Draco pushed Hermione out of the way just as a tumble of thick snow fell on the ground. She was lying on the ground with Draco on top of her back. She was breathing hard.

" What-! " she sputtered, tasting cold snow on her lips.

He was breathing heavily.

" What the hell was that for! " she demanded, shoving him off with her butt.

Draco's eyes glared as he fell on his bottom. " I saved you! " he said hotly.

" Saved me! " she snapped. " From what! A ton of snow from a tree! "

" Yes! " he shot back.

She seethed and grew quiet. She stared at his face. " Oh my- " she began.

" Now what! " he said angrily, uncomfortable with her sudden stare that seemed to burst with concern.

" Your- lip- " she began and she approached him. Her fingers reached out for his face. Then he realized where her fingers were aiming at. His lower lip. " You have- " she touched it softly as she murmured. " It's bleeding… "

He froze as he stared at her. His heart hammered. She was touching him! By Merlin's freckles, she was touching him! No one had touched him this way before! And her eyes, they were…

" Fucking beautiful… " he whispered inaudibly.

She didn't seem to notice. Her fingers traced the outline of his lower lip, as if held in some sort of trance, and he didn't want it to end. He sucked his breath in loudly.

She blinked and withdrew her hand; like she had jut touched the vilest thing in the world. " I- I- " she stopped and pulled out her wand to make up for the lost words. Murmuring a spell, his lower lip healed instantly.

There was an awkward silence. Her feet shuffled. " I- I'm sorry, that was out of the bounds- "

He didn't listen. He was staring at her more than ever. Has she stopped touching me?

" I- thank you. " And she grabbed the little notebook from his hand, as though seeing it as a mousetrap, ready to lock her in anytime.

He snapped back and looked at his hand. Her notebook was gone. " You just- did you just thank me? Nicely? "

She frowned slightly. " So what if I did? " Her heart pounded. She knew he was staring at her, she just didn't know where.

He shook his head. " Nothing. " He touched his lower lip. " Was it that bad? "

" The- what? Your lower lip? It was bleeding—that's all. "

" She's making it sound like I just asked her what time it was- " he thought, annoyed. He took a deep breath.

" What's going on with you? " she asked him all of a sudden.

He was taken aback. " Excuse me-? " He frowned and tried to get his old spiteful self going.

" What's going on with YOU? " He lifted his chin as arrogantly as he could.

Her eyes looked upset for a split second. " I- I- you stupid ferret! You- prat! " she said.

He had to keep up with his reputation. It meant the most, but he hated that split second look of hurt in her eyes. " Do you think past ferret references and words like 'prat' would still annoy me? " he said dispassionately.

She opened her mouth but he held out a hand.

" Spare me. Thank you for the 'medical attention', though. Don't lose your little notebook next time. I won't be there to give it back to you, nor will I save you from a ton of snow. Have a lovely day, " he spat out.

She was confused. One moment he had suddenly become the most serene and pleasant person and now this? He was reverting back to his ugly, horrid self! What was going on! The library incident…he was controlled…he was…pleasant! She frowned, and her face became that of the usual displeased Hermione. She stepped away and glared at him one last time. She ran back into the pub and left Draco standing in winter wonderland.

She breezed into the pub, trying to calm down and trying to stop the frown forming on her forehead.

" Oy! " Ron called out. " What took you so long? "

" Sorry- I found it under a ton of snow, " she said, cringing after using the word 'ton'.

Harry smiled at her. " I took the liberty of ordering you another bottle of butterbeer. "

She grinned. " Thanks Harry. "

The boys began their talk about quidditch again, and she tried to listen attentively. Her mind kept gliding back to the 'little spat' she and Draco had outside of the pub. God! He was such a pompous sack of cow dung! All he did was strut off and show off at school. All he did was make girls giggle when he removed his shirt during warm quidditch practices. All he did was…annoy her! Yes! Annoy was a good word! It fit him like his family name! Selfish, cold, pure-blooded arrogance…a true Slytherin…she frowned and sighed and tried to pay attention again to Ron and Harry's conversation.

" The Yule ball's coming up, " Lavender's voice was heard from a table near them. " What do you think I should wear? "

After their first Yule ball in their fourth year, it had become annual, much to the delight of most of the female population and much to Hermione's chagrin. She had not gone, well she showed up for a few minutes, to both 5th year and 6th year balls since she had danced with Victor Krum, her 'Vulgarian' friend, two years ago.

Ron sniggered. " Ugh. Here we go again. "

" Hermione, why don't you go this time? " Harry asked. He wished she would say yes.

" What for? " came the quick reply.

Harry shrugged. " Well, it was nice trying. "

" You should have tried harder, " Hermione laughed and hugged one arm.

Harry gulped and grinned sheepishly. " Maybe next time. But seriously Hermione, it's our LAST ball at Hogwarts. Your last ball with US! Aren't I right, Ron? "

Ron nodded fervently while his fingers picked for chips.

Hermione shrugged. " Maybe…"

Draco sighed as he stared long and hard on the white ground. Suddenly, he felt nauseated staring at all that—that- whiteness.

" Draco, " an aristocratic voice said.

He knew who it was without turning. Blonde, rich, and a Slytherin. " Yes, Pansy? How may I help you? "

" What happened? " she asked. He turned to see Blaise Zabini standing beside her.

He gave a curt nod at Blaise and another to Pansy. " Nothing. "

" You spoke to the mudblood? " she asked, her jaw tensing.

He nodded. " Well, I tried to. "

Blaise gave a smirk. " I trust it did not go well. "

" Of course, " Draco said.

" I hoped she slapped you, so you could get back to your senses, " Pansy said harshly. " How could you go- prancing around her like you like her? "

Blaise gave a hollow laugh. " Well, Parkinson, I believe he does. "

" Please, don't give me a headache. Where were you two going to go? " Draco asked with a sigh. He had to get out of the evil snow.

" Madam Trosseau's, " Pansy immediate said. " I'm looking for new robes – a new gown. Something to suit the Yule ball. "

Draco groaned. " Again? Why don't you just wear the same ones last year? "

Pansy gave him a look that screamed 'are you crazy!'. She pursed her lips. " Well, Blaise has been nice enough to accompany me. I don't see your lumbering idiots anywhere, so why don't you come with us? "

Draco shrugged and they began to walk to the "fashion" alley of the town and got into a little cottage. Draco sniffed. It reeked of female perfume and powder and the scent of an untouched attic. He had never been inside this store in all his years at Hogwarts.

Blaise romped off to the masks section as Pansy headed for the female gowns section. Draco trailed behind blankly. She began picking out robes and gowns, predominantly done in pink and red.

" What do you think looks good on me? This one? With the sequins or- " she stopped and looked at Draco who was crossing his arms while he stood, unmoving. " Draco! "

" What? "

" You know, you shouldn't get carried away with your romance, " she spat out the last word. " I know it. I've seen the way you look at her. You look at her differently. Like she was the prettiest witch you've ever seen at Hogwarts! "

He was quiet.

She hated it. " Say something! You always have something to say….Merlin's blood…you really like her…. but don't you ever say in the future that I didn't warn you! " Her eyes shone with tears.

Draco gulped. " Pansy, I – "He stared at Pansy. She was a pretty witch by pureblood standards. He just didn't really want to get emotionally involved with her despite their families being friends for years now.

" I know you'd never love me back, Draco. To think I used to imagine I'd be Mrs. Malfoy, I thought we were a match…but- " she sniffed.

" Let's not get dramatic here, please, " Draco grit his teeth.

Blaise came in carrying a mask. " Look at- " he paused seeing Pansy's red face.

" What was that Blaise? " Draco asked, trying to change the subject.

" I- " Blaise began. " I found this great opera mask. " He held it up.

Pansy scrunched her nose. "I think it's ugly. "

Blaise frowned. "Fine. " He walked back to the masks area to find another one. Blaise eyed them at the corner of his eye. Pansy was being emotional again. She had always fancied Draco, but the only place they both ended up in was in beds, and not in Draco's heart. He sighed. He knew Draco better than Pansy did, but he felt mildly frustrated why Draco had to take a liking into 'that Gryffindor girl".

Pansy dropped her voice into a whisper. " I- that was stupid. I shouldn't have said all that. "

Draco nodded. " Well, you're a girl. "

Pansy frowned and her face became snotty once more. "Thank you. It's a comforting thought. "

Draco smiled. It was the best way he could cheer her up. Be insensitive. Her defense mechanisms would react and all would be well. He hated that she had been that observant, but what else could he have done to keep it secret? Pansy loved him more than he ever knew.

An hour and a half later, Pansy paid for her chosen clothes and they walked out of the store. A cold swatch of air ripped through them and he shivered as he tightened his cloak around him. Pansy was busy tattling about how grand she would look at the Yule ball 'next to all those ugly girls from the other houses'.

" That Brown won't best me this time. Do you remember what color she wore? " she asked.

Draco rolled his eyes as Blaise gave a sarcastic answer. " Lavender. Duh. "

" That was an ugly gown don't you think? Cheap fabric too, if you ask me. "

" I didn't ask you, " Blaise said.

Draco laughed. It was the funniest thing he had heard the whole day.

TBC...Please review?

Thanks to all those who did! I can't mention you guys one bye one, but it's been really fun to read your eviews! You know who you are, so thanks very much!