DRACO'S POV:

The class flew by fast. Too fast. Usually I couldn't wait for class to be let out so I could stop wasting my time in school. But today, she occupied all of my attention. When it was time for us to go to our next class, I got up slowly and walked even slower, waiting for Granger to catch up to me.

Potty and Weasel were not far behind her, so I made sure to whisper and then walk faster.

"Don't forget to read the bird." I whispered before I sped up, not even sparing a glance at her, hoping that it would just look like I had accidentally ended up beside her and didn't notice.

HERMIONE'S POV:

What was going on with Draco?

I hurried to my next class, hoping Ron and Harry hadn't noticed Draco talking to me.

I walked into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom and saw Professor Snape glowering at a sheet of paper. There were only 5 other children in the seats of the room. I sat in my chair and pulled out my book. The rest of the class entered the room not long after me and then Snape began lecturing.

I had already read through most books on what we were learning today, so I didn't have to pay much attention even when answering direct questions.

I thought mostly about Draco and his odd behavior. Could he actually be turning good? I kind of doubted it, but some part of me wished desperately that he was. I tried to convince myself that it was just for the sake of losing enemies, but I knew that wasn't it… I didn't know what it was, though.

My next class was Transfiguration. My first year at Hogwarts, I had had this class with Harry and Ron… And Draco. Stop thinking about him! But just saying to stop thinking about him didn't do anything. I still thought about him all day through all the rest of my classes: Care of Magical Creatures, Arithmancy, History of Magic, Herbology, Astronomy, Potions, and even Ancient Runes (my personal favorite class).

In all of my classes with Draco, I didn't look to his table, even when he said something very smart-butt-like.

At lunch time, I sat with my back to the Slytherin tables and didn't even risk a glance behind me. I kept quiet even when Lavender sat beside Ron across the table from me. I kept my head down and ate my food.

When all the classes were done, I went back up to the Gryffindor common room.

I put my things away and remembered that today was Friday and I wouldn't have to go to classes tomorrow. Usually I would have been almost sad, but ever since all of the Draco confusion, I wasn't so sure if not having to go to classes with him in them would be bad.

I sat on the edge of my bed and changed into a regular T-shirt and some jeans.

Then I remembered the note Draco had written me. I found my robe again and then reached in the pocket, pulling out the folded paper. I looked at it for a very long time and then unfolded it and read the letters slowly.

"Dear Hermione, I know my behavior must be very strange and disorienting, but I really am trying to change. I would like it if we could maybe be friends. -Draco Malfoy."

Huh… So he really wanted to be friends?

I still didn't trust him, but I couldn't make the decision now, so I pulled out a tin box from the bottom of my wardrobe and opened it up. It was rather deep. I set the top of the box on my bed and stared at the contents of the tin. I kept everything important in here. My favorite pictures of me and my parents, some of me, Harry, and Ron, all the letters I got from my parents over the school year and the ones I got from Ron and Harry in summer. And now it would hold a note from the most unlikely person. I set it in the box and put it back in its place before walking out of the room and walking to the couch in the common area.

Ron and Harry were already there, watching the fire in the fire place.

"Hello, boys." I said.

They both looked up and moved to the side to make room for me between them. We sat and talked for a few minutes about small things like how our day had gone. I was telling them about a funny letter my parents had sent me the other day and they said they wanted to see it, so I went upstairs and got the box back out, searching for the letter, but not before lingering on Draco's letter. I pulled it out and left the box on my bed open. I would come back up soon to put it back.

I walked down the stairs and before I got to the couch, I saw her in my spot. Lavender. She was giggling way too much and leaning on Ron… But he was leaning away. Didn't she see that? Stupid bimbo… Then he turned to face her and she leaned forward and kissed him.

I felt it. Something deep inside my chest that shattered. I couldn't take it. I fell to the floor and felt tears fall down my cheek.

Harry heard me hit the ground and turned around. He got up and walked around the couch.

Ron saw Harry get up so he stopped kissing Lavender so he could see what was going on. He saw where Harry was going… Me. Sitting on the floor in tears. Lavender looked at me and sneered, then tried to kiss Ron again. He looked confused, but kissed her back.

Harry grabbed my elbow and pulled me to my feet. He walked me back up to my room. I sat on my bed and he crouched in front of me. My sobs shook me violently.

"What is it Hermione?" Harry asked softly.

I just shook my head and pointed in the direction of Ron and Lavender on the couch outside the door and a floor below us. He sat on the bed beside me and put his arm around my shoulders, letting me put my head on his shoulder.

I heard footsteps outside the door. Ron opened the door and walked in halfway.

"Its time for dinner." he looked at me and frowned. "What's the matter, 'mione?"

I looked at him with such anger that he stumbled backwards.

"Nothing at all, Won-Won." I said sarcastically.

"Look, I know you don't like Lavender-"

"Get out." I growled.

But he just stood there. So I grabbed a bouncy ball that rested on my bedside table and hurled it at him. It hit him in the stomach. Good.

He walked away and shut the door.

Harry rubbed my shoulder absently and said, "Come, on. We'd better go get something to eat."

I nodded and stood slowly. We walked all the way to the dining hall.

I was sure I still looked like I had been crying, but I was too mad to care. I just wiped my cheek.

We walked in and sat in our spot. Ron and Lavender were across the table from us being entirely too cuddly.

I was ready to hit one of them in the face. I tried my hardest to ignore them, and it was working fairly well.

Then I felt eyes on me. I turned to see Draco watching me.

As soon as he saw my tear stained face, his expression was one of pure rage. His eyes shifted from me to Ron. Then he turned back around. I could see his fists clenched.

"Hermione?" Harry said, "What are you looking at?"

"Umm…" I said, brilliantly. "I thought I saw something on Malfoy's back."

I turned back to the table and continued glaring at my food.

But I could still hear small comments from Lavender to Ron slipping through my concentration, and it was breaking my heart.