"What? Where are we going? We'll be late for class," said Hermione anxiously, restraining from Draco's grip.
"Don't worry, Hermione. We're only going outside for a sec, we'll have enough time to get back," said Draco reassuringly. Unenthusiastically, Hermione followed Draco outside to a nice, quiet area.
"We're going to be late!" Hermione moaned, resisting the urge to run to class.
"Haha, I was just kidding about coming back to Professor Snape's class anyways," said Draco, "This is a great time to have a small picnic here."
"What! Skipping class! No! We'll get in so much trouble!" Hermione almost shrieked.
"Light up, Hermione," said Draco causally, " Snape's easy on me. After we're done having a little fun, we'll go back, but if you go back alone, I'm sure you'll get detention and I'm staying here until I'm satisfied." Draco smile.
"You thought this through, haven't you?" asked Hermione. Draco ignored the question and started to unfolded a blanket from a bag inside his robes and laid it on the ground. Hermione grudgingly sat down on it with her legs on her side, flatting down her robe. Draco sat down across from Hermione with his legs in front of him, his arms positioned on them. Trees hovered above, light peaking through the brown leaves down at them. Smell of foliage wisped in the air.
"How'd you find this place?" Hermione said finally realizing where they were.
"A friend told me about it," Draco said.
"It's a beautiful place," Hermione said in admiration, stilling looking around them.
"This place only accents your beauty," Draco said softly. Hermione looked at him and laughed.
"Well, can't have a picnic without food," Hermione said in matter-of-fact tone, "Did you bring any?"
"Of course," Draco said. He pulled out his bag and reached in. He took out apples, cheese, pumpkin juice in a container, and bread.
"Where'd you get the food?" Hermione said in shock.
"Don't worry, I didn't steal it," said Draco, reliving Hermione, "I just made a deal with those Weasley twins, but let's not talk about them." He tossed Hermione an apple and took a small bite.
"So, let me ask you a question, Draco," she said after finishing her bite, "What do your parents do?" Draco planted an artificial grin on his face and turned his eyes away from Hermione. He wasn't quite sure how to answer. "I'm sorry-"
"Nah, it's okay. My mom's just a housewife who stays at home. My dad does some stuff," Draco said somberly, "With all the rumors, you must have some kind of idea. Heck, I don't really know myself, because I'm afraid to ask sometimes." He laid on his back, scowling, but instantly sat up, forcing a grin. He cleared his throat. "Well, you know. Crazy, huh?"
He turned his head to look at Hermione. Hermione looked at him with sympathy and knew he felt heavily about his parent's situation by his melancholy expression. Draco couldn't believe he told anyone, especially Hermione, about his dad. Ringing of Blaise's word before, keptbanging into his head. She's just a way of winning a bet, he thought to himself, Nothing more.
A cold breeze came across and Hermione shivered. Draco draped his arms around her and pulled her closer.Hermione's body overwhelmed with affection, but tried to pull away. He only held her tighter. Hermione relaxed and let him hug her. Draco felt a strength of familiar and welcoming from her as if he known her forever. He closed his eyes and brushed his pale lips against her rosey cheek. Hermione halfheartedly closed her eyes, struggling to sit up. Draco's body urged Hermione's togradually fall backwards. Before she knew what was happening, he was kissing her. She leisurely wrapped her hands around his neck. Draco's eyes lingered, slowly opening and drew back slowly. Both comprehending their first kiss…
"WHAT ARE YOU KIDS DOING OUT HERE?"
Draco's hand slipped, taken by surprise, which was supporting himself, and fell flat on Hermione. Hermione felt like her ribs broke from the collision and the air taken out of her. A hand pulled Draco off of Hermione by the arm and the another grabbing Hermione's.
It was Professor McGonagall, except her face was bursting with fury.
"The obscenity! I expected better from you, Hermione!" yelled Professor McGonagall, "And during class time! Detention for both of you and 50 points from both houses! Don't think Dumbledore will not hear of this!" She dragged Hermione and Draco all the way back to her office and sat them down.
"Explain," Professor McGonagall said firmly. Hermione had a horrified look on her face.
"It's not Hermione's fault, I talked her into it," said Draco quickly as he stood up.
"Sit down, Malfoy," McGonagall said sternly, "She still came voluntarily along. Is that all you have to explain? Then you still both will have detention on the next Hogsmead trip and points will be deducted. I will escort you to your next classes." Hermione and Draco quietly stood up.
A small amount of days flew by and word spread around of Hermione and Draco's little date, like fire. Once Ron heard about it, he burst into the cafeteria at breakfast.
"Hermione! It can't be true, right!" yelled Ron, "They're lying! Right!" Hermione looked about to erupt into tears, but didn't say a word.
Harry tried to come to her defense, "Ron, it's okay, I already accepted it-"
"You mean you knew about this and didn't TELL me?" yelled Ron, "I'm gonna hurt that BLOODY GIT!" Ron started to look for Draco at the Slyterin table, but Hermione clutched his shoulder and stepped in front of him.
"Ron, don't…" she pleaded quietly, "You'll make a scene. Draco and I…" Hermione trailed off, tears slowly dripping off her face.
"Hermione, if your really with him," Ron said slowly, "You're not my friend anymore." Ron turned around and left. Harry glanced from Hermione and Ron.
"Go Harry," she said quietly, "I'll be fine…" Harry gave her a sympathetic look and took after Ron. Then she felt steady arms wrap around her gently.
"It'll be okay…"
A/N: Yeah, well, I decided to end this chapter there. Don't forget to review, please.