Overcoming Differences

Hogsmeade

**A/N: As always, the only thing in this story that is mine is plot and its twists and most, if not all characters and situations are AU.

Hermione and Draco were scheduled to meet that night. She had spent endless amounts of time over the past few days trying to come up with the words that she would use to explain the situation to Draco and possibly calm him down. Hermione opened the door to their room, as they had dubbed it, her heart pounding out of her chest with nerves and walked in. She had a smile on her face but it was a skittish one. "Hey Draco.” She didn’t walk up to him, but paced by the door, wringing her hands.

"You seem nervous, everything okay?" Draco asked as concern washed over him upon seeing her face as she walked into the classroom and her actions were not normal. She usually came up to him and gave him a kiss.

She stopped in her tracks, having thought many times about how he'd feel about what she was about to tell him. "Uh... Yeah... Kinda..." She said as her face lit on fire with an interesting blush. Hermione started to fidget with the hem of her skirt.

Draco felt worried as he watched his anxious girlfriend, but kept his face even as he asked, "What's wrong?" He watched her becoming increasingly nervous as his slate grey eyes burned holes into her.

"It's nothing, really,” she said as she looked up into his eyes with her own chocolate brown ones. “It’s just that I know that we can't go to the ball together, and someone else has asked me to go with him,” she stated, looking down at the floor, “and, well, I told him I would attend with him,.” she finished, her heart now feeling as if it may explode.

Draco stood there for a moment in silence, disappointed. He should have known that she’d be asked by someone, but he’d hoped she would say no. "Oh. Oh I see. Well, that's okay,” Draco whispered. He couldn't be mad at her. They both understood the situation, the danger. It wasn’t like he could personally take her to the ball.

"You’re sure?" she asked as she bit her lip anxiously, "even though it's Viktor Krum? If not I can tell him I changed my mind about going with him. I will go alone if you're not comfortable with me going with him," she inquired. His lack of anger was worrying her.

"No! I mean this is a one-time thing right?” his face flushed in irritation at the idea of her attending with Krum, “And you should do what makes you happy. If going to the ball with that dunderhead makes you happy, then that is what you should do. I’m not angry at you, just this fucking situation." He finished, as as he stood and gently brushed a lock of her hair from her face.

She looked at him and nodded and wrapped her arms around him as a small tear fell. "What would make me the most happy is to go with you and to stop hiding in the shadows all the time. I hate hiding us," she whispered into his chest.

"I know sweetheart.” his arms came around her, taking comfort from her closeness, “Unfortunately, for the time being these are the cards we are stuck with," Draco replied as he combed his fingers through her unruly hair, hoping to calm her.

She held him tighter and nodded. She looked up at him, "will we ever not have to hide?"

"I don't know," he replied softly as he rubbed her head, “maybe once we help Harry defeat Voldemort.”

"I'm sorry Draco. I don't mean to be so emotional." She said softly after she'd calmed down a bit. She felt guilty for turning what little time they had together into something emotional.

“This is our life. I’m sorry I can’t take you to the ball. But I am glad you will be able to attend. You should have fun.”

Changing the subject she looked up at him and asked in hopes of at least seeing him there, “will you be there?”