A/N: Hi guys. I know its taking me forever to update and I'm so sorry. I kind of have a lot on my mind right now. My parents are going through a nasty custody battle and I'm stuck in the middle. So forgive me for being late. One good thing in all of this though is that I tend to write better when I get upset. Well anyways, I hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Chapter 6 - The Start of Something New

The beginning of October started with many students being buried in homework and essays. Hermione, being amongst these, was busy with her hectic workload. For the time being she actually forgot about her troubles with Draco. That was until he came into the common room one evening. Hermione looked up when the portrait opened and sighed when she saw bright blonde hair.

"What was that for?"

"What are you talking about?"

"That sigh, what was it for? It sounded rather annoyed."

"Well last time I checked this still wasn't your common room to just come waltzing in to."

"How many times do we have to go over this? Huh? I come hear to relax and get away from all of the Slytherins."

"Why do you try to get away from them? Aren't they your friends?"

"Not really. They just follow me around and annoy me. I really hate having all of them look up to me. Makes me feel like I'm under a microscope or something." Hermione nodded, understanding what he meant. She couldn't mess up with out it being a crisis. Everything she did seemed to be in the headlines.

Draco sat down on the couch across from Hermione and pulled out his books placing them on the table. Hermione glanced up from her paper to watch him. She was amazed that they were in such close proximity yet they weren't trying to hex each other. Draco finally looked up from his books and met eyes with caramel colored orbs looking back at him. Draco fumbled for something to say, but Hermione beat him to it; "So you can't show the Slytherins that you actually do your homework, but you're completely comfortable doing it in front of me?"

"They don't understand that I actually try to get the marks that I do. None of them do their homework so if they see me doing mine they think I'm going soft or something. I don't really understand it so I just do my homework alone."

"So if none of them do their homework, how do they pass?"

"Normally they torture some nerdy Ravenclaw for it."

"That's barbaric!"

"No, that's the Slytherin way."

Hermione sighed and shook her head as she got back to work on her essay. They both worked in silence until Draco couldn't take it any longer.

"Granger, I don't know how you feel, but this is a little awkward for me. You know, with what happened a few weeks ago. I hate acting like nothing happened."

"Nothing did happen, Draco," Hermione said without looking up.

"God damn it Hermione! It did and you know it!"

"Well it's a little weird don't you think! That out of know where the boy that has tortured me and my friends for years just comes out and kisses me! Don't you think I'm the one that should be freaked out by this!"

"But you kissed me back! Why did you do that then if you hate me as much as you say you do!"

Before Hermione could stop herself she blurted, "Because it felt right!"

Shocked, Draco took a step backwards. "What?"

"God Draco I don't know. I'm as confused as you are." Draco nodded and sat back down. He hadn't even realized he stood up during the dispute. Running his hand through his long, shaggy hair he tried to clear his mind. But the more he tried to answer the questions in his head, the more confused he was.

"Maybe I should go," he said picking up his books.

"No! I mean, no you don't have to. You can stay and finish some of your work if you want."

"Are you sure? I've never been wanted here before…I can leave."

"It's fine. If you need to come up here I'm ok with it."

Draco smiled slightly and set his books back on the table. "Have you finished the Arithmancy homework yet?"

"Some of it, but I'm stuck on one of them."

"Oh here let me show you." Draco started to show her how to line up the numbers correctly.

At the end of the night, Draco gathered up his things to go back to his dormitory.

"Thanks for your help," Hermione said.

"No problem. Do you mind if I come back tomorrow?"

"Sure, you can come back."

"Thanks." Then Draco bent down and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow," he said. Hermione could just manage a nod.

As soon as Draco was out of the portrait hole, Hermione squealed like a little girl and ran up to her room.

A/N: I know it was rather short, but I wanted to get something to you guys and I need to update my other story to. I'll try to get the next one up soon.