A/N: I know I said Ch 9 would be Hermione and Draco talk but I've changed the chapter a little bit so it's going to be totally different. I hope you guys enjoy! R&R please!
Disclaimer: The characters and spells in this fic are not mine but are the wonderful thoughts of J.K. Rowling. The only thing I own is the plot.
Malfoy kept smirking throughout Defense Against the Dark Arts. He was glad to be back and not be stuck in the hospital wing with Ron. To Harry and Ron he looked a little too happy, as if some kind of plan was cooking in that silver blonde head of his.
Hermione buried her nose in a spell book, not paying the least bit of attention to what Umbridge had to say. By the end of class Hermione was still sitting with her nose in the book until Harry tapped her on the shoulder letting her know class had ended. She seemed preoccupied with something and Harry could tell.
"What were you looking up in class?" Harry asked curiously.
"Oh, nothing just some spell, you know for charms. I want to make sure I'm using the right spell for, um, levitating my, um school book." replied Hermione trying quickly to cover up the reason. Realizing her lie wasn't really believable she quickly told Harry and Ron she had to go to the library and she would meet them in the Great Hall later.
"She's up to something. Wonder what it is." Harry said watching Hermione scurry off to the library. Crabbe and Goyle close behind.
"Maybe Ginny will know." suggested Ron.
Harry and Ron headed to the Great Hall to talk with Ginny before Hermione got there. Meanwhile, in the Library, Hermione sat still looking up spells in her book while also doing some homework. Half an hour and 3 spell books later Hermione was still in the library, lazily flipping pages. A tall silvery blond haired boy came up behind her and put his pale hand upon her shoulder. Hermione jumped and turned around and found herself staring into Draco's blue eyes. They just stared at each other for a few moments, neither one speaking. Draco held out his hand to help Hermione up. Hermione didn't look away as she stood. Finally, after what seemed like 5 minutes Draco broke the silence.
"Um, Hermione, could we go somewhere and talk? Maybe even a walk around the grounds?"
Hermione, still looking into his eyes, shook her head in agreement. There was something different about Draco. He seemed much gentler. She gathered her things and followed him, still not speaking. She didn't know what to say. They walked out of the library barely speaking. Hermione and Draco's minds were racing.
I wonder why he wants to talk to me.
I wonder if he feels the same way for me as I do for him.
Hermione was thinking about everything she had done and all the reasons he'd want to talk to her.
I hope she won't turn down this offer.
They walked around the campus near the edge of the forbidden forest and sat down. Hermione's heart raced.
"What did I do wrong this time?" she asked hoping he wasn't going to give her another one of his lectures, or worse.
"Oh no, no. It's not that, I, uh, want to, invite you to spend Christmas break with me, at my house." Draco seemed very nervous.
Hermione looked at him. Her face lit up like the angel on top of a Christmas tree. She was going to go to Draco's home over Christmas break. Before she told him yes, a scary thought entered the back of her mind. His father hates muggle-borns. What is she going to do?
"Draco, that's very nice, and I would love to but, um-"
"If you're about to say no because of my father he won't be there, I promise. It will just be you, me and mother."
With that news in mind Hermione said yes, and gave him a huge hug.