A Little Polishing

Through the rest of the ball Hermione kept her reaction under wraps. Draco had shocked her with that kiss. She had just been pulled from Ron’s arms so most likely she was dreaming of Ron when he kissed her. That was the reason, wasn’t it?

When Draco walked her back to Gryffindor tower he told her that Ron will most likely approach her soon. He said to make sure that the friend aspect was there, make sure she said she was his friend if he needed to talk or if he needed support.

She agreed and hugged him goodnight. His arms felt good but she told herself that she wanted Ron’s around her and that was why her body was betraying her.

When she entered through the portrait the first thing she heard was arguing, but not loud enough to make out words. Ron had his back to her but Lavender saw her walk in and silenced immediately. Ron spun around and saw her.

She was embarrassed at walking into a fight and quickly hurried up to her room. She was changed and in bed in no time. She thought briefly about the short time she had to dance with Ron. It felt good to be in his arms and she knew that if she had more time in them, then she would have felt what she felt when Draco kissed her.

She would have liked to kiss Ron tonight but having Lavender on him like that would have only caused trouble. Besides she wanted Ron to kiss her not the other way around.

She fell asleep remembering dancing with him. Draco however was just as confused. He hadn’t expected the kiss to end that way either and he had a painful erection to deal with. When he was in the bathroom he had to take care of the situation or he wouldn’t have gotten any sleep.

He didn’t understand how Ron could want Lavender when he had Hermione lusting after him. Although he didn’t understand how Hermione could want a man like Ron. He wasn’t in tune with female feelings and half the time he’s with Lavender all they do is snog.

Him and Hermione weren’t even friends and he knew when she needed to be cheered up or when something was bothering her. Weasley never understood girls and their feelings. Seeing how he behaved around Lavender was proof enough.

When he danced with Lavender she kept looking over at them. She was jealous plain and simple. He had to get Hermione out of his arms before she hit the roof. As it was, he was sure Ron got a tongue lashing for asking her to dance the first dance.

He sighed and got into bed. Lavender was Ron’s problem, not his.

A few days after the dance Hermione took a walk along the forest edge. She was actually looking for the mushroom samples that grew there, hoping to find one still in the early growth stage.

“Gathering again?” She turned and saw Ron, taking a seat on his favorite boulder. He always sat on it when they gathered for homework.

“Yes,” she said smiling, “I want the fresh ones, before anyone else gets them.” She went through her basket as she sat next to him. “You looked nice at the ball Ron, those dress robes were just your style.”

“Thanks. You looked wonderful Hermione.” He said as if he had seen her for the first time.

“Thanks, charms and a good dress do wonders for a girl.” She said.

“I think it had nothing to do with charms. Why the sudden change?” He asked.

“Why not? My hair wasn’t exactly helping me in any way, I was never good at makeup and I was tired of being the same old Hermione. It was time to sharpen a few things.” She grinned thinking of Draco’s words.

“You didn’t need it Hermione, you were just fine the way you were.” He said. She wanted to take it as a compliment, but she just couldn’t.

“I was fine and alone Ron. I don’t want to be seen as merely the brainy bibliophile, I can be pretty and smart at the same time. I just needed to do it that’s all.” She said.

“But don’t you think your becoming something you don’t want to be. I mean Lavender and Parvati look good, of course, but no one really respects them. They aren’t seen as the smartest of students you know. They aren’t ambitious and neither of them have goals.”

“You don’t respect your own girlfriend Ron?” She asked with a lifted eyebrow. “Why are you even with her if that’s how you feel?”

“I do respect her, but you know what I mean. It wasn’t the first thing that I noticed and you know what I’m talking about.” He said.

“Yes I know Ron, and doesn’t it make sense that most girls want to be found attractive. I am certainly no different.” She said.

“Hermione you were pretty before.” He said getting frustrated.

“Thank you Ron, but you know what I’m talking about. I don’t want to be the friend to everyone. I want something more.” She said. I want you Ron and you can’t see it, she thought.

He fell silent and look at his hands, playing with his fingernails. She didn’t push the subject, Ron was never one to think before speaking and she didn’t want to argue. “Is everything alright with you and Lavender?” She asked.

“Well, you saw the fight.” He said.

“Yes, I did but I want to know if you made up. I thought the dance went well, so why was she upset?”

“She was upset that I complimented you and not her.” He admitted.

Hermione frowned. “When did you compliment me?” She asked.

“When you had left the table. I told Harry how wonderful you looked and she was upset that I said nothing about her own dress.”

“Well, that will teach you.” She said with a laugh.

He chuckled back but Hermione knew it was forced. “Yes I guess.” He spoke quietly, “I don’t know if I can handle her jealousy though. That night she was really laying into me.”

“She was?” Hermione asked, curious.

“She said I shouldn’t have danced with you or even asked because you were here with Malfoy. She was angry that I was willing to let her dance with others too.”

“What’s the big deal?” Hermione asked, although she knew it. Lavender was being ignored by her own boyfriend and it hurt her pride, but it wasn’t her place o speak for Lavender. Ron needed to figure that out.

“I didn’t think there was one, but my reaction to you that night may have gotten under her skin.” He sat up and faced her. “You did look just gorgeous Hermione.”

She felt the blush cover her face. This was the Ron she wanted to see. “Thank you.” She looked and saw him lean in before she had a chance to react. When her lips met his, it was nice. Not the lightening she had with Draco, but nice. And over all too soon. He had pulled away before she could enjoy it, but it was nice.

She took up her basket and they walked back to the castle. It was too fast for her tastes and not nearly as exciting as Draco but she had gotten a kiss. He was seeing her differently and that was a good thing.


When she saw Draco later that day he contradicted her. “I don’t think it was a good thing to let him kiss you.”

“Why not?” She asked. “He’s finally seeing me as a girl. An attractive one.”

“Hermione, what he’s seeing you as is temptation. He has a girlfriend but sneaking a kiss in with you was a bonus. Why do you think it was so fast? He was stealing it. Nothing serious at all, just a quick peck before you could object.”

Hermione felt her heart breaking. She gave a sniff and Draco was on his feet in a flash. “Granger don’t cry on me, you said you wouldn’t.” She sniffed again and tried to hold back the tears. She blinked rapidly forcing them back.

“I’m sorry.” She said in the most pathetic voice ever.

He sat down again next to her. “I’m sorry I should have been a little more tactful in how I spoke, but it’s true.” She nodded, holding back more tears. She’d have a good cry tonight.

“I guess I got my hopes up for nothing.” She said.

“No that’s not true. He did notice you, that was obvious. Think about it, he didn’t see you as anything more then a friend and now look at you. It shook him up and he doesn’t know how to deal with it.”

“Really?” She asked looking at him.

“Yes really. Trust me on this. I know how men think, all of them, the smart ones and the not so smart ones. don’t let him do it again. And if he sneaks one in again, ask him why he did that when he has a girlfriend.”

“A guilt trip? Do I have to sink to those levels?” She asked.

“Do you want to be the affair?” He asked. “The one he cheats with?”

Her face fell. “No, I don’t.”

“Good, then making sure to remind him of Lavender shows him that you have pride and you won’t be the other woman. He’s a man Hermione, he needs to be shown that things can’t go his way. He can’t have both of you. Only a slug of a man would expect two women to accept that.”

“I guess your right.”

“Of course I’m right.” He said. “Now all seriousness aside. How was the kiss?”

“It was nice.” She said.

“Nice? That’s all? You’ve wanted it how long now and it was nice? There had to be more to it.”

“Like you said, it was fast. I guess he just meant to steal a kiss after all. It was for him, not for me. He wanted a kiss, but he didn’t want to kiss me.” She said sadly.

“Yes well, he’s confused.” Draco said. “Besides he has Lavender in one ear yelling who knows what and you in the other being a friend. That’s bound to shake up what little he has in his head.”

“Draco…..” She said annoyed.

“Alright I’m sorry I won’t take aim anymore, but there is truth to what I’m saying. Coming back changed affected him.”

“He said I shouldn’t have done it.”

“I’m not surprised he said that.”

She looked at him. “Why?”

He shifted and faced her. “You have always been a friend, in good times and bad. You, Potter and Weasley. All of a sudden you come back not only involved with someone else but looking like the sort of female he looks at. It disturbed his lifestyle. You were the safe female, the one he could turn to about girls and now that you have changed and become one of them it’s frightening. He wants his nice safe friend back, the one that doesn’t make him think dirty thoughts.”

“He said boys should like me the way I was, I didn’t need to change.”

“You didn’t change. You got some new clothes, you got your hair done, what as changed?” He said.

She looked up and chuckled. “Nothing I suppose.”

“Besides, has he had the same hair since first year. I don’t even want to discuss that disaster from fourth year. Him and Potter never once saw a pair of shears the entire summer I’m guessing.”

Hermione chuckled thinking of the number of times she asked them to get haircuts that year. “I told him I just sharpened a few things.”

“That’s my girl.” he said giving her a smile.

My girl? Now why did she get goosebumps when he said that?