A/N: Please leave feedback here!


Chapter 1: The Beginning

Draco sneered at me from the front of the class.

"Shut up, Malfoy," I said, the blood rushing to my head.

"Be quiet, both of you," Snape said, his upper lip curling. "And for that, Draco," Snape said, glaring at Draco. "You will work with Miss Granger for the rest of the lesson. Potter, Weasley, move over to Thomas's table. Yes... carry on."

I closed my eyes, massaging my temples as Harry and Ron walked over to Dean's table. How dare Draco call me a Mudblood in the middle of class!

"Get going, Draco," Snape said coldly.

Draco gathered up his belongings and walked briskly over to my table, slamming his ingredients on the table and moving his stool as far away from me as possible. I buried my face in my hands. Why did he have to be such a jerk?

I removed my hands from my face and looked over at Harry and Ron. They looked as miserable as I did. This thought seemed to cheer me up momentarily.

I looked down at my cauldron and had a strong urge to start cutting up my valerian roots. I realized I was missing my silver dagger. My hand shot up into the hair.

"Professor?" I asked.

Snape got up and walked over to my table.

"Could I borrow your silver dagger? I seem to have misplaced mine."

"I have no more daggers, Miss Granger," Snape said coldly, returning back to his desk. He sat down and began to fix papers. "I believe you have to -- ah -- borrow from Mister Malfoy here." He looked down, a cold smile forming on his face.

I felt my heart shoot up into my throat when I glanced sideways at Draco. He was sprinkling a few ingredients into his cauldron, not knowing what he was doing. He seemed to be pretending that he didn't hear a word Snape had said. However, I saw him pull his silver dagger a little closer to himself.

"Malfoy?" I said.

He glared at me, waiting in silence.

"Could -- could I please borrow your d-dagger?" I asked. I saw Harry's head turn in my direction from the other side of the classroom. I could tell he was flashing me a warning look, but I didn't look at him.

To my surprise, Draco nodded, returning back to his cauldron.

I reached over to take the dagger. I stopped right when my hand was above it, thinking that he would grab it back. Nothing happened. I gripped the dagger and brought it back to my belongings.

After I was finished with my roots, I also realized I was missing my scales. What has gotten into me today?

Knowing that Snape wouldn't allow me to borrow any of his, I placed Draco's dagger next to his arm as I tapped his shoulder lightly. He looked at me, without a glare.

"I'm missing my s-scales," I said quietly. He moved his hand to rest it upon his scales. I had a sudden urge to duck under the table in case he slid it across the table to terrify me. He didn't. He slid the scales slowly and passed it to me, a small smile on his face.

What was going on?

I smiled back, barely knowing what I was doing. I slid the scales to the far end of the table and watched as it clattered very noisily on the floor. "Pick it up, Granger!" Snape snarled, glaring at the scales. I bent down quickly and obeyed, placing it back on the table. Good thing I didn't draw any attention from Harry or Ron. What they would think when they saw me using Malfoy's scales... I did not like to think.

Chapter 2: Curiosity

"I don't know what he's playing at, obviously," I started for the umpteeth time. Harry, Ron, and I were sitting in the common room. It was nearing midnight, but tomorrow was the first Hogsmeade weekend of the term. Harry and Ron were finishing Flitwick's essay, while I was curled up in a corner reading A History of Magic.

"Hermione, we already agreed a few hours ago that he was just having a laugh, that's all," Ron said, sticking his quill in between his teeth, obviously in deep thought.

"Or it could've been that Snape was watching him out of the corner of his eye or something," Harry agreed, saying his theory for the seventh time that evening.

I nodded impatiently, looking back down at my book, though not reading anything in particular. My eyes weren't even moving, just staring at a word I couldn't focus on. What on earth was Malfoy playing at, treating me as if I wasn't scum?

"Why are you so obsessed about it, anyway?" Ron asked, looking up at me.

"I'm not! I'm just trying to figure out what his problem is!" I said loudly.

"Well, forget about it, then, because we're pretty sure that it's just that he was having a laugh," Ron said.

I had to accept that it was true. He was just having a laugh after all.

--

We were all in the Great Hall, lined up to go out to Hogsmeade. I scanned the Hall for any sign of him -- nothing. I looked back at Harry and Ron, and saw that Ron was staring at me as if I was crazy.

"What?" I asked.

"You're looking for him, aren't you!" he accused, his eyes growing wide.

"Who ever said that?" I asked, my eyes widening back in false horror.

"You're scanning the Hall for him! And as a matter of fact, he's right over there. And oddly enough, he's alone, without any of his cronies." Ron said, pointing to a spot where Malfoy was standing. Ron was right, he was alone. How odd, I thought. I took my eyes off him after a second since Harry was looking at me suspiciously.

It seemed like Filch already let everyone go. Most people were walking towards Hogsmeade already. I set off with Harry and Ron tugging along at my heels.

We finally reached the village, where Ron immediately entered Honeydukes.

"Hermione," Harry started, just as Ron disappeared inside the shop. He adjusted his robes a bit so it could flow happily behind him. "Do you... are you actually feeling a bit... a bit of-- affection -- for Malfoy?"

Since Harry was completely honest with me, I decided to tell him the truth. "Well... if you promise you won't tell Ron..." I said, hesitant. Harry nodded solemnly, giving me a look that clearly read "That's disgusting!" I smiled at him. "No, you don't understand, Harry. I don't... love him, like I did with... well, I don't feel any affection for him at all, but I honestly don't hate him... do you believe me, Harry?" I asked.

He nodded. I ran straight into his arms, feeling absolutely safe.

Sure, Harry and Ron were curious, but only Harry would know my secret.

Chapter 3: Unexpected

Ron exited the shop, his arms full of sweets. His cheeks were bulging with Chocolate Frogs.

"Amumph," Ron said unintelligibly. "Cockroach Cluster?" he asked, once he swallowed down his chocolate. Harry and I shook our heads.

I looked behind me and spotted Draco walking slowly towards us, looking down at his feet. He was trudging slowly through the snow. I understood immediately, and apparently, so did Harry.

"Hey, Ron," Harry started, grabbing Ron's arm. "Let's go to Zonko's. I'm pretty sure we'll find alot of stuff that'll come in handy." Ron nodded, stuffing most of his goods into his pockets as they walked briskly towards the other shops. Harry looked back at me, grinning. I gave him the thumbs up just as Draco stopped next to me.

"Hello," he said casually. I raised my eyebrows, taking his appearance in. He looked just as good as ever.

"Where are they going?" Draco asked, wrapping his scarf more tightly around his neck. "Zonko's," I replied, looking at my feet.

"Would you f-fancy a drink at the Three Broomsticks?" he said, stuttering.

I looked up, my face lit with happiness. "Sure," I said.

"Alright, okay then," he said, stuffing his hands into his jeans as we trudged slowly through the snow towards the Three Broomsticks.

"Cold day, isn't it?" I said, trying to create conversation. He nodded, his cheeks filling with rosy color. My face suddenly became warm, and I could tell I was doing the same thing.

I stopped in my tracks. He noticed this, and stopped too. "What?" he asked, looking worried. I decided to be completely honest with him.

"I don't know what's gotten into you," I started, not meeting his eyes. "But you seem like you're changing into a better person. What is this all about?" I said. I looked up after a few seconds, and to my surprise, found him with a screwed-up face, as if he were thinking of a good reply to my question.

"I-- I just feel I've been too mean to you, that's all."

I nodded, starting to walk again. This time, he didn't move. I stayed where I was, watching him silently. "I'm sorry," he whispered. I've never seen him like this.

I felt my eyebrows contract. "For what?"

"For calling you a Mudblood." He looked down, evidently ashamed.

"I'm proud of being Muggle-born," I replied, hesitant. What was he playing at?

"Oh, you are, aren't you?" he asked, looking at me. His eyes were lit with excitement. I nodded, shivering. It was really starting to get cold.

"Here," Draco said, taking off his robes. He held it at arm-length, walking closer to me. I shook my head frantically. "No, it's okay," I said. He didn't seem to notice my response. He stepped to it, placing his robes around my shoulders. It was very warm.

"Thanks," I muttered, smiling slightly. I could tell I was still blushing. So was he.

"Let's get to it, then," he grinned. I never saw him smile like this. "Hermione."

I smiled back as he pushed open the door of the Three Broomsticks for me.

A/N: This chapter takes place about a week after the Three Broomsticks incident. Let's just say something important happened in there... don't ask why -- I have my reasons. =)

Chapter 4: A Change of Mood

"Hermione," Ron started. We were walking down the familiar path towards Hagrid's. Luckily he was still teaching Care of Magical Creatures after all this. "Are you possibly saying that you have feelings for Malfoy?"

"No," I scoffed. We've had this argument at least a couple of times already. I had been expressing my feelings to Harry, who, of course, knew about the relationship, when Ron had to interfere. "I was just telling Harry... my dream," I invented wildly as Ron stared at me wide-eyed. "My dream that I had two nights ago. Unforgettable, it was..." I trailed off.

Ron grunted. "Hmpf," he said, turning his eyes upon Hagrid's cabin. We reached it at last, and his eyes lit up enthusiastically. "You think we'd be battling the Blast-Ended Skrewts, wouldn't you, but now we're just watching unicorns..."

He started to talk to Harry about the creatures in the Forbidden Forest, trailing from the death of Aragog the previous year all the way to sphinxes and dragons. I couldn't really hear them -- Draco was walking down with his cronies, Crabbe and Goyle.

"Ron, let's go," Harry said. He cast me a happy grin, giving me a thumbs up, behind Ron's back.

"Wh-- Wh-- I haven't-- What about Hermione?" Ron asked, tripping over his trainers.

"She's--" Harry said. I gave him a panicked expression, waiting for him to come up with something. He mimicked a gesture of something falling of a cliff. The answer struck me immediately.

"Oh!" I said, dropping my bag. "It must've ripped."

"Wh-- Your bag was just fine a moment ago!" Ron yelled.

"Keep your voice down," Harry said. "Let's go."

After a few arguments, Harry and Ron finally trailed into the Forbidden Forest, leaving me with the mess my bag had made with Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle nearing Hagrid's cabin. After a while that felt like an eternity, they finally arrived.

"Well, well, well," Draco said, clapping his hands together in a happy-go-lucky mimic. "If it isn't Granger." Crabbe and Goyle snickered behind him.

"Get to class, Malfoy," I hissed, throwing my books even faster into my bag.

"Crabbe, Goyle, get to class," Malfoy said, jerking his head towards the forest but still keeping his eyes on me. "I have a few topics to discuss with Granger."

Crabbe and Goyle grunted and started bickering towards the Forbidden Forest, leaving me alone with Malfoy. He bent down and started picking up my books, placing them slowly into my bag.

"I've missed you," he whispered. I felt my cheeks turn very red.

"I've missed you too," I said quietly. I looked behind me, watching a group of Hufflepuffs descend the steps towards the Forbidden Forest. Once they had disappeared, I flung myself into Malfoy's arms.

"You haven't told anyone about us, haven't you?" I asked, my face buried deep in his white blond hair.

"No," he said. "Have you?"

"Only Harry."

"Why?" he asked, pulling away and looking angry.

"He's my friend, what do you expect?" I retorted hastily, throwing my bag over my shoulder. "Ron doesn't know, though. I reckon--" He cut across me.

"He wouldn't accept the relationship, yeah," Malfoy said.

"Mmm," I said, standing up. He followed. We started to walk into the forest slowly. He took my hand.

"Happy one week anniversary, though."



A/N: SURPRISE!

Chapter 5: Sweet N' Sour

It's been about two weeks since Malfoy and I have been dating. Of course, nobody has told Ron yet. Everyone I've told in Gryffindor seems to keep quiet whenever passing Ron -- they probably know that he wouldn't take it so well since he and Malfoy don't get along as well as normal boys do. Harry, on the other hand, has been talking to Malfoy quite a few times since last week, and they do really seem to be flowing together quite well.

"Please," I said irritably, snatching away a Decoy Detonator from a second year. "Products from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes are banned up to date!" I stomped back to my chair, handing the exploding product to Ron, who goggled at it happily. "Every time I explain something to them they never seem to listen, and they always get fussed up when I take them away." I glared at the second year who was crossing her arms and talking to her friend. Both of them were staring at me. "It's their fault, really..."

"Give it a rest, Hermione," Ron said. Harry nodded encouragingly next to him, lounging on his favorite armchair. I scoffed and returned back to my book.

I felt someone tap my shoulder. "What!?" I said, exasperated. "Oh," I said. I caught sight of Parvati behind me, looking scared. "I thought you were that second year," I whispered.

"Oh, it's fine," she said. She leaned down to whisper into my ear so that Ron, who was very close to me but lounging on the hearthrug, couldn't hear. "You-know-who's waiting outside. Said it was very important." She was one of the few who knew.

"Oh alright," I said, still annoyed. I slammed my book shut and stood up, leaving my book on the arm of my chair. "Watch that, please, will you, Harry?" I asked, pointing towards my book.

"Yea," he said, not paying attention. He was laughing with Ron.

I scoffed, walking briskly out of the portrait hole.

As soon I walked out, I caught sight of a flustered-looking boy with white blonde hair leaning casually but looking very annoyed against a pillar. "What took you so long? Was it her?" Draco asked, referring to Parvati.

"No," I said. "Keep your voice down! Peeves might be around the corner!"

He crossed his arms, looking around.

"What?" I asked. "What did you need to say?"

"Listen," he said, leaning in closer to me. I felt his warm hands carress my face. "You need to act like you're not my girlfriend around Crabbe and Goyle tomorrow, alright?"

"What!?" I said, backing away madly. "You told them first! They should know that we've been going out for about two weeks already!"

"Keep your voice down!" Draco warned. My voice had risen excitedly in the past minute. "Just for tomorrow."

"And you're not going to tell me why, are you?" I asked, fuming.

"No..." Draco said, looking ashamed. He looked down.

"Well, why? Why not?" My voice had risen again.

"You wouldn't need to know," he said quietly.

"Wh... what?" I said, my eyes filling with tears.

"I love you," Draco said, crossing the hall and placing his hands around my back. I buried my face on his shoulder, the tears starting to leak. He stroked my hair slowly. I shook my head. He misunderstood me.

"I mean, what? Why won't you tell me? What will Crabbe and Goyle do?"

He sighed, his hand stopping at my bangs. He brushed some of them away from my eyes before kissing my forehead and replying. "They think it's cheesy."

I started to laugh hysterically. "You? And me? Cheesy??"

"Yes." He said quietly.

"Is that... a bad thing?" I asked nervously.

"No! It's just that I don't want to be seen snogging you around them. They're going to be with me the whole day tomorrow, but I promise I'll make it up to you." Draco paused for a minute, looking like he needed to say something, but kept quiet.

"Alright then... tomorrow, I don't talk to you at all. Is that the plan?" I said.

He nodded slowly.

"Okay. Goodnight, Draco." I started to walk back towards the portrait hole.

"Wait. You forgot." I turned around. He was grinning. I ran back into his arms as he planted a very mesmerizing kiss on my lips.

Chapter 6: A Dose of Skeeter

"Miss Granger, should I remind you again that we are in Potions class, and not Charms?"

I looked up, fuming. I had been attempting to create the Draught of Living Death for the third time this week in Snape's presence, but I just kept getting worse and worse, and so were his insults. "Sorry, sir," I said, through gritted teeth. I felt Harry's arm on mine.

"Calm down," he whispered out of the corner of his mouth. I closed my eyes and tilted my head back towards my potion. "You don't want to get a detention, do you?"

"Look who's talking," I snapped at him. He recoiled immediately, looking offended, and began talking to Ron, who looked dumbfounded.

The white-headed boy in front of me turned around, grinning.

"Nice one," he said.

I smiled a bit, wishing that Luna had given me some Gurdyroots for this potion. Ugh!

"Meet me after class. You have a free period right after this, don't you?" Malfoy asked. I nodded impatiently.

"Don't forget. Oh, by the way..." he reached across the table and brushed my bangs out of my eyes. "You have a smudge on your cheek--"

"No talking, Mister Malfoy. Haven't I already reminded you that this is a no talking period?" said Snape in an icy tone, his upper lip curling.

"Yes... sir," Malfoy said, turning back around to face the front again.

I exhaled, tipping more contents into my potion. The bell rang after what seemed like thirty more minutes. I stuffed all of my books madly into my bag in frustration and left the classroom, leaving my cauldron and scales behind in anger.

I leaned against my tree in the courtyard, sitting down and glaring at the grass. It was such a good day today, although Snape couldn't make it any better.

Someone slipped hands over my eyes. Even though I wasn't really in the mood, I smiled.

"Draco."

"You're getting good. Although I would like it better if we were in bed."

I scoffed. "Oh my god," I said, shaking my head. "You're such a bad boy!"

Draco put his hand on the tree and withdrew it immediately, bawling like a dog.

"What?" I asked.

"Beetle!" he said, standing up and backing away from the tree. I started to laugh.

"You're such a chicken," I said, shaking my head again and turning around to look at the beetle. It looked familiar...

"Draco," I started, realizing something. "Get as far away from here as possible."

"What? Why?"

"Just go!"

He walked away, scowling. I caught a glimpse of what he was saying. "...thinks I'm a chicken... not fair... doesn't even understand..."

I smiled after him. Even though we were a couple we still acted like we hated each other. Of course, he loved insulting me. But when we were alone, it was absolutely wonderful. I turned my attention back to the beetle.

"Hello, Rita."

Right in front of my eyes, the beetle transformed into a short, blonde-haired, teeth baring woman who was wearing bejeweled glasses the size of fists. Right behind her was a quill floating in mid-air and a notebook, which was still taking notes.

"What? Are you going to write about me and Draco now? Just like last year, when you couldn't find anything better to do, that you wrote about me and Harry?" I asked, starting to fire up.

"No, no," Rita said, sneering at me from behind her bared teeth. "I'm going to publish an article about Lucius Malfoy's son dating an unbearable Muggle-born."

I lunged at her, my hand drawing to my wand. "If you write anything about --"

"Don't worry, girly." She said in a fake, happy accent. "I won't write anything about you two." She walked away, leaving me standing after her with my wand drawn out.


* * *

The next day, an owl landed in my pumpkin juice, carrying a sopping wet Daily Prophet. I unfolded it, my eyes glaring around for any sign of the word Draco or the word Muggle-born. I flipped through the newspaper, Harry and Ron looking at me from my right.

Finally, after what seemed a long time, I found a short article on the way right side of the 27th page. It seemed just a few sentences long, but I could tell she had gotten her facts right.

"Former Death Eater's Son fraternizing with Mudbloods
by Rita Skeeter"

I felt my eyes fill with tears, and started to read:

"Draco Malfoy, age seventeen, has recently been meeting with Hermione Granger, the famous player who dated Viktor Krum and scarhead Harry Potter three years previously. Draco has been seen walking around with the Muggle-born, acting as if they were more than enemies, but friends.
Could Draco be in love with the vicious player Granger? Will they fall in love and leave Lucius Malfoy hiding in the dark alleys from shame? Find out in next week's issue of the Daily Prophet!"

A/N: I don't know where my story is getting to. I might change it a bit in the middle of some chapters to change the ending. But I feel like this fanfiction isn't really a success... oh well. Well, I hope you enjoy chapter 7.


Chapter 7: Spread

I opened my eyes, staring up at the ceiling. Was it all just a dream?

I got out of bed, wondering. I had this really horrible dream last night about that terrible Rita Skeeter writing an article about me and Draco. Good thing it was all just a dream, I thought to myself, relieved.

I walked down the stairs and found myself in a busy Common Room. Finally, after looking over all of the heads I could see, I spotted Harry, lounging on the hearthrug near the fire. I walked over to him, grinning.

"Morning," I said, stifling a yawn. I sat down on my favorite armchair as Harry nodded at me. He and Ron were playing wizard chess on the floor.

"Hey Ron," I said softly, looking at him staring hardly at the chessboard. He acted like he couldn't hear me.

I felt my eyebrows contract. "Ron." He didn't look up.

I got down and sat next to him. He moved away ignorantly.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I scoffed, getting up and looking down at his red hair. He lay down, looking at Harry like he couldn't believe his eyes.

"Fine," I said, scowling. "Fine. Well, you know what? I--I don't want to talk to you either." I looked across the Common Room and spotted Ginny, sitting near the window. "Fine." I repeated.

I stood up and walked towards Ginny, smiling at her. "Happy morning, isn't it?"

She stared at me.

"What?"

"Nothing." Ginny kept staring at me as if I was about to burst into flames.

"What?" I said in annoyance. First Ron, now Ginny!? Maybe all of the Weasleys were in a bad mood this morning!

"I'm hungry," she said, standing up and walking around me as if I wasn't there.

I scowled. Something very fishy was going on here.

I turned around and saw some fifth years looking at me. They were all boys who looked like nerds, but brawny. "Hey! It's that girl!" One of them said. He was reading the Daily Prophet.

I furrowed my eyebrows at them, confused. I scowled at them as they rolled around on the floor in laughter. I guess I'd better head down to breakfast. I walked out of the portrait hole and straight into someone's arms.

"Draco!" I said, throwing my arms around his neck.

"Hermione!" Draco said, grinning at me. "How was your night?"

"Good. Although last night I did have this dream that Rita Skeeter published an article in the Daily Prophet about you and me."

Draco's grin faded. "That wasn't... a dream."

I felt my heart drop into my stomach. "I knew it," I whispered. "Is everyone... angry at you?"

"Yes. Well, most of the Slytherins are, anyway. Stupid. I wish I was in a different House. They were yelling at me to ditch a Muggle born like you and to go running after a Pureblood, since I am one. I told them to get a life." He smiled down at me.

"Thank you," I said. "Ron didn't take it so well. Or... he wouldn't even speak to me."

"Forget him," Draco said, smirking. We started to walk towards the Great Hall. "He's just jealous."

I nodded, although my thoughts were straying to someplace else.

"Harry knows," I said, hesitant. I felt Draco stiffen. "And Crabbe and Goyle know too, don't they?"

"Yea," Draco said. "Why?"

"But they didn't spread the rumor."

"Yea."

Draco looked up at the ceiling with an angry expression on his face. He took my hand.

"Stupid people. They're all just jealous." He said, as two Ravenclaws walked by laughing at us and pointing. I glared at them.

"Jealous of us," I finished.

"Yes. And jealous of such a sweet and sour relationship."

"The news has spread..."

"So?"

I looked up at him, my brow furrowed.

"Are you -- scared -- to have people asking you if you're my girlfriend? Are you ashamed, of having a Slytherin for a boyfriend?" He looked really angry.

"No!" I said loudly. I saw his facial expression relax a bit. "I just don't know how the other Gryffindors are going to take it."

"Well, who cares?" Draco said, sneering. Just like his old self before he met me.

"Not me," I said, trying not to let myself go. He grabbed my face and stared into my eyes.

"Please," he pleaded. His expression was so soft, and so was his voice, that I almost melted. "Don't let this go to your head. It's just a newspaper article. In a few weeks... everything will be back to normal. Please, Hermione, do me a favor, and don't let anything like this go to your head... okay?"

I nodded. That was a promise I was going to make.

Chapter 8: Life = Over

Oh my God, I thought to myself. My eyes were closing! In the middle of a lesson!

Ron was right... what ever happened to Hermione Granger?

I opened my eyes again, trying to stay awake. It wasn't my fault I had to stay up all night yesterday because of the questions everyone in Gryffindor were pestering me about! Harry nudged me a bit. I looked at him, and he was looking over at the door of Professor Binns' classroom. It was Draco.

"Umm, excuse me to intrude, Professor," Draco said, in his false, innocent voice. "But Professor McGonagall is asking to see Hermione Granger right away. She said it's --" he looked down at a paper he was holding. "-- really, really urgent."

I stood up already, gathering my bag. Draco gave me a slight nod as Professor Binns agreed to let me go.

I walked out of the classroom but Draco wouldn't wait for me.

"Draco! What does she want?" I asked. He was a few feet ahead of me. He stopped, without turning around to look at me.

"It's not her that wants anything. It's me."

I stared at him, my eyebrow contracting. "Why? What's so urgent that you needed to pull me out of class?"

"Hermione..." Draco started.

Uh oh. I knew that tone.

He turned around, his expression pained. He crossed the room in a few strides and took my hand. Good thing Peeves wasn't around... I had a feeling this was going to hurt.

I held my breath, waiting.

"My father," Draco said. He sounded hesitant. "is threatening to pull me out of the school if I continue to date you."

I felt a sharp crack inside my chest. I kept quiet.

"...I don't want to be pulled out... I want to see you. But... I have to, Hermione. It's the only way."

I swallowed, my body going numb. "So..."

"Yeah. We're finished, Hermione. I don't want to leave the school because I want to see you. But I'll have to leave the school if we're still working out." He said. He didn't look pained... or sad. I felt a burning sensation at the inside corners of my eyes.

"So we're finished." I concluded. It felt like just yesterday, we were a couple of perfect, happy-go-lucky people who didn't care what other people thought. It was like I was clinging onto him all the time. I couldn't let him go. And now we were done. Just like that.

"I'm sorry." Draco said. He leaned in and grabbed ahold of my face, and kissed me for the last time. Then he walked away.

My life just walked away from me.

Chapter 9: The Hospital Wing

I had been carrying a heavy load. Schoolwork, coping with the breakup, and of course, it was almost the Christmas holidays!

The good thing was that I had snapped back to my old self. I was once again Hermione Jean Granger, the girl who would snap at anyone when I was being bothered when I was doing my homework.

"...now who can tell me what..." Snape was saying.

I was so tired. His essay kept me up most of the night last night! And of course, it kept everyone else up too. Nobody was raising their hand to answer his question. Not even me.

"Anyone?" Snape said in a cold, icy tone.

Nobody answered, nor stirred.

"Well, well, well," Snape started, clapping his hands together and giving us a cold expression. "I guess my essay hasn't had effect on anyone at all. Tonight, you must write a four-foot long essay on--"

Everyone groaned, including me. Homework again!? It was almost Christmas and they were giving us so much homework!

"Silence!" Snape hissed. "Now, I'm assuming you read chapter eighteen in Advanced Potion Making: Grade 7?"

It was too much for me to handle. I felt my heart pounding very fast against my ribs, and my head felt like it was being stabbed. The next thing I knew, everything went black.

----------

I opened my eyes, staring up at the black ceiling of the Hospital Wing. Had I passed out that long? I looked out the window and saw a very dark landscape. I must've been out cold for about, what, more than six hours?

I turned my head a bit to my side, and jumped.

"Hi," Draco said.

Of course, there was no mistaking that white-blonde hair. That gentle, but sneering voice.

"Hi," I replied back, my brow furrowing. "N-Not to be rude but h-how did I get here?" Who must've carried me?

I got my answer by his slight nod.

"Oh." I said, slightly turning pink. "I t-thought we were done... and yesterday, you even c-called me a Mudblood again in front of your c-cronies."

He nodded again, giving me a weary look. I noticed that he had dark circles under his eyes and he looked a bit pained. I knew he had been here since he first carried me here.

"Has anyone else visited?" I asked. "Sorry, I was out cold." I started to grin, hoping he would smile back, but he didn't move his mouth for anything except for his answer.

"Potter," he said. "And Weasley too. Both of them."

I sniffed quietly, staring at my hands. "So why are you still here?" I asked, hoping for him not to take it the wrong way.

He looked soft of uncomfortable. "You know," he started to smirk. "Just to check on you. I figured you'd had enough."

"Yes."

He looked down, evidently ashamed. "Look, Granger--"

My smile faltered under him calling me by my last name again. He didn't miss that.

"--Hermione," he said. I swear he almost cracked a smile. "I'm sorry."

"Me too. I don't think I did anything wrong." I said, nodding. My head felt very light. It seems like I got alot off of my chest.

"Friends?" he asked, extending a hand.

I couldn't help it. I got out of bed and walked the short distance into his arms instead of just "shaking his hand".

He hugged me back, and I could swear I felt a tear drop onto my shoulder.

I pulled away after a few long seconds, looking grave. "Friends," I said. I punched him playfully on the shoulder.

"Everything back to normal, right?" he asked, looking weary.

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Okay. Now get to bed, you filthy little Mudblood." He winked at me and stood up as I walked back into my bed.

"Goodnight," he said, laying a hand on my shoulder.

I missed his touch, but I guess that was how we were supposed to be.

Chapter 10: Dinner

"Yes!" Ron said, rubbing his stomach. The food finally appeared in the Great Hall. He started to grab everything in his reach, putting them all on his plate.

"Mmm, 'ta soma, Mione!" he said, his cheeks bulging.

"What?" I said, starting to laugh. That hospital incident happened a few days ago, and the breakup was about two weeks ago, giving Ron some time in between those two incidents to forgive me.

"Hermione, I think Ron's trying to tell you to eat," Harry sniggered.

The three of us started to laugh, and once we did, it was hard to stop.

"So," Ron said, his cheeks still full. I stared hard at him until he swallowed everything down. "So," he started again. "How are you and Malfoy?"

"Bad, thanks," I said, looking down at my chicken.

"Hmm, Hermione, am I sensing a change in you? Is it me, Harry, or is Hermione starting to learn how to smirk?"

"Shut up, Ron!" I said playfully. We started to laugh again. I noticed I had been smirking!

"Learning a bit from your ex..." Ron changed words at the last minute under Harry's glare. "...master. Ex-master."

I returned back to my chicken, feeling a bit down.

I guess he was my ex. Everyone moves on, right?

I swallowed a few pieces of egg rolls as I started to talk again. "Yes, I suppose."

"Sorry." Ron said, laying a hand on my arm.

"It's alright," I muttered.

Ron leaned in to whisper something to Harry. They didn't know they were sitting too close to me! "Reckon she's not over the git, do you?"

I lay my fork down on the table loudly. "Yes, I am, Ron!"

"Oh!" Ron said in a playful imitation of me. "I did not know you were listening it to me and Harry. No, I did not know of such a thing!"

I started to laugh again as Harry snickered.

Yup, I was pretty sure the old Hermione was back, and I was pretty sure she would stay here forever.

Suddenly, Ron and Harry's laughs subsided. They stared darkly a foot over my head. What? I thought. I turned around and felt my face fall.

"Granger," Malfoy said. I was even starting to think of him as Malfoy now, instead of Draco. "Better watch how much you're eating. We wouldn't want a Mudblood to have too much food in their body, would we, Crabbe, Goyle?'

His thuggish cronies sniggered behind him.

Ron and Harry stood up, and their laughs faltered. "Shut up, Malfoy," Ron said.

"Oh? What's this? The filthy Mudblood has got herself a red haired blood traitor?" Malfoy said.

"No." I stood up, my hand flying to my wand. "You better watch it, Malfoy."

"Hmph," Malfoy said, his eyes focusing on my wand. "You're a prefect, Granger. Have you not read the rules?"

"What rules?!" I asked, my eyes transforming into slits.

"The rules that Mudbloods aren't allowed to use magic in the Great Hall, Granger."

"Very funny, Malfoy," Harry said, walking menacingly in front of me to shield me.

I grabbed his arm, pinching it. "No. Don't get involved!"

"Well," Malfoy said, a new sneer fresh on his face. "See you around."

He walked away with Crabbe and Goyle snickering at his side, towards the hallways.

I stood rooted to the spot, my chest heaving. "That foul..."

"Forget it," Ron said, sitting down and pulling me with him. Harry followed obediently. "I guess the old Malfoy is back."

"Yes, I guess he is," I said.

The truth was, I didn't want the old Malfoy back. I wanted the old one.

The one that was my boyfriend.

Chapter 11: Presents

I was sitting in my room, smiling at the small presents I had received from my two best friends, and a few others. It was Christmas!

I sniffed and started to unwrap a maroon-wrapped present. Most definitely from Ron. I opened it and out fell a brand new book. What to do when you can't get away from life. I felt a small grin spread across my face. Oh Ron. Attached to it was a letter.


Dearest, Hermione (I laughed at where his comma was placed.)

Happy Christmas!

Honestly, I, Ronald Weasley, am very happy that the old Hermione Granger has returned. And I will take your lesson on improving my grammar for my Christmas present from you to me. Thank you, very much, Hermione. It means alot.


Ron

P.S. Read my book. Everyday. Sorry. That was an incomplete sentence.

I grinned happily to myself and placed the letter on my beside table, along with the ridiculous book Ron had gotten me. Next, I looked over at a neatly wrapped package from Harry. It looked pretty, I thought to myself. I unwrapped the paper immediately and out fell a box.

I opened it to see a brand new green sweater. What I've been wanting for weeks! I couldn't ask Harry for more. There was another letter, and I snapped it open.


Hermione,

You truly are my best friend. Next to Ron, of course, even though sometimes, he can be an annoying... well, you know what I mean. Anyway, Happy Christmas! You've been my friend for seven Christmases now, and counting.

I hope you like the gift.


Harry


Nothing could wipe the smile off my face.

I opened and opened a couple of other presents, some of which were from Neville, a wonderful agenda (which I had wanted in Diagon Alley the year previously) that would magically erase every class that had been finished for the day, and from Luna, a Gurdyroot. Of course, I said to myself. Gotta love Luna's Christmas spirits!

Finally, there was one more present left. It was wrapped neatly in blue and silver gift wrapper, and the writing on it said "Hermione".

I felt my eyebrow push up into my forehead. Who was this from?

I opened it carefully, trying not to rip what was inside. It was small, but pretty long.

Finally, I spotted a box. I decided to read the letter first.


My dearest,

You don't understand how hard life has been without you. It might sound cheesy, but it has been hell. I miss you.

Happy Christmas, my only love.


Draco


I felt my airways tighten. What now? I thought to myself. I didn't want to carry another load if this was something bad.

Slowly, I started to open the box. It fell out, and I felt my eyes fill with tears.

A necklace bearing the words Draco in cursive.

Chapter 12: Hogsmeade Again

"Ow, Harry, ow!" I said. "Your hand is stuck in my hair!"

"Hermione, we're walking next to a bare tree. That's not my hand." Harry said, starting to laugh.

Ron had gone home to the Burrow for his Christmas holidays. Harry and I were walking up towards the sweet village of Hogsmeade, covered in sleet and snow. Recently, I had felt a hard tangling in my hair and mistook it for Harry's hand, but it was actually a branch.

"Sorry then," I started to laugh. It was hard to stop.

"Hey, look at this!" Harry said, stopping at one of Zonko's windows. It had reopened. "Look!" he pointed at a quill that was beating up another one. I raised my eyebrows.

"You actually like those?!" I said.

"Shut up." Harry said. "These are cool. I think I'll go and buy some. Wanna come inside, Hermione?"

"No thanks, I'll wait outside. I like the snow," I said. But that wasn't the reason. Malfoy was coming up the frozen street with his cronies behind him, Crabbe, Goyle, and Nott, whom I didn't know very well. I was wearing his necklace and it was on top of my jacket, showing it to anyone who looked at my neck.

Harry didn't spot Malfoy yet. "Okay. Wait here." He ordered. I laughed and he entered the shop, the bell overhead tinkling.

I shuffled my feet, staring at the snow. It was hard not looking up at Malfoy. I was pretty sure he would be coming towards me in a few seconds, probably with his cronies, or without.

"Hello, Granger," his cold, drawling voice came from over my head. I didn't notice his feet touching my feet even though I had been staring down the whole time.

"Hi, Malfoy," I said, in a good imitation of the hatred I used to say. I looked up, seeing that he was alone, and Crabbe, Goyle, and Nott were trudging towards the Hog's Head, evidently angry that their leader had left them.

"How are you?" he asked casually, leaning against the door of Zonko's.

"Good, thanks."

"Mmm, you're wearing my necklace, aren't you?" he said, a smirk spreading across his cold features.

"Yes, I am, Draco." I said, trying to sound rebellious.

He reached out a hand and cradled the necklace in a gloved hand. "Matches your features. Pretty."

I actually laughed out loud. "You're so cheesy."

"Did you read my letter?" he asked.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, that's what I wanted to talk to you about..."

"What's wrong?"

"Draco... I miss you. Life hasn't been the same, and I'm afraid it never will be..."

"Yes, it will. Always." Draco said, running a hand through my bushy hair. "I do love you. I always will. Just because we're not together, doesn't mean we secretly can't do this." He touched his lips slightly against mine at the same moment the bell overhead tinkled.

"Oh, my bad." Harry said, tucking his newly purchased objects inside his jacket. He looked down, a grin spreading across his face.

"Harry!" I said, my hands on Malfoy's chest. I made a slight gesture with my hand to go forward to look at the Shrieking Shack.

"Yes. I know. I'm not as dumb as I look, Hermione." Harry snickered and walked away, alone. Poor Harry. I wish I could accompany him.

"I'm sorry," I said, looking up into Draco's stony eyes.

"Me too. That felt good." he confessed, looking uncomfortable.

"I know. I wish we could do that in public, but we can't. Since your father doesn't have anything better to do than to control your life!" I said, firing up.

"I know!" he paused for a few seconds. "That's why I sent him back an owl saying that I wouldn't tolerate his orders anymore."

"You what?" I said. Wow.

"I could let him take away my friends, my school, my belongings. But I couldn't let him take you away from me. That would be too far, Granger."

"Thank you. So much." I said, throwing my arms over his neck.

"Now go catch up with Potter. I have to catch up with Crabbe and Goyle. I promised them I would, after I was done looking at something that caught my eye in Zonko's." Draco said, pulling away from me.

"What was that?" I asked.

"You." he sneered.

"Whatever." I tucked my gloved hands into my jacket and walked up the hill towards Harry, a small, secret smile on my face.

Chapter 13: Secret

The next day after the Hogsmeade incident couldn't be any better. When Harry asked me what I was smiling about, I just told him it was a nice, cold day. I didn't think he believed me though.

Draco and I were back together again. But this time, nobody knew about it. We could only meet in the dead of night or when everyone was focused on something else (e.g. Christmas). Cheesy, isn't it? I thought to myself. I grinned again, and Harry noticed.

"You're back together with Malfoy, aren't you?" he asked.

I shook my head, my eyes widening. "What? What made you think that?!"

"I read your thoughts."

"Whatever. I'm serious, Harry."

"Well, it's plainly written all over your face. Your grin and everything. But do you see your face when he walks by? It's like a ladybug." Harry finished with a snicker.

He had a point. "Why do you always tend to interfere, Harry?"

"Excuse me, Hermione, but who was it in our first year that kept interfering with what Ron and I were talking about?"

Another point. I scoffed. "You are so unfair."

Harry looked smug. "I know."

"When is Ron coming back?" I asked, trying to take my mind off the subject.

"In a few years."

"I could do without the sarcasm, Harry!"

"In several days. Why?"

"I was hoping to give Malfoy his Christmas gift. I haven't given him anything since last week." Uh oh. I think I gave too much away.

"Then go." Harry grinned. "I'll wait here. Alone. In the dark, scary Common Room, while you go off and--"

I hated his dramatic sentences! "Alright, alright! I'll do it tomorrow," I said.

"You're a sucker for guilt trips, aren't you, Hermione?" Harry said, playing with my hair.

"No," I scoffed again. "You just make everything so dramatic."

"Hermione, I'm your best friend, I have to, since you don't have any drama in your life."

Both of us started to laugh nonstop.

Harry was the only person I trusted to keep my secret. I couldn't trust even Ron, since he was so insecure he would go shooting off like a Blast-Ended Skrewt if I told him anything was going on between me and Malfoy. I would've told Luna the other day, but she was so busy going on about Nargles and Wrackspurts to Neville that I couldn't speak to her at all. Harry was the only one who was able to keep my secret. Of course, he truly was my best friend. He never insulted me (only for fun, of course) unlike Ron in our fourth year. He doesn't even have a problem with the people I see! Unlike Ron, that Viktor Krum relationship was so bad for him he didn't speak to me for days. What would he say if he found out me and Malfoy were back together again, I did not like to think.

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

The next day was a cold one. There was snow and sleet everywhere, and the courtyard looked less like a courtyard and more like a forest.

Of course, my specialty was conjuring my blue fire and placing it in a jar, ready to carry it around everywhere I go. Harry and I were sitting under our favorite tree in the courtyard, and I was reading Hogwarts, A History for the umpteenth time.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Mudblood Granger and Toilethead Potter."

I looked up and pretended to glare at Malfoy. "Get out, Malfoy."

"I don't think you're in the position to make threats, Granger," he sneered, snickering with Crabbe and Goyle. "We wouldn't want Gryffindor to lose any more points."

"For your information, Malfoy, the Gryffindor team will smash your stupid faces when we win the House Cup!" I said, firing up.

"Poor Gryffindor. Only the middle of the year and you're already last place in the House championship."

"Malfoy, if you don't back off, I will hex you." I stood up, drawing my wand so fast his eyes were a blur for trying to keep it in contact.

"Hmph. Filthy little Mudblood. I'll get you one day." He turned around and walked away strangely, but not before I saw him give me a little wink.

I looked down at his shoes. Of course. There was a sticky note attached to it, that's why he was walking so strangely. "8 PM. Abnd. clsrm. 5th floor."

I grinned at myself. Our meeting for tonight.

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

It was five to 8. I'd better go.

"See you Harry," I said.

"Where are you going? Leaving me alone here in the dark, cold common room while you go off to read books--"

"Stop!" I laughed. "And as a matter of fact, I do have to go to the library."

He stared after me until I exited the portrait hole, but I caught him running towards Dean and Seamus to discuss Quidditch. Oh, Harry. Harry, Harry, Harry.

I walked down a few staircases, remembering to jump at the trick step. 5th floor. Finally!

I walked into the abandoned classroom and gasped.

It was the old astronomy classroom Firenze had used back in our fifth year. I forgot the ceiling was filled with stars, and wonderful planets to see. Such a beautiful view.

Malfoy was lying down on a purple blanket, apparently waiting for me.

"Shut the door behind you," he ordered. I did and walked to the blanket.

I sat down, as he sat up, putting his arm around my shoulders. "Good job today, Mudblood. You did it really convincing. Unlike I, Draco Malfoy, didn't know I was doing such a bad job until I noticed that your insults were better than mine."

I grinned and stared up at the stars.

"Such a beautiful view." I said.

"Yeah. It is."

I could see from the corner of my eyes that he wasn't looking up, he was looking next to him.



---------------------
Feeeeeeedback

Chapter 14: The Venomous Tentacula

"Greenhouse three today, you lot!" Professor Sprout was saying. "Today, we will be working with the Venomous Tentacula. As you all know, it has grown alot in size over the years..."

She trailed on, but I was too busy laughing with Harry and Ron to notice what she was saying while we walked towards the greenhouses.

"Ron!" I hissed. "Don't laugh! Today is a very important lesson."

"No. I don't care about Herbology," Ron said, as he and Harry snickered. "Did you see the look on that first year's face?!"

"That doesn't matter!" I said angrily. They just didn't get it. I started to contradict myself by laughing.

"What's up, Hermione?" Harry said, looking confused. "You just told us not to laugh."

"Oh, whatever, it feels good to be breaking the rules!" I said.

Ron stopped in his tracks to stare wildly at me. "What have you done to Hermione?"

"Nothing. I mean you know..."

"Enough chat over here!" Professor Sprout said, glaring at us. "I suggest you lot start by trying to feed the Venomous Tentacula. Hm. Let's see what you make of that. That's what you get for not listening..." she walked away, muttering things like "seventh years, still immature" and "never seem to listen".

I felt absolutely guilty. "This isn't good," I said. "Getting in trouble for a teacher! Oh, what would my mother say?" I started to wring my hands, looking around for a kind of paper telling us how to feed the plant.

"Don't worry, Hermione. Harry and I will look for... yeah." Ron said.

I gave him a puzzled expression. "Go and ask Neville what to do!" I ordered.

They walked away, laughing silently at a private joke. I scoffed and turned around to walk straight into a white-haired sneering seventh year.

"Watch where you're--" he started, but stopped when he looked at me. "Oh, hello, Granger," he said casually, laying a hand under my chin and tilting my face up to look at him. "How are you?"

"Good, Malfoy," I grinned, smiling privately. "I missed the instructions. How do you feed this-- this thing?" I looked at the plant. It was moving its spiky tentacles.

"I think you... have to find the... mouth?" he said, looking around the plant.

It seized him from behind and pulled him towards its main root.

"Draco!" I screamed. Was it supposed to do that? Draco was flailing his arms, trying to keep it away. "Stupid." I muttered. "Relax!"

"Granger, you're thinking of the Devil's Snare!"

"Oh! Right!" I said, running over to the plant to help him. Where were Harry and Ron!? And where was Professor Sprout?!

"Hurry! Get it off! Hermione!" Draco said, kicking wildly.

"Don't move!" I hissed. He stopped moving automatically and the Venomous Tentacula released him. I could've sworn I heard a snicker emitting from it.

"You foul thing, you," I said, glaring at the plant.

"Thanks for the compliment, Granger, but I would prefer it if you gave me a better nickname," he sneered at me.

"I meant the plant!" So obvious.

"By the look on your face, it looked like you were referring to me. Hmph."

I scoffed. "Whatever."

He opened his arms and I ran into them. Glad Ron wasn't here.

"Stupid plant." he muttered against my forehead.

I nodded and pulled away. "I think Harry and Ron moved on to Greenhouse two. Do you?"

"Sure." he looked irritated.

"Well, see you tonight. At the Great Hall?" I asked.

"Sure." he repeated, walking the other direction.

I walked into Greenhouse two and spotted Harry and Ron immediately. "Sorry," I said. "Got held up by that thing."

"By thing, do you mean Malfoy?" Ron asked, grinning stupidly at me.

"No," I said, raising my eyebrows at Harry. Did he!??

"I'm just messing around with you, Hermione." Ron said. "Don't fret!"

"I won't. And I'm not!" I scoffed and continued to finish what Harry and Ron were doing.

Clueless Ron. Shouldn't he have known by now? I don't want to tell him, but I think it would be the right thing. Deep down, he'll be alright.

Chapter 15: Detention with Draco

"Now who can tell me what the major use of a boomslang skin is?" Snape said, his eyes scanning the classroom.

My hand shot into the air. I saw Ron roll his eyes at Harry behind my back, a grin on his face. I grinned a bit too.

"Very well... miss Granger?"

"A boomslang skin's major use is in the making of Polyjuice Potion, which is a potion in which the drinker can transform him or herself into a desired person. Without the boomslang skin, the Polyjuice Potion cannot be made!" I recited excitedly, rising a little in my seat. Of course I knew this, Harry, Ron and I made Polyjuice Potion back in our second year!

"Precisely." Snape said. "Now, what are the exact components of the Draught of Living Death?"

I raised my hand again, excited once more.

"Tut, tut," Snape said, looking around the classroom again. "...Not even a single person from my own House knows the answer... of course, my House cannot tolerate an insufferable know-it-all at all."

I dropped my hand, my eyes filling with tears.

"She is not!"

I looked up, and everyone else stiffened in their seats. A white headed boy was glaring up at Snape, while Snape was staring down at him, a fresh new sneer on his cold features.

"Excuse me, mister Malfoy?"

"Granger is not an insufferable pest. She knows alot, but she's not insufferable!"

Oh no. He stood up for me. There goes the secret...

"I would have expected more from you, Draco! What your father would say when I write to him saying you've been fraternizing with Muggle borns--" Draco cut across him.

"Don't call her that!"

I stood up, barely knowing what I was saying. "Professor, don't blame him--"

"Silence!" Snape shouted, glaring at me and Draco. "Detention. Both of you. Tonight at 8 o'clock. My office."

I sat back down, fuming. Draco followed suit.

"I will be writing to your father tonight, Draco." Snape's upper lip curled. "Lucius Malfoy's son. Fraternizing with Muggle borns. Yes... I think he'd like to hear that."

Draco was breathing heavily, glaring at his table. I felt Ron's hand contract on mine.

"Hermione, I think it's a good thing Malfoy stood up to you like that."

I looked at him, dumbfounded. Ron was actually realizing something...

"I don't have a problem with him anymore. You're free." Ron grinned at me and let go of my hand. I grinned back, deciding to hug him after class. Thank you, Ronald! Thank you thank you thank you, I thought.

----------

"It's five to eight," I said, looking at Harry's watch. "I'd better go."

"Yeah. Have fun with Malfoy." Harry smirked at me, looking back at the game he and Ron were playing. Wizard chess. Typical.

"Good luck." Ron wished me. I left the common room and walked the familiar route to the dungeons.

I knocked on the door, and almost immediately heard Snape's cold voice issuing from inside.

I opened it to see Malfoy sitting on one of the stools, staring hardly at Snape. I sat down on the seat across him.

Snape looked at both of us for a few moments, and spoke.

"I cannot believe the both of you for talking back in class. Especially you, Draco."

I looked down, ashamed. Malfoy stared angrily at Snape, unable to speak.

"Both of you will be arranging the desired papers into my filing cabinet, while I go and have a word with Professor McGonagall. This stack--" Snape pointed to a tall one. "--belongs to Granger. And this--" he inclined his head towards a smaller stack. "--belongs to Draco. Carry on."

He walked out of the office briskly, his black cloak issuing behind him. When he closed the door, Draco turned to me.

"I'm sorry for getting you into this." he said.

"It's my fault! I had to be a--"

"You're not a know-it-all, Granger. Smart, but not intolerable." He grinned at me.

I smiled back, starting to rearrange papers. "This isn't educational. I don't even think this seems like a punishment!"

"I know..." he looked troubled. I stopped fixing immediately.

"You're scared, aren't you? ...for your father's response?" I asked.

"N-- Yeah..." he said, looking down at his hands.

"We have each other. We can fight this," I said. I could tell the pain appeared on my face, because at that moment he looked reassured.

"I'm sorry for being a burden." he said.

"Nothing is ever your fault!" I was starting to get irritated. I sighed.

"I'm sorry for irritating you."

"Draco, I'm sorry that you're always sorry." I didn't even laugh at my own joke.

"Okay." he said, sneering at the stack of papers. "Stupid Snape. Hmph. He must have a taste of his own medicine one day. Probably we should poison some of the ingredients in his room."

"No!" I said. "That would be against the rules!"

"So what? You've broken plenty rules before."

"No!" I paused and glared at him. "Okay."

"Well this is the greatest detention I've ever had. Because of you." he said.

"Thank you, Draco. I love you. Now get to work -- we might have to continue this."

He laughed and followed.

Chapter 16: Rebel

A scrawny, bowl-legged owl landed in my milk jug the following morning. I took it out, my face scrunched up due to its rowdiness.

"Hermione, who's it from?" Ron asked, staring at the owl like it was about to explode.

"Yeah, who?" Harry asked, looking curiously at it. "It looks familiar."

"I don't know," I said, gritting my teeth as the owl dug its sharp talons into my forefinger. "Ow! It keeps scratching me!"

"Here," Ron pulled the owl off and threw it up. He grabbed the letter as the owl let go of it and handed it to me. It flapped away, exasperated.

"Thanks." I blushed a bit and looked down at the letter.

"Hermione Granger," it said. The envelope was black and written in a neat scroll, as if the owner was very pompous. I wonder who it's from.

I opened it to see three words written in very blotchy ink across the paper.

"Leave Draco alone."

The paper ripped itself up.

I glared at it.

"Draco's father, isn't it?" Harry mumbled. He had been watching me, and I was pretty sure he and Ron saw what the letter contained.

"Yep. Hm." I was speechless. I'd bet Professor Snape sent a really long letter - a really informational letter. I wonder what that foul man sent his son. As if in answer to my question, a second owl swooped down and dropped a letter right on my plate.

"What-?" I looked up and stared at an owl. Draco's.

I looked down and opened the letter quickly.

"Don't listen to him! I won't leave you! Never!"

I grinned and tucked the letter back into my robes.

"Was that from Malfoy?" Ron asked, his ears reddening.

"Yes," I whispered. Snape had just passed our table. "Annoying, isn't it? That man, Lucius, is just an arrogant g-"

Suddenly a loud shouting filled the Great Hall, screaming words in a cold, drawling voice.

"I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU, DRACO. WHAT I THOUGHT WHEN I HEARD YOU HAVE BEEN FRATERNIZING WITH A MUDBLOOD! I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED SO MUCH MORE OF YOU, DRACO! YOUR MOTHER DEFENDED YOU LAST NIGHT, BUT THAT WON'T CHANGE MY VIEWS. I VOW, IF I HEAR ONE MORE THING ABOUT YOU AND THAT MUGGLE BORN, I WILL SEND YOU TO DURMSTRANG FOR THE REST OF THE SEMESTER.[i]"

The Howler ripped itself up right in front of Draco's irritated expression.

"Hmph. Stupid father," he was saying to Crabbe and Goyle right after everyone looked around at him, "doesn't even know what he's saying. I'm not going to listen to a word he says."

He looked up and locked eyes with me before winking at me with his cute, gray eyes.

I smiled a feeble smile back and turned back to my breakfast.

So Lucius had given Draco a Howler.

Everyone resumed talking immediately.

"Don't fret about it, Hermione," Harry said, gripping my elbow tightly and whispering into my ear. "I'm sure his irritating git of a father will [i]not disinherit him or anything like that."

"Yeah, what Harry said. I'm sorry, Hermione. He's just an arrogant father." Ron whispered back, putting his arm around my shoulders. I laid my head on Harry's shoulder as tears fell out of my eyes.

"He won't leave me, won't he?" I asked, mostly to Harry.

To my surprise, both of my best friends shook their heads.

Ron withdrew his arm and patted my shoulder clumsily. "It's alright. He won't."

"Thank you, Harry, Ron. I love you both."

I got up and Harry and Ron turned around. "Where are you going?" Ron asked.

"The library." I had just spotted Draco exiting the Great Hall, without his thuggish cronies, or even Zabini.

"Bye then." Harry said. They immediately turned back to eating.

I walked briskly out of the Great Hall and caught up with Draco.

"Draco!" I said loudly.

"Hermione." Draco whirled about and walked straight at me. "I'm sorry. Whatever my dad sent you - I promise, nothing will go wrong -"

"I'm sorry! It's all my fault-"

"No! 'Mione, it's not-"

I felt myself melt when I heard him call me by his nickname for me.

"-nothing is your fault, 'Mione. I swear. Please don't blame yourself."

"Okay. Well, it's your dad's fault."

"It is. I hate him for that. I swear I will not go home this year. Probably I might live with my aunt or something."

"Okay." I said.

"I'm just a rebel," he grinned.

I hated it that he got into so much trouble because of me. I hated it that he was mine, but his father was trying to break us apart. I hated it that he might not live in a good home with good treatment this summer.

And most of all, I hated it that he still loved me, and would get into so much trouble just to help me.

I was so selfish.

Chapter 17: The End is Near

Ever since Draco received the Howler, he hasn't spoken to me since. I had a feeling this really affected his views on me. I reckon we just sort of... fell apart, without any of us breaking it off this time.

We were going on the Hogwarts Express tomorrow morning. Tonight was the Great Feast, the last Feast for all of us seventh years -- who were, of course, older than 17, but decided to come back to Hogwarts since the battle last year.

"I'm going to miss this place," Ron said. He bent down and kissed the armchair.

I laughed. "You're so pathetic."

"What? I spent seven years in this common room Hermione!"

"No, you spent about four, considering you spent most of the time in the past years breaking the rules with Harry!"

"And you, too, Hermione. You broke alot of rules this year," Harry said, nudging me and grinning.

"Oh, you guys are so unfair!" I stamped my foot in exasperation. "But true."

"I didn't have a time turner in my third year, Hermione." Ron gave me a sarcastic look with wide eyes and his mouth in an "O" shape. I grinned at my two best friends. I would miss them. But of course, we planned some summer plans.

"Let's go down," I said.

"What?" Ron asked, looking me over. "You want to? Right now?"

"What?" I said, understanding him. "No! I meant let's go down to Hagrid's!"

Harry laughed loudly as Ron's ears turned red.

"So? Let's get going! It's the last time we might ever see Hagrid! Unless he visits us! We can't go back to Hogwarts!"

"Well..." Ron said, walking over to me. "Come on Harry."

The three of us walked down to Hagrid's. It was a sunny day, and I was pretty sure it was sunny because Harry, Ron and I were leaving the school for the last time. We wouldn't come back.

I knocked on the door loudly. Fang's barks echoed from the inside.

"Back, Fang. I said back."

Hagrid opened his door, grinning at us. "I'll miss you guys, you be' I will." He pulled the three of us into a bone-crushing hug.

"We'll miss your deadly hugs too, Hagrid," Ron said, patting him on the elbow.

Hagrid let go of us and took out his table-clothed sized handkerchief, blowing hardly on it and wiping his eyes. "Wha' are you goin' to be, Harry?"

"I don't know. Probably an Auror. Even though there aren't any Dark wizards left..."

"An' you, Ron?"

"I'm already famous. What else?" Everyone laughed.

"How 'bout you, Hermione? The brightest witch of yer age..."

"I have no idea, Hagrid. I think it'll just blow into me when I move out of this place." I looked sadly at the castle out of the window.

"Aw, come 'ere." I got up and walked into another one of Hagrid's crushing hugs.


A/N: I'm sorry there's no Draco in this scene! Kind of sucks. Haha well I know that the next chapter will be soooo sweeet. Thanks you guys!

Chapter 18: Perfect

I opened my eyes, staring up at the ceiling. Today was the last day I was going to be at Hogwarts.

I turned around in bed, staring at my freshly packed trunk at the foot of my bed. I would miss this school so much. It was more than my second home. Much more.

I got up and got dressed, taking a bit more time in my dormitory, since it would be my last time there, until I get my trunk. When I got downstairs, I saw Harry and Ron lounging on the armchairs, looking a bit cheery but down.

"Hi," I said, looking around at the common room.

"M-M-M--" Ron yawned behind his hand. "--morning."

I sat down on the chair opposite him and looked at Harry. "Promise me you'll write. Both of you."

They nodded vigorously.

"I've already told you I'd write, Hermione. What, do you need me to sign some legal documents or something?" Harry said while Ron snickered.

I laughed too. "It's the last day."

"I know." Harry said.

"I'll miss you both!"

"Hermione, we still have the train back home." Ron rolled his eyes.

"Well, excuse me for hovering!" I snapped.

----------

The train ride back home wasn't so bad. I nearly cried when I left Hogwarts, but I stayed strong. I sat with Harry, Ron, Neville, and Luna in one compartment.

When we arrived at King's Cross Station, I got out.

"Hermione, do you need help?" Ron said, looking at me dragging my trunk. Without waiting for an answer, Ron carried my trunk. "Where?" he asked.

"My parents are over there, talking to your dad," I grinned at him. He grinned back and walked towards my parents.

"Harry, I'll miss you so much. I love you. Don't forget to--"

"Write, yeah," Harry said. He pulled me into a hug and I kissed his cheek.

He walked back, alone, since he didn't live with the Dursleys anymore. I didn't know where he was going to go. Suddenly, I had a sudden stroke of inspiration.

"Harry!" I called.

He ran back, looking exasperated. "I said I'd call--"

"No! I'll ask Ron, if we could stay over. Both you and me. This summer!" I said excitedly.

"That's a really great idea Hermione," Harry said, grinning like he's never smiled before.

He just stayed there with me while we waited for Ron to come back.

"Ron," I started. "Can Harry and I stay at the Burrow this summer?"

"Why?" Ron asked.

"You don't want us there?" Harry said, looking angry in a mock expression.

"Of course I do! I mean, why you, Hermione? You've got parents."

"Because... I'll miss you both. You know that." I grinned at them.

I remembered that I forgot to say goodbye to Ron, even though. I opened my arms and he walked into them. I still saw his ears redden.

"Now, if you guys will excuse me," I said, looking behind Ron's head to see a pale blonde figure emerging from the train. "I'll be back."

I walked away, leaving Ron to go back to my car to retrieve my trunk once Harry had told my parents about the plan.

"Draco!" I said.

"Hermione." Draco said, grinning at me.

"Good luck out there."

"I'm sorry. But I don't think we can be together since we can't see each other everyday," Draco said, opening his arms.

I nodded. I was strong enough already. I wasn't a little girl anymore. "I know. I'll always love you though, in a way." I walked slowly into his arms, loving the feeling of his arms around my back. It took us a while to unravel.

"One more time, for my good luck," Draco said, and kissed me.

I kissed him back, knowing that this was the last time I would ever feel his lips on mine.

He pulled away after a few seconds. "There's father. Promise me you'll take care of yourself, Hermione. I love you."

He walked away, taking my heart with him.

I knew, since then, that my heart would fly away. With Draco.


FINISHED