Yay! I got this one out earlier than I thought I would! I must say, I like this chapter a lot... hehe, you'll see why at the end.

Chapter 6: Nearly Breath-Taking

Draco awoke with a start the next morning, a smile still upon his face. His mind wandered to the previous night and he remembered what happened that had made him so happy.

Why am I still smiling? She only said she enjoyed talking civilly. As if his mind had two parts, the second replied, because you know it meant something more.

Draco then remembered the previous morning and bounded over to Hermione's room to see if he once again played the shining star in her dreams. Much to Draco's disappointment, she was sleeping silently. He was about to leave when he realized he could very much enjoy waking her up. Draco held out his wand.

"Liquiarmus!"

A blast of water shot out from his wand and into Hermione's face. She bolted awake only to see Draco standing in front of her bed, grinning.

"Rise and shine!"

"MALFOY!" Draco shot out of her room at the same speed as the water and Hermione chased after him.

"Granger! I was being a good friend and waking you up!" Draco's laughter rang through their dormitory as he ran away from Hermione. He took off up the stairs to his room.

"Friends don't try to drown each other in their sleep!" Hermione bolted up the stairs after him. Draco ran into his bathroom and, having no way out, Hermione caught up within seconds. She laughed as she held out her wand. Draco turned around and his smile contorted into a broad mischievous smirk.

"But they wear lace nightgowns in front of each other, do they?" Hermione looked down and screamed. She rapidly took off for her room before Draco could say another word.

And I thought nothing could be worse than yesterday morning, Hermione thought as she hopped in her shower.

Draco grinned as he turned on the water in his shower. And I thought nothing could be better than yesterday morning!

"Alright Hermione, what happened this time- another dream?" Hermione snapped her head towards Harry.

"What?! No!"

"Come on, Hermione. He's looking at you even more deviously than yesterday." Harry tried not to laugh, but seeing Rom turn red as he whipped around towards Draco was more than he could handle.

"Oh Merlin..." Hermione dropped her head into her hands. Ginny, like Harry, found it quite amusing.

"So another dream then?" she asked.

"No," Hermione replied. "Worse."

"What?!" Ron's eyes widened in disbelief.

"What could be worse than dreaming about sex with Malfoy?" Harry asked.

Hermione groaned and took a deep breath. She began to tell them about how he woke her up and how she had chased after him without a second thought.

"So I finally caught up to him and was about to turn his hair pink when turned around and reminded me that I was wearing my nightgown." Hermione gave a defeated sigh.

"Um, Hermione?" Harry questioned. "That doesn't sound so bad."

"Um, Harry?" Hermione mimicked. "It was lace and white."

Ginny gasped and her hands flew to her mouth. Harry burst out laughing and tears rolled down his cheeks. Ron, however, was not so amused.

"WHAT?! He saw you like... like that?!" Hermione groaned again and nodded. She looked over at Draco who grinned and winked.

Oh Merlin... you've got to be kidding me.

"Ron, you need to give it a rest," said Harry. "It's not like she meant to dream about him or for him to see her barely dressed. You're being paranoid." The two were chatting quietly in their Divination class as they pretended to gaze into their crystal balls.

"I know, I know. You're right. It's just that whenever I see her, he's there! And you know he's just loving every minute of it."

"Of course he is. He hates us. You do remember that, right? Malfoy hates us. Including Hermione. You're acting like you actually have something to worry about."

"I can't help it. Even Ginny said that he's gotten good looking this year and she despises him as much as we do." Harry's face fell as he remembered Ginny saying how amazing Draco looked.

"Well lets see what other girls think. Maybe Ginny's just mental. Hey Parvati!" Parvati's head popped up from leaning so close to her crystal ball.

"Yeah?"

"What do you think of Malfoy?"

"Harry, honestly. He's King of the Slytherins. Is that answer enough?" Parvati gave him a confused glance, obviously expecting him to elaborate.

"No, no, he means as in looks," Ron interjected. Parvati and Lavender stole a glance at each other and giggled.

"Oh! Well in that case, I think he's very attractive and it's too bad he's a Slytherin."

"Oh yes! His blonde hair is gorgeous!" Lavender squealed. Seamus' head popped up from his crystal ball in the same fashion as Parvati's.

"What? Who?" Harry, Ron, and Parvati began to laugh and Lavender blushed.

"Malfoy. Harry and Ron were wondering if he was considered attractive to girls." She cast her eyes toward the ground.

"And he is?!" Seamus was in shock. He never thought of Slytherins as anything other than Slytherins. Harry and Ron seemed to share the same expression as Seamus.

"Well yes, of course," Parvati replied. "He may be Malfoy, but he's still good looking!" She then turned to Harry. "Why are you interested anyway?" Harry and Ron immediately returned to their crystal balls.

"NO WAY!" Seamus' mouth turned into a broad smile. "Hermione wants Malfoy!" Lavender and Parvati giggled excitedly.

"NO!" Harry exclaimed. Ron was clearly too embarrassed to say anything.

"Well, it would make sense," started Lavender. "I mean, she's always with him- not to mention that they live together too. Maybe she's seen something that the rest of us haven't." Seamus' mouth fell open.

"Are you actually suggesting that Malfoy has a good side?" It was too much for Seamus to handle.

"Either that or maybe Hermione has literally seen something the rest of us haven't," Parvati added with a mischievous grin. She and Lavender started to giggle again. Ron eyes bulged in shock.

"Please don't suggest that. Our Ron here may have a heart attack." Harry replied grinning at Ron.

"Oh that's right! Hermione told us about you asking her to Hogsmeade!" Lavender squealed. "Wow, it must be killing you to hear us say that we think Malfoy is attractive." Seamus flinched.

"Yeah," Ron muttered, "Thanks for reminding me."

"So let me get this straight," Seamus started. "You are dating someone who is living with Malfoy and your best friend fancies your sister." Lavender and Parvati squealed yet again. Harry turned a lovely shade of red and avoided Ron's eyes.

"Again, thanks for reminding me," Ron said through gritted teeth. "How did you know that last part?"

"It's kind of hard not to hear when you're screaming about it in the common room. I thought Harry was right though, by the way." Harry managed a weak smile. Parvati giggled and looked at Lavender who nodded at her.

"You should probably know that Ginny heard every word you said." Harry's mouth fell open.

"WHAT?!"

With that, Professor Trelawney dismissed the class and the Gryffindors retired to their tower.

Hermione bustled to the Head tower hoping to immediately begin her Arithmancy homework. She quickly turned the corner nearest the mermaid's portrait and ran straight into Ron.

"Geez Hermione, you're certainly in a hurry."

"Ron!" She looked slightly relieved. She thought she had run into Draco and was expecting a snide comment.

"Hey... I just came by to... to... well, to say that mainly. So... hey." Ron shifted uncomfortably.

"Did you want to come in? You and Harry both haven't seen my room yet and it's really quite nice." Hermione smiled.

"Sure!" Hermione walked forward and greeted the mermaid.

"Speedy Streaks." Ron gave her a confused glance. "Professor Dumbledore heard about them and he thought it was funny too!" She and Ron shared a laugh. She led him through the portrait and his mouth fell open in shock.

"This is incredible!" Hermione showed him her room and her attaching bathroom. After gawking over the size of her room, Hermione brought Ron back down the stairs to the common room. Ron became transifixed on the picture of Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor.

"I can't believe they were actually friends. It's hard to imagine out founder being the best mate of someone whose secret chamber nearly killed you and Ginny." Hermione smiled at Ron. She remembered how affected he was by almost losing his sister and close friend.

Although it may have just been the aftershock of meeting a giant spider who wanted to eat him, thought Hermione. She hadn't realized that Ron slid his hand into hers and was completely oblivious to the fact that Draco was watching them from his doorway.

Without giving it a second thought, Ron spun Hermione around and kissed her. Draco felt a pang of jealousy in his stomach and he could feel the heat rising in his cheeks. What is going on? Why do I even care?

"Weasley, can't you do anything right? You're supposed to kiss her, not swallow her face. I could demonstrate it for you if you'd like." Hermione and Ron jumped away from each other and Ron scowled at Draco.

"Sod off, Malfoy," he snarled.

"Weasley, in case you haven't noticed, you are in my common room. Being Head Boy, I have the right to throw you out if I am displeased with your actions." Draco showed off his prize-winning smirk to Ron.

"Ron, you should go. I'll meet you after I'm finished with my homework." He pecked her on the cheek and left.

Draco had expected Hermione to retaliate, but instead, she unloaded the books from her satchel and sat down at her desk.

"What? You're not going to yell at me for hurting the Weasel's feelings?" Hermione stopped writing and looked over at Malfoy. She had trouble looking him straight in the eye after the morning's events, but she managed it only blushing slightly.

"First off, I highly doubt you hurt his feelings. After six years of dealing with you, I'm sure we're all quite close to being immune. Second," Hermione's voice became barely audible, "I can't reprimand someone for being right." She looked down, clearly embarrassed. Draco's smirk broke as he let out a hearty laugh.

"I knew that couldn't have been enjoyable!" Hermione relaxed and let out a relieved giggle.

"I didn't know what to do! It was so bad!" She fell back onto the maroon sofa. "You know, I must admit, I don't know what I expected from Ron, but that sure wasn't it." She paused. "Come to think of it, I have no idea why I'm telling you this either."

Draco laughed and sat next to Hermione. It was as if he were crossing enemy lines by merely sitting on the maroon sofa instead of the green one next to it.

"Because you know you can't tell Pothead that his best mate is a horrible snogger." Hermione burst out laughing.

"I hate to admit it, but you're right. It's horrible that I'm actually agreeing with you seeing as the three of us have grown up absolutely abhorring you, but it's the truth. I guess I expected him to be like you in my dream—" Hermione immediately cut herself off. Draco raised his eyebrows and smirked.

"Amazingly irresistible, am I? Weasel must be quite horrible if you're comparing him to a dream... or I'm just that incredible that you can't get me out of your head." Hermione blushed profusely and tried to get up from the sofa, but Draco pulled her back down.

"No way Granger, you're not getting up until you admit that you think I'm stunningly breath-taking." He held firm onto her arm as she wriggled to break free.

"Malfoy! I have work to do!"

"Yes and the quicker you admit it, the quicker you'll get back to your work."

"You are aware that you're touching a Mudblood, right?" Hermione raised her eyebrows suggestively, hoping she'd throw him off.

"I've touched worse." Draco replied coolly.

"Oh really?" He laughed and looked her straight in the eye.

"I did go out with Pansy Parkinson, did I not?" Hermione burst out laughing.

"I thought you two were still seeing each other!"

"No... she cheated on me with Blaise Zambini... and Crabbe... and Goyle..."

"WHAT?!" Hermione shrieked.

"Well, at least you don't think Crabbe and Goyle are attractive. That's a start." Draco still held tightly onto Hermione's arm.

"Attractive?! Are you kidding?! I suppose I think flobberworms are striking as well?" Hermione caught her breath. "Why did she cheat on you?"

"Just bored, I guess. I don't even think she knows why she did it seeing as she's kissing the ground I walk on now. I don't exactly miss her though. I was pretty much forced into it by my father who thinks highly of their family."

"And what about Crabbe and Goyle? Are you still friends with them?" Draco laughed.

"It depends upon what your definition of friendship is. We never exactly shared our darkest secrets and deepest dreams with each other. Once again, we were forced together because of our families. In case you haven't noticed, being a Slytherin is not about making friends. You said it yourself- it's about power and those who can help you acquire it." Hermione looked at Draco's expression. He seemed sad but thoughtful and even a bit relieved. It was an expression that said so much yet revealed so little.

Hermione then glanced at her arm. His hand was still wrapped around it, but his grip had loosened a little. Now's my chance! She was about to wrench her arm away when Draco realized her expression and tightened his grip.

"Not so fast, Granger. I believe you still have a confession to make." He looked into her eyes and grinned, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Malfoy, I do not think you are stunning, nor breath-taking. Now let go of my arm." She had tried to sound firm but couldn't help letting out a giggle.

"Oh really? Because I think you're lying."

"Hard enough as it is to believe you could ever be wrong, I'll have to disagree." Hermione once again tried to pull her arm from Draco's grasp.

"I don't really care if you disagree. The point is that you're not getting your arm back until you say it." Hermione sighed with defeat.

She looked into Draco's sparkling grey eyes, which his gorgeous blonde hair fell into. They entranced Hermione and she felt herself lean in towards Draco. He too felt captivated by Hermione's beauty. Her light honey-brown eyes had begun to close and he felt his doing the same. He could feel her coming closer and craved to meet his lips with hers.

An inch away from his face, she whispered softly, "I think you're stunningly breath-taking."

Draco finally let go of Hermione's arm and leaned in to caress her lips with his. She snapped out of her trance and pulled back.

"However, that doesn't mean I'm going to kiss you!" She hopped up laughing gleefully, grabbed her books, and trotted off to her room leaving a stunned and breathless Draco behind her.

Hehe you didn't think I'd make Hermione a cheater, did you?

Review!

Cheshirechic- You will soon realize that Hermione and Draco belong together lol. I can't blame you though, Rowling obviously does a fantastic job of making the relationship between Hermione and Ron so adorable.

HPROXMYSOX- Thanks for pointing that out. I can't stand when I notice an error in my writing after it's out there. I fixed that one quickly, thanks:)

SwollenFridge- Haha thanks for the compliment even though you're a R/Hr fan!

To everyone else who reviewed- thanks you guys! I try to get my story out quicker when I see more and more reviews! You guys are great!

Enchantress