Here's the second chaper. Just like I promised. =]
The feedback I got was pretty great. Keep it coming. =)

Chapter 2: Understanding

The Great Hall was loud as usual. The Sorting Hat had just sorted the last first year into Hufflepuff. Hermione was still milling over the conversation in the carriage with Draco and was smiling to herself.

“What are you so happy about?” Harry asked.
“Hmm? Oh, nothing. Just happy to be back.” She replied.
“Hey, what happened at the meeting?” Ron suddenly asked.
“Yeah, Seamus and Neville said Malfoy freaked out.” Harry said.
Hermione looked over to the Slytherin table to see Draco talking quietly with Blaise.
“Well, yeah Dra...Malfoy had an episode, but it was nothing special. Just the usual tempered Malfoy.” Hermione said quickly.

Before they could interrogate her further, Dumbledore had taken his place at the head of the hall.
“Welcome to another year at Hogwarts.” He said with a smile. “I would like to point out to first years, and a reminder to all, that the Black Forest is off-limits. Mr. Filch would like me to state that anyone seen within two feet of the forest without teacher supervision will be punished. Now, I know a lot of you have questions about the new safety precautions. I would ask that all students walk together. Never wander alone. Hogwarts is the safest place, yes, but we can never know what might happen. Prefects will be patrolling the halls every night as usual, with each other. I understand that some Prefects have concerns about walking with their fellow classmates in other houses. This is for House unity, as well as protection. If you have any questions feel free to ask the head of your house or myself. The Head Boy, Draco Malfoy, and Head Girl, Hermione Granger, will also be happy to help.”

With that, Dumbledore sat down and watched the tables fill with food. Hermione finished eating and started collecting her things.
“Where you going?” Harry asked.
“I’m going to my room. I promised to write my mum as soon as I could. I’ll see you guys tomorrow. Night.”
“Night.” Harry said sullenly.
Ron didn’t say a word. He watched her walk off and continued eating his food. Draco looked up to see Hermione leaving. He quickly got his things together and ran off after her.

“Hermione!” Draco called.
Hermione stopped walking and turned around.
“Hi Draco.” She said smiling.
“Hi.” he said catching up. “Where you headed?”
“To the common room. I need to write my mum.”
“Oh, mind if I come with you then?”
“It’s your common room too, Draco.” She said laughing.
They continued walking together until they reached a portrait of Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin playing Wizards’ Chest.
“Soap bubbles.”
The portrait opened up and Draco scowled walking in.
“Soap bubbles? Honestly, where does Dumbledore get these passwords?”
Hermione giggled and sat down. The common room hadn’t changed much at all. Slytherins house colors clashed with Gryffindors in the middle of the room. A white and gold sofa sat in front of a lavish fire place with many intricate designs of lions and snakes. Hermione laid her writing materials on the table in front of her and began writing to her mother.

Draco put his things on the floor and sat down on the couch. He slowly closed his eyes and was shocked to see Hermione. His eyes flashed open. ‘Damn it.’ He thought. ‘I can’t get her out of my head.’ He sighed and gave up.
“So, how did Potter and the weasel react when you told them we were friends?” he asked.
Hermione stopped writing and looked over at Draco.
“Um, well, I didn’t tell them yet.”
“Oh. Why not?”
“Because Harry’s worried about Voldemort and Ron is…Ron. I don’t want to tell them anything about us yet until I know I can trust you. Plus, I don’t want them to freak out and over react to it.”
Draco looked hurt, but he nodded his head. “I understand.”
Hermione smiled. “Besides, it’s not like you told any of your Slytherin friends that you decided to become friends with me. The Gryffindor Mudblood who talks too much.”
Draco smiled and stared into the fire. Hermione frowned. “Did you tell anyone, Draco?”
“I told Blaise. Told him everything.” He said after a while.
“Blaise? What did he say? Do you really trust him with this? Won’t he tell Pansy?”
“Whoa. Relax. He’s alright with it. ‘Whatever makes you happy’ he said. I would trust Blaise with my life. And technically, his relationship with Pansy is strictly…when he needs comfort.” Draco explained laughing.
“I really hope you’re right.”

After an hour or two of talking, Hermione finished writing her letter and put her things away. She turned to Draco who had fallen asleep on the couch and smiled. ‘He looks so peaceful when he sleeps.’ Sighing, Hermione leaned against the couch and closed her eyes.

*****
Draco snapped his eyes open. He was sweating. He tried to get up but was forced back down with his hand on his head.
“Bloody hell.” Draco said angrily. ‘Okay, think Draco. Why the hell does your head hurt? Butterbeer? No, I didn’t have any. Why can’t I remember anything?’ Draco was getting upset. He put his hand down and jumped when he felt something move.

He looked over and noticed Hermione was sleeping next to him, with her head leaning against his stomach. His hand had landed on her shoulder. He was shocked and was about to push her away from him, but he couldn’t help but just smile at her sleeping form. He ran a hand gently through her hair and leaned his head back against the couch. He shortly fell asleep with a tiny smile on his face, forgetting about why his head hurt.

Hermione woke up to find herself in Draco’s arms. ‘I guess I do move around a lot when I sleep.’ She thought. She smiled slightly up at Draco and leaned her head back onto his shoulder. She couldn’t help but reach up and brush away some of his hair that had fallen in front of his face. She caught her breath when he moved his head. Hermione relaxed and continued to move his hair. ‘What are you doing, Hermione? This is Draco Malfoy. MALFOY! The one person that has made your life hell for the past five years! Forget those feelings from second year! They don’t need to come back.’

Hermione’s memories of second year came flooding back to her. She had the biggest crush on Draco that year. No one but Ginny had known, but her crush had been forgotten in between Harry, Ron, school, and Voldemort. She tried to shake the memories but her feelings overwhelmed her. She looked up at Draco and her eyes focused on his lips. She had always wanted to know what it was like to kiss him. That feeling hadn’t gone away, that’s for sure.
‘Don’t do it, Hermione! What if he wakes up?! He’ll be mad at you and spread around the school that you kissed him! But…what if he doesn’t?’ she thought. ‘Well, there’s only one way to find out.’
She leaned in and gently pressed her lips to his. She felt a hand wrap around her back and rest on her neck. She felt Draco react as he deepened the kiss. ‘Okay, this is a good sign, right?’ As soon as she thought this, Draco broke the kiss. He looked at Hermione and smiled. He kissed her forehead and got off the couch. Without saying a word, she watched him walk up to his room and slowly close the door.

She looked at his door for a few seconds and then rested back on the couch. She rubbed her face with her hands and sighed.
“Okay.” She said.

*****
“Hermione! Open the door!”
Hermione rolled off the couch and made her way over to the door.
“Hi Ron.”
“Bloody hell! What side of the bed did you get up on?”
“Oh, shut up Ron.” Hermione said fixing her clothes and hair. “What do you want?”
“We were supposed to meet Harry by the lake today, remember?”
“Oh, right. I forgot. I’ll be out in a minute. Want to come in?”

Ron walked in past Hermione and watched as she ran up the stairs to her room to change. Ron sighed and looked around the common room. His eyes stopped when he saw a black leather bag on the floor next to a chair. Curious, he picked it up and looked at it. Keeping the bag closed was an emblem of an ‘M’ with a golden snake wrapped around it. Ron looked around and opened the bag.

“Patrificus totalus!”
Ron felt himself stiffen. Draco walked down the stairs and up to Ron. He took his bag out of his hands, tossed it onto the floor, and pointed his wand at Ron’s throat.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t curse your *** into another country, Weasel.” Draco sneered. He smirked when he saw the sweat roll down Ron’s face.
“Nervous?” he mocked. “I would be. Didn’t that family of yours teach you not to go through peoples’ things? Or can they not afford manners?” Draco said as he walked around Ron, his wand still pointed at his throat. “Too bad Potter isn’t here to help you. I think you’re more trouble than you’re worth, Weasel.”

“Expelliarmus!”
Draco’s wand flew over Ron’s head and up into Hermione’s hand. Draco’s expression softened when he saw her. He looked over her and noticed that she wasn’t wearing her school robes anymore. Hermione had changed into a blue and white tank top with low rise jeans and sneakers. He was in love with the way the shirt fit her.
“What exactly did you think you were doing?!” Hermione asked angrily, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Draco couldn’t find the words to speak. He couldn’t look away.
“Draco! Answer me! What were you thinking?!”
Draco looked from Hermione to Ron and shook his head. He groaned and rubbed his forehead.
“I wasn’t…” he replied.
Hermione sighed, her anger deflating, and handed him his wand.
“Can I trust you to perform the counter curse?”
He nodded and took his wand. He lifted the curse and Ron fell to the floor.

“Are you insane?! He could of killed me and you just give him his wand?!” Ron gasped grabbing his throat.
“If you weren’t going through my bag this wouldn’t have happened!” Draco yelled, his hands once again turning into fists.
“If you didn’t leave your disgusting stuff lying around I wouldn’t have too! What if something in that thing could hurt Hermione?!” Ron yelled, his face getting beat-red.
Hermione stepped between Ron and Draco. Draco was breathing heavy and wasn’t sure if he could hold himself back.
“Ron, maybe you should wait outside.” Hermione said sternly.
“But Hermione, what if he tries to hurt you again?”
“I never tried to hurt her Weasel and I don’t bloody plan on it! Why don’t you listen to her for once and get your sorry *** out of here before I give you something to worry about!” Draco yelled.
“Shut up, Malfoy.”
“Ron! Out!”

Ron looked from Hermione to Draco and slowly left the common room. Hermione let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding and put her wand away. She walked over and picked up Draco’s bag. She looked at it and handed it to him calmly. He stared at her, a puzzled look on his face, and he slowly reached for it. She pulled it out of his grasp quickly.
“If there’s anything in here that could hurt me, I’m going to kill you.” she said with a tiny smile.
Draco chuckled and shook his head no.
“Good.” She said tossing him the bag. “I wouldn’t want to see you die so early in the school year.” Draco caught his bag and placed it on the chair next to him.
“Yeah, that would be unfortunate. What was the Weasel doing here anyway?” he asked.
“I promised to spend the day with him and Harry down by the lake but I forgot. Ron came down to get me and he was just waiting for me while I changed.”
Draco nodded his head and brushed some hair out of his face.

“Do you have any plans today?” Hermione asked.
“No. I’m just gonna stay here. Maybe go down to the library.”
“Oh. Well, if you wanted to do something after dinner or whatever…maybe we could find something to make you smile.” She said.
Draco grinned and shook his head.
“Yeah, like that.” She giggled. As she turned to leave she called back over her shoulder; “Smile more often, Draco. It looks good on you.”

*****
Hermione walked down to the lake to find Harry sitting on a rock watching Ron walk back and forth, his arms flailing in the air.

“What’s going on?” she asked.
“You bloody know what’s going on you…you…ARG!”
“Ron, chill. From what you told me this doesn’t seem like that big of a deal.”
“She called him Draco, Harry! D-R-A-C-O! First name, not surname! FIRST NAME!”
Ron picked up a rock and threw it into the lake. Harry looked over to Hermione with a sympathetic look on his face.

“Ron, why don’t you stay here and calm down. Hermione, let’s take a walk.”
Harry and Hermione walked in silence for a few moments until Harry broke it.
“So, you wanna tell me what happened?”
Hermione laughed quietly and stared at the sky.
“You know, it’s not what Ron told you at all.”
“Is it?”
Hermione looked at Harry, worry had consumed her face.
“Ron exaggerates everything! I was in my room and I heard Dracos voice. I figured he was talking to himself because I didn’t hear anyone reply. When I came out I saw Ron standing there with Draco’s bag in his hands. Yes, Draco could have had the choice to hurt Ron if he wanted too when I gave his wand back, but the fact that he didn’t has to mean something.”

Harry looked at Hermione with wide eyes.
“Draco? So, you…are calling him by his first name now?”
“Well, I…uh…y-yes, I suppose so.”
Harry shook his head and looked away.
“Harry, you’re not mad at me are you?”
“No…Hermione, it’s really hard to be mad at you.” They both laughed quietly.
“Look, if you want to be friends with Malfoy, then you obviously see something I don’t, but I’m asking you to be careful. If anything happens to you, anything at all, contact with him will be very difficult.”
“Harry, nothing…”
“Hermione, please. I care so much for you. You are one of the most important people in my life. I would never forgive myself if you got hurt. I love you…”

Hermione smiled and drew Harry into a hug.
“Oh, Harry, thank you so much. You don’t know how much this means to me. I understand why you can’t fully trust Draco but it means so much that you’re accepting this. I don’t know what it is about him, but I feel different around him.”

Harry couldn’t speak. All he could do was just smile and hug her back.

*****
As they started walking back, Hermione began thinking about what Harry had said.

“Harry?”
“Hmm?”
“I love you too.”
Harry stopped walking. He was happy, but not as happy as he thought he would be. ‘I’ve got to know what’s going on.’ He thought.
“Kiss me.”
“What?” Hermione said confused.
“Hermione, I know it sounds crazy and whatever but I need to know what’s going on inside this messed up head of mine. So, please, just kiss me.”

She stared at Harry a moment and decided that maybe it might be able to fix whatever was making Harry distressed. They both leaned in and felt their lips touch. It was a short-lived, tiny kiss. With no passion attached. When they broke apart they both smiled. Harry breathed a breath of relief.

“Did that somehow fix that crazy mind of yours?” she asked laughing.
Harry laughed with her. “Actually, yeah, it did. Hermione, I thought I was in love with you.”
“What?”
“Yeah, but when you mentioned Malfoy, I didn’t feel angry or jealous like I did with Ron. I don’t know why, but I don’t trust Ron with you.”
“Ron? Why would you be jealous of Ron?”
“Because he likes you. A lot. But don’t get close to him that way. I don’t think it’s a good idea. Ever since this Malfoy thing, he’s…not been himself.”
“And you trust Draco?”
“Well, yes and no. No is obvious, but Malfoy’s the kind of guy that knows what he wants, and how to get it. Once he gets feelings for something, or someone, it doesn’t just go away like it was never there. Hermione, if you like him and he likes you, I can actually see it possibly working out. Besides all the negatives, I mean.”

Hermione smiled a little. She had never really thought about Draco and her actually getting together. The kiss that morning was something she had never experienced before, but she didn’t really think much of it. Right now, she didn’t want to think about it, she was just happy with the friendship. ‘Of course, if something happens, I’m not going to stop it.’ She thought smiling.
“Maybe. Whatever it is, I’m just glad to know I’ll always have you. Right?”
“Forever and ever.” Harry smiled. They laughed and made their way up to the castle.

*****
Harry and Hermione were running and chasing each other in the hall, laughing. Harry suddenly stopped, a bewildered look on his face.
“Harry? What’s wrong?”
“We forgot Ron. Outside.”
“Oh. Did you want to go get him? I needed to go up to the library anyway.”
Harry thought and shook his head.
“No, I’ll go with you. I don’t really want to listen to him talk about how angry and disappointed he is at you and how much he hates Malfoy and blah, blah, blah…”

They walked down the long corridor towards the library, talking about nothing, when they ran into a red haired, freckle faced 5th year.
“Hey Hermione!” she said giving her a hug. “Harry.”
Harry nodded in her direction and blushed. Hermione noticed how awkward it had become.
“Well, I know we have a lot of catching up to do Ginny, but I need to do some things. Maybe you and I can spend the day together tomorrow before classes start?”
“Sounds good, Hermione.” Ginny smiled.
Hermione looked at Harry. “I’ll see you later.”

He looked at her in disbelief as she started off for the library, leaving him alone with Ginny. Hermione walked into the library. She smiled and took a deep breath. ‘Home away from home.’ She said to herself. She browsed the bookshelf, looking for her personal favorite ‘Hogwarts: A History’, when she heard some frustrated mutterings a few aisles over. She stopped what she was doing and chewed the side of her cheek nervously. She walked silently, her curiosity getting the best of her, and glanced down the aisles. ‘Nothing but books.’ She thought relieved. It was then that she noticed someone sitting in a dark corner, surrounded by what had to be at least a hundred books.

She walked over and grinned when she saw that blonde hair that was unmistakably Draco. He was looking in book after book for something, but he was apparently not finding it. He slammed the book he was looking at closed and tossed it aside, cursing under his breath.
“Oh, now that wasn’t very nice.” Hermione said.
Draco jumped at the sound of her voice and turned to look at her.
“For Merlin’s sake, Hermione! What are you doing?”
“Clearly giving you a heart attack.” She laughed. “I could ask you the same question.”

She sat down next to Draco, making it clear that she wasn’t leaving until she got what she wanted. Although Draco was trying to make the best of the situation buzzing in his head, he couldn’t help but feel annoyed with Hermione’s perseverance and curiosity. He could feel her eyes burning into him with questions that he couldn’t answer. Questions that he didn’t want to answer. At least not yet. He figured that he could trust Hermione, no matter how he was raised, and was about to tell her what he was looking for, when someone interrupted his thoughts.

“Draco Malfoy. Slytherin Prince and Sex God, talking with Mudblood Granger. How cute. And all this time I just thought you were doing a good deed. Tell me that thing isn’t your friend.”
Pansy Parkinson had walked up in front of Draco and Hermione. Draco groaned and rolled his eyes. ‘Where the hell is Blaise when you need him?’ he thought.
“Something I can help you with Parkinson?” he asked coldly, not looking up at her once.
“Why is the most popular Slytherin, the most popular guy in the school, talking to a bag of rubbish like Granger? Something I should know?”
“Why don’t you crawl back into your hole Pansy?” Hermione said.

Parkinson looked in her direction and scoffed. “I believe I was talking to Draco. You shouldn’t be talking to your superiors, Granger. A disgusting Mudblood like you making nice with Draco, a Pureblood? You either cursed him or he’s doing charity work.” She laughed.
Hermione had had enough. She stood up and took out her wand. She grabbed Pansy’s hair and pushed her against one of the bookshelves, fury growing in her eyes. She pointed her wand at Pansy’s throat. Pansy couldn’t move. All she could do was feel fear creeping into her body. She knew Hermione was the smartest witch at Hogwarts, that she could blow her head off with a simple whisper and probably cover it up no problem. No one would believe that Hermione Granger threatened her life. Pansy tried to speak but stopped when she felt Hermione’s wand dig into her neck.

“NOT – A – WORD.” Hermione said through gritted teeth. Pansy shut her mouth and closed her eyes. She wasn’t stupid enough to talk; she knew when she had gone too far. She was about to scream, hoping someone would hear her and come to help, when she felt Hermione’s wand lift from her throat. She opened her eyes and saw Hermione in Draco’s arms. He had snuck up behind her and he was pulling her away from Pansy. Hermione was kicking and flailing herself, struggling to get out of his grasp. Pansy watched as he held her tighter.

“Hermione, stop it!” Draco said to her. “I don’t want you to get expelled. Hermione, please, I need you here, you need to stay here. Please calm yourself Hermione.”
Hermione stopped when she heard the word expelled. Draco’s whisperings had an effect on her. ‘He needs me here? He NEEDS me?’ Hermione sighed and put her hands on Dracos. A smile of relief crept on his face. “Thank you.” he whispered into her ear.

*****