It's J.K. Rowling's. It's just on loan.


Library, Later that Afternoon

Hermione was beside herself. That display out on the lake was, well... so unlike her she couldn't think straight. But his lips were so soft, and it felt so right... cooed the voice inside her head. She willed it, with all her might, to go away. It, sadly, refused.

Hence, she did what she always did. She took her frustration, and she threw it into her schoolwork. It was one of the most productive days she had had in quite a while, and she felt quite accomplished. She was ahead in all her classes, and it was only Monday. It was also only 4:30pm. Which meant she still had the rest of the night to sit and try not to think about Draco Malfoy. She decided she'd be best to go find Ron. Maybe being with him would sort the whole thing out.


Malfoy was back in his common room and thoroughly beside himself. That kiss felt way too good to be an act, a voice inside his head hissed. Now don't even tell me you're starting to fall for the Mudblood.

Malfoy shook it off and turned to Crabbe. "So," he said with a smirk, "I've got her. Only a few more days..."

Crabbe and Goyle both gave him satisfied smirks in return.

Still, something in him stirred.


Ron greeted Hermione with an emphatic kiss when she came into the Gryffindor common room.

"Well hello, Ronald," she said in response.

He cupped her face and said sweetly, "I've missed you." His face looked so genuine she thought she might burst into tears.

"I... I've missed you too, Darling," she stammered. She pulled away, clearing her throat. "So," she added, changing the subject. "What have you been doing all this time?"

"Well, you know," Ron replied. "This and that."

"I see," Hermione laughed. "And so specific, even."

Ron laughed in return, and as he pulled her in for another kiss, Hermione began to feel that things might be all right after all.

Confident in her love for Ron once more, she walked hand in hand with him to dinner.


At dinner that night, Malfoy kept looking over to the Gryffindor table. That nagging feeling kept getting to him, and he still couldn't quite figure what it was. She looked so happy, sitting there between Golden Boy and the Weasel. Was that really the same girl who had kissed him only hours before?

"So," Crabbe interrupted his thoughts, "Deciding on the next part of the plan for our least favorite Mudblood?"

Malfoy realized he had followed his eyes to the female in question. He thought quickly. "Yep," he replied, including his characteristic smirk. "And it starts tonight."

Even as he sounded confident, he had to admit he had lost a bit of his initial fire. As he looked at Granger laughing with her friends, he thought back to what that laugh sounded like when he knew he was the reason for it. And though he tried his best not to, he couldn't help but smile.


Though Hermione had already finished all of her homework and more for the night, she headed to the library to do some brushing up on Hogwarts, a History. After all, she figured. It is always good to look back on the classics.

She was just finishing up the first chapter when Malfoy came to her.

"Hello," she said, feeling a presence behind her and no longer needing to check to see who it was.

"Hey there," he returned, and took the seat next to her. He opened a book and began to read.

Surprised at the sudden lack of immediate attention, Hermione asked him what he was reading. He held it up for her to see: his Defense Against the Dark Arts book. She nodded silently, and then she took his cue and simply continued on in her reading.

They sat that way, reading side by side, for a while. Though neither admitted it, each enjoyed the comfortable silence. Malfoy excused himself for a moment, then returned with a different book. When he sat down the second time, Hermione noticed he sat just a bit closer. She could detect his cologne, and she breathed in deeply, closing her eyes just slightly.

"You okay?" he asked, a concerned expression on his face.

"Yeah, of course," she said quickly, opening her eyes and blushing. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Just asking," he replied, and then continued on, a small smile on his lips.

She felt his hand touch hers lightly, and she considered pulling away. She didn't.

He noticed, and so he moved his hand over hers, wrapping her hand in his softly. She was so warm, so delicate. He felt his insides flutter just a bit, but he tried to ignore it.

Hermione's heart jumped as his hand moved, though she said nothing and pretended not to have noticed.

He began to move his thumb gently along the side of her hand, tracing it in a delicate pattern. Noticing that she closed her eyes in response, he intertwined his fingers with hers and squeezed her hand softly.

Though she said nothing, he detected a slight squeeze in return.

They sat that way, reading hand in hand, for a good part of the night.