Yapapa, Yapapa! It's Shampoo! It would be an understatement for me to tell you that I like this song. I love this song! Wild Like You by Shampoo. [or the seiryuu for Shampoo I should say] It's so cute. I will find out what the lyrics to this song are if it kills me!

Tsk! Anyway! How do you like the story? Is it brilliant enough for you? Can't say as I know exactly where the plot is going but if you guys have any good ideas that I should put in here then please be my guest and review!

OW! I burned my tongue today and I stepped on a wedge of glass. So I have a limp and a lisp! Interesting huh? Well I thought you'd all like to know. But I'm ok! I had a Band-Aid on my foot and I'm working on drinking on the most ice cold water I've ever tasted. ^_^

Welp read my next chapter. I'm working hard! You review tons ok? Onegai? (Please?) ARIGATOU! (THANKS!)

~ Lawsuits aren't nice! I'm just a lowly fan! SHARE THE LOVE! NOT HATE! And let me keep what good money I have...

Hermione made an effort to concentrate the next day. But as soon as she thought she was ok she'd go right back to feeling his lips on her hand.

"Stupid!" she mumbled to herself as she added an extraction of elderberry to Neville's potion. He had forgot to add it.

Neville, apparently, heard her and he winced and frowned.

"Oh Neville!" Hermione gasped, "I wasn't talking about you... I was just thinking about how stupid I was."

"You?" Neville laughed, "You're the farthest thing from stupid!"

"I'm completely stupid in love," she said quickly. Then after Neville's eyes enlarged Hermione wished she had kept her mouth shut, "Please Neville forget I said anything."

"B-But..." Neville said looking at the ground, "Is... Is it Harry?"

"Harry?" Hermione sputtered, "Why would you think...? Neville, Is Harry really in love with me?"

"W-Well... That's..."

"Neville!"

"Alright, alright!" Neville sighed, "Yes. He and Ron are crazy for you. I thought you knew..."

"Apparently everyone knew except for me," Hermione sighed.

Even Draco had warned her. 'They are most definitely head over heels for you. But you can't see the obvious. They're with you everyday. They're your best friends. How can you not tell?'

"How could I not tell?" Hermione gasped softly, "How could I? Aren't they my best friends?"

"Its no use trying to beat yourself up about it Hermione," Neville smiled, "They love you enough to want what's best for you. I'm sure that they won't try to stand in your way since you're in love with someone else. By the way...who's the lucky guy?"

"Hmm?" Hermione said loudly, almost choking, "No one."

"Oh please you can tell me!" Neville begged, "I want to know Hermione..."

"If I told you...it would just make things worse," Hermione smiled weakly, "Sorry."

"It could only make it worse if it's some jerk like Malfoy. But that's impossible!" Neville laughed as Hermione blushed hot red. Neville noticed and his eyes got big and his voice got lower, "Right?"

"R-Right!" Hermione laughed nervously.

The bell rang, and not a moment too soon, and Hermione dashed out of the room, barreling into Harry.

"In a rush?" Harry laughed.

Hermione blushed again. She felt bad for ignoring Harry's feelings but she did feel a little flattered too, "I'm so sorry Harry."

"Hmm?"

"I'm so sorry! I didn't know... How could I know you felt that way? And Ron too? You never said anything..." Hermione cried, clinging to his shirt, "Please! Say you forgive me..."

"Hermione..." Harry said holding her, "D-Don't be silly. There's nothing to forgive..."

"There is so much to forgive," Hermione argued, standing up, "Its all my fault. It was all me. I-I only feel this way. It's not him, I swear! So, please, don't fight."

"What are you talking about?" Harry laughed, wiping away one of her tears, "You've always been a silly sort of mad when you were upset. Calm down."

"Harry... Oh, Harry..." Hermione cried, "You would have been perfect."

Then Hermione broke free of Harry and ran until she couldn't see where she was going anymore. When she stopped running she found herself standing in front of the library door. No one was in the library right now. She opened the door and collapsed in a chair. She laid her head down on the wooden table and cried herself to sleep. She didn't know what else to do.

Draco paced. He was tense. Something was happening. He could feel it in his bones.

Crabbe and Goyle were sitting idly on the couch. They both had eaten so much they looked as if they were taking a nap now. Draco saw it as his only chance.

He tip toed out of the common room and sped down the hallway, making as little noise as possible. Just as he was about to round the corner of the hallway he heard Potty and Weasel. He hesitated. They would argue with him. He stopped and listened in on their conversation.

"Have you seen Hermione?" Ron asked nervously, "She skipped second period class."

"Yes, I know," Harry replied, sounding just as edgy, "I saw her before second hour."

"Well? Did something happen?" Ron asked.

"Sort of," Harry said.

There was a long silence. Draco's fists curled. 'What happened Pothead?!' Draco wanted to scream. But he held his tongue and waited until Harry began again.

"Well... She apparently found out that we like her."

"Really. How was her response?"

"She...didn't take it too well. She kept talking nonsense really," Harry said, "She kept apologizing to me, telling me that it was her fault."

"Her fault?"

"I don't know either. She said something about how only she feels this way and he doesn't so not to fight."

"Sounds like gibberish," Ron said thoughtfully.

"Exactly. So I told her to calm down and then she said that I would have been perfect. I'm not sure what that was supposed to mean either. She was crying the whole time."

"Maybe it just shook her up?"

"It's safe to say that," Harry said, "She looked like she was having a total breakdown. I hope she's alright."

"Me too," Ron sighed.

"Neville is the one who said he told her. He said it slipped because she said she was 'stupid in love'," Harry said, "And then he said she got all nervous and that he really doesn't understand girls."

"Who does?" Ron laughed, "Well... There's nothing more we can worry about tonight. Let's just let her work this out on her own. She'll find her way."

"I suppose there's nothing else we can do," Harry agreed, "Let's go."

Draco waited several more minutes until he let himself breathe again. He wasn't exactly sure what was going on but he knew that Hermione was upset. That was all he needed.

He knew where she'd be.

He raced to the library. The librarian regarded him hatefully and, turned away from the sleeping Hermione, left the room.

Draco walked up to her fragile form and sat down across from her. Her face was tear stained and her hair was a mess. She was resting her head in her arms and breathing lightly. Draco reached over and patted her head. She looked like she'd recover. She was, after all, smiling in her sleep.

"Shall we go?" Draco asked her.

"Ok!" Hermione smiled warmly, "Are you sure you don't want to tell me where we're going?"

"Yeah," Draco said casually, "It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you."

"Fine, fine," Hermione sighed, hooking her arm in Draco's, "Let's go then. I'll be there soon enough."

"Right! That's the spirit."

They walked together, arm in arm, until they were a good deal away from Hogwarts. Hermione saw Hogsmeade in the distance. She assumed they were going somewhere in Hogsmeade for their first date.

First date. Hermione's lips curled into a grin just thinking about it. She knew if she tried to say 'first date' she'd probably break into hysterics which would scare Draco into taking a rain check. And Hermione definitely didn't want a rain check. She wanted to spend the whole week alone with Draco.

"Why the blinding smile?" Draco asked slyly, "Are you thinking about something risqué?"

Hermione blushed and nudged him in the ribs, "Remember you're talking to a lady! Ladies don't think like that you know."

"I don't know," Draco said shaking his head, "Your grin was a little abnormally large to not be thinking that way."

She sighed happily. She loved it when he teased her like that, in a playful way.

"I was thinking about how this is our first d--" Hermione started to giggle. She couldn't finish, "Oh never mind."

"Thinking of how this is our first date?" Draco said breaking out into a big grin too, "Yeah I guess that's something to smile about. Although if you really want to be risqué on our first date I don't know..."

"Draco!" Hermione blushed again, "Don't make embarrass me so much."

He smiled thoughtfully, "But...I'm good at it."

Hermione shook her head, still smiling. There was no way to ruin this day. The sun was shining even brighter on them today. And Hermione was glad for it.

Draco led them to a small flower patch on top of a small hill overlooking Hogsmeade, right outside of the city. He had already set everything out before they came. They sat on a small tablecloth and Draco pulled out some delicious food.

Hermione didn't feel at all like eating though.

"Well!" Draco said as he finished setting out the food, "Now that I've set out all this...I really don't think I feel like eating. Do you?"

Hermione mentally thanked Draco, "No. I'm not hungry."

"Hmm... Well I'm foiled," he laughed, "But I'm sure we can find...something...to do," he winked.

Hermione blushed again, "Oh? Did you bring a chessboard perhaps?"

"Nah," Draco smiled wickedly, "I think we've got everything we need."

Draco leaned over, slowly, and touched Hermione's cheek with his hand. His gray eyes transfixed Hermione. He got so close she could feel his breath on her cheek. She knew that she must have been smiling like an idiot. But as his lips touched hers she didn't feel at all embarrassed.

Hermione sighed happily.

Draco was starting to wonder what was going on. Hermione had whispered parts of conversation during her sleep. Things like 'Let's go then. I'll be there soon enough,' and 'Oh? Did you bring a chessboard perhaps?'

But Hermione was starting to wake up now. Her eyes fluttered open. She still wore a large grin.

"Her...Hermione?" Draco asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Mmm..." Hermione sighed again, "Draco."

She reached out and held his hand. She entwined her fingers with his.

"H-Hermione?" Draco asked again. He felt a little odd, "A-Are you ok?"

"I'm fine," Hermione smiled, "That was fun. Let's...do that again sometime ok? I miss it already..."

"...Miss what?" Draco asked.

Draco flicked Hermione in the head and she blinked harder. She seemed to really wake up now.

"Hey! Granger! Don't weird me out like that," Draco sighed slipping back into his chair, "Personally I didn't think you would touch me let alone hold my hand. Speaking of which...are you going to let me go now?"

Hermione glowed red as she quickly let go of his hand, "W-Was I...talking in my sleep?"

"Yup," Draco sighed, "And if I had one clue as to what you were blabbing on about I would probably make fun of you."

"S-Sorry," Hermione said, "I guess I was just so dazed I fell asleep. But...when I came in...there was no one here. When did you get here?"

"After you were already asleep. I came in because Potty and Weasel seemed so concerned. I'd figure I'd come talk some sense into you."

"Yes well I'd rather not talk to you about this matter," Hermione said looking away.

"I already heard about you finding about their little crush. It's like I told you. But it's more important how you feel. What will you do?"

"I don't... I don't want to hurt their feelings. I feel bad enough that I didn't see it."

"So? Will you fake a relationship with them so that you won't feel guilty? It'll just make you feel worse."

"Well I'm in love with someone else!" Hermione practically screamed. As soon as she said it she turned red and looked away again.

"Oh?" Draco said through gritted teeth, clenching and unclenching his fists under the table, "Who?"

"None of your business..." she mumbled.

"Come on. I came out here to help you so at least tell me what's going on."

"I-I can't tell you. It's too embarrassing..." Hermione sighed, "He doesn't love me back. It's certain."

"Nothing is certain unless he's told you so. Has he?" Draco asked. Because if he's broke your heart I'll kill him...

"No..." Hermione said softly, "No he hasn't said that he doesn't love me. But he hasn't said he does love me either. In fact he acts like it's always my fault that we hang out and that it's a chore just being next to me."

"Sounds like a bastard," Draco remarked.

Hermione smiled, "He is."

"So why do you love him?" Draco said hotly, "You could do better."

Hermione's smile widened, "I don't think there's anyone better than him. At first...I really hated him. But when I found out how he really feels, how he really works, I don't hate him at all. In fact I was so touched by his care that...I just sort of fell. Every word he said had my hard for breath."

Draco looked away from her. He couldn't bear to see her so happy over some guy, "But is he worth all that stuff you put up with?"

"I know him better than I have all my life," Hermione said, "I know that he's trying his hardest to let me know that he cares. And I know that right now it's a hard thing to do. But I want him to know that when he's finally ready I'll be here."

"How noble of you," Draco answered wryly, "Who is it?"

"Oh Draco," Hermione smiled, "Why can't you ever get a clue?"

Draco blinked and for a moment he was confused. Then he replied, "I called myself a bastard?"

She laughed, "Yes."

Draco blinked again and then he smiled, "Well at least I'm not in denial."

Then he stood up, walked over to her chair, pulled her up, and kissed her until he couldn't breathe.

"So do you still miss it already?" he winked.