A/N Dear MacaqueAttack713, thank you. I post and then I wait for your reviews now :)

Disclaimer in chapter one.

The rest of the day passed between stares, classes, whispers, lunch meaning more stares and whispers more time at the library mercifully less stares and whispers and keeping Harry and Ron from getting into a fight when some 6th year said something they really shouldn't have said about her and Malfoy.
The rest of the week passed in pretty much the same pattern, except Draco had made it a habit to join her at the library. They hadn't even been on one proper date yet, and already he was a part of her life to which she looked forward. He caught her mumbling under her breath once about 'stupid ferrets' and 'getting too used to them being around' He just smirked and told her she'd better be getting used to him, because he wasn't going anywhere. She smiled to herself at least he was getting as attached to her as she was to him.

And the weekend finally came. They had agreed to meet after breakfast. She woke up as early as she usually does so she was showered, dressed and ready way too early. She spent some time in the common room, by one of the windows looking out on the grounds. The view was breathtaking, with everything covered in white snow. She waited until Harry and Ron were ready too, then went down with them. They were supposed to be going with Dean, Seamus, Neville, Luna and Ginny as a group, but she knew for a fact that Harry and Ginny were planning on sneaking away on their own. She watched amused as they exchanged looks all through breakfast. Apparently Ginny wanted to make a run for it from the start, but Harry was too sacred of Ron. 'Scared for Ron" He'd corrected when she pointed it out, "Have you seen how red he gets if I ever look at her!" She saw Ginny roll her eyes. "Go for it, Harry" She whispered as she got up to go meet Malfoy.

He was waiting for her by the entrance, all devilish looks and fancy clothes, but most importantly he had a smile on his face that she was getting quite accustomed to. "Malfoy" She greeted, mirroring his smile. "Granger" He said more out of habit now than anything. Even their last names didn't carry the same maniac they once did. "It's pretty early so I think we can catch a carriage alone" He told her as they walked out. "A carriage? Can't we walk there?" She asked her voice hopeful. "It's cold" He stated. "you're not afraid of a little cold, Malfoy, are you?" She challenged. "I don't want you getting sick" His eyes ran over her outfit. "I'm wearing a lot. Trust me" He shock his head "I don't care, we aren't walking that long in this cold" She let her face drop and her eyes focusing on the snow-white ground "Fine" She said with a shrug "If you want to say no to the first thing I ask you on our first date, then I guess we're taking a carriage" His eyes winded for a brief second before he composed himself. She was the devil! "You want to walk there?" She nodded eagerly "Alright, then" He said with a sigh "We'll walk there". She smiled "Thanks" "Yeah, yeah you manipulative minx" She smirked, "Are you admitting that I, Hermione Granger, managed to manipulate Draco Malfoy?" He rolled his eyes "I'm just less inclined to tell you no than I am with most people"
"Good" She said with a smile.
"Would you tell me no?" He wondered.
She glanced at him as they walked, he was asking casually, but she knew it really meant a lot to him "Probably not, depends on what you are asking" This was Malfoy after all. He nodded "Good" He winked. "So where to first?" She asked as they got closer to the village "How about Honeydukes?" He suggested, his eyes glittering and she resisted the urge to giggle. He was more like Ron than he'd want to know. "Honeydukes it is" He beamed "Then can we stop by Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop? I broke one of mine yesterday" "Sure thing, I could use a new quill, too"

They walked a little more before they made it to Honeydukes. Between their playful banter and Draco's flirtatious teasing, she was having an amazing time. He was a match for her, he was well read, he was smart and he wasn't afraid to say 'Granger, while you look absolutely sexy today, you are wrong". She was too occupied with blushing to remember the original argument.
Some time -a long time- at Honeydukes, 15 minutes at the quill shop because she had to find one that was just right, whatever that meant a 5-minute walk later and they found themselves warm and comfortable at the Three Broomsticks. "There you go" He set her drink in front of her and sat down "Thank you" She smiled. No matter what she said about walking, it was really cold and she was grateful for some time indoors, where it was warm and dry.
"You're happy, right?" He asked, out of no where. They had been talking about a book she was reading and he just...asked! "I'm sorry, what?"
"Are you happy?" He repeated.
"Like in general, or...?"
"Right now, Hermione, are you happy?" He said, impatient now. Not so arrogant now she thought, but she didn't say it, because she knew it wasn't easy for him to let go and just ask her that, so the opted for the truth "Very" She told him and his smile went straight to her heart, causing it to send electric shocks all the way down to her toes. "No getting out of that second date now" She joked. He chuckled and smirked not showing how relieved he really was.
They walked a little more after the three broomsticks. "Zonko's?" He asked with a raised eyebrow when she said she wanted to go in. "I have a score to settle with Ron" He laughed "Well in that case..." He held the door open for her.

"Hermione?" They were walking out of Zonko's, having bought almost everything that could possibly irritate Ron and Harry.
"Yeah?"
"Do I need to be jealous"
"Aren't you a possessive, jealous kind of person already?" She said, almost too serious. She really didn't want him obsessing over everyone she ever talked to. It was sweet, in a way she supposed but she wasn't about to tell him that.
"I am" He said equally serious "But right after the war there were...news about you and Weasley, so this time I have a reason to be"
"Right after the war, there were rumors about Ron and I" She corrected "Nothing really happened"
"Nothing nothing?"
"Nothing nothing. Ron is family, Draco. You don't need to worry"
"I'll always worry about you" he took her hand, and even through their gloves, she could feel the heat radiating from his.

When it was time to go back, Draco informed her in a tone that left no tone for arguing -even if she wasn't too tired to argue- that they were not walking back, and if she was too tired to argue, then she was definitely too tired to walk, so they ended up in a carriage with two Ravenclaws who -being Ravencalws- had spent enough time around them at the library so as not to stare. Draco and Hermione were old news by then to those who bothered with the library.

Half way to the castle, her head found its way to his shoulder and next thing she knew he was waking her up, telling her they were there. She felt a faint blush creep up her cheeks as he helped her down.

He walked her to the tower, all the way teasing her about how if he left her alone, she might just fall asleep anywhere. She figured telling him that she hadn't slept as well as those minutes in the carriage since before the war would ruin the mood so she just laughed alone, besides Malfoy was arrogant enough as it was without knowing that little piece of information.

What she didn't know when they said good bye was that when he went to bed that night, it would be his first good night's sleep in a very long time, too. One day, one day they'd tell each other.

A/N There, the longest I have ever written. Not sure what else to do with this story, maybe a 'morning after' chapter, or a couple of months later? Let me know what you think of this one, and what you want :)