Hermione went into her room, closing the door after taking one last look at Draco while he was turning to his own room. She heard another knock on the portrait, this time a little less patient. It must have been Ron because Harry would have definitely left by now. Ron would be the hardest to talk to about Draco. Not that Ron isn't understanding, it is more that Ron is unforgiving. Ron was either there every time that Draco had hurt her feelings or he was there afterwards, comforting her the best he could. Ron didn't always say the right thing to make her feel better, but he always tried. Hermione laughed, remembering the time Ron promised to "castrate that ferret the very next time he even looks at you the wrong way, 'Mione." All Hermione wanted at that point was to be held by her best friend, and to be told that she wasn't just a "show-off, filthy little mudblood." But Ron did hold her, and she was eventually comforted.

Hermione knew that telling Ron would break his heart, but not as much as she imagined. Ron loved Hermione-at least as much as a confused, hormone-driven seventeen-year-old can love his best friend. But through all the years of being best friends, Hermione never saw the love in his eyes. All she saw was a goofy red-head, often with a bit of dirt on face that blended in with his many freckles.

Now Hermione's thoughts turned to Harry, her other best friend. Harry didn't really hate Draco for what he did to her, but for what Draco did to him. Draco and Harry couldn't possibly hate each other more without actually committing murder. Draco and Harry have had it in for each other since their first year, and Hermione couldn't honestly expect Harry to right up and forgive Draco once Hermione declares her love for him. But Harry was more forgiving and willing to change. Harry accepted Sirius as nothing but a loving godfather while Ron struggled with the fact that his pet rat of years could possibly have been a murderer.

Hermione loved both of them as more than just friends, they were her brothers. They would have to be the first ones she talked to with about Draco, with the exception of Ginny. Hermione might talk to Ginny first. Ginny has grown wise with her few years, and no one knows both Harry and Ron better than she. Ginny does hate Draco, but more for who she thinks he is and not really for all the things he has done. Ginny sees Draco as a spoiled, whiny, smart-ass rich boy who thinks he is better than everyone else because he is a pureblood. Hermione believes that if Ginny gets to know Draco, her Draco, Ginny can learn to like him for who he really is. And with Ginny on her side, Harry wouldn't be hard to convince, and with the combined force of Ginny and Harry, Ron would have to give in, though it would be with a fight.

Hermione was feeling pretty confident that she and Draco's love might be possible when she heard a light knock on her door. She had totally lost track of time thinking of her friends and not even changed her clothes yet. Laughing at herself, she called out to Draco, "Just hold on a couple minutes more." She figured a couple minutes weren't too much to ask for after realizing she had been in there for over a half-hour. She changed quickly into a simple shirt and a good pair of jeans. She also managed to get her curly hair up into a fairly descent bun by the time she opened the door to see Draco standing there, hands in his pockets and his head down, looking slightly defeated. But upon hearing the door open, he lifted up his head and gave her a truly heart-melting smile.

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Draco turned towards his room and started walking slowly. He was happy beyond just smiling. Holding Hermione, smelling her unique scent, just feeling her presence made him feel loads better. There was more than just a chance that they could make things work, regardless of their surroundings. Their world is harsh, but it leaves room for a love like theirs. Or so Draco thought for while.

While mindlessly changing into his uniform black slacks and white shirt, he started to think of his family, mostly his father. Draco respected his father. Lucius may be cold-hearted, but he was a brilliant wizard, evil but nonetheless brilliant. Lucius did everything for Draco. All his life Draco received nothing but the best: the best education, the maximum exposure to high-ranking and powerful wizards, only purebloods as playmates, and a strict upbringing that followed the principles of the Malfoys. Mudblood was a term used so frequently in the privacy of his home that he didn't understand its full connotation until he used it on Hermione their second year. The hurt in her eyes that day was nearly masked by her pride, but Draco saw through it. It killed him now thinking of that day, though he had enjoyed the attention of his fellow Slytherins for putting her down, he felt true guilt at the thought of hurting her.

Lucius had also rewarded Draco for that moment by handing down a ring with the Malfoy crest to him, which was supposed to be given to him upon graduation. But Lucius was proud of his son that day, and though Draco didn't fit the ring immediately, he grew into it and wore it now. It was one of the few true gifts he received from his father. Many of the things his father gave him had no meaning or value besides monetary value. A generations-old heirloom meant nothing when given without purpose, but the ring was given as a result of true pride, and the gift gave Draco a feeling that his father might actually love him. But so many of Lucius's criticizing actions washed away the few positive ones that he performed.

Draco hastily took off the ring and put it away in a box that contained some of his few treasured items. He didn't need anything connected to his family or his father. Draco knew he had to cut himself off from his family emotionally before his family disowned him for loving a muggle-born.

Draco realized the time he was taking after just getting dressed and walked out of his room, giving his silky hair one last run-through with his hands. He sat down on one of the lounge chairs in the common room. Waiting for Hermione never was hard for him to do, but this time was different. Thoughts started running around his brain, blocking out the confidence he was trying to build up. "Why is Hermione taking so long? Does she not want to talk? What if she doesn't want to make-up? What if she doesn't want things to work out?" He was getting himself so nervous that he needed to get up and walk around. He was pacing the room when he decided that Hermione might need some help. Her room was uncommonly quiet. Creeping up to her door and resting his ear to the wood, Draco strained to hear her breathe or move or anything. But there was nothing. Knocking gently on the door, he was calmed by the sound of her voice. Surely she was caught up in though too, but what thoughts? Draco worried and started pacing the common room again. A couple of minutes later he heard her door creak open.

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I know it's moving along painfully slow, but my motivation has been lacking lately. Sorry. Hope you like it anyways. The next chapter will be muy importante, at least to me. Thanks for reading and PLEASE REVIEW!

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I've activated the anonymous reviewer thing, so any reader can review. I'd appreciate a review forever.