Even Dragons Have Hearts

With his eyes fixed on the ground and his hands deep inside the pockets of his black cloak, Draco walked along the crooked path towards Hogsmeade. He had told Crabbe and Goyle that he wanted to go alone, so they stayed in the Great Hall stuffing their greedy little faces. Passing through the archway with the tattered old sign, which read 'Hogsmeade Village,' Draco headed towards the store on the end of the main street.

He pushed open the door and looked around, no one else was there, and that would give him time to have a good look. Walking up the aisles, he stopped to look at a few things, and then he finally found what he had been searching for. Draco picked it up, carried it to the counter and put it down. Waiting a few seconds for the shopkeeper to show, he then rang the bell for assistance.

"Jus' a minute!" called a voice from the back room.

Draco drummed his fingers on the box he had just been holding. A minute later, a scruffy little man with an extreme comb-over waddled to the counter.

"Ah, very good item you got 'ere sonny, though not many youngsters your age buy 'em now, do they?" he looked at Draco over the top of his glasses.

Draco didn't say anything; he merely nodded. He was not in the mood to talk to the little man; his mind was too busy working through his conversation with Hermione that was fast approaching.

"That'll be six Galleons and ten Knuts," said the man, looking up from his Wizardry Calculator.

Draco took out his silver money pouch and placed some coins on the counter, with a final nod he turned and walked out of the shop. Since it was early and he didn't have to meet Hermione for a few hours, he tucked the box under his arm and headed up the path towards the Shrieking Shack.

Hermione rolled out of bed and stood to look around. No one else was awake in her dormitory, so she headed straight for the showers. Turning on the taps and slipping out of her nightgown, she stepped into the warm stream of water. Standing in it's warmth and letting the water run down her back, she thought of the meeting with Draco, and for what seemed the umpteenth time, she wandered what he had to say.

After shaving her legs and washing her hair, she stepped out, wrapped herself in her big fluffy towel and picked up her wand. She walked to the mirror and stared at herself.

What kind of hairstyle would Draco like? Wait! Why does it matter what Draco likes?

She nearly slapped herself, why on earth was she thinking like that? She then opted for a medieval look, creating two plaits and joining them at the back. It looked quite nice, well Hermione thought so. Her natural curls made it look even prettier.

Now... what to wear?

Hermione walked back into the dorm just as Lavender and Parvati were getting up.

"M-m-morning, Mione," Lavender said while yawning.

"Good morning," said Hermione, "lovely day isn't it?"

"Yeah," said Parvati glancing at the window when she stood up off her bed.

Lavender was just about to open her wardrobe when she looked at Hermione.

"Hermione Granger? What have you done to your hair?" she nearly screamed.

"What, what? Does it look bad?" Hermione asked, nearly losing her towel when she turned to look in the mirror.

"Not exactly," said Lavender, "it looks GORGEOUS!!" Lavender and Parvati said together.

"Oh! Thanks," Hermione sighed in relief, and walked to her wardrobe. Pulling it open she eyed her outfits suspiciously, she had to find the best thing she had in here.

But why? Its just Malfoy... Just Draco.

She decided on her favourite outfit; her scarlet tie-dyed top that Harry had given her for Christmas, and her black jeans. Then she looked at her accessories, choosing her studded belt and beaded choker out of one drawer, she then slid open her drawer of shoes. She finally picked her leather boots that came half way up her leg; she thought she would look quite nice indeed. Besides, she wasn't trying to impress anyone, now was she?

Lavender hadn't gone to the showers; she was lying on her stomach on her bed, still watching Hermione.

"So... why are we done up like this?" she asked.

"I'm meeting someone in Hogsmeade," Hermione said with a slight flush to her cheeks.

"Oooooh, who's the guy?" Lavender asked excitedly.

Hermione turned around and stared at her, open-mouthed.

"Why do you naturally assume it's a guy?" asked Hermione in a high voice.

"Because you never go to this much trouble just to go to Hogsmeade," Lavender said slyly, "so who is it?"

"Um... No one you know," she said.

"Aha! I see now! A mystery man from the village, is it?" Lavender asked, pushing herself up higher on her elbows, desperate to know about Hermione's mystery meeting.

Hermione blushed and said, "No... Uhh... look I've got to get changed, I'll talk to you later on, OK?"

Lavender looked heart broken, "oh, fine then, leave me in suspense..." and she stalked off to the showers.

Hermione drew her curtains on her four-poster, slipped into her jeans and top, and then she buckled her boots, put on her choker and belt, and walked to the dormitory door.

On a shelf by the door was Parvati's perfume collection; one that caught her eye was 'Taming the Dragon.' Hermione looked around quickly, and then sprayed some on her wrists and neck. Putting it back, she smiled to herself, opened the door and headed to the Common Room.

Harry and Ron were sitting on cushions near the portrait hole. When they saw Hermione walking towards them they both stood up.

"About time you got down here, what's with the outfit?" Ron said, eying Hermione's hair and clothing.

"Oh nothing, just felt like dressing up a bit. Want to go now? I have to meet someone at one o'clock."

Harry pushed the portrait forward and held it open for Hermione.

"Who are you meeting?" he asked curiously.

"No one special, just a friend," Hermione said, taking her cloak off of the hat stand by the door and walking through the portrait hole.

Ron stumbled out of the hole and stared after her.

"That's weird, we always spend Hogsmeade trips together," he said.

"Yeah," Harry said, still holding the portrait open, gazing blankly after Hermione.

"If you don't mind young man, please close me!" the Fat Lady shrieked.

"Oh sorry," said Harry letting go of the golden frame, not taking his eyes off of Hermione.

"So, when are you actually going to tell her?" Ron asked, looking at Harry.

Harry sighed heavily.

"I've thought it over, and I'm going to tell her today," he said triumphantly.

"Alright mate, so should we try and catch up to Miss World, now?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded and they strode up the hallway to Hermione who was standing at the staircase waiting for them.