Hermione grabbed the hand in front of her and pulled herself up, facing Draco Malfoy.

"Well, I'll see you later, Hermione…Granger." Malfoy said quietly as he turned away from her.

"Oh…okay…well, thanks!" called Hermione to Malfoy's back. Malfoy gave a small wave, to acknowledge that he'd heard her. Hermione shrugged and quickly gathered her dropped chocolate, before returning to her friends in the bar. She wound her scarf tightly around her neck; it was getting quite chilly…

- - - - - - - - - -

Hermione, Harry and Ron were back in the Common Room, eating candy they had got from Hogsmeade as they finished their essays.

"Oh…I'll be back in a second…I just have to get a book from the library." Hermione said abruptly as she left the room. She headed down the stairs, towards the library. She quickly slipped into the Potions section, and began thumbing each book, trying to find the right one. Suddenly, she noticed a thin, lean figure nearby.

"Oh, hello Draco. How are you?" asked Hermione politely.

"Don't call me Draco." he replied curtly.

"Okay…Malfoy, so how have you been?" asked Hermione.

"Stop talking to me. I don't know why I helped you last night. Just forget about it. We aren't friends, got it?" Malfoy said.

"Whatever." Hermione said as she walked away, leaving Draco standing there.

What is wrong with me? Why did I help Granger last night?? I have a girlfriend, whom I like. No, love! I'm just being nice to Granger because…I want to…get close to Harry! Yes! Be close to your friends, but closer to your enemies. I want to be close to Harry so I can give him to the Dark Lord. Father did say he was coming back. Draco said as he sighed with relief.

- - - - - - - - - -

Hermione sat in the Common Room, quill in hand, thinking about earlier today. Draco had been kind the other day, but today, he shrugged me off. What's up with that? Oh well…I better finish my homework. Hermione thought.

Ron, who had been absent when Hermione returned from the library, sat down beside Harry. He wore a big smile…

"I think Lavender and I are getting closer!" Ron said vibrantly. Harry and Hermione looked at each other and rolled their eyes.

"Harry, you haven't been so down lately. Are you over Luna yet?" asked Hermione.

"Well…I don't know how to explain it, but I am trying to move on, but I'll never fully be over Luna. She was my first love. I can't forget her so easily. And Quidditch is starting soon, so I'm excited about that." Harry said.

"Well, good job on staying captain, Harry. And good luck Ron." said Hermione.

"No good wishes for me?" asked Ginny.

"You don't need luck. Your awesome just the way you are." said Harry, smiling.

"Oh, so I need luck, but my little sister doesn't? That's just great." said Ron grumpily.

"Hey, take it out on Hermione. I wasn't the one who said it!" replied Harry, as Hermione scowled.

- - - - - - - - - -

The next day in Potions, as Hermione was making her potion, she realized she had forgotten to get newts. As she went to get some from the ingredients cupboard, to her dismay, there were no newts left.

"Shit! No more newts. Aw, crap!" said Hermione, truly upset.

"Here, I have a few extras." said a voice behind her.

"Thanks." Hermione said, taking the newts from the outstretched hand. She gasped as she turned around to face the generous person. It was Malfoy.

"Sorry about the other day. I shouldn't have snapped at you." said Draco, lowering his pale bluish-gray eyes.

"It's…okay." Hermione said softly, as she returned to her cauldron, wondering why Draco was being nice again.

- - - - - - - - - -

That lunch, everyone was talking. Hermione didn't know why.

"Hey Hermione, did you hear the news? Draco dumped Pansy!" Ginny told Hermione. Hermione wondered about the reason for the break-up. Am I part of the reason? Hermione thought, No…It can't be. I'm being selfish.

- - - - - - - - - -

Hermione was lying flat on her face, thinking about how she was such a klutz.

"Again? Hermione, I think you should stop falling. It's unladylike." a figure, Draco, said.

"Don't tell me you have never fallen." scowled Hermione.

"I have only fallen once. I have only fallen…for you." Draco said softly, "Look, Hermione I'm really sorry about talking like that to you, that day in the library, and I regret everything I have ever said to you, everything that was mean. I'm sorry I called you a Mudblood all those times. I'm sorry…for everything." Draco looked away as he finished.

"I take you haven't apologized in a while." said Hermione, "And could you please help me up?"

Draco laughed and outstretched his hand for Hermione. Hermione took it and pulled herself up. As she stood, Draco took his other hand and pulled Hermione closer to him.

"I'm sorry." Draco whispered, as he pressed his lips to Hermione's. A shiver shot through Hermione's spine. She had never been kissed like this before. It was gentle, yet firm. Light, yet passionate. Lovely, yet…totally all wrong! Hermione pulled herself away from Draco.

"Draco…we can't do this. What will Harry think? What will Ron think?" Hermione said.

"I don't care what they think!" Draco replied, his hand on her lower back.

"Well then, what will Pansy think? What will Crabbe and Goyle think? What will…your father think?" Hermione whispered, "I'm sorry." Hermione walked away, a single tear rolling down her cheek. As she turned a corner, she accidentally bumped into Pansy Parkinson.

"S-s-sorry!" Hermione mumbled.

"Granger, don't you dare touch my Draco! Our relationship may be over, but I still care about him. He doesn't really like you. He's just using you." Pansy snarled, making an ugly face.

"You know, that ugly face really suits you, Pansy." Hermione said.

"Go to hell, bitch!" Pansy shrieked, as Hermione gave her the finger, something she had never done in her whole life. Pansy let out one last 'Ugh!' before walking away.

- - - - - - - - - -

For the next few days, all Hermione could think about was the kiss. It was the best kiss she had ever experienced. A couple of days after 'the kiss', all the owls came, with their mail. Surprisingly, a white owl flew down and landing in front of Hermione. Attached to the owl's leg was a note. Hermione opened it and read it.

Hermione, I really like you. I love the way your hair is curly, I love the way your eyes are like chocolate. I love the way you answer every question correctly…but most of all I love the way you kiss. Hermione, please forgive me…and please, go out with me. Write you answer on the back of this paper and give it to my owl, Armidale.

Love,

Draco.

Love, Draco? He loved her? Hermione thought it was so sweet how he was so persistent, and whilst she knew Ron and Harry would hate her for it, on the back of the letter she wrote a single three letter word. Y-E-S. She attached it to the owl's leg and watched it fly to Draco. He opened the letter and read her answer. Hermione watched his mouth spread into a smile. Ah…his mouth…his soft mouth…how she ached to kiss it one last time. Suddenly, a loud shriek woke Hermione from her reverie.

"WHAT?! DRACO, ARE YOU JOKING? YOU FUCKING BASTARD! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO ME?! FUCK YOU, DRACO!?" Pansy screamed, as tears streaked her face. She immediately ran out of the hall, with Draco running after her.

"What was that all about?" asked Ron with a laugh.

"No clue." replied Hermione, although she did have a clue. A very good clue.

- - - - - - - - - -

Draco was chasing after Pansy, who was weeping.

"Draco…Draco…how could you do this to me? How could you go out with that filthy…MUDBLOOD? Are you insane? Do you not give a fucking shit about me anymore?" sobbed Pansy.

"I'm sorry Pansy." Draco mumbled.

"No you aren't. Draco, I loved…love…you! And you went and fucking threw it away." Pansy growled, "And I won't forgive you. DELLARUM HYPNOSUM." Pansy yelled, as she pointed her wand towards Draco. Draco suddenly fell into a trance.

"Draco Malfoy, I now hypnotize you to forget Hermione Granger, and go back out with me, Pansy Parkinson." Pansy said, thus hypnotizing Draco, "When I, and only I, say the words FINISO HYPNOSUM, can you get out of this trance."

"Yes, Pansy." Draco said.

"Good!" Pansy replied.

Then, hand in hand, they walked back into the dining hall. Hermione noticed the smug, satisfied smile on Pansy's face, and went to the Slytherin table.

"Malfoy. Can I talk to you for a second?" asked Hermione.

"Fine." Draco said grumpily. Hermione was confused. Just a mere ten minutes ago, Draco had confessed his love towards Hermione. What was with his cold attitude? Hermione led Draco outside the hall.

"Draco, why were you with Pansy?" asked Hermione.

"Is there a problem with that? I mean, is it against the rules for a boyfriend and girlfriend to be together?" asked Draco, cruelly.

"Wait what? You and Pansy are together? But…I thought you have just asked me out…by owl!" Hermione stuttered, uncomprehending.

"Ooh the know-it-all Hermione Granger doesn't understand a simple thing like this? Hermione, it was all just a joke! Why would a Pureblood Slytherin go out with a Mudblood Gryffindor? I can't believe you actually thought I liked you! What a loser!" Draco sneered, laughing.

"Damn you, Malfoy!" Hermione said as she raised her hand to slap Draco. The sound of her hand hitting Draco's face was deafening. It echoed in the hall…perhaps she had hit him too hard. She looked at the red hand-mark on Draco's face.

"Sorry." was all she said, as she stalked away from Draco.