Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot, everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Diplomacy class had turned out to be really interesting. Their first assignment was to work as a pair writing a speech about a subject they both felt strongly about. Hermione couldn't wait to get started on it. She finished packing up her things and was beginning to leave the room when someone grabbed her arm. She turned to find that it was Pansy Parkinson. "Listen mudblood, I don't know what you are trying to pull with Draco, but he's mine. You had better back off if you know what's good for you. Besides I know that Draco would never even think about being with someone like you, you're nothing but a filthy little mudblooded know-it-all. Remember hands off."
"Listen Parkinson, I have no idea what you're talking about. Draco and I have become friends, but I'm not trying to steal him from you. Besides he's not even yours anyways. Why would someone like Draco like a stuck-up pug-faced bitch like you anyway? Get a life Parkinson, and stay out of mine." Hermione turned to walk away, but Pansy still had her arm.
"Trust me, you don't want to mess with me mudblood. You're in way over your head. Whatever you think you and Draco have, you better end it before someone gets hurt." Pansy roughly dropped Hermione's arm and stalked out of the room with her pug-nose in the air.
Draco had been waiting for Hermione outside of the classroom, and saw an angry Pansy storming out of the classroom. He tried to blend into the wall so that she wouldn't talk to him. It didn't work. Pansy turned towards Draco and gave him the look. "What's up with you and the mudblood? Is this another one of you and Blaise's dumb bets? If it is, you could have at least told me Draco. How do you think that I felt watching my boyfriend walking into class with some other girl draped all over him?"
"Her name is Hermione, and our relationship is none of your bloody business Parkinson. I'm not your boyfriend, I haven't been your boyfriend in years. Get over it!" Draco leaned against the wall and crossed his arms, giving Pansy the look that he usually reserved for Potty and the Weasel.
"You just better keep an eye on your new girlfriend. I wouldn't want to see her get hurt." Pansy smirked at him and started to walk away, but he reached out and grabbed her arm.
"Parkinson, if you so much as look at Hermione in a way that I don't like, you will regret the day that you were born. I will make your life a living Hell. I would think twice before messing with me. I have powers you could never even dream of having, and I won't hesitate to use them. Mark my words Parkinson, if you touch Hermione, you are going to have to deal with me, and I don't think that you want that." Draco shoved her into the wall to make his point clearer.
"Draco...don't, it's not worth it. I'm not afraid of Pansy. I'm twice the witch that she'll ever be." Hermione had walked into the hall. She couldn't hide the smile that was threatening to creep over her face. She couldn't believe that Draco had just defended her like that.
"Hermione, I didn't know that you were there. Did she hurt you?" Draco walked over to her, searching her with his eyes, looking for any signs that she was hurt. While he was doing this Pansy snuck away and ran back to the Snake Pit to spread the word. Draco lifted up Hermione's arms and checked them over. She didn't seem to be hurt at all. "I'm sorry about her. She still thinks that we're a couple, just because I asked her to the stupid Yule Ball fourth year."
"Really, I'm fine. It's not a big deal. Come on lets just get back to the room, I want to get started on my homework for Charms before dinner." She smiled up at him and they started walking back towards the head's dorm. "Thank you for sticking up for me back there. That really means a lot. Now that Ron and Harry know that I'm friends with you, I'm sure everyone in Gryffindor knows. Chances are I lost a lot of my friends, it's nice to know that I can count on you to be there for me."
"I don't let anyone trash talk my friends. Even if it were Blaise I wouldn't have let him get away with it, and he's my best friend. You must know what I mean though, you stuck up for me with Potter and Weasley." Draco reached out and grabbed her hand and pulled her to a stop. "Nobody has ever cared about me enough to stick up for me, not even the friends that I have had since I was little. You're really the best person that I know. After the way that I have treated you the past six years, you still have so much compassion towards me. Thank you...a lot."
Hermione blushed, and squeezed his hand. They both walked the rest of the way in silence. When they got to the portrait Draco said the password and they both stepped in. Draco was walking towards the kitchen area. "Did you want some pumpkin juice or something?" He waited for an answer, when he didn't get one he turned around. He saw Hermione standing at the portrait door just watching him. "What's up? Did you want something?"
Hermione walked slowly over to him. She didn't really know what it was, but for some reason she had the strongest urge to kiss him right now. She also knew that she didn't want to stop herself. She walked up so she was only a few inches from him and then reached up and put her hands on the back of his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. She felt Draco pull her closer and she just let him, she felt like her whole body was too weak to support itself. She wanted more of him, she let her tongue slip out and run along his bottom lip. He took the hint and opened his mouth allowing her tongue in to explore. He backed up slowly until he was leaning against the refrigerator door. After a couple minutes Hermione pulled slowly away and looked up into Draco's face. She immediately started blushing and looked away.
Draco reached up and grabbed her chin and pulled it up so that she was looking at him. He smiled at her looking into her big brown eyes. He never thought that he would look into those eyes and see anything but hate. What he saw now was a look of happiness, contentment, and something that looked a little like lust. He couldn't believe that Hermione had been the first to make a move. He pulled her into a hug letting his head rest on her head, breathing in her scent. He could feel her sigh and rest her head against his chest. He couldn't remember ever feeling so comfortable with a girl.
"This feels nice." Hermione was leaning against his chest with her eyes closed. She could hear his heart beating and feel his chest moving with each breath.
"Yeah, I wish that we could stay like this, but you wanted to get some work done before dinner. I suppose I should get my books and join you." Draco loosened his grip around her waist and the two of them went to get their books to work on their charms essay.
They both sat quietly working for about a half an hour. Draco put down his quill and stretched. He was getting tired of writing and hungry. He couldn't wait for dinner to start. He looked over at Hermione. Her hair was hanging around her face and she kept pushing it behind her ear. She kept nibbling on her bottom lip while skimming her Charms text for information to add to her already lengthy essay. Draco thought that she looked really cute when she was deep in thought. He smiled to himself as he watched her.
Hermione heaved a sigh and laid her quill on her paper. She skimmed the length of her paper and was satisfied at how much she had accomplished. She glanced up at Draco to notice that he was watching her. "What?" she asked, feeling a little self conscious.
"Do you know how cute you look when you are doing your school work? You get this adorable look of concentration on your face." He smiled at the way this made her blush.
"I never thought that I would see the day when Draco Malfoy would be telling me that I look cute, but thank you. You look cute when you are working too. I was watching you a little and you get this crease between your eyes when you are thinking, and you chew on the end of your quill. I never noticed that before."
"I'm cute no matter what I do. Are you ready to go down to dinner yet, I'm famished?"
"Yes Mr. Arrogance I'm ready to go to dinner. You really are quite conceited you know."
"Yes, I know. Come on let's get down there. I'd rather stay up here and eat away from Parkinson and Potter, but if we don't go down there to eat, rumors are going to start." They both got up and exited the portrait hole to head to the Great Hall. Draco reached over and took Hermione's hand in his own, she looked up at him and smiled.
After they had filled up, they stayed in the Great Hall and chatted for a while, giving their stomachs a chance to settle. They were getting weird looks from all over the hall, but neither cared. People would learn to accept them being together, eventually. Hermione was laughing at something Draco had just said when someone tapped on her shoulder. She turned around to see Ginny. "Hey Ginny."
"Hey 'Mione, can we talk for a second?" Ginny seemed a little nervous.
"Listen Gin, if Harry and Ronald sent you over here, you can tell them that I don't want to speak to them at the moment. If they want to talk to me, they can come find me themselves."
"Harry and Ron didn't send me 'Mione, I promise. I just wanted to talk to you. I want you to know that I don't mind you being friends with Malfoy. If you want to be friends with someone new that's your choice. Ron and Harry are just being immature little babies about it. I'll be your friend no matter what the other Gryffindors say and do." She gave Hermione a reassuring smile.
"Thanks Gin. I'm assuming the rest of the Gryffindors aren't taking it well either?"
"Everyone's a little upset besides Lavender and Parvati. They are just jealous, because they think Malfoy is hot. In fact, most of the girls just seem jealous. It's the boys that are taking it rough."
Draco smirked, "I told you that I was hot Hermione. See that all of your friends are jealous because you're with me." He had a very satisfied look on his face.
Ginny shook her head. "Anyways 'Mione, I was wondering if maybe we could do something tonight. You know hang out. Harry and Ron are driving me crazy. The Lion's Den is the last place that I want to be spending time right now. I'd rather go sleep in the Snake Pit, no offense Malfoy."
"None taken Weaselette. I'm sure that we know someone who would be more than happy to welcome you to the Snake Pit. Right Hermione?" He put his arm around Hermione's shoulder.
"Yeah Ginny. I happen to know a certain Slytherin who is quite infatuated with you." She couldn't hold back a giggle at the look on Ginny's face.
"It's not Crabbe or Goyle is it?" Ginny had a look of repulsion on her face at the thought.
"No Gin, relax it's not one of those two oafs." Hermione laughed, so did Draco.
"Well then who is it?" Ginny couldn't hide her excitement. As if on cue Blaise Zabini walked over.
"Hey Drake, first quidditch practice is tomorrow night. I've been working on some new moves. Do you think that you could get there a little early to help me practice them? I'm trying to..." He stopped dead when he noticed who was standing next to him.
"Hey Blaise. I think that you know the Weaselette?" Draco said smirking. He flashed a wink at Ginny who blushed.
"Huh...oh...yeah...hey. Ginny isn't it?" Blaise reached out his hand to shake hers.
"Yeah...and you're Blaise Zabini, Slytherin quidditch captain, right?" Ginny shook his hand, not taking her eyes off of his. Their hands kind of lingered on one anothers longer than necessary.
Ron who had been watching with interest from the Gryffindor table shoved his plate back, stood up, and stormed over there. "Come on Ginny, we need to talk. Keep your hands off my little sister Zabini." His eyes were flashing with anger.
"Let me go Ronald. I can talk to whoever I bloody want. I'm not a baby anymore. If I want to talk to Blaise I can, just like Hermione has every right to be friends with Malfoy." Ginny stepped over in front of Blaise as if defending him.
"I will not have my little sister becoming a whore to a Slytherin snake. Come on Ginny we're going now." He reached out and grabbed Ginny's arm to pull her along with him out of the Hall.
"Let her go Weasel, your hurting her." Blaise had stepped up and removed Ron's hand from Ginny's arm. He slid himself in between Ron and Ginny. "Why don't you just leave her alone. She's old enough to pick her own friends."
"She doesn't want to be friends with you Zabini. She was over here to talk to Granger. Why don't you just go back to the Snake Pit where you belong, and stay away from my little sister. Come on Ginny we're going."
"Ronald Weasley you have no right to treat me like that. Maybe I do want to be Blaise's friend. Nothing you say or do is going to stop me. Why don't you go back to the Den and cool off before you get yourself in trouble?" She stepped up next to Blaise and smiled up at him.
"You heard her Weasel. Why don't you just save yourself the embarrassment and get out of here?" Blaise put his arm around Ginny's shoulders.
Ron pulled out his wand and pointed it at Blaise. "I said, keep your hands of my sister Zabini. I'm not going to tell you again."
Hermione jumped up, pulling out her wand. "Expelliarmus!" In seconds she had Ron's wand in her hand. "Ten points from Gryffindor. Go back to the Den Ronald. I'll be giving your wand to Professor McGonagall, maybe she'll give it back after you have had some time to cool off."
"Thank you Miss Granger. I can handle it from here. To my office Mr. Weasley." Professor McGonagall had walked up during the fight. She took the wand from Hermione and followed Ron out of the Hall. Hermione turned to Ginny and Blaise. "I'm sorry you guys. He's only acting like this because he is mad at me."
"It's not your fault Hermione. Ron needs to grow up. I'm 17 years old, I can be friends with whoever I choose." She smiled at Blaise who still had his arm around her.
"Listen Ginny, I was wondering if maybe you and I could get together sometime and get to know each other? I really like you, and I just thought maybe we could go out sometime. Like on a Hogsmeade weekend or something." Blaise ran his fingers through his hair waiting for her to reply.
"I would love to." Ginny blushed almost the color of her hair. She smiled at Blaise again.
"Hey I have quidditch practice tomorrow night, maybe, if you want to, you can come and watch me practice?"
"That would be really fun. I think that I'll do that. 'Mione you should come watch too. It would be a fun night out, away from all the homework. What do you say?" Ginny looked pleadingly at Hermione, she really wanted to go, but she didn't want to go alone.
"Yeah Hermione, you should come. You can watch me practice too." Draco looked away from her, and Hermione was almost positive she had seen him blush.
"That would be great. I could use a little fresh air. I'd love to come watch." She smiled reassuringly at Ginny. "Well, I'm going to go back to the common room and try to get some work done. Are you coming Draco?"
"Yeah I think that I will, I haven't gotten a thing done. Later Blaise, Weaselette." He stood up and started to leave. Hermione followed.
"Don't work too hard you two." Ginny said giving Hermione a sly smile.
"Don't worry Gin, I won't." She winked back at her and turned to Draco. She smiled up at him. He returned the smile and grabbed her hand. They headed out of the Great Hall with all eyes on them, and walked to their dorm. "I don't really feel like working. I just want to veg out, you know, just curl up in front of the fire and read, or talk or something. How about you?"
"You read my mind. I am definitely not in the mood to do anymore writing tonight. Let's just light a fire, and hang out."
"Sounds great. I'll race you to the portrait hole. Ready...GO!" Hermione took off running down the hall with Draco right on her heels. Draco reached out and grabbed the back of her robes and slowed her down. He then passed her with a laugh. "Hey that's not fair, you cheated!" Hermione reached out and grabbed Draco's robes, and when she did he spun around to face her, and she ran right into his open arms. "Hey, we're supposed to be racing. Let me go. You're just sore because you know I can beat you."
"Not in the slightest. I'm just enjoying your company Miss Granger. Now if you'll excuse me I have a race to win." With that said he turned around and continued to run. He was now a ways ahead of Hermione.
"That's not fair!" They had reached the portrait hole and Draco had won. "You are such a lousy cheater."
"Dragonheart. I know, I am in Slytherin, you didn't expect me to play fair did you?" He laughed as Hermione punched him playfully on the arm and chased him through the open portrait hole.
Sorry about the long wait guys. I'm trying to update as fast as possible. I'll keep writing, as long as you keep reading and reviewing. Hope you enjoyed the chapter.