Chapter 2

The cold wind nearly knocked the wind out of Hermione as she fell through the Pensive. She landed with a thump inside the first memory. She had to smile at this one; it was the first time he kissed her. They had gotten into an argument over something that seemed so important at the time but looking back now, at the age of 23 seemed so trivial. She had heard footsteps coming up behind her, and when she turned around it had been him.

She saw red. It was quite embarrassing really, since they got into a screaming match right out by the edge of the forbidden forest. The good thing was that since they were near the forbidden forest, no one could see or hear them.

"You ungrateful Git," Hermione screamed! "Would it really kill you to just say thank you? It isn't like everyone doesn't already know you're horrible at Herbology!"

"It doesn't help that you're an insufferable know it all either," Draco seethed.

"That just cuts through you like a knife doesn't it?" said Hermione. She was close enough to him that their noses were almost touching. "Big bad Malfoy can't stand it when someone, especially a girl and definitely one who is muggle born, trys to offer him a little assistance."

"No," he said in a deadly whisper, "you really want to know what cuts through me granger?"

"Actually yes I do," she said primly.

"It's the fact that everyone, even you, seem to think that I can't change. Believe it or not Hermione I am civilized enough to call you by your first name. And you might not believe it but I have come to realize that my father's ideals however lofty are not for me. "

"But that's not all," Draco drawled out.

At this point, they were slowly backing into a tree. Hermione felt the rough bark against her skin.

"What then," she asked hesitantly.

Draco's head inched closer to hers.

"The worst part is that even though we shouldn't be here," she gestured around to how isolated they were. "I can't help but think that maybe you should correct me in Herbology more often if it leads to this." He smirked with a glint in his eye.

"What do you mean?" She asked. Even standing there and knowing what was about to happen, Present day Hermione couldn't help but cover her eyes at her stupidity.

"Really Granger. You are so. Bloody. Naive," and with that Draco closed the gap between them.

She then felt a yank and the memory then dissolved into nighttime inside Hogwarts. Ahh thought Hermione. This is one of my favorite memories of him.

Hermione was walking down the stairs fuming to herself.

He is so bloody confusing. How can he go from kissing me to just acting so weird. She thought. It wasn't like they had been out of each other's company much in the past few months since the kiss. The banter was light and the past week or so she could just feel him distancing himself and now he kept seeming to say something then back off.

Hermione was then yanked out of her diatribe, quite literally, by a firm hand around the waist. Said hand proceeded to pull her into an empty alcove. Sensing that she was about to scream, the hand clamped over her mouth.

"shhh it's just me, relax," said Draco.

"What the hell is your problem," Hermione whisper yelled."You almost gave me a heart attack. I could have hexed half of your face off!"

"Well thank goodness you didn't, It sure would be a shame for the Hogwarts community to lose such a handsome face," he drawled.

"You're such an arrogant prat. And to think I actually like you. I really shouldn't you know."

"Oh, and why is that?"

"Because you obviously have been trying to tell me something for about a week now and I figured out what it is."

If it was possible, Draco's pale skin turned even paler in the moonlight.

"I –I was hoping I could be the one to tell you before someone else," he stammered.

"Really? I was hoping that you would be man enough to at least tell me yourself that you didn't want to be around me anymore," Hermione screeched.

"Wh-what?"

"You heard me! Man up and just get out with it."

"Your really are naïve Granger. And here I thought you actually had some sense seeing as you basically live in the library."

"I am not naïve, why do you insist on telling me that."

"Well if you weren't you would obviously be able to tell what I've been wanting to say. But since you can't comprehend, I guess I'll have to just go ahead and tell you." He moved in closer. "I was hoping this could be a bit more romantic, but that never really has been our style has it?"

Now it was Hermione's turn to look stunned,

"Huh?"

"Hermione, it isn't that I've tired of you. Actually it is quite the opposite. I can't seem to think of anything but you. I hate it when you're out of my sight and I can't be near you. You make me feel things that I never thought I could. You make me go hot and cold at the same time, and it really is a weird feeling if you're not used to it. The sight of you tends to make me forget how to breathe."

He took her into his arms.

"Really Granger I'm quite surprised you haven't guessed." He kissed her nose. "I'm not tired of you, I'm in love with you. I love you Granger and all the things that come with you."

He sighed, "I guess I can even put up with those damnable friends of yours as well."

The last thing Hermione saw as the memory started to fog up, was her leaning in with a giggle and saying, "you have quite a way with words Malfoy….and I love you too."

And just as quick as it happened, Hermione fell back through the Pensive and onto her bedroom floor. She looked at the clock. It was 9:30 at night and Ron still wasn't home. Resigned, Hermione climbed into bed alone. It seemed that this was becoming routine anymore. She turned out the ight and fell asleep with a smile on her face. All the while dreaming of grey eyes and a passionate kiss against a tree.