"Hermione! Hermione, come on already!"

Hermione awoke with a start to the sound her name being shouted by Harry and Ron from the Gryffindor common room Saturday morning. She hadn't slept much at all the night before and when she opened her eyes to see the sunlight streaming through the window, the girl's dormitory completely cleared out, she was reminded that today was one of the days that students were permitted to visit the village of Hogsmeade. She, Harry and Ron had made plans ages ago to go to the village together.

"Ugh." Hermione groaned clapping a hand over her eyes, feeling completely exhausted.

"Hey, Hermione we know you're up there, let's get a move on before breakfast is all gone!" She heard Ron holler.

Hermione sat up in her bed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, "Just go on without me, I'll meet you downstairs in a few moments!" She yelled back in response.

She couldn't be sure since her dormitory was a quite a ways away from the common room but she thought she heard Rom mutter something along the lines of, "Women, are they ever ready to go?" Before he and Harry exited through the portrait hole.

Suddenly, everything came flooding back to Hermione from the night before. She felt a sort of nervousness rising in the pit of her stomach as she recalled fully what had happened. "Oh Merlin," she breathed to herself, flopping back down across her bed, "what in the world is going on?"

Hermione was impressed that Malfoy so calmly grazed over the uneasy subject of his abusive father and was grateful that she hadn't upset him. It was clear though that he was uncomfortable discussing it and a change of topic was definitely needed.

She pondered to herself for a moment, nabbing a fistful of grapes and popping some into her mouth.

"Alright," she began slowly as if to build suspense, "for my final question….I want to know…..if you've got something going on with Pansy Parkinson that the rest of the school doesn't know about." She concluded smugly, eating another few grapes.

Malfoy gave a low chuckle, "That one's fancied me for years she has."

Hermione thought back to the scene she had witnessed earlier in the day in which Pansy had been so over-eager to welcome Malfoy to class. "Well she certainly wasn't hiding it this morning, was she? Come to think of it, last year when you hurt your arm she was hanging all over you as well."

"What do you want me to say, Granger?"

"Stop stalling and answer the question." Hermione prodded. She wasn't particularly interested in the answer, but she figured it was a good, light-hearted subject that would be sure to lift the mood. Earlier that morning was the first time Hermione had paid any attention to pair of them at all and it made her wonder if there was more to them than she was seeing.

"Pansy is—great and all but no, there never has and never will be anything going on." Malfoy replied, half-laughing.

"Hmm, seems she might think differently about that."

"Probably because I took her to that bloody dance and now it's got her thinking all sorts of rubbish." Malfoy crinkled up his nose at the thought.

Hermione hesitated for a brief moment, "Why did you take her then if you weren't interested?"

"I couldn't well go to the thing alone now could I? Besides, she'd been dropping hints about it for weeks so I figured I might as well oblige her."

"You boys are all the same…"Hermione trailed off thinking about how many hints she had dropped to Ron that he never picked up on. For a moment she felt bad for Pansy and wondered if she was in the same situation with Malfoy as she was in with Ron, "all you want is a date for the evening; anything else would be much too bothersome."

Malfoy shot her a sideways glance, seeming to read her mind, "If you think for even one second that Parkinson and I are anything like you and Weasley, you are sadly mistaken."

"Oh really, and how so?" Hermione asked testily, straightening up with curiosity.

"For starters—we have nothing in common. She's only interested in my because she likes to follow around and feel like she's part of our posse; if any of us are on our own, we're practically invisible to her. I suspect she's just coveting a higher status and thinks she's obtained one by spending so much time with Crabbe, Goyle and I." Malfoy stated in a matter-of-fact tone of voice.

'Higher status.' Hermione repeated in her mind thinking that was a very Malfoy-esque thing to say and that regardless of his new, friendlier demeanor, he clearly still thought more highly of himself than most other people.

Malfoy rambled on, "For another thing, the girl is completely daft and can scarcely figure anything out on her own. She's always asking for help and doesn't have an ounce of confidence to do her own thing; she's always got to shadow behind someone else."

Apparently Hermione had hit a nerve with this subject and she laughed a little as he expressed his annoyance with her.

"And don't even get me started on what it was like to be with her at the ball."

"Why's that now?" Hermione questioned.

Malfoy exchanged glances with Hermione again, looking very rattled at the memory of the Yule Ball, "The girl can't dance at all, can she?!"

Hermione laughed out loud, surprised that of all the things to be annoyed with someone for, poor dancing skills were at the top of Malfoy's list.

"I mean really…." Malfoy said as he got to his feet and motioned for Hermione to do the same. "How would you like to dance with this all night?!"

Malfoy seized Hermione by the waist and pulled her into dancing formation. He started to sway back and forth for a few seconds before breaking out into an overly-dramatized imitation of Pansy's dancing, stumbling boisterously over his feet and acting as clumsy as possible.

Hermione was laughing uncontrollably at his ridiculous appearance; it looked incredibly odd to see Malfoy, whose motions were usually so fluid and smooth, flailing around like a drunken elephant. Surely Pansy couldn't have been this uncoordinated.

Malfoy continued mocking her enthusiastically, pulling Hermione about in a jerky, awkward manner. He purposely tread on her feet a time or two and faltered around for few more moments before Hermione was overcome with laughter and clutching her right side. Malfoy snickered a little as he watched Hermione recover, smoothing his white-blonde hair back into place.

After Hermione had ceased laughing, Malfoy spoke again, "Now, if I were to dance with someone like you for example…"he said, holding out his hand to offer a dance. Hermione placed her small hand in his and humored him by curtseying for the façade. Malfoy in turn bent into a bow, flashing his brilliant smile, seemingly amused at her willingness to play along. He gripped her waist again but this time began stepping much more gracefully and swiftly as if he was a polished performer. "…I'd imagine it to be something rather….." his voice broke off as he spun Hermione outwards and twirled her round before pulling her back in to come face to face with him, "flawless." He concluded, staring down into her brown eyes.

Hermione's heart was racing again at the electric thrill of their impromptu dance. She fell silent and looked up at Malfoy's face, all signs of laughter wiped away and replaced by a look of calm collectedness.

She felt his cool hand brush against the side of her face and she closed her eyes as he bent closer to her, breathing in his unmistakable scent. The next thing she felt was a peculiar fluttery feeling as Malfoy gently pressed his lips to hers and pulled Hermione in tighter.

Hermione didn't resist. She reached up and hooked her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.

When she snapped back into reality, her head was swimming with a million different questions and feelings. She wondered how in the world this had happened, if it really did happen or if it was all a dream, and most curiously of all—would it happen again? Did she want it to?

Hermione shuddered at the thought, thinking that the universe was definitely messing with her and trying to send her some kind of message. It all had happened so quickly, she still wasn't sure what to make of it all. After they had parted, there was a long silence before Hermione very awkwardly excused herself and hurried out of the room. Perhaps it was a one-time lapse in judgment or they both just got caught up in the moment.

She wished desperately that she could talk to her good friend Ginny about it. Hermione thought seriously about telling Ginny everything except for who the exchange had taken place with in an attempt to get her advice, but there was no way she could tell her something like this and leave out the most crucial detail of all…that she had kissed Draco Malfoy! Or, had he kissed her?

Hermione's head was pounding thinking about it all. She knew that even as much as she wanted to pretend nothing had happened, she had to address the problem directly as that was the only way to resolve it. As uncomfortable and undesirable as it might be, at the very least she felt she deserved an explanation from Malfoy for his uncharacteristic behavior.

Getting to her feet for the first time that morning, Hermione quickly pulled on a pair of jeans and a purple long-sleeved tee. She hastily ran her brush through her hair and fastened it into a ponytail before grabbing her jacket and dashing out the door.

The last thing in the world she wanted to do was look her two best friends in the eye over breakfast and keep the secret that she had kissed their arch enemy only hours before, but she knew they would be waiting for her and she couldn't keep brushing them aside.

"Catching up on your beauty rest are you?" Ron kidded as Hermione approached the table.

"If only…" Hermione sighed taking her seat and buttering a piece of toast.

Harry drank down the last of his juice before saying, "Say Hermione, where'd you get lost again last night? When he got back to the common room after divination, Ginny was there and said the two of you never had plans to work on astronomy."

Hermione felt her cheeks turn a bright shade of pink at the inquisition; she wasn't prepared for having to explain her whereabouts. At least Harry was the one asking her about it this time instead of Ron interrogating her in outrage.

"I was working on the latest strategy for the S.P.E.W. campaign." Hermione lied, hoping that would be enough to throw them off the topic.

"Again Hermione, how many times do I have to tell you? Their happy with the way they live!" Ron retorted, cramming a strip of bacon in his mouth.

But Hermione was no longer listening. She was far too busy scanning the entirety of the Great Hall looking for any sign of Malfoy. There were few students left at the Slytherin table, all of which appeared to be either first or second years and were not permitted access to visit Hogsmeade. She wondered if Malfoy would have gone along with his fellow fourth years to the village or if he was busy lurking about some remote part of the castle in solitude.

"Hermione!" Harry snapped his fingers in front of Hermione's eyes suddenly, "Did you hear a word I just said?"

"What?" She asked stupidly, focusing her eyes on Harry now.

"Forget it." Harry replied, "Are you ready to go then?"

"Sure, let's go." Hermione answered.

The three friends exited the Great Hall and began the journey to Hogsmeade. As they passed the Durmstrang ship, they saw Viktor Krum dive into the icy lake with his swimming trunks on, causing yet another uncomfortable exchange between Ron and Hermione. She had attempted to be the voice of reason once more by explaining that Viktor had confessed he liked it at Hogwarts and it was much warmer here than where he was from. This statement was of course met with the usual scoffs from Harry and Ron who clearly thought he was only telling this to Hermione to impress her. After Hermione had tried to tell them that he really was a nice person (and that there was nothing going on) and the two boys still doubted her, she decided to drop it. A small part of Hermione couldn't help but wish that there was something going on with her and Viktor because at least then she could try to talk to someone about it.

Harry was far more concerned with locating Hagrid than anything else that morning. He had been absent for the last week after Rita Skeeter had published a particularly horrible article about him in the Daily Prophet. Harry thought that perhaps they would find him in the village and would finally be able to talk to him.

Hermione was barely following the conversation at all, she found herself much too distracted with her Malfoy predicament to care. She kept thinking that if either Harry or Ron knew what she had been up to the last few days, it would end their friendship for sure. Her conscious was telling her that she needed to stop chasing after the curious feelings she was experiencing in Malfoy's company. But just when she thought she had made up her mind to confront him and end the newfound pattern of behavior, her stomach would somersault at the memory of his strong, smooth hands brushing against her skin.

When they reached the village at last, there was no sign of Hagrid anywhere to be found. The trio patronized some of their favorite places at Hogsmeade while keeping an eye out for him including Honeydukes Sweetshop where Harry and Ron replenished their stash of sweets. Afterward, they decided to pop in to the Three Broomsticks for a bit of lunch and one final attempt to find Hagrid.

But there was no trace of their over-sized professor here either and almost immediately upon ordering drinks and taking their seats, Harry was cornered by Ludo Bagman and taken outside for a private word. When he returned, he regaled Hermione and Ron with details of the encounter and told them about how Bagman had offered to help Harry figure out the second task.

"You just told me you'd cracked the clue inside the egg!" Hermione shouted indignantly, outraged that a Ministry official would be so willing to cheat.

Harry quickly began talking again, but what he was saying Hermione couldn't have repeated because she went temporarily deaf. Her eyes were fixed on the entrance to the pub where she saw Crabbe, Goyle, and Malfoy strolling through the door, Pansy Parkinson trailing behind them.

Malfoy locked eyes with Hermione from across the room and didn't look away until Crabbe had motioned for him to make his way over to the booth and take his seat. The foursome sat on the opposite side of the room so that Hermione's back was toward their table. She consciously fought the urge to turn around and study Malfoy's expression. Her stomach had tightened into an uncomfortable knot as her anxiety from the night before returned.

"Oi, you three!" called Fred Weasley.

"What are you lot up to on this fine Saturday?" Trilled George Weasley as both of them filtered in and sat on either side of Hermione.

"We've been out looking for Hagrid." Ron announced, slurping his butterbeer loudly.

"Never mind that…"Said Fred dismissively.

"Yeah, never mind," Echoed George, "What's eating you Granger?"

"Bit too much spew campaigning eh?" Fred questioned.

Hermione ignored the laughs from Harry and Ron, "It's not spew…." She started to say in rebuttal.

"Right," George interrupted, "we know—"

"S—P—E—W." Fred corrected, naming each individual letter.

"You do look a bit peeky Hermione." Ron noted.

"Fancy a bit sugar to cure you?" George asked with an evil glint in his eye.

At this time, Fred produced one of their homemade canary creams they had been selling at Hogwarts that upon consumption, caused one to transform into a yellow canary bird. "Here have a taste." He urged.

Hermione groaned and pushed the pastry away, knowing all too well what the twins were up to.

"Not falling for it I see." Said George.

"No matter... George look!" Fred cried.

"Bagman!" Geroge exclaimed, exchanging a sinister look with Fred, "We'd best be off!"

"Later kids!" Fred said before he and George got to their feet and hastily made their way over to where Bagman was standing, presumably to try and sell him some of their latest concoctions.

"Those two…." Ron muttered, polishing off the last of his drink. "You going to drink that Hermione?"

Hermione shook her head and slid her glass across the table top, massaging her temples with her fingertips. She was feeling rather queasy all of a sudden and could feel Malfoy's eyes burning into the back of her neck.

"Are you feeling alright, Hermione?" Harry asked in a concerned voice.

"Not really." She managed to say before hanging her head in her hands. She didn't know whether it was Malfoy's sudden appearance or her guilt bubbling to the surface that was making her feel so horrid but she knew she couldn't face Harry or Ron for much longer, at least not with Malfoy staring at her across the place. "I'm going to get a bit of fresh air." Hermione said, pushing out her chair and getting to her feet.

"We'll come with you." Said Harry.

"No, you stay and enjoy the village, I'm just going to step out for a bit." She replied, hoping beyond hope that for once Harry and Ron would listen to her and not follow after.

"Well, okay then. If you want to go back to the castle, we'll walk with you." Harry said as he settled back into his chair.

Hermione nodded in response and pulled on her coat. As she stepped away from their table she could no longer fight the overwhelming need to steal a glance over in Malfoy's direction. He was resting his chin on his fist, gaze fixed upon Hermione with his usual straight face painted in place while Pansy chattered animatedly to the group. Hermione's heart skipped a beat as Malfoy's steely gray eyes met hers. She pulled her glance away and hastened toward the door, knocking into an unfamiliar wizard causing him to spill some of his drink as she did.

When at last Hermione was outside the Three Broomsticks, the cold January air swept over her bringing instant relief. She rounded the corner and leaned against the side of the building, gulping in long breaths of air to calm her nerves. Hermione closed her eyes, her headache beginning to subside, and tried to think clearly. How did I get myself into this mess? She wondered silently to herself.

"Hermione…" A hushed voice called, interrupting Hermione's moment of solitude. She opened her eyes to see Malfoy walking slowly towards her, looking over his shoulder to make sure none of his lackeys had decided to follow. "I want to talk to you; you left in such a hurry last night."

Hermione swallowed, "I wanted to talk to you too." She whispered, even though she wasn't quite sure what it was she wanted to say. She looked around nervously at the passersby, hoping that Harry and Ron weren't about to burst through the door and come looking for her.

Malfoy spied her looking around and plucked her by the arm to lead her farther away from the traffic of the street. He rounded another corner which brought them into the alleyway behind the pub and out of sight. "Are you alright?" He asked, looking nervous.

"Of course I'm not all right!" Hermione hissed back, "What in the world are we doing?!"

Malfoy blinked in confusion before his trademark crooked smile crept across his face, "Studying of course." He joked.

Hermione did not find this funny, but she found herself oddly captivated by that damn crooked smile he wore so well. "Cut it, Malfoy! You know exactly what I'm referring to!" She spat when she finally managed to speak again.

He paused for a moment, "You mean this...?" He asked calmly, stepping closer to her.

The next thing Hermione knew she was kissing him again. Malfoy brushed his lips gently against hers at first before Hermione reached up and caressed his strong jawline, pulling him down closer to her. She felt the butterflies flapping around in her stomach and her heart race once more. Malfoy gently leaned her against the wall and rested his hands against the cold stone as Hermione's knees started to give way.

"Stop!" Hermione cried when she finally broke away from the kiss.

Malfoy instantly hopped back a few paces, looking bewildered, "Did I do something wrong?" He asked in a troubled voice.

"Yes!—Er—no…..I don't know!" Hermione stammered throwing her arms in the air. "I can't do this!...WE can't do this!"

She studied Malfoy's expression which turned from concerned to coy in the blink of an eye, "And why's that?"

"Because it's not right, if Harry or Ron knew they'd never forgive me! I can't keep carrying on like this when they are supposed to be my best friends. How does that make me look? Going behind their back to rendezvous with someone they absolutely loathe! I think we had best stop this right now before it goes any farther, that way they won't get suspicious." The words were spilling out of Hermione's mouth so quickly she had no time to choose them carefully, "And I'm sure you of all people have your reputation to consider…what with your father and all… Yes, I'll go back to being friends with Harry and Ron…and I'll try to convince them you aren't the snake they think you are and you'll forget any of this ever happened and stop tormenting Harry just for fun."

Malfoy's face showed no signs of upset as she invented her plan out loud; rather he remained still and composed, seeming to be amused with Hermione's ramblings. "Whatever you say, Granger." He said nonchalantly when she had finished speaking.

"Er—that's right; that is what I say." Hermione said in a very final sort of way. She watched as his crooked smile returned once more, 'Damnit,' she thought to herself, 'again with that look?'

Malfoy stepped closer to her again, so close that Hermione could feel the warmth of his body against her in the wintery air and inhale the cool, woodsy scent that she was becoming very familiar with. "Who said anyone ever had to know?" He whispered in her ear before turning his back and floating away down the alley.

Hermione found herself unable to speak as he drifted further and further away from where she was standing, still leaning against the stone wall for support. She could still taste his breath on her lips and hear her heart pounding loudly in her chest.

"Hermione there you are!"

Hermione tore her gaze off of Malfoy to see Harry and Ron rushing toward her.

"What horrible things has he been up to now?" Harry glowered as he spied Malfoy retreating.

"That great prat!" Ron roared, "If he said any of his usual smut to you Hermione I won't think twice about jinxing him to the point-of-no-return!"

"No, it's fine." Hermione assured him, her speech now returning to her, "Let's just go back to the castle."

That was the first night Hermione dreamed of Draco Malfoy.

Just when she would drift off to sleep, images of Malfoy's perfect smile and statuesque build would crowd her mind and she would remember in great detail the way it felt when their lips met. She imagined his breath on her neck, his hands tangled in her hair, and his stunning grey eyes staring down at her.

When Hermione awoke on Sunday morning, all sense of reason completely forgone, she craved the feeling she experienced when she was with him. It overpowered her in a way that almost nothing else ever had before and she knew that more than anything she needed to chase after the high she felt whenever she found herself alone with him.