Sleeping Bookworm

Chapter 3

The Second Practice (for real!)

AN- Some stuff may be repeated in this chapter. But...I think that it's a good chapter. Not one of my best ones, but hey...that's your choice! ;)

When Hermione reached Gryffindor Tower, the common room was still occupied. Hermione glanced around and saw Harry and Ron sitting in a corner working on the Potions essay that was due on Monday. Hermione smiled to herself. They're actually doing homework! Oh no. Are they sick? She shook her head slightly before she walked over to the table. She stood at the edge of it and watched them for the longest time. They were totally oblivious to the fact that she was standing there. She crossed her arms over her chest and cleared her throat.

The two boys snapped their head up at her and when they realized whom it was they smiled and jumped up. "Hermione!" they said in unison.

"Hello boys. Doing homework I see?" she said, peering at the essays with rather big handwriting on it.

Ron nodded. "Yea. We decided that since we're going to have to start having practices for plays, that we might as well get head starts on our homework."

Hermione grinned. "Oh, I'm so proud of you guys." She sat in the vacant chair next to Ron.

They sat there in an awkward silence before Ron asked, "So uh...how was practice?"

Hermione played with her fingers on the table, not looking at the boys. She shrugged lightly. "It was alright. Nothing dramatic happened or anything."

Harry's eyes widened. "You mean you didn't practice the kissing scenes?"

Hermione shook her head. "No. We didn't really practice at all."

Ron and Harry suddenly started getting worried. "What do you mean you didn't practice? What did you do then?" Harry asked.

"We just got to know each other better actually," she said, crossing her arms in front of her on the table and surveying the boys. She knew what she was doing to them, and she thought it was funny. Even though every word out of her mouth was the truth.

"Got to know each other better in what way?" Ron asked weakly.

Hermione looked back and forth from the Ron to Harry and back. Ron's face was growing redder by the minute, and Harry's face was actually pale and sick looking. She suddenly just started laughing. Ron and Harry looked offended. "What's so funny?" Harry asked.

Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes and managed to choke out, "The...the looks on your-your faces!"

Ron and Harry glanced at each other for a moment before realization set in. "You mean...you didn't snog him or anything?"

Hermione shook her head, as she finally started calming down. "No. But we did get to know one another better. At least I got to know him better. All we did was talk. And I found out a lot of things I bet none of us knew."

Ron looked as though he had just found a million galleons. "So are you going to tell us?" he asked.

Hermione looked at him with her brow furrowed. "Of course not! I've been sworn to secrecy, and it's none of your business anyway! It's just between Draco and me."

"Since when did you start calling him Draco?" Harry asked, in a disgusted manner.

Hermione rounded on Harry. "Does it matter? All I'm saying is that I saw a side of Draco Malfoy that no one in this school knows about."

"So you mean he really is a Death Eater?" Ron asked, as though he was a small child who just found buried treasure.

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him. "No Ron. He's not. And he never will be for your information." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked out the window to her right.

"So let me get this straight," Harry said. "You spent one evening with Malfoy, and now you're all good friends with him?"

Hermione snapped her head in Harry's direction so fast that she hurt her neck. "Yes, I am good friends with him if you don't mind."

Ron and Harry's mouths dropped. "What?" they both asked.

Hermione sighed. "I said, I'm good friends with him now. Is that a problem?"

"It bloody well is a problem!" Ron yelled. "You can't just go and make friends with our arch enemy over night like that! I mean, what if he was lying to you? What if he made all that stuff he told you up just to make you sorry for him? He called you a...a...Mu-Mudblood for crying out loud, Hermione!"

"I am well aware of that. But I will tell you this.... Did you know that he didn't call me a Mudblood once while we were there together?" Harry and Ron looked somewhat shocked. "And I know he wasn't lying to me because the fact that I could see it in his eyes that he was telling me the truth. He told me things that made me cry, Ron. Cry! And it's not that easy to get me to cry and you know that!"

Harry and Ron sat there in an awkward silence, feeling guilty. "And I'm meeting him tomorrow evening. We're going to go and practice for real this time and maybe talk some more."

Harry and Ron's attention was now full. "What? Tomorrow? Are you going to meet him every weekend?"

Hermione shook her head. "No. But I told him that since we didn't practice today that we could practice tomorrow and talk more if he wished, and he agreed with me. We scheduled out to meet every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We are going to take the weekends off for Hogsmede trips and such and Tuesday and Thursday is Quidditch practice for him. So, now that I have consulted with my beloved brothers, I'm going to bed. I am tired and would like to get some sleep. Good night."

And with that, she stood up and walked straight to the girls' dormitories without a word from them. When she walked into her room, she noticed that Parvati and Lavender weren't in there yet. She sighed a sigh of relief and walked over to her four-poster bed. She dug out her pajamas and got dressed in silence. But when she pulled back the hangings to her bed, she gasped.

Ginny Weasley was sitting there, propped up against her pillows and flipping through one of her books. When she heard Hermione gasp, she looked up and gave her a small smile.

"Hello Hermione," she said cheerfully.

Hermione looked at her curiously. "Hello Ginny. May I ask what you're doing in my bed?"

Ginny closed and set down the book she was reading before she looked up at the older girl. "I just came to ask you how practice was with Malfoy. Or should I say Draco."

Hermione stared at the younger girl for a moment. "What are you talking about?" she asked.

Ginny started examining her nails. "I saw you hug him at the end of the Transfiguration corridor tonight Hermione." She looked up to see that Hermione was slowly starting to turn pale. "What's going on?"

Hermione sighed and sat down on her bed. "Well, it's like this. When I arrived, Draco and I scheduled when we're going to meet. Then afterwards, we got in somewhat of a small row. But then he ended up spilling out a dark secret that I bet no one in this school knows about. It made me cry. I felt so sorry for him." Hermione could see the look in Ginny's eyes and grinned. "And no I'm not going to tell you."

Ginny frowned but said, "Continue."

Hermione took a deep breath. "So, I told him that we'll meet tomorrow and practice and talk some more if he wished. So, we're meeting six tomorrow evening to practice and maybe I can get him to open up a little more."

Ginny stared at Hermione for a moment before she said, "So you're friends with Malfoy now?" Hermione nodded. Ginny sighed. "Do Harry and Ron know?"

"Yes. I just told them before I came up here. They didn't take it too well, but I don't care. I saw a side of Draco Malfoy tonight that I bet no one has seen before. He does have a gentler side ya know. I just hope I can help him before it's too late."

Hermione looked off, and Ginny placed a hand on her shoulder. "Listen, I don't want to see you get hurt. So, please be careful."

Hermione looked up to see Ginny's eyes pleading. She nodded and gave the girl a small smile. "I promise. I'll watch out for what I'm doing. I'll be careful."

Ginny smiled. "Good. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to bed."

Hermione laughed lightly as the other girl stood up. "Be my guest. I'm beat."

Ginny nodded. "Me too. The fairies have practice tomorrow so I need to get some sleep."

"Alright. Good night Gin."

"Night Mione."

Ginny left the dorm as Hermione lay down in her bed, bringing the sheets up to her chin. She closed her eyes and soon drifted off to sleep with a certain blonde haired boy staring in them.

Draco walked silently to the Slytherin Dungeons. When he arrived, he walked into the common room and every head turned towards him. When they realized who it was, they quickly went back to what they were doing. Crabbe and Goyle on the other hand walked up and said, "Hey, where ya been?" Draco gave them a look that told them to go away. So they obeyed. He changed and lay down in his bed and stared up at the ceiling for the longest time.

He couldn't believe what he just did. He just had a civil conversation with Hermione Granger. Hermione Granger! And he told her his darkest secrets. He somewhat knew that he could trust her. That she wouldn't tell a soul. He was somewhat relieved that he finally got all that stuff off of his chest. But he was still worried what would happen if his father found out.

His mother would be happy for him that he had found a friend to confide in whether they were muggle born or not. His father on the other hand, even though he was in Azkaban, would find a way to punish him. Bring him to his senses. Tell him that he was a disgrace of a son and that he's ashamed that Draco's his son. He'd probably be getting worse than Crucio this time.

Draco sighed. But in the back of his mind, he saw Hermione. Crying for him. For him! He hasn't had a friend who listened to his every word. Comforted him. It was different. A good different. He was looking forward to the next day just to see her smiling face again. Draco's eyes then became wide.

What am I thinking? Do I like her or something? No. We're just friends. Draco sighed once again before he turned over and fell into an uneasy sleep filled with an evil Lucius and tortured Hermione.

The next day, Hermione woke up somewhat early considering she went to bed so early. She got up and slipped into a pair of her muggle jeans with a brown, long-sleeved peasant top with cream-colored flowers on the hems. She brushed out her hair and put a potion in it to make it bouncier. She didn't need to straighten it any longer. It did that on it's own over the summer. It was now long, shiny, and curly. She stuck her script in her back pocket and went downstairs and saw that there was no one there. She frowned and looked at the grandfather clock in the corner. It was 7:30.

She shrugged and went downstairs for an early breakfast. She noticed there were no students there, but only Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall. She smiled to them as she went and sat down at her usual spot at the Gryffindor table. They smiled and nodded back in return and continued their conversation. When Hermione had seated herself, the plate in front of her filled with a small stack of pancakes and her goblet with pumpkin juice. She smiled. Just what I wanted. She smothered them in butter and syrup and began to eat in silence. She knew that since it was only 7:30 in the morning on a Sunday that no one would be up for a long while, so she took her time.

The next thing she knew, she felt someone plop down on to the seat next to her. She snapped her head up to see Draco sitting there grinning at her. Neither of them noticed the smile on the Professor's faces. Draco smiled and pointed to the corner of his mouth. Hermione got the hint and picked up a napkin and wiped the syrup off her mouth and swallowed.

"Gone?" she asked him with a small smile.

Draco nodded. "You're up early," he said simply before the plate in front of him filled with bacon, eggs, and sausage.

Hermione stared at him. "Yea. I went to bed quite early last night." Draco nodded and started cutting up his food. "Are you going to eat with me?"

Draco turned his head to her and furrowed his brow. "Why not?"

Hermione held up her hands. "I was just asking. I didn't say it was a problem."

"Okay then. So...did you tell your little friends anything that happened last night?" he asked, before taking a bite of his food.

"I told them a little bit, but I told them not a word of the conversation you told me. I told them that I would not betray your trust with me." She took a swig from her goblet while Draco stared at her in awe. She looked over at him and slowly brought the drink away from her lips. "What? Do I have something else on my face now?"

Draco shook his head and grinned, looking down at his plate. "No it's just..." he looked back up at her, "just that you didn't tell anyone?"

Hermione shook her head. "No. Why should I? It's none of their business. And I won't tell anyone unless you want me to." She went back to her pancakes and they ate in silence for a moment before Draco came up with another question.

"How did they take the news about our sudden friendship?"

Hermione swallowed her food with difficulty and sighed. "Not too well. They think that you were lying to me and that I shouldn't trust anything that you do to me or say to me. I told them that I know you weren't lying because I could tell by the look that was in your eyes last night. And I know what I'm getting myself into. If you are using me and everything, that's my fault. I'm the one risking this. Not them. I told them they can't keep protecting my every move and to accept the fact that I am friends with you."

Draco laughed lightly. "Sounds just like them. They think that I was lying to you and using you?" Hermione nodded. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. I mean I may be cold hearted, but I'm not that cold hearted." Hermione giggled. "So is that all?"

Hermione shook her head. "No. Do you remember when I hugged you last night in the corridor?"

Draco blushed slightly. "Yes," he said quietly.

Hermione gawked at him momentarily before she realized she was staring and shook her head. "Sorry. I just thought I saw you blush."

Draco grinned. "So? I mean, I broke a bunch of rules last night in the handbook, why not another? I mean hell, why not just toss away the whole damn book!?"

Hermione laughed. "That sounds like a good idea. No one's life should have a list of rules like that." They smiled at each other before Hermione remembered what they were talking about. "Oh! Anyway, the hug that I gave you didn't go unwitnessed."

Draco frowned. "It didn't? Who saw?"

"Ginny did. She was sitting on my bed when I came back and questioned me about it. She said that she's worried about my safety and everything. I told her not to worry. She said she wouldn't go and start spreading rumors about us either."

Draco nodded. "Good. I wouldn't mind people seeing us and telling the truth, but I don't want rumors."

Hermione stared at him for the second time that morning as if he had sprouted a second head. "You mean it? You don't mind being seen with me?"

Draco looked over at her and smiled. "Not anymore. Why would I be ashamed of being seen with the one person who's been so nice to me? Listened to me. Accepted me. Smiled at me. Laughed with me." He paused and his face grew serious. "Cried for me."

Hermione gulped as she realized just how close they were sitting. Hermione licked her lips on impulse, and Draco glanced down at her lips. They slowly leaned in but quickly jumped apart when they heard Dumbledore laugh out loud. They looked away from each other and were suddenly occupied in anything but the other.

They slowly looked over at the other and caught each other's eye. Then, they started laughing hysterically. They didn't even notice Professor Snape come in they were laughing so hard. Snape eyed them suspiciously for a moment before he went up to the staff table.

He sat down and sighed. "Looks like our plan is working, Headmaster."

Dumbledore nodded, as did McGonagall. "Yes. I do believe it is. Let's hope it lasts now."

Hermione and Draco slowly controlled their laughter. Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes as Draco tried to catch his breath. When they finally were able to speak, Draco said, "What were we laughing at?"

Hermione shrugged. "I have no idea. But I haven't laughed like that in ages."

Draco smiled. "I've never laughed like that. It felt so good."

"Good. I'm glad I could be of some assistance." They went back to their breakfast only talking small talk until they finished. When they finished eating, they sat there just drinking pumpkin juice and talking. Draco found out more about Hermione's family. What they did for a living. Where she used to go to school. How she was treated there. Her favorite things. Draco learned so much about her in about an hour time. Students slowly started filling the Great Hall. When they saw Hermione and Draco sitting together, they stared, but Hermione and Draco were totally oblivious to them. They were too busy getting to know each other. Hermione was telling Draco about her trip to France last summer when Harry and Ron came in. They spotted Hermione and Draco sitting together at the Gryffindor table, just talking away.

Harry and Ron stiffened. They didn't actually think that they would take their relationship publicly! They both stomped over and stood in front of them on the other side of the table. They crossed their arms over their chest and waited for Hermione to notice they were there.

"We were at the top of the Ifle Tower right? And this French guy comes and stands on the other side of me. He was leaning pretty far over the railing when I noticed he had a backpack on. He then said, 'Watch this,' in French, jumped off the side and pulled open his chute! It had written on it, 'Maria, Marry Me!' and I heard a girl from the end of the balcony say, 'Yes Pierre! I will!'" They both started laughing when Harry cleared his throat impatiently. They both looked up and immediately stopped laughing.

"Good Morning, Hermione. Care to tell me what's going on?"

"N-nothing. We're just having a conversation over breakfast."

Ron looked around. "Uh...I don't see any breakfast Mione. What's he doing here? At our table?"

Hermione sighed. "Ron. Please don't start."

"Start what Hermione? The fact that you're going to take your relationship with this Death Eater to be public?
Draco had been keeping quiet until then. He glared at the red haired boy standing in front of him. "You don't know anything about my future so shut up!"

Ron then rounded on him. "I wasn't talking to you in the first place for one. For two, it's pretty much written out from your reputation!"

Draco went to retort, but Hermione stood up. "Enough!" she yelled. All three boys and people at the surrounding tables turned their attention to her. "I have had it up to here (she put her hand on forehead) with the three of you arguing, and assuming things. Especially you two," she said, indicating Ron and Harry. "After the talk that we had last night, I thought that I had imbedded in you deep enough that I don't care about what people say about mine and Draco's friendship!"

"But Hermione-" Harry tried to plead, but Hermione held up a hand.

"I don't want to hear it. I'm tired of you two being way to over protective of me. I mean, sure I appreciate it sometimes, but there are times that I wish that I could do things without having to consult you two. Come on, Draco. Let's go somewhere else to talk." Draco looked up at Hermione before he stood up next to her. "And I don't want you two following me or coming to find me either. Just leave me alone for a while." With that said, she left the Great Hall with all eyes on her and Draco, and Harry and Ron standing there, filled with guilt and anger.

Hermione led Draco out to the lake to her favorite spot; a place underneath the willow tree just at the edge of the lake and the Forbidden Forest. There was no one to be seen outside, but Hermione still hurried as fast as she could out towards the tree. When they were about ten feet from it, Draco grabbed her by the arm.

"Hey! Slow down all right? What's the big hurry?"

Hermione stopped and turned around to look at him. She sighed. "I'm sorry. I was just in such a hurry to get a way from them that I forgot to actually think. I just knew where I was headed and that's about all. I don't remember anything about speed."

Draco chuckled slightly. "Well, that's all right. Come on, let's go and talk. Lead me to wherever this spot of yours is." Draco held out his arm for her in an elegant manner and looked at her with a grin on his face. Hermione chuckled at him before she looped her arm through his and walked over to the tree. Draco held back the branches for her when she went to step in. When they were both inside, they could only see the branches and streams of light. Since the tree was close enough to the lake, you could walk out into it about five feet and still be concealed inside the braches of the tree. It was a beautiful place; Draco realized why Hermione liked it so much. It was very private since nobody could see you in here at all.

"It's a beautiful place, Hermione. Do you come here often?"

Hermione shrugged. "Only when I need a really quiet place to relax and study. Sometimes I just come out here and take a nap. Listen to the sound of the braches in the breeze. The lake water lapping onto the shore. A bird singing in the forest somewhere. It's very peaceful. That's why I like it here."

"I can imagine so," Draco said, still looking around. But then his eyes came down and settled on her script. "You brought your script with you?"

Hermione furrowed her eyebrows at him for a moment before she remembered. "Oh yea!" she said smiling. "I brought it with me to breakfast so that maybe I could start memorizing. But then you showed up."

Draco frowned. "You know I can go away." But then he smiled at her and she playfully hit him. "I brought mine too if you want to go ahead and practice now?"

Hermione nodded. "Sure. We can do that. How about the forest scene, since the scenery is just right?"

Draco chuckled. "Sure. Why not?"

He took his script out of his back pocket and held it out in front of him. "Ok. Do you want to just skip over the song and stuff since we already did that?"

"Yea. Let's just go to the conversation."

(AN- I know that some of the stuff that is about to happen really didn't happen in Sleeping Beauty, but is going to now just because I want it too. LOL!)

Hermione took out her script and turned to the page where they were going to start. "Ok. Here we go...." Draco held Hermione in his arms like he did the other night and they started.

'Oh! I'm so sorry, but I'm not supposed to talk to strangers!" Hermione said, walking a few paces away from him and turning back.

"But we're not strangers," Draco said, walking up to her. "We've met before. You said so yourself. Once upon a dream."

Hermione smiled and turned away. "Yes, but...how do you know if dreams really do come true?"

Draco's face became serious as he walked up to her and took her hands in his. "I don't. No one does. But if it makes you feel any better, my name is Phillip."

Hermione smiled. "I'm Rose. Or that's what my guardians call me."

Draco looked down at his script and furrowed his brow as he looked back up at Hermione. "Guardians? Don't you live with your parents?"

Hermione looked at her script briefly. "No. I was taken away from them when I was very small for some reason or another." Hermione looked away towards the lake with a sad look on her face.

Draco glanced at his script. "I'm sorry. Listen, would you like to dance again? Maybe it might cheer things up a bit?"

Hermione smiled. "I would like that."

They both looked down at their scripts to see what the next lines and everything were. They saw that they danced for a minute and then kissed. Hermione's breathing faltered and Draco gulped. "It's just practice," Hermione told him. Draco nodded and they then started dancing. She place one hand in his and the other held her imaginary skirt. They both chuckled slightly until they started dancing. Draco's other hand was firmly around her waist.

As they danced, they stared into each other's eyes as if they were lost in them, and every once and a while, they would glance at each other's lips. Hermione licked her lips self consciously, Draco took a deep breath. They slowly stopped dancing, but neither was aware of it. Hermione brought her free hand up and placed it on his shoulder. They dropped each other's hand, and Hermione's went to his other shoulder, and Draco wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing her closer to him. Hermione licked her lips again as they slowly leaned in. Draco dipped his head slightly and closed his eyes. Hermione's fluttered closed just as their lips met in a gentle kiss.

They stood there for a second with just their lips not moving or anything, but Draco soon changed that. He moved his lips against hers, and Hermione then equally responded. Hermione nipped at his lower lip, which caught him by surprise. He opened his mouth to her, and soon Hermione's tongue was tasting every last bit of him. Draco moaned into her mouth, showing his approval. Draco then kissed her back with equal force and need. Their tongues met and Hermione made a small sound in her throat. They pulled away since air was calling to them, and searched each other's faces.

Hermione licked her lips once more and said, "Wow."

Draco grinned. "I don't believe that was in the script."

"I honestly don't care. I don't think that Phillip and Rose are supposed to kiss like that!"

"It was nice. Very nice actually. You're a good kisser," Draco said, tapping her nose with his finger.

Hermione giggled. "Well I was somewhat afraid since I've never actually been kissed before."

Draco frowned. "You haven't? A beautiful girl like you has never been kissed or anything?"

Hermione grinned. "No. I haven't. And I appreciate the compliment."

Draco grinned. "No problem. But um..." Draco slowly frowned. "I'm uh...I'm not ready to go far with this relationship thing yet. I mean, I'm just getting used to us being friends and all. So don't take it the wrong way or anything, it's just, I need some time."

Hermione just looked at him for a moment before she smiled. "That's perfectly alright, Draco. I was thinking the exact same thing. So you have nothing to worry about. We're just friends. And that kiss, was just a practice one that went a little too far, which can happen."

Draco nodded. "Yes it can. And it did. But, it's over now and we can just go on now. Being friends."

Hermione nodded. "Right. Just friends."

"Right," Draco said.

But even though they were 'just friends' they didn't seem to want to let go of each other. This hit Hermione's mind first. "Um, Draco?" she asked softly.

"Hmm?"

"Do you uh...mind letting go of me now?" she asked him, looking a way, blushing.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" Draco said, as his eyes got wide with realization and he quickly, but reluctantly, let go of her. They both stepped backwards putting about ten feet in between them. They looked around for a moment, avoiding each other at all costs.

Draco cleared his throat after a few minutes of silence. "Um...do you want to continue with the practice?"

Hermione turned her attention to Draco. "Oh uh...sure." They both picked up their scripts and read a few lines before Hermione spoke. "Oh I have to be going!" she said, turning away.

It took Draco a second to realize that she was acting. His eyes got wide and he said, "Oh! Uh...Whatever for? We were having such a lovely time!"

Hermione looked back at Draco and sighed. "Yes I know, but I must be getting back. I wasn't supposed to stay out for so long. And it shall be getting dark soon. I really should return home now." She turned a way again towards the lake.

"Maybe I could walk you?" Draco asked, reaching out to her.

Hermione glanced down at her script before she looked back up at Draco with fearful eyes. "Oh no! We simply cannot be seen together. I don't know how my guardians will react if they should see you. And I don't want to risk it. But I promise, we will meet again." She smiled up at him. "Outside of each other's dreams."

Draco smiled back at Hermione. "Of course." He glanced down at his script briefly. "Until we meet again, Rose." He lifted her hand and kissed it ever so gently, his eyes never leaving hers. Then he turned and walked a few paces away before turning back to Hermione.

Hermione glanced down at her script before she looked back at where the water met the shore. "When will I meet you again? Soon I hope. He was ever so kind." Hermione hugged herself and swayed back and forth. "The way he danced was so elegant, and the look in his eyes was so breath taking." She glanced once more at her script. She plopped on to the ground and hugged her knees to her chest. A smile on her lips. "And when we kissed, his lips were ever so soft, and he was so gentle with me. So until we meet again my love." She blew a kiss into the air. "Tonight. In my dreams." Hermione's head fell to her knees, and Draco broke into applause.

"That was great, Hermione."

Hermione looked back and saw Draco walking towards her. She blushed slightly before she stood and brushed herself off. "Thank you. I forgot you were standing there."

Draco smirked at her. "Well you are a very good actress ya know. Did you act before?"

Hermione nodded and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "Yes. I've been acting since I was young in muggle plays. So I guess I'm pretty experienced."

"I'd guess so. Well, we have about two hours before lunch. Do you want to keep practicing, or would you like to do something else?" Draco asked.

Hermione stared at him momentarily before she took a deep breath. "How about you tell me more about yourself. I know that one night of talking is not enough."

Draco's face was unreadable, but he then nodded. "Alright. We can do that." They both laid their scripts down and walked over to the edge of the water. Hermione took off her shoes and stuck her feet into the cool water. Draco watched her every move. How she untied her pumps and removed her socks from her feet. How she slowly slipped her feet into the water. How she wiggled the mud between her toes with a small smile on her face. Draco grinned as he stared at her.

Hermione looked over to see Draco staring at her with a grin on his face. Hermione grinned too. "Is there something on my face or something?" she asked.

Draco shook his head and looked away. "Oh! No, I was just thinking. Anyway, what is it you want to know?" he asked, turning back to her.

"Oh, what ever you want to tell me," she said with a small shrug.

"Well, how about you ask me a question, and then I'll ask you one? That way we can both get to know each other better."

Hermione looked over at Draco and gave him a small smile. "Alright. I'll go first. What is your full name?"

Draco took a deep breath. "Draco Galad Malfoy. You?"

"Hermione Elizabeth Granger."

"That's a nice name," Draco said.

Hermione grinned and looked down at the water. "No it's not. It's plain. Now your name... does everyone in your family have a Latin name?"

Draco sighed. "Basically yes. Since our family's old and Latin's old. It also makes us sound more sophisticated. At least that's what my mother told me. Except for my middle name. It's elvin. Don't ask me why my parents gave me a middle name that's elvin, but they did. So with my first and middle name put together, it means 'Dragon of Light'."

Hermione looked up at him. "You have a really close relationship with your mother now don't you?" she asked him.

Draco looked up to meet her gaze. "Yes. I do. She's pretty much my whole world. And I'm hers. She's not as bad as she seems. Or looks like she did right before our 4^th year if you can remember."

Hermione nodded. "Yes. I remember. She looked really stuck up, but I could see in her eyes a certain kind of sadness and hurt."

Draco nodded and looked away. "Yea. Considering she's worried sick about me, and my father is not exactly what you would call civil towards her."

Hermione gasped and a hand flew to her mouth. "Oh my gosh! You mean...your father beats her?"

Draco looked up at her with a sad look in his eyes. "Yes," he said with a small nod. "He does. I can hear her scream in pain and everything at night. Even though the manor is so big, it's still empty and quiet. So I can hear him slap her, hit her, rape her...you name it...he does it."

Hermione laid the hand that was covering her mouth on his shoulder. "Oh Draco. I am so sorry. No one deserves to be treated like that."

"I know. You told me that last night remember?" he said, giving her a small smirk.

Hermione giggled. "Yes. I remember." Hermione lowered her hand and looked off into the branches of the willow tree. She took out her wand and muttered a spell that parted the leaves so that they could look out across the lakes surface towards another part of the woods. Draco crossed his arms over his chest and took in the view before him. Hermione sighed and rested her head where her hand was just seconds ago. Draco stiffened somewhat, but relaxed as he looked down at her face and saw how calm she was.

They sat there in silence for a while before Draco cleared his throat and spoke. "So uh...what about you? How was your life before Hogwarts?"

Hermione sighed. "Well, it was dreadful actually. As you may know I was the smartest person in my year-"

"No! I never would have guessed!" Draco said sarcastically.

Hermione lifted her head and smacked him playfully on the arm. "Ha ha. Very funny. Anyway, I was teased all the time for how smart I was, how big my front teeth were, how bushy my hair was...it was almost like it is here." She stared off across the lake with a glazed look in her eyes. "When I received my Hogwarts letter I thought that it might have been some joke from one of the kids at school. They used to do that to my all the time. Make me think that the most popular guy in school liked me and then embarrass me in front of everyone. But when I found out that it was real, I was so happy. I was glad to be getting away from all of those kids that were so mean to me. I thought that this place would be different...but I was wrong.

"It's almost the same here; except I have friends. I didn't have any friends in my old school. I always sat at lunch by myself, played by myself at recess, sat by myself on the bus. There were days when I would come home crying because I was so sad and depressed. Here, I do have friends. But there are those certain few who bring back my past time memories." She looked over at Draco and saw a look of sympathy in his eyes. "You were one of those people. But now your not. You're close to me now. You're my friend." Draco gave her a small smile. Hermione face became serious. "Why? Why did you suddenly become my friend?"

Draco was taken aback by this sudden question. He swallowed really hard and thought for a minute before he answered. "Well...you changed me, Hermione," he said, turning to face her, taking her hand in his. "You made me see that there are people out there who actually care for me. Who actually want me alive for more than just to become one of Voldemort's Death Eaters. You looked past all that. You wanted to know the real me. Who I really am. Nobody's ever cared about the real me. They always like me because of my money or because they were afraid of being cursed by my father. But you aren't afraid of me, my father, or Voldemort. You are the most fearless person I've ever met. Even if you are scared, you never show it. You are really good at hiding it. And I admire you for all those things. That's the main reason I'm now your friend."

Hermione, who had been staring right back into his silver eyes the whole time, slowly took a deep breath before she spoke. "Oh Draco. I'm so sorry if I ever doubted you. I never actually got to know you. And I'm so sorry for that. No one's ever said something so nice to me before. But you are wrong about one thing though," she said, smiling slyly up at him.

Draco felt a warm feeling in his chest when she smiled at him. He licked his lips. "Oh really? What was I wrong about?"

Hermione smiled. "I'm not fearless. I am scared to death. I'm scared of Voldemort; I'm scared of the Death Eaters; I'm scared for Harry; I'm scared for Ron; I'm scared for the whole school; I'm scared for the whole wizarding community even!" She looked down at the strong hand that was holding hers and stroked his knuckles with her thumb. "I'm scared for you," she whispered looking up into his eyes, biting her bottom lip.

Draco gulped once more. He knew he said earlier that he wasn't ready to go farther in this relationship with her, but the teenage hormones in him were starting to take over! Right there in front of him was a beautiful, intelligent girl who actually cared for him. He had never had anyone scared for him before, except for his mother. Besides his mother, he's never had anyone care for him so much either. He could see in her eyes that she cared deeply for him. That she didn't want anything to happen to him and that she wanted him to be safe and happy. He kept on staring into those huge brown orbs of hers. He slowly licked his lips once more before he took a deep breath and said in a husky whisper, "Are you really scared for me? Or scared of me?"

Hermione's breath hitched at how deep his voice was. She swallowed and said, "I'm uh...I'm just s-scared for you. I could never be scared of you."

Draco took the hand that he was holding and put it to his heart. Hermione turned so that she was facing him fully. He took her other hand and held it in his, and his other hand was at the dip of her back. They were very close. Hermione could feel his warm breath stirring the hair that was falling across her face. Hermione slowly licked her lips as Draco swallowed. Hermione searched his face. His eyes were full of need and lust. Hermione started getting butterflies in her stomach. "Hermione? Has anyone ever told you how pretty you are? I mean now that you've gotten your teeth fixed and all."

Hermione shook her head and grinned shyly; her face turning slightly pink. "No. I mean Viktor told me several times that I was pretty, but I never actually thought anything of it."

Draco chuckled as he leaned in next to her ear. "That's right. You did date him for a few months didn't you?" Hermione nodded. "You're one lucky girl you know. Friends with the famous Harry Potter...you dated the most famous Quidditch player of the time...and now you're sitting here cuddling with the sexiest guy in school."

Hermione groaned slightly as Draco's lips 'accidentally' touched her ear. "Damn these teenage hormones!" she muttered.

Draco smirked. "Got that right," he said huskily.

Hermione started feeling chills up and down her spine as Draco slowly traced it with his finger. Draco leaned back until he was touching her nose to nose. Hermione licked her lips and took a deep breath. Hermione slid both her arms around his neck, and Draco wrapped his around her waist, still making soft motions on her spine. Hermione was searching his eyes to see if she could read them. And they were perfectly readable. They were filled with want, lust, need, and love. "Draco?" she asked in barely a whisper.

"Yes?" he asked huskily.

"Kiss me already will you?" Draco didn't need to be told twice, he leaned in the few centimeters left, and pressed his lips softly to hers. Hermione felt a sudden burst of excitement rush through her body. Then Hermione crushed her lips to his in a bruising kiss. Draco didn't oblige, but responded with the same need. He parted her lips and entered her mouth with his tongue. Tongue's lashing, they both felt something different. It wasn't like the kiss they shared earlier. This was real. It wasn't a play kiss. This was real this time. Draco slowly eased Hermione on her back so that she was lying in the soft grass next to the shore. Draco kicked his shoes off so his feet could enter the water with hers.

They kissed a little while longer until Draco ran his hand down her thigh and up her inner thigh. Right before he reached her spot, she caught his hand and turned her head away from him. Draco lay there stunned for a second before he understood.

"No," she said. "I'm not ready to go that far. Especially since I'm dating you. Someone really needs to come up with a potion to control these damned things!"

Draco smiled. "I understand. And I'm not going to pressure you." He looked off to the side and added, "I'll just have to get it from someone else."

Hermione gasped and smacked him on the arm. "Draco! You aren't serious are you?"

"I was just kidding!" he said, laughing and rubbing the spot on his arm.

"You better be mister!" she said.

Draco smirked at her. "I am. Although I'm not saying if I've ever done it before or not. That's for me to know, and you to find out!"

Hermione pursed her lips before she broke into a grin and shook her head. Draco laid back and sprawled his arms on the ground. Hermione laid back and rested her head against his arm and sighed.

They lay there a moment not saying anything before Hermione gasped. "Do you know what time is it?" she asked Draco.

Draco the arm from behind Hermione and looked at the watch that was on his wrist. "It is 10:30. Why?"

Hermione sighed a sigh of relief resting her hands behind her head. "Just wondering. I want to head back to the castle at lunchtime. I think I have some apologizing to do with Harry and Ron, don't you?"

Draco smirked. "I do have to say, that you were rather hard on them. And that coming from me is saying something!"

They lay there for a while before Hermione gasped. "Oh no!" She hopped up to her feet and backed up a few steps from Draco. He stared up at her with a look of utter confusement.

"What is it?" Draco asked, sitting up.

"I forgot that you have a girlfriend. Oh if she finds out about this, she'll kill me! She said she would!"

Draco furrowed his eyebrows. "Oh really? Who?"

Hermione's eyebrows furrowed too. "Pansy. Pansy told me that she was your girlfriend."

Draco sat there a second before he started laughing. Hermione huffed and said, "What's so funny?"

Draco slowly stopped laughing and said, "Pansy's not my girlfriend! She wishes more than anything that I was her boyfriend, but I assure you that I'm not."

Hermione stood there speechless for a second before she said, "Th-then why did she tell me-"

"Because I don't think that she could bear the fact to know that I was with someone else," he said, standing up and walking to her. He took her hands and stared into her eyes. "Hermione, I know it may seem like we're more than friends. But I'm not sure if we should go any further right now. I need to get used to this first. That sweet little snog just a minute ago was another one of our caught up in the moment flings." Hermione smiled at him and nodded in understanding. There wasn't a hurt speck in her eyes anywhere or on her face. He sighed and said, "I have something to say."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Really? What is it?" she asked him.

Draco took a deep breath and said, "I was wondering if we could be friends. Ya know? Like...you, Potter, and Weasley are. I've never seen someone so loyal and trustworthy to people who are so thick." Hermione's jaw dropped and she swatted him on the arm.

"What about you friends? I do believe that Crabbe and Goyle are no Einstein's either!"

"Who's he?" Draco asked.

Hermione shook her head. "Just a really smart Muggle man. Anyway, continue."

"Thank you. They're not my real friends in the first place. Just bodyguards." Hermione giggled slightly. "Now before I was so rudely interrupted," he said, walking a little ways a way and casting Hermione a playful glare. "I'd like to good friends with you. Spend some more time with you. Get to know you better as a person."

Hermione crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at him. "You do realize that would mean you'd have to be seen with me more often."

Draco nodded. "I understand that. And I'm willing to risk my beautiful, handsome, and sexy reputation for it." Hermione chuckled and shook her head. "But I don't care if I'm seen with you."

"Really?" she asked him softly.

"Of course I don't. Do you want me to prove it?" And before Hermione could say anything, Draco walked out from under the tree and yelled at the top of his lungs, "I, DRACO MALFOY, AM NOW BEST FRIENDS WITH HERMIONE GRANG-mmm!"

Hermione slapped a hand over his mouth and drug him back in underneath the branches. She turned him around and said, "Why the bloody hell did you just do that?"

Draco smirked at her. "I told you I didn't care. So...what do you say? Amigos?"

Hermione's eyes began to fill with tears. "I'd like that, Draco. A-and you really don't mind being seen with me?"

Draco smirked at her. "No. Of course not. You've made me a better man. You've made me want to change."

"Ok, Draco," she said. "I really appreciate you doing this. You could do some much better than siding with the Dark Lord, and I'd be more than happy to help you." She paused a moment before she said, "Y-you don't know how much this means to me."

Draco looked into her eyes. "I can tell by looking in your eyes how much it means." He walked up to her and engulfed her in a huge hug. "Thank you, Hermione. For helping me."

Hermione smiled against his chest. "No problem. I'll be here for you now if you need me. Anytime, ok?" she said, pulling away and looking him in the eyes.

Draco nodded and smiled at her. "Well, we better head back up to the castle. You need to apologize to your little friends before lunch and everything."

Hermione looked at him strangely. "Why can't I do it at lunch?"

Draco rolled his eyes and sighed. "Because I would like to be able to eat something at lunch. Instead of wasting is explaining everything to them."

Hermione nodded. "You're right." They put their shoes on and stood for a moment in complete silence. Then, Hermione was about to walk out from underneath the tree when she said, "But I don't think that you really want to come."

Draco raised an eyebrow at her. "Really? Why not?"

Hermione sighed exasperatedly and said, "Because I'm going up to Gryffindor Tower and-"

"Oh really?" Draco asked excitedly.

"Yes, bu-"

"That's great! I've always wanted to go up there! Blaise said that the decorations were kind of corny, but hey! Nothing a little touch of Malfoy wouldn't fix!"

"Whoa there cowboy," Hermione said, pushing her back by his shoulders. "I'm saying you might not want to go because...well...not everyone likes you up there."

Draco frowned. "But I thought everyone loved me!" he said in a pouty voice.

Hermione snickered. "Not hardly! Well, that is except Parvati and Lavender because they are obsessed with you." Draco beamed. "That is only when you're not being an ass!"

Draco frowned. "That means they must only love me for my looks!" Hermione nodded. "Damn teenage girls," he muttered.

"Excuse me?" Hermione said, crossing her arms over her chest and raising her eyebrows at him.

Draco was suddenly lost for words. "Ah...not you. I mean that ones th-that always swoon over me because of...of...oh just forget it," he muttered, looking at the ground.

Hermione chuckled at him. "I know what you're saying." Draco looked up at her and glared. "I just couldn't help but give you a hard time." Draco shook his head at her, but couldn't fight the grin that was forming on his lips. "So?" Hermione said, catching Draco's attention. "Are you sure you want to come up to Gryffindor Tower with me?"

Draco nodded. "Sure. Why not? Most of them would be too shocked to see me in there to do anything to me."

Hermione nodded. "Yes, that's true. But please don't start any trouble!" she pleaded.

"Hermione. Hermione. You've known me long enough to know that I don't start trouble," he said with an innocent look. He walked up to her and looped her arm though his. He leaned over and whispered in her ear. "I finish it."

Hermione couldn't help but laugh. Then she turned serious. "But seriously Draco...no trouble. I don't want to lost my Prefect badge over this."

"And neither do I," he said, laying a hand on his chest in an elegant fashion.

"So the best thing for you to do is...keep your mouth shut."

Draco looked insulted. "I have to be quiet? The whole time? You're asking for too much now!"

Hermione smiled at him. "Please? Only speak when spoken too and try to limit the sarcastic remarks?"

Draco stared at her momentarily before he said with a sigh, "Alright. But only because you asked me to."

Hermione grinned at him. "Thank you. Now, let's be going. It's going to take a lot of convincing for the first half hour just for Ron not to kill you." Draco stopped dead in his tracks and stared at her. She laughed lightly. "I was kidding. He wouldn't kill you. He'd just...make sure you remembered his name every time you looked in the mirror."

Draco rolled his eyes at the younger girl and stepped out from underneath the branches; Hermione on his arm. They started talking about school on the way up there, and they didn't even care to recognize all the students on the school grounds staring at them as they walked towards the castle.