Disclaimer: I looked in the mirror today and saw a very short 14 year old girl with red hair that is showing its brown roots (^_^) and very tired looking blue eyes (this is because I stay up all hours of the night typing... ^_^). Then, it got knocked into my head that I must NOT be JK Rowling, because she doesn't look like the vision in the mirror at ALL!! Now, maybe, if I looked in The Mirror of Erised, I would see myself as JK Rowling, however, I don't own that mirror. Dumbledore's left it to me in his will, but he hasn't died quite yet... ^_~ Well, hehe... Not the one I mean anyway...

AN: The next few chapters before the Masquerade Ball are going to be very short, but they will be up quicker. After those are up, I'll type the Masquerade chapters (which will be longer) and I'll probably post them right before the 21st, when I'll be getting my lovely new HP book and not stopping for anything! ^_^ (I know most of U will be reading it too, but I'll also be visiting my aunt in Kentucky for a few weeks right after that, and won't be able to post, so you'll have something to read after you're done, I guess.)

AN2: OK, I was over at a friends house when I was typing this, and her old computer doesn't have a spell check, so if you catch something, sorry, and figure out what it should be, and pretend that it's right! ^_~

~*~*~**~*~*~

Draco was alone in the Slytherin 5th Year Boys' Dormitory, laying on his bed with the hangings drawn, staring up at the canopy.

He knew he had some thinking to do.

When his father had first given him his assignment, he'd hesitated, but only because he didn't want to ruin his reputation and he simply hated Hermione. But, ever since that first meeting with her, he had been steadily growing closer and closer to her, causing him to feel guilty every single time he told her a lie or got even slightly close. He knew the pain that he'd eventually be causing.

They'd spent so much time together in the pool that Draco was actually starting to feel a certain closeness to the girl that he had once hated with every bit of his being. He'd actually started getting along with her.

And, there was the way he always felt when he was around her. That feeling as if his stomache was being swirled around in a blender. But it was a good feeling. A kind of nervous Utopia that human beings weren't supposed to feel. He didn't understand it, nor did he really want to.

He had always known that he was destined to become a Death Eater upon his graduation. He was already the "gopher" for many of the actual Death Eaters. If there was something that needed to be done at Hogwarts without suspicion, he was the one to do it. After all, who else could you trust to get a job done for the Dark Lord if you couldn't trust his right hand man's own son?

Well, that was what he was supposed to do. He was supposed to get Hermione for Voldemort, proving himself to the rest of them. Then, he was to go on and eventually work his way up to take over his father's place. But, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry, after all.

Ever since he had started to meet Hermione in the pool, he was feeling a little bit wary about that plan. She had created so many doubts in his head that he didn't even know what he was doing anymore. The time spent around her made him a little scared of what he was "destined" to be.

He began to feel sick every time he saw or thought of his father. He was thoroughly disgusted with his family and the disillusions he'd had to suffer through his whole life, thanks to his father. He'd been raised to think that Muggle borns were filthy, stupid creatures that didn't know what the hell they were doing, and that only wizards with pure magical blood were any good. Well, Hermione had changed this opinion greatly.

He'd learned that instead of an idiotic Muggle born who was trying to be smart to make herself have a better reputation, Hermione was a truly intelligent witch who was struggling to prove herself and the rest of the Muggle born witches and wizards.

Eventually, the feelings and doubts of his upbringing had grown so strong that he found himself thinking about what would happen to him if he ever decided to betray his father. He had learned of his father's wrath firsthand as a young child, but he'd never done anything truly unforgivable. He'd always remained loyal to his family, as a respectable pureblood wizard should.

'God...' Draco ran his fingers through his hair. 'How the hell did I get in this mess?'

One single thought entered his mind, 'Hermione,'

He laughed sardonically. Yeah, that's it. Hermione. That girl had ruined his plan without even knowing it. She'd proven her bewitching powers by bewitching him.

That's when it hit him. He had fallen in love with Hermione Granger.

He sighed. He didn't care what the punishment would be. He knew what he had to do.

~*~*~**~*~*~

R/R please! I know it's short! I wasn't gonna ruin Draco's precious thoughts by pushing other stuff in the same chapter with them... ::cough:: Wow, aren't I a good excuse maker? ^_^

skyleia: Thanks! I know what you mean about the Sev/Shay thing, but I'm trying to make the point that even Sevvy can fall in love when he least expects it. ^_^

Fallen-Angel: (chapter 18:) Um.... that was scary..... (Chapter 17:) Heehee! Thanks!

Navy Converse: LOL, I thought about having him surprise Shay like that, but it's waaaaaaaay too OOC!

BitterSweetKiss: LOL, I love that myth! Oh, and about that age thing, I figured it out so that they could possibly be 9 years apart, which isn't too terrible!!

Cute-Kitty: LOL! Hehe, so do I....

kybg: Heehee! You caught it! Yay! You were the only one so far who noticed the Scott thing. You should find out what it is soon! And, wow, thanks! That means a lot!

Draco is the man: Heehee, thank you!!

Alicia: Ha! I didn't type your SN!! Wow, I don't know you... You aren't my sister.....

Super Geek: Hehe, thanks a bunch!!

Babybeauty: Don't worry! I love my ficcy too much to abandon it!!

darkmarkgrl: Heehee, thanks! I'll probably need more song suggestions later... I'll ask you when I do!

Morgan: LOL! Thanks!

two insane chixs: LOL, that's where I got the banana thing. My friend told me about it and it's been our little inside joke...

Livii: Heehee! Thanks so much! They're short, but I try to get them up!

BellethePhilosopher'sCookie: LOL, so am I...

Kellii: LOL, thanks bunches! I'll remember to email you!

Adnap Nottap: Wow, thanks! Heehee, I used to be a Ron and Hermione shipper too, but my taste in fanfics has changed a lot. I still think that that's the only realistic couple that would happen inside of the trio in the books!

Hildie: Thanks!

Danric-Lover: LOL, wow.... ^_^ Thanks! And I promise that if there's a way that makes the plot better by doing it, I'll kill him. Heehee, or I may pretend to kill him, and then not do it just to make everyone mad... (I have to keep my options open here!)

Water Demon: (Chapter 18~) Heehee thanks! (Chapter 17~) LOL... ^_^ I hope it was, but then, I DID get that review too, so yeah..... ^_^

ThePoTionMaStEr: Thanks!