A/N: Sorry it took so long for this chapter, got caught up in school, yada yada. But, here's the next chapter! Remember when you finish, reviews make the thinking process work faster!
Chapter Two – Draco Malfoy Changes
It had all started when at the beginning of the year, Draco Malfoy, in front of the whole Great Hall, apologized to the Golden Trio and "Silver Trio", which consisted of Neville, Luna, and Ginny, for being an arse all these years, that he had been raised that way and didn't know any better, and that now he was willing to turn over a new leaf and become a better person, and asked, in severe contrast to first year, if not only Harry would be his friend, but Hermione and Ron as well.
Too much history existed between the Weasely and Malfoy families for Ron to accept without seeing a significant change in Draco. Harry accepted whole-heartedly, though, more than willing to throw aside petty school rivalries, as he claimed it took too much effort after the war. Hermione also accepted, though more cautiously.
With all of their other friends at Hogwarts with their other half constantly, Hermione and Draco began to drift together, hanging out together instead of being lonely and by themselves, or stuck as a third wheel. It began with studying together, then playing games and asking each other questions like their favorite colors, favorite breakfast food, favorite animal, favorite class. It just kept progressing before, in a fit on insanity, Draco suddenly kissed Hermione, overcome for his feeling's for the girl he had been so mean to in the past. But, instead of his concerned of being punched much like in third year, she kissed him back, as her feelings for him had been developed and grown as well. They kept it a secret from most everybody though, except from their parents and others who were closest to them.
Hermione had told Ginny and Tonks in addition to her parents. Ginny was subtly working to get Ron, Harry, and the other members of the Weasely family used to the idea. Telling Tonks allowed Draco and his mother to reconnect with her and Andromeda, which created a lot more happiness in their family.
Draco was the one who wanted to keep it secret, not because, he assured her, the fact she was muggleborn, but because he wanted to wait until the Malfoy name was restored so she wouldn't be put through the Daily Prophet writing articles like "Death Eater dates the female third of the Golden Trio!" or "Hermione Granger, as innocent and good as she acts?". He didn't want to subject her to the howlers and suspicions glances he got on a daily basis. Besides, he stubbornly insisted, even if the air was cleared on their relationship, he didn't want to use it as a crutch to help the Malfoy name. He wanted to do that himself. Where was he going to start, one might wonder? He was going to become a part of the same new department Hermione wanted to be in, the Department of Magical and Muggle Cooperation.
As they grew closer and their feelings for each other grew, it became harder and harder to hide their relationship, however. They heard the whispers of Hogwarts gossip that they had to be snogging someone, but as to who it was, well they were amused by the rumors in that way, and that no one ever considered them together, even with their new friendship.
Though that was all true so far, the new couple had no doubt someone would put two and two together and get four soon enough. They already thought Luna suspected when she sent them dreamy, yet pointed, glances when they were near each other, and if she knew, they were sure Neville knew. The two never hid anything from each other, which was kind of adorable in its own right.
The part at least Hermione worried about were "her boys", the male two-thirds of the Golden Trio, finding out about her and Draco before were ready to tell them, and thus make them angrier that she was hiding it from them. They hoped, at least, that they were daft enough to not see it until then.