Learning to Breathe

After they've finished eating, they automatically head back to his tower. He wonders if she realizes where she's going, or if she's just focused on the story she's telling him with such emotion. When they are almost at their destination, she is distracted by footsteps behind them.

A moment later, Hermione rounds the corner. She stops when she sees Ginny and Draco standing so closely together, and just stares at them. Draco folds his arms across his chest and shoots an annoyed look at her.

"Was there something you wanted, Granger?"

Hermione shifts nervously where she stands, moving her weight from one foot to another. "I want to talk to Ginny."

"Is something wrong?" Ginny asks, frowning. "Why are you back from Hogsmeade so soon?"

"I didn't go to Hogsmeade today," Hermione explains, her eyes focused on Ginny. "Neither did Ron or Harry. We've been in the library all morning."

"Fancy that," Draco says pleasantly to Ginny. "Your brother and Potter in the same room as a bunch of books." Ginny stifles a giggle and rolls her eyes at him.

"So what's wrong?"

"Nothing, they just wanted to talk to you."

"So you're their messenger now?" Ginny asks, her voice full of disbelief. "If they wanted me, why couldn't they come and get me themselves?"

"Well, Harry didn't want to see Malfoy, and you know Ron's temper..." she lets her voice trail off and shrugs.

"So you came because the sight of me doesn't make you want to wring my neck?" Draco asks, amused.

"I didn't say that," she says darkly. "I just have enough self control that I won't actually do it."

"Self control?" he asks, arching an eyebrow. "Yes, you showed spiffing self control in our third year. Smashing effort. Potter himself couldn't have done better."

"Look, are you going to come, or not?" Hermione asks Ginny, clearly becoming frustrated.

"No, I'm not," Ginny says, shaking her head. "Draco and I-"

"Do you really think that this is healthy for either of you?" Hermione blurts suddenly. "Are you just doing it to make Ron and Harry mad?"

"And people think I'm egotistical," Draco sighs. "Granger, not everything we do is about Potter and his bumbling sidekick. His sister is a big girl and she can handle herself, got it?"

"Draco and I are friends, Hermione. You're all going to have to get used to that."

"Fine," Hermione says, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "But don't be surprised if they come looking for you later."

"Thanks for the warning," Draco says flippantly, turning his back to her and walking away. Ginny turns and follows him, still close by his side. Hermione watches their retreating backs with a strange feeling pooled in the pit of her stomach.

She's never seen Malfoy stand up for anyone other than himself, and it's strange to see him sticking up for Ginny. Even stranger to her is the thought that he might actually care about Ginny. She hasn't ever thought that Malfoy was capable of caring about anyone other than himself, and the thought that he might rocks the foundation of her carefully constructed world.

She turns and heads back to the library, hurrying as fast as her legs can carry her. When she reaches it, she twists and turns, making her way back to the furthermost corner, where Harry and Ron are seated. When Ron looks up and doesn't see Ginny, his face pales.

"Where is she?"

"She's not coming," she says calmly, sitting down beside Harry.

"Why not?" Ron demands.

"She was with Malfoy when I found her," she explains softly, not wanting Madam Pince to overhear her. "They looked like they were heading to his room."

"Not a good thing to say right now, Hermione," Harry admonishes quietly, taking in the purple of Ron's ears. Hermione's cheeks turn red.

"Sorry."

"Do you think they're going to-?" Ron can't bring himself to voice the rest of his question.

"Ginny said that they were friends," she says quickly. "She didn't say anything else. They weren't touching, or anything." Ron relaxes slightly at this.

"What did Malfoy say?" Harry asks curiously. "When she said that they were friends, I mean."

"He didn't say anything, but he looked very protective of her," she says, frowning thoughtfully. "You know, if I didn't think it wasn't possible, I would almost say that he cares about her."

"What?" Ron squeaks.

"You really think so?" Harry asks softly. Hermione nods, and when she looks at him, she can tell that he's thinking the same thing she thought in the hallway.

"Ron, I'm sure they're fine," Hermione reassures him, patting his hand across the table. "They weren't touching, and they didn't even act like they wanted to."

"But he has," Ron says, his face turning green. "I saw her knickers on his floor during the holiday!"

"We know that she was sleeping there," Harry confirms, nodding. "We all saw the map with their names on it, but that doesn't mean that they were doing anything. We don't know what happened, Ron. She could have used his bathroom to shower, and dropped them when she was carrying clothes in there."

"You really think that's what happened?" Ron asks. Hermione nods quickly.

"Sure, Ron. It's possible."

"But you don't believe it," he says miserably.

"What if she truly cares about him?" Hermione asks no one in particular. "Maybe she's seen something in him that we just can't see."

"Do you think that he's changed?" Harry asks, watching her brow furrow in deep thought.

"Maybe he's not the one who's changed," she muses aloud. "Maybe Ginny is the one who changed."

"Changed how?" Ron asks.

"She hasn't exactly been herself lately," Hermione observes. "Maybe something happened over the break that we don't know about, and it led to them being friends. She seems awfully close to him now, whatever the case."

"Do you think he cares about her?" Harry asks, his liquid green eyes focused on her.

"I think it's very possible," she says uncomfortably. "He stepped in front of her when I got there, like he thought I might do something to her. Why would he put himself in harm's way for her if he didn't care?"

"That thing in the hallway yesterday," Harry begins. "Do you think it was just an act?"

"I don't know," Hermione admits. "He looked uncomfortable, didn't he?"

"Does he ever look uncomfortable?" Harry remarks, pulling a face at her. She smiles and shakes her head. Ron has been eerily quiet for a few moments now, and that worries her.

"Ron? Are you all right?"

"If she likes him," he says, staring at the tabletop. "Does that mean I have to be nice to him?"

"I don't know that you have to be nice to him," she says reasonably. "But it wouldn't hurt things if you didn't try to pick fights with him anymore. That goes for you, too, Harry."

"I can't promise anything," he says, holding his hands up. "He usually starts the stuff with me, remember?"

"But he hasn't since he's been back, and he has had a lot of opportunity. He hasn't so much as given you a dirty look."

"That's only because he hasn't looked at me, period."

"Blaise and Susan are with him a lot now," Ron points out. "They don't hang out with us as much since he got back."

"He's been gone for a while, Ron. He and Blaise were practically raised together, don't you remember him telling us that? I imagine that a friendship like that is hard to let go of."

"I reckon," Ron says grudgingly.

"Look," Harry says, standing up. "It's still early. Why don't we go ahead and go to Hogsmeade, and get some lunch? My treat."

"That sounds like a fabulous idea, Harry," Hermione says, relieved to have the subject changed. She stands and holds her hand out to Ron. "Are you coming with us?"

When Ron slips his hand into hers, she smiles brilliantly at him. "Are you kidding? A free meal? I'm there."

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Ginny shuts the door to his room behind her as she steps across the threshold. Draco kicks his shoes off and stretches out on his bed, folding his arms beneath his head. He is surprised when Ginny removes her own shoes and stretches out beside him on the bed. She rolls onto her right side to face him, and tucks her hands beneath her cheek.

"Why is it so hard for people to leave us alone?"

"They're jealous," he says simply. "After all, not everyone can have their own pet Gryffindor."

She laughs and rolls her eyes. "Are we so difficult to understand?"

"What do you mean?"

"Just the fact of us. The idea that we could be something other than enemies. People change, don't they realize that?"

"I don't think they care, pet. That's just the thing. They don't want to know."

"I guess you're right," she concedes.

"When am I ever not right?"

"No need to get superior on me," she says, smiling. He stares up at the ceiling, and she realizes for the first time that since they left the hallway, he hasn't made eye contact with her. "Are you upset with me?"

"What? No. Why would I be upset with you?"

"You haven't looked at me once since we ran into Hermione."

"Oh," he says, his heart beating rapidly. "Oh, well, I'm not doing it on purpose," he lies.

"You're a terrible liar," she says softly.

"I didn't used to be," he comments dryly.

"What did I do?"

"You haven't done anything."

"Then why won't you look at me?"

"It's just - sometimes I find it difficult."

"Why?"

"Because I'm still attracted to you." She turns this over in her mind. He hasn't said that he still loves her, but he hasn't said that he doesn't have feelings for her anymore, either.

"And that makes it hard to look at me?"

"When you're lying beside me on my bed, yes."

"Why?"

"Because - do I really have to explain this to you?" he asks, exasperated. He glances at her, and finds that he can't tug his eyes away from her face. He rolls onto his left side and props his head up on his hand. "Why are you on my bed, anyway? Doesn't it make you uncomfortable, knowing what we did here?"

"No," she says, her eyes locking on his. "I'm not uncomfortable in the slightest."

"We really surprised a lot of people, didn't we?" he murmurs, changing the subject abruptly.

"I think we did."

"Cheers to us, then," he says, smirking. She smiles at him, and suddenly he feels dizzy. "Look, I think it would be a good idea if one of us got up."

"Why?"

"Is that your word du jour?" he asks, slightly irritated. "Because I told you, I'm attracted to you. Being on my bed is just temptation, and I'm not so sure that I'm strong enough to withstand it."

"What would you do?"

"What? Sweet Circe, Ginny! You're not helping things along, here!"

"Draco," she says softly. He blinks. Her voice is low and it shoots through him like wildfire.

"Don't," he says, his voice cracking slightly. "I can't-" his protests die as he watches her move closer, and he is frozen to the spot. His eyes drift shut when she presses her lips gently to his. The contact is so light, it almost tickles.

When she moves her mouth to his ear, he gasps. "I don't think we should do this," he mutters, his voice indicating quite the opposite. "It's going to put a strain on our friendship."

"A little snogging isn't going to hurt anyone," she whispers, pulling away to meet his eyes. "Will it?"

"I suppose not," he says quietly, touching his fingertips to her cheek. She closes her eyes and sighs when his lips touch hers again, and she moves so that she's on her back. He moves closer to her and cups her cheek gently with his hand as he teases her lips apart with his tongue.

It doesn't take long for the kiss to change from tender and sweet to intense and demanding. Their tongues duel as his hand begins to roam down her body, caressing her arm, then her hip, and her outer thigh. Her hands are tangled in his hair, holding his face to hers.

His hand continues to roam until it reaches her breast. He kneads it gently in his palm for several moments. When he realizes what he's doing, he yanks his hand away as though he's been burnt, and he breaks the kiss.

"What's wrong?" she asks, her chest heaving as she catches her breath.

"I just- We should stop before it goes any further."

"I thought you were attracted to me," she says, confusion etched on her face.

"I am," he affirms, running a hand through his hair.

"Then what's the problem?"

"We're friends, Ginny. If we do this-"

"We did this before we decided to just be friends," she points out. "And we're fine now."

"Are you saying that you want to keep going?"

"I think that's what I'm getting at, yeah." He stares at her in awe for a moment. It's easy now to see why he loves her so well; she doesn't hesitate to speak her mind, and she's not afraid to be honest with him.

"And you're sure we'll be all right if we do?" he asks softly. There is nothing he wants more at this moment than to touch her; to be inside of her. He's been dreaming about it every time he manages to go to sleep, and sometimes fantasizes about it during his classes.

Her answer is to pull him back down for another kiss. She reaches for his hand and places it back on her breast, and he groans. He moves his mouth down to her neck and kisses her wildly, and when she feels him sucking on her collarbone, she smiles.

He pauses long enough to pull her shirt over her head, then begins to kiss the top of her breast. He has just pulled the fabric of her bra aside and is about to capture an already taut nipple when a knock sounds at his door.

"Ignore it," she begs in a whisper. "They'll go away." She doesn't want him to stop, so she removes her bra and puts her arms around his neck. "Please."

He bends and kisses her neck while his thumb flicks across her nipple, and she gasps. After a moment, the person at the door knocks again, louder this time. He pulls away and growls. "The school bloody well better be on fire," he mutters angrily. She manages to pull her shirt on just before he opens the door.

"Hey, Draco," Blaise says good naturedly. "Susan and I thought that maybe you might want to go to Hogsmeade with us to get some lunch."

"I'm a little busy right now," Draco says, forcing a smile.

"Come on, mate," Blaise says. "It'll help you forget about Ginny for a bit." She sits up on the bed and looks directly at him.

Draco slides a finger across his throat, then opens the door just enough so that Blaise can see Ginny sitting on the bed. She raises her hand and waggles her fingers at him, stifling a smile at his red face.

"Why don't the both of you come with us, then?" Blaise suggests. "It's on me."

Draco rubs his eyes and takes in several deep breaths before Ginny decides to speak up. "That sounds great, Blaise. Can we meet you somewhere in a few minutes? We were just in the middle of a really important conversation."

"Sure, that's fine. Why don't you guys meet us in front of the Great Hall in about ten minutes?"

"We'll be there," she promises, smiling. Blaise nods at Draco, then turns and heads down the stairs. After he closes the door, Draco turns to her with a highly amused look.

"We were in the middle of a very important conversation, were we?" He crosses to the bed and sits down next to her.

"I think it was important," she says, smiling wickedly at him. "We have enough time to finish it, if you want to."

"Less than ten minutes?" he asks, looking offended. "Why, that's hardly enough time to get a good snogging in, let alone have a deep, involved conversation."

"I suppose you're right," she sighs dejectedly.

"If you're so inclined, you might consider coming back here later on to finish our talk." He stands and waggles his eyebrows suggestively at her before his eyes fall on the white garment on his bed. He picks it up and grins lasciviously. "But just in case you don't, I'll keep this as a reminder of our talk."

"Draco, give it back! I don't have time to go get another one!" She reaches for it, but he pulls it just out of her reach before shoving it in his pocket.

"So come back and get it after we get back, if you want it so badly." She stands up and moves in front of him. When she reaches her hand down in his pocket, he sucks in a deep breath. "It's in the other pocket," he says.

"I know." She kisses him gently before pulling away and slipping her shoes on. "Are you ready? I'm sure they're waiting for us already."

Draco nods and slips his own shoes on, thinking that this feels oddly like a marriage. The two of them, meeting two friends, joking about sex. Surprisingly, the thought doesn't upset him, and that gives him something to think about.

They walk together down the stairs and head towards the Great Hall. She links her arm through his and smiles up at him, and for some reason he is stricken with the thought that this is much how she would look walking down the aisle with him. He shakes his head to clear the cobwebs that are forming, and grins back at her.

"So, is there anything I should be prepared for?"

"What do you mean?" he asks, looking puzzled.

"Do Blaise or Susan have any strange mannerisms that I should be ready for?"

"Now that you mention it, they do."

"Oh?"

"They have this annoying habit of attaching their faces to each other out of nowhere." She throws her head back and laughs at this.

"Then they have a fun annoying habit."

"You are wicked," he remarks, as they round the corner and Blaise and Susan come into sight. Susan smiles and waves energetically.

"You like me wicked," she whispers. "It reminds you of you." It is his turn to laugh.

"Well, you two certainly seem to be getting along well," Susan says cheerily. "Everything all right, then?"

"We're fine," Ginny says, her smile genuine. She has always liked Susan, even though she's always thought her to be somewhat of an airhead. "Where are we going?"

They turn and head out the front doors, and Ginny watches as Blaise reaches for Susan's hand and laces his fingers through hers.

"We thought maybe the Three Broomsticks, so the boys could have some butterbeer," Susan says, turning to look at Ginny over her shoulder.

"The boys?" Ginny asks. Susan lets go of Blaise and falls into step beside Ginny, and Draco takes his cue and moves forward to walk beside Blaise. "Don't you like butterbeer?"

"I'm not overly fond of it, no." She glances sideways at Ginny for a moment, and then smiles. "Draco speaks nonstop about you, you know."

"He does?" she asks, surprised. "What does he say?"

"I don't think he knows that I've been around when he's done it, but when he's with Blaise... well, he thinks very highly of you."

Ginny looks ahead at Draco, and catches him turning to grin at her. She smiles back and her cheeks turn red before he turns back to Blaise. "I think very highly of him, too. I'm very lucky to have him."

"So, are you officially dating again?"

"We're officially friends again," Ginny says carefully.

"Do you think you'll go back to dating anytime soon?" Susan asks gently.

"I don't know that that's such a good idea."

"Why not? He adores you."

"Don't you think adore is a strong word?"

"Ginny," Susan says seriously, halting her steps. "This is Draco Malfoy we're talking about, here. Have you ever seen him over the moon for a girl before?"

"No," Ginny says honestly.

"Well, he is now."

"I think you might be exaggerating just the tiniest bit, don't you?" Ginny laughs.

"I don't think so," Susan disagrees, starting to walk again. "And I think you'd be passing up a golden opportunity if you decide not to date him again."

"He talks about me a lot?" Ginny asks quietly. Susan nods.

"Are you ladies quite finished discussing our demise, or shall we eat whilst you continue chatting?" Blaise asks, giving the girls an exaggerated bow. Susan smiles and rolls her eyes as she turns to Ginny.

"Someone has a flair for the dramatic." She turns and links her arm with Blaise's, and Ginny watches them enter the Three Broomsticks with the ghost of a smile on her face.

"Everything all right?" Draco asks, noting the look on her face. She nods and smiles warmly at him.

"At this moment," she says, her breath forming tiny white puffs in the wintry air, "Everything is perfect."

He grins at this. "Good to hear. Shall we go inside and eat, or would you like to stay out here for a bit longer?"

"Why would I want to do that?" she laughs. "Stay out here and freeze?"

"I just thought that perhaps you might need a reprieve from Zabini's pet."

"She's really not so bad," Ginny says decisively. He arches an eyebrow at her.

"Is that so?" He opens the door for her and guides her in with his hand lightly resting on the small of her back. Warmth floods through her, and she realizes that this is where she wants to be; this is what feels right - him.

She is just about to sit down when she hears Draco suck in his breath with a tiny hiss. "What is it?" she asks, turning to look in the direction he's looking. Her eyes fall on Hermione, Harry, and Ron sitting at a table on the other side of the restaurant. The trio don't seem to have noticed them yet, for which she is grateful. She reaches for Draco's hand and squeezes it gently. "It's fine. Let's just sit down and have a nice lunch together."

He nods at her, and she lowers herself into the booth. When they are seated, Ginny realizes why she hasn't heard a peep out of Blaise and Susan - they are locked in a kiss. Ginny turns to Draco, her cheeks flushing slightly pink, and he smirks at her.

"Why should we let them have all the fun?" he asks, highly amused. He pats his pocket, and she feels her cheeks burn even more.

"And you said that I was wicked," she remarks, sighing melodramatically. He chuckles, and the sound causes the couple to break their kiss. Susan turns pink.

"Sorry, we didn't realize you were here," she apologizes. The look on Blaise's face says otherwise, and Ginny has to bite down on her lower lip to prevent the laugh from slipping out. Draco rises and excuses himself to go to the restroom.

When his blonde friend is out of sight, Blaise turns to Ginny. "So, how are things going for you two?"

"Fine," she says, smiling faintly at him. "But it looks like things are going better for you guys." Blaise smiles at this, and Susan blushes.

"So you're getting along again, then?"

"Does he really talk that badly about me?" Ginny teases, laughing.

"I didn't mean it like that," Blaise protests, shaking his head.

"I know what you meant," she says, holding up her hand. "I think we're doing all right. There are some things that we need to work out, but on the whole, we're okay."

"That's good to hear," he says seriously. "It's about time that the two of you were happy again."

"What are you talking about?" she laughs. "We were only apart for a couple of weeks."

"I don't just mean that," he says quietly, glancing around to make sure that Draco isn't coming back yet. "I mean that you've both been through some things, and it's about time you were both happy."

"Thanks, I think," she says, trying to swallow her surprise. It is the moment when Draco returns to the table, and she smiles up at him as he sits down.

"You look happy to see me," he says teasingly. "Were they too much for you to stomach alone?"

"No," she says, laughing. Blaise chuckles.

"And who's to say that she wasn't too much for us?" he asks. Draco arches an eyebrow at his friend.

"My pet, too much for the two of you? I doubt that." Ginny revels in the thrill that passes through her at being called his pet to someone else, and she wonders if he means it because of the private joke between the two of them, or whether it is meant as an endearment.

Whatever the case, it falls unnoticed by Blaise and Susan, and lunch progresses pleasantly. Ginny can't remember the last time she felt so comfortable with anyone other than Draco, and she finds that she rather enjoys the couple's company, despite the fact that they keep giving each other puppy dog eyes. She loves the way that they constantly find little ways to touch each other; fingers brush as they reach for their drinks, hands touch knees beneath the table, he smoothes hair away from her face. It's all very romantic, even if they find it a daily occurrence.

Draco watches her watching them, and he is intrigued. She seems very enamored of them, and whether she realizes it or not, he notices that every time they touch, a tiny smile appears on her face. He wonders what she would do if he demonstrated that much affection to her in public, and then dismisses the thought.

He had come to the conclusion that she didn't want a relationship with him when she walked away from him that day, since she didn't fight him to stay. After their interlude this morning, though, he isn't sure. Perhaps she wants a private relationship; something that happens behind closed doors that no one else knows about. If that is what she wants, then that is what he's determined to give her.

He doesn't like to be kept hidden like a dirty little secret, but he doesn't want to lose her, so he will hold fast to her, whatever the cost.

When she turns and smiles at him, he responds in kind, and watches with satisfaction her look of utter surprise when his hand squeezes her upper thigh beneath the table. Her cheeks turn scarlet when his hand remains there, and Blaise starts talking.

"Why don't we make a day of it while we're here?" he suggests, draping his arm around Susan's shoulders and pulling her closer. "We could just sort of wander around the streets of Hogsmeade."

"Oh, that sounds like fun!" Susan exclaims, her eyes lighting up. She turns to Ginny. "Why don't you and I go to Gladrags? I've been wanting to get some new robes for ages now, and Blaise never wants to go!"

"I don't much fancy looking at clothes," Blaise explains, shaking his head. Ginny smiles at her fellow redhead.

"I'd love to go - that is, if Draco thinks he can survive without me," she teases. His eyes register his surprise for a split second.

"What an odd thing to say," he purrs silkily. "I'm sure I'll be quite all right being deprived of your company for a bit, since you're going to come and visit me later this evening."

"Indeed," she concedes finally, biting back the smile that threatens. He looks immensely pleased when she agrees to visit him, and warmth fills her, spreading from her head to the very tips of her toes. She scoots out of the booth and follows Susan out of the restaurant, both of them promising to meet the boys in front of Quality Quidditch Supplies in an hour. When they are finally out of sight, Draco turns to Blaise.

"How did you win Susan over?" Blaise seems caught off guard by this question, and turns it over very carefully in his mind. He hadn't realized that Draco was so insecure about Ginny, and if he admits it to himself, it unnerves him more than a little bit. Draco has never been uncertain about anything in his life, as far as Blaise can remember.

"I told her I loved her," he says without hesitation. Draco's face falls, and he wonders at it. "You've already told her, haven't you?"

"Her reaction was less than encouraging," he explains, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "It's why she left in the first place."

"I thought you said you told her to leave?" Blaise asks, confused.

"I did," Draco affirms, taking a long drink of his butterbeer. "But it was because I'd told her, and she said nothing back."

"Nothing?"

"She repeated what I said, asking me if I did, but that's about it."

"Maybe you scared her."

"The thought had occurred to me already," Draco snaps irritably. "So how do I take it back and fix it?"

"You want to take it back? Does that mean you don't love her anymore, then?"

"I do," Draco whispers, leaning across the tabletop conspiratorially. "More than I did two weeks ago, if that's possible."

"I assure you, it's possible," Blaise says, nodding. "But why do you say you want to 'fix it'? There doesn't seem to be anything wrong between the two of you."

"She agreed to be my friend," Draco says quietly. The dark-haired boy's eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

"You looked like a hell of a lot more than friends when I knocked on your door."

"What?" Draco asks. He hadn't thought that his friend was so astute.

"Come on, Draco," he chides, his eyes darting around the room once. "I saw the two of you. Your cheeks were red, and your hair was mussed up. Plus she made an excuse for me to leave. You don't really think I'm that stupid, do you?"

"I suppose not," Draco says, shaking his head.

"You didn't look like just friends to me."

"I don't feel like just friends, either," Draco admits reluctantly.

"What do you feel like?"

Draco looks up and meets his friend's eyes. "I feel like this is it," he says candidly.

"It?"

"She's the one."

Blaise sits back, his eyes wide with the shock that he feels. He remembers Draco's oaths from just two short years ago, swearing that he would never settle down with one woman. He would never fall into the trap of monogamy as long as he lived. Now here he is, sitting in front of Blaise, and telling him that he only wants one woman.

And to top it all off, that woman is a Weasley, someone that Draco once hated with a burning passion. It's almost too much to handle.

"She's only a sixth year," Blaise says finally. "What will you do next year, when she's in school, and you're not?"

"I haven't said that I'm planning on anything yet," Draco lies. "I just said I think that she's the one. She's perfect for me."

"I won't disagree with that," his friend says, sitting up straight again. "So are you going to tell her how you feel?"

"I haven't exactly thought this through," Draco admits, frowning. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet."

"Well, why don't we get out of here, and then we can talk more?" Blaise suggests, shooting a glance in the direction of his fellow Gryffindors. To his chagrin, they are all staring at him. He waves and smiles, and is heartened a bit when both Hermione and Harry wave and smile back. Only Ron doesn't move, and stays sulking in the corner of their booth.

"Excellent idea," Draco says, glancing neutrally at the trio.

After the two friends are gone, Hermione turns to Ron. "See? Malfoy didn't even frown at us."

"When did you become his cheerleader?" Ron asks darkly.

"Ron," she says, exasperated. "I'm not being his cheerleader, I just think that if Ginny is going to be close with him in any capacity, we should try and look for the positive aspects of it."

"Spoken like a true optimist," Harry teases, tugging gently on one of her curls. She smiles and blushes at the contact, leaving Ron to wonder where he fits in anymore. His sister is with Malfoy, Blaise and Susan have paired off and started spending time around Malfoy, and now Harry and Hermione seem to have grown closer. Where he once felt like a cherished member of the trio, now he just feels like a third wheel.

To say that he's jealous is an understatement.

He doesn't like Harry being so close to Hermione, and vice versa. He's always been closer to Harry than she has; he's shared things with Harry that Hermione will never know about. He loves them both, and he doesn't like to entertain the thought that he may be losing them. The idea that he's losing them to each other is even more painful.