Flashback:

Perfect.

Draco didn't need to explain, Blaise knew it. Granger.

Hermione Granger turned her alarm clock off, half-asleep. "Bloody Ferret. Bloody Draco Malfoy," she grumbled. "Haven't got the least bit of sleep until 2 AM!" Across the room, Ginny Weasley coughed loudly, trying to get her friend's attention. The brunette, afraid that someone unexpected heard her monologue, looked up. In seeing that it was only her hyperactive friend, she had to suppress a sigh of relief.

"So now that you're fully awake and you've stopped cursing Draco Malfoy's bloody arse off, I need to tell you two messages. One: Headmistress McGonagall wants to see you in her office after breakfast. Oh, and you need to bring her Pumpkin Juice."

"Bring — what?" Hermione asked, bewildered. "That's plain stupid."

"I don't get it either," Ginny said.

"OK…" Hermione trailed off, dismissing the topic. "Message two?"

Ginny smiled mischievously. "You talk in your sleep. Funny and sweet little things like—"

"I don't need to hear that," Hermione yelled, drowning Ginny's voice.

"And things like…" Ginny continued.

"La, la, la, la…" Hermione sang out. "Shut up, Ginevra." And there a pillow fight ensued, making Hermione forget about her current 'problems.'

!i!

"Draco! Draco!" a voice called out as Draco's bed shook. "Draco!" Groggily, Draco opened his eyes. Blaise's blue—so blue that it was almost violet—eyes bore into his silver ones.

"What now?" Draco asked, exasperated. H dozed off three hours ago. Three excruciating hours of thinking of what the brunette part of the Golden Trio had said. 'You're a bloody coward… You're so afraid… Mudface!' He rubbed his face with one hand, frustrated.

"…can't you see the time, Drake? It's 6 AM! It's late!" Blaise said, amusement in his voice.

"Late?" Draco roared. "Late?! 6 fucking AM is late? I shouldn't be up until 8!" Blaise laughed, a deep sound in his throat. Draco mumbled something inaudible about 'morning people jumping on his bed.'

"Well, McGonagall told me that you should meet her in her office after breakfast and…" His message was cut by his own booming laugh. Draco just got more annoyed.

"And…?" Draco prompted Blaise, who was still laughing.

"A-and… hahaha… an-and…" he said, gasping for air, still laughing.

"Bloody hell, Zabini, spit it out!" Draco bellowed.

"S-she told… God, this is stupid… to bri-bring her Pumpkin Juice!" he choked out.

"Pumpkin Juice?" I'm surrounded by retards; I'm surrounded by retards, Draco thought. "I'm going to take my shower," he announced.

Blaise, who had regained his composure, said nonchalantly, "Sure," while checking his nails.

The cold water clashed with his pale skin, causing him to shiver, goosebumps appearing on his skin. His damp hair, which was usually combed to perfection, stuck to his skin. He sighed. All his problems came crashing down on him… his parents, their expectations, his status and his friends, his enemies and…

"Hermione," he murmured, trying the name that tastes and sounds so sweet. Just like every morning. It rolled out of his tongue smoothly as soft as silk. "What did you do to me?

!i!

"So, 'Mione," Ron said, snaking an arm around Hermione's waist, causing her to flinch. "Why d'you reckon Professor—er, Headmistress McGonagall, asked you to bring her Pumpkin Juice?" Harry tried to stifle another chuckle.

"Er, I dunno," Hermione said awkwardly, obviously uneasy with Ron's too-friendly attitude. She caught a glimpse of Draco as she fumbled in her seat. His well-known silver eyes bore into her, a look of indifference on his face.

"Well, whatever it is," Ginny said, grabbing Harry's hand (which caused him to flush), "I hope it isn't trouble."

Ron stared at Ginny in a protective 'brotherly' sort of way.

"Stop it, Ginny!"

Ginny looked up at him. "Stop what?" Ginny asked innocently.

"That—that thing with the hands! Stop it!" he yelled, exasperated, pointing to Ginny's hand, which was intertwined with Harry's.

Ginny glared. "I'm sorry, dear brother," Ginny said in a sickly sweet voice. "But no can do." Then she started kissing the brains out of the famous bespectacled boy with the lightning scar.

"I wish they didn't do that," Ron groaned. "So did you think about it?" he asked the bewildered brunette.

"Think about what Ron?" Ron looked crestfallen.

"The dance?" Ron said, his voice suddenly raspy.

"Oh… erm…" she trailed off, Draco Malfoy's face suddenly popping into her head. His hair, his eyes… She looked at Ron and suddenly Draco's face contorted in disgust, his mouth forming the word 'Mudblood.' "Yes," she said, breathing heavily.

Ron's face lit up. "You will? You mean it? I mean, I want you to, of course…" He rambled on, looking like a boy who got a whole bucket of ice cream all for himself. It made Hermione's heart sink.

!i!

Draco stared as Hermione's face turned red at what Ron had said. He felt something clawing at his insides. How he loathed the boy who can talk casually with Hermione, make her smile, laugh and blush. He felt a hand clap his back. He turned around, it was Blaise.

"Draco," he said. "You alright?" Draco wanted to yell at him. He wanted to rip the poor Weasley's hands off the brunette. He wanted to scream. It seemed like the logical thing to do. But he didn't do it. Of course, he didn't. He was raised that way.

"Yeah, I am," Draco lied. "Don't worry, Zabini. I'm fine." Blaise half-smiled.

As Draco stood up, Blaise whispered, "I know you're not. Just ask her, OK? Just ask her out. For your sake." Blaise left him to go to Daphne Greengrass, greeting her with a chaste kiss on the lips. The thing was clawing at his insides again. He hated it. He wanted it to go away. He knew what it is, but he'd been denying it. Jealousy.

He shook the feeling off, heading toward the Headmistress' office, the Pumpkin Juice on his left hand. He saw a flash of that brown hair he had familiarized himself with.

Just ask her, OK? Just ask her out, Blaise's deep voice echoed in Draco's head.

Could be good, a voice said.

Another voice yelled, Draco, are you absolutely crazy?! What would your father say?

I want to see what will happen if father dearest wasn't to be followed, just this once, Draco yelled back. He followed her.

"When are you going to stop following me, Malfoy?" Hermione's irritated voice snapped Draco out of his trance.

"Do you really think that I'm following you?" Draco replied tersely. "Besides, I'm going to see the Headmistress." He smirked. "Where are you going, eh?"

Hermione frowned. "I'm going to the Headmistress too." Her eyes narrowed. "What did you do now, you git?"

Draco feigned hurt. "Oww, Hermione, that hurt bad."

The brunette froze. "What?" the blonde asked, oblivious of what he did.

"You… you called me Hermione," she breathed, disbelieving. Draco did some quick thinking. How did I let that slip? He asked himself.

"Do you prefer Granger or Mudblood?" he sneered, hoping it would make up of what he did.

Hermione felt as of he'd stabbed her heart. What do you expect? An accusing voice in her head said. This is Draco Malfoy. What made you think he likes you?

A very, very awkward silence developed. Discomfort squeezed between them, though they were a feet apart, it felt very… tight.

Draco, then, cleared his throat, which seemed dry at the moment, and said, quite rudely, "Are we going to McGonagall or what?" Hermione refused to look at the boy with platinum blonde hair, but she started walking briskly, avoiding eye contact. Or any contact at all.

"Oh, great," Draco said loudly. "What did I do to deserve bloody silent treatment now?"

"Shut your trap, Malfoy. And start walking," she snapped.

When they reached the gargoyle, it didn't move an inch, still blocking the staircase.

"Fuck," Hermione muttered. Draco looked at her, his mouth and eyes wide open.

"Thought I would never live to see the day the great Hermione Granger say that word," Draco murmured, his tone partly teasing.

"Shut your bloody trap, Malfoy," she said in a steely whisper. "It doesn't mean that you're gorgeous that you can do whatever you want."

"I can do whatever I please, Granger. It doesn't mean that you're an insufferable know-it-all…" he trailed off, her words suddenly dawning at him. "You think I'm gorgeous?"

Hermione turned bright red. "I – of course not! I mean, that's what others say, not me—"

"Shut up, you're ruining my moment!" he commanded.

"Well, if you snap out of your vanity, let me know 'cause I need some help with this bloody gargoyle…"

Draco leered at her, then decided to help. He looked at the gargoyle, then to the goblet and back to the gargoyle again. Suddenly, he poured the contents of his goblet to its head.

"You – what the hell? Why'd you…" Hermione said, stopping as she saw the gargoyle jump aside. Draco smirked at the young—and he wouldn't say this—and beautiful brunette in front of him.

"After you, m'lady," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Good morning students, come in, sit down and have a biscuit," the Headmistress said.

A/N

Me: Sorry, this took way toolong. It's summer here, which means it's so freaking hot and vacations are in the way of my updating. I know listening to my excuses isn't a good thing, so... I'll have Hermione talk to you guys! *pushing Hermione inside and runs out of the room.*

Hermione: Hi?

Blaise: Yo, 'Mione.

Ron: Don't you dare use that nickname, you Slytherin scum!

Draco: Oooh, we're scared now, are we?

Ginny: Damn right you are!

Harry: Language, love.

Ginny: Don't you dare 'love' me, Harry James Potter!

Harry: Honey?

Ron: NO!

Dumbledore: PILLOW FIGHT!

Me: *mutters* Never understood why Minerva always gave biscuits for free...*gets hit by a pillow* HEY! DRACO - I mean, BLAISE!

Like it?
Love it?
Hate it?
Press it!

|
|
\ /
v