Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, J.K. Rowling does.

A/n: It's slow in the beginning, but at the end, it gets really really good. Warning: Next chapter is sad. R&R (It's only gonna get better)

This morning Hermione had woken up earlier than usual. It was 5:40, and the sun hadn't even come up yet. She didn't sleep well last night at all. Hermione would sleep for a few hours then wake up, then sleep for a few hours more and wake up. She took upon her daily ritual, to first get out of bed and look to the window. It was snowing. The scenery looked so peaceful, it seemed as if nothing had been touched at all and the only thing moving was the snow, and the gentle December breeze that made the tree branches dance. After she observed the view, she would go to the bathroom, to wash up, dress, and do her hair. Hermione had washed up, dressed in her uniform, and now it was time to tame the unruly tresses she owned. She began to brush it, when abruptly the brush got stuck.

"No No NO! You will obey!" she commanded as she pulled the hardest she could. Out of aggravation and pain, she shouted.

Draco Malfoy was serenely sleeping in his bed. He was dreaming of well, what teenage boys dream of. As he was dreaming calmly, he was unexpectedly awoken by a piercing scream coming from Granger's room. He swiftly got up and ran to her rescue. He kicked in the door, and when he got there, he was slightly amused however definitely irritated to see a struggling Hermione pulling desperately at her hair.

"This is what you were yelling for?" asked Draco annoyed.

"Just help me!" asked an exasperated Hermione. Draco sighed.

"I thought you were being attacked by Death Eaters or something, not being attacked by you hair," explained Draco making a sour face.

"Pull!" yelled Hermione

"Merlin Granger! What do you feed this thing?" said Draco pulling at the brush.

Together they finally got the brush out, along with a huge portion of hair that left Hermione with a very big, and very noticeable bald spot that left Malfoy sneering.

"Oh my god, I can't go out like this!" said a panicking Granger.

"Granger, breathe, there's a spell for everything these days, just stand still" said Malfoy trying not to laugh. As Hermione calmed down, Malfoy muttered a simple spell that not only grew her hair but also made it into tamed russet-colored curls. "Oh," was all a speechless Hermione could make out.

"We have a meeting with the prefects this afternoon" said Malfoy after an uncomfortable amount of silence.

"Ah, yeah I know," acknowledged Hermione.

"Don't be late" was all he said before closing the door.

Hermione was standing there feeling the area where her bald spot had been when she had just realized Malfoy had run up to her bedroom in boxers. And he was hot, really hot. He had a tousled look in his hair that made him look like those male models you see on those huge billboards. Lately, she noticed Malfoy had been different. He didn't seem as cocky, as in previous years, and was more subdued. Nevertheless, he was still arrogant at times. And the thought that he actually came up to her room because he thought she was being attached was strangely attractive. The old Malfoy would of come up stairs to shut her up. And with the bald spot incident he would have probably taken pictures, and if he were feeling extra special he would write a song about it.

She looked at the clock: 6:17. It was going to be a long day.

Today is going to be a long day Malfoy thought while rubbing his neck. He tried to go over the events that just happened. "Hermione, without that bear on her head she called hair, looks quite striking. Actually, she doesn't seem as annoying as before. He thought to himself. No, she is still annoying. Too bad she isn't into guys. "A really long day," he mumbled to himself.

"As you know, Dumbledore has an idea for a Christmas ball for fifth through seven years" explained Draco.

"He has given us two weeks till Christmas and we want this to be the best Hogwarts ball ever. The details will be hung up after the meeting in the Great Hall. We will see you next week" finished Hermione.

Dumbledore had this idea of having a Christmas Ball for upperclassmen. It was supposed to be extravagant, and to keep the students minds off the dark times, and Voldemort's growing power. Everyone agreed of course and thought it was a great idea. Originally, you were supposed to being a date from another house, to support inter-house unity, but almost everyone voted no for that idea.

After the meeting, Hermione headed straight towards the Head dormitories. She met a platinum-blond headed boy staring intensely into the fireplace.

"Malfoy?" she interrupted. He abruptly turned around to see an inquisitive and concerned Hermione looking at him. "Granger" he said softly.

"Are you okay?" asked Hermione.

"Yeah" Draco said absent-mindedly.

"I just wanted to thank you, for this morning," she explained. There was silence.

"Are you sure that you're okay?" she asked again.

"I'm fine Granger! It's none of your business!"

"I'm sorry if I just wanted to help!"

"Well don't!"

"Why did you kiss me?"

Draco immediately fell quiet. She asked again.

"Why did you kiss me?" asked Hermione walking in front of the fireplace, so that she was facing him.

"I don't know," headmitted "It's not like it even mattered" He looked down.

"What are you going on about?" asked a confused Hermione "I just wanted to see if I can help!"

"You can stop playing around Granger, I know you don't like guys and that you're a lesbian. The facts are against you."

"I'm what!" Hermione laughed. "Are you serious?"

"Wait, you're not?" asked a perplexed Draco.

"No!" She sighed "Look, Just because I didn't kiss you back, doesn't mean I don't like guys. I just don't feel you should just do that out of the blue. I think a kiss should be a special mutual one."

There was silence.

"Well, you couldn't help me, because you don't know me at all" started Draco.

"I think I know you pretty well!" she began "You're the prat that teased me about my bloodline for seven bloody years. In fact, I think I know you better that you know me!"

"Really?" said Draco with a sarcastic tone. "Did you know that I knew that you have that beauty mark on your right elbow? Did you know that I knew that you always raise your chin stubbornly when you knew you were right? No, you didn't" he finished.

"Those are all physical things" finished Hermione.

"You want to know me?" Draco walked over and spilled the contents of the glass bowl onto the floor. He put his wand to his head and silvery mist started to flow from the wand into the bowl. He was making a peniseve. His eyes turned a stony gray."There's your change to know me." He said as he pointed to the bowl. He held out his hand, waiting for Hermione to take it, and she did. And so they began to take their journey into his memories.