Love Thy Enemy

Hermione was curled up in her usual spot in the Gryffindor common room, reading a book. She had returned early from lunch to try and get a little extra studying time in, so the common room was completely empty.

Harry ended the silence of the room by barging in. "Hermione, I was looking for you!" he exclaimed. "Look, I have to tell you something. Ron likes you."

"That's good," said Hermione, not really paying attention. "It's good to know that your best friend doesn't hate you."

"No, that's not what I meant," he replied, seating himself next to her. "He really likes you- he wants to go steady with you."

Hermione felt a jolt of excitement, but she kept it bottled up as she replied, "Harry, we're not 12 years old anymore. Can't Ron tell me something like this himself?"

Harry shrugged. "I guess. He's waiting outside… want me to send him in?"

Hermione nodded and Harry went to fetch Ron. Ron came in but Harry did not return. At first the red-headed boy just stood around looking sheepish, but then he spoke. "Hey, Hermione."

"Hi, Ron," she replied, smiling. She said nothing else and waited for him to continue.

He gulped nervously and finally stammered. "I was wondering, Hermione, if you'd like to join me in Hogsmeade this weekend. I mean, I know the three of us always go together, but Harry is going alone with Ginny so it would just be the two of us."

"I'd love to."

Ron smiled, and sat down beside her. After a short pause, and without looking up at her, he asked quietly, "So… would you consider this, like, going out?"

Hermione's heart leaped into her throat but she tried her best to maintain a calm air. "If you want it to be."

"That's up to you too."

Being the straightforward person that she was, and unable to stand the suspense any longer, Hermione blurted out, "Are you asking me out?"

"Yes," came the reply.

"Well, then my answer is yes," she said without thinking.

"Excellent." He grinned at her and they both got up to go to their next class. Hermione floated to Potions in a cloud of bliss.

"What're you so happy about?" asked Harry, when the two had arrived to class. Elated, the two shared their good news. Harry, of course, was happy for them, but Draco Malfoy, who had overheard the conversation, sniggered behind them. Hermione groaned when she caught a glimpse of his platinum blond hair. The two had been at odds ever since they met each other, and they'd encountered many conflicts in the past. It didn't help that they were among to top students in their year, and were in constant competition in school.

Although they disliked each other, Hermione failed to realize how similar they really were. Both were intelligent, ambitious students, and outspoken people.

Hermione was too happy to let Draco get away with making fun of her, so she rounded on him and demanded, "What's so funny?"

"You're really going out with Weasley?"

"Yes," she snapped.

"I'm surprised. I didn't think scrawny and awkward was your type," he drawled, unconsciously standing up a bit straighter to show off his full six feet, two inches.

Hermione shot him a deathly stare but was unable to retort since class had officially begun. She bit her tongue and tried her best to concentrate on her potions ingredients, but it was useless. Her mind drifted off to other matters, as she allowed her imagination to get carried away.

First she pictured herself standing with Ron at some sort of school Ball, all dressed up and looking quite suave. She then began to wonder how they would make their relationship work once they left Hogwarts and went in pursuit of other careers.

Such fantasies were interrupted as a flurry of papers was handed back. "What's going on?" Hermione asked in a state of confusion.

"We're getting our essays back," Harry replied, pushing his messy bangs out of his eyes. "Hermione, it's not like you to not be paying attention."

As Hermione received back her paper, she glanced nervously at the top. An O. She grinned with relief. As she glanced around the room she realized that her grade was extremely good in comparison to many others.

Draco Malfoy glanced over her shoulder in an effort to see what Hermione's grade was, and his face contorted with jealousy at the night of her O. Ernie MacMillian, who always had his nose in other people's business, had also noticed Hermione and Draco's grades. "Hermione totally beat Draco out on this essay!"

Draco turned bright red and snapped, "At least I didn't spend all of my free time writing it. I actually have a life." His comments did nothing to faze Hermione, who was trying not to gloat. Draco leaned over to her and whispered, "You tell him to say that?"

"Of course not!" she replied indignantly. Leave it him to try and bring down her spirits on a day that she should be happy.

oooooooooooooooooooooo

It wasn't long before most of the school knew about Hermione and Ron's new budding romance. Ginny was one of the first to congratulate Hermione on it. "I always knew you'd get together some day," she told her. "Are you happy?"

"Yeah, I actually really am," Hermione replied, feeling truly elated inside.

She spent the next five days in a state of fragile euphoria. Lunch was spent by Ron's side every day, talking with him about everything from Quidditch to the Weird Sisters.

Hermione still had a hard time believing Ron actually had an interest in her as something other than a friend. After all, he had been with Lavender last year, who was much prettier and more popular than Hermione. But Hermione's true beauty was on the inside. She might not have realized it, but there were many things people appreciated about her. Her love of learning made her an intelligent person that was very skillful at making conversation.

So there she sat, on the edge of a bench in the Great Hall, telling Ron all about her day. Although they had been friends before, things felt so different now. He seemed more interested in what she had to say, and more eager to share things about himself as well.

Because of their close friendship things were a bit awkward at first, especially physically. They held hands together in the hallway, but they never went any farther, despite what Hermione had seen him do with Lavender. She just wasn't ready to kiss him yet, and she still felt a little weird thinking of him as her boyfriend. However, she knew that eventually she would get more used to the idea and he would kiss her when the time was right.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

A/N: Welcome to my new fic! I know that it's not starting out as a Draco/Hermione fic, but trust me, it will be.

I wasn't sure if the British used the term "going out" or "going steady" or exactly what term they used, so if anyone has an idea please let me know.

And please review! I love hearing your comments!