(A/N) Omg thank you for the reviews! I'm so excited to keep writing now, thank you. Here's the next chapter, hope you like.

Chapter Five: Denial

After the students were done with their first week of classes Professor McGonagall allowed them to have a Hogsmeade weekend. Everyone was excited because they hadn't been in so long.

Hermione was glad to see that Honeydukes, Zonkos and the Three Broomsticks were still open. Harry and Ginny left Ron and Hermione at the Three Broomsticks to go walk around and have some alone time.

While Ron was listening to Hermione drone on about ancient runes he noticed Luna Lovegood walk in.

She had grown to be quite lovely considering she was looney. Then he had to hold back a small laugh when he saw she was wearing different colored socks. He waved her over and she smiled in return and made her way to their table.

"Hello Hermione, Ron," she said in her airy voice. "Lovely day isn't it? I just love when the sun is out like this. Perfect weather for atomies," she said smiling at them.

"For what?" Ron asked.

"An atomy. You know, they are little fairies that float around in the air and tickle your skin. You just can't see them because they are too small," she stated as if this was common knowledge. "When you feel them tickling you just stand really still and you can hear them whispering in your ear. They are usually quite sweet, except for that one…" she said, frowning to herself.

Hermione faintly remembered a poem written by Poe mentioning atomies. Maybe Luna wasn't as crazy as she thought. Then she looked up to see her talking to a spider she found on the floor. Ok, maybe she is crazy

"Luna…" Ron began and Hermione saw that he had that nervous look on his face. "Err would you like to go for a walk?" he asked.

"Why yes that would be quite nice," she said to Ron. Hermione could swear she heard her whisper "Goodbye Winston" before setting the spider down and getting up to follow Ron out of the pub.

Hermione shook her head to get the strangeness out of her mind that surrounded Luna like an aura. All of a sudden Malfoy walked in. He saw her and arrogantly strutted over. I'm surprised someone doesn't call the ministry to come deflate his head like they had to for Harry's aunt, she thought to herself.

"What are you smiling at Granger? I know I'm gorgeous, but I'm far out of your league," Malfoy said stopping next to her table.

"Yes I would say fat headed snakes are nowhere near my league," she shot back.

"So did all of your little friends leave you? I don't blame them I wouldn't want to be seen in public with a mudblood either."

"And yet here you are talking to me of all people. Why is that Malfoy?"

She could see his sneer falter a bit before he leaned in and whispered in her ear "Watch how you talk to me mudblood."

"Oh Malfoy, you are soooo original," she rolled her eyes. "After seven years you still haven't come up with a better insult. That's quite sad," she said coolly before getting up and leaving the pub.

How he irked her. How he hated every singe curly, frizzy hair on her stupid, ugly head.

Well actually she's brilliant. And she's quite pretty now.

What?! No, Hermione Granger is not pretty.

But look at her walk. The curves are definitely new.

Ah what the hell who cares if I think she's got a nice body it still doesn't change the fact that I hate her guts Malfoy thought to himself justifying his appreciation of her body.

Little did he know that denial is always the first sign.

************

The next few weeks passed normally and before they knew it October had arrived. Hermione loved Halloween. There was beginning to be a chill in the air as fall had finally approached.

"So have you noticed something odd with Ron and Luna lately?" Ginny asked Harry and Hermione at breakfast one morning.

"When is there not something odd about Luna?" Harry replied. Hermione ignored this.

"They have been talking a lot and she's not at her table and Ron is nowhere to be found," Hermione observed. She made a mental note to ask Ron about it later

Across the hall…

"Good morning Draco," Pansy purred. How Draco hated her deep voice, but he was her friend so he put up with it.

I can't believe I actually dated her. She's not even really attractive. I'd almost rather date Granger than Pansy he thought. No, the day I want to date Granger is the day Blaise dresses up like a fairy princess and prances around the great hall singing about bunnies.

"Draco!" Blaise said snapping his fingers in Draco's face.

"Oh, sorry mate, I was…thinking about something."

"Well I've been thinking about something too," Blaise replied looking a little nervous. Draco thought this was odd for his friend who was normally so well put together to be looking embarrassed.

"Go on…" Draco said cautiously.

"Well I was thinking since the war is over you know, well everyone is equal now. I mean we have no to reason to be prejudiced against anyone else. So I was thinking about dating someone from a different house since there's not anyone really interesting in Slytherin," he said quickly.

Draco mulled this over for a minute studying Blaise who looked a little nervous about what Draco's reaction might be.

We've been best friends since before Hogwarts so of course he'd want my approval Draco thought to himself. I guess he has a point though. It can't be that terrible…

"I suppose," he shrugged. "So who were you thinking about dating?" he asked and once again Blaise looked a little scared. "Bloody hell I'm your best friend, why does everyone think I'm so evil? I'm not my father, you of all people should know that so just tell me."

"Well I was just nervous that you might like her too. I mean I don't want to move in on your territory mate."

"What would make you think I'm interested in anyone in another house?" Draco snapped, beginning to get a little annoyed.

"Well, I don't know," Blaise replied, relaxing now that he knew he wasn't threatening his best friend. "She's attractive and smart and fiery so I thought you might be interested. Especially with the way you too get so worked up over each other."

Draco's eyes narrowed. "Who-Are-You-Talking-About?" he hissed about to get very angry for some reason, and then changed his mind. "Actually, you know what? I really don't care. I'm not interested in anyone in any house at the moment so go for it, you have my full support." And with that he got up and left the hall. Blaise let out a relieved sigh and stared greedily over at the girl he intended to have.

(A/N) Reviews would be lovely :)