Chapter 3 – Word gets out

The next day was Saturday and Hermione decided that she needed to talk to Harry and Ron about what was going on. It wasn't fair to keep them in the dark; they were her best friends after all. They all went down to the lake after breakfast.

'There's something I need to tell you guys,' she said, 'lately I've been having feelings for someone I never thought I would and I think he likes me back. Last night we kissed.

'That's great Hermione,' said Harry, 'who is it?'

'D-Draco Malfoy,' she said quickly.

'WHAT?' shouted Ron, 'Are you insane? You hate each other, he calls you mudblood.'

'Not to mention he tried to help Voldemort kill me!' said Harry.

'You don't understand,' she protested, 'he's changed, his father forced and tortured him into doing all those things. He's really ashamed of his past and I've got to know the real Draco.'

'You're too trusting Hermione,' said Ron, 'he's playing you for a fool; he's using you to get at Pansy Parkinson.'

'Why can't you just accept that someone might like me Ron?' shouted Hermione and stormed off back to the castle.

Seeing her leave, Draco Malfoy approached the two dumbstruck boys.

'I'm this close to fucking the mudblood,' he told them, holding his thumb and index finger and inch apart, 'I turn on the waterworks and she practically takes off her knickers.' He walked off laughing to himself.

'We need to tell Hermione,' Ron said to Harry.

'We can't, she'll think were just trying to stop her going out with him, she wont believe us. We don't want her to fall out with us.'

Later that evening, sick of Harry and Ron glaring at her accusingly from across the common room, Hermione went to bed early. She was just folding her clothes when Ginny came in.

'Ron told me about you and Malfoy,' she said.

'If you've come to have another go at me, don't bother. I'll go out with whoever I like.' Hermione retorted.

'I'm not going to have another go. If you say he's changed then I believe you.'

'Thanks Ginny. I really appreciate it.'

'No problem. So what have you done with him?'

'We've just kissed so far, but he's so sexy I just want to ravage him every time I see him.' Ginny laughed.

'I think I want to lose my virginity to him,' said Hermione shyly.

'Thought you lost it to Viktor?'

'No, he had to go back to Bulgaria before things got that far.'

'Well you know my motto, just do it,' said Ginny grinning.

'Yeah and if you're not careful you'll get a reputation like Pansy Parkinson,' said Hermione, also grinning.