Hey! I wrote this on a whim today after listening to Faith Hill's song Like we never loved at all. It's a songfic, my first ever. And it pretty much takes place during the 6th year. During Christmas, when times are simple.

DISCLAIMER: I DONT OWN HARRY POTTER OR THE SONG LIKE WE NEVER LOVED AT ALL.

What's going on with me? It was only a fling, we both knew it...atleast, I knew it. Only a short-lived fling. No harm done. NO harm done. No harm done...No matter how many times I say that, though, I can't help but shudder. I was lying to myself...again. What's going on with me lately? I don't understand...

"Hermione? Hey, 'Mione, you even listening to me?" I snapped back to reality as Harry waved a hand in front of my face. I looked at him, unsure of what he was talking about, or even where I was. Stone walls, a little drafty, odd smells...Potions. I was spacing out in the middle of class!

"Sorry, Harry, what were you saying?" I asked, a little flustered at myself. He looked concerned for a moment before shrugging his shoulders, deciding that whatever was going on in my mind, it could wait until he was done speaking.

"I was asking if you've got a date for the Yule Ball yet?" I looked at him, cocking my head to the left slightly. Was he asking me? What about Ginny? They were still dating, weren't they? I opened my mouth, but closed it again at the conclusion that I had no response ready. So I settled on shaking my head. He grinned slyly and looked over his shoulder. I followed his gaze only to meet the intense gaze of none other than Seamus Finnigan. Ah. He wasn't asking for himself. Of course. I managed a weak smile and Seamus returned it with a very hopeful one. I didn't have a date for the Ball, though. I had thought of going with him, but it was over now, just a short-lived fling. No harm done. I thought, chancing a quick glance across the room to see him laughing with his friends. No harm done.

"Well, I know someone who would very much like to escort you to said Ball, Hermione." said Harry, and I couldn't help but giggle at the faux formality in his voice. "There's that smile." I looked at him oddly, questioning the statement. He blushed slightly, but winked in a very charismatic way that only Harry could get away with and not be flirting. "It's just that...well, you've been a little spacy lately, 'Mione...is everything all right?" I met his eyes. The deep emerald peaking out of the mess of black hair. I should have known that no matter how much of an act I pulled, Harry would notice. He was, after all, my best friend.

"Everything's fine, Harry, really." I smiled, just to try and make my statement believable. No harm done. He smiled in response, apparently believing my false words.

"So...about Finnigan...?"

"Sure, why not." I said as I looked back over his shoulder and met Seamus's awaiting stare. I nodded my head just so he'd know that I had said yes. He looked ecstatic and turned back in his chair. I smiled slightly, wishing that I could be even half as excited.

"You sure you're okay?" Harry put his hand under my chin, lifting my face to look him in the eye. I was about to say "No...nothing's alright. Everything's gone to ruin...but no harm done..." just as Professor Snape turned his attention back to the class.

"POTTER, GRANGER! Pay attention! Ten points from Gryffindor...each." Harry and I snapped back into learning-mode, dropping our conversation quickly.

"Hermione! You look amazing!" squealed Ginny as I walked out of the Girl's Dormitory. I smiled at the red head's over excited response. My dress, I'll admit, was quite stunning. It was a deep shade of violet, hugging every curve and trimmed in silver. The front was a low V-neck, and the silver straps wrapped snuggly around my neck, exposing my shoulders and lower back. The purple material brushed the floor slightly in the front, and trailed a few inches behind me in the back. My hair (which had become less frizz and more curl over the last year) was only half pulled up, the rest of the curls draping my shoulders and collarbone gracefully.

"Thanks, Gin, you look beautiful," I added. Her light pink dress had thin straps and fit tightly around the waiste, billowing out to the floor in delicate ruffles. She grinned childishly before looping her arm in mine and dragging me out the portrait hole. Harry and Seamus were waiting for our arrival at the bottom of the staircase. Harry was the first to look, and I could have sworn his breath caught in his throat. I glanced to my left to see Ginny blushing furiously. They were so perfect. So innocently perfect. No other care in the world...I thought as Harry reached out and took her hand in his.

He planted a chaste kiss upon her lips before saying, "You look wonderful tonight, Gin." He looked in my direction, his eyes giving me the one-over before smiling broadly. "You look stunning, 'Mione." I smiled and blushed slightly as Seamus turned around at the sound of my name. His mouth dropped, and he looked me over graciously.

"Wow, Hermione. You look...wow." I giggled a little at his speechless response.

"Thank you, Seamus. You look nice, too." And he did. It could be said that Seamus Finnigan cleaned up well in a black tux. He offered me his arm and I took it as he began walking, leading me into the Great Hall. I took a breath, closed my eyes and prayed. Here goes everything.

The Great Hall was simply amazing, taking my breath away at the sheer magical quality of it all. From the decked-out Christmas trees lining the walls, to the mist rising a foot or so above the dance floor. I briefly scanned the crowd of faces, searching in vain for a glimpse of him. He hadn't arrived yet.

"Would you care to dance, Hermione?" Asked Seamus. I looked at his outstretched hand, wondering if I should take it. I did, and he led me out into the middle of the dance floor. He wrapped an arm around my waiste. I wrapped an arm around his neck and he took the other hand in his free one. We began waltzing slowly. It was nice, the feeling of having a man's arms around me again...even if it wasn't nearly the same. At that moment, I looked to the grand entrance to the Hall. My breath caught. There he was. Standing there, his date hanging on his arm, talking to Blaise Zabini. He looked gorgeous in a black tux and black shirt underneath. It made his platinum blonde hair stand out even more.

You never looked so good
as you did last night,
underneath the city lights,
there walking with your friend,
laughing at the moon.

"You okay, Hermione?" asked Seamus. I hadn't realized that I had stopped dancing. I didn't notice that the moment he walked through the door all I did was stare.

"Yea, I'm all right, I just need to get some air." I lied. I just needed to get away. Quickly. He smiled at me and asked if I wanted him to go. I shook my head slightly, only wanting to be alone. I walked away, in the direction of the main door. Maybe a short walk out in the garden would do me some good. As I walked, though, I had to pass by him. His head turned in my direction and my heart skipped a beat. On a crazy whim, I imagined that he may talk to me as I passed. But his grey eyes didn't collide with my chocolate brown ones, and he didn't even flinch as our shoulders barely brushed.

I swear you looked right through me.
But I'm still living with your goodbye,
and you're just going on with your life.

I couldn't handle it. The moment I walked into the Entrance Hall, I began running. I didn't care if I almost tripped over my heels. If I fell, I couldn't possibly feel any worse than I did already. The fresh air was cold, stining my lungs as I gasped. I stopped shortly after I had made it down the stone steps.

How can you just walk on by
without one tear in your eye?
Don't you have the slightest feelings left for me?
Maybe that's just your way
of dealing with the pain,
forgetting everything
between our rise and fall
like we never loved at all.

Stupid, stupid Hermione! What were you thinking? You never should have said yes to Seamus! You should have just stayed in your room, tucked up under the covers, re-reading Hogwarts, A History! Stupid, Stupid! I thought as I made my way through the chilly air to find a bench placed among one of the dimly lit bushes. Most were occupied by snogging couples. I smiled grimly to myself as I imagined Ron and Lavender to be among them. But my thougths automatically took a turn for the worst as I heard a familiar laugh coming from behind me.

"Really, Pansy, that light blue suits you well." I ducked behind a rather tall bush just as Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson came around the corner, arm in arm. She giggled like a twit and grasped tighter to him.

"Oh, Draco..." she trailed off, falling for his charm.

"I mean it, Pansy, you look great tonight," I could barely surpress a laugh as he said it. He was lying through his teeth. I had known him well enough to realize that he was just puttin on the charm for a quick snog. Then it hit me, though. A quick snog...that means that he would be snogging that cow right here in front of me...and I couldn't move without being seen. Oh God, Oh God...what could I do??

"Let's sit here. Are you cold?" As they sat down on the bench directly in front of the bush I was hiding behind, he took off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders. I wanted to gag and die at the same time.

"Draco, you're so nice!" she went on, throwing herself at him. He smiled arrogantly, knowing that his tricks were working too easily. I couldn't take much more. It was getting harder to breath the longer I sat there.

You, I hear you're doing fine.
Seems like you're doing well
as far as I can tell.

I turned away, trying to find anything that could capture my attention from the two sitting a few feet away. No matter how much I tried, though, I couldn't help but hear her giggle slightly, knowing that he had to be leaning in for the kill. It had only been a few days! How could that bastard move on so quickly?! Really, how?! I'd love to know...

Time is leaving us behind,
(time – leaving us behind)
another week has passed
and still I haven't laughed yet.
So tell me, what your secret is
(I wanna know, I wanna know, I wanna know)
to letting go, letting go like you did,
like you did.

I turned my head, just in time to see their lips connect. Just in time to feel my heart wrench. To feel it break and scatter upon the frosted grass around my heels. I froze, unable to look away. My eyes widening with disbelief and pain. The pain I had been trying to subdue for days now. I bit my lip hard, trying to surpress a sob that was fighting it's way through my throat. I couldn't sob, I couldn't make any noise without being seen. Without being discovered. After only a few moments, though, they broke apart. He stood, and she followed, a little confused.

"We should be heading back inside, Pansy dear, before we're greatly missed." he mummbled, and I could tell that the kiss hadn't been as great as he had hoped. It almost made me feel well enough to stand, but then he took her hand in his. The hand that I had been so used to lacing my fingers through. His long fingers that ran through my hair as we sat beneath the willow under the shield of darkness. I could feel the tears then, trailing silently down my cheeks.

I couldn't take sitting there anymore, the moment their backs were turned, I stood and silently made my way around the bush, coming up a few feet behind me. I wiped the tears from my cheeks before he could turn back around. My hand had just dropped back to my side as his handsome face turned to look over his shoulder. I could see the slight surprise in his eyes as he noticed me. The faint glimmer as they roaved over me, appraising me once again. I was about to say something, or just run, as Pansy turned to see what had caught her precious date's attention.

She grimaced at the recognition. Pulling him closer she said, "Why, Granger, fancy seeing you out here. You look...nice...why are you alone?" With the simple question, I could feel my defenses breaching, my walls crumbling down as his stare penetrated through me, his eyes becoming hollow once again. "Yea, Granger, you stalking me now?" he sneered, and Pansy laughed. I almost crumpled to the stone pathway at his words.

How can you just walk on by
without one tear in your eye?
Don't you have the slightest feelings left for me?
Maybe that's just your way
of dealing with the pain,
forgetting everything
between our rise and fall
like we never loved at all.

"I...I was..." I couldn't think of anything to say. There was nowhere for me to run or hide. My heart was being brutally shred apart and I could do nothing but stammer.

"Hermione? Hermione? There you are! I was looking for you!" said Seamus as he turned the corner to find us. With one look at the scene in front of him, and the state I was in, he quickly figured that I needed a way out. His eyes caught mine and I silently pleaded for help. "I'm sorry I didn't find you sooner, Ron stopped me just as I was coming out the door. He had to tell me something pointless or other, but now that I'm here," he said, walking to me and putting an arm around my waiste, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek, "I guess that we can go back inside. Did you get enough fresh air?" He looked at me for a brief moment, raising and eyebrow for me to play along. I snapped out of my surprise stupor and smiled.

"Yes, I did, thank you. Let's go back inside, I think I hear them playing our song." I replied, taking his hand in mine and beginning to walk. As I passed Draco, our eyes met briefly. Whatever was going through his mind wasn't visible in his gaze. He had already put up his wall. I merely let myself be pulled along by Seamus as I heard him and Pansy walking behind us. The rest of the night went fairly well, for the fact that I did nothing but let Seamus lead me around the dance floor as though I was in a daze. He didn't seem to mind. He didn't even ask what everything was about, making me appreciate him all the more. Though I would catch myself stealing glances at Draco every once in awhile. He would be dancing with Pansy, seeming to be having the time of his life, or sitting the corner talking to Blaise.

Did you forget the magic?

Whatever we had been is lost now. It was a secret from beginning to end, not even Harry and Ron knew. Though I'll never forget it. It was the happiest time of my life, even if it had to end so wretchedly.

Did you forget the passion?

His kisses had felt like fire, burning me with a warmth I can't imagine feeling again. His eyes looking into me, reading my soul like one of the many books I treasured. Every touch was gentle, needy, loving. Loving. "I love you, Hermione, did you know that?" he whispered to me as he ran his left hand through my mess of curls. I smiled up at him, folding the page of the book I had been reading aloud. "I know. I love you too, Draco." he looked mildly surprised to hear that he could be loved in return. Then he smiled warmly. A smile that only I was priviledged enough to see before leaning close and kissing me. Had he loved me?

Oh, and did you ever miss me,

It was so hard, not being able to hold him. To look at him like I used to. He had broken it off so suddenly. Without reason or provocation. He had just ended it. With that steely look in his eyes. The look that pushed me away, that told me that I wasn't welcome to see his thoughts. After what we had been through, I just told myself that it would all be okay. That what we had was only a fling. No harm done...but I wondered sometimes if he ever really meant it when he said, "I just can't do this anymore. I need a change, Granger."

and long to kiss me?

I wondered sometimes, before I fell into a restless sleep, plagued by nightmares, if he ever really meant anything he had ever said. If he ever thought about me like I still thought of him. If he ever wanted to hold me in the depth of night, hold me close and never let go, like he did back then. If he ever dreampt of my lips, my eyes, my laugh, my voice, my touch, the way I dreampt of his. Looking at him across the Great Hall, though, I saw no want or longing. Only the man I could never have again. The man who had abandoned me for reasons unknown, laughing with his friends, not thinking one thing about me or our encounter earlier in the evening.

The dance ended at midnight. The magic still seeming to cling in the air around those that had found love among the mistletoe, mist and entoxicating lights. Seamus walked me back to the Gryffindor Commonroom, Harry, Ginny, Ron and Lavender close behind. They were all talking, laughing, remembering what funny thing someone had said or how beautiful this Christmas tree was compared to that one. All of them oblivious to my silence, my empty core where my heart once lingered, my apathy as Seamus kissed my cheek sweetly and said his goodnights. No one noticed as I curled up in my bed, dress still clinging to every curve, pulled my curtains around my bed, and cried myself into a dreamless sleep.


She had looked so stunning tonight. I couldn't breathe when I turned my head and caught sight of her in the garden. I knew I had hurt her with my heartless words, tearing her apart for the sheer desperation to hide how I was truly feeling. Hiding my emotions at her heart's expense. When Finnigan had walked up, taken her in his arms, and planted a kiss on her delicate, beautiful cheek, I wanted nothing more than to kick his bloody ass. To see someone else merely TOUCH her was enough to send me spiraling into a rage. But, God, she looked so beautiful. Her brown curls flowing around her slender shoulders, the deep violet dress hugging her body, leaving nothing and everything to the imagination. I smiled to myself, knowing that I didn't have to use my imagination. I still dreampt of the night I had told her I loved her under the willow, her folding the page in the book she was reading, smiling back up at me. I was speechless to hear that she loved me in return. No one had ever loved me. Not like she had. I still dream of the way I had kissed her, laying her down beneath me, making love. I've had my share of girls in this school, but none of them meant anything, not compared to her. She was perfect. Beautiful, smart, kind. It was all so perfect. I had sat in the corner throughout most of the Ball, watching her dance circles with that damned bastard. His hand on the small of her back. Her head on her shoulder. When he kissed the top of her head lightly during a particular song, I could feel my heart stop. Break. The pain was more than anything I had ever felt before.

I walked Pansy to the Slytherin Girls Dormitory. She tried to kiss me, but I just couldn't. So she settled for a peck on the cheek and a simple goodnight before I turned and headed to my own room. No one was there yet, probably still snogging the hell out of their dates. I was relieved to see that even Blaise was gone, because he would easily see how much of a broken man I'd become in the few moments it took to loosen my tie and unbutton my shirt. As I slid the shirt off my shoulders I wondered if she ever dreampt of my lips, my eyes, my laugh, my voice, my touch, the way I dreampt of hers. The dreams I knew I'd be dreaming again tonight. It tore my heart in two, wondering if she'd be dreaming of someone else instead. As the shirt slid down my left arm, the Dark Mark could be easily seen, embedden into my flesh. Even that didn't hurt as much as telling her goodbye had. But it was for the best, I reminded myself, crawling into my empty bed, pulling the curtains around and staring into the dark. I had to protect her. I had to keep her safe until the Order got their information. Until Voldemort had been taken care of. This was my mission, and I wouldn't let her be harmed in the process...It was for the best. For her own good...as I drifted to sleep, images of her began flooding into my mind, just like they did every night. The last thought being, No harm done.


Maybe that's just your way
of dealing with the pain,
forgetting everything
between our rise and fall
like we never loved at all.

A/N so, tell me what you thought! I had a great time writing this, and I kinda wanted to cry around the time I got to the end of Draco's part. so please, review! I LOVE REVIEWS!!

Sailor Tin Foil