A/N: Oh gosh, it has been such hectic weeks. Thank you so much for staying tuned! I am so blessed to have you guys :D I didn't think that it would take this long to write a chapter, but here ya go! To be completely honest, though, I've been taking a lot of time to adjust to my new environment, and working overtime into Saturdays a lot, so I haven't been working on this every weekend. The next chapter shouldn't take as long, since I've already settled into my new apartment! :) Hope you're all doing well!

Disclaimer: Oh how I wish I owned the HP franchise… but alas! I can only admire from afar and purchase things in stores.

The entire class seemed to freeze as they stared at the interaction between the Head students. The silence seemed to last for longer than a minute before Snape sprang into action, surveying what had gone wrong with the potion and see if any of the students would be in any imminent danger or injury

"Boy, I'm glad that my schedule forced me to be in this class," Luna murmured dreamily to no one in general.

Snape scowled at everyone, despite his own curiosity towards the oblivious couple. It was obvious that his godson had an endearment towards the Head Girl, as his protective stance now showed. Maybe Dumbledore was onto something when he had mentioned that they were meant to be.

"Class dismissed," Snape silkily said, after surveying that the ruined potion was not lethal. For the first time ever, though, all students remained in the room, despite being dismissed.

"Thank…you."

As Hermione's voice brought him out of his reverie, Draco shook his head and let go of the Head Girl, causing her to almost stumble and fall over. Expressionless, the blonde removed his dirtied cloak and packed his belongings.

Can't he say something back? Hermione mused as she, too, began to pack. The classroom seemed to come alive, again, as the dirtied students began wiping the goo off themselves, and the rest began to pack.

Blaise was the only one not moving, staring intently at the unfolding situation before him. It was only obvious that the two Head students (and everyone else, for that matter) had not noticed the magical plant that had bloomed over top. It was only when Hermione Granger suddenly snapped into her chair, only avoiding the fate of toppling over due to Draco's muscular build, that everyone looked up. Let the games begin, the Italian Slytherin smirked.

The exasperated expressions of the two Head students were not lost to anyone in the room. "Are you serious?" Hermione all but screeched. "There's no way that this isn't-"

Her voice was cut short by the smothering of the Head Boy's lips on hers. It was comical the way her eyes bugged out, nearly to the point of popping out of their sockets. Draco didn't close his eyes, either; it was simply an unceremonious pressing of his lips to hers. The familiar pop! of the disappearing plant cued Draco to walk out, not once acknowledging the wide eyed Head Girl.

"It's rigged," Draco seethed. "Bloody pervert is-"

"It's not like you don't enjoy it," Theo shrugged.

"Nott, if you value your life, you would shut up," Draco threatened, "or I swear by Merlin's curly toe hairs that I will hex you straight into Muggle London, and let them eat you."

Theo Nott raised his brow as a challenge. Obviously, he's not thinking. Muggles don't eat wizards. "Didn't seem like it when you were playing hero. You're lucky the potion didn't become flesh-eating goop."

"I'm a Malfoy. Malfoys are gentlemen, and as much as Granger isn't a lady, she is, unfortunately, a female. Of course I would push her aside." That's the reason! Right?

"Stupid… evil… ridiculous… cockroach!" Hermione stabbed at her food, to the amusement of her friends.

"Blimey, is it so bad that he pushed you away?" Harry asked.

"Eh, ee od ai ee booh yoo ito degger" Ron added, his mouth full of food.

"Swallow, please, Ronald," Hermione snapped. "And of course it's bad. Now I owe him, and he knows it! The evil little cockroach just wants me to ARGH!" she cut off her own sentence by grunting as she stabbed at her meat pie.

"You know that's not why-"

"No, I do know that's why, Harry! Why else would he do it?"

"Because he fancies you," Ron replied, finally swallowing his enormous mouthful of food. "Right, Ginny?" he asked, turning to his sullen sister.

"Yeah, yeah," she absentmindedly agreed. It was all over school, the way Draco Malfoy protected the Head Girl during potions, and ended up smooching romantically under mistletoe. I guess he doesn't need me to be his partner in crime, anymore, the red-head thought, sadly. It hurt more than she'd like to admit. She wanted to be his partner in crime. She wanted him to need her. She wanted to be… together. Through the development of the last couple of days, she could finally admit to herself that she had fallen for the Italian Slytherin. It didn't seem like he saw her as anything more than just a friend who he could flirt with, though.

"Gin, what's wrong?" Hermione asked, finally taking a break from her self-absorbed rampage against Draco Malfoy. "You usually eat as much as Ron! Just… more politely," Hermione amended, "you haven't eaten anything!"

"I'm fine. Just… tired," Ginny excused herself. "I'm going to go back to the Common Room."

"She's ignoring me," Blaise muttered.

"Who?" Draco was finally taken away from his hatred of the Head Girl and turned to his best mate.

"Red."

"Weaslette?"

The bloke nodded sullenly, "and I don't even know why!"

Draco raised a brow. He hadn't even noticed that anything was occurring between the two, and this sudden openness on Blaise's part was surprising. They shared everything since they were young. They shared toys (though they didn't have to, most of the time), and even shared a couple girls here and there. There were usually no secrets, and it was strange that Draco hadn't known about Ginerva Weasley. Judging from Blaise's current honesty, though, it was easy to assume that it had either slipped his mind, or he thought he had already informed him. "Well, when was the last time you talked to her, mate?"

"This morning!" He said, exasperatedly. "We even kissed! I can't be that bad of a kisser! Right? TELL ME I'M NOT A BAD KISSER!"

The last part got the attention of the entire Slytherin table (if not the entire Great Hall). Draco rolled his eyes. Blaise was quite the drama queen at times, and his statement probably would start a rumour mill about their sexuality. A glare, however, sent the rest of the table back into their usual chitter chatter, and the threat of gossip was dissipated. No one would want to cross the Slytherin prince. "I wouldn't know, you pouf! Go talk to the chit if you want to!"

"I told you, she's ignoring me," Blaise whined.

"Then corner her. TRICK her. You're a bloody Slytherin, Blaise!"

Blaise's eyes lit up. Upon noticing that Ginny was already gone from the Gryffindor table, he took it as his cue to race after her to the Gryffindor Common Room. Where else could she go? "I'm coming, Red!" He announced to no one in particular as he stepped out from his seat.

Draco shook his head. Sometimes, Blaise was simply too much. Now, back to hating Granger. The insufferable know-it-all who couldn't even keep herself safe from a bloody exploding cauldron and kept making scene after scene of ridiculous arguments. She was the epitome of annoying and ungrateful, and yet, she was also the pinnacle of intelligence, modesty, and muted beauty. She was the bane of his existence, but she also kept him on her toes. And as much as Draco hated to admit, he loved hating her more than he hated loving her. What? Where did that thought come from? Draco slammed his utensils on the table… not that he was eating much to begin with. He had lost his appetite in the afternoon when he had to save her stupid arse from Longbottom and Lovegood's exploding potion. Why in Merlin's flying knicker collection was Lovegood in their class, anyways? She was in neither Gryffindor or Slytherin! And whose great idea was it to pair the ultimate Potions Idiot with the Loony? It was a disaster waiting to happen. Thank Merlin's shiny balls that no one was hurt this year… so far.

"I knew I'd find you here," Ginny heard a familiar drawl. She froze, tingles travelling down her spine, erupting goosebumps down her body.

"What do you want, Zabini?"

"Ouch, Red," Blaise said nonchalantly, finally reaching the fiery girl, "Why are you so cold, all of a sudden?"

Ginny didn't have to turn around to know that he was only inches away from her. She could feel his presence, and the close proximity made her hold her breath. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. She turned around to face the Slytherin. She didn't realize he was that close. His nose was nearly touching hers, and his lips were… Ginny took her eyes off his lips. Now was not the time to think about his lips. "You kissed me, that's why."

Blaise was surprised. He hadn't thought that his kissing skills were so bad as to render a girl to avoid him! "Am I that bad?"

"You don't get it," she deadpanned.

"Then explain to me, you wretched woman!" Blaise ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated. What kind of woman went from flirting before the kiss, to being completely avoidant?

"You tricked me into kissing you!"

"You didn't seem to mind when we kissed! You flirted right back!"

"That was when I thought maybe it meant something to you!" Ginny blurted out. Her eyes widened when she realized what she had implied and admitted. Within seconds, her face reddened to a shade that matched her hair, and she dashed away, before Blaise could fully comprehend what had just happened.

"Drake."

Draco looked up to see a frantic Blaise. He had come to the Slytherin Common Room to avoid seeing the infuriating Head Girl, but sadly, peace and quiet are always fleeting in Hogwarts. Blaise looked frantic. His hair was askew, and his breaths were short. "Blaise?"

"Drake. I don't know what to do."

"I gathered," Draco calmly replied. Though he was a drama queen, Blaise was quite the blasé character. His dramatic outbursts were usually just for comedic effect, but this was the first time that he seemed genuinely worried. Ridiculously so.

"Red thought I was interested in her."

Draco raised a brow. "How is that…"

"And now she doesn't."

"I don't follow."

"I don't, either! I don't know what happened!"

Well. This was new. "And… are you interested?" the blonde prompted his friend with an annoying-psychologist-esque raised brow. It was strange, playing psychologist for his childhood friend. It was as if they were having… girl talk. Draco shuddered at the thought. The horrors if such a rumour ever spread!

"That's what I've been asking myself for the past hour," Blaise groaned. It was usually so easy! It usually followed a simple format: hot girl, hard dick, smooth talk, a few hours of fun. Sometimes a couple days, if she was good enough. The problem? There hasn't been another "hot girl" for weeks. Maybe even months. Just Ginny Weasley. And though there had been a hard dick (on his part), and mutual flirting, there was no sex. Just… friendship. It was new, fun, challenging, and he liked it. He didn't want anything to change, but then again… there was the way his heart skipped a beat and nearly leaped out his chest when she had implied that she had feelings for him. Or at least thought they had "something". And when he finally realized she'd walked away, there was that part of his chest that felt like it shriveled up and died, and he wanted to cry. Blaise Zabini crying, imagine that!

"Well, mate, I can't help you unless you know. I…" Draco paused. What he was about to say next was going to be very, very awkward. "I could talk to Granger for you if you really fancy the Weaslette."

Two birds with one stone? "Would you really, Drake?" Blaise asked, hopefully. It wasn't that he was sure that he fancied Ginny Weasley. Far from it. He still had a reputation to uphold, but if this would spark Draco and Granger to start talking, then… he could say he had a hand in helping Hogwart's biggest ship set sail.

"Well that apparently made you figure things out," Draco mumbled. "No promises," he warned, "but I'll talk to the wench, and maybe it'll help."

"Go right now!" Blaise demanded, visibly less harried than before.

"I live with her!" Draco protested, trying to buy time before facing the bushy-haired brute.

"No time like the present!" Blaise finally shoved Draco out of the Slytherin Common Room, forcing him to go back to the Heads Dormitory.

"Granger," Draco knocked on her open door.

Hermione turned her head so quickly she felt it might have completely twisted off her spine, "Malfoy?" she asked incredulously. Never in a million years did she expect him to be at her door, after the past couple of days.

"We need to talk."

"I… um… give me a moment," she scrambled around with her papers, obviously working on another draft of her S.P.E.W. constitution, or something of the sort. "I'll meet you in the Common Room."

Despite himself, Draco chuckled as he stepped away from her doorway. Such an organized, yet messy girl. She is a paradoxical enigma. Sweet, but also evil in her own little ways… smart, but completely oblivious… socially awkward, but loved by so many… she was everything he wanted to be. She was everything he wanted. Draco shook his head where did that come from? Hermione Granger is definitely not what Draco Malfoy wanted. She is an annoying, wretched girl who probably has sexual fantasies about books and essays. Come to think of it, the frigid bitch would probably more than likely sport a fancy for a professor, rather than a fellow student. Even more likely: she is an asexual academic machine that will never reproduce.

"Um… Malfoy?"

Draco blinked to find Granger waving her hand in front of his face.

"Earth to Malfoy? You're sporting a strange smile," she said.

"How often do you talk to Weaslette?"

"I…Ginny?" Hermione was confused. Hadn't he come to talk to her about their… situation? The past two days have been horrible. Though she hated to admit it, she knew she was in the wrong, but she had apologized! He was the one who hadn't accepted, and now here he is, talking about Ginny? Merlin, Draco must really like her! Without warning, a dreadful, sinking feeling filled her heart at the revelation.

"How many Weaslettes do you know, Granger? Of course I mean Ginny Weasley!"

"Um… I talk to her a fair amount. She's Ron's sister and…" Hermione trailed off, not knowing how to continue her explanation.

"Good, do you talk to her about… um…" Draco felt his cheeks tinge a bit of pink. How do you even go about asking a girl if she converses with another girl about fancying someone?

Hermione took this as her cue to change the subject. For some reason, it felt suffocating to talk about Ginny. "Wait, Malfoy… I wanted to apologize, I…"

"You already apologized," he cut in.

"Then… I want to thank-"

"You already thanked me."

"You never accepted!"

"Merlin, woman¸ you are insufferable! Does it matter if I accept your apology or thank you?"

"Yes! Of course it matters, Malfoy! I don't like-"

"Why is it about you? You apologized, you thanked me, and I have a say in whether or not I accept!"

Hermione huffed and glared at the strikingly handsome blonde boy in front of her. Why do I even try? She asked herself, tears threatening to prick at her eyes. She couldn't justify why she wanted to cry, why she was suddenly so overwhelmed by the need for his approval, and why she suddenly wanted to shove Ginny into a closet, lock her up, and never let her see Draco Malfoy.

"Again, about… er…"

"No, she hasn't mentioned that she fancies you," Hermione said bitterly. "I can't imagine why anyone would ever fancy a sodding evil ferret cockroach like you!"

"Pardon?" Draco's eyes widened momentarily, before settling back into their usual disinterested state.

"That's what you wanted to ask, right? Well I-"

"Not me, you twat. Does Weaslette fancy Blaise?"

"Blaise?" Hermione echoed stupidly. She tried to ignore the way her pounding heart was sending way too much blood to her cheeks, and the way her insides unclenched at the realization that Draco Malfoy did not fancy Ginny.

"Yes, Blaise Zabini. Slytherin. Italian. Our year. Blaise." Draco replied, mockingly.

"I… don't think she mentioned it. I'll ask," Hermione answered, still dazed.

"Alright, I'll let him know. Put in a good word for him, will you, Granger?"

"Yeah. I will," she mumbled.

Draco turned around to head to his room, as the conversation was over. However, a small sniffling sound stopped him. Is she crying?

Hermione couldn't help the tear that escaped her eye when Draco retreated. A tear of relief? At what? Frustration? Anger? There was too much… too much. Not to mention that it was almost "that time" of the month.

"Granger?" Draco turned back around just in time to see Hermione hastily wipe away the lone tear. It was unusual. Even though he knew the cruelty of some of his words in the past had brought her to tears, he had never witnessed it. She was always strong… bold… a Gryffindor, through and through.

"Nothing, Malfoy. Just… go."

"No," he countered.

"Fine, then I'll go!" Hermione, exclaimed.

What happened next surprised the both of them. As Hermione spun around to retreat, Draco took two big strides and grabbed her elbow, spinning her around to face him: nose to nose, only centimeters apart. From the close proximity, Draco could see the tears threatening to fall from her eyes. The dim light in the Common Room enhanced the gold flecks in her eyes, and he realized that her eyes weren't mud brown. No, they were honey brown… soft and sweet… and vulnerable. Hermione Granger never seemed more human, and never more beautiful. Startling even himself, Draco leaned in and captured her lips with his.

This time, there was no mistletoe to blame.

A/N: Hurray for a new chapter! Please review, so I know what you like, and what you would like more of! There will be more GinnyxBlaise coming up, so don't worry~