Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Author's Note: Okay, here is the next chapter. I was thinking I should end this soon, but I have no idea how I'm going to do it. Please continue giving me ideas, and I will continue writing.

Chapter Sixteen

Headmaster Dumbledore had decided that, since the dance was on Halloween, which was a Saturday, the entire school would get the Wednesday before the dance off, for a trip to Hogsmeade. Everyone was extremely happy about this, but Hermione was a little tentative. She was wondering if it was bad that, only a few weeks after she had taken Harry to Hogsmeade, she was with a new guy. Then, she realized she was being silly. No one cared that she had gone through two guys since the beginning of the year. She knew for a fact that a sixth-year in Hufflepuff had had at least six boyfriends since the beginning of the year.

Blaise told Hermione that he would meet her outside the Head's dormitory on Wednesday morning, so she spent Tuesday night with Ginny and Draco. Ginny was comfortable around Draco now, and even started to enjoy spending time with him. Hermione knew that Ginny didn't have any feelings for Draco, but she did think that Ginny certainly acted like she did around Draco. Hermione hoped Draco wasn't getting any ideas, only because she didn't want to see him get hurt. At least, that is what she told herself.

"So, Draco," Ginny said, "taking any lucky lady to Hogsmeade tomorrow?"

The trio was in the Head's dormitory, Hermione and Ginny on one couch and Draco was lounging on an armchair nearby.

Draco glanced over at Hermione briefly, then blushed slightly. He looked down. "Um, not really." Ginny glanced over at Hermione, asking with her eyes, Did you see him look at you? Hermione sent back the message, Stop thinking those kinds of thoughts!

"Well, that settles it," Ginny said. "I am taking you out tomorrow. We're going to shop, talk, and eat." She thought for a moment. "Actually, it will kind of be like I'm going out with Hermione."

Draco cracked a smile. "You don't have to take pity on me," he said, shaking his head. "I'm not even sure if I'm going to go or not."

"Nonsense," Ginny said. "You're coming with me, whether or not you like it." She turned to Hermione. "Don't you think he should go with me?"

Hermione looked from Ginny to Draco and then back. "Um, I think it would, ah, be good for Draco. He hasn't really, um, socialized with you, Ginny, so I think it's a good idea. Also, you two will get a chance to get to know each other better. You know, rebuild some bridges and what not."

Ginny turned back to Draco, her smile lighting up her face. "Yay, I can't wait until tomorrow now! I didn't want to say this before, but you totally saved my ass, Draco. I didn't want to go to Hogsmeade alone, but I didn't think I'd find a date in time. Thanks."

"No problem." Draco smiled, and glanced over at Hermione again. She was watching the two, and when she saw Draco looking at her, she looked down. For some reason, this topic was making her a little uncomfortable. She had no idea what was why.

They stayed up for another few hours, then Ginny called it a night. Hugging Hermione goodbye and promising to meet Draco outside the school the next morning, she left the two alone and walked down to the Gryffindor Tower.

"I guess I'm going to go to bed," Hermione said, yawning and stretching, her shirt raising up a bit. She wrapped her arms around Draco's neck for a goodnight hug, and didn't pull away when he wrapped his arms around her waist. They were becoming much more comfortable towards each other, and Hermione liked this. She turned her head slightly so it was cradled in his neck and breathed in his scent. He smelled like clean man with the hint of cologne and soap. It was an odd mixture, but Hermione found it intoxicating. They stood together for a few moments, and neither wanted to let go.

"Mmm, Hermione," Draco mumbled into her hair. "I can't seem to control myself around you."

Hermione smiled. "I have the same feeling about you." She sighed and pulled away. "I guess I'll go now." She stepped around Draco and hurried over to her room. Draco watched the door shut, then collapsed on one of the couches.

He put his face in his hands and threw his head back. For some reason, she started something in him that was unknown and new to him. In the beginning, he just thought it was simple attraction, his hormones working on overdrive. But, as he started to get to know her more, he realized that he did, truly, like her. It could possible even blossom into love.

Draco knew that Hermione was dating his best friend, and he knew that she really liked Blaise. He could tell just from spending a few minutes with the two of them that they liked each other a lot. It was sort of puppy love, but he knew how strong love like that could be. It may not last very long, but while they were together, Hermione and Blaise would only look at each other. Draco could admit that he really liked Hermione. He wanted to date her and kiss her without feeling guilty. Of course, he was friends with both Hermione and Blaise. Even though he wanted Hermione for himself, he didn't think he had it in him to break the two of them up. A year ago, he would have done it without a second thought, but, now, something was different in him. He was more...considerate of other people, and their feelings.

Draco began to think about Blaise. What the hell does he have that I don't? Well, Hermione, obviously. After he gave it some thought, he realized that Blaise had made a move. He had told Hermione his feelings, without caring if she turned him down or if she laughed in his face. He wanted her to know, and just hoped that she returned it. Harry had even done the same thing. Draco was the only person who hadn't been brave enough to tell her how he felt. He didn't know why he hadn't. Probably because, in the beginning, he didn't really want to admit it. It was a new feeling, and he had spent so much time these past few years treating her like shit. Once he finally realized that he liked her, she was already on her second boyfriend. He wasn't sure if it was smart to tell Hermione now, especially since she was dating Blaise, but he knew that he needed to do it soon, or else he would burst.

The next morning, both Head's woke up relatively early. Hermione let Draco take the bathroom first, as it was taking her a while to decide what to wear. She knew that it would be cold outside, but she also wanted to look good around Blaise. She hadn't really had this issue before, but for some reason, this trip to Hogsmeade sort of began their relationship officially. She didn't want to disappoint.

Finally, she settled on dark blue jeans that hugged her curves, a pink sweater that was like a second skin and that had a deep, scoop neck, and black, two-inch heel boots. She added some makeup, but not much, and left her hair down. She had added some curls to her hair magically, so it framed her face in soft waves.

After saying goodbye to Draco, Hermione met up with Blaise outside the dorm. They walked to the front of the school, hand-in-hand, and received several odd looks. They passed Harry and Ron, but they didn't cause a scene, Harry just nodded at Blaise and smiled at Hermione, and Ron avoided their gaze. Hermione had expected this, and just hoped that Ron would be okay with her new boyfriend.

The ride over to Hogsmeade was quick, and Hermione and Blaise walked up and down the main street of Hogsmeade at least three times. They went into several stores, and Hermione had to convince Blaise not to buy her anything. Any time she made the slightest hint that she was interested in something, Blaise grabbed it from the shelf, and tried to buy it for her. She felt sort of weird having him buy things for her. She knew he was rich, and she knew that she wouldn't be able to buy the same kind of things for him. Hopefully, their money status wouldn't effect their relationship.

After about two hours of walking around, Hermione and Blaise ended up in the Three Broomsticks. They each ordered a cup of hot pumpkin juice and blueberry muffins, and found a table in the back, away from all the noise. Hermione was thankful that they weren't seated at the table where she and Harry had been during the first trip to Hogsmeade. It would just feel weird.

"Are you having fun?" Blaise asked, his armed wrapped around Hermione's shoulder. They were sitting on the same side of the table, on the booth. At first, Hermione thought it was going to be uncomfortable, having to turn to talk to each other, but it was working out perfectly. They were so at ease around each other that they didn't even need to look at each other when they were talking. What's more, Hermione liked being so close to Blaise. It was definitely something she could get used to.

"So much," Hermione said, snuggling closer to him. She turned her head up slightly. "Especially because I'm with you." Blaise smiled. He leaned down and planted his lips on hers.

Ginny and Draco were enjoying themselves just as much. They weren't making out, of course, but they learned how much they had in common, not only Hermione. They ended up in the Three Broomsticks, also, but found a table in the front, and sat opposite each other.

They talked about all sorts of things, from school to friends to other Hogsmeade trips to Christmas plans. They even discussed their families a bit, but didn't dwell on it much.

After a lull, Ginny finally brought up the topic she had been thinking about the entire trip there. "Draco, I need to ask you a serious question."

Draco put down his pumpkin juice. "Go."

"Do you have any feelings for Hermione?"

Draco blushed. "N-no, o-of course n-n-not," he stuttered, looking away. "W-why would you, ah, think that?"

Ginny smiled. "Because I know that you do like her. Don't try denying it, anyone who spends ten minutes around you two knows that you like her."

Draco sighed. "What does it matter, anyway? She's dating Blaise. Besides, she would never look at me like that."

"That's not true," Ginny said. She took a deep breath. "I'm probably not suppose to tell you this, but Hermione has told me that she might like you. I mean, she's never really come out and say it, but she has implied. And whenever I talk about you, she gets all pink and uncomfortable. She likes you."

Draco smiled. "That makes me happy, of course, but still. She's dating Blaise."

"I don't really know what to do about that," Ginny said. "But maybe if you tell her about your feelings, it will start something. I don't know what, but you have to at least try."

"You're right, I know you're right. But, even thinking about telling her, even after you told me how she feels, just makes me nauseous. I don't know if I can do it."

"God, Draco, stop being such a girl. You can do it. Just, pretend like you're jumping into a pool. Take a deep breath, get a running start, and just do it. The worst she says is that she doesn't return your feelings."

Draco smirked. "I hate it when people say that. If she doesn't like me, we are still forced to live together, and see each other constantly. There will be a lot of tension. Maybe it would be easier if I didn't tell her--"

"No," Ginny said firmly. "You are telling her. And so what if she doesn't return your feelings. It's not like the world is going to end. You need to stop being so melodramatic."

"I guess you're right." Draco thought for a moment. "Okay, I'll tell her tonight. Get it over with as soon as possible."

"Great!" Ginny cried. "You will not regret this!"