A week later Hermione and Ginny went to Hogsmead to buy their costumes for the Halloween ball. Ginny was jumping around in excitement, but Hermione, wasn’t really happy for the upcoming ball, but she tried to smile so that she wouldn’t ruin this for Ginny.

“If you don’t calm down I’m going to turn around.” Hermione said twenty minutes later, when she couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Oh, please Hermione, don’t be so prude. Let’s have some fun shall we?” Ginny smiled and hooked arm with Hermione, and she couldn’t help but to smile back.

They walked into a small shop where they had clothing for Halloween. Hermione couldn’t stop the gasp that came out of her mouth. All of the clothes looked so different from the Mugglecostumes.

Ginny tried on a several outfits before she decided for a witch outfit. It looked really great on her.

“Aren’t you going to buy anything?” Ginny asked while they went to Three Broomsticks, where they have planned to met Harry, Ron and Lavender. Hermione had always had a crush on Ron, but it didn’t bother her that he was with Lavender.

Ginny seated herself next to Harry, who put his arm around her waist. Ron and Lavender was snogging. She felt a bit lonely when she was the only one with no boyfriend.

“I think I’m going back.” She said and turned away. None of the really cared, and it hurt her. Didn’t they care for her anymore?

Stop it Hermione. You can’t be so selfish! You should be happy for them.

Hermione walked into someone and fell down to the ground.

“I’m sorry.” Malfoy said, as he reached his hand to lift her up. She took it and he held a few seconds longer before he let go of her. She looked up at him and liked the way he had his hair. It didn’t have the amount of hair gel as I used to, but instead it was naturally ruffled as if he had drawn his fingers through it a several times. His skin was pale, but his cheeks had a little bit of color, probably because of the cold. He was much taller than her, about 7.4 inches as she was 6.5 inches.

“Are you okay?” He asked and she looked at him in surprise.

“Yeah, why?” She asked.

“Your crying.” He said and caressed her cheek with his hand.

“I’m not.” She said, but when her fingers touched her cheeks she felt that they were wet.

“Oh.” She whispered and flushed when she felt the warmth of Malfoy’s hand.

 

He looked her in the eyes, shocked he’d never seen her beauty before.

“What?” She asked.

“Your really beautiful.” Draco mumbled, before he could stop himself.

“Malfoy that was just lame!” She said and pushed him away and ran up against the path. Draco followed her, and because of all the Quidditch he’s been practicing he quickly reached her. He grabbed her arm, and made her turn around. Tears ran down her cheeks and she tried to get away, but he tightened his grip, not willing to let her go.

“Malfoy, let go! I thought you’d improved yourself, but it seems like you’re the same as ever.”

“What are you talking about?” Draco felt confused. He had changed. For her.

“I don’t think it’s nice of you to make jokes about how I look.” She yelled.

“I said you were beautiful and I meant it. It wasn’t a joke.” He said and pulled her into a hug. He felt her arms around his waist and he smiled.

“Why? No one else cares, then why would you?” She whispered and Draco leaned his cheek on her head.

“I care.”

“But why? It’s not like I’m beautiful. Is it because of my body or…”

“No, it’s because of your intelligence, your laugh, you smile. Everything about you is perfect in every way.”

“Don’t make fun of me.” She muttered against his chest and he laughed.

“I’m not.”

 

It was two weeks since Hermione had run into Malfoy and she hadn’t seen him since then. But that was probably because she spent all of her time in the library, doing homework. They had gotten a ton of homework and she couldn’t concentrate in the common room, knowing that Malfoy would be there.

She felt a bit embarrassed about their meeting. He had been so kind to her, but still, he could’ve done that to get to her. That would be so typical him.

 She looked at her clock. It was eleven. It was time to patrol the halls. She quickly stepped up and walked in a quick pace to the Head’s dorm. She said the password and stepped in. It was empty so Malfoy was probably in his room or he was going to be late, again. She heard to portrait open and Malfoy ran in.

“It’s time to patrol the halls.” Hermione said and he nodded. “I’m just going to chance.” He walked into his room and closed the door after him. Hermione went to her own room and put her bag on the bed and then walked down again. Malfoy was already there waiting and she smiled to him before they went out.

 

Hermione and Malfoy decided to go in different directions, so they could get it over with earlier. Hermione heard voices and began to walk towards them.

She saw a group of people standing in a ring, around two guys from sixth grade.

“Hey, put you wands away!” She yelled and pushed her through the crowd. She saw that is was two Slytherins.

“Oh, isn’t it a Mudblood.” One of them said, and Hermione felt the anger plod inside of her.

“I will have to take points from the both of you. Let’s see…” She didn’t get further before she was slung back. She hit the wall and she could hear someone yell before everything went black.

 

Draco was in his room, looking outside the window. He had tried to sneak to the Hospital Wing, but Weasel and Potter was always there so he could only get there when it was closed. He looked at his watch for the tenth time that evening, and it was ten minutes till he could get down checking on her.

He had seen that it was some kind of duel there and had gotten just in time to see Hermione fly in the air and hitting the wall. Everyone had disappeared immediately and he had taken Hermione to the Hospital Wing. She’d been there for three weeks now without waking up and he was getting worried. He didn’t care if it made him look stupid, but he cared for her, and he wanted to be there when she woke up.

He looked at the clock and then hurried down to the Hospital Wing.

 

Hermione’s head felt like it weighed several tons, and she slowly opened her eyes and looked around. Everything looked dizzy, but she saw a tall figure with blonde hair sit next to her.

“Draco…?” She whispered and he turned to look at her.

“Oh my god Hermione, your awake.” He said. He took her hand and held it tightly between his.

“You called me Hermione?” Her voice was low, like she hadn’t spoken in weeks.

“You’ve been gone for three weeks and the first thing you notice is that I called you Hermione.” He laughed and she looked a bit confused.

“Three weeks? Where am I?”

“Your at the Hospital Wing. You were hit by a curse and you lost conscious.”

“And I’ve been here for three weeks. Oh my god, how much have I missed in class?” Hermione tried to sit up, but Malfoy gently pushed her down again.

“You need to rest. And don’t worry about your classes. I’ll help you.”

“I’ve rested enough. I need to get out.”

“Your staying.” He said and gently caressed her cheek. “If you don’t recover properly then you might never get out of her.” Malfoy said and smirked at her. She gave him a weak smile before she closed her eyes.

“I’ll let you rest.” He whispered and kissed her on the forehead before he walked out off the room.

Hermione felt tears wash down her cheeks, but she didn’t care, since no one was there to see her.

 

Draco stood in the doorway, looking at Hermione. He could see that she was crying, and he felt how his heart compressed at the sight. He didn’t like seeing her hurt. He left and headed to their common room, so that he could go and visit her before breakfast.