Hi, thanks for the reviews…even though there were only a few, I'm not complaining! I love writing this story! Anywayz…chapter 9 here we come!

Chapter 9 – Dress Shopping and Weirdness

Hermione headed down the grounds alone for the Care of Magical Creatures lesson when she heard voices calling her from behind. She turned and saw Harry and Ron calling, but decided to ignore them at the moment. All she could think about was that kiss that Malfoy had given her that had made her fall.

"Besides, the kiss probably didn't mean anything. I'm sure he kisses loads of girls every day!" and with those reassuring but disappointing thoughts, she entered the forest.

Malfoy joined her a few seconds later, and it seemed as though he didn't care at all because he didn't even say hello. He just had that pathetic smirk on his face. They were studying unicorns now.

A couple of trees down, they heard someone sigh, then giggle. Hermione and Malfoy walked over and found Pansy and Ron making out on the tree. They were so deeply into it that they didn't even notice that they were standing there. Malfoy and Hermione turned around quickly and walked away.

"I can't believe they would do that where everyone could see them!" said Hermione to herself disgustedly, "It looks like Ron doesn't miss me at all." She hadn't realized she had said it out loud until she saw Malfoy's amused expression.

"What's so fucking funny?" she demanded, "I thought you would care since you're so close to Pansy and all."

Malfoy scowled, "Pansy can go screw whoever she wants. I really don't care! But it seems that you actually do care for carrot top." He smirked as he watched her reaction.

"What? Me care for Ron? That's the funniest thing I have ever heard in my life! As if! You just made my day!" she said with a bitter laugh.

"Uh huh…" Malfoy said as he rolled his eyes.

Hermione was about to cuss him out when she realized what he was trying to do.

"What a minute," she said with a smile, "You're just trying to get me angry aren't you? Well, it's not going to work!"

Malfoy shook his head, "You are way to fucking stubborn. But I like that…"

Hermione looked horrified, "Me? Stubborn? I think you have it all wrong Mister Malfoy. It is you who are stubborn."

"I won't argue with that," he said smugly.

Hermione was outraged, "How do you manage to stay so calm? Don't you ever break?"

"You haven't said anything that would break me. So far, all you've said is true," he replied with a shrug.

Suddenly, Hermione realized that there was more to this guy than met the eye. Someone who is willing to admit his faults can't be entirely bad now can he? She had always thought he was some smug, conceited bastard who thought he was perfect. Some of it wasn't true, even though he was still Malfoy, and she began to see him in a different light. She started staring at him in a sort of dazed way, and she must have been staring pretty hard because he said uncomfortably,

"Must you stare at me like that?"

"Oh, sorry," said Hermione snapping out of it.

"Must be my incredible hotness!" Malfoy said conceitedly.

Hermione rolled her eyes, but accidentally blurted out without thinking, "I guess so…"

She then realized what she had just said and covered her mouth quickly.

Malfoy just stared at her with those gorgeous gray eyes with one eyebrow cocked. "Did she just say I was hot?"

The atmosphere became really uncomfortable between the two until Malfoy suddenly broke the silence, "Uh…so…we should probably get to work now!"

Hermione was speechless so she just nodded. For the remainder of the lesson, they worked in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

Hermione couldn't think of much except the look on Malfoy's face when she let that comment slip from her lips, "Was he actually surprised that I had called him hot?" she thought.

Her relationship between Ron was deteriorating quickly; he didn't seem to have a clue that he had hurt her badly. Harry on the other hand had made up with Ginny and the two were now going out. Ginny seemed really happy and Hermione was happy for her. She didn't know how long she could keep her accumulating feelings from Ginny.

Sooner or later, she knew she would explode and tell Ginny everything. Sure enough, a week later, Hermione had invited Ginny over to her room to have a talk.

"So, what's up?" Ginny asked.

"Well…I don't know…I thought you might be able to help me figure something out."

"Okay, then spit it out," said Ginny.

"IthinkImightbefallingforMalfoy," Hermione said in one breath.

"Whoa, take a deep breath now. That's it now, repeat that a bit slower please."

Hermione calmed down a bit, "I…I…think I might be falling for Malfoy."

Ginny looked horrified, "But Hermione, he's a fucking Slytherin! They're all bad asses! He calls you mudblood and he makes fun of you all the time! You surely can't be falling for someone like that!"

"I know, I know, I myself can't believe it, but it's true! So what should I do about it?"

"Well for starters, tell me what has happened so far." Hermione told her everything, the kiss, the compliment, and his reactions.

"Hmm, this guy works backwards. You usually kiss after you get to know each other, not before! But he seemed pleasant enough at the ball," said Ginny thoughtfully.

Hermione shook her head, "He was trying to provoke me! I had yelled at him for calling me mudblood before." Ginny nodded her head in understanding.

"Let's try and get Malfoy off your mind. There's a Hogsmeade trip tomorrow, do you want to get a dress for the Winter Ball?"

"Omigosh! I completely forgot about the Winter Ball! Has anyone asked you yet?"

"Well, duh, I'm going with Harry. Or did you forget all about me and Harry while you were thinking about Malfoy?" said Ginny looking amused.

Hermione looked guilty, "Oh right, sorry! I forgot that Harry is such a sweet guy and he decided to actually say sorry."

Ginny shook her head, "You aren't still hung up over Ron now are you? Give him another chance, he is a bit slow."

"Oh whatever, no use crying over spilt milk!" Hermione said.

"Right, I'm glad you're the forgiving type! Now let's get some sleep! We've got to go dress shopping tomorrow!" Ginny got up and walked out of the room.

Hermione sighed and slipped into her nightgown and tried to go to sleep. There was a sudden knocking on the door. Thinking it was Pansy, Hermione ignored it. She was surprised when she saw Malfoy come in wearing only his boxers.

"Malfoy!" shrieked Hermione, "What're you doing here? And why aren't you wearing any clothes?"

"Huh?" said Malfoy with a confused expression, "Sorry, I didn't think you'd mind. I was just looking for Weasley. I thought he might be here with Pansy."

He was right, she didn't mind him with only his boxers on. She gazed intently at his broad shoulders and slowly moved down his chest and well-built abs. He seemed to notice her intense gaze because a smirk began to appear on his face, "What are you staring at mudblood?"

"Oh sorry, what was that? Did you just call me mudblood again?"

"Just wanted to provoke you," he said with a grin.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "and I was just trying to make sure I never forget what you look like without your clothes on."

Malfoy chuckled, "You are a feisty one aren't you? But that is interesting. It seems as though you aren't the mudblood I thought you were."

He turned around and walked out leaving Hermione to her very conflicting thoughts.

Back in his room, Malfoy smirked as he lay down on his bed. He knew Granger was falling for him, and he couldn't blame her. After that display, no one could resist him. But something was tugging at him, and he knew what he was doing was wrong. To use the poor girl as a tool to get closer to Potter didn't seem like such a good idea anymore.

Maybe he should stop listening to his father. He can remember as if it were only the other day…

Flashback

"Get close to Potter! Close enough so that his every secret comes spilling out of his mouth. Then maybe we'll see what kind of company he keeps!" Lucius screamed.

"But father, how do I do it? It's not like the Gryffindors ever allow the Slytherins to befriend them," Draco said.

Lucius turned and glared at Draco, "I don't care how you do it! Just get it done! Charm the mudblood friend Potter has if you have to! I don't care, all that matters is that we see what Potter is up to. From my sources, I hear someone is threatening him. Follow in my footsteps. Don't let anyone know what side you're actually on!"

Draco shrugged, "That should be easy enough. No one, not even the mudblood should be able to resist my charm once they fall victim."

Lucius smiled, "That's my boy! I knew you had it in you. It was the same for me when I was your age!"

Draco rolled his eyes, thankfully his father wasn't watching.

"Now go!" Lucius shouted, "And do not fail me. There will be consequences if you do!"

End Flashback

Draco sighed, rolled over, and went to sleep. He had many dreams that interrupted his restless sleep. In one of them, Hermione found out why he was using her.

"I can't believe this!" she shrieked in his dream, "It turns out you were exactly as I thought you were! I hate you!" For some reason, in the dream, Draco didn't want Hermione to hate him.

He woke up with a start.

"Shit," he said, "that would be horrible if she actually found out!" He didn't know why, but he just couldn't shake off the feeling that he didn't want to hurt her. That he cared for her.

"No way," he said to himself, "that can't be. I'm probably just really tired! Ha, I can't actually care for that mudblood, I hate her! Or do I? Are love and hate really that different? They are just deep passionate feelings for another person, right? So I hate her? No, I love her? Hell no! Then what is it? Is it possible to hate and love someone at the same time? This is all way too confusing. Whatever, I'll just forget about it."

He shook off the feelings that were penetrating his ice cold heart and went to sleep. No other dreams bothered his restful slumber.

So…what do u think? Does he hate her? Or does he love her? See, my philosophy is that they are both the same thing. They are just two things that provoke extremely passionate feelings for another person. So ya, anyways…don't forget to review!