A/N: Hey everyone! Hope you guys liked the last chapter. There wasn't any real purpose to write it, except to reveal Theo's backstory, and a little fluffiness. So I apologise if you felt like that chapter was unnecessary. Read the A/N at the end to find out when the next chapter will be out. On with the chapter!

"Granger! Come out of the room, Granger!" Draco yelled as he knocked on his best friend's room's door.

"How about you go and get ready yourself first, Draco?" She shouted back at him. "Let me get ready in peace."

"Then at least tell me the colour of your dress, Granger, so we can match. I don't fancy making a fool of myself there."

"I swear, I have never met a more impatient person ever before. I literally told you that I will be wearing my purple coloured gown so you can go and wear an appropriate suit. But no. Mr Draco Lucius Malfoy cannot believe me when I say I will be wearing that gown only."

"Well I wouldn't put it past you to lie to me." Draco said as the door opened. "You will wear something else, and then I will have to change as well. And my mother will blame me because we will be late."

"Oh stop with your dramatics, Draco." Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "I may like annoying you, but that doesn't mean I'll plan something against you all the time."

"And also, why will I want to be late to an important event like this, Draco?" She added, "I know how much time Narcissa had spent to plan this event, why would I want to ruin this for? Draco?"

But he couldn't answer her. For he was busy staring at her.

From the moment she had stepped out the door, his eyes had widened.

His jaw would have dropped too, if not for the fact that he had made a fool of himself several times, well only twice, once during Yule Ball when he had seen Hermione step down the stairs.

And the second time during the Winter Ball at Hogwarts, when he had asked Hermione to be his date, and she had looked absolutely stunning in her evening gown.

Both times, his jaw had dropped when he had seen her.

Flashback

The first time, during the Yule Ball, she had sent a soft smile his way, for reasons which he still didn't understand, nor had the courage to ask her about that. 

Here he was, her enemy, the person who had enlarged her teeth because of a hex, even if he wasn't aiming at her, so it was technically Harry's fault that the curse hit her.

But anyways, there she was, the girl whom he had teased, called her that foul word, and yet she was smiling at him. He would have thought that she was smiling at someone behind him, if he didn't already know that he was standing alone, well except Pansy.

But of course, why would Hermione ever smile at Pansy?

And to clear his all doubts, the Gryffindor princess smiled at him once again, just before Viktor led her away from the dance floor.

Well of course he knew that she had smiled at him, because he was watching her all night. He had watched how she glowed when she entered the hall, how she smiled widely while dancing and what not.

He also saw how sad and disappointed she looked when Ron insulted her, and Harry didn't support her. He hated how they made her cry, specially the red headed fool. 

He wanted to punch Ron because he made her cry. 

Yes, Draco had made her cry as well. But he was her enemy, not that it was an excuse, but still. 

But Ron? 

He was her best friend, he wasn't supposed to make her cry. 

What kind of best friend he was if he was the reason she cried on the night she felt really amazing? 

Draco wanted to talk with her that time. Talk with her so that he could tell her that she was the most beautiful girl that night. To tell her that nobody was worth her tears, specially not her idiotic so called best friend.

He wanted to apologise to her, for the way he treated her, and for the way he was going to in the future, because he just couldn't allow someone to get to know the real him. The real him who didn't hate muggle borns.

The real him who just wished he had a friend. A real friend. 

But before he could do so, he saw Viktor coming towards her. Though he would deny it if someone asked him about this, but he was glad that at least someone had come for her, someone who could make her smile.

But that didn't stop him from feeling jealous, of course.

Jealous of Viktor Krum because he got to be with the girl he liked. Jealous because Viktor wasn't in his position, because he wasn't taught to hate muggle borns.

That night, he finally admitted to himself that he had a crush on Hermione. Just a silly little crush, he had told himself, nothing more.

Draco didn't know how wrong he was.

But how was he supposed to know that this silly little crush would one day develop into love?

How was he supposed to know that she would be his first love, and his first heartbreak too because he couldn't tell her?

Flashback over

And as for the second time, it had been totally different.

Hermione hadn't cried or felt hurt once.

And Draco hadn't certainly been jealous. 

But two things remained the same.

First, Hermione had then been the most beautiful girl, and she definitely was one this time as well. 

And second, Draco had fallen for her then, even if he didn't realise it. And he had fallen for her, even more, this time as well.

He was brought out of his memories when Hermione snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Earth to Draco?"

He blinked and tried to appear totally normal by scratching the back of his head. "Uh um, sorry about that. You just caught me off guard by suddenly coming out of the room."

Draco was thankful that his jaw hadn't dropped. He definitely hadn't old himself a hundred times to act normally in front of her during their eighth year.

Otherwise, what would he have said if someone got to know about this, and asked why his jaw had dropped when he took in the sight in front of him.

After all, they were just best friends, weren't they?

Yes, that was what he would tell them. Just because he was her best friend, it didn't mean that he didn't find her stunning, or could be left awed by her appearance.

He was just her best friend, no matter what his feelings said on that matter.

"So do you believe me now?" She raised her eyebrows at him. When he nodded, she continued, "So then, you can go and get yourself dressed. And I will really complain to Narcissa if you take an hour just to do your hair again, Draco Malfoy."

"You are evil, just plain evil, Granger." He shook his head at her. "Though I suppose if you do complain, I won't be the only one getting a scolding tonight. You forgot my father takes just as long to do his hair."

"Oh right." She rolled her eyes. "That's where you get this annoying habit from. Honestly, you two take ages to get ready."

"Not that you would know anything about it, of course." Draco smirked. "Your hair is like a bird's nest, Granger."

"Rich of you to say considering you are the one who used to use so many hair gels when we were younger." When he opened his mouth to argue with her, she asked, "Are you done? Because I need to finish getting ready."

"I am a perfectionist, Granger." He said as he walked away from her door. "And I will let you know how handsome people found me even when I was using hair gels."

She stuck her tongue out at him, to which he commented, "Real mature, Granger. No wonder Mother likes you so much."

Hermione was just about to go inside her room, when he called her. "Granger? Just so you know, you look amazing. Really beautiful."

She muttered her thanks and quickly went inside the room. Leaning against the door after closing it, she wondered one thing.

How was Draco be able to so irritating and sweet at the same time?

Oh, her mind answered, you like bantering with him, you know that. He is able to put up with you, he challenges you.

"So what?" She asked. 

Nothing, her mind replied, it is just one of the many reasons you love Draco.

"Unfortunately, I do love him." Hermione admitted. "I really do love you, Draco, even if you don't."

---------

"I won't hear your argument, Draco." Narcissa tutted at him. "You and Hermione will open the dance, and you will do it right now."

"Mother....." Draco drawled. "You do know that people are already whispering about us, right? They haven't stopped ever since the moment we entered the Hall, that too together."

"And since when do you care about what people whisper, Draco? You used to be so nonchalant about them. Since when-"

"I don't care what they speak about me, Mother." He cut her off. "But I know how the whispers affect Granger-"

"I have told you hundreds of times not to call her by her last name anymore, Draco." She sighed. "When will you learn to call her Hermione?"

"Probably never. However I think I should mention that I do call her Hermione, albeit a few times, but I do. And if she doesn't have a problem with me calling Granger, I don't see why you do." 

"I just want to know why you do call her that-"

"Old habits die hard, remember? Anyways, as I was saying, I don't care about the whispers."

"Damn." Narcissa whispered. "I hoped you would have forgotten about that topic."

"You keep forgetting that I am a Slytherin too, Mother." He smirked at her. "Cunningness runs through my veins. And on top of that, I am your son. You cannot fool me. Or outsmart me for that matter."

"Oh really? Is that so?" She smirked back at him. "I seem to recall plenty of memories where I have outsmarted you, my dear Dragon."

"Mother." He hissed. "I told you not to call me that in public. Anyways, back to the original matter. I don't care about my reputation. But I do care about Granger's." 

"You seem to care a lot about her, I mean, her reputation." She was still smirking at him.

"Don't." He glared at her. "Don't you dare try doing this."

"What?" She feigned ignorance. "I don't understand what you mean, my little Dragon."

He decided against telling her not to call him that in public. It's not like she would listen to him, anyways. "Oh stop trying to act innocent, Mother. You cannot trick me. For the umpteenth time, nothing is going on between me and Granger."

"But you just said you care about-"

"As friends. Or well best friends." Draco interrupted her. "She's been my best friend for nine years now, Mother, of course I care about her." 

"So if you care about her, then you must know she really liked the idea of Mini Hogwarts, and having a Ball for it. And you two have to open the dance."

"Granger would never agree to this, Mother-"

"I would never agree to what?" Hermione asked as she approached them. She had been talking to Harry, telling him to stop meddling in things which didn't concern him and weren't his business in any way, when she saw the ex Slytherin Prince arguing with his mother.

"Draco here is saying that you would never agree to open the dance with him." Narcissa smiled at her. "You wouldn't agree with him, would you, Hermione?"

She hesitated. She wanted to say no, really wanted to, because she could imagine the Potters smirking at her after this, and being nosey as always. But then she looked at Narcissa's face. The Malfoy matriarch looked so excited for this Ball, and she didn't want to disappoint her.

"Of course not, Narcissa." Hermione smiled back at her. "Since when have I ever agreed with him? Of course, I'll like to open the dance."

"Great then." The older witch clapped her hands and put Hermione's hand in Draco's. "Off you two go then."

"Wait what?" Draco asked as his mother pushed him towards the dance floor. "I don't recall agreeing to this, Mother!"

But he was forced to keep his mouth shut when he saw the others were looking at him and his best friend, who was standing next to him.

"We don't have to do this, Granger." He told her. "Mother will understand."

"It's just a dance, Draco." Hermione whispered. "Nothing more. We have danced before as well, didn't we? It's just the same."

He nodded and placed his hands on her waist, drawing her closer to him. The music started as she placed her hands around his neck, and smiled at him as he swayed then slowly.

It was just a dance, then why did it feel more?

As Draco twirled her around, he could see their friends grinning at them. His brows furrowed when he saw Ginny and Harry exchanging money with Blaise and Pansy. 

Trust them to bet on a stupid dance, he thought, at least my mother isn't involved.

But he sighed in frustration when he saw his mother walking towards his friends, and taking some of the money.

Of course, Narcissa Malfoy just had to bet, didn't she? 

A few minutes later, as the song changed, other people also started coming towards the dance floor. After dancing for a few more minutes, Draco led Hermione off the dance floor, when he saw that she was getting tired because of wearing heels.

"I mean, I just don't understand." Draco muttered. "If the heels hurt your feet, then why do you even bother wearing them? Can't  you just wear flats like you do everyday?"

"You can't be serious." Hermione looked at him in a strange way. "You expect me to wear everyday flats under this gown, on a prestigious Ball like this one?"

Draco shrugged, as if he thought that it didn't matter. He led her towards the bar, and told her to lean against the table. "If you cannot wear flats, then at least put a cushioning charm on the heels so they won't hurt your feet." He told her.

He bent down on his knees,  took out his wand and pointed them at her heels, muttering the required charm under his breath. "A thank you would be nice." He told her.

"Yeah right, thank you." She smiled sheepishly at him. "It completely slipped my mind to do that charm." Of course it skipped her mind, she was, after all, having a conversation with her mind about Draco that time.

"And they call you the Brightest Witch of Our Age." He muttered as he stood back up. 

Just as he had stood up, Hermione fell towards him and he had to catch her by her waist, to stop them both from falling to the ground. "What the-"

"I apologise for this, Mr Malfoy." A wizard he didn't recognise told him. "He was running towards the snacks table, so he accidentally stumbled into your girlfriend."

"It's fine." They both muttered.

And realised something a little later. 

"She's not my girlfriend." Draco told him the same time Hermione said, "I am not his girlfriend."

The wizard looked at them in confusion. Draco sighed, "Look Mr-"

"Caviour. Beckhem Caviour."

"Right, Mr Caviour. Granger here- I mean, Hermione, she is not my girlfriend." Draco finished.

"Oh my bad." Beckhem muttered. "I didn't know you two were engaged. Irqin-" He called his son. "Come here and apologise to Mr Malfoy and his fiancée."

Their eyes widened. "We are not engaged-"

"Oh Merlin. What am I doing?" Beckhem facepalmed himself. "I apologise, Mr and Mrs Malfoy. I didn't know you two were married. Must have somehow prevented the Daily Prophet from publishing about your marriage, right? Oh I should go. I apologise again, and congratulations as well, Mr and Mrs Malfoy! You two definitely looked good, no great, together."

"But we are not married." Hermione and Draco muttered as the wizard walked away from them, leaving behind an awkward silence.

"So....." Draco started. 

"I should go." Hermione said quickly, not wanting to increase the already present awkwardness between them. "I need to talk with Narcissa about something related to Mini Hogwarts. Otherwise she will get angry."

Draco furrowed his eyebrows as the witch scurried away from him. He then shifted his gaze to his mother, who was happily dancing with his father.

As if his mother would ever get angry at Granger, he thought as he rolled his eyes.

"Mr Malfoy?"

He looked down to see a boy of around twelve, looking up at him. He looked awfully similar to the wizard, what was his name, oh right, Caviour, before.

"Myself Irqin Caviour." The young wizard extended his hand towards the older, blond wizard.

"Malfoy. Draco Malfoy, though I suppose you already knew that." He smirked. Considering how famous I am, he thought.

"See I really had no intention of talking with you, but you know, my sister is too shy and awkward to tell this to you herself."

"Okay?" 

"You see, she is a romantic at heart, loves reading all those sweet, cheesy stories and all. She, her name is Arina by the way, smiles everytime she sees a couple like you and Miss Granger, oh sorry, I mean Mrs Malfoy, anywhere."

Irqin didn't let Draco interrupt him, which the ex Slytherin really wanted to do, in order to point out that he and his best friend were not a couple.

"And I don't know why, but for some reason, she wanted to tell you and your wife this, but considering she is really shy, she kept poking me until I agreed to come here and tell you this." Irqin finished.

He pulled his other hand out, which was behind his back, and handed the red rose he was carrying to Draco.

"She requested me to give this to you, so you could give it to your wife." The young wizard explained. "Not that we think you cannot give it to her on your own, of course. Oh man, I am making it worse, ain't I?"

"Well here goes nothing." Irqin took a deep breath and continued, "She thinks that you two make a great couple, and are like soulmates. You know, made for each other and all that crap. I personally don't believe in all those things, but I have to admit that you two really looked like soulmates while dancing together. Anyways, that's it. I should go now."

Before he could walk away, Draco stopped him. "Wait, which house are you in Hogwarts?"

"Oh I am in Slytherin, just like you were. And I have an enemy too, she's in Gryffindor. Well she is pretty annoying and insufferable, but I guess, she is a bit nice too." Irqin grinned at him. "Oh and listen, don't tell anyone but, I think I have a crush on her. Imagine this? Having a crush on your enemy. Such a cliché thing, isn't it?" Without giving Draco a chance to reply, he walked away from there.

Draco looked down at the rose in his hands. "I told Mother not to make me and Granger open the dance. But of course, when has she ever listened to me?" Grumbling, he walked towards his best friend.

Of course, he wasn't going to tell her why he got this rose. He would just make up a story or something.

--------

"What are you doing, Hermione?" Narcissa asked as she entered the younger witch's room.

The said person jumped. "N-narcissa? I-I.... Nothing." She hastily put the papers behind her, due to which some of them fell down. "Excuse me- I will just clean this mess right now."

The first thing Hermione Granger had done, when she came back to her best friend's house, was to go to her room, open the first drawer in her dresser, and take out the papers from their hiding place.

She had received these papers of a permanent job offer in June, a week after they had gone to Hogwarts, and a few days before they had gotten to know about the case and Draco's nightmares had started.

Her hands had been shaking when she had read the letter that came along with the job papers. Going back to Australia? To be honest, that thought hadn't crossed her mind many times ever since she had started living with Draco. She didn't know if she had the courage to leave him, to leave her life behind once again.

She told the Australian Ministry of Magic to give her some time to think about it. Some time meant a few days for her.

A few days turned into three months. 

And now, whenever she would think about the job offer, Draco's face, and the memory of him asking her to never leave him, would come in her mind. How could she leave him again?

That too, at a time like this, when he was suffering from nightmares because of going to a place he had once felt safe at?

Astoria knew about the job offer. It was only because Hermione had been talking with her when the owl carrying the papers had reached her. So she had requested the other witch to not tell anyone, specially Draco, about it.

She also knew about his nightmares, and had pleaded with Hermione not to leave him. She had even reminded her of the promise she had made, to look after Athy and Draco.

Of course, it wasn't like Astoria didn't want Hermione to get her dream job. It was just that she knew nobody would be able to help Draco better than her. And sadly, the blond wizard was too stubborn to ask for help, but luckily for him, Hermione always knew when he needed someone's help, without him telling her.

Hermione had asked Draco to see a therapist. She herself may have not ever seen one, because for her, Draco had helped her to go through with the pain and suffering. And now when he was going through it, she wasn't able to help him.

She felt helpless.

And then the drinking had started.

Draco had apologised to her several times when he had first come home drunk. And that was the day when he had told her the reason he wasn't smiling when they were leaving Hogwarts.

A few children had seen him exiting the Room of Requirement. And convinced that he was up to no good, they had reported him to a Professor, who in turn had told the children that they had nothing to be scared of.

But of course, it's not like they really knew Draco or understood him, is it? 

The children still continued to whisper around Draco, and even not so subtly point their wands at him, as if he was going to attack them any moment.

That, that moment was enough to bring back painful memories for Draco. When he was once in those children's shoes, waiting to be attacked any moment by the Death Eaters.

When they went home that day, Draco had locked himself in his room, and didn't come out until his daughter knocked on his door. Even Hermione hadn't been able to make himself talk to her, to anyone, that day.

Turns out that Draco had never truly dealt with what had happened at the Manor to Hermione. He still blamed himself, even if she told him countless times that he did everything he could have done.

Hermione got her answer when she heard him screaming because of another nightmare.

She wouldn't leave him. Yet.

She knew she couldn't stay there anymore because of the way she was falling for him deeper and deeper day by day. She had to move on.

"Hermione?" Narcissa asked her, taking a step towards her. 

She shook her head to get rid of the memories and picked up the papers. It was only when she was arranging them, that she saw that one paper, the one where she had to sign, was missing.

"What is this?"

Hermione's eyes widened as she saw that that paper was Narcissa's hands. "Narcissa listen-"

"A job contract?" She asked. "That too a permanent one? You are going back to Australia?"

She shook her head. Ideally, she wouldn't have liked to tell this to anyone, but she knew she had to tell her.

Narcissa was quiet when Hermione finished telling her about everything. "Please don't tell Draco about this, Narcissa." Hermione pleaded.

"Draco wouldn't like this, Hermione. He was...... He was really hurt when you left the first time."

"I know." She swallowed. And she really did. "I-I never wanted to hurt him, Narcissa, you have to understand-"

"I do, Hermione." She cut her off by squeezing her hand. "But that doesn't mean Draco will. You know how he is. I don't know what he will do if you go back to Australia. That doesn't mean I don't want you to not take up the offer of your dream job. I just-"

Hermione cut her off. "I understand."

And she really did. 

--------

"So what brings you to my house, Theo?" Draco asked as he prepared tea for them, by himself, of course.

It is not like he could ask house elves to do that instead because of Hermione.

And his mother as well, who supported his best friend's stupid idea.

Stupid spew.

"Wait let me guess. It was my splendid and amazing company, right?" The blond wizard smirked and came back to the living room, carrying a tray in his hands.

"Same old Draco Malfoy. Thinking that everything is always about him." Theo muttered. "Sometimes I don't even know why I am best friends with you."

"Oh please, you know what you were getting into when you begged me, the great Draco Lucius Malfoy, to be your friend. Oh and also, best friend."

"Oh really? As I can clearly recall, I became best friends with you so that I can easily ask Narcissa to make apple pies for me, which by the way, are delicious." Theo smirked. "And I never begged you, ferret." 

He reached for the apple pie which was there in front of him, only to be hexed by Draco. "The apple pies are mine, you idiot. And I do not share."

"I will just ask Narcissa, I am sure she will bake some for me." Theo rolled his eyes. "Anyways, the reason I came here is because I wanted your advice-"

"Hmm figures. I mean, it is not like you can ask Blaise for advice right? I am the best-"

"On girls." Theo finished. 

Draco's eyes widened. "Why do you need advice on girls? You aren't a person who has never had a girlfriend, or even a date before, after all."

"I need it because I really want to ask this girl out. It is very important." Theo told him. For the plan to succeed, of course.

"Right." He nodded. "I was the Slytherin Prince after all. I can help you there. So who is she?"

A witch you know really well, Theo thought. "Umm well she is- Her name is- Kia. Yeah Kia. That's her name."

If Draco thought there was anything strange about Theo's behavior, he didn't say it.

"So tell me more about her."

"Umm she is a muggle born, you see. And an ex Gryffindor as well. I have never dated a Gryffindor before, so I don't know how they are like, and how to ask them out. So I need your help."

Draco will kill you, Theo, Blaise had told him. Not to mention, she will never agree to go on a date with you. She literally loves Draco.

"Theo, you do know that I have never dated a muggle born Gryffindor ever as well, right?" Draco asked him.

If Theo thought that Draco was lying, he didn't say it.

"But you do have one as your best friend, right?" Theo said. "And who knows? You two might already be dating secretly, or you two will date in the future-"

"Theo." Draco glared at him. "Nothing is going on between me and Granger. And nothing will happen between us in the future as well."

"But how do you know that for sure-"

"I am not going to date anyone, let alone Hermione." He spat, not realising that he had called the witch by her first name. "Listen, if my mother or anyone else had put you up for this, then feel free to sod off."

"Draco, listen to me-"

"No!" He yelled. "I don't want to listen to whatever rubbish you are going to say. If this is some stupid plan to make me confess my feelings to Granger, then it is not going to work."

"So you do agree that you have feelings for Hermione?" Theo raised his eyebrows at him. 

Draco sighed. "Of course not." He shook his head and continued, "Are you mad? I was speaking in a hypothetical situation, or in whatever rubbish you and the others believe in that I have feelings for her."

"Draco, listen to me. No, you have to listen!" Theo, who had had enough of this drama, took his wand out, and used a spell on Draco so that he wasn't able to get up from his chair.

Draco glared at him, and Theo refused to show the fear he was feeling, on his face. He had to make this work.

"You all owe me big time." Theo muttered. "Specially you two, Narcissa and Blaise. Draco will kill me as soon as I remove the spell."

"Tell me one thing." He asked Draco. "Why are you so against the idea of dating Hermione? Or having feelings for her?"

"Because it is wrong!" He exclaimed. "The whole idea is wrong." 

"And why is that?" Theo asked. "Is it because she is a Muggle born-" 

"Are you kidding me?" Draco snarled. Theo was sure that if he was not bound to the chair currently, the blond wizard would have strangled him. "You know that I don't believe in all that crap anymore. She is...... Granger's just perfect. She's bloody perfect. There is nothing wrong with her." 

 "Then why can't you just admit that you love her, Draco? Loving someone is not wrong." Theo laid a hand on his shoulder. 

"But betraying someone is." Draco whispered. "I-I can't betray Astoria like this...... I never will. She doesn't deserve this." 

Theo sighed. He knelt down in front of his best friend, and said, "Draco, you won't be betraying Astoria if you fall in love with someone else. There is nothing wrong with moving on." 

He silently removed the spell from Draco, and watched as he started pacing. "But I don't want to move on, Theo. I am still in love with Astoria, and I always will. I am never going to forget her or our relationship." 

"Draco, nobody is saying that you have to." Theo stood up and squeezed his shoulder. "We all know that you love Astoria, she will always have a place in your heart and life. But Draco..... You do remember what you told me when we left Lovegood's cafe that day?" 

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Whenever you find a right witch, Theo, don't let her go. Loving someone is easy, but loving someone unconditionally, knowing that the person knows everything about you, has seen you at your worst and your best, is not easy. You will regret the decision of letting her go. Forever." 

What Theo didn't know that there was already a  decision that Draco regretted. He would never stop regretting it, even if he knew that it was for the best. 

And that decision was related to Hermione. 

"Then listen to your own words, Draco." Theo told him. "Don't let Hermione go. I know for a fact that if you do that, then whenever you think about this moment in the future, you will always tell yourself to confess your feelings, but it wouldn't matter then." 

"Theo please..... Just drop it." 

"Okay fine. Last question and I won't pester you about this anymore." When Draco didn't say anything, Theo continued, "Tell me who is the most amazing witch you have ever met?" 

"Astoria." He answered without any hesitation. 

"And after her?" 

Now Draco hesitated. "Granger." He answered after a few moments. 

"See." Theo crossed his arms in front of him. "We just want you to be happy, Draco-" 

"I am-" 

"No, you are not." He narrowed his eyes at her. "You aren't really happy, Draco. And you cannot fool me. You know when was the first time I realised that love was real and not just some cheesy book's rubbish?" 

Draco shook his head. Theo smiled sadly at him. "In eighth year. It wasn't anything special but, Hermione was laughing about something, probably a joke about the ferret incident of Fourth year, but you were looking at her with this weird look in your eyes, and you didn't even know that you were smiling at her."

He continued, "I realised that the look was of love, when I saw you after Hermione had left. Pure love, you know? And that look was what I craved when I started dating Samantha..... Draco, just because I got my heart broken, it doesn't mean everyone will. Hermione is not like that." 

"I know she is not." Draco whispered. "She is amazingly loyal. She would never hurt anyone, not intentionally." 

"Then what are you afraid of, Draco?" Theo asked him. "Is it because Astoria? Because if it is, then you do remember that Astoria knew you were in love with Hermione when you two first got together, right? And then what happened? You fell in love with her. And Astoria believed you. Why? Because she knew that you would never betray her. She just wants what's the best for you. Draco, if I know Astoria as well as I think I do, then I know that she would want you to be happy. She doesn't want you to be alone. And she really likes Hermione." 

"Leave." Draco told him, turning his back on his best friend. "Just leave, Theo. I don't want to talk about this anymore." 

"Fine. But just think about it, okay?" Theo sighed and walked towards the door, purposefully leaving the door behind him open. 

Knowing that Draco would come to close the door, he took out his phone and dialed a certain witch's number. 

Draco was lost in his thoughts as he walked towards the door, which Theo had left open. But when he reached it, his eyes widened as he heard what Theo said. 

"Hey Hermione, will you like to go on a date with me?" Theo asked, knowing that Draco could listen to everything he was saying.

----------

Later that evening.....

"Freaking git." Draco muttered as he angrily rummaged through his trunk, searching for an important object, or well, piece of an object. "First he tells me to confess my feelings, and then he takes Granger out on a date."

"Why is even taking her out on a date?" He asked himself. "He doesn't even like her in that way. And Granger doesn't look at him in more than a friend's way."

When he finally found the object he was looking for, he glared at her. As if it was the reason for his frustration and jealousy.

Well it actually was-

Wait what? Jealousy?

Draco Malfoy was not Jealous. He really wasn't jealous of his own best friend because he was going on a date with Hermione.

No, he was just frustrated.

"You." He told the object. "You are the one who put this whole idea of me loving Granger in the first place. You are the reason my mother and everyone else have been pestering me since weeks."

If he thought he was going mad because he was speaking to an object, then Draco didn't care to spare that idea a thought.

After all, he had had a one sided conversation, well not really, with Crookshanks before. The others would say it was one sided, but he wouldn't, as he was convinced that the idiot cat was replying to him in his own way.

And Hermione had no idea about his conversation with her cat.

She would never let him live that down.

Plus, she would also tell Narcissa, who in turn would tell the whole Wizarding World.

His mother was a gossip queen. 

And she has only got more interested in whatever was going on in the Wizarding World ever since Hermione had come back.

"If only I hadn't brought you here." Draco muttered. "I should have just left you there after I broke the Mirror of Erised."

That piece, which showed him and Hermione looking at each other in a loving and caring away, had once been a part of the mirror that Draco had broken.

Because of an impulsive thought, he had decided to copy that piece, and bring it home, after putting the original piece in the mirror he had repaired afterwards.

Due to a kind of magic he didn't understand, the piece still showed his and Hermione's faces, in that exact way and position. He had never told anyone about this, not his mother, and not Astoria either.

Though he supposed that the latter always knew, considering she had helped him pack his belongings when they had left Hogwarts.

Draco had honestly forgotten about it. And it was only because he had went inside the Room of Hidden Things that day, that he had remembered it.

Shaking his head, he left his room and went to the attic, where his and Astoria's things which they had used in Hogwarts, were present. He put it on the ground in a corner, and took out his wand.

Muttering a charm which he had learnt from his mother's famous spell book, he stared at it as it changed into a mirror, similar to the one he had seen in Hogwarts.

As Draco stepped towards it, he saw the inscription on top of the mirror. It was really similar to the Mirror of Erised. 

And when his eyes flickered downwards, towards the mirror, he saw the same image he had seen all those years ago, and also three months back.

The figures of Hermione and Draco were looking at each other, in what one would say, a loving way. A look that said that they were in love with each other, and how the other person was so important to them. 

"I wonder what I have done to deserve this." He muttered as he lifted his hand to touch Hermione's image. "To be in love with someone whom I can never confess my feelings to. What did I do to have feelings for someone whom I can never be with?"

Yes. He was in love with Hermione.

Draco Malfoy was in love with his best friend, Hermione Granger, and it pained him to even admit it to himself because he knew he would never act on his feelings.

Sighing, he left the room. As he was walking towards his room, he heard someone calling him. "Draco!"

He turned around to see who had called him. When he saw who it was, he closed his eyes for a second to occlude himself, because he knew that the witch could read him like a book, and would know what he was feeling.

After hoping that his occlumency walls would help him, Draco entered the portrait room, where Astoria was smiling at him from her portrait.

"Good evening, my love." She smiled at him. 

"I miss you." He whispered and didn't stop walking until he was directly in front of her portrait. Resting his head on the place where her hands were in front of her, he added, "I miss you everyday."

"The feeling is mutual, Drakey. What happened?"

"What do you mean what happened? Nothing happened." Draco said as he leaned backwards to look at her. 

"You are occluding your emotions." Astoria frowned at him. "And you didn't laugh when I called you Drakey, unlike how you always do. What's wrong?"

"I have betrayed you." His voice was low.

"Did you fall in love?"

"W-what?" His eyes widened. "W-what are you talking about-"

"I know you perfectly well, Draco Malfoy, and you cannot hide your emotions from me even after using Occlumency. I know why you will feel that you have betrayed me. So tell me, did you fall in love?"

Draco gulped. He couldn't lie to her. "I did."

"And do I know that girl? Is she who I think she is?"

He nodded. "She is..... she is my best friend."

"Then why do you feel as if you have betrayed me, Draco?" Astoria smiled at him. "I am happy that you have fallen in love, and that too for a remarkable witch. I don't want you to be alone, Draco."

"How can you smile at me while saying that, Tori?" He whispered. "I betrayed you, Tori, I betrayed your memories-"

"Will you ever forget me? Will you ever forget 'us'?"

"Of course not! How can-" 

"Then I don't see how you have, or will, betray me. Listen to me, Draco Lucius Malfoy, don't you dare feel guilty about loving someone. Love is the purest thing in this world, Draco, and you should feel lucky that you have fallen in love."

"Twice. I have fallen in love twice, Tori. And I don't see why I have to act on my feelings now. Being in love once, with you, was, and will always be, more than enough for me. Our memories are enough to last forever, Tori. And I am not alone. You are here with-"

"I am not really here, Draco, even if I wish every moment that I was. You cannot live in the past, you need to move on-"

"But I don't want to move on, Astoria!" He exclaimed. "Okay, will you drop this matter if you got to know that the girl I love, doesn't love me anymore?"

"That's not possible. Hermione loves you. She has been in love with you for years-"

"What if she hates me-"

"She doesn't-"

"Then I will make her." Draco told her. "I will make her hate me. I will act like I always did in Hogwarts towards her, be the same old prat, and then I don't see how she will still love me."

"Why are you doing this, Draco?" She shook her head. "You deserve happiness too, my love, please don't ruin this."

"You won't tell anyone what I am about to do." Draco told her, ignoring what she said. "You won't break this promise, Tori, you won't if you still love me."

"Draco-"

"Please, Astoria. I am begging you. Don't argue with me on this. I love you, and I always will." Without another word, he left the room.

"You underestimate the power of love, Draco." Astoria whispered. "I will make sure Hermione doesn't hate you, and that you get your happiness with her." 

As she looked towards the door, she thought of the witch who would be able to help her. "I love you, Draco, but this time, I am not going to support you. And I know Narcissa will be able to help me in this." 

A/N: That's it for this chapter. It was 7200+ words. Hope you guys liked it. Another long chapter, but the two long scenes, the Draco and Theo one, and the last scene, Astoria and Draco's conversation, were very important. They will definitely affect whatever Draco does in the upcoming chapters, and whatever happens with his friendship with Hermione, will be the result of these conversations. Also, please don't hate Theo. He's just trying to help Draco, I assure you that. Random question: Would you rather meet Draco or Narcissa? Answer in the comments below. Vote, comment and please share my story. Reviews are always appreciated. Thank you! 

Next chapter on 31/1/21(Sunday). 

Until next time.