A/N: I'm so sorry for the wait. It's been a month since I posted my last chapter but school... makes me so busy. More than I like. And I've spent all my free time (to write) thinking about a way to make Hermione and Draco's relationship progress nicely; I don't want it to take much longer so I guess I figured out a way to make it work quickly. So sorry again for the wait and thank you for your amazing reviews and for putting my story on alert, it means a lot. Here's another chapter.

Oh, and I'm sorry if there's some gramatical mistakes. English is not my mother language, I'm portuguese, but I try my best.

Chapter 9 - Ignore The Obvious (Right In Front of Your Nose)

One week later

Hermione and Malfoy hadn't spoken much since that night. Hermione later realized that Malfoy had gone back to being an arrogant ass that he always used to be, so she did her best to ignore his presence and tried not to talk with him longer than it was necessary. When, a few days ago, Malfoy called her a 'Mudblood' again she felt sad because she thought for a minute that he could really be nice to someone; but obviously, that wasn't true and now she felt stupid by believing in that.

Being alone stopped being such a worry for her; on the contrary, she got used to it. Sometimes, when she was in the Great Hall and she walked by Ginny, Ron and Harry she felt sad for not being with them, but she had disguised it very well. Lately, Neville, Seamus and Dean had become her company; they weren't always with her, but that was not because they didn't want to... was because Hermione would run to her bedroom to be alone.

Draco entered on the living room and saw Granger sitting on the couch with a book in her hands. He felt his throat tightening and he stood still for a brief moment. He walked quickly to the kitchen to grab a glass of water.

He was definitely putting his kind feelings aside. After all, what was he thinking? Being nice to Granger was a big mistake and he was trying to cover it with is usual arrogance.

He heard a knock on the door and saw by the corner of the eye Granger getting up from the couch to go open the door. He rushed to leave the kitchen 'Maybe if I leave now, she won't see me' but the familiar voice of Blaise made him stop in the middle of the room "Hello, Granger" he said and Draco recognized the tone Blaise usually has when he is trying to pick up some chick.

"Hi," he heard Hermione mutter "Malfoy is right there in the kitchen." she said and turned her back on Blaise, stopping when she saw Malfoy in the room. She sighed and sat again on the couch, grabbing her book.

"Uh..." Blaise cleared his throat and closed the door behind him "Hi Drake."

Draco waved slowly, narrowing his eyebrows "What's up?"

"This is going to sound weird but... I'm actually here for you, Granger." Hermione stopped reading the book when she heard those words coming out of Blaise's mouth. She closed the book and looked over her shoulder to the dark italian by the closed door, with a smile on his lips.

"I'm sorry?" Hermione and Draco said at the same time. For a brief moment, they looked at each other but then they turned their eyes to Blaise.

"I need to talk to you, Granger" Blaise said "I swear I'm not going to put a love potion on something" he grinned. Hermione raised from the couch, still confused.

"You are sure that you want to talk to me?" she asked, just be sure "Not Malfoy?"

"Yes..." Blaise narrowed his eyebrows "I'm sure."

Hermione looked over her shoulder to Malfoy that was covering his face with a hand "Alright..." she said "Tell me."

"I will leave you two alone now," Draco said, disappearing into his bedroom.

Blaise took some steps towards her and shove his hands into his pockets "Look, I'm sorry for that love potion thing" Blaise scratched the back of his head "I'm really sorry." Hermione stood quiet, with her arms crossed against her chest "I was wondering if you... could help me with something."

"Oh right," Hermione rolled her eyes and dropped her arms "I knew that you'd need help with something. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here. Look-"

"No," Blaise grabbed Hermione's hand and gave her a gentle pat. Hermione felt a shiver coming down her back and narrowed her eyebrows at him "I wanted to apologize earlier, but I didn't know how... so I thought this was the best way, but obviously it's not."

He turned his back on her and grabbed the doorknob "Alright, wait!" she muttered "What is it?"

Blaise smirked before turning to her again "I need help with a Muggle Studies's essay. I wonder if you could help me,"

"Because I'm the only muggle you know?" she snorted.

"No, because you are the smartest girl I know." he smiled. Hermione wasn't understanding his sudden change. Why was he being so nice?

"Okay, I'll pretend that I believe in that" Hermione rolled her eyes and dropped her hand, that Blaise grabbed again "Maybe next weekend."

"I need to give this essay to the professor in the next class" Blaise scratched his head "The next class is on wednesday."

Hermione sighed "So, tuesday then. We'll meet on the library after classes."

"Alright, it's a date then" he smiled and turned to the door.

"It's not a date!" she said before he closed the door and disappeared. She sighed and passed her hand on her forehead. Maybe some curse was attacking the Slytherin's students and they were all acting nicely.

"What did Blaise want?" she heard Malfoy ask behind her. She put her hands on her hips and turned to face him.

"It's not of your business," she hissed, grabbing her book and heading to her bedroom.

"You can tell me you know," he hissed back "Because if you don't tell me, he will do it later."

"That's fine by me," she shrugged "Then you will hear it from him. Not me."

Draco watched her closing her bedroom door and then he closed his hand into a fist and hit it against the wall. He needed to talk to Blaise, to understand what was he trying to do. Draco returned to his bedroom and grabbed his black jacket and dressed it. Then he rushed to the Great Hall but there was no sight of Blaise in there.

"Nott," Draco called Theodore Nott, giving him a pat on the shoulder "Where's Blaise? Did you see him around?"

"Uh.." the guy took awhile thinking and then looked at Draco "I think I saw him a few minutes ago in the courtyard-"

"Thanks," Draco said, not letting Theo finish the sentence. He rushed to the courtyard where he saw Blaise talking with a girl from Slytherin "I need to talk to you."

"Woah mate..." Blaise raised up from the bench where he was sitting "I'm busy."

"I can see, but I really need to talk to you" Draco said. Blaise sighed and looked at the girl.

"I talk to you later ok?" he muttered to the girl. The girl nodded and disappeared "What now?"

"What happened in there?" Draco asked, with a finger in his chin "Between you and Granger?"

Blaise laughed and gazed the sky for a minute "Well, you see I never forget when someone proposes me a challenge my friend" Blaise walked around Draco with a amused smile on his lips "And if I recall, you proposed me one-"

"I didn't propose you nothing," Draco shook his head and turned around to see Blaise.

"Oh..." Blaise narrowed his eyebrows and stood quiet for awhile "Then I made a mistake... asking Granger out."

"You asked her out?" Draco snorted "You pretended to be her friend for what... five minutes? And she agreed to go out with you?"

"Isn't that surprising? After all, Granger isn't all ice."

Draco looked into Blaise's eyes for awhile, not liking his tone. Blaise was trying to tease him and Draco wasn't liking it; on the contrary, Draco wanted to punch him right in the face. Blaise was his best friend, but lately he had been testing Draco's patience and it was finally running out.

"Why are you so concerned about Granger and me?" Blaise muttered.

"I'm not," Draco narrowed his eyebrows. He was not, but the teasing tone on Granger's voice a few minutes ago took the best of him and now here he was "Granger just didn't want to tell me what you two had been talking."

"She's a tough one, huh?" Blaise laughed and grabbed Draco's shoulder, gaving him a pat "There there my friend, why are you so angry?"

"I'm not," Draco hissed. He took a deep breath and then shook Blaise's hand from his shoulder "Look, if you don't want to tell me your plan, fine. Just don't come to me for help."

Draco turned his back on Blaise and started to go away from the courtyard when Blaise grabbed his shoulder "Wait-" Blaise said, and Draco smirked. No matter what he does or says, Draco Malfoy gets what he wants. Once Draco was looking at Blaise, the dark italian sighed "Granger seems to be a good challenge. So, I went to the tower and apologized her for that love potion thing. Then I asked her for some help on an essay... first she said no, but then I convinced her to help me and she agreed."

"Was that easy?" Draco asked in a murmur. Blaise nodded and laughed "Well, what can I say? Good luck with that one mate."

"I will need it my friend," Blaise nodded "But when I'm done with her, will be worth all my effort."

"I guess... I mean, sleep with Granger?" Draco laughed with Blaise.

Just a few minutes ago, Draco was completely angry at Blaise and he still didn't know exactly why. He still was, but he ignored that feeling. He would like to see Blaise try.

Ginny walked in the Great Hall and sat on her usual seat. Normally, Hermione would sit beside her and they would talk about everything; Ginny would tell her about Harry and their problems and then listened to Hermione answering her with some advices. They would eat and laugh, gossip and... do things that best friends do. But now, Ginny was doomed to sit across Lavender and Ron, that were always snogging, and Harry would always sit by her side. She knew how Harry would rather be sitting with Hermione instead of being there looking at Lavender and Ron.

She missed Hermione as much as Harry. Perhaps even more. Ginny missed Hermione so much that the only thing that she could think of was coming to her place and apologize for what she did. Ginny thought that hiding that Ron cheated on her was the best thing to protect her; that only Ron should tell her what he did. But that day didn't come and Ron didn't tell her, and Ginny had to see Hermione break into peaces everyday, without knowing what happened when already everyone knew and was laughing in her back.

Now Ginny regreted it, and seeing Hermione walk by her everyday in the Great Hall made her feel mad at herself for letting that happen. She wanted to sit beside Hermione in classes since she was alone everytime, but she knew that Hermione would go away. She had hurt her best friend and nothing seemed good enough to tell Hermione.

"I'm tired of this," Ginny muttered to Harry, on the Great Hall. It was dinner time... to eat food, but Lavender and Ron seemed more interested on eating each other "Of being with them. Can we just... go away?"

"And go where?" Harry said "Hermione is still mad at us."

"I know," Ginny sighed. She knew that Harry didn't mean to hurt her, but hearing him saying that everyday really hurts her "But there are plenty of seats available here."

"I hope we are not being annoying," Lavender said, looking at Harry and Ginny whispering.

"Oh no, not at all" Harry shook his head. Ginny laughed and helped herself with some food.

"Is there something wrong Ginny?" Lavender asked and grabbed her hand "You can tell me everything... Everything!"

Ginny looked at her hand "I don't have any intentions to tell you anything." Ginny cleaned her mouth to a napkin and raised from her seat "I'm done here, I'm going to my room."

Ron stood up and grabbed Ginny's arm "Hey, what the hell are you doing? Why are you acting like this all of the sudden?" he asked, raising his tone of voice "It's with my girlfriend you are talking to!"

"Well, you are right. Your girlfriend," Ginny yelled "Not mine. I don't like her and I think she's a slut. Deal with it"

She heard Lavender and some of her friends gasping but she didn't care, Ginny turned her back on them and walked away from Great Hall. She could feel tears in her eyes but she wasn't going to cry... Ginny Weasley never cries. She stopped in the middle of the hall when she felt someone holding her arm "Ginny," Harry muttered "It's okay."

"No Harry," Ginny sobbed, afraid that her tears would fall and she would show how weak she was "It's not. I need Hermione! She is the only one that understands me and she's not here because I blew it-"

Harry hugged her and Ginny hid her face in his shirt "I screwed up. I need my best friend."

Wednesday

Hermione was sitting on the library with some books in front of her. She agreed on helping Blaise with an essay, but now she was regreting her decision. Spending time with a Slytherin more than she needed to was not a good idea and running away to her bedroom was an idea that she had ran in her head several times. She is a Gryffindor. Blaise is a Slytherin. They are the completely opposite thing of each other and still she agreed on helping with him with some... essay. Being single, with no best friend, was really getting through her head... Spending time with a Slytherin? She already has to do that and it's not a thing that she likes to do. But yet, she was there to meet with Blaise Zabini.

She sighed.

Yesterday when she was on the Great Hall having her dinner, Hermione heard the huge yell from Ginny saying that Lavender was a slut. Who didn't? Hermione covered her smile with one hand and looked at the books in front of her. Hermione was happy to know that Ginny hadn't change her mind about Lavender and that she still hates her like she always said she did. Deep down, in a more profound place of her heart, Hermione was relieved that Ginny and Lavender hadn't turned into best friends. Hermione couldn't stand the idea of Ginny getting a new best friend, but still she didn't want to talk to her.

Sooner or later Ginny would find a new best friend and Hermione would be alone forever. "I guess I need to get used to the idea," Hermione muttered to her buttons but she felt like pushing the books to the floor. She shook her head trying to get rid of those thoughts and looked at the watch on the wall. 5 p.m. and Blaise was still not there "Stupid Slytherins" she muttered to herself.

"I hope you are not talking about me," she jumped on her seat hearing Blaise's voice behind her. Hermione looked at him, ashamed and combed her hair with her fingers "I always thought that I was different from the other Slytherins."

"Isn't that a bad thing to think about?" Hermione cleared her throat "I mean, you are talking about your housemates."

"Yes," he bit a piece of cake he was holding in his hands and sat beside her "Don't you think you are a better person than the others?" Blaise gave her a gentle smiled. She looked at him more than just a few seconds. Then she shook her head.

Hermione didn't like to think she was better than anyone. It was already an awful thing that some people from Gryffindor thinks that she acts like she was better than everyone "You shouldn't be eating in the library, you know?" she said, looking at the piece of cake.

"I know," he shrugged and took another bit "But I think that the librarian sympathizes with me. Want a bit?"

"No, thank you. I came here to help you out, not to eat." Hermione grabbed one book and opened it "And I don't think that the librarian really likes me. I spend more time here than I should and I guess that she is just mad that I don't let her have a break..." Hermione chuckled and looked at Blaise from the corner of her eye.

Blaise didn't say nothing, just smiled at her. The first thought that ran into her mind was 'Great, now he knows for sure that you are a weirdo' but the second was 'Like you care, he's just someone you are helping out'. She preferred to hear the second thought and looked at him "So, tell me. What is your essay about?"

Blaise kept quiet for awhile and looked at her "Well, we have to talk about the Muggle World, in general" Blaise smiled "I'm on the seventh year and I guess the professor is just being sure that we really learned something."

"Smart of him," Hermione muttered. She didn't really need to see Muggle things on those books, but she felt, somehow, terrified for talking about Muggles to Blaise. Malfoy's best friend. The one that calls her a mudblood "One thing you can talk about is how much they care about their careers... well, most of them. The way they live-"

"Do you enjoy the Muggle life?" Blaise asked suddenly, catching Hermione by surprise. Hermione blinked a few times "I mean, isn't it kind of hard living without magic?"

"No," she said immediately "It's nice, sometimes. It's a good thing to watch things happen without using magic. Makes things more... unpredictable."

"Hmm," Blaise touched his chin with one finger and narrowed his eyes "Is your house a mansion?"

What was this all about? Hermione swallowed tightly and gazed at Blaise, confused "No... well, it's just... a house." she stammered looking now at the pages of one of the Muggle books that she had searched for. She wasn't liking where the conversation was going; she was there to help him out with some essay not to talk about her life - she didn't like Slytherin persons, they were bad people so talking about her life, her house or anything else related to her wasn't on her plans. But when Blaise asked the next question...

"How many bedrooms?" he asked.

She felt like she should answer it, "Four," she said, blushing. Why was he so curious of how many bedrooms she had?

"I have about eight bedrooms in my house," Blaise smiled "But I live in the wizarding world, right?"

Hermione nodded and opened another book. She marked the paged and opened another one, marking the things that she thought would help Blaise with his essay.

"I didn't offend you in some kind of way, did I?" he asked.

"No, why?" she asked, still looking to the book.

"Because suddenly you stopped talking," Blaise smiled.

"I guess I'm trying to do my job here," she answered, in a rude way. She didn't mean to answer like that, but... it just escaped from her mouth. They remained in silence for a few more minutes while Hermione marked everything that he needed "Here. This should help." when Hermione was about to stand up to go away, she felt something grabbing her arm. She could feel a scream starting in her throat but when she turned around and made sure that it was still Blaise, she swallowed it.

"Please, stay" he said, smiling at her "I kind of like your company"

Hermione looked at him, her jaw dropped. Was he really doing this? Trying to... be friends with her? Or was he just gathering some episodes to go tell the whole school soon as he got out of the library, so people could make fun of her? She could already hear the laughs.

"Sure, Granger, stay" cried a voice. Hermione knew it wasn't Blaise because she was looking right to his face and she didn't see his mouth moving not even a bit. She snapped her head towards the voice to find no else but Draco Malfoy staring at them with an amused smile on his lips. He walked around the table and sat in front of Hermione and Blaise.

His grey eyes were looking to the touch of Blaise's hand on Hermione's arm, and as soon as she realized it, she brushed his hold from her arm. Hermione could feel the heat rushing to her cheeks and, she didn't understand why, she sat back down, her hands on her lap looking to the wooden table. It was like she was on the presence of her father with a boy right beside her... but Malfoy wasn't obviously her father! Then why was she feeling so embarrassed?

"What are you doing here?" Blaise hissed, covering his mouth with his hands.

"I heard that Granger here was going to help you out with some essay about the Muggle world," Draco smirked looking at Blaise and turning his gaze to Granger's face. He smirked wider realizing how red she was "So I thought that it would be a great idea for me to come here, it would be nice to get some help on that subject too"

Hermione cleared her throat, trying to get her head on the right place "I'm sure you don't need help Malfoy" she tried to look confident but her voice was trembling and she just sounded stupid "If I'm aware, the professors say that you are a great student so-"

"Yes, that's right" Blaise hissed, interrupting Hermione "You don't need help since you know everything. So, if you don't mind..."

"I see that you two don't want me here" Malfoy grinned and drummed his fingers against the table "Am I interrupting anything? Any... date?"

"It's not a date!" Hermione said quickly, her hands now shaking "I'm just here to help Blaise out, nothing else. And I was about to leave-"

"Dude look, please get out" Blaise hissed, looking right into Draco's eyes. Draco wasn't in the mood to leave so he kept teasing those two.

"Why? So you can go on with your Muggle essay... for the class that you don't have?" Draco hissed back still looking to Blaise. His smirk became wider when Granger sat back down on the chair with her mouth opened and her eyes opened wide.

"You don't have the Muggle class?" Hermione muttered, snapping her head towards Blaise "Then why am I here? Wasting my time with... with... you?"

"It's not... like that" Blaise stammered looking to Hermione and back to Draco, who was very amused with the situation.

"Yes... it is! I'm just here wasting my time with another stupid Slytherin" she slapped her hands on the table and rolled her eyes "I already live with one, I don't need to waste my time on another of... your kind" she hissed. She grabbed her books and got up from the chair "I'm done here"

She headed off leaving Malfoy and Blaise on the library. Just the thought of her thinking about if she could really be friends with Blaise made her sick. No one could be friends with Slytherins; they were evil and stupid. And now she was sure about that.

A/N: Feel free to tell me whatever you want about this new chapter. It helps me to get better.

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