Chapter 8

Hermione woke up from her slumber an hour later. She rubbed her eyes and yawned as she slowly got up to use the bathroom. After a quick shower, Hermione decided to wear jeans and a grey long sleeves shirt. Since they didn't attend classes that day, it wasn't necessary for her to wear school robes. She quickly tied her curly hair in a loose bun and walked out the bathroom.

Outside in the living room, she saw Draco sleeping on the couch. Owen was asleep on his chest and his arm was wrapped around the little boy's back. Eleina was also asleep, but on the other chair. Hermione tiptoed down the stairs and sat on the floor next to the couch, staring at Draco and watched him sleep.

Draco looked so peaceful as he slept. His face looked soft and Hermione had to contain herself from touching his cheek. She giggled at how every time he breathed, Owen would move up and down with him. A piece of hair fell over his eyes, Hermione reached over and slowly pushed it away. Her fingers accidentally brushed along his face which woke him up.

"Granger? What's wrong?" Draco said sleepily. He slowly sat up straight with his eyes still slightly closed as he tried to adjust to the light in the room. Owen stirred in his sleep and woke up. Draco picked him up and set him on his lap.

"Nothing's wrong. I was just.."

"Watching me sleep." Draco smirked. "Couldn't keep your eyes off me, right?"

"I was not watching you sleep. I came over to…to.." Hermione blushed and cursed under her breath as she tried to think of an excuse.

"It's okay, Granger. I know you think I'm good looking. I don't really blame you."

Hermione glared at him and walked over towards the portrait hole.

"Where are you going?" Draco asked, getting up to follow her.

"I'm going to go find Harry and Ron. I need to know that they're not mad at me."

"Yea, well they're idiots if they are."

"I'll be back before dinner." Hermione said and walked out of the room.

Draco turned back around and sat back on the couch he previously occupied. He looked down at Owen who stared back. Draco didn't notice before, but Owen had the same eyes as Hermione. Hazel brown orbs stared back at him and he couldn't help but smile.

"Don't tell mommy I told you this, but I'm kind of mad that she's going to the ball with Blaise." Draco said to the little boy, who began to climb off his lap. He laughed at his own hypocrisy and helped Owen down.

Hermione walked over to the portrait with the lion like creature. Harry had told Hermione a few weeks earlier where his dorm was located just incase she needed to talk or Draco was too much for her to handle. She walked up to the portrait and said the password, which Harry had told her also. Walking inside, Hermione saw Pansy sitting on the couch working on one of her assignments.

"What the…Granger, how did you get in?" Pansy looked up, surprised to see Hermione. Harry never told her that he gave Hermione the password.

"Sorry, Harry gave me the password. Have you seen him?"

"He was here a few seconds ago, but he left. I think he went to go talk to Weasley."

"Oh, thank you."

Pansy nodded her head and turned her attention back to the book she was holding while Hermione walked out of the room still in search of her two best friends. However, unlike Harry, Ron never told Hermione where his dorm was. So now, Hermione strolled aimlessly around the corridor wondering which portrait led to Ron's dorm. She was about to turn the corner when she heard voice. Hermione turned and saw Blaise conversing with another Slytherin that she didn't recognize. She quickly hid behind the wall and listened in on what they were saying.

"This is way easier than I thought." Blaise said to the other Slytherin.

"Granger said yes?"

"Of course she did. Now pay up."

"Hey, you didn't win the bet yet. Remember, you still have to get her in bed."

Hermione's eyes widen when she heard what the other Slytherin had just said. She froze where she was standing, wanting to run but her legs wouldn't move. No wonder he was being nice to me the other day at the picnic. It was just a stupid bet. I should've known! Stupid stupid Hermione…she thought. Hermione became infuriated. She stomped over to the two boys with fire in her eyes. If looks could kill, they both would've been dead in a heartbeat.

"What the hell is going on?!" Hermione yelled at them, but mainly at Blaise.

"Granger, how nice of you to join us." The other Slyterin boy said with a smirk on his face.

"How much did you hear, Granger?" Blaise said, eyes raised.

"Oh, enough to know that this whole thing is a lie! How dare you ask me to the ball because of a bet. How dare you use me like that!" Hermione was so mad she wanted to cry.

"It was just a silly bet. Don't get your knickers up in a bunch."

"A silly bet?! You think that's a good excuse?"

Blaise just shrugged.

"You're sick." Hermione growled at him. She turned around and ran back to her dorm. She couldn't take this anymore.

"We're still going to the ball together, right?" Blaise yelled at her, but she never gave him an answer since she already turned the corner.

Draco was lying on the couch watching his children play when he heard the portrait swing open and in walked an angry Hermione. He could see tears of anger flooding through her eyes as she walked over to him.

"Tell your friend that he no longer has a date to the ball." Hermione said to Draco and then turned around to walk to her room.

"What happened?" Draco yelled over the couch to her. She stopped walking and just stood there for awhile, facing away from Draco. Slowly turning around, Hermione let out a big sigh before she told him what had just happened a few minutes ago.

"I was walking out in the corridor looking for Ron and Harry, when I heard voices around the corner. I quickly looked and saw Zabini with another Slytherin boy talking about something so I hid behind the wall and listened in." Hermione paused for a few seconds, allowing Draco to soak in all the information. "Then, I heard the other Slytherin tell Blaise that the bet wasn't over yet, that he was suppose to get me to sleep with him. This whole thing was just one big lie. He only wanted to take me to the ball because of some stupid bet." Hermione looked down at the floor when she finished.

Draco could feel his blood boil as he began to get angry. He knew Blaise was up to no good, but never thought it was something this low. Without saying a word, he got up and marched out of the room. Hermione shot up and followed swiftly behind him.

"Malfoy, where are you going?"

"To kill Blaise."

"Malfoy!" Hermione tried to grab his arm, but Draco just pulled away and continued to walk. They walked down the corridor, but Blaise and the other Slytherin were no where in sight.

"Where is he?" Draco said angrily as he turned trying to look for him.

"He probably went back to his dorm. Come on, Malfoy let's go. We left Owen and Eleina by themselves." Hermione said and pulled Draco by the arm so he would follow.

"Blaise better pray that I won't see his face"

Hermione sighed and they walked back into their dorm. Once back inside, Hermione and Draco sat on the couch.

"I need to have a little talk with him." Draco said, making a fist with one hand and punching it on the other.

"Don't do anything drastic, Malfoy."

"I'm going to beat some sense into that boy."

"Don't! You'll get in trouble. I don't really care anyways."

"Granger, what they were doing is uncalled for. To any girl, not just you."

"I know… I just don't want you to get in trouble."

"Don't worry about it."

It shocked Hermione to see this side of Draco. She never thought that he could care about anyone other than himself. Before Hermione really got to know him, all she knew was that he was a conceited selfish brat, or that's what she thought of him. But ever since they got stuck in this class project together, she's seen the better side of Draco. Hermione only wishes that he could show that side of him more often.

"Let's go to dinner, I'm hungry." Draco said as he went to pick up Owen. Hermione followed by picking up Eleina and together they walked to the Great Hall.

Unfortunately for Draco, Blaise was not at dinner when they arrived. He sat down on one side while Hermione sat down across from him. A few minutes later, Harry and Pansy arrived with Isabelle along with Ron and Millicent with their children and sat down next to them, but Harry and Ron chose to sit on the opposite side from Hermione so they wouldn't have to be right next to her. Hermione rolled her eyes at their childishness.

"If you guys are mad at me for going to the ball with Zabini, then you'll both be happy to know that it's not happening anymore so will you just talk to me."

Harry and Ron shot their heads up, eyes widened like a miracle just happened, in surprise at Hermione's news. But they weren't the only ones who were shocked, even Pansy gave her a look. Draco wanted to laugh at their faces, but remembered why Hermione was no longer going to the ball with Blaise.

"What changed your mind, Hermione?" Harry asked, no longer angry at her. He even scooted a little closer to her.

"Did you finally realize that you made a completely idiotic choice when you agreed to go with him?" Ron snorted. Hermione ignored him and turned her full attention to Harry.

"I'll tell you later when there are less people around." Hermione said to Harry. He gave her a look, but decided to just talk about it later. Too bad, Blaise entered the Great Hall just at that exact moment. He walked over towards Hermione and pushed Parvati, who was sitting next to her, over so that he could sit next to Hermione.

Draco clenched his fists when he saw Blaise sit across from him. He wanted nothing more than to punch the living daylights out of him, but had to refrain himself especially since the professors were there. He would have his chance once dinner was over and he would make sure that Blaise gets his message loud and clear.

"So Granger, what time would you like me to pick you up for the ball?" Blaise asked Hermione sweetly. Draco watched as she stood up and gave Blaise a big slap across his face. He was completely shocked at what Hermione just did. In fact, every one in the Great Hall fell silent as they watched the scene unfold. Hermione was breathing heavily, mainly from the anger that she held inside. She looked around at all the students staring at her and stalked out of the Great Hall. Blaise quickly got up and followed her out.

"Granger, stop! How dare you hit me!" Blaise said to her as he grabbed her arm and turned her around to face him. But Hermione didn't have a change to answer him. Draco had already grabbed Blaise by the shoulder, spun him around, and punched him right in the face which caused him to fall on the floor in pain.

"What the hell is wrong with you Draco?" Blaise yelled, as he touched his now swollen lip, blood on his hand.

"Maybe you should ask yourself that." Draco said and tried to get down to punch Blaise for a second time, but Hermione grabbed his arm. He looked at Hermione and she shook her head at him.

"You're lucky I didn't kill you, Zabini." Draco snarled at Blaise.

"Screw you, Malfoy. We're no longer friends."

"Good."

And with that Draco walked back into the Great Hall leaving Blaise still sitting on the floor and Hermione standing a few steps away.

"Consider yourself dateless, Zabini." Hermione said and walked back to the Great Hall. She went over and grabbed Eleina in her arms. Draco had already taken Owen and left the room, obviously still angry at Blaise. Before Hermione could leave, though, her friends had a few questions for her.

"Hermione, what was that all about?" Ron asked

"He deserved that slap." Hermione replied.

"What did he do?" Pansy asked, who was more curious than ever after that slap she saw. Hermione didn't want to say it in front of everyone, but decided it would probably be a good idea if she did so the whole school would know what kind of person Blaise really was.

"The only reason he asked me to the Halloween ball was because he made a bet with some other guy. He was supposed to get me to go the ball with him and…" Hermione began to feel her face red. She didn't feel comfortable telling them that Blaise was going to get her to sleep with him.

"And what?"

"And he was going to get me in bed, okay?" Hermione spat.

That was enough to get Harry and Ron riled up.

"Where is he?!" Ron said.

"I'm going to kill the bastard." Harry said.

"Not if I do it first"

"I'll get his grave ready"

"Stop it! Both of you! No more fighting, please. Besides, he probably learned his lesson from that punch Malfoy gave him earlier." Hermione said.

"Malfoy?!" Both boys were equally surprised. They thought Draco and Blaise were the best of friends so why would Draco punch him.

"Yes, Malfoy. Now if you will excuse me I'm going back to my dorm. I've had enough for today."

"Don't be surprised if you see Zabini in the Hospital Wing!" Ron called out to Hermione as she walked out of the Great Hall, Eleina in her arms.

Hermione walked inside the dorm to find Owen by himself in the living room.

"What are you doing here all by yourself?" Hermione said when she sat down on the couch next to Owen. She heard the shower running and assumed Draco was in there.

"Time for bed you two." And she held on two both of their hands as they walked up the stairs, slowly since both Owen and Eleina had to take big steps in order to reach the next step. Hermione quickly got them both changed and tucked them in to their cribs.

"Goodnight, my darlings." She said and closed the door behind her. Walking back to her room, she noticed that the bathroom door was opened and when she went inside, it was empty. She walked into the bedroom and saw Draco wearing only his boxers, drying his hair with a towel.

"That was a quick shower" Hermione said to him and sat on her bed which was still connected to Draco's from the night before.

"I just needed a cold shower to calm my anger." Draco informed her and sat down on his bed.

"Oh, um…well, thanks."

"For what?"

"For caring about me, I guess."

"I wouldn't really call it that. If it was anyone else I would've done the same."

"Right, of course…I'm going to take a shower now. You should probably sleep. Goodnight." Hermione said and quickly walked out of the room. She didn't want Draco to see her face as tears were forming. She had secretly hoped that he really did care about her. Who am I kidding? She thought, Why would he ever care about a mudblood.

Back inside, Draco mentally slapped himself in the face.
I'm such an idiot.