Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or ideas in the Harry Potter books, written by J.K. Rowling. I only own this small plot.

Summary: Things at Hogwarts tend to have a certain pattern. Malfoy hates them. They hate Malfoy. But what happens when a certain spell reveals that the last thing Hermione Granger wants to hear is "He doesn't love you." Who could it be about? Draco is sure curious...(A Draco/Hermione and Harry/Ginny piece.) A friend and I originally co-wrote this as a role-play. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 2: Bookworms

The next morning, Harry and Ron woke up and went downstairs into the common room. Everyone was sitting around the fire having tea before the day really began. He spotted Hermione sitting on the couch in her robe, reading a book. Ron and Harry sat on either side of her.

"Hey Mione, how'd you sleep?" he said.
"Fine, how about you two?" she replied
"Nightmares." "But you don't want to hear about that..." sighed Ron.
Hermione gave them a confused look and returned to her reading. Harry peered over her shoulder at the text.

He read aloud, "The joys of Hogwarts in the fall..."

"My god Hermione, not Hogwarts: a History again!"

Ron snatched the book from her and grabbed his quill "Hmm...this could use a few additions..."
"Ronald! That book is sacred! Don't. You. Dare!"

She pulled out her wand and aimed it at his nose. Ron gulped.

Harry warned him, "Don't test her Ron, remember what she did to ...Malfoy -"

Harry tried to keep himself from Hurling, "I-Ill, be right back -" He ran into the bathroom with his hand over his mouth. Ron tried to make light of the situation, "Don't know what's come over him..."
Hermione took the book back "Well, I hope he's not sick. We have a nasty final in Potions today."

Ron groaned,"I forgot to study…"

"As Usual Ronald," she sighed and rolled her eyes. "Why cant you two just focus on your studies?"

"Well it's harder than you think…we've both got...quite a lot going on…"
"Like What? What could you two possibly have going on that I don't know about? hmm?"
"Oh nothing...erm...boy stuff…and...Uh...Quidditch...that's right. Quidditch"

"Oh." Hermione always felt a little left out when it came to Quidditch.

Harry returned, "Sorry guys, uh…shall we go down to the great hall for breakfast?" Hermione nodded and ran up stairs to change quickly and meet them downstairs.
Ron quickly dusted himself off and threw his crumpled up McGonagall paper in the fire.
"Let's do ourselves a favor and avert our eyes from the S table...just to keep our food down you know."
"Yeah, if we get down their quickly we can get a seat as far away from Malfoy as possible before she comes down," Harry said.
"Good idea" they said simultaneously.

When Hermione arrived down stairs, she joined her friends at their table. They were leaning over whispering and straightened up quickly when she tapped their shoulders to sit between them. "O-Oh Hey Mione, here-" they cleared a space for her.

"What is going on with you two? You're acting so strangely…"
"We're just worried...about the test!" said Ron "Ah." She gave it up, but she new something was going on. After she finished her breakfast she decided to use her free block to spend some time studying for her Herbology paper, and went to the library. She was so happy to see that it was deserted except for her, she loved peace and quiet.

"Oh don't you just love the peace and quiet of libraries?" said a voice from behind a bookshelf…it was Malfoy. Hermione gasped and turned around. "Oh. It's just you. I thought it was something actually worthy of my attention." She turned back to her book.

Malfoy came up behind her and began to read over her shoulder, "Bookworms," he sniggered, "Do you have a life?"

He was somehow less malicious than usual...he almost sounded playful in a very mean way…like a bully treats his sister...only different.

"What are you doing in a library if you hate reading so much Malfoy? Oh, that's right, looking at the picture books."
Malfoy grimaced and paced up and down the isle, "I'll see you in potions Granger" and with that he stormed off.

'What the hell was that about?' Hermione thought. She picked up her bag and went to go join Ginny for Care of Magical Creatures.

"What on earth is wrong Hermione? You look like you found a rip in your parchment!"
"Oh nothing really Ginny, I was just being Harassed by Malfoy, again."

Ginny giggled, "He's been in such an odd mood lately. It's as if he discovered his great grandma was a Muggle."

"Ha ha ha, If only. That would knock some sense into him. Urgh! He is just so impossible!"
"Don't even try to reason with him. His upbringing prevents any such thing," Ginny shuddered, "The Malfoys are possibly the most disgusting wizards on the planet...have you seen his mother?" she giggled devilishly, "She's a witch...literally."

"I wouldn't be surprised, the way his father acts. What a vile man. Oh well, how are you?"

"I'm alright...I suppose," a glum look passed over her face.

"Its Harry, isn't it?" Hermione patted her back.
"Guilty," sighed Ginny.

"Well what's the problem, why don't you ask him to the Yule Ball? That is coming up soon," Hermione gave a smile of hope.
"Do you really think I have a chance with him? You've seen how Regina Brown looks at him, and she's a year older than me. And drop dead gorgeous I might add. I am pond scum...that's all…"
"Oh, Ginny! You know that Harry is smart enough not to fall for a girl like her! You're the real thing!"

"You think so?"
"I know so," she smiled
"But remember when he liked Cho Chang? She was totally wrong for him in every way… what a sappy ditz."
"Yes, she was, but Harry's older now, he learned from that, don't worry Ginny, Ill put in a good word." she winked.
"Oh no! Don't tell him! He might hate me if he knew I'm still really that shy little girl who hides up in her room at the very mention of his name…that summer at the burrow was dreadful…"
"No, No, I won't tell him, Ill just, try and, let say, put you in a good light..."
"Alright."

"Look, there he is now with my brother!"
Harry and Ron were walking down the hall to pick up the girls for lunch. Then they were off to Potions for the final. "Hey, how's it going?" said Harry. Hermione didn't say anything, she elbowed Ginny.

"Err…we were just talking about you...um...the Quidditch game coming up!"
Ginny immediately threw Hermione an apologetic look; she knew that this wasn't a conversation she could really take part in.

"Hey, why don't you three go have lunch, I'm going to get a bit more studying in before Potions," she gave Ginny a look as if to say 'This is your chance,' "Ill see you in class."

"Oh god…" Ginny muttered under her breath.

"What was that Gin?" asked Ron.

"Oh nothing," Ginny said, "Just that you haven't done your reading for Ancient Runes yet, have you?"

"My reading for...?" she glared at him. Ron was confused but he complied.

"Ahem, yes, of course. I must go...do my reading…" and with that he wandered off slowly, trying to think of what reading he could possibly have for Ancient Runes.

"Now comes the hard part," thought Ginny, "Conversation."
Harry felt a bit awkward. "So, uh, shall we go have lunch?"

"Yeah...lunch" murmured Ginny.

AN: Hey guys, thanks so much for those who reviewed the first chapter. The next chapter has more Draco/Hermione and Harry/Ginny. Hope you enjoyed it. Please review.