Draco and Hermione turned to see Ron, with Harry in tow, walking towards them. Ron was smiling, as if one of his pranks that he planned with his older twin brothers had gone well. Draco could feel his anger swelling up inside of him. He saw Hermione slide away from him slightly.

You have got to be kidding me!

Nobody said a word until Ron and Harry had reached where Draco and Hermione were sitting. Draco saw that Hermione was staring at the floor. She pulled all of her hair to hang over her shoulder, creating a curtain between herself and Ron, who was standing next to Hermione. Harry stood next to Draco.

"On your way to lunch?" Ron asked casually.

"Yeah." Draco answered after a few seconds of silence. He kept his attention on Hermione.

"Well, would you mind if we joined you on the way?" Harry asked.

"Sure." Draco replied. It seemed that Hermione was not going to answer any of their questions.

As Draco and Hermione got up, Ron kept his place at Hermione's side and Harry stayed on Draco's. They stayed in that formation as the four of them crossed the corridor, going towards the stairs.

"So, Granger…are you excited about the upcoming Quidditch match?" Ron asked as the group walked. "It is next Saturday, ya know."

Are the only things that are on his mind: girls, food and Quidditch? Draco thought. The anger for his friend swelled up again for interrupting possibly one of the most important moments of Draco's life.

"Uh, yeah." Hermione answered, not taking her eyes off the ground as they walked. She stayed close to Draco as well.

"I've noticed that you don't take Divination." Harry was taking a turn now. "And it doesn't seem that you would take Muggle Studies. So, what class do you take?"

"Umm, I take ancient runes during that class time." She still did not look up as she answered the questions.

What is this? Twenty questions: Hermione Granger edition?

Ron and Harry went back and forth asking Hermione about herself. Slowly, she raised her gaze up from the floor and almost looked the boys in the faces. By the time that the group had reached the ground floor, she was practically making eye contact.

As they were getting close to the entrance to the Great Hall, Ron came to a sudden halt. Harry took one more step than Ron did, then he stopped too. Draco and Hermione were a couple paces ahead before they realized the other two were not with them anymore. They turned to see what caused the boys to stop. Ron took a breath and looked at Hermione very seriously.

"One more question," Ron shifted his eyes from Hermione to Harry and back to Hermione, "From each of us before we go." Harry nodded at Ron.

"First, are you…dating anyone?" Harry asked.

Hermione blushed lightly.

"N-no." She shook her head as she said her answer.

Draco saw Harry exchange a look with Ron, who nodded back. It was as if they were somehow silently communicating with each other.

"So then, Granger, is there anyone that you fancy?" Ron asked. He crossed his arms over his chest.

What the hell? Draco never even asked her that question. He did want to know if she would answer though.

Hermione's face went a bright red shade. She went back to looking at the floor, trying to hide her blushing face.

"Ok, that's enough!" Draco almost shouted over his shoulder as he took hold of Hermione's shoulder, putting himself between his friends and her, again. Draco started leading her outside, to get away from everyone and to calm herself down.

Ron had a smug look on his face as he watched Draco take Hermione away.

"Well, that was as good as a yes." Harry said as he was walking back to Ron.

"How about a wager, Harry?" Ron asked his friend, who looked like he was interested.

"And that would be?" Harry said, crossing his arms across his chest as well.

"If the Gryffindor team beats the Slytherin team next Saturday," Ron said, raising his eyebrow, "I'm gunna ask her to be my girl."

"What?"

"Hey, I think its time that I got meself a steady girl." Ron replied with a mischievous smile, as they entered the Great Hall.

"Are you ok?" Draco asked when they were out the door. "Hermione?"

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine." she said with a nod. Her face still burning red.

"I'm sorry." He pulled Hermione close to him. Draco hugged her as she rested her head on his chest.

Why can't I hold you like this all the time?

Suddenly, she pushed away from him. Her face, which had almost gone back to its normal color, was shaded with blush again. Draco realized that she was being her usual, conscience self.

"Sorry." he said.

"Draco, you should really stop apologizing so much." Luna said as she came through the door. Draco saw that she had carried some food outside with her.

"Hello Luna." Draco said.

"Hey Luna." Hermione said, at the same time.

The sun had dried the stairs from the rain the night before; so, the three of them sat down on the steps that led to the castle's main entrance. The girls sat on either side of Draco. Luna gave Draco and Hermione the food that she had brought.

"So, what was with the shout outside the Great Hall?" Luna asked after a few minutes of silence. Draco looked at Hermione, who was already eating and did not look like she wanted to tell the story.

Draco told Luna about Ron and Harry's sudden questionnaire about Hermione. He left out the part where the boys came in and what they interrupted, though.

"That is crossing the line of usual curiosity." Luna said as Draco finished and started eating.

He turned back to Hermione. She was staring out at the Forbidden Forest, not looking at anything in particular.

"Hermione, have you spotted a Nargle?" Luna asked, following Hermione's gaze with great interest, "They do tend to live in forests like that."

Hermione smiled and let out a laugh.

"No, I haven't spotted any Nargles, Luna." Hermione said as she turned to face her friends. "I'm fine. Just wasn't expecting anything like that."

"If you say so." Draco said. For some reason, he felt that there was more than Hermione was letting on.

"Well, if you two would excuse me for a moment." Hermione stood up and dusted herself off. "I'll be right back."

"Just…just be careful." Draco said, looking up at her. Hermione nodded. Then, she went back into the castle.

"You know, you should just tell her." Luna said as soon as Hermione was gone from sight. Draco felt shock run through his body. He turned to look at her. Luna had a calm, serene expression.

How? How does she know?

Thank you all so much for all the reviews, favs, alerts and all that FanFiction jive. (Which I am still trying to learn. ^_^')