"Malfoy? What are you doing here?" Draco stood abruptly and rubbed the back of his neck; his smile disappearing at the look of confusion on her face.

"I wanted to talk to you." Her eyebrow raised inquestion. "About what happened on the train."

Hermione smirked then asked, "What about it?" Draco huffed then started pacing back and forth as he rambled on.

"We snogged, well, we more than snogged. And I enjoy it and I think you did to. I know Weasley just ended things with and all, but I like you and wanted to maybe see about taking you on a proper date. You don't have to say yes if you don't want to. I know I am unworthy and everything, but I am trying to be a better person." He snuck a look at her and could see her watching him with careful eyes. "So, would you?"

"Would I what?" Hermione was fighting a laugh from escaping her mouth. It was too much fun to see a flustered Draco Malfoy rambling on about how much he liked her, Hermione, the muggleborn best friend of his former enemy.

"Were you not listening, Granger? Damn it, I want to take you out on a date!" Draco was getting annoyed. and he could not understand why. She was teasing him and enjoying it too much for his liking, so of course he bollocks everything instead. "You know what? Forget I asked. I'll see you around, Granger." Draco grabbed up his things and stalked out of the library leaving Hermione dumbfounded.

She watched him leave and bit her bottom lip. Should she go after him or wait for him to cool down. Maybe she would just talk to him tomorrow. In the end, she decided to wait. She sat down and pulled out her quill and some parchment and wrote to Ron.

Ronald,

You coward! You couldn't just tell me to my face that you no longer wished to see me? I get a short little note hidden in my bag? Do not write me! Do not talk to me if you see me! I am already over you and moving on with my life. I have already been asked out on a date and will be giving him my answer in the morning. Have a nice life!

HG

Draco arrived in the Slytherin Common room in a huff. Theo, Blaise, Greg, and Pansy were talking by the fireplace. He sat down in an armchair and leaned his head back sighing. Pansy exchanged a questioning look with the boys. "You alright there, Draco?"she asked out of concern for her longtime friend and former boyfriend. He sighed then looked at them all.

"Is there something wrong with me?" He asked to which the group snorted. He glared at them and continued, "Seriously? I just tried to ask Granger out on an actual date and she looked as if she was fighting herself not to laugh in my damn face!" Pansy perked up.

"Granger? So you're the one she made out with on the train! She wouldn't tell us who, but Lovegood said she could sense it on her. Oh, this is just too good! Wait til I tell Neville!" She chortled, and Draco scoffed at her.

"Tell your fiancé and I will hex his balls off, got it!" Draco stood up and with one last glare at his friends, walked to his dorm.

"Way to go, Pansy. Now he's going to be a sodding ray of bloody sunshine!" Blaise argued and followed his best mate.

"Touchy, touchy." Pansy said as Theo and Greg chuckled. "At least you two aren't being total tosspots. Theo? I heard something interesting on the carriage ride over about you as well."

"Oh? And what was that, Pans?" Theo watched as Pansy's smile grew.

"Only that a certain Ravenclaw has been having the most interesting dreams about you all summer." Theo felt his stomach twist. "You're blushing! How adorable! I have grown quite fond of her, you know. If you want, I could talk to her for you." Pansy offered.

"I don't think so. I am very able to ask a witch to give me the time of day. And Luna Lovegood will be mine very soon." he said confidently. Pansy only nodded at him then excused herself to bed. leaving Theo and Greg alone.

"Theo?" Greg asked and he cocked his eyebrow telling him to continue, "Do you think I have a chance with Ginny Weasley?" He nervously asked his friend. "I just know she is out of my league." Theo felt bad for Goyle. He didn't come across as the brightest, but he wasn't completely daft.

"I don't know her character enough to give an opinion. Why don't you try becoming her friend first then go on from there?" Greg smiled then nodded his head. Getting up, he bade Theo farewell then said he was going for a walk.

Theo sat up thinking about Luna. She'd told Pansy that he was in her dreams all summer. It was as promising a start as any. And when he finally went up to bed, he fell asleep quickly and dreamt of a dreamy blue eyed angel and scorching kisses under a moonlit sky.

Ginny was sitting up in the Gryffindor common room waiting for Hermione. It was just past 10pm when she decided to go look for her down in the library. She was glad that school hadn't officially started because the teachers were more lax in their patrols. She had just gotten down to the first floor corridor when she noticed someone standing in the doorway of the front entrance staring out into the courtyard.

Ginny couldn't quite tell who it was, but she knew it was a male. He was taller than Harry by at least six inches. He had broad shoulders and a nice ass. She was smiling at the thought of checking him out when he turned his head and saw her. She couldn't help the gasp that escaped her mouth when she realized that she was checking out the Slytherin Beater, Gregory Goyle.

He stepped back from the doorway and turned fully to face her. "Good evening, Weasley." He said in a deep, gravely voice that was pleasing to her ears.

"Hello, Goyle. Couldn't sleep?" She asked softly. She couldn't be sure, but he seemed to be blushing.

"Not tired. It's weird being back. Especially knowing I was on the losing side. Not that I'm upset we lost. Bloody glad to be rid of that monster and my father." He practically spit out the word 'father' which surprised her. Ginny only nodded in understanding. "And you?" She arched an eyebrow at his question, "Couldn't sleep?"

"Ahh, no. Actually I was on my way to the library to look for Hermione." Greg nodded.

"Yeah, last I heard, she was in there." Ginny again looked at him to supplement his response with more information. "Draco said he'd seen her before he got all pissy and went to our dorms. Think he thought she'd be fawning all over him because of what happened between them on the train and all."

"Oh, and what happened on the train?" She knew what happened but wanted to see if he would keep his friends confidence.

"Well, if you don't know then it isn't my place to say anything. You'll have to ask Granger." He smirked at her and she couldn't help but smile back.

"You're a good friend then. Very trustworthy. It's a good quality to have." She sat down on the stairs and motioned for him to join her. He was over in a matter of seconds due to his long legs. She turned slightly towards him. "You playing Quidditch this year? You were a Beater, right?" They fell into easy conversation and by the time Hermione showed up to go up to bed, they had become rather chummy.

"Hey you two. Looking for me, Gin?" Hermione said as she stood in front of them. "Hello, Greg! Shouldn't you be downstairs? Couldn't sleep?" He nodded. "I know. It's strange, isn't it? I know it will take some getting used to, but I have a feeling this year is going to be great. I'm heading up. You coming, Gin?"

Ginny nodded, "Yeah, um, I'll see you around, Goyle."

"Greg," he cleared his throat, "y-you can call me Greg." He smirked at her, his dimples showing now.

"Okay, Greg, and you can call me Ginny. Good night." She smiled and gave him a small wave. He watched the duo as they disappeared up the steps. He didn't know quite where his confidence had come from, but he had an actual pleasant conversation with the girl he was crushing on and only stammered once. As he walked down to the Slytherin Dungeons, he did so with a bit more pep in his step.

"What was that all about?" Hermione whispered to Ginny as they made their way up the stairs. Ginny smiled at he friend.

"I don't know. We'd never spoken a word to each other before tonight, but I don't know, Mi, it felt really good to make a new friend."

"I think he has a bit more than friendship on his mind, Gin. He was looking at you as if you were his next meal!" They giggled.

"He's fit! His voice though! So yummy! Imagine what Harry would think! Me having the hots for a Slytherin!" They giggled some more.

"You? I practically jumped Malfoy's bones on the damn Hogwarts Express! He asked me out on a proper date, but I think I fucked it up. I teased him and think I may have made him think I wasn't interested." Hermione worried at her bottom lip.

"And are you? Interested in him?" Ginny's eyes dance in amusement.

"I mean, you've seen him. Of course I'm interested. He's such an amazing kisser. I couldn't not be attracted to him." Hermione smiled at the memory of him nuzzling her neck. 'How many times I have wished to have you in my arms. To keep you safe. To show you that I am worthy of you.' They made it to the portrait of the Fat Lady. "Fizzing Whiz-bang."

The portrait swung open and they headed to their rooms. "Just get some sleep, Mi. You can try talking to the guy in the morning. Love you." Ginny waved to her friend as they entered their prospective dorms.

Ginny sat up thinking about Greg. She remembered him being a brute and seemingly dense, but the man she talked with tonight was softer, even flirtatious if she thought about it. She'd made a new friend with a Slytherin. Life was definitely about to get interesting.

A/N: End of Chapter 2 - A short one, but next up Luna and Theo, Blaise and Parvati, and Ron responds to Hermione's letter