Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Just this plot based on the movie scene.

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Harry looked everywhere, but he could not find her. She left Gryffindor Tower, but she was too fast for him. Not to mention all of the people he had to push through to get to the portrait hole. He sighed and shook his head at his thick-skulled friend, then proceeded upstairs to the room he shared with Ron, Dean, and Seamus.

She couldn't believe he had gone and done that. How could he? Didn't he like her? So why did he go and kiss another girl? Stupid prat. She didn't know where she was going – she just kept moving until she came to a staircase and descended. She wasn't too far from Gryffindor, but she felt too much grief to care. She was crying so hard, now, that she couldn't go any further and sat on the bottom step, folding her knees to her chest and letting her tears flow freely.

She waved her wand.

"Avis."Birds flew out of her wand and began to float and chirp above her head. That stupid git. Couldn't he see how much she cared about him?

Draco was sneaking around, again. He was on his way to the Room of Requirement to test the vanishing cabinet for the second time, but he stopped walking and turned his body slightly. He heard something…He began to walk towards it, curious. As it grew louder, he recognized it – it was the sound of someone who was in emotional pain. It was coming from the bottom of a spiral staircase, so he slowly and quietly climbed down it. When he saw the girl's hair, he immediately knew who it was – but why was she so upset?

"Granger?" he said softly. She hiccoughed and turned around, but when she saw who it was, she turned her back to him again.

"W-what do you want, Malfoy?"

"I…just heard someone crying, that's all." He walked down the rest of the stairs and stood next to where she was sitting so he could see her face.

"S-so you came to make fun of me, i-is that it? Go away. Leave me to my misery."

"No, that's not it. Contrary to you, Weaslebee, and Potter, I'm not cold-hearted but if you would like to spurn my offered company, by all means, wallow in your tears." He turned to leave but when he was about to turn the corner, she stopped him.

"Wait! Don't go…" He stopped and turned his head to look at her, his hands in his pockets. "I…I'm sorry…it's just…well, you know. You've always been a git to us…what was I supposed to think?"

"What people show to the public isn't necessarily who they really are."

"I know…"

He walked back over to her.

"Can I sit?" She nodded, unable to speak, for a sob had overcome her. "What's with the birds?"

"Just practicing charms…it kind of made me feel better, I guess…"

"Care to explain?"

"Why do you care?" she asked softly.

"I'm just curious but if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine."

They sat in silence for about five minutes but when she was about to finally speak, they heard giggling and running. Two people then came into view – two people who were kissing and laughing and running after each other.

When Ron and Lavender noticed they were not alone, they stopped.

"Ohh, heeheehee! It looks like this room is taken!"

Ron was going to ask about the tears that were in his friend's eyes – but then he noticed Malfoy.

"What the hell are you doing here, Malfoy?! Get away from her!"

"I believe it is called sitting," came Draco's bored drawl. "And no, I will not leave. We were having a nice conversation before you and your little girlfriend decided to interrupt it with your vomit-inducing antics."

"SHUT UP!" Ron pulled out his wand. Lavender looked scared, Draco looked bored, and Hermione's face was unreadable. However, when it looked like Ron was about to hex Draco, she stepped in.

"Leave him alone, Ron. We were actually having a conversation before you came in and if you don't leave him alone, I won't talk to you." Ron looked stricken.

"But why?"

"He was here when you and Harry weren't."

He was about to say something, but the look on Hermione's face and the obvious pain in her voice stopped him.

"Well I didn't know…why are you so upset?"

Hermione's face contorted with anger and she stood up.

"Oppugno!" The birds suddenly formed a formation and dove for Ron, but he and Lavender jumped out of the way. Ron gave Hermione a hurt look, but the birds flew for him again and chased him out of the room.

Hermione let out a sob and practically fell back onto the stair. She covered her face with her hands.

"Just go," she said. "Leave me alone. You don't care about me and I look like an idiot."

"If I was upset about something and someone was offering me comfort, I wouldn't turn them away. And I would never turn away from someone who is crying."

She burst into tears and leaned on the only comfort she could find. He was quite surprised, but came over it and hesitantly placed his right arm around her.

Draco knew what it was like to be upset and have no one to care. She probably had lots of friends, but they weren't here, now, and he wasn't about to leave. He felt an odd protectiveness for the girl surge through him, and he subconsciously tightened his hold on her.

His task could wait.

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I hope you enjoyed that. Please tell me what you think!