Hermione was woken up by Harry and Ron in the Heads dormitory.
"Hey! How did you get in here? Only Head Boy and Head Girl allowed!" Hermione complained groggily. She was still very sleepy.
"Well, we saw that ferret, Malfoy come out. That git. But hey, he let us in." Harry explained.
"Come on you guys! 'Mione, it's a Hogsmeade weekend! We'll be late!"
She heard Ron's hasty voice while Harry pulled the sheets off her to make her get up.
"Ugh! Okay, okay! Give me a minute."
Damn! She totally forgot about today's trip to Hogsmeade. She was thinking too much of Draco- oops! Malfoy, she thought. Not Draco. She recalled how she enjoyed herself with him in the library last night. He was such a good conversationalist.
When Hermione was finally done, they hurriedly went out to Filch, who was checking and listing down everyone that'll go to Hogsmeade. Harry suddenly asked, "Hey 'Mione, what's up with you? You look so… occupied."
"Huh? Me? Oh no. I was just thinking about my Head duties. Dumbledore said that it's better if we do our rounds in pairs, with Voldemort getting stronger and everything." She whispered the part about Voldemort.
"And who did you get paired with?" Ron asked.
"Um, Draco. I mean, Malfoy." She said hastily.
The two boys gaped at her.
"No way!" Ron cried.
"Since when did Malfoy become Draco?" Harry eyed her suspiciously.
"He's not that bad, you know. He was really nice to me. We even studied together in the library." Oops. Me and my big mouth. She thought.
"What!" Harry exclaimed.
"Hermione! What were you thinking? For God's sake, he's Draco Malfoy! The amazing bouncing ferret! Doesn't that ring a bell?" Ron still can't believe that Hermione actually studied with that Malfoy git. And, he was a bit, just a tiny bit jealous too.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You guys are so immature about this. It was nothing!"
Harry looked at her with concerned eyes. He treated Hermione like a sister. He didn't want her to get hurt.
"'Mione, we're just concerned you know. Maybe he's playing you or something. His sudden kindness towards you is a bit unusual."
"Don't worry, Harry. This is not a big deal. And as for you Ron, I still know that he is Draco Malfoy. I'll be careful."
Harry seemed relieved. But Ron didn't appear to be convinced at what she said.
They enjoyed the cool breeze of air in Hogsmeade. They were glad that Dumbledore didn't stop giving out Hogsmeade weekends, even though there are a few issues about security and people worrying about Voldemort popping out of nowhere.
They reached the Three Broomsticks and each got a mug of butterbeer.
"Aah. That feels good." Ron smacked his lips appreciatively as he swallowed and felt that warm flow in his mouth.
They stayed there for a while, and then Harry said, "Hey Ron, you want to go around the corner and check out the newest model of the Firebolt?"
"You bet! I heard that the Chudley Cannons are gonna use those for this season!" Ron cheerfully answered. He was a big fan of the Cannons.
"Oh, Hermione, wanna come?" Harry asked her.
"Come on you guys, you know I'm not much of a fan of Quidditch. Its okay. You go ahead." She stood up. "I'll be across the street in the bookstore. I need some supplies."
After they paid the bill, they said left the Three Broomsticks and parted ways.
On the way to the bookstore, Hermione passed the jewelry store. She admired the beautiful diamonds and crystals on display. She went inside.
The first thing that she saw was a beautiful locket necklace. It was white gold and it had a heart-shaped emerald pendant, with white gold linings around it. It was wonderful.
When she turned around, she saw Draco Malfoy looking at her, then at the necklace, then back at her again. "I can buy that for you if you want." He offered.
"No, thank you. I don't need it." Hermione refused, rather loftily.
Draco chose to ignore her being rude. "It's okay, really." He said while calling a clerk and walking up to the counter to pay for it.
"Draco! No, you don't have to buy it!" Hermione flushed. She didn't mean to call him Draco.
He turned around. "Did you just call me by my first name?" Draco smirked.
"N-no. I just-" She stammered. Draco raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
"What's so funny? Fine! I called you by your first name. Big deal!"
Malfoy continued to laugh. She scowled and hastily walked out of the shop. She was so embarrassed.
"Hey, don't-" Before he could say anything, Hermione was already gone.
He grinned. He was amused that Hermione called him Draco for the first time in her life. The mudblood is almost falling for his trap. She's a very beautiful mudblood, for the record. I can say she's worth my time. He smirked as he went back to the castle.
Harry and Ron found Hermione running towards them. She was blushing furiously.
"What's her problem?" Ron muttered to Harry.
"Got bugged by Malfoy, I reckon." Harry replied with a chuckle.
"Guys! Thank goodness I found you." Hermione paused to catch her breath.
"I agree. You look like a tomato." Ron teased.
Hermione blushed even more.
"Oh, did I say tomato? I meant over-ripe tomato." Hermione playfully punched him in the arm.
The three of them laughed.
"Why did you run around flushing anyway, 'Mione?" Harry questioned.
"Nothing! I just- I just tripped in the sidewalk around the corner. A lot of people saw me." She lied.
Ron laughed. "I see."
Harry smiled. "Let's go. It's getting late. Filch will skin us alive if we go back and its dark already."
They cheerfully headed back up to the castle. Hermione tried to keep her thoughts away from Dra- um, Malfoy. They said their good nights and went to their respective dormitories. Harry and Ron in the Gryffindor Tower and Hermione in the Heads dorm.
She was surprised when she found that Draco was still awake. He was sitting by the fire, reading a book.
"Hey, you're back, Hermione." He emphasized the last word, letting her know that he hadn't forgotten the little 'incident' they had in Hogsmeade.
"Hello, Malfoy." She replied coolly. She then went upstairs to change into her pajamas.
When Hermione entered her room, she sat on her bed. She was so tired. She sat there for a little while, then she noticed a neatly wrapped box on her bedside table. There was a note. It said:
Dear Hermione,
I'm really sorry if I laughed at you back in Hogsmeade. I was just so surprised (and at the same time, amused) to hear that you actually called me by my first name. Well, to make it up to you, I got you something. I hope you like it.
Sincerely,
Draco Malfoy
She was reluctant to open it. What could it be? What if it's a cursed object ready to kill Hermione? Ugh, I'm being so paranoid. She brushed all of her worries away. When she opened the package, she gasped. It was beautiful. It was the necklace she was admiring this afternoon, in the jewelry store. Draco DID buy it for her. He is so sweet.
"You like it?" She heard a familiar voice behind her.
She turned around. "You didn't have to buy it. Here," She walked up to Malfoy and handed him the box. "I don't really need it."
Malfoy pretended to look hurt. God, I can't believe I'm doing this for a mudblood. "Why? Is it the color, or- or the size?" He tried to sound worried.
"No, its perfect. It's just that I can't accept it."
"Why not?"
She didn't answer.
"It's because of Potty and Weasel huh? 'Oh Hermione, don't take stuff from Malfoy. He might lock you up and then eat you.'" Malfoy said in a mousy voice. "What, is it wrong to give gifts to mudbloods now?"
"Wha-what did you say?" Hermione stared at him with watery eyes.
Shit. Malfoy thought. He slipped.
"You, I thought you were sincere. I ACTUALLY THOUGHT THAT YOU WANTED TO BE FRIENDS." Hermione said to him slowly. Her eyes were full of anger and hatred.
"Hermione, I can explain." He said hastily, nearing her. He saw how hurt she looked.
"Don't you dare come near me Malfoy." She can't bear this anymore. "Get out of my room."
"Look, I.."
"I said, GET OUT OF MY ROOM!" She yelled at him.
Malfoy turned around and got out. He heard the door bang behind him. He hated himself. I was so damn stupid. Now he'll never win that bet with Blaise. But, for some reason, he wasn't really worried about the bet. He was more worried about how he made Hermione feel.
He entered his room and lied down on his bed. He recalled what he had seen in Hermione's eyes. Her beautiful, hazel-brown eyes were filled with fury. He'd never seen anyone look at him like that, not even his father. Lucius' eyes were cold and piercing. But hers were different. It was full of emotion. Like a delicate glass broken into pieces. He tried to sleep and forget about this. But he can't. Whenever he closed his eyes, he sees the image of Hermione, crying and depressed, all because of him.