Chapter Two: They Just Can't Replace You

Hermione slammed the door behind her and willed herself not to break down in tears. A part of her just wanted to take the easy way out and slide down back onto the floor and release her emotions but she didn't want to be portrayed as weak. She had vowed that she would never cry over a boy again and no way was she going to cry over Snape's words.

"Hermione?"

Hermione jumped at Harry's tender voice. She had forgotten that he and Ron were waiting for her outside.

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, mustering all the happiness she could to smile. She straightened her back and looped an arm through his and Ron's. She slowly led them to their Gryffindor tower. "Detention dismissed."

"What did he say?" Ron asked quietly. Hermione didn't have to look at him to know that he was very concerned and possibly angry. She had learned to read her best friend's emotions through their voice.

"Uh…something not important. He just…is suspicious that my pupil no longer needs me to be his tutor," Hermione said, trying to mumble as much as possible so her speech wasn't articulate. It's just she was a horrible liar and she knew the two of them could pick it up easily.

"How come you never told us you were tutoring someone?" Harry asked, a frown evident in his hurt voice.

"Because it wasn't important," Hermione lied. Because it was Draco. Because there was no tuition classes. Because it was the most important thing.

"Who was it?" Ron asked, slight jealousy evident in his too-casual voice.

"Laius Grenzak," Hermione lied once again. She was glad the three of them were walking so her best friends couldn't see her flushed face. She was just picking the least bright student she knew and also a student she knew Harry and Ron would not know.

"Who is that?" Ron asked, sounding even more jealous.

"Hufflepuff," Harry answered before Hermione could speak. "I've seen him spilling potions numerous times; he is definitely not talented in Potions. I don't see why you didn't tell us about it, Hermione. It would explain all the times you'd disappeared."

Crap, crap, crap. Harry wasn't supposed to know who he was!

"Do you like him?" Ron asked, definitely sounding jealous. "Is that why you didn't tell us?"

"No!" Hermione sighed. No way could she like someone for awhile after she fell in love with Draco.

She had to think of something to say to ensure they did not question Laius and for them to respect her choice not to tell them. Heck, she was the smartest witch in school yet she was struggling to think of something to say!

"It's just…I try to be nice to everyone but Laius is so quiet and seems to not like me. I felt stupid tutoring someone who didn't even want to be friends with me," Hermione explained.

"Perhaps he has some problems," Harry said wistfully. "Would you like me to talk to him?"

"No!" Hermione said quickly. Noticing how quick her response was, she turned the slightest shade of pink. She noticed Ron turning his head to look at her. "That's embarrassing. He didn't want to be tutored anymore and he might think I like him or something if you ask him why he doesn't communicate well with me."

"Are you sure you don't like him?" Ron asked suspiciously.

"Yes," Hermione said, pinching his arm so he yelped. "I clearly do not like Laius."

"And…Snape wanted to talk to you alone about that and just easily let us off?" Ron asked, still sounding suspicious.

"I don't know how his mind works!" Hermione exclaimed. "Perhaps he can't think of anymore ways to torture us."

Hermione could feel Ron tensing beside her to ask more questions but Harry cut off.

"Leave it, Ron, who cares about Laius. What's important is Malfoy," Harry said tiredly.

Oh, no. Hermione could feel dread spreading throughout her body. It seemed as if she could never escape Draco. It didn't matter if she left class before she had to look at him or that she didn't talk to him anymore, there was always talk about him.

"Who cares about him?" Ron scoffed. "He just probably hides in the Room of Requirement to cry about his miserable life so no-one could see him crying."

That was the bad thing about falling in love with someone. There was always the need to defend them and the trouble of trying not to wince when you hear them in pain. Even if it might not be true, the thought of your loved one in pain was unbearable.

Harry looked around them and then lowered his voice.

"I've noticed that he hasn't been in the Room for about a week," he whispered.

A week. A week since he and Hermione yelled at each other and broke if off. A week already that she hadn't felt his breath, his heart beat, his kiss. It seemed forever.

"Why are you stalking him?" Ron scoffed.

"I'm not," Harry said with a scowl. "He's up to something and you know it too. He's obviously meddling with the Dark Arts and he could succeed."

Harry stopped and removed his arm from Hermione's suddenly tight grasp. Crap. Hopefully he wouldn't ask her why she was clinging on him for dear life. However, it was worse than that. He took out the Map.

The Marauder's Map. She had never told Draco about it but sometimes she feared about it every day. She knew that every time she caught up with Draco, there was always a chance that Harry would take out the map to check on Draco. That was why she always had to hide the Map before she caught up with Draco only to return it when her encounter was over. Draco always joked that she was sometimes late for him, without realising it was all because of him.

Harry looked at the Marauder's Map and rolled his eyes.

"In his dorm with Parkinson," he said with a sigh. "I should let that slimeball enjoy his privacy."

Hermione felt an icy hand clench around her heart. He was puncturing her heart so she was bleeding love. There was no way he cared about her then if he could sink to such a low to already be with someone. She couldn't imagine herself kissing anyone else but him.

As Harry folded the map, Hermione saw that Draco was definitely not alone in his dorm. Pansy Parkinson was with him. Pansy Parkinson.

………………………………………………

"Do you have to keep saying her name?" Draco groaned as walked across his dorm to take a seat at his desk.

"Just admit you liked PANSY PARKINSON and I will," Hermione said smugly from upon his bed.

Although she knew she was looking smug, Hermione felt her insides squirm. She knew it was impossible for Draco not to like someone before her but she still felt jealous of any girls Draco had liked. And Pansy! No matter how annoying she was, Hermione had to admit Pansy was very good-looking. And sometimes Draco could be shallow.

"But I never liked her!" Draco protested.

"You're always around her," Hermione pointed out, trying not to sound jealous. It was sad and frustrating that Pansy could easily talk to Draco out in public and she couldn't.

"As you to Potter and Weasley," Draco shot back.

"Fine, so you don't like Pansy. She always boast about doing 'this' and doing 'that' with you," Hermione said, sure that she sounded like a jealous, possessive girlfriend. She wasn't even sure she was his girlfriend.

"I can't help I'm drop dead gorgeous," Draco said with a careless shrug. "You know Pansy. She just wants everyone to think she's getting it on with all the good-looking guys and I'm the best."

"So you didn't and don't like Pansy?" Hermione asked slowly. He sure looked like he was telling the truth but he was used to hiding his feelings.

"She is annoying and clingy. And yeah, I did hook up with her in the past, just to satisfy men needs, but that doesn't mean I liked her. Are you jealous?"

Hermione watched as his face turned from careless to sudden interest. He then smirked, realising it must be true. Hermione knew she must be a hideous colour of red. It was unfair to be fair-skinned sometimes. Draco was too, however he was NEVER red, just the faintest pink.

"I just don't like Pansy," Hermione said truthfully. Pansy was the Slytherin Princess – the first choice anyone would pick who would suit Draco.

"I don't like Potter or Weasley and I'm not jealous," Draco continued to smirk. He got up from his chair and moved closer to the bed. "We never clarified whether this relationship had strings attached."

The possible humour in the conversation diminished. No. Strings. Attached. Did that mean…? Was Draco…? Had Draco been screwing someone the entire time? Was the relationship he had with her just a laugh?

"We don't need another Hogwarts ghost," Draco smirked once again as he cradled her face gently in his hands. "You don't have to turn practically transparent."

How could all the times he touched her as if she was fragile glass be a figment in his mind as he jeered at another girl? How could he confide the darkest secrets with her and forget when he talked with another girl?

"You see, I don't like to share," Draco said as he gently stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. They were so smooth despite how he played Quidditch and was exposed to frayed wood all the time. Harry and Ron's hands were quite coarse but Draco's were like silk. "So I prefer, no I request, that you are not with any other guy when you're with me."

"I'm not making babies with another guy!" Hermione said hotly. She didn't want him to touch her but his touch could be so soothing sometimes.

Draco actually had the indecency to laugh.

"I'm glad, or else the babies will be fatherless," Draco grinned, as he removed his right hand to touch her flat stomach. "If you ever need to make babies, I'm the only guy who should be involved."

Hermione glared at him. The topic sex had came up about once or twice and somehow she always was the one who brought up the topic. She had told him (well more like telling it into the pillow while he sat next to her) that she was a virgin and Draco sincerely (!) told that he'd be ready when she was. He hadn't told her he was a virgin but she doubted he was. If he was, she would probably have a heart attack.

"How many babies do you want to look after?" Hermione scowled.

"Just yours," Draco whispered as his fingers drew delicious motions on her stomach. "However, if you want to try to make a baby, I recommend using some form of protection. I'm in no position to be the perfect father yet."

"What about some babies sprouting out due to all the girls you're bonking?" Hermione asked, rather harshly.

A look of total confusion crossed Draco's handsome features.

"Do you seriously believe I could be with any other girl when there's you?" he accused, looking slightly shocked.

"Well…" Hermione started, reframing herself from blurting "yes!" when Draco looked so bedazzled. "I don't know…"

"You're perfect," Draco whispered, as if that's the answer to any question she would ever ask him.

He snaked the hand that was on her stomach around her waist to pull her close. He gave her the sweetest kiss on her lips.

"You're perfect," he repeated.

………………………………………………

"I know I am, so why do you keep telling me?" Draco snapped.

"You take offense when someone tells you you're perfect?" Pansy scoffed.

"I don't like being told things that I already know," Draco said with a glare.

"You've been prancing around for the last week as if you have a wand stuck up your arse," Pansy said with a scowl.

"Then why do you keep bugging me?" Draco snapped once again.

"I thought I could cheer you up!" Pansy yelled. "What happened to all the times you practically came into my room crying when your daddy is mean?"

Draco felt the very last patience inside of him run out. How dare she used that against him. All the times he was vulnerable and seeking some comfort. How dare she.

"Get out," Draco commanded in a low voice. "You could never cheer me up; I thought you knew that."

"Draco, I'm sorry!" Pansy said quickly. "I didn't mean it to sound like that. It's just…it hurts to give and receive nothing."

Draco was silent. He knew that feeling. Sometimes he felt like he gave Hermione too much and all he received in return was shame and hurt.

"You should find someone who would give for free," Draco spoke quietly as he opened the door for her.

Pansy walked towards the door and looked up at him with tears in her big eyes.

"I would for you," she whispered as she walked out. "I am."

Draco clenched his jaw as he watched her walk down the stairs. Why is that people who didn't matter, care? But people who matter, didn't care?

………………………………………………….

"Like who?" Hermione asked, looking concerned. She took his hands in her small ones and gave a comforting squeeze.

Well, how was he supposed to tell her that she was definitely one of the few people who mattered to him? And it's not she didn't care about him. He didn't know how he would take it if she didn't care about him.

"My father," Draco said, looking away so she wouldn't see his embarrassment. "I do everything I can to make him happy but he doesn't seem to care about the pain I go through just to satisfy him."

Hermione let go of his hands to pull him into a hug.

"Perhaps he's not used to showing affection," she whispered.

Draco wondered whether that was directed to him or not. He knew he was not the best person to express his emotions but she had to know he cared for her. He had never been more open to anyone. It was always a great risk – a great fear – telling her something more about him. He was scared she'd judge him but she was always accepting. Even accepting him. All the times he thought she must've hated him…was it hate?

And on her statement, people show affection in different ways. Draco knew his father was affectionate to his mother by the gifts he would shower her. Including flowers. Flowers. It seemed to be such an easy thing to do but his mother was always so pleased by them. Lucius Malfoy would also take his wife out on expensive dinners and sometimes, expensive cruises. That was how Lucius Malfoy showed affection. By gifts.

What had he given Draco? Nothing. He only buys his way to get through with Draco. He even buys his way through with strangers.

"Perhaps," Draco lied. He didn't want to get into a deep, depressed conversation with Hermione. She deserved to only experience happiness.

"You want to know how I show affection?" Hermione murmured seductively.

Hermione had a huge heart. He had a feeling she was doing this to distract him from his misery. It wasn't like he would ever take advantage of her. He would never abuse her like that.

"For sure," Draco said, unable to resist her red lips and her sweet aroma.

………………………………………….

It seemed like for the last week Draco was unable to resist his hunger. Ever since Hermione left him (he so did not push her away), food was replacing her. Not that it satisfied him. He would easily never eat again just for Hermione to hug him one more time.

Draco looked guiltily at the girls' quarter as he exited the Slytherin Common Room. He felt guilty that he couldn't give Pansy what she wanted but not everyone has a happily ever after.

He turned the corner to head in the direction of the Dining Hall when he saw who was causing all his problems this week.

Hermione Granger.