A/N: Hello! Well, here's the new chapter. I really hope you like it because I worked hard writing this one.

I'm sorry it took me so long to update but I'm back at school and have four books to read so I'm a little busy :S

I really hope you like it! It's an important chapter in the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of it's characters.

Chapter 5: A long night of rounds

As Hermione sat at her bed watching the clock on her bedside table, minutes seemed to rush by. Her hands were sweating.

Why am I so nervous? It's just detention.. with Malfoy. I've done this before. Of course, in the other tasks we had chores to do, so we were distracted and apart from each other. Well, it's not like we're all over each other all the time but...

She couldn't help but picture this in her head. She and Malfoy tangled together, kissing. His hand at the back of her head. His lips softly but lovingly caressing hers. She shook her head to erase this image and did a mental slap.

Oh Merlin! What is wrong with me? Since when do I fantasize about Malfoy?

The thing is, lately, she couldn't help herself but do this every time he was around. The way his platinum hair fell on his face. His silver eyes that pierced hers. His lips...

That's why detention was especially difficult tonight. She didn't want to face this. Normally it was easier because she had things that distracted her from him: classes, friends, chores... but not tonight. Tonight it was going to be just Malfoy and her.

Most of all, she didn't want him to notice.

Of course, she hadn't told anyone about it. The only person she would have trusted with something like this was Ginny. But if she was so mad about her apologizing to him, she couldn't imagine what she would do if she knew about this.

The brunette bit her lower lip as she saw it was only ten minutes to eight. She took a deep breath and walked down to the common room. She was supposed to meet Malfoy at the doors of the Great Hall.

As he exited the Slytherin common room, Draco noticed that his heart was beating faster with every step he took.

This is the kind of thing I can't understand. In Granger's presence my heart beats faster and I feel some sort of hole in my chest, like something is missing. I'm acting like a teenager in love. But I don't feel in love. I mean, I have noticed some changes like: I no longer enjoy insulting her like I did before. Actually, I don't like it at all, I just do it because that's what I'm supposed to do, right? That's what Malfoys are supposed to do.

Also, I can't help thinking about her a lot, but not in a disgusted kind of way like before. Lately, I can spend hours analyzing her, admiring her, her personality, how she looks.

Anyway, I can't be in love with Granger! Even if I've been acting and feeling strangely this past few days, that's just insane... right?

When Draco reached the Great Hall, Hermione was already there. He watched her without her noticing. But, as if feeling his gaze on her, she turned his way, making Draco look away.

"So you finally decided to show up" said Hermione looking at the tall boy standing in front of her, tapping her foot.

"Let's just get on with this." said Draco turning towards the stairs.

Hermione looked at him confused. What? No insulting comment? She didn't miss the insults. She just wasn't expecting that reaction.

She followed him, letting him lead the way. At first they walked silently. People still wandered the halls, so they weren't completely alone. They reprimanded some first graders that were running around the halls and some third graders that were having an ink fight with Peeves.

Hermione would look at Malfoy from time to time. This is exactly what I hate about him lately. I don't know what to expect. One minute he's insulting me, the other he's looking at me strangely and the next he just ignores me completely. Why are boys so complicated? The Gryffindor simply rolled her eyes and kept walking in silence.

The more time they walked, the fewer people they would meet in the halls. The castle seemed too empty as the shadows took over and the silence was deafening. They had already been walking for three hours.

In this time, Draco still thought about the girl walking next to him and what had caused this change in him. Finally, he made up his mind.

I think I DO like Granger. What else could it be? I just hadn't realized it yet because I have never felt this way before. What is really shocking is how well I'm dealing with this. Who would have thought? Now, I have to deal with what this means:

First. She is a muggleborn. I can overlook that fact because she's better than all the pureblood girls in the school, by far! Now, my friends and family might not feel the same... I'll deal with that eventually, I guess.

Second. Not only her friends hate me, but SHE hates me. That might get in the way.

I'll guess I'll take it slowly... Admitting it is a big step already.

Hermione turned around and saw a small smile on his lips. She raised an eyebrow at him.

"What are you smiling about?"

"Nothing, I just remembered a joke" he said in a normal tone, which she could almost have confused with friendly.

There he goes again with his mood changes! What is he, pregnant? "Right..."

He hated this. He knew it should be weird for her. He couldn't just start being friendly all of a sudden. But how then? How was he going to get to her? Unless he screamed it right into her face, it would take years for him to get on her good side. But the whole screaming thing didn't sound too good either.

What can I do? What can I do?

He was distracted from his thoughts by a weird noise coming from around the corner. He and Hermione stopped immediately. They looked around the corner and found Goyle making out with Lavender Brown! The four stood there, paralyzed, until Draco snorted and he and Hermione started laughing hysterically. Goyle and Brown ran away as fast as they could while the prefects kept laughing.

Hermione was bent over from laughter and Draco carelessly put his hand on her back while he was also laughing. At first she didn't noticed but as their laughs died down, she felt his hand. She froze.

What is he doing? I thought he was disgusted by me, and now he's touching me?

Draco also realized where his hand was because of Hermione's sudden stillness. He quickly pulled it away. Hermione turned to look at him with curiosity in her eyes. Draco didn't know what to do so he just turned around and kept walking.

"We have to go on with our rounds, Granger" said the Slytherin with his perfectly rehearsed coolness.

Hermione just stood there watching him, the curiosity in her eyes gave way to anger.

"What is wrong with you, Malfoy?" the brunette yelled at him from across the hall.

"What do you mean, what's wrong with me?" he answered in an equally harsh tone. His heart started beating faster.

"One minute you treat me like I'm trash, the other you're civil towards me or maybe even nice to me and the next you just ignore me like I was invisible"

Draco started walking towards her, his breathing faster with every step he took. He stopped a couple of steps in front of Hermione.

He opened and closed his mouth several times, tying to find the words. "It's just..."

Hermione looked at him shocked. He wasn't going to yell at her or insult her. He had a reason. It wasn't just him being his usual annoying self or her being paranoid. She looked at him expectantly.

Draco took a deep breath. "It's just I hadn't figured it out."

"Figured what out?" said the Gryffindor quietly.

Draco looked at her in the eyes. This is it. This is the moment. The chance has come and I've got to take advantage of it. Is now or never...

"I hadn't figured out that I might..."

"You might what?" said Hermione in a whisper, her heart beating faster.

"I might... have feelings for you"

They both stood there, looking at each others eyes without saying a word.

A/N: So? What do you think? At first I thought Draco's change of mind about Hermione was too sudden but then I thought this is what Draco would do, you know? He's a I-Get-Everything-I-Want kind of guy.

What do you think is going happen next? ;)

Please REVIEW! I know I'm really annoying with this but for me it's really important!. :)

Thx again for reading!!