Disclaimer: Yadda yadda yadda, blah blah blah. You know the drill. It's not mine.

A/N: This is my second story and my first one wasn't the miracle I was hoping for. Review please!

I was sitting in the empty astronomy tower alone. It had become my weekly ritual. Once a week I would come up here and relieve stress. I probably wasn't doing it the smart way but it worked for me. My parents are dead, my friends wouldn't care if I disappeared off the face of the earth and I have nobody anymore. I'm a loner. Dumbledore and my professors are the only people who even notice that I exist. This isn't counting when people need help with their work.

I just sat there and watched the blood flow. No cry of pain, no tears, no frown. No nothing. Just blankness. Nobody would care if I was in pain, why show it? To anyone else this sight would seem disturbing but at the time I didn't care. I enjoyed it. I could feel each of my worries dripping out with the blood and for those few moments I felt relaxed.

What was so bad for me to do this you ask? I'll tell you. I felt alone even in a room full of people. I had head duties to take care of along with my homework, and I didn't get any time to think. Although I suppose it was probably good that I didn't get to think much. When I think, I cut.

The blood slowed, I performed a quick healing spell. The cut healed but left a scar. I wiped the dry blood off and pulled my sleeve back down.

When I got back to the head's common room, I sat in my favorite chair and got out my laptop. I decided to send an email to my friend John from the muggle world.

Hey John!

I just thought I'd write and tell you that I'm doing great. I was actually wondering if I could go to your house for Christmas break. It'd only be for two weeks and it's only because my boarding school says that I can't stay unless I have absolutely nowhere else to go. So, if you can't have me there then that's fine. So write back and let me know.

With much love,

Hermione Jane Granger.

Yup, that should do it. Now, what to do, what to do? My room sounds good. Heavenly, actually. I was on my way up to my room when I stopped at the landing and my mouth dropped. There was the Head Boy snogging the living daylights out of some Slytherin girl.

"Malfoy! Could you save that for somewhere more private?!" Yup, you guessed it. Draco Malfoy himself. Or Mal-ferret as I prefer.

"Sorry Granger, am I making you jealous?"

Just ignore him Hermione, just ignore him. "Me? I think you've fallen off your broom one too many times Malfoy. That's just insane. Don't worry, I'll talk to Dumbledore."

"Talk to Dumbledore about what?"

"Oh nothing important. I'm just pretty sure he should recommend you for St. Mungo's. You'd fit well there." Hah! Take that you bloody prat.

"Not if I talk to him first!"

"Nice comeback Mal-ferret."

"Shut up, Mudblood."

Even after being called that horrid name for six years, it hurts. You think I'd be used to it by now. I mean, honestly.

I decided to end this conversation and headed to my room. Once inside, I heard Malfoy tell his "girlfriend of the week" that it was time for her to go, much to my relief. I immediately felt stress overcome me again. I already have a bunch of shit on my plate, I don't need him making the pile higher. Oh, well. I headed to the bathroom and locked both doors since Dumbledore – the stupid dolt – made our bathroom connected to both of our rooms.

I opened the medicine cabinet and pulled out my razor blade again. I slid down the wall until my back was against the sink and I was facing the bathtub. I dug the blade deep into my skin and dragged it up. Again the blood started to flow, only this time it was much worse. I think I've cut too deep. I wait for a while and the bleeding doesn't stop. I apply pressure and try a healing spell, but still the bleeding wont cease.

There's a knock at the door. "Hurry up in there Granger! I'm giving you five more seconds to open this door!"

Oh no. "Leave me alone Malfoy!"

"5…4…"

"Sod off you bloody git!"

I don't have the strength to get up and stop him.

"1. I'm coming in Granger! Alohomora."

The door swung open and Malfoy went very pale. Well, paler than usual anyways. Here I was sitting in a pool of my own blood, not having the strength to stand up and he just stares. Much to my anger, he turned around and walked out, leaving me to die. I guess I brought this upon myself. I mean, it's not like I have anything to lose anyways.

I try to stand up and slip in my own blood. I fall down and give a cry of pain. I try another healing spell and it won't work. I've never used this one before. It's used to stop bleeding, the one's I've used before tonight were only to heal the wound once the bleeding's stopped. Why isn't it working?!?!

I hear footsteps and look up to see a very confused Malfoy walking towards me. He pulled out his wand and whispered the same healing spell I had been trying to use this whole time.

"How did you get it to work?! I've been trying it forever!"

"You did this on purpose, didn't you? The spell doesn't work when the caster purposely injured themselves. I think you have some explaining to do."

"What are you talking about?! I don't have to explain ANYTHING to you!"

"What? No 'Thank you Draco. That was awfully generous of you saving me and all. And you look absolutely ravishing tonight by the way.'"

My jaw dropped. "Why would I ever say something like that to you?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe because I just saved your life."

"Yes, well. Thank you for that Malfoy. But I'm not going to bow down to you just for saving me. I eventually would have been able to save myself!"

"Whatever Granger. Why'd you do it?"

"Do what?" I knew I was playing stupid, but I thought maybe he would just drop it. Oh how wrong was I.

"Stop playing dumb Granger. You know what I'm talking about. So, why'd you do it?"

"I do it all the time. I just got a little carried away this time, I guess. I'll be more careful next time."

"Next time?" Oops. Wrong thing to say. "You mean you plan on doing this again?! Not that I care about your well-being Granger, but if you die in this room, the mess will be on me. Scourgify." All the blood immediately disappeared.

"Well then, I'll be sure to be somewhere else next time."

"I'm taking them. I'm taking all of them."

He ran across the room to the medicine cabinet and took every sharp instrument from inside. Including ALL of my razors. He ran to his room and hid them somewhere. I didn't care, I'd just find them later or buy more.

I got up and walked to my room. Without even bothering to get changed or take my shoes off, I plopped down onto the bed and went to sleep.

I woke up the next morning feeling very…weird. My shoes were off and there was a blanket overtop of me. What in the world? I went to bed without a blanket and my shoes were on. How the hell did this happen? After a few moments of pondering I came up with an answer. Malfoy.

I walked down to the common room to find it completely empty. Oh well. I went down to the Great Hall and ate breakfast alone…again.

Today was a Hogsmeade trip. Perfect! I can get more razors. I finished my breakfast and ran outside to catch a carriage before they all left. There was only one left! I ran and climbed inside just before it took off. I looked around and to my great disappointment, it was empty. Except for one person. Malfoy. It seems he's come up a lot in my thoughts lately.

We managed to get to Hogsmeade without saying a single word to each other. I got out of the carriage and immediately went for the Three Broomsticks to meet Harry and Ron. I saw them at the table in the back and went to sit with them.

"Hey Harry. Hey Ron."

Nothing. Not even a hello. I just sat there for a while and when they didn't say anything at all, I got up and left. I went and bought some more razors and decided that I'd better get back.

I walked into the common room and straight up to my room. I'm not taking a chance with the bathroom this time. Nope, I'll do it right here in my own bedroom. Again, I pulled the blade through my skin. This time it wasn't too deep so the bleeding starting slowing. I was just about to use the healing spell when Malfoy walked in through the bathroom.

"Damn it Granger! I thought I took all those away!"

"I bought more Malfoy. Besides, why do you care?"

"Tell me why you do it."

"Do you really want to know that bad?" Malfoy nodds his head. "Fine! I'll tell you. It's because it's the easy way out. And I haven't completely killed myself yet because I'm scared. I'm bloody scared!" By this point, tears were flowing steadily down my cheeks. "I'm too bloody cowardly to take the easy way out! That makes me more of a coward than anyone I know! Do you know what Gryffindor means? It's supposed to mean bravery. I shouldn't be in Gryffindor! I want out of life because nobody else would care! My parents are dead, my friends don't know I exist and the only time anyone else associates with me is to bully me! I'm unloved and it would be easier on everyone else if I just left this world."

"You stupid girl! Don't you get it?! People care! I know of at least one person who cares. You're just too bloody stupid to see it!"

"Who in the hell would care about me Malfoy?! Huh?! Tell me that!"

"I would. I have cared about you for a long time. Since I first saw you. I've called you a mudblood and bullied you for all these years to make it easier to deny my feelings for you! My father raised me to hate muggle-borns and when I found out that you were one I put up a defense mechanism! I love you Hermione. I have loved you, and I always will love you. I don't expect you to feel the same but don't go bloody killing yourself because you think nobody loves you. God damn it!"

I sat there, not knowing whether to believe him or to stand up and say: "Okay! Where are the cameras?!" I chose the former. But why, after all these years, would he just be telling me now? Without knowing what I was doing, I walked towards him buried my head in his chest, letting all my tears flow out onto his shirt. He wrapped his arms around me and we stood there for a while. Him comforting me the whole time.

After all my tears had gone, I pulled out of the embrace and looked him in the eye. "Do you really mean that? Or should I be asking who came up with such a good dare?"

"No Hermione, I mean it. Why don't you believe me?"

"Can you really blame me? I mean we've been mortal enemies for six years and now you're telling me you're in love with me? Prove it to me Draco. Prove to me that you love me."

Without another word, he leaned down and planted his lips on mine. It was electric. It was amazing. It was…perfect. He pulled back and silver met chocolate brown. His eyes were so full of emotion, like I'd never seen them before. There was relief, confusion and even love. Wow, he really does love me.

"Wow. That was…unexpected."

"I'm sorry. I couldn't help it."

"Don't be sorry, I'm glad. That was proof enough for me."

I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled his lips down to mine again. He wrapped his arms around my waist and playfully nibbled on my bottom lip, practically begging for entrance. I allowed and our tongues danced. His exploring every inch of my mouth while mine waited patiently for its turn. He broke the kiss and walked out of my room. Just like that, not a goodnight. Not anything. He just left.

I was very confused and decided not to dwell on it. Without cutting another time tonight, I got changed and climbed into bed.