Hello, my friends! I'm back with yet another chapter. Ok, I'll admit, I've been eating some humble pie, if you know what I mean. I only have three reviews for chapter two. I'll also admit that I was disappointed, because I've been working hard and I love this story a lot. However, I'm writing this for myself, and you all, not for reviews. That said, thank you so much to Ramy, Anasazi and SesamE ChIckEN, who did review! I appreciate it and I'm very glad you guys like it.

I'm so sorry. I apologize for the fact that I'm using a Britney Spears song for this chapter. Please, if you don't like Britney (as I don't), do not be scared away. It's one you probably haven't heard, so it shouldn't be too damaging. (If you are a fan, I'm sorry also for making fun of her)

All that aside, I must disclaim now.

Disclaimer: I'm not JK Rowling (although I'm flattered by those who said I'm almost as good as her! You guys are so sweet!) nor am I Britney Spears and/or anyone else affiliated with the song.

Please read, please review, please enjoy! Thanks!!


CHAPTER THREE: WHERE ARE YOU NOW?

I can't go on/as long as I believe/can't let go/when I keep wondering/where are you now?/what have you found?/where is your heart/when I'm not around?/where are you now?/I just gotta know/so I can let you go. Britney Spears

Morning finally came. It had been an unbearably long night for Hermione, who had tossed and turned through most of it. The words exchanged during their fight played over and over in her mind, like a song stuck on repeat. Each time it started over again, Hermione cringed. Had she really said those things? Had he? Were they really not going to be proper friends anymore, or had that been said out of anger? These were the types of questions that stayed at the front of her mind while she tried to sleep.

But now it was morning. The sun had risen—it was a brand new day. She could start again today. She'd sit Harry down and talk to him in a normal manner. They'd work things out, laugh it off and go back to the pre-relationship friendship they'd had.

Hermione smiled dreamily. How nice it would be to go back to the start with him, before all of the frustration and emotions and conflicting feelings. It would be nice to have a stress-free friendship again.

Hermione nearly dozed off, but the sound of Harry moving about in the common room jolted her awake. She was going to be late for class!

She dashed around her room quickly, throwing on her uniform and robes and searching for her homework and wand. When she was ready, she hurried out of the room.

"Harry!" she shouted. Harry was on his way out to the Great Hall.

He turned around. "Yeah?" his voice was a tone frostier than usual.

"Can I talk to you later?"

He shrugged. "Sure."

She smiled at him, and felt stung when he only looked at her askance. "I'm going to skip breakfast this morning, but I'll see you in Transfiguration?"

"Yup."

"Well, bye, then."

"Bye."

Hermione frowned as she went to Arithmancy by herself. The fight had effected Harry much deeper than Hermione originally thought. He was obviously still angry with her.

Though these thoughts were not cheerful in the least, Hermione wasn't perturbed by them. They only made her that much more determined to make amends with him, once and for all.


"So, is everything okay between you and Hermione?" Ron asked at breakfast.

"No," Harry answered curtly.

"What'd you fight about, anyway?"

"The usual. Stupid stuff."

"Ah."

There was no way that he would admit it, but Harry had been affected a bit too much by the fight with Hermione. He just hated the fact that she was right: one reason why he hadn't told her about the dream—alongside with the reasons he'd told Ron—was because she was his ex.

It was stupid. Petty. Immature. But he couldn't help it; it was how he felt. He hadn't told her for many reasons: because she'd drive everyone mad, because she would mother him unnecessarily and pester him with useless advice and questions.

A part of him had done it to spite her.

Another sad part of him did it because it was a way for him to realize…to make him understand…they weren't together anymore. Some unconscious part of his brain did it as a way to say, "We're not together! You're not my girlfriend! I don't need you anymore, see?"

Harry sighed miserably, trying to get his mind off the fight. He knew they had to make-up, but in all honesty, he didn't know what it would change between them. Sure, it would make things fine between them, temporarily. They'd walk on eggshells around each other, each going out of their way to not upset the other. But in actuality, they'd be avoiding the truth of the matter, which was that neither of them were over the fact that they had both gotten their hearts broken, and that their friendship would never be the same again.

"You look pretty down, mate," Ron said.

Harry shrugged. "I'm just tired and annoyed. It's no big deal. Really," he added, when Ron looked at him with raised eyebrows.

"If you say so. Should we get going to class?"


Hermione waited quite impatiently all day for the chance to talk to Harry. It was not an easy task, trying to find a time during the day when they were both unoccupied and not surrounded by others.

Finally, at long last, Hermione seized the perfect opportunity. It was after dinner, and Harry was getting ready to spend the evening doing homework in the common room. Before he could get away and avoid her for the rest of the night, Hermione grabbed his arm.

"Can we talk now?" she asked.

Harry shrugged. "Sure."

They walked outside, where they would have more privacy and a nice change of scenery. The sun was beginning to set. A slightly chilly breeze filled the cool, refreshing air.

Hermione inhaled deeply. She loved the freshness of the air. She could feel her mind getting clearer, and all the tension she had been feeling recently was beginning to edge away. Exhaling, she turned to Harry with confidence.

"I'm sorry about the fight," she said.

Harry took his time answering. "Yeah, me too."

"But, well…I had my reasons to be upset. I was really hurt that you didn't tell me."

"I know, and I'm sorry for that," Harry said. "But I still stand by what I said, I don't have to tell you everything."

"I just don't understand why, though. I mean, shouldn't you want to tell me?"

Harry just shrugged.

"I hate how everything's changed between us," Hermione burst out. "I can't stand it."

"I don't like it either," he admitted. "But in all honesty, even if we make-up from this stupid fight, I don't see how it's really going to change things."

"Me neither," Hermione agreed sadly.

They stood there for a few minutes, neither saying a word. Hermione fought back her tears as she mentally summed up the situation before her.

She was at risk of losing Harry permanently. This was no where near the reconciliation she'd fantasized about all day. In fact, it was almost opposite. She suddenly felt very foolish for thinking it would turn out that perfectly.

"The reason I didn't tell you about the dream," Harry said slowly, "Is because I knew you'd worry about it. You'd be upset. And as much as I appreciate your concern, I don't need it."

Hermione nodded briskly. The comment was like a slap in the face, but she didn't say so. After all, though the words had been harsh, his tone wasn't.

"I'm sorry, okay?"

Hermione nodded again.

"I promise, if I have more dreams like that, I'll tell you straight away."

Hermione nodded for a third time. "Okay," she said, finding her voice. "Thank you."

"So, are things…?"

"Yeah."

Harry gave her a small smile. Impulsively, Hermione reached up and hugged him. His arms closed around her protectively, and for a moment, she felt okay again.

He broke up the embrace then. "I should get started on my homework if I want to practice Quidditch tomorrow. Coming?"

"No, I think I'll stay out here for a few minutes. I like the fresh air."

"Alright. See you inside, then."

"Bye." She watched him disappear into the castle, then slowly sank down to the cold grass.

She sat out there for a quarter of an hour, just thinking. It was time, she realized, to get back to reality: things had changed, and they were going to stay that way, no matter how much she hated it.

Finally she got up and went back to the castle, ready to start on her work. She dawdled through the entranceway, where something unusual happened.

"What's the matter, Granger?" asked a voice.

Startled, Hermione looked around and saw Draco Malfoy to her right.

"Why do you care?" she asked coldly. Malfoy had been her enemy—along with being Harry's and Ron's, of course—since their very first year at Hogwarts. He was a pure-blood Slytherin, which meant that he came from a family of wizards and was in the Hogwarts house that turned out the largest amount of dark wizards, including Voldemort himself.

Malfoy was the cruelest person Hermione knew. He was conceited, abrasive and, basically, heartless. He picked on Hermione ruthlessly, just because she was Muggle-born. He personally did all in his power to try to make Harry's life, first and foremost, a living hell. When he was not successful, he moved on to Ron and Hermione.

This is why she couldn't understand why he was speaking to her. Although he had been rather subdued since his father was sent to prison two years ago, he had not toned down his cruel antics.

"I don't care, Granger," Malfoy replied in his lazy drawl. "You look upset and I was just curious, that's all."

Hermione looked around the mostly-empty room. "Okay, where are Crabbe and Goyle?" she demanded.

"What?" Malfoy asked, looking confused.

"Where are they? This has got to be some sort of trap, hasn't it?" she asked.

"What makes you say that?"

"Why do you think?" she retorted. "Maybe because we hate each other, and you're always setting me and Harry and Ron up for some sort of trick or scheme."

Malfoy rolled his grey eyes in annoyance. "I think we're all beyond that, Granger."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"We're older now. We're more mature than those stupid tricks we played on each other."

Hermione snorted. "I don't believe that."

"You're right," Malfoy mused. "Potter and Weasley aren't more mature than that. Relax," he added, seeing Hermione's reaction. "I was only kidding…mostly," he said with a smirk.

Now it was Hermione who rolled her eyes.

"Are you ever going to answer my question?"

"Yes, and the answer is, none of your business. Even if I wanted to tell you, I wouldn't. I don't trust you."

"Why don't you try me? You might be surprised."

"For someone who doesn't care, Malfoy, you're awfully interested in what I have to say."

Malfoy shrugged. "Things change," he said simply.

Hermione tried to ignore the fact that that was the thing bothering her. "I suppose they do," she said.

"Well, if you're not going to tell me, I guess I'm just wasting my time, so I'll be on my way."

"Wait," she said suddenly. She was as surprised as he was.

"What?" he asked impatiently.

"I'll tell you some other time…maybe," she added uncertainly.

"Looking forward to it." Hermione couldn't tell if he was being sincere or sarcastic, but she didn't bother to ask. Instead, she wondered what would happen if she opened up to Draco Malfoy.


That's it for now! I hope you enjoyed it, I liked writing the interaction between Malfoy and Hermione. Chapter four is coming soon, so keep an eye out for it. Please review! Thanks!