Chapter 8: Feelings

"You liked me right away didn't you?" asked Hermione as he finished that story.

"No. You were just interesting and always fun to tease because you got so riled up," said Draco.

"Oh, so then when did you start to like me? Or when did I like you?" asked Hermione.

"After a few more rounds like that and then I ran into you again after someone had upset you. I was of course being an idiot and you put me in my place. You were the first person who ever made me feel guilt before. I'll keep going if you want me to," said Draco.

"Yeah. I'm too tired to go anywhere," said Hermione.

"Pregnancy can do that I hear. Plus your accident," said Draco.

"Oh yeah," said Hermione touching her stomach again. She kept forgetting she was pregnant.

"I'm going to be a horrible mother! I can't remember I'm even pregnant!" said Hermione as she started tearing up.

"You're not. Give yourself a little credit here. You were in a huge accident. You can't remember half your life and you don't remember how you are with children. Believe me. I know you'll be a good mother and as soon as you get bigger I'm sure you won't forget anymore," said Draco.

"You want me to get fat?" asked Hermione.

"What? No! How did you get that? That's not what I meant," said Draco.

"Oh so you want me to stay skinny then," said Hermione with a small sniffle.

"No that's not what I meant either. Anyways I'm sorry and I'll keep going on the story," said Draco changing the subject, hoping she would go with it. If this was how the pregnancy was going to go he was in for a rough 7 more months.

Hermione nodded as she blew her nose.

"Ok, so a little background information. Like I said we ran into each other a lot of the next week or more after that. Sometimes it was on purpose on both of our accounts and other times it was just an accident. We would always argue, but then this night was different. I knew you were going out and I knew where you were supposed to be so I thought I'd be a jerk and follow and ruin your date, but I didn't half to ruin it. Someone else did it for me," said Draco.

Hermione was sitting at the bar absolutely in tears. Why did this keep happening? She thought this relationship would finally be different. But it wasn't. They had been dating for about a week, things were picking up, and then she caught the guy in this club no less with another woman. Who is so tacky like that to actually cheat in the same place you're supposed to meet up?

"What's wrong, Granger? Lose another one?" asked Draco as he sat next to her.

"Did you seriously follow me here? Do you have no life other than to ruin mine?" asked Hermione.

"Of course I followed you here. How could I resist after you told me one too many times where you would be with Mr. Perfect, the man I'll never be?" asked Draco.

"Well congratulations, you just wasted your time. The date was… cancelled after I found him with someone else," said Hermione trying to control the ever flowing tears.

"I noticed. Sorry he probably got sick of you, found someone far better, and left," said Draco.

Hermione turned and glared at Draco. Normally she didn't care about this, but right now she didn't need it. She just got up and left him. Of course he followed though right outside and into the rain.

"What? Nothing back? Because you know I'm right?" asked Draco behind her.

Hermione stopped and turned around and slapped him. He was too stunned to say anything.

"Malfoy I really hope you get what you deserve one of these days. I mean it really is no wonder that you follow me around all the time. You have no one. I know I'm sad and I may not lead a glamorous lifestyle but I at least have friends and I know my life will get better one of these days. Unfortunately for you, it never will until you learn to grow up and learn to stop… well, just being you! I'm obviously upset and I don't need comments like that right now. I thought we were kind of sort of going in the direction of friends, but I was obviously wrong. You will never change. Stay out of my life," said Hermione and then she apparated away.

Draco stood there, still shocked. He had this strange feeling in him that he didn't recognize… I guess some people might call it guilt. It was just eating at him making him have strange and totally wrong desires like finding her to… dare he even thinking it, apologize. But then again the other half of him was absolutely furious with her. How could she say something like that? She was just as bad as him! But he started it…

He walked around aimlessly just thinking, even though it was raining. And he hated rain. He didn't know what to do. Why would he feel like this to… her? And then stay out of her life? At this point he didn't know if he could. He looked forward to seeing her every day now. She became the highlight of his day.

And then the realization hit him… he liked Hermione Granger. Like, REALLY liked her. He wanted to kick himself for it because it was against everything that he had ever known. He didn't even know how it happened, but it did. Then he knew what he had to do… hopefully she would listen to him. One of their banters he had followed her home, so thankfully he knew where she lived.

He apparated to her front door and rang the bell. After what seemed like forever she opened the door. She got one glimpse of him and then promptly shut the door in his face.

"Hermione! Open the door!" yelled Draco hoping she would hear.

The door slowly opened, but only just a crack.

"What did you just call me?" she asked.

"Hermione. It is your name isn't it?" he asked.

"Obviously, but you've never said it before. I'm always Granger or… worse," she said.

"Well I wanted to get your attention," said Draco.

Hermione gave him an irritated look.

"Oh, so after now I'll go back to Granger?" she asked.

"No… I didn't… just listen to me, please," said Draco.

She just stood there looking at him.

"I've never said this to anyone… so just know how much it means… I'm sorry for back there," said Draco," You were right. I shouldn't have said that. You're right about a lot of things."

Hermione's mouth hung open in shock.

"Are you being serious? Or is this just another joke?" she asked.

"I'm being serious! I really am sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you. I took it too far," said Draco," Please believe me, I'm telling the truth."

Hermione took a few minutes to study his face. He looked like he was telling the truth, but this was Draco Malfoy.

"Well… ok I guess. I think I accept your apology," she said.

"You think?" he asked.

"I still can't tell if you're being honest, but I'll give you a second shot," she said.

Draco smiled. A real smile. That was something you didn't see every day.

"Thanks," he said.

Then there were a few seconds of awkward silence…

"So, did you want to talk about it? We can try this friend thing out?" asked Draco.

Hermione smiled and said, "Sure, but you're soaked. You'll ruin my carpet."

"Fine, I'll change and come back. Just let me apparate right into your apartment so I won't have the same problem," said Draco.

Hermione nodded and then Draco apparated away.

"Wow. So just like that?" asked Hermione.

"Yeah. I was shocked myself. I thought you would hate me forever," said Draco.

"Fun story though," said Hermione, "Please continue because I probably didn't like you yet. I want to guess where I started liking you."

Draco smiled and then started to continue again.

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