I told Ginny about me meeting Draco today and she went crazy, she kept insisting that he definitely wanted it to be a date but I think he was just being his usual flirty self. I hadn't even thought about what to say to him or what to say to the people that would see us together. Hopefully they wouldn't think we were together as a couple, I shuddered at the thought. It was almost time to meet him and I was tempted to send a note to him saying I couldn't make it but I wasn't just going because I wanted to, not that I did want to, I was going because I had to try to help Draco make the right choices. I took a deep breath before making my way over to the big oak. It was a nice day with the sun shining down brightly onto the grass and it was nice to be in the shade of the tree. I sat down and leant back against the trunk of the tree. What if Draco didn't even turn up, what would I do then? I quickly got out a book and started reading, if he wasn't going to turn up I might as well act like I was here just because I wanted to use it as a reading spot. That was when I felt a body slide next to me.

"I thought we were meant to be walking rather than sitting." Draco teased.

"I was scared that you weren't going to turn up that's why I have my book and I sat down because I didn't want to continue standing and look weird." I admitted.

"Hermione Granger, I would never stand you up. I wasn't even late so I don't get why you were worried."

"Why are you being so nice to me?" I asked suspiciously.

He didn't say anything but stood up and offered me his hand which I took. We started walking along the lake. "Well to be perfectly honest I have a lot on my mind so it's easier to just treat you as one as my friends." He didn't turn to look at me as he spoke, he just stared straight ahead.

"Do you want to talk about it." I asked him hoping that he would tell me something.

"No. You can't know, no one can know. Plus if I did ever tell you, you would probably go off to Potter and tell him everything." Draco said looking devastated.

"I really wouldn't." I protested.

"Why do you suddenly care anyway?" Draco's voice was harsh towards me and it hadn't been like that for a while. "We only worked on a project together which we have now finished and I don't even need to be having this walk with you right now yet I am still here and I have no idea why." His words were harsh but his voice was softer than before.

"Should we cut this short then?" I asked him softly standing directly facing him.

"I...er..." Draco stuttered.

"Malfoy, it's seriously okay." I said with a smile.

"I don't want to leave, it's pretty nice out here and you are a nice change compared to my friends. And you can call me Draco." He said and gave a small smile back.

"You can call me Hermione." I said feeling slightly shocked that he was making an effort to be my friend and said it was a nice change.

We carried on walking until we were in an area by the Quidditch Pitch, it was a pretty area with multiple trees so it was nice to be in the shade away from the blazing sun. We chose a spot in between two trees and sat opposite each other having a tree each.

"So Hermione how is your love life with Weasley going?" Draco asked.

"I don't have a love life with Ron..." I said awkwardly.

"Really?" Draco asked in an surprised tone.

"Really. I don't really like Ron like that." I explained.

"Okay, your love life with Potter then." Draco said with a smile.

"I don't have a love life with Harry and I don't like Harry in that way either." I explained again.

"Oh, who do you like then Hermione." He dragged out my name and it made my stomach feel like it was being inhabited by butterflies.

I then realised the question he asked me and I blushed slightly. "I don't have a crush on anyone." I said bluntly.

"Right I would believe you but you are blushing so I can't." He said and gave me a dazzling smile. I still found it really strange that he was being this nice to me, and I was scared that he was going to turn on me any minute. "Why do you look so scared?"

"It's just surreal how nice you are being to me, I just think you will turn on me, no offense." I explained.

"I can go back to being mean to you if it would make you happy, I basically have been told to be nice to you by Blaise."

"Wait what?" I said and I moved closer to him. "What do you mean Blaise told you to be nice to me?"

"I don't know he just said be nice to Granger, I just assumed it was because he is going out with Weasley." He answered.

"Did he say or do anything else?" I questioned.

"Well he did wink afterwards which made me feel uncomfortable but that's typical Blaise." Draco said with a shrug and then put his hands behind his head.

"That's weird." I muttered.

"How is it? That's why I thought you were being nice to me." Draco said and looked up at the sky.

"I...err...yeah that was it." I lied not wanting to let him know about Blaise.

"What was your reason?" He asked inquisitively and stopped looking at the sky to meet my eyes with his. "If it's because you have a crush on me that's a perfectly acceptable answer." He said with a wink that made my legs go numb and I would have definitely fell if I had been standing.

"It is not because I have a crush on you..." I started but then the look on Draco's face made me stop. "What?" I asked.

"You said "It's not because I have a crush on you. You didn't deny it Hermione." He said and leant in close to me and I felt my breath catch in my throat. "If you do have a crush on me I would understand perfectly as I am irresistible." He whispered in my ear.

"I..." I started, but I couldn't really deny it but I couldn't agree either. I didn't want to have a crush on him but he was good looking. I moved away from him feeling awkward that we were that close. "I think we should go for lunch." I said quietly. He nodded and we both stood up together. At least he is more comfortable around me, that's some progress.