Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Hermione threw herself down on her favorite couch and cried. She couldn't believe that her so called "best friends" could be so cruel. She had also surprised herself when she had stood up to them defending Draco. She knew that she enjoyed having Draco's friendship, but was it really worth fighting with Ron and Harry? 'Yes it's worth fighting with them. If they were really my friends, they would respect my right to hang out with anyone that I want. So what if they don't get along with Draco, it doesn't mean I'm not allowed to like him.' She brushed the tears from her eyes and sat up. She didn't know why, but for some reason she was more angry than she was sad. She had just gotten into a huge fight with her best friends in the world, over Draco Malfoy, and for some reason she was angry with them instead of being upset.

Hermione jumped when she heard a knock at the portrait hole. 'It's probably Harry and Ron here to apologize. I really don't want to hear it right now. If I don't take some time to cool off, I'll probably say something that I'll regret later.' "Who is it?" She decided if it was them she just wouldn't open the door, she would tell them to go away and leave her alone for a while.

"It's Blaise. Are you going to let me in or not?" She recognized the voice at the door and went to let him in. She felt relieved that it wasn't one of her friends from Gryffindor. She wasn't in the mood to defend her friendship to anyone.

"Hey Blaise. Dra... Malfoy isn't here right now. I'm sure he'll be here any minute if you want to sit and wait." She knew he should be there shortly, he just had to run to the broom shed.

"Don't mind if I do. What's wrong with you? You look like Hell." Blaise sat on the chair next to the fire.

"It's nothing, but if you want to be rude, you can leave, or go to Malfoy's room." Hermione wasn't really upset by what he said, but she wasn't really friends with Blaise. He was a Slytherin, and she was supposed to hate him on principle. Especially since he was Draco's best friend.

"Easy Granger, it was just a question. I'll keep my lips sealed until Drake gets here. I promise." He made a motion like he was zipping his lips and throwing away the key.

Hermione rolled her eyes at him, and threw herself down on the couch, and pretended to be reading her charms book. She heard the portrait hole swing open. "Hermione what happened with Potty and the Weasel? They didn't see us together did they?"

"What the hell were you and Granger doing together? You guys aren't dating or something are you? It's not nice to keep things from your best friend Drake." Blaise turned around in the chair to see a shocked Draco.

"Oh... what's up Blaise? I didn't see you there." Draco mentally slapped himself. Now that Blaise knew him and Hermione were friends the whole school was going to know. That could only cause trouble.

"Obviously not. Is there something you two would like to share with me?" Blaise was smirking at the looks of horror on Hermione and Draco's faces.

"Alright listen. If I tell you, you better keep your big damn mouth shut. Hermione and I are friends. We decided to put our differences aside since we have to spend the year together. We were hanging outside together when Potty and the Weasel came out. We tried to make it back to the castle without being seen, but I'm assuming that they saw us walking back up together. I had to leave to put my broom away, and I saw them practically attack Hermione. What happened with them Hermione? From where I was, it didn't look good."

"No it didn't go well. They informed me that I was being stupid to trust you. They told me that if I wanted to hang out with you, then I could go back to my room and hang out with my new best friend."

"What did you say?" Draco was afraid that whatever she said, they weren't going to be friends anymore. He was surprised at how disappointed that idea made him.

"I told them that if they were jealous of my new friendship, then I was going to go to my room and hang out with my new friend, because at least he doesn't tell me who I can and cannot hang out with. I can be friends with whoever I want. When they realize that, then we can be friends again." She blushed slightly, and looked up to meet Draco's eyes. They were really wide, and his mouth was hanging slightly open.

"Whoa...thanks. I figured that you would take their side and we wouldn't be friends anymore. I'm really impressed Hermione. That was a really nice thing that you did, but I don't want to come between you and your friends."

"I knew that if they found out about us they were going to be upset. They may be my best friends, but they can't control who I spend my time with. I enjoy spending time with you, and if they don't like it, they'll either get over it, or they'll be missing out on my friendship."

"Damn Drake, that is about the sweetest thing I've ever heard. I think that I'll leave you two to it. I'm afraid that if I listen to anymore of this I'm going to be sick. I'll catch up with you later man." Blaise got up and walked towards the portrait hole.

"Blaise don't be an arse. I'll see you later." He turned back to Hermione. "Blaise may be an arse, but he was right about one thing. That is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. It really means a lot that our friendship is that important to you. I'm sure that they will learn to deal with it sooner or later. I can't imagine that they are willing to lose their friendship with you over something so stupid."

"I don't know, they can both be very stubborn. They probably figure that you will end up hurting me, and I'll go running back to them, or something. Either that, or I'll miss them and decide that their friendship means more to me than yours. Little do they know, I can be stubborn too. I don't like people trying to tell me who I'm allowed to be with."

"So...you would rather be with me, and risk losing their friendship, than end your friendship with me, and reform the Golden Trio?"

"Honestly, I think so. Harry and Ron are too overprotective, it's almost like they feel that they own me or something. They need to learn that who I like is my business, not theirs. They don't own me." She blushed again when she realized that she had said that she liked him. She looked up and saw a genuine smile on Draco's face. She returned the smile, and looked away. When she turned back Draco was only a foot away from her.

"That honestly means the world to me Hermione. I was afraid that you would never be able to fully trust me. I've been beating myself up for the way that I treated you for all of those years. I really thought that I had blown every chance at ever being close to you. You really are the best person that I have ever met." He reached over and pulled Hermione into a big hug.

Hermione couldn't believe it. She never would have imagined that she would be standing here in her common room hugging Draco Malfoy. It felt so right to her, like they were meant to do this. She pulled back a little and looked at him. She could see his eyes searching hers for something, she didn't know what. She gave him a small smile, and he returned it with an even bigger smile. The next thing Hermione knew his lips were on hers, and she could feel her knees going weak. She held onto him tighter and melted into the kiss. It was one of those pure kisses. When they broke away Hermione felt like she would fall over without him supporting her. Her legs felt like jelly.

Draco couldn't believe that he had just kissed Hermione Granger, and she even kissed him back. He looked deep into her eyes and saw that happiness and contentment. He noticed that he felt the same way. He glanced up over her shoulder at the clock. "I think that we missed lunch. It should be over soon, and our next class is starting. What do you say we see what we have to eat in the refrigerator before we head out?"

Hermione pulled herself out of the trance that she was in, looking into his eyes. "Huh...oh yeah. That would be great. I can't believe how time flies when you're not doing homework."

"All we have in here is some sandwiches and some pumpkin juice. Sound good?"

"Yes. That's what I usually eat for lunch anyways."

"Really. Me too." He pulled out the platter of sandwiches and the jug of pumpkin juice. Hermione got out two goblets from the cupboard. They took their lunch over to the couch, and sat down and started to eat. "I wish that we didn't have class tonight. It would be nice to just be able to hang out in here and relax."

"Me too. I was really excited for this class, but after all that has happened today, I'm really not in the mood. Good thing it's only a two hour class. It could be worse."

"Hey, what do you say that we walk to class together. Blaise, Potty and the Weasel already know that we're friends, it's only a matter of hours before the whole school knows. Why hide it now?"

"I would love to...if you're not worried about what it will do to your reputation."

"Honestly, my reputation doesn't even matter to me anymore. I would rather just concentrate on what makes me happy, instead of what makes everybody else happy."

"I know what you mean."

He turned to look into her eyes and smiled. He leaned down and gave her a kiss on her forehead and grabbed her hand. "Isn't it amazing how two people as different as us can have so much in common? Listen Hermione...I kind of wanted to ask you something."

Hermione thought that she actually saw him blushing for a second, but he was very careful to get rid of it. "Go ahead Draco." She gave him an encouraging smile. He was holding her hand still, and she could feel little butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Somehow, it didn't seem weird to be holding hands with Draco, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

"Well...you said that you liked to go clubbing, and...there is this wizarding club in Hogsmeade... and I was wondering if maybe you would...go there with me this Saturday? As friends or whatever." Draco couldn't bring himself to look at her, his heart felt like it was going to pound out of his chest. He had asked out plenty of girls in the past, but being who he is, he always knew the answer. With Hermione, he couldn't be sure that she would say yes, but then again, she had let him kiss her.

Hermione couldn't believe her ears. She felt like she was going to burst. Draco Malfoy had just asked her out on a date, sort of. She never would have thought this would happen in a million years. She squeezed his hand, trying to get him to look at her, and gave him a big smile. "I would love to go out with you on Saturday." She couldn't help herself she threw herself at him and gave him a big hug. She felt like she hadn't been this happy in a long time, this even beat getting her letter informing her she had made head girl.

Draco was surprised when she hugged him, he relaxed and picked her up a little off the ground, hugging her even closer. He was so happy that she had agreed to go. He loosened the hug and she looked into his eyes. He could see a new twinkle in her eye, one he had never seen before. He smiled and leaned in to give her another kiss. By the time they broke away, they realized they were going to have to run to make it to diplomacy. They ran out of the portrait hole hand in hand and just barely made it in before the bell rang signaling the beginning of class. They were so relieved to have made it on time that they didn't even notice the odd looks they were getting from their fellow classmates as they took their seats, ready to begin class.

Well, I hope you all enjoyed it. They finally kissed, not a big one, but she's never really had a real boyfriend, and I want to take it slow, and remain as close to character as possible. Please review, I'm hoping to update more today. Thanks for reading.