It was the evening before a big Transfiguration exam, and I had stayed in the library until Madam Pince closed it at 10 o clock. I stepped out the oak doors, and started on my way back. I heard footsteps behind me, so I slowed down.

"Oh. It's you."

"Could I have gotten a more enthusiastic greeting?" He mock-wondered.

We walked along the hall in silence, before I remembered something.

"The Slytherin common room isn't this way," I frowned.

"And how did you know that?" he asked, surprised.

"I'm Head Girl," I said, lifting my chin.

"Not good enough love. Draco's Head Boy, but he doesn't know where the other common rooms are- the Heads of Houses are the only ones who know where all the House common rooms are. Potter then?"

"Why must you always think it's Harry?"

"I think it's him, and with good reason. I'm guessing that was a yes."

"I do not confirm nor deny that it was Harry who gave me the information."

"And where did you learn to make statements like that?"

"From being the subject of Rita Skeeter's malicious 'news articles'," I said sourly.

He laughed at that, and I smiled as I remembered what I did to her.

We turned the corner, and saw three fifth year Slytherin boys stepping out from a secret passage in the wall to our right.

"Hey look, it's Mudblood Granger, Potter's best friend," sneered one of the boys, a lanky boy with long stringy dirty blonde hair.

"Let's show her who deserves to be here," suggested his friend, a tall muscular boy.

I ignored them and kept walking. I was mildly surprised that he still walked beside me, even after being seen by the Slytherins.

"Hey Zabini! Why are you walking with that filth?" demanded the shortest boy.

"She is not filth, and I'd rather for you not to go around saying that about her," he said quietly.

Is he defending me?

"Going soft on us, huh Zabini?" smirked the first kid.

"No, not really- if I get wind that any of you had said or done anything inappropriate to the Head Girl, I will make sure that you will never have the ability to do it again. That is not going soft. And before you forget, I am higher up the ranks than you are. I'm best friend to the Head Boy, if you've forgotten," he explained, raising an eyebrow.

The three boys fidgeted, sharing nervous looks.

"Go before you get caught for being out of bounds," he said sharply, and they all left.

We waited until they were out of sight, then started walking again.

"I.. well.. thank you," I said quietly.

He stopped to look at me.

"You don't have to thank me," he said. "Just know I'll always be here to protect you."

"Why are you acting so nice to me?" I ask in disbelief.

"Either I haven't been obvious enough, or you're really dense," he said, shaking his head.

"Do enlighten me," I said, stopping to cross my arms and stare at him.

He paced in front of me while thinking of what to say.

"I can only liken what I feel for you as an.. asteroid."

How.. sweet?

I told you he's kidding around. Why an asteroid, of all things?

You're the 'smartest witch of the age', you figure it out!

He stepped towards me and brushed the back of his hand along my jawline.

Why am I feeling so nervous?

"Goodnight Hermione," he said quietly.

"I need to write a pass, explaining why you're out of bounds," I said.

He smirked.

"Don't worry love, I have my ways of getting around." He dropped his hand, sighing as he did.

He just stood there as I waited for him to leave.

"I thought you were leaving," I said, frowning.

"I'm leaving when you enter your common room," he explained, quirking an eyebrow.

What a gentleman.

"Well, goodnight then," I said.

He just stood there.

"I'm not saying the password in front of you," I told him.

He walked a few feet away, but still in sight.

I sighed and whispered the password to the statue of Merlin guarding the Heads' common room.

"Goodnight," I said as I entered the passage behind the statue.

Before it closed, I caught a glimpse of him smiling in my direction before leaving.

Why was he being so nice? Didn't Ginny already tell you!

It's just hard to believe, that's all.

Only because you're Hermione Granger, most stubborn person to ever exist. I bet you wouldn't even admit that you secretly like him!

The part that secretly likes him is you, and in my mind you and I are two separate entities.

What, the shrew and the brain- in which you are the shrew and I am the brain?

I'm going insane.

--

Come Christmas morning, I walked over to Gryffindor Tower carrying this pile of gifts in my arms. I figured that since it was our last year together, I would deliver my presents by hand. People were giving gifts to their friends in the hallways, making the space so cramped. I sighed.

"Hermione! Over here!"

Oh for goodness sake, Cormac McLaggen of all people was calling out to me with this huge present, with an equally huge card labeled 'Hermione' attached to it. Jeez. Didn't I tell him to buzz off?

Being the nice person I am, I started to make my way over to him, but then he came and helped me get though the crowd. We walked into this empty classroom. I was pretty apprehensive by now.

"Relax, I'm not going to do anything to you, "he said, setting his gift on the teacher's desk. "Unless you want me to," he said, leering at me. Disgusting.

"Actually I was just wondering why you called me here," I said, shifting the packages in my arms.

"I.. well, I thought I didn't treat you as well as I should have last year, so.. I wanted to make it up to you this time. Oh, and did I tell you I've liked you since then?" he said, a bit nervously to my chagrin.

"Cormac, I'm really so sorry but I.."

"I understand you like someone else- someone we all know," he said smirking slightly.

"Not that annoying, infuriating git!" I said hotly.

"I wasn't talking about him," Cormac smirked even wider. Eurgh, I just want to wipe it off his face! "But if he is that guy, well.."

"Stop, this is going nowhere," I said quickly. "Where were we?"

"Oh yeah. Anyway I wanted to give you this- as a sign of friendship. I know I'll never be as close to you as Harry and Ron, but still- here you go," he said with a sheepish smile.

"Thank you so much," I said as he handed me my present. He was looking at me expectantly.

"What?"

"I was just hoping you'd unwrap it now," he said, shifting his weight from one foot to another.

"Oh okay," I said blinking.

I tore the monstrosity of wrapping off. I'm pleased that he thinks of me as a girl, but wrapping it all in frilly pink, with all the material known to mankind, topped with the hugest pink bow I've ever seen in my life?

The wrapping fell off to reveal.. A STUFFED TOY!

Honestly!

I'm a perfectly mature seventeen-year-old girl. He never noticed whom he dated for a spell, did he!

"It's.. huge, "I said weakly, holding it up. "And yellow."

It was a large yellow smiley doll with arms and legs, about half my size. Uh-oh, how am I going to lug this back to my dormitory?

"I thought it might make you smile, since you seem to be pissed a lot you know? Well, do you like it?" he asked me eagerly.

This has honestly been a thoughtful gift.

"I love it," I said sincerely. "Thanks again."

We walk out of the classroom with me smiling at the gift. I turn to walk to Gryffindor Tower when he grabs my arm. "Wait, I'll help you with those," pulling the gifts out of my grasp.

"Thank you," I said gratefully. We started up the stairs when I noticed the guy who followed my every step. He was smiling.

"Well well, if it isn't Granger and McLaggen- some couple," he said quietly.

There was something.. wrong about this. I looked to him for answers. His smile.. it didn't look genuine.

When did it ever?

But wait..

It looked.. forced?

"Come on Hermione," Cormac said. "Harry and Ron'll be throwing a fit if you're not back there."

"You're right," I said, tearing my gaze away from the guy who, even in my dreams has haunted me. I've dreamed of almost all possible scenarios regarding him and me that it was crazy.

We walked away, not noticing his face contort into jealousy, and a certain girl's face wearing a big smirk.

--

Woow! Now this was crazy long, haha..:P So was my workday.. sighs ..

On to the reviewers:D

Un Petit Diable: Wahaha- you understand them so well, it's as if you lived through the whole experience! Hehe:P And you know Ginny, she's the only girl besides Hermione who can talk sense.XD

Queen of Serpents: Yeah, it was pretty.. I dunno, filler? A bit of a development though with the kiss on the cheek:D

Padfoot's Sidekick: Yeah I know, funny eh? HahahaXD I'm so happy you love it:D

Please review! It makes my day, and makes me update faster! Wahaha:P