Draco kept his distance from Hermione over the following days. He had heard of her date from a rather chatty Michael Corner, who often talked about her being intellectually compatible with him.

"Intellectually Compatible?" Draco scoffed to Blaise Zabini, his best friend.

"A woman wants to be loved, adored. To find her match, not be on the same intellectual level as someone. And certainly not Granger!" Draco ranted on his way down to potions.

Blaise stood mouth agape. "I think someone's turning a bit green!" He laughed.

"Definitely not!" Draco protested.

"Oh and how I do protest! You like Hermione!" Blaise convicted.

"I do not! Filthy little mu-" Blaise cut across him.

"Don't even bother. No one cares about blood anymore Malfoy. And her name's Hermione, start calling her by it." He said before taking his seat at the right hand side of the classroom.

Draco spent all of potions thinking of Blaise' wise words. Did he like her?

She was beautiful. Her hair now fell straight until mid back where it curled at the ends. Her eyes were the same chocolate they had always been. Her figure was perfect and she had legs that went on for miles.

She no longer looked like some wild animal but beautiful, elegant, sophisticated and sexy.

She had this one adorable dimple on her right cheek and a smile that lit up the whole room.

Draco had his mind made up and as soon as class was dismissed he ran to the head dorms. He preferred spending his time there. He was still feared in the wizarding community and especially by younger students.

He knocked on Hermione's bedroom door, no answer. He quietly creaked the door open ever so slightly only to find her room empty. He noticed a note on her bed.

Sorry Malfoy, I won't
be able to do patrols with
you tonight as I have
plans.
I promise I'll make
it up to you!
~Hermione

Draco huffed in anger. Her date.

He decided to wait up for her after patrols, which he did by himself. For her safety, or so he told himself.

He also knew the possibility that she and Michael Corner would come stumbling all over each other in need of a late night shag. An event Draco was more than willing not to witness.

He awaited by the roaring fire, leaning on the mantle piece. He heard the door open behind him.

"You're awake?" She asked.

Draco didn't move his eyes from the embers.

"Um, yeah. I couldn't sleep." He lied.

"I'm not surprised you're still in your uniform." She retorted.

"Uh, how was your,... date?" Draco asked changing the subject.

"Quite boring actually, he sat there the whole time either talking about himself or Borshawks new Transfiguration theorum." She answered in an annoyed voice.

"Riveting!" Draco commented sarcastically.

"Quite. Oh and the best part being that he forgot his wallet at the restaurant, yet somehow had it not ten minutes later for the five minute cab ride to theater." She told him.

"Prat." Draco replied.

"Indeed." Hermione agreed.

Draco took a deep breath.
"He doesn't deserve you. I mean, uh. You deserve better than him." He stated while keeping his eyes on the fire.

After a slight silence.

"What makes you say that?" She asked.

"It's the truth." Draco replied nonchalantly.

"Define 'better'." Hermione asked while moving to face him in front of the fireplace.

"Someone who cares about you. Who appreciates you, all of you not just your looks or your intelligence. Someone who'll sweep you off your feet and make you feel tingles when you touch. Someone who'll treat you like your his everything, and will love you." Draco poured out.

Hermione placed a finger under the handsome boys chin raising his eyes to hers.

"Like who?" She asked quietly.

Draco took a deep breath.

"Like me." He answered before leaning in and placing his lips on hers.