It was after the Yule Ball that he saw her crying on the stairs. She does look rather nice, for a mudblood, he thought. However, it wasn't that thought that surprised him... It was the feeling that he didn't like seeing her cry and it not being his fault. He was supposed to be her own personal bully, even getting annoyed with his school mates for trying to call her a mudblood when she couldn't hear them. At least I have enough balls to say it to her face. Their first and second year were easy enough to get under her skin but as they went through third year he found himself being attracted to the witch. It didn't help with her being late to classes and suddenly appearing like she'd been there the whole time. He was a Slytherin after all, and he got curious. I still don't understand how she did that and not get caught. Even Snape didn't say anything to her. The teachers had to have known.
"Draco, are you even listening?" his date asked. She had been talking non-stop for hours and eventually just started ignoring her.
"Sorry Pansy, just thinking about the future," he lied. It was a line he used often when he wasn't listening to her. However, this time he didn't look her in the eyes like he normally did. Instead he remained staring at Granger.
"Than why are you staring at that mudblood like you care why she's crying?" she asked angrily. He turned to her, irritation evident in his eyes.
"How did you know she was cryin?" he asked.
Pansy rolled her eyes and replied, "because you muttered 'I wonder why she's crying'. What, you think I didn't notice? And why are you looking at me like you're about to rip my bloody head off?"
He almost growled at her. "Pansy, one I didn't notice I mumbled anything. Two, I thought that even you would realize only I'm allowed to call Hermione a mudblood. The rest of the house figured it out when I started hexing them. You seriously can't be that daft. Another thing, I was forced into this relationship just because of the pureblood thing our parents believe. Now if you will excuse me puglette, I have to comfort my mudblood."
"Your..?" Pansy said confused and stormed off to the dungeons. She couldn't believe Draco left her for that stupid mudblood.
Draco had quickly appeared at Hermione's side. "Granger, why the hell are you crying when I didn't insult you at all tonight?"
"You wouldn't understand Malfoy." Hermione replied coldly, trying to dry her tears. She looked weak in front of Malfoy long enough. To her, it was time she found her backbone again.
"Try me, I had to spend most of this wretched night with the puglette of Slytherin. I would rather have spent tonight with you instead of her. Our parents forced me but with Pansy having less of a brain than Potter, she thought our relationship was genuine until a few moments ago." Draco said with a small laugh.
"Actually speaking of Harry, him and Ron were the reason I was crying. They...Ron actually ruined tonight for me. I think he was jealous that I went with Viktor Krum instead of him."
"Really?" Draco mused and sat next to her. "Well I would be jealous too if I didn't just see Viktor try to kiss a veela a moment ago."
"WHAT?!" Hermione shouted, rising. She was about to go looking for the seeker when Draco grabbed her hand. Her gaze shot to his hand holding hers and then to his face.
"Trust me, he's not worth it. She slapped him almost as hard as you hit me last year." Draco still had no idea why he was comforting Hermione.
"Why do you even care, Malfoy? It's not that I don't appreciate that you're helping me but I'm just curious as to why."
"Didn't you hear me earlier? I don't like seeing you cry when it's not my fault. And if I remember correctly I haven't said anything nasty to you all year. The only one i said anything to was Potter and that was before the dragons."
"Maybe you're sorry for what you said and did in the past and are trying to make up for it?" Hermione suggested before continuing, "or maybe you're just afraid of my left hook."
"A Slytherin afraid of a Gryffindor? Are you sure the smartest witch of your age?" Draco asked playfully which got him a small smack to the arm. "C'mon, there's one last song, wanna dance?"
"My feet are sore and I can barely walk!" Hermione said, flustered.
"How about this then, I'll carry you to the Great Hall and when we start to dance you can just stand on my feet?" Draco replied with his hand held out to her.
"NO! No no you are not carrying me- AAH!" Hermione began but was interrupted when Draco rolled his eyes, lifted her to her feet and carried her bridal style to the Great Hall. Not many people were there except Neville, Ginny, and a couple others. They didn't see any Slytherins so luck was weirdly in their favor tonight. Draco quickly set Hermione down very carefully so as not to cause her anymore physical pain in her already aching feet. It was a brave thing on his part that he even caried her to the Great Hall the way he did. And he was pretty sure that two certain Gryffindors would be up in arms wondering why he was carrying Hermione to their common room. He didn't want that kind of attention. He was so lost in thought that he didn't realize that they had started dancing until he felt a pair of soft lips gently pressing against his. His entire body stiffed at the new sensation. Pansy never kissed him like this, Pansy's kisses usually screamed 'take me' however Hermione's was completely different like she was nervous and was holding back. Draco was about to kiss her back when she pulled away. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." Hermione was looking down at their feet and trying to hide a blush. "I was just upset and-" Draco quickly silenced her embarrased rambling with a small unsure kiss of his own. He didn't know why just yet but he liked kissing her. She was just, different, and this time, in a good way.
"I never knew your lips were so soft. I have never been kissed liked that. Would you mind if I kissed you again?" Draco said, a little nervous. But instead of answering, Hermione kissed him again but this kiss was not like the first. The first kiss was unsure but this one held hope and possibly a little love. Draco held her closer as the kissed deepened earning them a good cheer from none other than Ginny Weasley and leaving a certain plant loving Gryffindor wide eyed and with his mouth hanging open. Both Ginny and Neville made a secret oath never to tell Harry or Ron. "Hermione," Draco said when both broke apart because of an irritating substance known as air. "Hermione, I was just wondering.. Do you want to go back to the Gryffindor coomon room? Because I'm not gonna take you to the Dungeons what with Pansy fuming at me. The others knew to back off when it comes to you but I wouldn't put it past Pansy to try to kill you."
"Actually Draco, I was kinda wondering if I could spend the night with you. The girls in my dorm are always chasing after Harry so they wouldn't understand and I just don't want to deal with Ron tonight."
"Hmm, I know somewhere we could go! But it's very secret and only the Weasley twins know about it other than me. It would be the safest place for us away from everyone," Draco hinted.
"Okay, then lead the way Snake."
"You'll have to keep up Lioness."
With that, Draco started walking only to realize Hermione couldn't walk on her own unless.. With a small spell, Draco rid Hermione of the swelling and soreness of her feet and they began the long walk up to the seventh floor.