Sleeping Bookworm

Chapter 2

The First Practice

That night, Hermione could hardly sleep. She tossed and turned, but she could only think about how Draco held her that night. Draco? Since when did I start calling him Draco? She sighed. She finally fell into a dreamless sleep.

She was awoken by the sound of Parvati dropping a glass container of lotion the next morning. Hermione sat up abruptly until she realized what it was. She settled back down into her bed and remembered that the parts were going to be posted up this morning. Since it was Saturday, she took her time getting dressed. She slipped on a pair of her Muggle jeans, and a form fitting cream-colored shirt. She clipped up her hair, letting a few hairs stray from it and frame her face. She bounced down stairs to see a sullen looking Ron and Harry. Hermione furrowed her eyebrows.

"What's the matter guys?" she asked, as she hit the landing.

They both looked up and sighed. "Nothing."

Hermione frowned. "Did you guys not get parts?"

"Oh yeah we got parts. But it's not us. It's you," Ron said.

Hermione's heart dropped. Did she not get the part? "Wh-what do you mean?" she asked.

"Go look for yourself," Harry said, as he and Ron rose to follow her to the Great Hall for breakfast. When they arrived, there was a large crowd where it had been posted. Hermione could hear a soft crying to her right. She looked to see Pansy Parkinson sitting against the wall with Millicent Bulstrode trying to comfort her. Hermione frowned. She must have not gotten a part. She walked up to the crowd and gently pushed her way through. She knew that Aurora would be at the very top so she decided to start from the bottom and work her way up. The crowd then disappeared slowly so it was only Hermione, Harry, and Ron at the board. Hermione read it out loud as she followed it with her finger.

"Townspeople are; Parvati Patil, Hannah Abbot, Cho Chang, Michael Corner, Blaise Zabini, and Harry Potter. Great job Harry! I'm proud of you!" Hermione said, as she gave Harry a one-armed-hug.

Harry blushed slightly but said nothing. She continued reading. "Maleficent's creatures are; Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, Gregory Goyle, and Vincent Crabbe. Well, the last two certainly fit the part well."

Harry and Ron chuckled as Hermione continued to read. "The Queen is Luna Lovegood. Oh! We'll have to congratulate her! King Hubert is Justin Finch-Fletchley. King Stephen is...Ron Weasley! Oh Ron, congratulations!" she said as she hugged him too. "Now, you do know Luna's going to play your wife, correct?"

Ron blushed. "Yes I know," he muttered.

Hermione grinned. "The fairies go as follows: Fauna is Padma Patil, Merryweather is Susan Bones. She'd fit that part since she's so kind. And Flora is Ginny Weasley. She got the lead of the good fairies! Oh this is so exciting! Maleficent is...Pansy Parkinson...." Hermione turned to see that Pansy started wailing even harder. She frowned. "Pansy why are you crying if you got a part?"

Pansy looked up with red eyes and a look of malice on her face. "Keep. Reading," she said with gritted teeth.

Hermione flinched but turned back to the post and kept reading. "Prince Phillip is Draco Malfoy. Well that's not that big of a surprise. I have to say that he was the best. Then Aurora/Briar Rose is...Hermione Granger....I got the part?" she asked as she looked from Ron to Harry. They both nodded with smiles on their faces. Hermione smiled broadly, but then realized something. "This means that I'm paired with Malfoy." Pansy wailed even louder, while Harry and Ron nodded, their smiles fading.

Pansy suddenly sniffed, stood up and walked over to Hermione until she was about a foot from her. She pointed a finger in her face and said, "If you even try to take Draco from me, I will make sure you die a slow and painful death. Got it?"

Hermione furrowed brow. "Why would I want him? After what he's done to me all these years?" She crossed her arms over her chest as Pansy snorted and put her hands on her hips.

"I saw you two last night. I know you made him do it. He would never do something like that on his own."

Hermione smirked. "Did he tell you that I forced him to?"

Pansy scowled. "No. But I know you did."

Hermione grinned. "Well just to let you know, it was all his idea."

Pansy paled and gaped. "I-I don't believe you. You're lying!"

"No I'm not. Go ask him if you want to know for sure."

Pansy's eyes flashed dangerously. "Don't think you'll get away with this, Mudblood." Ron and Harry stiffened.

Hermione smirked. "I think I already did. And two, quit with the Mudblood. It's getting really old and has no effect on me any more. Go ahead and spread that around to your little friends."

Pansy huffed and stomped into the hall with Millicent following behind. Hermione turned to Harry and Ron and smiled. They were looking at her in awe.

"Let's go get some breakfast, eh?" Hermione said, walking in to the hall with Harry and Ron on her heels. They sat down at breakfast and Hermione was being congratulated from moment one. She smiled and thanked everyone before reaching for some toast. She took a bite and felt as though someone were watching her. She looked up and glanced around until she spotted them. It was Draco Malfoy. He was staring at her with an expressionless look on his face. Just then, Professor McGonagall broke her eye contact by stepping in front of the gazing line. Hermione looked up and smiled.

"Good morning, professor," she said.

McGonagall smiled. "Good morning. And congratulations. I knew you'd make it. Here's your script and start memorizing soon. Good Luck!" And with that, she walked off to where Draco sat and handed him his script. Draco nodded and McGonagall returned to the table.

Hermione and Draco glanced through their scripts groaning at the forest scene. When they got to the scene where Prince Phillip finds Princess Aurora in her deep sleep, they both got wide eyed and their mouths dropped. Right there, in the middle of the page it said...Prince Phillip: She's the girl from the forest. And my dream. She's so beautiful and fair. Oh dear Princess...(kiss Princess gently on lips for a few seconds)

The hall grew suddenly quiet when there were two very loud, "BLOODY HELL!"'s from separate sides of the hall. Harry and Ron looked at Hermione with a very concerned look in their eyes and on their faces. Ginny furrowed her eyebrows, and Luna smirked. She had already gotten her script and read ahead. Ron did too, but he didn't even glance at it; it was already in his bag. Hermione took several deep breaths before she fainted backwards. She would have hit the floor if it weren't for Harry's quick reflexes. He caught her and laid her on the floor. Luna and Ron got up and came around the other side of the table where Hermione was.

Draco gulped and turned paper white before he got up and slowly walked out of the Great Hall, ignoring every word said to him. Professor McGonagall stopped him before he was completely through the doors though.

"Mr. Malfoy!" Draco stopped and McGonagall stopped right in front of him. The corners of her mouth looked like they were gently being tugged on. "Would the look on your face have anything to do with a certain kissing scene? Because if this is that look, what would you say if I said there were three?"

Draco's eyes got really wide and he gaped. "Th-three? Ki-kissing scenes? Wi-with Granger?"

Professor McGonagall frowned and nodded. "Yes. After the performance that happened last night, it didn't seem to occur to me that this would be a problem."

Draco sighed. "We were just trying to see if we could be better than the others. And we didn't think that the kissing scene would be in a school play."

"You're right. The teachers at first didn't want it. But then since it's going to be innocent and nothing too bad, they agreed that it would be alright."

Draco stared into the professor's eyes. "Who's my understudy?"

Professor McGonagall chuckled. "I knew you'd ask me that eventually. Your understudy is Brian Smith. And no, he will not take over you just because you're not happy with the script. He will only cover for you if something dreadful happens to you. And don't get any ideas about it either. The only way you're getting out of this is if you are deathly ill or have to go home for some reason."

Draco groaned. "Professor-"

McGonagall held up a hand. "I won't hear any of it Mr. Malfoy. You and Miss Granger will get together three times a week in my classroom after dinner to practice your scenes together. No exceptions. You will be excused from all prefect meetings until after the performance, and your first meeting will be tonight."

"Will there...uh-be someone there to supervise?" Draco asked.

Professor McGonagall smiled lightly. "No I'm afraid not. The teachers will be very busy up until the date of the play."

"When is it taking place?" Draco asked.

"On Christmas Eve. So that gives you a month and a half to learn all your lines and movements. I know it's not long, but we wanted it to be done before the New Year."

Draco sighed. "I'll have them memorized by then," he murmured.

Professor McGonagall smiled. "Great! Have a good day then Mr. Malfoy. I have to go and see if I can revive Miss Granger."

She bustled off to where Hermione lay unconscious on the floor with Ginny fanning her with her charms book. Draco shook his head and walked out of the hall. Professor McGonagall knelt next to Hermione, placed a hand on her forehead and muttered something incoherent. Hermione's eyes then fluttered open, and she looked slowly around.

"What happened?" she asked, looking at Harry.

"Well, you looked at something in your script, said 'BLOODY HELL!' along with Malfoy, and fainted. What's in there?" he asked.

Hermione furrowed her brow for moment before realizing what was in the script. She put a hand to her head, closed her eyes, and sighed. She licked her lips and said, "I uh...I um-have to ah...kiss Malfoy." She mumbled the last part, but unfortunately, everyone around her heard.

Ron and Harry stiffened, and Ginny and Luna gasped. "You have to what?" Ron asked, his teeth clenched together.

"Ron, now don't overreact or anything-"

"Overreact? Overreact? I'm not going to overreact. I'm going to go bloody insane!" Ron said standing up, towering high over Hermione.

Hermione sighed. She slowly stood up with the help of people around her. When she was up to her full height, she pointed a finger in Ron's chest. "Now listen to me Ron. It's. Just. A. Play. I was just a little over shocked, but I'm fine now. There will be no intimate relationships or anything going on with Malfoy and me. Got it? So chill out!"

"But this is Malfoy, Hermione!" Ron pleaded. "Who knows what's going to happen!"

"I'm well aware of who it is. And yes you're right. Who knows what's going to happen? I surely don't. And neither do you!"

"Mr. Weasley," Professor McGonagall said. "If I may say, this has is no concern of yours of what's written in the play. There are only three scenes where this will take place and they are nothing more than acting and very small."

Hermione, Harry, and Ron whirled on her. "Three!?" they shouted at the same time.

Professor McGonagall grinned. "Yes. The forest, the awakening, and the final scene."

Hermione licked her lips. "Malfoy's going to go berserk with just one, but three? He'll probably kill himself!"

McGonagall shook her head. "No he won't. I've already talked to him. He tried to get out of it as well when I told him three, but I told him and I will tell you....You do have an understudy, but they will only be used in case of an emergency. This is no emergency. With the way you two acted last night, I thought this would be no problem."

Hermione hesitated before she answered. "We were just acting last night."

McGonagall nodded. "Exactly. And that's all this will be. So, with that said, I shall tell you one more thing. You and Mr. Malfoy will practice your scenes together three times a week in my classroom after dinner until you have it down pat." Hermione, Ron, and Harry opened their mouths, but McGonagall held up a hand. "I don't want to hear any protests because there will be no excuses. You two are excused from all prefect meetings to practice. But after the play, you are expected to attend every meeting." Hermione nodded sullenly. "Now, you are to get with him this evening and practice and schedule times you are to meet. If you will excuse me, I have to get back to the staff table." She grinned at them all before she turned and walked back to the table.

Hermione, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Luna watched her for a second before they all turned and walked out of the hall.

When Professor McGonagall reached the table she sat in her usual place between Dumbledore and Snape. She sighed and shook her head.

"How well do you think this is going to work, Albus?" McGonagall asked.

"I'm hoping it goes well. Miss Granger has a strong will. Let's hope that she can change him. For his sake."

"What if it doesn't work, Headmaster?" Snape asked.

Dumbledore stared at the doors when he said, "It will. It will."

The teens walked outside to the lake in silence. When they reached the edge, they all sat down next to the edge. Hermione hugged her knees to her chest and buried her face in her arms. Ginny rubbed her back gently. "It'll be all right, Mione. It's just a play. I mean, it's not even permanent. It's just until Christmas. And it's not that far away."

"I know. But now Ron hates me," she said, without lifting her head. They could tell by the way her voice shook that she was crying. Ginny looked up at her brother and glared at him. He looked really guilty.

He sighed as he knelt down and put an arm around her. "Mione, I don't hate you. I could never hate you. I mean it's kind of like our job to argue. We wouldn't be Ron and Hermione if we didn't argue." Hermione laughed a little at this. Ron smiled. "But I'll never hate you for something that's not your fault. And I know this isn't your fault. I just didn't know what to say earlier. I was upset. So, please forgive me?"

Hermione raised her head and looked at him with her red eyes. She grinned and pulled him into a hug, which he really willingly returned. "Oh Ron. Of course I forgive you. And I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been such a smart ass either." They pulled away and smiled at each other.

"Oh, I'm really sorry to interrupt this intimate moment, but I need a word with Granger." Everyone turned their heads around to see Draco standing behind them with his arms crossed over his chest. He was dressed in black dress pants and a dark green long-sleeve shirt that clung to his muscles. Hermione dried her eyes and stood up and walked over to him.

When she reached him she put her arms on her hips. "What is it?" she asked him.

Draco smirked. "Oh I was just making sure that you know about our little meeting tonight."

Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Of course I know about it. Do you think that McGonagall would tell you something and not me?"

Draco raised his eyebrows. "I don't know. What do you think?"

Hermione sighed. "What do you really want?" she asked him, crossing her arms under her chest.

Draco glanced down at her chest briefly before looking back up into her eyes. But Hermione noticed and blushed slightly. "Meet me in McGonagall's classroom by 7:00 pm. We're going to schedule and everything and practice a little bit. And bring no one. If that is alright with you?" He raised his eyebrows at her and smirked.

Hermione pursed her lips. "Yes. That sounds pretty good to me. See you at seven." And with that, she turned and walked back to her friends. Draco watched her walk away, noting the gentle sway of her hips when she walked and how firm her butt looked in her tight jeans. He shook his head mentally before he walked back to the castle.

Hermione walked back over and sat in between Ginny and Luna. "So what was that about?" Luna asked.

Hermione shrugged. "Nothing really. He's just reminding me to meet him at seven in McGonagall's classroom. We're gonna practice and schedule our meetings."

"Would you like us to come with you?" Harry asked.

Hermione shook her head. "Can't. You're not allowed for some reason."

"Why?" Ron asked stiffly.

Hermione sighed and looked him dead in the eyes. "Ron. Don't. Start."

Ron held up his hands. "All right. Sorry. It's just an impulse."

Hermione stared off across the lake and lapsed into silence. Everyone watched her carefully for a moment before the started talking about whatever came to mind. They spent the whole day just hanging out and messing around. Hermione actually forgot about the meeting with Draco. That is until she went to dinner and looked over at him. He held up seven fingers to her. She groaned and nodded. She walked over to the table where everyone was sitting already. She flopped down next to Ginny and stared at her plate.

"What's the matter?" Ginny asked, looking over at her, her mouth full of food.

Picks up Ron's bad habits. He's such a good brother. Hermione shook her head. "Nothing. I just remembered my meeting with Malfoy in about half an hour." She reached out and got some meat pies.

Luna swallowed and said, "Don't worry about it. You'll be fine. If he does anything you have two sisters," she indicated herself and Ginny, "and two brothers," she pointed to Harry and Ron, "to beat his ass for you."

Everyone nodded and smiled at her. She grinned and said, "Thanks guys." She went back to eating her dinner, only talking when she was talked to. She had just gotten done eating her peach tart when she glanced up to see Draco rising from his table. He caught her eye and nodded before walking out of the hall. Hermione hung her head and sighed before she stood up from the table.

Ron looked up and said, "Is it time?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes. I'll meet you guys in the common room in a few hours." Everyone nodded sullenly before she walked out of the hall as slowly as possible. She really hated the fact that the Transfiguration classroom was on the same floor as the Great Hall. She walked as slowly as possible to the classroom, but she found herself there quicker than she thought. She took a deep breath before she turned the knob and stepped inside. Draco was sitting with his back turned to her on the on of the front tables. He was obviously reading something because he had his head lowered and she could hear the occasional turn of a page.

She didn't know how long she stood there, but she shook her head mentally before she stepped inside and shut the door firmly behind her. Draco snapped his head in her direction when he heard the click of the door. He put down what he had in his hands and stood. Hermione noticed that what he was reading was his script. She gulped. She looked up to meet his gray eyes and a smirk on his face. She stood up as straight as possible and walked up to the front of the room where he was standing. The room was somewhat brightly lit. But not too bright. Hermione stopped at the edge of the table where Draco stood and looked him defiantly in the face.

"Shall we get this over?" she said.

Draco raised an eyebrow at her. "In a hurry are we?"

Hermione pursed her lips. "I don't have time for your sarcasm, Draco."

He held up his hands in defeat. "Fine. Let's get to work then." He let his eyes rake over her body slowly first before he met her eyes once more and raised his eyebrows at her. Hermione blushed slightly before she turned her head. She then realized something.

"Oh drats! I forgot my script!"

Draco raised an eyebrow at her. "Really? You actually forgot something?"

Hermione put her hands firmly on her hips. "Malfoy!" she said testily.

"All right. You can use mine along with me."

Hermione looked at him somewhat shocked. He was going to share? She realized she was staring at him and looked away quickly. Draco then cleared his throat.

"So, do you want to schedule first, or practice first?" he asked her.

Hermione thought a minute before she said, "Let's schedule first. That won't take so long, so let's go ahead and get that over with."

Draco shrugged slightly. "Alright. Let's see...Monday's good for you?"

"Any day's good for me. It's you that's got the problem with Quidditch practice."

Draco looked thoughtful. "True. We practice every Tuesday, and Thursday. So how about Wednesdays and Fridays too. We can have the weekends off unless we desperately need to practice," he said, stringing out desperately.

Hermione nodded. "Sounds good to me. That way, when Hogsmeade time comes up, we can go. So, since that's settled, do you want to start practicing?"

Draco sighed. "Why not? Unless you want to sit here and talk and get to know each other better?"

Hermione looked at him as though he was mad. "I was only joking, Granger. I know enough about you to get by. You're a know-it-all muggle born witch who's best friends with the Boy Wonder and Weasel. Your favorite things to do are study and go on adventures with your little friends."

Hermione frowned. "You're hardly even close to knowing anything about me," she said stiffly.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? What do you know about me?"

Hermione took a deep breath before she answered. "Well, you're an arrogant bastard who only thinks that purebloods are the way to go. You think you can get away with anything because your daddy's a rich dumb fuck, and your future is to follow in his footsteps."

Draco's eyes narrowed and his face grew stiff. His eyes were filled with malice and his fists clenched. "Don't you even say that you know what my future's going to bring because you don't," he said so slowly and with the most dangerous bite to it, that Hermione shivered. He turned his back to her, and Hermione looked away guiltily.

"I'm sorry. It's just..." Hermione wrapped her arms around herself as she sat on the table. Draco turned slowly around to look at her. She was concentrating on a spot on the ground. "It's just from the way that you've always acted and everything," she looked up into his eyes, "that everyone's already assumed your place in life."

They stared at each other for a while before Draco sighed. "So...basically everyone in this school thinks that I'm a rich, stuck-up bastard who is to become a Death Eater later in life?"

Hermione said nothing, but just nodded. Draco shook his head and huffed slightly. "Why don't people get to know the real me?" he murmured. But Hermione heard him.

"Because you don't give anyone a chance," she said, hopping off the table and walking over to him. "Your first impression does matter. And your first impression with some wasn't so good. So your reputation is pretty well written out. If you wouldn't turn people away from you-"

"Who says I turn people away from me?" he interrupted.

Hermione took a deep breath. "Because you hang out with whom your father tells you to. And I know they won't listen to what you have to say."

Draco's eyes narrowed. "They listen," he said simply.

Hermione crossed her arms over her chest. "Alright, name one time that something happened to you that you needed to talk about and they listened to you."

Draco opened his mouth to speak, but he quickly shut it. Hermione grinned triumphantly. "You see? You don't have any true friends."

Draco pursed his lips. "Just because you have friends that will protect your every move, doesn't mean that I have to."

"You mean friends that are dumber than dirt and only stand by you because your father said so and they're so big?"

Draco glared at her momentarily before he turned his back on her once more and walked a few steps in front of her. "I don't need any friends. I'm perfectly fine on my own."

Hermione sighed. She walked up to him and said softly, "No. You're not." Draco turned slowly so that he was looking her directly in the eyes. He noted that he was only about a few inches taller than she was.

"What are you talking about?" he asked quietly.

"You're not perfectly fine without friends. I can see it in your eyes, Draco. You're suffering. You need someone to confide in. Someone to talk to."

Draco said nothing for a moment and his face was expressionless. "So what do you plan to do about it?" he asked, taking a step forward so that they were only about two inches from touching each other.

Hermione licked her lips before she said, "Let me help you."

Draco's eyes widened. "You? You want to be friends with me?"

Hermione nodded. "Yes. I know that there is more in that cold heart of yours. There is so much that you need to tell, Draco, and I know it! So please, let me be the one."

Draco stared at her as if she were mad. "You can't be serious! You know how this would ruin my reputation?"

That did it. Hermione's eyes flashed dangerously at him and her lips pursed. She took another step forward so she was mere centimeters from his face and said, "That's just it, Malfoy. You are so worried about what other people think that you don't even give a second glance to what's right in front of you. What or who can help you. You'd rather pass it right by because you're worried about your precious little reputation. Well if that's what you're worried about, then I don't want to help you."

She went to walk out of the room, but before she could take two steps, Draco caught her arm. "Wait!" Hermione turned abruptly to see his face pleading for her to stay. She took a step toward him so that the grip on her arm was not so tight. "Just...I can't believe I'm saying this but...alright. Please help me. I have so much to tell that I don't even think that I could get it all out tonight. And since I've watched how loyal you are to Potter and Weasley, I think that I can trust you not to tell or criticize me."

Hermione stared at him with her mouth open before she gave him a small smile. "Alright. How about we start tonight though?" Draco nodded, and Hermione took him by the hand and led him to one of the tables. They sat down and stayed in silence for a moment. "Well? Are you going to talk, or are we going to stare at each other all night?"

Draco sighed. "Okay. I'll start. But don't interrupt me. Wait until I finish to give any comments. Or unless I ask your opinion on something."

Hermione nodded and crossed her arms in front of her on the table and turned toward him. Draco took a deep breath before he began. "Well, it started a long time ago. Long before I can remember. My father is, as you know, right hand man to the Dark Lord. He told my father to have a son and to make it to where he would be just like him. A Death Eater that is. My father agreed and they had me. I was just like any other normal rich boy for a while. I only saw my nanny and every once in a while, I saw my mother or father. I saw my mother more though. I remember when I was really small, my mother at night would come in and pick me up out of my cradle and just hold me. I can remember her crying and tell me that she was sorry for everything that would soon happen to me. She would hold me and rock me for hours. Until he came home. Then, she was gone.

"Then, I can recall one time when I was about four years old. I was sitting in the dining hall eating lunch when father came home. He came in and set all of his paperwork down on the table before calling to one of the house elves to bring him some tea. He sat at his usual place at the head of the table. My mother and I sat on either side of him. He looked over at me and said, "Hello son." I remember looking up at him and his face was like it always looked. Expressionless. Cold. I smiled at him and said, "Hello Daddy." Then, I saw his face darken. He raised his hand and slapped me across the face." Hermione gasped and set one of her hands on his. But Draco just continued. "He glared at me and told me to never call him Daddy. I was to call him father. I started crying from the pain and he slapped me again. He told me that Malfoys don't cry.

"Mother came in at that time and saw me crying and the bruise that was forming on my left cheek. She gasped and ran over to me, but Lucius stopped her before she could reach me. He told her that I was no longer to be babied and that now was the time for me to learn. I rarely saw my father after that. My guess is that my mother ordered my nanny to keep me away from him at all costs unless necessary. Then, when I was about seven, my nanny left me. So I was on my own. That was also the same year that Lucius set me down and told me everything that I was to know. He told me that I was to never cry. To never laugh, unless at evil cruel things. To never smile, only smirk. To never be below any Mud-...muggle-borns. To never associate with them. To never compare myself to them because I was a Malfoy. A pureblood. Better than anything or anyone. He also told me to never..." he paused and looked out into the darkness of the room for the candles were slowly starting to die away. "To never love. He said that love was something that only caused pain and Malfoy's don't feel pain. He said it was something gross and disgusting. So, after our little talk, he gave me a book that told me everything that I was to know. It's called the Malfoy Rules Handbook.

"I know that I'm probably breaking about fifty of them right now just by sitting here talking to you. But I don't care. You have no idea how much this means to me." He looked over at her and saw that she had tears falling softly down her face. He reached up and wiped away a tear. His brow furrowed. "You're crying for me?" he asked.

Hermione nodded and dried her face off with her hand. "Yes. Because no matter how much I used to despise you, no one, especially you, deserves to be treated the way you did."

Draco glanced down briefly. "Yes I know. But that should somewhat tell you why I act the way I do. It's the way I was taught. I never actually meant to do anything. It's just an impulse. A reaction."

Hermione squeezed the hand that she held. "Draco, you don't have to put on an act for me any longer. You can come to me from now on for anything. And we can talk whenever you like."

Draco stared into her brown eyes for a moment before he nodded. "Alright. Thanks Hermione." And he smiled at her. A smile that reached his eyes.

Hermione grinned slyly. "You know you should do that more often. Smile that is. You look rather handsome when you smile."

Draco raised an eyebrow at her and grinned. "Oh really?"

Hermione smiled. "Yes. Really." They sat there for a moment just looking at each other before Hermione realized something. "What time is it?"

Draco glanced at the clock on McGonagall's wall. He squinted at it and said, "It's...8:30. We still have time to practice a bit if you want."

Hermione yawned. "No. I think that we've had enough adventures for one day. But, how about we meet tomorrow. Since we didn't get anything done today, we can practice tomorrow and talk some more if you want."

Draco thought a moment before he said. "Alright. That sounds good. Where shall I meet you and when?"

Hermione bit her lip as she thought a moment before she said, "Meet me at the end of the Gryffindor Tower corridor at six tomorrow evening. I know a really good place where we can practice."

Draco's eyes widened. "We're not practicing in the Gryffindor common room are we? You want me to get killed?"

Hermione giggled. "No. But it's close to the Gryffindor Tower area. So meet me there tomorrow, alright?"

Draco nodded. "Okay." They let go of each other's hands and stood up from the table. Hermione and Draco's hands suddenly felt cold from the loss of warmth. They walked out of the Transfiguration classroom side-by-side. They looked up and down the corridor to see it deserted except for the suits of armors against the walls. They stepped out of the classroom and Draco closed the door behind them. They walked to the end of the corridor where they went their separate ways.

They turned to each other and stood there in silence for a moment before Hermione threw her arms around Draco's neck. Draco stood there somewhat stunned for a moment before he slowly returned the hug. "Good night, Draco. If you need anything in the night, just send me an owl and I'll be right there," she whispered in his ear.

Draco closed his eyes and brought her a little closer to him. "Good night, Hermione. And I assure you that you'll be the first one to know if anything happens." He took a deep breath and sucked in the smell of her hair. She smelled of lilacs, his favorite flower. They pulled away and Hermione shyly put her hair behind her ear.

She smiled at him before she said, "Well, bye," and walked off in the direction of Gryffindor Tower.

"Good-Bye Hermione," Draco said to her, before he turned and walked towards the dungeons.

That time they were together, they ignored the world around them. Although, the hug in the corridor did not go unseen, for one small redheaded Gryffindor witnessed it all.