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 5: Patience is a Virtue

Hermione did not want to get out of bed. She didn't want to go have breakfast and talk to Harry and Ron. She didn't want to face Snape in potions, and most of all, she most definitely did not want to see Draco Malfoy. But Hermione couldn't possibly bring herself to miss class, so she decided to grin and bare it.

'Just take it gracefully,' she thought. 'Act normal, they won't ask questions...'

She walked down to the great hall and took her usual seat in-between Ron and Harry. As she reached for her pumpkin juice, Hermione noticed one change: next to Harry, was Ginny.

'Oh, well, at least things are going well for someone," she thought.

"Hey Mione, how are things?" Ron said

"Oh, they're fine…sorry I couldn't talk much last night, I had a terrible headache..." She knew they wouldn't buy it.

Harry and Ron traded glances.

"Well, uh, I'm a little curious about certain things but, you know, generally good." Ron stated.

"How about you Harry?" Hermione tried to keep away from Ron's curiosity.

"Oh I'm fine, not looking forward to making up that potions test, but…other than that." he smiled.

"It's so weird that Snape disappeared for that one class period!" said Ron, "I certainly didn't see him anywhere, did you guys?"

"Yes, that was...very strange..." Hermione said. Just then she glanced over to the Slytherin table. Instead of expected piercing blue eyes, Hermione found that Malfoy was no where to be seen. A wave of relief swept over her. Ron, seeing the relief in Hermione's face, looked in the same direction.

He laughed, "Today's our lucky day, Malfoy Sr. came to pick his little boy up to see a doctor. Apparently someone cursed him." Ron found this highly amusing.

"Ha ha that's great!" Harry said laughing. "I wonder who had the guts to do it." Hermione was extremely relieved; she wouldn't have to deal with him today. She wasn't usually one to push off her problems, but when it came to boys, especially under these circumstances, she was happy to stay in denial. She had a free-block again that day, and thought about going to the library, but then recoiled at the memory of the previous day. 'Oh come on Hermione, he's not going to be there anyway, you must not let him prevent you from your studies!' she thought. So she said goodbye to the boys and Ginny, and went to the library. 'I should begin that report for herbology,' she thought.

She walked down the long hall and pushed the heavy wooden doors open. She immediately swung her backpack around and pulled out her books.

"I thought you might be here again. It seems to me a rather peculiar habit. Libraries are dull." said Malfoy, lifting a book to examine it, and taking her by surprise once again.

Hermione, completely taken by surprise, jumped and dropped all of her books on the floor. 'I thought you were with your father today!" she said extremely frustrated. She picked up her books and turned to leave; 'I am not in the mood to deal with him.'

But before she could reach the door, he was blocking it: her only way out. He stood there with a grin on his face, and his hand on the handle. Hermione never noticed before that he was much taller than her; there was no use in trying to get past him by force. "Move Malfoy." she said very seriously, placing the books in her bag and crossing her arms.

"No I don't think I will, Hermi - ...Granger. We need to have a chat."

"We need to have no such thing. Did the doctor treat you for your ridiculous ideas? I will not be a part of your little escapades!"

"Escapades, Hermione, are for jokers. This is no joke."

Hermione gave a sarcastic laugh, "Right, and I'm supposed to believe that? Look, Malfoy, I don't know what came over you yesterday but-" Malfoy cut her off…

He was angry, "Why won't you just believe me? What I said yesterday, I meant! And whatever came over me...it came over you too! I can't believe I am actually begging here Hermione, I never beg." He looked down, a little ashamed of himself.

Hermione was surprised by the way he was acting. She had never seen him look so hopeless, all his guards down. "I know..." There was a long silence. "Look, I only kissed you back because I didn't know what else to do! I hate you! You're -"

Malfoy was walking closer to her…

"You're - You're despicable and," He continued to come closer, Hermione was backing up trying to get away,

"…and rude and vile and I -" she had run out of room to walk; she was up against the book shelf. "…and I hate you."

No matter how much her words tried to convince her, she wasn't moving, she was frozen.

'Why aren't I trying to get away?' she thought.Draco leaned in; he couldn't help it. "Would it help if I renewed your memory?" a small grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Hermione couldn't control herself, no matter what her mind told her, her body prevented her from replying, she simply blinked and looked back at him.

"Well?" Draco whispered.

Before Hermione could think, she stood on her toes, and kissed him.

Draco accepted and didn't pull back for 10 seconds, then finally he pulled away, shocked.

"That's not fair Granger."

"What?" she looked at him confused.

"You torment me"

"What do you mean?" she was slightly angry now.

"Honestly Granger, I have no idea."

Hermione was still in shock. She was between Draco Malfoy and bookshelf.

'Bloody Hell,' she realized the situation and walked passed him, "I have to go..." her mind was racing.

"Don't leave," Draco pleaded without turning to face her.

"Why not? What are we supposed to do from here? This is...this is wrong..." she heard him laughing a little under his breath,

"What!" she yelled frustrated and confused.

"You're stuck in your ways aren't you?" He turned to face her, "Is it possible that we could be anything other than enemies? So I'm in Slytherin and you're in Gryffindor. Big deal. It's time Hogwarts met change."

"Whoever thought those words would come out of your mouth. You must be mad! You're not acting like yourself! I wouldn't be surprised if this was some spells doing...""Believe me, Granger, I never thought this would happen. But here I am, saying these words and I am positive that I am under no spell. I already used a Self Check-Up Charm to make sure."

"Oh..." she said looking down, searching her mind for what to say next." Well, what the hell do you want from me? Out of this? I mean, we cant - we can't keep…this is just so-"

"Odd? I know isn't it?" he smiled ruefully. This was not easy for either of them. He leaned in and kissed her lightly. "But it's not so bad, is it?"

"No. I hate to admit it, but its not," Hermione looked down, feeling guilty for some reason.

Draco could sense that Hermione needed to think alone for a while. He had already made up his mind, but just this once he could be patient. He pecked her on the cheek, grinned haughtily and strutted off.

The wooden door swung shut, leaving Hermione alone.

'Damn boys," she thought. She was shaken, but decided to play the denial game a bit longer…it would get her through the day. Hermione went to meet Ginny again for class.

…

"Woe is me" groaned Ginny as she met Hermione in the hallway. "I haven't seen Harry all day, and someone said he got really sick right after breakfast and had to be rushed to the hospital."

"What?" Hermione said, "Is he alright? What happened?"

"I don't know! But McGonagall won't let me go check on him. She told me to go to class and leave the worrying and rumors to others."

"Well I don't care, we're going. I hope he's ok..." As soon as class was over, they went up to the infirmary. There Harry lay, with George Weasley, of all people, at the foot of his bed."Harry! Are you alright?" Hermione and Ginny rushed over to the side of his bed

"I'm fine. George just had a little mishap with a new product, that's all."

"George, what did you do?" Ginny crossed her arms and looked at her brother.

"I wanted to see Harry tap dance while I was visiting for the day. Fred forgot to tell me that he hasn't added the ability to stop…"

"It was fun for a while," Harry smiled trying to make things less tense.

"Ah yes, that could be a problem George." said Hermione rolling her eyes.

"Well, how did you...stop him?" Ginny inquired.

Harry laughed. "Let's just say it took a lot of people..."

"Oh god, are you sure you're alright? I can't believe you George! And just before the ball too!"

"That right, it's next week," Harry gave Ginny a smile. "Who are you going with Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Uh - I'm not sure, no ones asked me yet..." she said a bit depressed.

"Maybe Ron will go with you?" Ginny offered.

"That bugger cannot dance at all," laughed George

Hermione laughed along. "I don't know Harry; it'd be strange to go with Ron after I went with Viktor last year…"

"Yeah it would," Ginny agreed, "Well there are other options…"

"Ha!" Hermione said, "Like whom?"

"Oh you know...Malfoy," George joked.

"What!" Hermione nearly choked.

"It was a joke."

"Ha ha, yeah, I knew that, its just- such a - a disgusting thought, that's all..."

"Ah…" George seemed unconvinced.

"Well, I best be off, you know we have our potion final in 10 minutes..." Hermione said.

"Say hello to Snape for me will you Mione?" Harry laughed, happy to be evading his final again.

"You really shouldn't be happy Harry," scolded George.

"Right George, like you'd feel any different?" Harry laughed.
"Well, Ill see you later Ginny, Harry, bye George!" She gave him a hug and left.

"George I can't believe you…" was all Ginny could say.

"What'd he do?" Harry said confused.

"Oh he tested a product on...a student...is all. We sort of made a deal. You promised me." she stared meaningfully at George.

"Its ok, no real harm done," Harry said.

…

Down in the dungeon, Hermione walked slowly to her seat, avoiding looking in the direction of Malfoy's desk. Malfoy closed his eyes, feigning sleep. Patience, he reminded himself, would always come in handy. Hermione had finally found a good use for her abundance of hair: hiding behind it.

Snape passed out the materials and they began the exam. Meanwhile, Ron was trying to sneak a peak at everything Hermione put in the cauldron.Ron whispered, "your hair is in the way!"

"Shhh! Ronald! This is a test!"

Draco pulled the potions test off with only one glance over in Hermione's direction. He found her concentration on the task at hand almost attractive. He was jealous that the only person she was acknowledging was Weasley. After class, he sped up behind her and pulled her into an empty classroom.

"What are you doing!" Hermione asked.

"I've thought about it and I'm not very patient, and I need to ask you something."

She rolled her eyes, "What is it?"

"Will you, Hermione Granger, be my date to the ball?" he gave a cocky grin.

"What!" her eyes grew wide.

"Come on Granger, I haven't got all day!"

"Draco, that's insanity! We'll be disowned for Christ sake! Well at least you will..."

"I don't care."

"You don't care? You're kidding me."

"No. I honestly don't care what people think. Look at me, I'm a changed man."

Hermione's brow furrowed; He didn't sound convincing.

"Draco, All we've done is kiss. I mean - we haven't even figured out how to co-exist yet and…what would Harry and Ron say?"

"Blast! I don't know! They're your friends! Just admit it, you want to go with me." He stared at her.

"How would you know such a thing?" she looked at him bluntly, awaiting an answer.

Draco just grinned and meandered off towards the door.

"Wait!" Hermione said before she could stop herself.

Draco turned slowly, "Yes?"

As soon as he turned she regretted it. "Draco - I..."

"Yes...?"

"Fine! I'll go with you! On one condition..."

"And that is?"

"You behave yourself, and you know what I mean: don't make this harder for me than it already is."Draco grinned, "Yes Hermione," and with that, he was gone.

AN: Thanks for all the reviews! Please continue to review and read, more coming very soon!