It wasn't only the fact that Draco Malfoy had failed his mission and had yet to succeed, it was that now he was almost positive that he had unwanted visitors knowing about it. And the fact that the "unwanted visitors" were Potter and Granger, just added to his plate of kill-me-now.

He was laying down in his bed, applying cold, damp towels on his red cheeks to loosen the pain and reduce the swelling.
Dayum, those girls can slap. "Now what am I going to do?" He asked out loud to no one in particular.

He got up and went to the bathroom to examine his face, which thankfully -for him- got better.

Just as things were improving for him, his stomach thought otherwise when it grumbled loudly. Better go eat something, he thought as he threw his rags down and checked his face out one last time before nodding in approval.

and he was out to lunch.

-

'So did you tell him?' Harry asked eagerly to Hermione.

'Tell who- what exactly?' Hermione asked, munching on a piece of bread.

Harry sighed loudly (and quite over exaggeratedly) and answered, 'Did you tell Malfoy that you won't tutor him anymore?'

Hermione swallowed hard before answering: 'No. But It's not my fault! I tried to tell him-'

'Well try harder 'Mione!' Harry yelled, throwing his arms in the air. 'Sorry, that was unnecessary. Will you at least pleaseee try again? Your next tutor session would be in a couple days, so... I don't know. Just *sigh* please try.'

'Fineeeee. But only because I love you,' Hermione smirked, shouldering her friend. 'Anyway, How are things going with you and Cho?'

Not good. Horrible. Boring.

'Fine.' He told her blandly, but convincing enough because Hermione then quirked:

'well, that's good.'

Yea, just not really.

'Yet you don't seem too excited about the whole situation.' Hermione continued.

Shit, not convincing enough apparently.

'No I am! Don't get me wrong.. It's just not how I thought our relationship was going to be.'

'Why? What's wrong?'

'I-I'm not sure. It just doesn't feel right... the relationship, I mean. I just thought that it would be more... adventurous. That there would be more umph. All good we do is snog. I don't know how Ron does it with Lavender, just hooking up all day.'

Hermione stares at him with wide eyes.

'Sorry,' Harry told her, 'too many details.'

'So you're considering, maybe, breaking up with her?' Hermione tried asking without sounding too excited.

Ginny was her only thought. If Harry isn't happy with Cho, Ginny might have a chance! That would be so exciting! Hermione thought. My two best friends are going to be dating.

'Well... Harry started but then a particular Slytherin captured his attention. 'Oh, Hermione! This would be the perfect time to call off tutoring with Malfoy.' Harry told her, pointing towards him.

'Oh, well I guess it would be then. We'll finish this conversation later, yes?' Hermione asked, as she got up from her chair.

'Mmhmm,' Harry nodded his head vigorously, 'for sure.'
Great, now I'll have to start avoiding Hermione to avoid a very awkward conversation.
'See you!'

Hermione got up from her seat and said her goodbyes. Then she headed towards him.

-

He saw her. He glared at her. But she glared back. Harder.
She was walking towards him. To what? Slap him again? No. If she did, he would pull her by the hair and-

'Hey Malfoy.' She interrupted his thoughts of her. 'We need to talk.'

'Sorry, but I don't forgive you, if that's what you wanted to know. But I do expect a very surplus apology.'

'I'm not here to apologize, idiot.'

'Well then I shouldn't be wasting my time here with you, so I will just go.'
Before he could leave, Hermione blocked his path and before he could say anything she said:

'I think we should stop this whole thing.'

'What thing? We don't have a thing?' He smirked at her, 'unless you want one.'

'That is not at all what I meant and you know it.' Hermione said to him, crossing her arms.

'Granger, listen, I feel horrible about turning girls away... I don't do these things easily-'

'Of course you do,' Hermione told him, 'you push everyone away.'
This seemed to have made Malfoy mad because his whole expression changed.
Oops.

He walked towards her, 'get out of my way.'

She listened to him and stepped aside and watched him go.

I'm sorry.

-

Thursday
Morning

Draco woke up to a throbbing itch to his arm. He got out of bed and quietly went to the bathroom. He locked the door and triple checked the stalls to be sure that he was alone.

'Aparecium,' he whispered, pointing his wand to his arm.

In a matter of seconds, his deepest fear appeared on his arm.

The Dark Mark seemed to be laughing in Draco's face, for it was gleaming like no tomorrow.

Shit, he depicted I need to get my mission over with already. But I can't do it without Pansy's help. and I especially can't do it if there is suspicion from certain Gryffindors.

He left the bathroom in frustration

I need some fresh air.

Thursday
Afternoon

Harry needed someone to talk too. Someone he could rely on that won't judge him or spill his thoughts to the whole school. And he knew just the person.

'Hey Ginny, what's up?' He called out from across the common room, 'wanna take a walk outside with me?'

If only he knew how many butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

'S-Sure Harry, I'm just gonna... grab my coat.' Ginny told him, getting up, rather quickly to get to her coat. She had to control herself before she would squeal with excitement.
Harry Potter just asked me to go for a walk. AHHHHH!

-

It was fate. That was the only answer.

For who would have thought that Hemione Granger would be outside at the same time as Draco Malfoy?

All he could do was smirk and head towards her direction.

'Well, well, well,' he came up from behind her, 'once a bookworm, always a bookworm. what have we here?' he asked, snatching the book from her hands.

'Malfoy!' she shrieked, getting up from her spot on a bench, 'give it back!' she shouted, holding out her hand.

'I don't really like the tone you're giving me, princess.'

'I told you to stop calling me that.'

'I never said I'd stop.' He called out, starting to run away from her.

Oh no, he don't

And Hermione chased after him.

With her eager ambition to get to him, her adrenaline kicked in and she tackled him to the ground, face first.

'I can't believe you just did that!' He shouted but was muffled, for his mouth was in the snow.

He was strong and was not going to get lived down by the fact that he got tackled down by a girl.

oh no she don't

He threw the book to the side so can maneuver and twist in a way that now Hermione was fasted to the ground- face up (thankfully)- and he pinned her arms down. They were both laughing so hard. She's never heard him laugh.

But that's when they realized how close they were.
How intimate they were.

They weren't laughing anymore.

She felt the need to say something to those gray eyes when she heard a distant, yet familiar voice.

-

'I'm just worried about her, that's all...' Draco heard Harry say from afar.

Shit, now we're screwed. He quickly got up from the ground and pulled Hermione up too.

-

'We should hide, I want to know what they're talking about,' Hermione told Draco after he pulled her up. She wanted to know if Hinny was going to happen. 'But where?'

'Let's go behind this tree!' Malfoy said, taking her by the wrist and dragging her to the trunk. He quickly pulled her in and her back was to the tree, his body on top of hers.

-

Although they were standing, this position felt much more intimate than what it was in Hermione's mind.

She wanted to say something to him about it, but she couldn't. She just wanted to hear what Harry and Ginny were saying. She had to stay quiet.

-

Thank Merlin Granger came up with the idea of hiding. I don't want to look so suspicion being alone outside with her. But... it was nice, being with her.

Draco Malfoy would never admit out loud that he had a good time with... not a pure blooded witch.
Never.

But why is my heart beating so fast?

-

'Well you shouldn't be worried,' Hermione heard Ginny say, 'Hermione can take care of herself.'

Hermione was only semi-listening. Half of her attention went to Harry and Ginny's conversation of her, and the other half of her concentration went to Malfoy's side profile. He was staring off in her friend's direction, unaware that her eyes were watching his jaw move in nervousness. Unaware that her heart was beating faster every second.

When did Draco Malfoy get so... attractive?

'Yes, of course I know that she can take care of herself!' Harry exclaimed, 'but that doesn't mean that he can't pose a threat to her! For all I know, he could be a death eater!'

Almost like instinct, Hermione looked at his left arm, which was propped against the tree, almost as if he were cradling her head, that's how close they were. His sleeve was rolled up because of the position he was in.

That's when Malfoy looked back at her.

Shit, he realized, I forgot to cover my mark with a spell again.

-

POV of Draco

I see the panic grow in her eyes as she learns my secret. In one second, she's gonna shout for help. I know it.

But in that one second, I kissed her.