The next morning, at breakfast.

Hermione entered the Great Hall with Harry and Ron. They took their usual seats at the Gryffindor table beside Neville, Ginny, Fred & George, and Seamus. Hermione slyly scanned the hall making sure Harry nor Ron saw her. She spotted the back of Draco's head. She could tell it was him by his almost-white-blonde-hair. He took his seat at the Slytherin table alongside Crabbe, Goyle, and Parkinson. He wasn't very talkative that day. It was almost as though he were looking for something. She observed him for a while until she noticed Ginny watching her from across the table. Hermione swiftly glanced away from Draco and towards her plate. Had Ginny noticed who she was staring at? Would she tell Harry? Hermione then decided to visit the library after breakfast so that she could avoid the matter altogether. Since it was a Saturday, there would be no lessons for her to attend making it the perfect day to spend in the library and clear her mind a bit.

Draco sat restlessly. His eyes swept over the Great Hall. AT last, he spotted Hermione at the Gryffindor table. Her hair still the bushy mess that adored so. Wait... was she looking at him? Draco glanced away then glanced back so she wouldn't notice him staring. Suddenly Hermione back spun around, settling her back to him. Had she seen him? Had he screwed everything up? Did she know? Should He apologize? "NO!" Draco thought, "if she didn't know she sure would if I apologized." "But at the same time, if I keep acting rude around her then how will she ever like me back. It's not like I have a very loveable personality." Draco felt like slamming his head on the table. What was he supposed to do with all these feelings? It wasn't like he could just come out and tell her how he feels. Or maybe it was. She did visit him in the Hospital Wing, and he was pretty sure she just was staring at him. Maybe she did feel the same... but maybe she didn't.

After breakfast was over, Hermione bolted up and informed everyone that she would be spending her day in the library and would prefer not to be disturbed. She collected her things and left. In the library, she grabbed a few books and sat down in a comfortable chair. Making the books float beside her in mid-air, she took one and began to read. About an hour in, someone touches the top over her book with their wand and gently shifts the book downward into her lap. Hermione glances up to see Draco, kind of smiling kind of scowling. " Whatcha reading mudbl, Er, Hermione?" Draco asked, there was a nervous tone in his voice. Hermione, taken aback, took a moment to reply. "Um... it's uh... 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' by Newt Scamander."
"Oh, right... yeah, I've uh, read it."
"Really? What's your, um your favorite chapter?"
"Well, um, I uh, I liked the one about the Demiguise."
"Yes, that one was um, enjoyable," Hermione returned, she could feel herself shaking, "Mine was pro-probably the one on the Occamy"

Draco sat down on the chair next to hers. He was quaking with nervousness. Was he really about to come clean about his feelings? "So, Er, Hermione, I've been thinking about-" Draco suddenly stopped.
"About?" Hermione urged.
"About you."
Hermione blushed.
"Really? And, uh, why would you be thinking about me?" Hermione asked trying not to grin ear to ear.
"Well, maybe if you look me in the eyes I'll tell you." Draco said calmly.
Hermione looked up. Her face beet red and trying so hard not to smile (which she was failing at.)
"Better?" Hermione asked, voice shaking.
"Much," Draco replied, "As I was saying."

Draco started explaining how he had liked her since the beginning of their third year. And how most of his journal was dedicated to her. Hermione was beaming at this point. "It's funny how easy talking to her is!" Draco thought to himself. He told her that he knew she had visited him in the hospital; that he was never really asleep. Hermione's mouth dropped. "I-" she began but couldn't finish.
"It's okay," he reached to grab her hand but stopped, hovering over her's, "may I?"
Hermione blushed. "Of course."
"You know," Hermione continued, "I may have hidden somethings as well."
"Really?" Draco asked knowing what she was about to say.
"I might have been staring at you during breakfast."
"Might?" Draco urged.
"Might, definitely. Same thing right?"
Draco leaned over his armrest. Hermione gripped his hand tighter. They closed their eyes and...