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Draco and Hermione left the prefect common room together and walked through the hallways together. They were lucky that everyone was in Hogsmeade so no one saw them. Hermione felt very awkward actually spending time with Draco outside of class and studying. She also wished very much that she had done something else with her hair, she was sure that it looked awful like it did every day.

Draco too was nervous, but was excited at the prospect of them spending time together. When she was not looking he shook his hair around, knowing that messy hair looked good on him. He only wished that they could go to the Three Broomsticks instead of the Hog's Head, but it was better than going to the Three Broomsticks. He certainly did not want Crabbe and Goyle walking in on them. Or, and this would be even worse, Pansy coming in and seeing them. That would be a nightmare. He was sure that Hermione had not told Ron or Harry that she was tutoring him and he knew neither of them would be very happy if they saw them together.

They walked through Hogsmeade with hardly any trouble, but when it was necessary they separated to opposite sides of the street. The Hog's Head was empty except for the old barman. Hermione and Draco chose a table in the very back of the shop. Draco offered to get the drinks.

"I'll have a butterbeer. Thank you."

"All right I'll be right back." He hurried up to the counter and ordered a firewhiskey for himself and the butterbeer for Hermione.

"So," Hermione began. "I've been wondering this for a long time. Why are you so nice to me all of a sudden?" Her brown eyes connected with his silver ones and then looked away.

"You're not so bad. I think that I may have been a little harsh on you before." He had a hard time saying this and Hermione was proud that he did say it. "I guess I let my parents views get in my way. I need to be my own person and think for myself." He grinned at her and Hermione blushed. "But I could ask you the same thing, why are you nice to me now? I mean you went from slapping me across the face in third year, to being able to tolerate me." There was a twinkle in his eyes as he mentioned her slapping him.

"I don't know, I guess I have gotten to know the real you and not the person you pretend to be when you're with your friends."

"I know, and I want to be the person I am with you all the time. I hate the way I feel around Crabbe and Goyle and Pansy." He ran his fingers through his hair. "I guess it feels so wrong because now I know I can be different now but it's just hard to be that person."

"It's always harder to be the respectful and honest person, but it always feels better in the end." Hermione took a sip of her drink. "I just wish it could be this nice all the time." She knew that it would never happen but liked to dream.

"Me too, but tomorrow everything will be back the way it always has been."

Hermione was silent after this and continued to drink her butterbeer. Draco's eyes were fixed on her, he wanted to continue talking, but did not know what to say.

"So how long are we going to keep on tutoring, Professor?" He asked hoping that the end was not in sight.

"Well, I don't have much more to teach so after two more lessons maybe." She shrugged looking a little sad.

"Does it have to be that soon?" Draco asked earnestly.

"No, I'm sure I could make up some other lesson plans to keep us occupied." A smile broke out on her face and lit it up.

"Good. I don't really want to stop." Draco returned her smile.

At that moment the door to the Hog's Head opened and Pansy walked in with Crabbe and Goyle behind her. She spotted them first and walked over to them her eyes were full of fury. She pushed through Crabbe and Goyle and stomped over to Draco and Hermione, rage was in each of her movements.

"Draco Malfoy what are you doing here and with the mudblood?" She pursed her lips and had her hands planted firmly on her waist. "Is this a date?" Each word sounded disgusted.

Draco was shocked and was moving his mouth without words for a few seconds. When he found his voice his words sounded like they were coming from his old self. "No, of course it is not a date." He scoffed. "McGonagall just made her tutor me. Why would I be on a date with her?"

Hermione heard these words and the disgust in his voice and stood up. She felt her face grow hot and her eyes were clouding up. She did not want any of them seeing her cry so she got up from the table.

"I'm going. I'll see you later." She pushed her way through Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle.

Draco put his head in his hands and sighed, he had really just screwed things up. They were going so well and he thought that she might have even liked him. It was over now though, Draco was sure of that. Before he could think over anything else Pansy grabbed him and pulled him up from the table.

"We need to talk now." They left the Hog's Head. "I cannot believe you lied to me!" She glared at him. "We are going back to Hogwarts. Come on!"

***

Hermione knocked her way through the crowd and tried to get back up to the castle as fast as she could. She knew that tutoring him had been a mistake and now she was cursing herself for doing it. Draco Malfoy would never change. He would always revert back to his old ways, they were inborn. Hermione was back up to the castle in ten minutes and threw herself on to her bed. She cried for what felt like hours. It was time for dinner and she had to get her eyes to not look puffy. This was going to take a lot of explaining to Harry and Ron. Having nosy friends was such an annoyance sometimes.