Times Have Changed

Hello all! I know I said I’d be posting Wednesday but since its going to be my first day of class I thought I’d get chapter 2 out a little earlier, no complaints I hope =].

Many Many thanks to those who reviewed =] I really appreciate your feed back.

Now on with the show!!

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"What do you want Malfoy" she spat

"Our project isn't going to finish itself Granger" Draco hissed

'She's busy right now Ferret, why don't you and your gang of brainless trolls go off and lock yourselves in the dungeons" Ron spat as he tightened his grip on Hermione's waist.

Draco's eyes zeroed in on Ron's inconveniently placed hand , "10, 9, 8 ,7 , 6....inhale..5, 4, 3, 2..exhale" Draco smirked "As much as I despise spending even a moment in this filth's presence, Dumbledore needs a progress report, not that I need to offer any explanations to you Weasel." Draco sneered

Hermione wiggled out of Ron's grasp and stood up "he's right Ron" Draco smirked "that and the quicker I get this done the less time I have to spend with ferret boy over here" she shrugged in Draco's direction.

Ron looked at Malfoy then Hermione "Alright, but if he hurts you I promise I'll-"

"No need Ron it'll be fine" she said as she leaned over and placed a kiss on his lips "I'll see you guys later" she said waving at the rest of her friends.

Harry and Ginny waved then glared at Draco.

Draco glared at Harry and Ginny then proceeded to turn (Robes billowing of course) and strutted towards the door.

Hermione walked with her head high, making sure to keep a few feet behind him as to not raise suspicion. "What the hell was that?" Hermione spat when they were out the door

"What do you mean what the hell was that? I think its pretty obvious what the hell that was all about" Draco crossed his arms over his chest.

"Jealous? He's my boyfriend Draco"

"oh right, your boyfriend, and might I ask, whom you were with the other night?"

Hermione glared "Don't you dare start waving that crap over my head, you knew what the situation was and you accepted it, I offered my friendship Draco nothing else."

Draco felt his heart ache "Nothing else?"

Hermione didn't answer

"Draco..." Hermione sighed

"I know, I know, I'm sorry" Draco grabbed her hand "Come on we should go work on our "project" in the library"

"Library?"

"I figured we could get some homework done, and at least make some what of an attempt to make this look real." he winked at her and made his way toward the library, quickly releasing her hand despite his want to keep the physical contact.

Hermione watched as multiple sets of eyes stared as the pair walked past them. "Everyone is staring" she whispered.

"No, not that guy" he said pointing and a student who was obviously staring and whispering to his friend beside him.

Hermione huffed "Don't people have anything better to do?"

Draco smirked "nope"

When they finally arrived at the library Draco opened the door for Hermione and guided her to his favorite table near the back of the library. He frowned as Hermione took his favorite seat but then decided that the seat beside was just as good. Gently placing his bag on the table Draco pulled out his sleek black Sony Vaio.

"Nice"

"thanks" Draco mumbled

Hermione leaned over the side of the chair then gently placed her Red Sony Vaio beside his.

"Nice" Draco said gesturing towards her laptop

"Thanks" she said grinning

After some quick soft clicking of keys, Draco watched as an alert appeared at the corner of his screen.

"Mione_Granger36 would like to be added to your friends list"

Draco clicked on accept and double clicked on her name.

Hermione jumped at the sound of the MSN alert then quickly muted the sound.

D Malfoy says:
Hey

D Malfoy says:
lol

Bookworm says:
Malfoy!! you could've warned me -.- that was so embarrassing!!

D Malfoy says:
it wasn't that bad, no one even noticed. Even if someone did notice they wouldn't know what you were doing.
Hell I could be showing you my stuff on cam and they wouldn't know it =P

Hermione felt possibly every ounce of blood in her body flow directly to her cheeks

Bookworm says:
Draco! omg.

D Malfoy says:
-grin- so what are you doing?


Bookworm says:
sitting next to this annoying prat. u?

D Malfoy says:
Sitting next to this really snobby girl, you should see her she walks around like she owns the world.

"I do not!" Hermione whispered

Bookworm says:
so why are we talking on messenger again, in case you didn't notice....I'm sitting right beside u.

D Malfoy says:
because on here i can tell you things like i like you're amazingly sexy, and I love the way your eyes light up when you're angry. Oh and the color that stains your cheeks when you blush

out of the corner her eye Hermione saw her head turn in her direction

D Malfoy says:
yup just like that. :)

Bookworm says:
you're impossible.

Draco grinned and pushed his laptop up to make room for some parchment and books. Once he had arranged his books just the way he liked them, he pulled out a long white cord and his green ipod.

"What are you doing?" Hermiome whispered

"....charging my Ipod?"

"no - no I mean since when are you so into muggle technology?" Hermione asked her voice a little above a whisper

"Like I said before time in muggle London results in a practically muggle Draco." he said with a smile on his face

"oh ...right.." Hermione leaned closer placing her Ipod next to his.

"Red...how Gryffindor.." Draco said jokingly

"as if green is any better"

Draco smirked then reached for Hermione's Ipod, unplugged her ear phones and replaced them with his.

"Evan's Blue - eclipse" flashed across the screen "hmm" Draco pressed play.

We love our tragedies.
We're both broken in our own little ways
We're broken and we fit together just right
You know I saw the black inside your eyes
I saw they were eclipsed that night,
And they looked just right.

When our lights meet, will you know me then?
And will you want to know it
It feels like I've known you for so long.
When our lips meet, will you love me then?
and will you ever know it.
It seems like you've known me for so long.

I love your analogies.
We're both crazy in our own little ways
We talk about the future and our past lives.
I know I loved you then.
I know I love you now.
I know I'll love you then.
I know I love you now.

When our lights meet, will you know me then?
And will you want to know it
It feels like I've known you for so long.
When our lips meet, will you love me then?
and will you ever know it.
It seems like you've known me for so long...
It seems like I've known you for so long...

But you can't have everything you want when you want it.
I will be everything you want, when you want it.

Wait for me. Trust for me.
Fall for me. Even when you don't know you fall for me.
Will you fall for it?
If this doesn't come around again, don't wait for me. And don't trust in me. Don't fall for me.
Even when you know you're falling for me.

When our lights meet, will you know me then?
And will you want to know it
It feels like I've known you for so long.
When our lips meet, will you love me then?
and will you ever know it.
It seems like you've known me for so long.

When our hearts meet, will we make it then?
Will we even notice that they are eclipsed?

Draco removed his headphones reached his hands across the table onto his keyboard.

D Malfoy says:
That song...i love it

Bookworm says:
and it has to be a secret?

D Malfoy says:
no

D Malfoy says:
I just wanted to tell you that it reminds me of you.


Draco removed his hands from the keyboard and opened his book.

Hermione turned her gaze onto the screen before her. "it reminds him of me?" a smile made its way across her face. She let a sigh and pushed her laptop forward, making room for her things and quickly began working on a potions essay.

Draco angled his head slightly and watched as Hermione worked on her assignment. He smiled as he watched her chew on her bottom lip concentration written all over her facial expression, then wanted to laugh when her brow furrowed and she angrily scratched out portion of her previously written sentence. He couldn't remember the last time he actually felt at ease around someone, sure he had what others believed to be his friends but truthfully those people were merely aquaintences. Things between him and Hermione just seemed to fit. Sure there was the little problem of his father finding out and her friends, neither of which would take it very well, but he knew that he had to have her in his life even if it was just as a friend.

"Hermione I'm glad you're here" he said reaching under the table to place his hand over hers

"I am too Draco" she said as she turned her hand over to intertwine her fingers with his. They both returned to quietly reading their books, hands loosely intertwined together.

- - - - - - - - -

"Alright Hermione, as much as I don't want to leave you we really should get back to our dorms." he whispered so only she could hear giving her hand a quick squeeze then letting it go.

Hermione nodded and began packing her things into her very worn out bag.

"Don't you think you should get a new one?" he asked looking at the bag that looked like it was an inch from tearing and spilling its guts all over the floor.

She shrugged "no time" she reached for her Ipod and began to twist her earphones around it.

"Hey wait" Draco said stopping her from going any further "Can I borrow yours?"

Hermione looked at him then at her Ipod a worried frown on her face.

"No its OK" Draco said grabbing his and shoving it in his pocket

"No wait" she said as she put her hand on his arm "you can but please take care of it, it really means the world to me."

Draco nodded "promise" He pulled out his from his pocket and handed it to her, then extended his hand palm up. Hermione gently placed hers in his hand and closed his fingers around softly caressing his fingertips.

Draco shivered "I promise, I'll take care of it."

"I know you will."

Draco stared down into the warm pools of chocolate "good night Hermione" he said in a hushed whisper

"Good night Draco."

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Hermione arrived at the Gryffindor dormitories and quickly wiped the look of utter bliss off her face and replaced it with a scrowl. Taking a deep breath she mumbled the password and walked into the common room "here we go"

Ron chuckled "So much for house unity."

Harry laughed "bad night Hermione?"

"I can't believe I have to deal with that ignorant prat.' Hermione mumbled "you wouldn't believe the rubbish I have to put up with!"

"oh I think we have an idea" Harry said giving her a teasing smile

"and then to top all off, he doesn't have put in any effort! All he does is sit there and point out all the things he think should be different." Hermione pushed her hair out of her face

"Anyway, I'm going to go take a shower then get to bed guys, I'm really tired." Hermione walked over to Ron and gave him a kiss "good night Ron"

Ron smiled and pulled her in for a longer passion filled kiss "night Hermione" Hermione's stomach revolted against the physical contact

"good night Harry" she said waving as she pulled away from Ron

"Night Mionie" Harry said cheerfully. "Poor girl she has to put up with ferret all day." Both boys laughed and continued on with their game of chess.

After a nice long shower Hermione tucked herself into bed, one of Draco's 'most recently played songs' playing loudly in her ears and a hand wrapped around a cool green Ipod. Smiling up at gold canopy above her, she remembered the feel of his hand in hers. " If someone had told me 3rd year that once 7th year rolled around I'd be laying in bed wishing Draco was beside me I would've undoubtedly laughed in their face." Hermione chuckled quietly. "Now here I am 7th year and what am I doing? I'm wishing Draco was beside me, or at least in the same room. Its awful we have to pretend to be enemies, maybe we can change that relatively soon. Can you imagine sitting beside him in the Great Hall like it was the most natural thing in the world." Hermione smile widened. It wasn't long before a peaceful nights sleep claimed bringing with it dreams of the joyous things could possibly await her in the future.

- - - - -

Draco couldn't believe how amazing it felt to be near her, it was like he had been dead all those years and now he was alive, everything seemed to burn a little brighter and the silver lining every cloud was brighter then ever.

"Good evening" Draco said a bit too cheerfully

"Draco" Blaise and Greg said in unison "you seem ....happy." Blaise said examining his friends appearance "I'll take it as to that mudblood fifth is probably crying to scum head Potter and poorer then dirt Weasley."

"Crying? more like wanting to Avada herself" Draco laughed, his stomach lurching at the mental image that appeared at his comment. Draco took a seat in the empty chair beside Greg, purposely avoiding Pansy.

"I don't like you spending all that time with that know it all.' Pansy stood from her chair, waling over to Draco and standing in front of him hands on her hips.

"Shut up Pansy, I can careless what you think, besides you're not the one having to smell that mudblood stench for hours." he said plugging his nose.

Pansy sighed and took a seat on Draco's lap. "How about we go up to the shower and wash it all away" she said as she toyed with his tie. " I can think of a few things that might take your mind off of things."

Draco stood from his chair dropping Pansy onto the floor with a loud thump. "Nah, not tonight. I'm off to shower and then to bed."

Pansy glared at the back of the blond head and huffed angrily. "He's never said no before"

"Drop it Pans maybe he just wasn't in the mood, after a night with bucktooth I don't blame him." Blaise stretched his legs and placed them on top of the coffee table.

"I don't know, it just seems strange." Pansy said as she leaned onto couch "looks like time calls for a little investigation."

Both Greg and Blaise rolled their eyes then looked at one another and began a discussion on upcoming quidditch game.

Draco plopped himself down on the bed, reaching under his pillow until he found what he was looking for. "ah yes, now lets see what she has been listening to.'. Draco scanned through the list of artist "hmmm not to shabby, and alot of variation, I'm impressed." Draco grinned pleased to find that they had very similar taste "oooo Clair De Lune, always a great pick oooohh and Porcelain and the tramps! She's definately the little firework isn't she?" Cheerfully Draco selected Evan's Blue: Eclipsed and cuddled deeper into his warm blankets. "This is rediculous, why should I have to hide myself, why should I have to hide our friendship all for what? All we're doing is making

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Hermione walked out the Gryffindor common room in route to the Great Hall for breakfast. Just outside the Gryffindor dormitories stood Draco, leaning against the stone wall arms crossed over his chest, head phones in his ears.

Draco watched a stunned Hermione come to an immediate stop in front of him "Morning" he said cheerfully.

"Morning?" Hermione said as she walked up to him "What are you doing here?"

"Walking you to breakfast" he said linking her arm in his.

"but I thought we were keeping this a secret." she said blushing at the contact of his warm touch

"I decided that you are to amazing to keep a secret" he said as he began walking toward the Great Hall

"and Ron what if he gets angry?"

"Do you care?" he said stopping in his tracks

"No, I just thought I would break up with him first before I appeared in the Great Hall at the hand of another man!"

"Oh who cares about Ron, I know I don't" he said pulling her along

"Draco I don't think-"

"House unity remember, if you want to think about us for awhile then blame it on Dumbledore." he said chuckling

Hermione stopped, Draco looked at her the exression on her face pulling at his heart strings. "Fine, fine you don't need to walk in on my arm, I'll give the Weasley that, but can we atleast walk in together?"

"Thank you, and yes I'd be honored to walk in beside you."

Once outside the Great Hall doors Draco turned to Hermione and adjusted his robes. "Ready?"

Hermione nodded and quickly touched up her robes as well.

Draco opened the Great Hall doors allowing her to walk in before him then stepping in behind her and stepping up to stand beside her. Time stopped, there wasn't a set of eyes that weren't looking at them. Hermione held her breath and looked over at where her friends were seated, what she found was very VERY shocked Ginny, Ron appeared to have been mid chew there also seemed to be food particles slowly escaping the confines of his mouth. the look she saw next terrified her most, Harry had a look she had only seen once before when he had faced the dark lord, pure anger. She gulped then lifted her chin a bit in defiance.

Draco looked at his table, disgust was clearly written across every face. Draco placed his hand on the small of Hermione's back, ready to push her behind out of danger's way if it was called for, various gasps were heard throught the room.

"Hello Ms, Granger, Mr. Malfoy" Hermione jumped

"Professor, hello"

Dumbledore looked at the pair and then out to the rest of the students "How is that project going? Well I hope"

Hermione gasped then relaxed when she saw the twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes "Good professor, thank you for asking." Hermione looked over at Draco and nudged him in the rib "Great thanks" he mumbled.

"Very well you two enjoy your breakfast." he said making his way towards the Professor's table.

Draco straightened up then looked over at Hermione "I'll see you later alright? text me " he moved his hand on to her arm and gave it an encouarging squeeze.

Hermionie nodded "I will" smiling she turned and made her way to her table. The silence quickly turned to hushed whispers and giggles,

"Hello everyone" she said cheerfully

Silence

Shrugging she quickly began to fill her plate with various breakfast items. "Wonderful day, don't you think?" she said glancing over at the still stunned faces

More Silence.

"Do I have something on my face?"

"Hermione, what the hell was that?" Ron chocked out

"a joke?"

"No, you and Malfoy, you two walked in like you were best mates!" Ron glared at her then at Draco who was currently being prosecuted as well.

"We are friends."

"but last night you said..." Ron managed to spit out

"just cause we're friends doesn't mean he's not annoying." she bit off a piece of her toast

"and he touched you!" Ginny managed to finally choke out.

"yes well-"

"That git better keep his slimy hands off you!" Ron stood up from his seat

Hermione blushed in embarrassment "Ronald you sit down this very instant!"

"no! I won't! in fact!" Ron turned his body in the direction of the Slytherin table "HEY MALFOY!!"

Hermione in watched horror as Draco's head snapped up at the mention of his name and instantly glared at Ron.

"STAY AWAY FROM HER, YOU HEAR ME? YOU STAY AWAY FROM HER OR ELSE!" Ron screamed

"Ronald Weasley 50 points from Gryffindor and detention every Friday for threatening another student!" Mcgonagall stood up from her seat "Now if you are done with your breakfast I suggest you go to class."

Ron sat back down in his seat, fists clenched in anger.

"Ron why do you have to be so controlling? He's just my friend!" Hermione whispered seemingly on the verge of tears

"We both know what his intentions are Hermione!" Ron said a little louder then necessary. "He's lying to you Hermione, can't you see that?"

"Shut up! Ron honestly! Is it impossible to believe that he might want to befriend me and him I? " Hermione looked at him "I can't believe you are even speaking or acting in such a childish manner." she said scooting away from him

"Oh what now you're going to break up with me, for that git?" Ron said grabbing her arm roughly

"Let go of me" she said sternly "and he is just a friend Ronald."

Ron tightened his grip "I said let go of me!" she struggled out of his grip. "Ron ouch that hurts"

"Let her go Ron." Hermione looked up to see Harry looking at Ron, annoyance still very apparent in his facial expressions, but behind that lurked confusion and uncertainty. Harry's bright Green eyes locked with Hermione's.

"Green, Draco" Hermione's mind instantly made the association.

"Harry..." Hermione began to apologize.

"Look I don't care what you do Hermione, you are a brilliant witch but please steer clear of that..that thing!" Harry spat pointing at Draco.

Hermione looked up at Draco, his eyes filled with concern.

"Harry, he's my friend"

"no, no he's not" Ginny stepped in

Hermione fumed, then looked at all three faces, analyzing each expression, anger, frustration building into a raging ball of magic that threatened to spill over her neatly placed barrier.

"I'm sick and tired of you three controlling my every move I make!" she crossed her arms over her chest "Hermione can't do this, Hermione shouldn't do that, Hermione would never do that!" she said mimicking each of their voices "Well guess what!! Hermione is going to do that! I'm going to be Draco's friend" they all flinched at the sound of his name and stared in wonder as wave of electricity flowed around her in shades of red and orange "that's right DRACO and until each and every one you understand that I'm my own person and I can make my own decisions you three can scream and act like children but don't expect me to give a rat's ass what you think!"

Harry, Ron and Ginny stared in shocked to say the least. They watched as Hermione's breath came in shallow breaths, eyes burning, magic swirling around her angrily casing the flames of the torches and candles around the great hall to flicker.

"Are you okay?"

Hermione sighed in relief and the magic around calmed and changed to shades of pink and blue and the sound of Draco's soothing voice. Hermione stood from her seat and stood beside Draco, smiling up at him so the entire hall could see.

"Yes, yes I am" she said linking her arm in his "and I don't care if anyone in this hall disproves our friendship." she said smugly

"Oh and Ronald you're right I am leaving you but not for the reasons you think, I'm leaving you because I'm not going to stand being controlled and manipulated anymore."

Draco smirked "Brilliant isn't she?"

Hermione once again lifted her head in defiance "Come on Draco"

Draco nodded and walked beside her out the Great Hall.

Ron and Ginny watched as Hermione and Draco exited the doors and when they were out of sight they turned and stared into empty space.

"Did that just happened?" Ginny said still shaken by recent events

Harry shrugged "Its about time"

Ginny glared "what do you mean its about time?"

"Well she has a point, we've never thought her capable of doing anything other then study." he took a sip of his apple juice "No offense Ron, but she's right you are a tad bit controlling."

"So now you are on her side?" Ron growled

"I'm on no one's side, I'm neutral."

"but you're agreeing with everything she just said" Ginny spat

"Because its the truth. I admit it I'm everything she said I'll be lucky to get a second chance from her."

Ron looked at Harry in disgust then looked at Ginny. "What now?"

Harry shrugged "Wait till she calms down and try to talk to her."

"She just broke up with me for that thing! I'm not going to go begging for forgiveness!" Ron shrieked

"Did you not just hear a thing she said?." Harry stood up "Maybe that's why she left you, among other reasons, you never listen its always about you." Harry looked up at a very confused Ginny "I'll see you later." and exited the Great Hall.

Silence.

"Ron, I think I agree with Harry, we have been rather harsh and well I think I'm going to try to talk to her. Maybe you should do the same." Ginny said nervously, she was well aware of her brother's horrible temper and the last thing she wanted to do was spark his fuse.

Ron huffed "do what you want, but I know who is in the wrong here and it sure as hell isn't me."

Ginny rolled her eyes "Idiot" she stood up, and made her way to class.

Ron watched as the back of his sister's head disappeared then scrowled at his plate. "Idiots go ahead and go beg, sure won't find me there when you do."

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"So we did it?" Hermione looked up at Draco once they had reached the lake

"We broke the mold Hermione" Draco grinned

"Did you see the looks we were getting?" Hermione giggled "With the way people were looking at us you would've thought the Voldermort had returned."

Draco laughed "more importantly, you stood up for yourself and your beliefs, I'm very proud of you." he said as he snaked his arms around her waist, pulling her close to him "you don't know how long I've wanted to do this." he whispered into her ear

Hermione blushed "I do know, I know every bit as much as you do, but can we take it easy, I think we've caused enough trouble" Hermione looked over at the group of third years who were now staring in their direction.

Draco followed her eyes spotting the same group of third years who were now whispering to one another then pulled away "Course"

"I'm sorry Draco" she said placing her hand on his arm

"Its okay, really I can wait. I've waited years what’s a little more time going to hurt?" He said as he placed his hand on her cheek

"Thank you for understanding." Hermione smiled up at him

"So what did your friends tell you?" Hermione asked a concerned look in her eyes.

Draco conjured up a blanket, placed it on the ground, took a seat and padded the spot beside him. "Nothing really, they asked me what the hell I was doing, what was I thinking, asked if I was under the Imperius curse, called me a traitor a disgrace and promised to tell my father."

Hermione gasped dropping onto the spot beside him "oh Draco, I'm so sorry."

"I don't care, what is going to do disown me? Beat me? Torture me?" Draco laughed "Nothing I haven't dealt with before. As far as money goes, I've been saving money for ages, investments and all. I have more then enough to support my self and a family for three lifetimes." Draco smiled a cocky smile

"and you're mother?"

Draco sighed "She'll be pleased I didn't follow in his footsteps."

"I'm proud of you too Draco" Hermione said as she leaned her head on his shoulder.

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Please Read and Review =].

paigeey07: Glad you enjoyed it, hope you enjoyed chapter 2 as well =]

cherripepsiisgod : yes I would very much appreciate if you could proof read my chapters!! I would appreciate that very much. As for the steamy scene involving a web cam, we seemed to have been thinking on the same wavelengths.

angelnomiko. Very glad you enjoyed

margaritama: Sorry about the confusion, I hope chapter 2 cleared things up a bit. Enjoy =]

Again many thanks to those who reviewed I really appreciate your feedback. As for Chapter 3 will be up Wednesday of next week =].

Have a great week everyone