A.N. Yes, this chapter is considerably shorter than the first, but trust me, I'll make the third chapter longer than this one. Anyway, I hope you'll like this short chappie!


Bloody hell. Of course, it had to be her, she had to be the one to get him out of the mess he was currently in. He didn't know whether he should be astounded, grateful, or anything else. Should he tell her to shove off? Should he be happy and thank her? He was at a total loss of words and of any coherent thoughts. Not too long after, he mentally scolded himself for being so flabbergasted. How could he be so astonished by this? She was the Head Girl after all! Though he certainly didn't know her well, he knew that, although he was her enemy, she would help him out regardless of that, plainly because it was her duty.

"What do you think you're doing?! Step back and let go of him! Thirty points from Gryffindor, for each of you!" She certainly was in her element right now. With her eyes ablaze, her hair swirling around and her wand in her hand, she most certainly was a fearsome sight to behold. The Gryffindors jumped away from him like he caught fire and started to mumble excuses and apologies. As she walked up to them, they shrunk back a little. "You are to report to thee Head of your House immediately and he will decide your punishment! Now, go!" As soon as she finished speaking, they scurried off, not wanting to stay in the corridor a second longer than was strictly necessary.

Finally, the Head Girl turned her attention to Draco. Kneeling down next to him, she asked: "Are you alright, Malfoy?" He tried getting up, but this proved itself to be considerably difficult and he ended up grunting and sitting up against the wall. "Yeah, sure, I've never been better." He mumbled, attempting to stifle his winces. Granger began to look seriously concerned at this. "Maybe we should get you to the Infirmary…" She started, but Draco quickly cut her off. "No! I don't need to go the Infirmary. It's just some bruises, I'll be fine!" He claimed, giving her a foul, irritated look. And she had the audacity to grin in response. "It's not like you to be modest about injuries, Malfoy. Aren't you supposed to cry about how they nearly pulled you apart and threaten to sue them?" His look became even fouler than before. "Unlike what people may say and think, I'm not a little kid anymore, Granger."

Now it was her turn to look taken aback. Draco decided a smirk was in place here, so he smirked his infamous smirk at her, causing her shake off her surprise and to glare at him. "What is it with you, Malfoy?!" The smirk fell. "What could you possibly mean?" She frowned and looked at her lap, not sure how to put it into words. "Well… It's just… You've changed…" At this point, he rolled his eyes. "Yes, Granger, I changed. That's what war does with people. Even with people like me." He nearly spat out the last words. She still wouldn't look at him, so when she whispered an apology, he almost missed it. Agitated, he threw he hands in the air, only to regret that a moment later. "What's it with YOU?! Since when do you apologise to me!" He all but yelled. "To me!" He repeated, as to emphasize his point of how unusual it was.

Finally Granger's head snapped back up and with her finger pointed at his chest, she snarled at him: "Well, excuse me for trying to understand! Merlin, all I'm trying to do is be nice to you! I'm just trying to show you some sympathy and this is what I get!" She finished her little rant by poking him roughly. Biting back a wince, Draco retorted "I don't need your bloody sympathy!" He had to put some effort in it, but he managed to grab her finger, so she wouldn't be able to poke him again. "Then why have you been staring at me since we got back at school!" Granger demanded. He was stunned into silence. "What's the matter, Malfoy? Have the Muggle germs started attacking your brain?" She hissed, as she pulled her hand back, successfully freeing herself from his grip.

".. I know there's no such thing as Muggle germs…" He mumbled so quietly, he was nearly mouthing it. "I beg you pardon?" A slight blush crept up his cheeks and he felt very embarrassed. "Nothing! It's none of your business, you filthy M-" He quickly swallowed what he was about to say. Almost, he had ruined everything there was left for him to ruin. Meanwhile, Granger looked at him in amazement. What in Merlin's name had got into Draco Malfoy? But suddenly, she realised. "You haven't answered my question yet, Malfoy. Why have been staring at me?" For a moment, it was awfully silent again. Then he declared as haughty as he could manage to sound, which, truth be told, was quite haughty: "You just happen to jump in and out of my line of vision sometimes, Granger. Don't blame me for seeing you."

She snorted at this reply. 'The insolence!' Her behaviour was really getting on his nerves. "Please, Malfoy. Not even Ron would've bought that. Are the rumours true then? Do you have a crush on me? How cu-" That did it. "Definitely not!" He all but screamed. "There's no way I'd fall in love with a M-Muggle-born, bossy, bushy-haired know-it-all like you! I thought you were above gossip, Granger, but apparently I was wrong. You are just like those Brown and Patil girls…" He really knew how to push her buttons, she was fuming by now. "You stinking little ferret! Don't you dare compare me to them!" She was about to poke him again, but then she realised that he really was injured. Softly, she sighed and her tensed body relaxed, momentarily leaving Draco to wonder what the matter was, before she said: "Okay, I won't take you to Madame Pomfrey, but at least let me take care of some things." Before he could reply, she drew her wand and muttered "Episkey."

Instantaneously, he relaxed and closed his eyes for a moment, relish the feeling of the pain slipping away. Hardly a second later, he noticed how he let his guard slip. Malfoys are not supposed to let their guard down. He sat up hurriedly, before staggering to his feet. Once he had regained his balance, he looked down at the Head Girl, who was still in a kneeling position. Like he hadn't just had a conversation with her, Draco nonchalantly said: "My wand, if you don't mind." As if to mark his words, he held out his hand, making a grabbing-gesture impatiently. Feeling cheeky, Granger put her hand, which still held his wand, into his outstretched hand and pulled herself up with it. He looked at her incredulously, while she smirked back at him to the best of her abilities.

Trying to maintain whatever was left of his composure, he stated: "I'll take my leave then." With that said, he gracefully put his wand away, turned on his heels and to walk off as casually and quickly as possible. Hanging around Granger too much brought back some unpleasant memories. Though she had tried to hide it well, when she had used that Healing spell on him, he had seen the 'd' carved into her flesh. Although it was very faint and certainly had been treated by a Mediwizard, perhaps a Healer from St. Mungo's, he had noticed it. How could he not have?

Mudblood… Mudblood… Mudblood…

He had to get out fast. He had to outrun and repress his nightmares, while he was still certain that he could. "Malfoy?" Damn, she called after him. Stopping dead in his tracks, he only ever so slightly turned his head. "Yeah?" From the corner of his eye, he could tell she was smiling. Strange, why would she smile? To him, of all people in the world? "Please try to stay out of fights with fellow students. I won't always be able to save your behind. I have more than enough other things I want to take care of, instead of watching over you." Even he couldn't help but grin now. "I can make no such promises, Granger. Trouble loves me, after all." Then he started walk again and as he rounded the corner, he would swear Hermione Granger was still smiling after him.


A.N. So what do you think? Could this story still go somewhere? Please leave a review! ^^

Hopefully it won't take me years to update! I'm not making any promises though.