~A/N~ This is the SEQUEL to In Dreams. Hope you like! I strongly suggest to any reader that you read that one (In Dreams) before you read this one, although it may not be completely neccassary. This first chapter is song- ficish so hope you don't mind! *AmSam Malfoy

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing cept the plot. JKR owns all HP and any bands mentioned in the course of this story own themselves I suppose.

A Little Too Late Chapter 1: Addicted

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"I love you. Thats what I wanted to tell you last night, I love you." She said. He could picture her face clearly. It was burned into his memory like a painful scar. He thought about her every day and every night. She had deserted him, and he had turned her away as well. She was everything he had ever wanted, perfect in his eyes. But obviously he had fallen short on some criteria becuase she left him with no explanation and a longing for her that could be filled by no other.

He had really thought she loved him. But she didn't and she never had. She was embarrassed and ashamed. Rightfully, he supposed, because of the way he had treated her in their past. But why would she tell him she loved him? That was cruel and he couldn't help but wonder if there was any truth in it.

He turned up his stereo to drown out his thoughts.

"I heard you're doin ok, But I want you to know, I'm a dick... I'm addicted to you. I cant pretend I dont care When you dont think about me Do you think I deserve this? I tried to make you happy But you left anyway I'm tryin To forget that I'm addicted to you But I want it And I need it I'm addicted to you Now its over Can't forget what you said And I never Wanna do this again Heartbreaker....."

The sentiments expressed in that song were exactly how Draco felt. He closed his eyes just to envision her. He had gone to The Dream World several times, but Hermione was never there. He didn't expect her to be. He just wanted to be near her... but it was impossible. He had convinced himself of this long ago. He would never be able to reconcile things with her, not if she wasn't willing to.

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She sat at the dinner table in the Burrow, all the Weasley children, except Percy, were there, as well as Harry. The day would have been so enjoyable were Hermione a happy person. She hadn't been one of those since nearly four months ago. She had to endure school for a whole month after the incident between her and Draco. She simply referred to it as 'the incident' now. Everyone was talking loudly and just generally enjoying themselves.

Hermione put on her happy face, never letting them know that she was really miserable inside. Their last moments together had been bittersweet.

"Hermione, I'm so tired of pretending." He said, he kissed her passionately before saying, "Hermione, I'm in love with you."

How she longed to hear his silky voice, to feel his lips upon hers again. Her heart fluttered thinking of his kiss, only to be trampled on by the touch of another. Ron gripped her hand under the table, trying to link his fingers with hers. She resisted but got tired of the struggle. He lazily stroked her hand with his thumb and squeezed it tight.

After 'the incident' Ron had become so infuriated with her. He had screamed horrible things, threats to Draco. Her world crashed down upon her that day. He addmitted finally that the only reason he was so jealous was that he himself liked her. Possibly loved her.

In the last month of summer they started dating. Hermione only did it in hopes that it would make her forget about Draco. But every time Ron kissed her or touched her, she felt dirty, only Draco was supposed to do these things to her. She didn't like Ron, not in a romantic way at least.

Only two more days of this, then back to Hogwarts for an entirely different kind of torture. She couldn't wait.

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"So guys, this is the last time we make this journey. It makes me feel kind of... sad. I'll miss it." Hermione said quietly. Harry and Ron nodded, and Ron draped his arm around her shoulder. He gave her a quick kiss on the head, blushing slightly. Hermione was rather used to this now, Ron was her boyfriend after all.

Her boyfriend. It pained her to even say that about Ron. He was her boyfriend... She was deep in thought as she said her goodbyes to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. They boarded the train and sat in a small compartment. Hermione stayed silent, only humming to herself. The lyrics of the song that had become her theme this summer resonated in her head.

"I cannot help it I couldn't stop it if I tried The same old heartbeat Fills the emptiness I have inside, And I heard that ya can't fight love so I won't complain Cuz why would I stop the fire that keeps me goin on? Cuz when theres you I feel whole And theres no better feelin in the world But without you I'm alone And I'd rather be in love With you... And I feel you holdin me..."

"Hermione, aren't you supposed to be up in the Head's car?" Ron asked. She snapped out of her trance and blinked a few times. She nodded and silently got up and left him staring at her in the nearly empty compartment.

She walked absently up the long walkway to the very front of the train. She had been made Head Girl this year. It would have been a joyous occasion had her summer not been marred by memories of what could have been. She opened the door slowly to reveal a lavishly decorated room. The Head Boy was Blaise Zambini from Slytherin. He rolled his eyes as Hermione entered. She frowned in distaste, trying desperately to think of a witty remark to fix him. She opened her mouth to speak right as Professor McGonnagal entered.

"Professor!" Hermione cried in shock, silently thanking her for entering when she did.

"Miss Granger, Mister Zambini. Now as you know, you two will be the governing officials of the student body. We are here to discuss this and lay out some ground rules. And later the Prefects will be joining us and we will give out job assignments. You are familiar with those proceedings are you not?" They nodded and she continued. "However, we have a few changed this year. The Headmaster and myself have decided that it would be nice to have the Prefects have their own private dorms as well, and they would be connected to yours. Do you have any objections to this?" They shook their heads. McGonnagal nodded and began to shuffle some papers.

"Professor, do you have a list of all the Prefects? I would like to learn their names if at all possible before our meeting."

"Of course. Let me see... Ah, here it is!" She handed her a piece of parchment with about 10 names on it. Two were her and Blaise, and the rest were the Prefects from each house. Directly following her name was Ginny, who had been made Prefect this year. She scanned the list, no extremely hard names. And then her heart stopped and her breath hitched in her chest. Draco Malfoy was a Prefect. How could she have forgotten? They had talked about it.

"Wouldn't that be crazy if I was Head Boy and you were Head Girl?" He had once said. "We would share a dorm and all kinds of stuff." She had laughed.

"It's totally possible you know. We are both prefects. They have to choose one prefect of each gender..."

"Thank you Captain Obvious. That would be nice though, wouldn't it?" He had looked into her eyes and she had hoped and prayed that they would become the Heads. 'Then we wouldn't have to hide out anymore.' She had thought. Little did she know that he had been thinking the exact same thing.

"Well, I suppose we have covered all the basics, do either of you have any questions?" Hermione had completely zoned out, just thinking of Draco. She shook her head and Blaise asked some stupid question. 'How he became Head Boy...'

The doors opened and a few 5th years stepped inside. They took their seats and Hermione tried to straighten herself up, she knew the Prefect meeting was not going to be easy. The rest of the Prefects trickled in one by one. After a while, McGonnagal cleared her throat and commenced the meeting.

"Miss Granger, would you kindly take roll to make sure everyone is here?" She nodded and called the names off. She got to the very bottom and with a shaky voice called "Draco Malfoy".

Her eyes searched the room, not seeing his platinum blonde hair. Then from behind a few other Prefects he stood up, saying "Here." Their eyes connected, only breaking when McGonnagal began again.

The meeting took forever, they were nearly to the school when they finally let out. Hermione stood up, gathering a few things that had been passed out. Draco purposely lagged behind the others. Hermione began to walk out but he called her before she got away.

"Hermione! Its... Its good to see you." She stood frozen. She smiled, nodding.

"It's nice to see you too." She moved closer to him with every breath. She had been longing to be near him for months now. He was so close... she could reach out and touch him and they could be together forever and be happy and... She looked at the floor. She couldn't do this. It would only cause her hurt and heartbreak. And Ron...

"Granger, maybe you should... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything. I should have just left us well enough alone." He sucked in his breath, hoping he didn't look to disheveled. He was so crushed just being in her presence. She looked at him, a tear fell to the floor. She moved forward and kissed him softly.

"No you shouldn't have. But I'm glad you did." She bit her lip and willed the tears not to fall. She covered her mouth with her hand and turned to leave.

"Hermione... I missed you. Alot. And I-"

"Please don't. I know all that. I feel exactly the same way. But I... I can't! I can't feel that way. I'm so sorry." She backed away.

"But I don't understand!" He said, reaching out for her. She pulled away.

"Maybe it's better that way." He nodded stonily, hurt and broken on the inside.

"I'll be seeing you then."

"Draco, don't be like that."

"You don't have any right to tell me how to be. That's the second time you broke my heart, I'm not going to give you another chance." She nodded solemnly.

"If I could... I would take it all back. I know you may think I'm lying, but I'm not."

"I know you aren't lying. I felt that way all summer. I just don't understand why you don't give in to it. I would be lying if I said I wasn't hurt. I... I dreamt about today. I had this fantasy that if I just talked to you we could get it all straightened out and we could try to get back to where we were."

"God, I don't deserve you."

"No, you deserve better."

"Draco, please don't say that. You don't understand."

"Haven't we had this conversation before!? 'Living a gigantic lie every day. No one would understand. At least... she didn't think they would'. I memorized that you know. I told you that maybe if you gave me a freaking chance once in a while, I would understand you. So why won't you even try?"

"I have a boyfriend!" She shouted. "Thats why I can't say or do what I want. Because I have a damn boyfriend!" Draco's eyes were wide in shock.

"Hermione... That is... Thats good. I hope you're happy." He shook his head, blinking heavily.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Well, I just went against my own word didn't I? I let you have another chance... and you're three for three. What is it those muggles say? Oh... Three strikes, you're out."

He stalked away, leaving a sobbing Hermione in his wake.

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~A/N~ AH! So, what do you think? It's a bit angsty eh? Songs included were 'Addicted' by Simple Plan and 'Rather be in Love' by Michelle Branch. Well, plz review! MUAH! *AmSam Malfoy