Hey everyone, thanks to everyone who reviewed, I will do a shoutout at the end of this chappie. I hope you guys are liking this story, you keep saying so in your reviews so I guess you do, lol, but please don't be afraid to give me some constructive criticism (note: that doesn't mean send me flames!), however I am quite happy with the whole "I love this story!" thing, so if you want feel free to keep that up too, lol. Well ON WITH THE STORY!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

Chapter Nineteen

Old Habits Die Hard

/Recap/

There I was, hugging the girl of my dreams.

/End Recap/

It had to have been a good five minutes that we were sitting there, hugging. It wasn't until she jumped back away from me, that I realized I genuinely loved her, and not just her looks, but her presence, her smarts, her laugh and smile, and just about everything that obtained to her. When she parted form my arms, I instantly felt the emptiness that replaced her body, and I desperately wished she would fill the void again. However, she decided to speak instead.

"Draco, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to jump on you like that. It's just- God I can be so damned emotional sometimes!"

I wasn't sure if she was speaking that last part to me, or if she was scolding herself, so I decided to just stay quiet and let her vent.

She dried a tear rolling down her cheek and sniffed. She was obviously really upset about this, and I couldn't help but think it was my fault.

Drying another tear she said, "Oh look at me, I'm such a baby. Crying over something that happened two months ago. And it doesn't even apply to me! You don't see Harry running around crying!"

"Well I would bloody well hope not! That would give me even more reason to rattle his chain. And you're not a baby. If I was a girl, and I strongly note I'm not, I would probably cry just as much as you. And don't even think about saying it doesn't apply to you, you helped him, when no one else could. If I wasn't for your time turner, yes I know about it, he would have been dead years ago. You gave him those two extra years to spend with Potter, and I bet I can safely say that both will be eternally grateful!"

Wiping one last tear from her face, and sniffling one more sniff, she actually smiled a little bit. It wasn't much, but I could definitely sense that I was making her feel better, something neither Weasley nor Potter had been able to do, it seemed.

'Yes, Malfoy- 1, Idiots- zilch!' I thought to myself.

'You know, I don't think calling her best friends names is the way to win her heart.' My conscience said.

'Right, must work on that. But still, I am getting somewhere.'

'Yeah, yeah, good on ya.' My conscience said incredulously.

"Well sod you and your pessimistic mood swings!'

"Thanks Draco. You are the first one to make me feel better about this."

"Don't thank me, I brought this damn thing upon you. If it weren't for me you would be..."

"Waiting around for Harry and Ron to make me feel better which would be redundant, seeming as they don't even talk about it. So thank you. Thank you so much Draco. It means the world to me, it really does." She smiled again, and I knew that she really did mean this.

"Well in that case, you're welcome." To this, she laughed. "What? What is so funny? Do I have something on my face?"

She laughed harder and then said, "Trust you to worry about your looks at a time like this." I smirked at this. "No, I was just thinking about how unlikely this is."

"What is?" I asked confused.

"This! This, you being here in my room, you actually wanting to talk to me, and apologizing too! And then you making me feel like I actually matter, making me feel great. You have to admit that this is very unlike our everyday conversation."

I laughed at this and said, "Well you already know how I feel about being in your room and on your bed, and to the whole apologizing thing, well it was the least I could do after all I have done in the past. And no one should ever tell you that you don't matter, and I know that sounds silly coming from my mouth seeming as that is all I have done, but it is true, nobody should fell unwanted. And about making you feel great, well I guess I just have that effect on people."

She shook her head, and let out a small laugh. "Ahh Draco Malfoy, leave it to you to be cocky during a touching moment."

'So, now I'm touching. Wow this thing is going rather well if you ask me.' I thought.

'Well nobody did, so stop thinking about yourself!'

'Oh right, I'm selfless, selfless.' I thought.

'Yeah, and I'm the bloody minister for magic.'

'There is that pessimistic attitude again. You know it is really difficult for me to be selfless and think positive thoughts about this whole thing when my conscience is rambling on about how I'm going to fail.' I snapped in my mind. 'You might want to work on that.'

'Yes you're Royal Highness.' My conscience sneered.

"I thought I would lighten the mood. There was too much solemnity and hostility about, and I know how much you like hearing me talk about myself, so I thought, what the heck, why stop now."

"Of course, who wouldn't want to listen to you speak about yourself all day long." She said sarcastically, as she smirked.

"Exactly." I smirked back.

She laughed and fell back against her pillows. I wanted to jump on her right then and there, but knew I had to keep my decorum. Still laughing she said, "What are we going to do with you?"

'I can think of a few things.' I thought as I smirked.

She then looked to her side and saw her clock. I never in my life had seen somebody jump up so fast.

"SHIT!" she swore.

"And the bookworm has a potty-mouth as well. This day gets better by the moment!" I laughed.

"Shut up! It's not funny!" she yelled as she tried desperately not to laugh herself.

"Well what's wrong?" I asked.

"This little reunion has taken up half my time. I still need to go out and get some things. Ginny will be here soon!" she said as she got off the bed, and slid her sandals back on her feet. "Forgive me Draco, this has been really nice, surprisingly, but I really have to go."

I stood up and said, "no worries, it was nice talking to you." I walked over to her fireplace, picked up some floo powder and stepped inside the nook. When I turned around I saw her walking towards her door. Just as I was about to throw the powder down, she said, "That is, unless, you want to come to the shops with me, and we can talk to some more. I mean you don't have to if you don't want to, I suspect you already have prior plans. You know what, never mind, I was silly to ask, of course you have things to do, you're a Malfoy! I'm sorry, I'm gonna go now." I could tell she was nervous, and I was enjoying it greatly.

I stepped out of the fireplace, and before she had the chance to walk out the door, I said, "Hermione, wait!" She turned around to see me throw the floo powder back in the vase. "I think my schedule just cleared up. Is the invitation still on the table?"

She smiled, and softly said, "of course."

"Then what are we waiting for? I thought you were going against time." I said as I stepped outside her room and into a spacious foyer.

"Right, yes, on we go." She led the way down her spiral staircase, and into yet another large foyer, which looked into two large, and very nicely decorated rooms. It reminded me of the manor, only more... homey. Anyone would love to live here, whereas the manor? Whoever wants to live in that cold fucked up place, is in serious need of a full frontal lobotomy.

"Wow Hermione, you have a lovely home."

"I'm very lucky." She smiled that smile, that made me weak at the knees.

"It's funny, I never pictured you to be... well, rich!"

"Well, that's because I, unlike others, don't use it to my advantage. I believe in working for a living, and so do my parents, and that is how we have this life. Not through inheritance."

I knew she was talking about me, and I knew she was right. My family was only rich because our family before us were rich, no other reason, we did nothing to deserve it.

"Draco, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so harsh. That was wrong of me to say." She said.

"No. I 'm glad you did, because it is the truth. We did nothing to deserve our wealth. And it only took you, the enemy, to finally point it out to me." She chuckled at this. "Thank you Hermione. I needed to realize that the Malfoys really don't matter, and that there are other people in this world too."

She smiled, "Well that is true, but a very intelligent boy once told me to never think that you don't matter, because everyone matters."

I realized she was quoting me. "Thanks, that means a lot."

"You're quite welcome." She said, "you see what happens when you are nice?"

"HEY I'M NICE!" I argued.

She burst into laughter and said, "yeah, and I'm Snape's lover!"

"Well I didn't know you felt that way, but who am I to stop you, I believe congratulations are in order!" I smirked.

She opened the big, white door and motioned for me to go first, then said, "Oh honestly Malfoy, you and your sick mind!"

"Hey you said it, not me!" I argued.

"Good point," she laughed, "I guess I brought that upon myself."

"Yes, I believe you did."

With that said and done, we walked to the end of her road to the village square where the shops resided. She bought some crisps, sweets, rented a movie or two (both were chick flicks, so you can see my disinterest), and then we headed back to her house.

"Hey Malfoy, can I ask you something?" she asked.

"Only if you call me Draco." I smiled.

"Sorry, old habits die hard."

"Yeah, they do, so what is it you want to ask me?"

"Well, it's just that, back at my house, you called me your enemy, and I was wondering, after today, do you still see me as your enemy?"

This shot me in the heart. How could I have said that?

'Way to fucking go Malfoy!'

"Ugh, did I call you my enemy?" I asked.

She nodded her head, and looked up at me.

"Well, I'm sorry about that. The truth is, after today I think of you as more of a friend than anyone I've ever met. You're very easy to talk to. And I think I have told you more about myself than I have my own parents."

She smiled. "So we're friends?"

"If you want to be. I would like that."

"Yeah, I think that would be nice. No more of this rivalry, it really gets tiring after a while, if you ask me."

"I agree." I said smiling. "So... friends."

"Friends." She agreed.

I laughed, "Hmm, whoever thought, that Slytherin prince, and the Mud- Muggleborn." I caught myself and then brought my hands to my face in embarrassment of my mess up.

She giggle to my surprise, and then took my hands away from my face and said, "It's alright, like I said before, old habits die hard."

I smiled, and was happy she wasn't angry at my mishap, "Sorry."

She giggled, "it's ok, just don't let it happen again."

We had now reached her front door and she was opening up the lock. "Scouts honor." I said.

"How do you know about boy scouts?" She asked as we headed back to her room.

We reached her room, and I laughed and said, "what am I not allowed to know anything about muggles?"

She giggled as she opened the door and started to say, "No, but I just- GINNY!"

Surely enough, there was Ginny sitting on her bed in complete shock as to Hermione's guest.

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Alright so there it is. Please, please, please review! You know you want to! Kisses Dominique

Oh and as promised, here is the shoutout...

justamuggle

I'm glad that you want to read all of my stories, that makes me feel special. Oh did I tell you that I just dislocated my knee, so I am not going to be able to read anything tomorrow if you send it to me. Sorry my damn knee is being retarded again. But please continue reading, and I can't wait to read your next chappie!

moreta3
2005-10-31
ch 18, reply

I'm glad you like my story. Please keep reading! You were my first reviewer, before this one, so good on ya! You get a pat on the back, and a fluffy pillow, because you're cool like that! Lol!

Reanne1102
2005-10-23
ch 17, reply

YAY! A star, that's a first! Wow, no one has ever called my writing brilliant, thanks that means tons to me. And... I just updated so be happy, and I know you can't wait for the next chappie. I'm working hard on it, I promise!