Friends Forever....Or Not?

Chapter 3

It was almost Halloween now. The school year was off to a great start. Gryffindor was in the lead with the most House Points. They had won every Quidditch match so far, thanks to Harry. And since Oliver Wood left for Hogwarts already, they had to find a new Keeper and name a new captain. They all voted on a new captain and of course, Harry won. So Harry was the new Gryffindor captain. He had to find a new Keeper. That was easy though. Oliver Wood had a younger brother named Alex Wood. Oliver had been training Alex for quite awhile. He was in his second year and was made Keeper for Gryffindor. He was almost as good as Oliver was, but not quite. Nobody could be better than Oliver.

One night, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were in the library studying.

"Five rolls of parchment!" exclaimed Ron. "Can you believe that!?"

They had just come from Potions with Professor Snape. Snape loathed them so much. He had given Ron, Hermione, Harry detention for talking out of turn and made them write an essay about the different kinds of potions that they were talking about that day.

"Well....at least he didn't take any points away," said Hermione.

"Well, yeah, if you don't count the twenty points he took from us at the beginning of class," said Harry.

"I am going to be up all night writing this!" said Ron. "I'm not even done with my first roll. And we have to have ten! How far are you guys?"

"Just starting my second," said Harry.

"I'm coming up on my sixth," said Hermione.

Harry was shocked. He has never seen anyone write something so fast. Then again, if anyone were going to write that fast, it would be Hermione. And it was. She has always been like that and she always will be.

"How do you write so fast, Hermione?" asked Ron.

"Well, for starters," said Hermione, "I don't fool around. If you two weren't talking, you could have been just as far as me. But, no. You are always talking. You two are the reasons that we have to write this stupid essay anyway. Now, would you please be quiet so I can finish mine!"

"Fine!" said Ron. It's not my fault though that you're obsessed with homework! I don't work all day, every day like you do! I have better things to do than sit here and listen to your crap! I'm leaving!"

Ron slammed his book shut and stormed out.

Harry and Hermione just sat there, stunned.

"Wow..." said Harry. "I've never known him to get that upset over something before."

"I don't know where that came from," said Hermione, innocently.

Harry was starting to get a little ticked off at her to. Ron was right. She hasn't been acting very nice lately. Harry decided to pick a fight with her too.

"What?!" said Harry. He was yelling now. "You don't know where that came from? Well, let me inform you. It was you! If you wouldn't have told him off like that about not getting his work done and telling him to be quiet, he would have never told you off!"

"Oh, so that's how you see it, huh?" said Hermione. "Well, you know what? I still think that. And the same goes for you too. If you weren't so-"

Harry cut Hermione off. "You know, Hermione, I've had enough of you! You think you're such a know-it-all! Well, the truth is that you're just a big show off! I'm leaving!!" And with that, Harry slammed his book shut and left to go find Ron.

Hermione just sat there. She was very shocked she thought that they were friends. Apparently not. She just continued with her homework.

* * *

Harry went up to the Gryffindor common room, hoping to find Ron. He did.

"Hey, Harry," said Ron. "I'm sorry about what happened down there. I didn't mean to storm off like that."

"You know," said Harry. "I'm glad you did. She deserved it. I was sick of her acting like she was better then us. She's not! Right after you left, I told her off too. She seemed a bit shocked, but I don't care."

"Well, I guess it's just us two then, huh?" said Ron.

"I guess so," agreed Harry.

* * *

After a few days of this, Hermione was really starting to get lonely. Apparently, other people noticed too. Whenever she was sitting by herself, a certain boy would come up to her and start talking to her. She was surprised by this, but talked back. He would say hi to her in the corridors. He must have realized that she wasn't friend with Harry and Ron anymore. He would have never been this nice to her if she was. He was trying to make her forget about them. It worked. She knew she shouldn't let him take advantage of her, but she couldn't help it. She kind of liked it. She wanted to prove to Harry and Ron that she could find someone else besides them. And besides, this boy was been much nicer than Harry and Ron ever had. She had a feeling that this boy might actually like her in that sort of way. Little did she know that she was right. He really did like her like that. This boy's name was....Draco Malfoy. It was the last person she expected, but he was there for her when she needed someone the most. And somehow, she knew that it was real. Draco had changed over the summer. He still didn't like Harry or Ron, but that didn't matter to her now.

Hermione and Draco were standing outside the Great Hall. They were almost with each other every minute of the day.

"Do you want to go to the library and study, Hermione?" asked Draco.

"Ah.....no. Not today," said Hermione. "Let's go for a walk."

"Ok," said Draco, He was a bit surprised that she didn't want to go to the library. That was unusual for her. "Where do you want to go?"

"I don't care. Let's just walk around," said Hermione.

At first, Hermione wasn't sure why Draco was being so nice to her. Then she realized that maybe, just maybe, he actually liked her. Until today, she had tried to keep it a secret that they were friends. She used to be kind of ashamed of him. Not anymore. She wanted people to know that they were friends...or more then friends? She wasn't sure what to think anymore.

"You know, Hermione, you're a lot nicer then people give you credit for," said Draco.

"Thanks," she said. "And you're not as rude as most people think you are."

"Thanks," said Draco. "Shall we go outside for awhile? It's a rather nice day out. I could use some sunshine."

"Sure," she said. "I need to go back to my room and get my cloak, though. It isn't that nice out."

"Ok, shall I meet you by your door in five minutes then?" he said.

"Yes, that works for me," she said. "I'll be right back."

She started walking to her room. She gave the Fat Lady the password and went in. Harry and Ron were sitting in the common room. She tried not to look at them, but she couldn't resist. She was just wondering what they were doing without her. They stood up and started walking towards her. She sped up.

"Hermione, wait," said Harry. "We were looking for you. We want to talk. We've been thinking. Look, we're really sorry about those things that we said about you. Honest."

"We happened to realize that you've been awfully lonely lately, so we decided to take the first step," said Ron. "We really are very-"

"Lonely?!" shouted Hermione. "Well just to inform you, I am not lonely. It just so happens that someone is waiting for me right outside that door and I don't want to keep him waiting....So, if would please excuse me, I need to go and get my cloak so we can go outside." Hermione grabbed her cloak and started for the door.

"But Hermione," shouted Ron. "We said we're sorry. Next should come the part where you forgive us."

Hermione stopped short. "Forgive you?! Well, maybe I wouldn't have had to forgive you if you wouldn't have said that stuff about me in the first place!" She started walking again. "And nothing is ever going to change that!"

Harry and Ron ran after her.

"Hermione, you're right. Nothing's going to change that, but we can still say that we're sorry," said Harry. He was starting to get a little annoyed at her now, but he kept his temper. Or at least, he tried to.

"You can say that you're sorry," said Hermione, "just as well as I can say that I don't want to forgive you." She was starting to get angry with them. Why couldn't they get it through their thick heads?

Hermione opened the door. Draco was already waiting for her.

"Come on, Draco, lets go," she said. "Those two are really starting to get on my nerves!"

"Draco?!?!" shouted Harry. "So now you're hanging out with Draco? I thought you'd at least be able to do better then him!"

Hermione was ready for a comeback. "He's better than you!! And yes, Harry, I am hanging out with Draco. Now that's it's any of your business!! I'll have you know he was really nice to me. Nicer than you two ever were!!"

Draco smiled at her last remark. He really liked pissing off Harry and Ron. And he wasn't ever the one doing it. It was Hermione!! Even better yet!!

"Come on, Hermione," said Draco. "We don't want to waste our precious time on those two, do we?"

"No, you're right, we don't, let's go," said Hermione.

Harry and Ron were just left standing there. They were a little shocked. But more hurt. Harry couldn't believe it. He thought to himself. How could she do that to them? Of all, people...Draco! Their worst enemy!

"Come on, Harry," said Ron. "Let's go back to the common room. Just forget about her, will you?"

"I'm trying ever so hard to forget, but she just walked off with Malfoy, or didn't you notice?"

"Oh, I noticed all right," said Ron. "Some friend, huh?" He started walking back to the common room. Apparently, forgetting about her very easily.

Somehow, Ron didn't seem as upset about this as Harry did. Harry couldn't stop thinking about her, though. Come to think of it, he was a little bit.....uh, what's the word....jealous? Could he really be jealous of Malfoy?.....Yes, he could. And he was. Harry had begun to realize that he had feelings for Hermione. Not just as a friend, but more. But now it was too late. She's pissed at him and she's found Malfoy. Now how was he going to tell her? He couldn't. That's all there was to it.

* * *

Hermione and Draco were now outside, walking around the grounds of Hogwarts. Hermione was glad she was with him. She was really starting to get to now him. He was much nicer than she ever thought possible. She had found someone new. She liked that.

"You're right, Draco," said Hermione. "It is a nice day out."

"Yeah....Hey, have you ever ridden on a broom with someone before?" asked Draco.

"At the same time?" asked Hermione.

"Yeah," said Draco.

"No, I haven't," said Hermione. "I didn't know that you could. Don't they only have one seat?"

"Well, most of them do. You can get ones with two seats, but I wouldn't know where. They're hard to find," said Draco.

"So, how would we both ride on one together? Do you have one with two seats?" asked Hermione. She was wondering what he was talking about. She thought it would be kind of fun to do that. She wanted to know how.

"I wish I had one with two seats, but I don't," said Draco.

"Then tell me how we are going to do that!" said Hermione. She had raised her voice a little bit. She was getting a little annoyed with him. He wouldn't tell her. She wanted to know.

Draco started laughing quietly.

"What are you laughing about? Do you think this is funny?"

"Yeah....I do," said Draco. He was still laughing.

"What is so funny about this?" Hermione wanted to know. She was still partially shouting.

Draco laughed harder. "It's just funny to see you like this. Getting all mad over something. Your face is almost red."

"You think I look funny?" Hermione wasn't sure whether to get mad or start laughing.

"Well, not so much funny, rather than....cute. You look kind of cute when you get upset ever something like this."

"I do?" said Hermione. She was surprised. Maybe he really did want to be more then friends. After all, he did say she was cute. She didn't mind that at all. Not one single bit.

"Yeah, you do," said Draco.

"Thank you.....So, are you ever going to tell me how we are going to ride a broom together or not?" asked Hermione, changing the subject. She still wanted to know.

"Maybe."

"I can get worse," she said. "I really can....But wait, you'd like that, wouldn't you?"

"Of course," He was smiling more than ever now.

"Oh, just tell me!....Please!" said Hermione. She was starting to get antsy.

"Oh, fine," he finally agreed.

"Thank you!" she said, very politely.

"Well...." said Draco, smiling once again. "It just so happens that I know a spell that will add on a seat. I've never used it before, but I think it should work."

"Neat! Let's do that then!" she said. She was glad he finally told her. "Where is your broom at?"

"It's in the Slytherin locker room," said Draco. "Come on, let's go get it."

"I don't know.....should I really be going in there?" asked Hermione, uncertainly.

"Oh, yeah, it's fine," said Draco.

"You aren't going to be embarrassed, Draco, are you? To be seen with me, a Gryffindor? They don't like Gryffindors very much," said Hermione.

"Hermione, I don't care about that. I really don't. Come on, let's go," said Draco.

"Ok....if you say so," said Hermione, still unsure of herself.

They walked over to the locker rooms. It was a fairly long walk. They were walking next to each other. Draco "accidentally" let his hand brush against Hermione's hand. He did this once more, except before he could take it away again, Hermione had caught it. They were now holding hands. They both looked at each other and smiled. This is just what Hermione had always wanted. Unfortunately, they reached the locker room and had to part hands. They slipped away ever so gently. They went inside.

"See, Hermione," said Draco. "No one's ever in here. Not that it matters, but...."

"You're right, Draco. I'm sorry. I'm still a little apprehensive. People aren't used to us, uh, being together."

"No, they aren't.....but they're going to have to get used to it," said Draco.

Hermione was almost positive that Draco wanted to be more than friends. He wanted something more, just like she did. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said she was cute or tried, and succeeded, to hold her hand. She was happy now. Not that she wasn't before, but, more.

Draco grabbed his broom and they left for the Quidditch field. They held hands, once again, on the way back.

"Now let's see if I remember that spell," said Draco, taking his broom out of his robe. "Hmm.....DOUBLEOSEATA!" Draco pointed his wand at his broom. For a split second, two seats glowed a golden yellow, and then disappeared. "It worked! Come on. Get on. Do you want the front or the back?"

"Uh...the front?" she said.

"Ok, then I'll sit in the back," said Draco.

"Ooh, I can't wait!" said Hermione, as they both got on his broom. She was starting to get very excited now. This was going to be fun!

"You are going to LOVE this, Hermione!" said Draco. "We'll fly around for a bit and then I am going to take you to my favorite spot ever."

"Where would that be?" asked Hermione, curiously.

"You'll just have to wait and see. Trust me, ok?"

"You know I do."

"Hold on, here we go!"

They flew around for about an hour. It was almost starting to get dark out. Draco showed her things that she had never seen before. It was exciting. Finally, he flew over to the tallest tower of Hogwarts. He flew behind it. There was a small little balcony there that Hermione never knew existed. He stopped there.

"WOW!" exclaimed Hermione. "I never knew this was here. I can see everything from up here."

"Exactly why it's my favorite spot. It's amazing, isn't it?"

"Yes...." Hermione was in awe. She couldn't believe she was up here. She could see everything. She saw Hagrid's hut. The Forbidden Forest. The Quidditch field. The Astronomy Tower. She was amazed.

"Hermione, I want you to promise me something," said Draco.

She snapped back into reality. "What?"

"Nobody knows about this place, and I mean nobody. Well, I take that back. Only two people know. Me....and now you. So please promise me, Hermione, that you won't tell a single soul about this place. No mater what happens to us. Don't tell a single soul. Can you do that?"

"Of course I can, Draco. I won't tell anyone. I promise."

"Thank you."

"Draco, how is it that nobody knows about this place? You would think that someone might have seen it."

"Well, I have another little secret. It's bewitched. I put a spell on it the first day I saw it. I think it was the second week of my first year here. It made everyone who knew about it, forget it. It is invisible to everyone, except for the people I choose, like you. So only me and you know about it. Does that clear things up for you?"

"Yes...it does," said Hermione. She stayed silent for a few moments, then added, "Draco, let's make a pact."

"A pact? What kind of pact?" he said with curiosity.

"On the last day of school, of our last year at Hogwarts, let's meet here. On this balcony. At 12:00 am. No matter what happens to us. Be there."

"I will," he said. "And I won't forget."

"Draco, no matter what, come," she said. "Even if we detest each other then. Even if you have a girlfriend. Even if I have a boyfriend. Come. For the one night, we will forget anything that has ever happened. And who knows, maybe we'll still be together by then. You never know. Promise me you`ll be there, Draco."

"I promise," said Draco. "No matter what, I'll be there."

"And so will I," she said.

Hermione went back into her trance, but was interrupted.

"You know, Hermione, I do come up here a lot," said Draco. "Mostly to think about things. You know, school, homework, family....you."

Hermione came out of her trance, this time for good. "Me?!" she said, blushing a deep pink. "You think about me?....What about me?"

"Hermione, I know I've been very mean and rude to you all these years, but that was then. I've changed. I don't care what people think about me anymore. And yes, I think about you, Hermione. A lot. Almost every time I come up here. I realized that the reason for me teasing you and stuff isn't that I don't like you.....It's that I do like you. A lot."

Hermione, still blushing more than ever, didn't know what to say to this. She stayed silent and just nodded her head. That was all she could do. She could barely move.

"Every time I look at you," continued Draco. "I can't help but think how pretty you are. Every time you smile, it lights up my face.....Every time I look into your eyes, they're staring back at me and I just can't think of a single reason why we shouldn't be together." Draco started leaning forward....So did Hermione. It was a long kiss, worth every while. For both of them, it was their first kiss.....It was perfect!