Back in the common room that night, every student had abandoned their homework and had opted instead to talk about the ball. First, second, and third years were all talking jealously about what they would do if they could go to the ball. One third year had already been invited and all of her friends stared at her enviously as she talked with her date. The older students were all making plans and the girls giggled incessantly as they talked about their dresses, how they were going to do their makeup, and most important of all, who they wanted to go with.

Hermione refused to be caught up in all of this. She sat in a corner and finished up an essay for Potions. The teenager inside of her was banging to get out, and she paused her writing to look up at the room. She was tempted to join Lavender and Parvati's conversation but her head told her that Potions was more important: it would help her on her way to Head Girl. She went back to her work.

The common room had cleared out for the most part when Ron walked over to Hermione. He cleared his throat nervously.

"'Mione?"

She looked up at him. "Yea?"

He hesitated. He looked back at Harry who nodded encouragingly at him.

"Hermione, I just wanted to apologize for the other night. I was being a useless git. It's just that, I got really jealous when I heard you'd snuck off to see Malfoy, even if you did curse him off his broom. I mean, I understand you must've felt guilty, breaking the rules like that... but he deserved it." Hermione bristled at that. The Malfoy that she had gotten to know a little more each day hadn't deserved that. "Anyways, well, I was hoping that you would take me back. I probably don't deserve it, but all the same, it'd mean a lot to me." He shot her a winning Weasley grin. There was a long pause. Did she want him back?

"Yea. Yea, we can get back together, Ron." She gave him a soft grin. He leaned down and kissed her.

"And, do you think we could go to the ball together?"

"Oh, yea... I don't see why not."

"Good. I was sick of you two not being together." The both looked to find Harry grinning. "Now I'm going to bed, you two should do the same." After one last kiss from Ron, they all went to their dorms to sleep.

Wednesday came and it was almost time for Hermione to meet up with Draco. She was nervous about how Ron would take it. She didn't want to fight again, and she was almost afraid to leave. Hermione considered not going, but there was a part of her that had been looking forward to that lesson, to get to know how Draco Malfoy truly was. She told Ron that she had to go and she could see him grow angry. She winced, waiting for the shouts to start, but they never came. Ron looked like he was giving everything he had to restrain himself, and he gave her a terse smile. With that, she left.

She found Draco waiting patiently for her. His grey eyes lit up when she walked in the door and her face broke into a wide grin.

"Ready to get started?"

The lesson went better than any had previously. Draco and Hermione were warm and friendly towards each other. They would tease each other good naturedly and Draco was really improving in his Transfiguration. About halfway through the conversation, Draco casually brought up the ball.

"So... have you got a date for the ball yet?"

"Yea, I'm going with Ron."

"But I thought-"

"Oh didn't I tell you? We got back together the other night."

He felt as though he'd been punched in the stomach. "Oh."

"What about you, Malfoy, who're you taking?"

He tried to shake his disappointment from his head. "Oh, well, I haven't decided yet. So many options, you know?" He gave her a half hearted grin.

She was looking at his most recent transfiguration victim and did not notice the sad tone to his voice or the disappointment on his face. She chuckled at his comment.

"You certainly have your pick of the school. By the way, this still has a bit of dorsal feathers on it, but otherwise I'd say a good transfiguration." With a wave of her wand, the teacup turned back into a swallow and flew back to its perch.

The lesson continued, and Draco tried to cheer up and to keep up his appearances as the arrogant Malfoy. This girl was getting under his skin and cracking the protective shell he had worked so hard to form, and that wouldn't do. He had already realized his feelings for her; that's where it had to end. He could be friends with her, there was no harm in that, but even dreaming about a relationship was unrealistic. No, he was son of Lucius Malfoy, future follower of Lord Voldemort, a boy who had been imbibed with evil since he was born.

But could a man change his stars? Draco secretly hoped so.

Hermione decided that his progress was sufficient and that they could end fifteen minutes early. They sat with each other, neither wanting to return to the common rooms. They had each found a foreign world with one another: Draco could care around Hermione, he could be genuine, and Hermione could feel appreciated and could even make a friend in Draco Malfoy.

"So... I hope you don't mind me asking, but why were you reading a book of muggle poetry?"

Draco paused. He couldn't decide if he wanted to reveal that. Up until then, no one knew about his secret passion. He gave a careless sort of shrug,

"Well, I found this one day in Diagon Alley a year back - no doubt some muggle born dropped it - and so I picked it up. I didn't really read it until I was really bored over Christmas vacation last year. Ever since then, I carry it around and read out of it or make notes in it when I'm bored." He shrugged again. "There is just something about muggle poetry and songwriting that I can relate to. Weird, I know."

"Is this the only book you've got?"

"Yea, well... Father wouldn't be pleased to find out I'm accumulating muggle artifacts. He's think I'm turning into Arth-" He stopped, realizing that Hermione might take that the wrong way.

"Arthur Weasley?" She laughed. "He does have quite a passion for muggles. He's always asking me questions." Draco laughed.

"Well I'm pushing it with the guitar, and so this is the one poetry book I own."

"Speaking of the guitar, I never got to ask you: what was the song you heard on vacation that made you want to play?"

"Oh... by a group called Creed, I think... umm... oh yes, 'One Last Breath.'"

Hermione nodded and checked the time. "Oh man, it's almost 9:15! I should be going. I'll talk to you later?"

He grinned. "Naturally. Looking forward to it."

She smiled at him, the one of the first genuine smiles that she had given in over a week, and left.