Hermione was in the library studying for the upcoming exams. It was the only thing that helped to distract her from Zorro.
It had been one week since his little challenge and she had gotten nowhere. The only thing that she could say with confidence was that it wasn't Draco Malfoy since his pureblood pride would never let him attend a muggle party.
"At the library again?" The familiar voice drawled.
Hermione slammed the book close with a thud. She stood up from her seat. "Just leaving actually."
"Too bad. I came to ask how your search was going."
"Search?" She stilled in her movements. There was only one thing she was searching for, how had Draco found out about it?
He shuffled closer to her, but still stayed at a respectable distance. "I've given you a week," he clicked his tongue in disappointment. "Did you give up or were you disappointed that the person you were looking for was me?"
Hermione's head jerked up to look at him. His grey eyes drooped with open hurt and his lips were tugged downward in a frown. He was being serious.
"I'm not disappointed nor had I given up." She answered slowly. "I was just momentarily at a standstill."
His head lifted up and his eyes cleared just a little. "Oh?"
She grabbed her bag and walked past him. "Prove to me that you meant what you said that night. I'll be waiting." She left the room with her cheeks ablaze. How was she able to be so bold? And what did she just sign herself up for?
How was it that the one person that she was looking for was the one she was absolutely sure it wasn't? Though she had to admit that she should have seen it coming. Did Zorro not only smirk like Draco, he also had the same eyes.
She reached the Gryffindor common room to find a dazed looking Harry and Ginny. "What got into you two?"
Ginny looked toward Hermione and blinked a few times before her gaze finally became focused. "We found our masked partners. Unexpectedly a good thing."
Hermione quirked one eyebrow up. "They're students here?"
Ginny nodded. "Yep. Have you found yours yet? I might have an idea as to who it is."
"Draco Malfoy." Hermione pointed to Harry. "I'm guessing his was Pansy Parkinson and yours was Blaise Zibini."
Harry's head jerked to her, his eyes finally undazed. "How'd you know? Nope, nevermind."
"Oh Harry," Ginny reached over and flattened his hair. "I can't believe you walked around looking like that."
"I can't believe you just noticed," Hermione deadpanned.
Harry blushed a deep crimson at their words and actions. "I was distracted. It was like sparks were flying when we kissed."
"Good for you," Hermione huffed before heading up to her room. She didn't feel like being in the same room with the lovebirds, who already looked as if they were missing their other half.
She plopped down onto bed. Sparks flying, huh? Draco had only given her a chaste kiss, so there was really no time for sparks.
Butterflies flitted down her stomach as she thought about the little messages he had left her everyday and the flowers he had given to her. They weren't sparks, but it was definitely a nice feeling every time she saw one of his little 'gifts'.
. . . . .
Draco flopped onto his bed on his back. A goofy grin covered half his face.
Hermione had been his dream girl for the last two years. He had finally built up enough courage to confess to her, though he had to wear a mask to do it.
The best part about it, she didn't seem disgusted. Draco felt like he may actually have a chance. He'll just have to keep wooing her. That was a challenge he would willingly accept.
. . . . .
"Hermione, look." Ginny nudged Hermione in the arm then pointed to a familiar owl. It was the same one that had delivered her flowers. This time, the owl brought red tulips. Their meaning was clear. Draco was declaring his love through them.
"Blushen' over flowers?" Ron teased with a quirk of his eyebrow.
"Shut up," came Fred's voice.
"You ninny," came George's voice.
"Someone clearly likes Hermione," the twins said in unison.
"That he does," confirmed Ginny. "What does the letter say?"
"I haven't read it yet. Give me a sec." She unfurled the letter that came with the flowers. Written on it was one simple question.
Will you come to my Quidditch game?
"He's asking me to watch him play this weekend."
"Not very romantic," said Goerge.
"And this mystery bloke was off to a good start," finished Fred.
"He's not a mystery anymore," said Harry with a smirk. "And considering how he likes Quidditch, that probably is romantic to him."
"If he catches the snitch, then it would be," said Ginny with a nod of her head. "You going?"
Hermione glanced over to the Slytherin table to find Draco staring at her expectantly. She nodded to answer both him and Ginny.
. . . . .
Ginny rushed Hermione to the stands. Ron, Fred, Goerge, Luna, and Rolf were already there. Harry and a certain Slytherin were conveniently absent.
"This is gonna be so much fun. Also never thought I would be rooting for Slytherin," exclaimed Ginny with a closed fist.
Hermione shared Ginny's sentiments. It was a first to be cheering for the Slytherins.
"Mum's gonna kill you for bringing home a slimy snake," Ron told Ginny.
"No she won't," said Fred.
"Mum will like him," said George.
Ron shot them a look that said it all. The twins rolled their eyes. "He's hot," they exclaimed together.
Ginny blushed while Hermione laughed. The twins had finally met Pansy and Blaise as Harry and Ginny's partner. It had been something else entirely at seeing the twins shocked expressions. It was even better when they started pranking the two with all new pranks, which was just pure teasing. Mainly kissing sounds, wedding bells, and other weird things.
The Slytherins came out onto the pitch followed by the Ravenclaws. The game started before long.
Hermione tried to follow, she really did. After a while she became so bored that she brought out a book, only glancing up every once in a while.
Ginny latched onto Hermione's shoulder. "He's almost got it!"
Hermione looked to where Ginny was pointing. Draco was way up in the air, far above the others, with his arms outstretched. His fingers grazed the top of the snitch, not quite reaching.
The crowd held their breath. "Bludger!" Someone yelled. Hermione gasped as a stray bludger bulldozed into Draco, knocking him off his broom. He fell, plummeting to the ground.
Several people had their wands out, descending his fall.
Hermione rushed off the stands, heading straight for Draco. He laid on the ground. His face had spots of blood on it and she could already see bruises starting to appear. His arm laid at an odd angle, clearly broken.
"Out of the way dearies!" Madam Pomfrey ushered the students away. "Oh dear," she said when her eyes laid on Draco. With a flick of her wand, he was levitated up off the ground.
. . . . .
Draco woke up to the feel of someone holding his hand. He looked over and felt his heart flutter at the sight before him.
Hermione was sitting in a chair that was pulled up to his bedside. Her head was lowered and rested on the edge of the bed. And the best part, her hand. Her small, delicate hand held his.
"This is a welcoming sight," he said quietly so as to not disturb the sleeping girl.
Hermione stirred. She lifted her head groggily, a groan escaping from her. Her eyes widened when she saw him awake. "How do you feel?"
Draco smiled at her warmth. "Better with you here." He had the pleasure of seeing a light blush dusting across her cheeks.
"Don't you worry me like that again," she nagged at him once she regained her composure.
"Wasn't planning on it." He grimaced. "I prefer staying out of this place." The grimace was replaced with a small smile when he glanced at her. "You worried about me?"
"Of course," she huffed.
Draco scooted over, never letting go of her hand. "You look tired." He patted the spot beside him. To his utter surprise, she complied. "You're being oddly compliant.
She raised a delicate eyebrow. "I can always lea-"
"No!" Draco cut her off. "Don't leave, please."
Hermione looked at him. Her brown eyes softened and a small smile pulled at her lips, tugging at his heart. "I won't."
Draco let the silence hang over them for a while before finally asking the question that had been weighing on his mind. "Why are you even here? Not that I'm complaining!"
Hermione leaned her head against his shoulder, careful not to hurt his injured arm. "I wanted to be. It took you being injured for me to finally realize that I don't want anything to happen to you."
Draco looked down at her with wide eyes. "Does that mean what I think it means?"
Hermione looked at him shyly. She bit her lower lip then nodded slowly. "Just don't stop with the gifts."
Draco felt his heart leap. It was his dream come true.
He lowered down and bumped his forehead to hers. "I'll never stop wooing you. Whatever you want, I'll get it." He would even get her the world if she asked it of him.