I was getting impatient with waiting. I had originally planned on taking a few more chapter of in between before I had Hermione and Draco meet again, but like I said, I'm impatient. This isn't a really long chapter, but the next will be a bit better. This is all Hermione's POV, the next will be Draco's. Enjoy. Review please, like I said, I really appreciate it.

Chapter 9

As the smell of baked goods and coffee hit her nose,Hermione immediately spotted her friend, a very bright Ginny Weasley. Her smile literally made Hermione's shoulders droop with relief. Ginny was sitting in the back of the room in a red dress, waving her hand in the air like she was afraid she might be missed.

Hermione smiled. "Ginny." She said tenderly as she sat down. They were best friends for so long now, despite what happened with her and Ron, she always felt comfortable around Ginny.

The two embraced before Hermione sat down Ginny gave her a big smile. "How've you been Mione?"

Giving a small smile she could only shrug lightly. "Well, terrible, but decidedly livable, depending upon the day."

She gave a grin. "And today?"

Hermione groaned and smiled. "Terrible!"

Her grin gave way to a deep frown. "Mione, I understand that what happened between you and Ron can't be changed, but I hope you know I can't really choose a side here. You're one of my best friends, and Ron, he's my brother. I can't exactly say that I have loyalty to one over the other."

Hermione waved her hand at her. "I know that Ginny. I'm only here because I need to get away from the rumors."

Another smile replaced the frown as quick as it appeared. "I've heard. Are they true? You can't possibly be friendly with Malfoy."

She shook her head quickly. "It didn't happen like that at all. I was having a bad night seeing Ron with another woman, so I sought him out, because he appeared to be dateless."

"That doesn't sound like a very good plan." She chuckled. "Dateless or not he's still the same git."

"I know! That's what I told myself today, but either way, I did it. And we danced, but you know your brother. Ron got pissed off and jumped to conclusions and Malfoy simply saved me from a confrontation. We did not sleep together!"

Ginny nodded. "Well of course I knew that. Harry however..."

Hermione groaned. "I knew it. All my friends think I'm crazy!"

"Just the ones who hate Malfoy, but they'll get over it."

Hermione sighed. "It's just very complicated. It isn't easy being in the spotlight. Besides, even if I did have feelings for Malfoy, it isn't right for my friends to blame me simply because of old prejudices."

Ginny squinted. "You're the last person I'd expect to say that."

"Why is that?"

"Because he bloody well tortured you in school Hermione. Feelings like that don't change easily."

"Yes, but it's still no reason to hate him. We were just stupid kids Ginny. Sooner or later you have to let go of things like that. It's called growing up."

Ginny didn't seem even a little convinced. "I still don't like it. He was a stinkpot then, and I'd bet money that he's a stinkpot now."

Hermione heaved a sigh. She figured as much, but it would still be nice to know that she wasn't the only one trying to move on. After all, if anyone should have a problem trusting Malfoy it'd be her. So why is it that she's the only one who seems to see that he's changed?

...D.H...

Hermione stepped into her apartment finally feeling like she could relax. She immediately retreated to the bathroom, leaning down and running herself a steaming hot bath. She let it run to the very top as she undressed, thinking about her day. It wasn't unusual that she did so, but was it weird that she could only seem to think about those gray eyes, bleeding through into all of her thoughts like a disease. Somehow it seemed stranger to her that not only was she thinking about gray eyes as she lowered herself into the tub, hissing as the hot water made her skin prickle, but she wasn't even thinking one bad thought about him either.

She stretched out, laying her head back. She couldn't seem to rid her mind of the images of him laying above her, his head propped on his hand. Of that large and slender hand touching her cheek. Or, heaven help her, the feeling of his lips on her skin. She submerged herself in the water up to her chin, as if to drown away the feeling of his lips on her neck, but it didn't seem to help.

She groaned. "You're being stupid Hermione!" She realized briefly that she talked to herself a lot before she continued on, knowing full well how crazy she would sound. "Who cares if you're attracted to him! He's a slimy git!" She knew as she spoke the words that it didn't set well on her tummy. He wasn't always a slimy git. Sure he was rude and mean, but even he had a silver lining. He could be very insightful, and he held a better conversation with her than anyone she'd ever met. Maybe that didn't make up for the fact that he was a jerk, but it sure as hell did make her feel warm and, perhaps even a little, flustered. In a physical way. After all it had been a long time since she'd felt like he had made her feel.

With just the feeling of his lips on her neck he made her feel like she was putty. Most likely because he'd had many women in his day, but she didn't care to think about that. She just wanted to remember how sweet and hot she felt beneath his touch.

Should she be embarrassed that he immediately felt her wanton? That he noticed on spot that she was desperate for physical attention? Her craving for affection that she felt so deprived of when she was with Ron.

Sure at the beginning it was fun. He'd often surprise her, or touch her, or make her feel giddy, but then he became detached. He became distant and hardly ever touched her. It made her feel neglected. In fact, so neglected that she had to rely on herself to satisfy her needs. Without Ron's help.

That's fine. It was better that way sometimes. Ron was a selfish lover. When he'd kiss her it was for his own pleasure. She could always tell that he was more interested in himself than her.

Allowing her shoulder to droop, she stayed in the bath until it was literally making her feel sick it was so cold. Her teeth began chattering as soon as she stood up. The air seemed violently colder than it would have if she were warmer.

As soon as she finished dressing she suddenly became aware of a tapping at her window and she jumped, running over it it. It was a beautiful silvery owl with big beautiful yellow eyes. He cocked his head at her in a way that made her smile, a letter in his mouth. She took it from him, and though she wanted to, she refrained from petting him. "Hello there, thank you." She told him, and he remained there until she opened the letter. It was on very finely pressed parchment, and the scripture on it was very elegant also. Curled and very dignified.

As she read the first sentence, she knew exactly who it was, and she suddenly felt more nervous than she had felt in a long time.

...

Dear Hermione Granger,

I understand that you most likely will not wish to speak with me, but I guarantee you it will ultimately come to happen, because I assure you that I will make it so. I need to speak with you. It is urgent.

You may either meet me at the Manor tomorrow morning, or I will find you. Do not attempt to play games with me.

Draco Malfoy.

...

She gulped. So soon? He would seek her out so soon? She assumed that he would find her to complain about her being a mark on his perfect record, but so very soon?

And this letter. So to the point. She could practically hear his dull tone through his words. She rolled her eyes.

She looked up at the soft coo of the bird from her window, frowning and looking back down at the letter.

...

P.S. I'm assuming at this point you have noticed my owl. He is instructed to stay there until you give him a letter in reply, or confirm to him that you are indeed coming. Do not try to trick him, he is an intelligent creature.

...

She made a mean face at the paper, but turned back to the beautiful owl with a smile, turning and finding a parchment and some paper. She promptly wrote the letter, folded it in half and handed it to him. He hooted before flapping away and she shut her window with a snort.