Chapter 4

(Rewritten July 06)

The silence was awkward as Draco and Hermione entered the Forbidden Forest. Hermione didn't know what to say but then again, she wasn't supposed to talk, according to Draco's rules.

'His rules, why the hell should I follow them,' she thought, 'But whatever, they work for me. I don't mind not talking to him.'

"You know, Granger, you don't have to stay so quiet," Draco pointed out annoyed.

"Don't you remember the rules," Hermione spat.

"That I do, but I'm not in the mood for spending the entire night in silence."

"So, what, conversation with me is acceptable when there is no one else around to hear it?"

"I guess so," Draco muttered.

"You're such an ass," Hermione shouted.

"Merlin, could we please resort from this childish name calling?"

"You've only been doing it for the past six years. Why change now?"

"Oh, you're a feisty one at night," Draco growled with a smirk.

"And you're just nasty."

"Good one, sweet heart."

Hermione stopped and grabbed his arm. "I am not your sweet heart," she yelled through gritted teeth. Draco smirked.

"Well then, Granger. Let's strike up a new set of rules then."

"It depends," Hermione retorted.

"How about we spend tonight being civil with one another. We both know that it's going to be one hell of a year if we aren't."

Hermione eyed him suspiciously. "As long as you aren't pulling my leg, then we can talk."

"I swear."

"You do know that if you're lying, I will find out and you will pay. I know enough spells to make your head spin."

"Don't worry, I won't mistake that threat as an empty one," he explained snidely.

There was a rustling in the bushes nearby and Draco froze. They were still on the edge of the forest.

"What now, Malfoy," Hermione spat and turned to face him, "Don't you dare think that I'm going to leave my back towards you. Let's go. I want to get this done."

Draco didn't move.

"What was that," he squeaked.

"I don't know," Hermione retorted. Draco was beginning to get beneath her skin already and they had just begun their 'civil conversation'. Then Hermione paused and smirked, "Bloody hell, Malfoy. You're scared of this forest, aren't you? I bet you haven't been in here since First Year either. Ha, the all powerful and mighty, Malfoy, is scared of trees. If only your friends could see you now. They'd be so proud."

Draco just stared at her. "This isn't any ordinary forest, Granger," he yelled, "Merlin, stop your laughing and lets just get these branches. It's already nine."

Hermione didn't move. She just continued to laugh.

"Fine. If this is what you want," Draco groaned. He grabbed one of her arms and placed his other arm around her waist and began to carry her.

"Malfoy, put me down this instant," Hermione cried. Her laughter quickly ceased.

"No, not until you stop laughing. And you have to promise not to tell anyone about my fear for this forest, okay?"

'Is he smiling,' Hermione thought as she looked up at him, 'Woah, he is.'

"Um, yeah, it's fine. Just put me down now," Hermione demanded as he placed her feet on the ground.

"Good. I didn't want to carry you all night, anyways," Draco growled and glanced over at Hermione. His eyes flashed with what looked like disgust but Hermione couldn't tell. She just shrugged and quickened her pace.

"Shit," Draco whispered, "Hermione, wait," He shouted as he ran besides her.

'Bloody hell, what's going on,' Draco asked himself.

'You like her,' his intuition told him.

'Do not,' he argued.

'Yes, you do. Look at how perfect she is for you.'

'Ha, more like perfect for a one night stand if I liked garbage, that is,' he thought.

'No, more like, perfect for you.'

'Please,' he retorted, 'Just shut up.'

"Listen, Hermione," he began as he caught up with her, "I'm, well, I want to apol-. Well, I don't know. I'm sor-. No, I -,"

Hermione paused, "Continue, please."

'Is he apologizing,' she thought, 'Woah. There must be something new in the pumpkin juice this year.'

"I, oh, fuck it. Let's just keep going. I want to at least get a few hours of sleep tonight."

Hermione sighed in disappointment and continued walking with him in silence. So much for a 'civil conversation' and so much for 'changes'.

Draco occasionally glanced over at her forlorn expression and wondered what she was thinking about. 'It better not be Weasel or Pothead,' he thought. 'What the hell? Where is this coming from?'

'You like her,' his intuition sang.

'Oh, shut the fuck up already. I do not.'

'Then why do you care so much?'

Draco growled and Hermione looked over in alarm.

"Are you okay," she asked.

"Perfectly fine," he retorted. "Oh, look! There are the trees!"

Together, they entered the clearing. There were five of trees in a circle, each were mahogany brown and had too many branches to count.

"Do you know what to do," Hermione asked in amazement.

"Yes, actually," he responded.

"Surprisingly," Hermione muttered.

"Hey," he reprimanded, "Watch it. You asked me." A slight smile crossed his features. Hermione shrugged. "Okay, we have to cut twenty branches down, four from each tree, and then lay them in the center of the clearing for an hour. That way the moon beams can hit them. When they're finished, they should turn a golden color and then we can bring them back.

"Okay," Hermione began as she removed a pair of garden shears from her knapsack and glanced at her watch, "Well, it's quarter of twelve right now, so hopefully we'll be heading back by 1:15?"

"Sounds good," Draco replied as he held his shears and walked towards a tree. "Remember to only take four branches from a tree."

"I know, Malfoy."

"I was just making sure," He responded with a grin and placed a hand on her shoulder and then walked to a tree.

Hermione shuddered. She couldn't be falling for Malfoy, now could she? But that touch shouldn't have felt so wonderful and when he held her, it shouldn't have been the best minutes of her year.

'I'm ridiculous,' she told herself, 'Just plain ridiculous.'

For fifty minutes, Draco and Hermione sat against a tree while their twenty small, branches laid out in the moon. Neither spoke. Draco thought Hermione was angry with him but she just wouldn't admit it. Hermione was just thinking.

She was reliving last night and running all the possible candidates through her mind.

'So, it could be Dean,' she thought, 'Which would be wonderful. Or Harry. I wouldn't mind that either but, wait, no. Yes, I would. We should only be friends, and nothing more. And then there's Draco. Eh, no, Draco would never do that, especially for a mudblood. So, it's probably Dean, right? Right.'

"Well, this has been exciting, hasn't it," Draco asked sarcastically.

"Yeah, definitely, Draco," Hermione replied absentmindedly. Draco sat up straight and snapped his head in her direction.

"Could you say that again?"

"Say what again," Hermione asked confused.

"My name," Draco begged.

"Draco?"

"Say it again."

"Why," Hermione questioned in alarm.

"Because, I like the way you say it, Hermione."

Hermione was stunned.

'What,' she thought, 'Malfoy, I mean, Draco just said Hermione. Not Granger, not mudblood, but Hermione. What the hell is going on? Honestly.'

But before Hermione could respond, Draco leaned in and kissed her. His lips were perfection; soft and talented as they captured hers. Hermione didn't know what else to do but to return the kiss. It was so wonderful, so perfect, almost like last night's kiss with that man...who could be Draco...who she was kissing right now. Oh, shit.

Hermione pushed him back quickly.

"What the hell was that for," he cried.

"What do you think, Malfoy," she screamed.

"I don't know! Why don't you tell me?"

"Um, maybe because you were lying to me this whole time. You only wanted to start a 'civil conversation' with me so that you could do that. Your lips were probably laced with something. For all I know, I could be dead tomorrow, or in a few minutes. I know how much you hate me, you've never made that discreet. Let's just go. It's been an hour."

Draco rolled his eyes.

"Grow up," he responded.

"You know what, Malfoy," she shouted, "I can't stand you. And that kiss, that kiss was such a tease. It was so familiar too. Have you done that to me before? Drugged me and made out with me?"

"Don't be so ridiculous."

"Then were you the man in the gardens last night? Answer me that, please," Hermione begged.

"What the hell are you talking about, Granger?"

Hermione stood up and shook her head, "Shit, what did you say?"

"I said," Draco repeated, "What the hell are you talking about, Granger?"