Chapter Four

Days passed by quickly for Hermione, she enjoyed her classes-but that was to be expected- and her, Harry and Ron were finally close again, as if nothing had happened to disturb the perfect cycle they had been in before the long summer weeks that seemed to change everything. The trio were probably closer than ever actually, only Hermione wasn't there quite as much, to "help" them with their homework, seeing as she had her own dormitory and Head duties shes was responsible for. Surprisingly, not even a week after school started, Ron and Lavender had decided to go their separate ways, after a very public fight in the Great Hall. Ginny and Harry however, still remained strong, their feelings obvious to everyone around them; they loved each other.

Couples seemed to be sprouting everywhere you turned at Hogwarts. All you would see lately were boy and girl walking hand in hand to class, and pairs exchanging quick kisses before heading into a classroom. Hermione always looked sourly at these couples, feeling rather jealous, and wishing that she could find someone to be there for her. Oh, she knew that Harry and Ron were, but she wanted someone to be there in a different way. Someone to take her to Hogsmeade and pay for her butterbeer, someone to wait for her outside her Ancient Runes classroom to walk her to lunch, someone to give her a back massage after a long night of patrolling the corridors.

Her and Draco had surprisingly grown closer though. Although, closer was probably not the correct word. They were not even remotely close to being friends, but they were used to each others company. Draco was growing on Hermione, and she was noticing things about him she had never picked up on before, like the way his platinum blonde hair hung delicately in his eyes when he didn't have it gelled back, and how his eyes seemed to shine brighter in the sunlight. He wasn't even as mean as she once thought he was; he would never go to bed until Hermione was safely inside their dormitory for example, and seemed to worry about her when she rejected food, (which was almost always) and she could tell he didn't buy her sad excuses for a moment. On some occasions he would offer to patrol for her at night, noticing how tired she looked and she would gladly accept with a few words of thanks.

Though she was still not even close to being happy with her body, other people were noticing changes, so she assumed there must be subtle ones, even if she didn't see them. Her morning ritual was to wake up and walk directly into the bathroom and onto the scale. This was always met with disappointment; the number was just never low enough. After this she would be depressed all through "breakfast", and her first class, where the tiredness would kick in. Not eating really seemed to take a toll on her brain, she was finding it hard to stay awake in class, nevermind answer all the questions as people were expecting. She kept up the act though, knowing that she had to, or people would begin to become suspicious, and that was the last thing she needed right now.

Hermione jumped awake, startled, from her dream that she could now not remember. She thought for a moment, and remembered that it was Saturday, meaning no classes. She still felt so exhausted, and stomach pains were coursing through her. She wanted to get at least another couple hours sleep, after glancing at the clock and seeing that it was only eight o'clock. "Maybe I can sleep through breakfast," she thought hopefully, before closing her eyes and drifting back to sleep.

Hermione glanced around, taking in her surroundings. She was in a grassy field, all alone, and there wasn't a soul for what looked like miles. She wondered what she was doing here, but made no action to move forward.

Draco Malfoy then appeared, seemly from thin air, and stood in front of her, just staring.

"Malfoy?" she asked. "What are we doing here?"

The blonde boy just stared at her.

"Malfoy!"

Stare.

"Hello?"

Hermione walked over to him and he backed away. She tried again, moving forward quicker this time, but he stepped away just as fast. She ran after him and he turned around and ran too. They continued this for what felt like miles, without either of them getting tired. They soon reached a small village, and Draco ran into a small shop. Hermione stepped in after him, and gasped at what she saw. Lord Voldemort was standing inside the shop, which sold what appeared to be dark artifacts.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Draco was hit in the chest with the beam of vibrant green light, dead instantly. Hermione let out a loud, high-pitched scream.

Hermione jumped awake again, her body covered in moist sweat. She was trembling slightly, and sat up slowly to look at her clock. She glanced at it and jumped up from her bed quickly, it was one o'clock? She pulled on a pair of jeans and a read sweater, glad it was Saturday and she didn't have to wear her Hogwarts uniform. She walked swiftly down to the Great Hall, where she assumed she would find Harry and Ron, probably pigging out on lunch.

She spotted them rather quickly and walked over, seating herself on Ron's other side.

"Morning!" she said brightly.

"Er, it's afternoon now 'Mione," said Ron.

"Oh, yes, I suppose it is," she said, laughing. "I fell asleep again, and only woke up a little while ago and came straight down here."

"Oh, well I guess you haven't eaten then. Want some lunch?" Harry asked, pushing a bowl of treacle pudding towards her.

"Er, no, I actually ate before I came down here," she replied quickly.

"Hermione, you said you came straight down here," Ron said slowly.

"Shit!" Hermione thought to herself. "Erm, I grabbed a banana on my way out the door."

"Well that's not a real lunch!" Harry said. "Here, have some pudding, you've been looking rather pale and skinny lately."

Hermione tried not to smile at this, knowing that it was not meant to be a compliment. "No, I have not! And what does it matter to you? It doesn't concern you! Or Ron! Both of you need to just stay out of my health life!"

Ron and Harry exchanged confused and shocked looks at this.

"Sorry 'Mione, we're just worried about you is all," Ron said quietly.

"Well you don't need to be! I've been taking care of myself for pretty much the last four years, I don't need someone to come and tell me what to do now! I am perfectly able to make my own decisions!"she shouted loudly.

"Okay Hermione, we're sorry," said Harry.

"Fine. I forgive you. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go to the library and try to get some studying done."

"Alright, see you later,"

Hermione heaved a sigh and walked off in the direction of the library, feeling extremely dizzy from the shouting match she had just engaged in. She paused for a moment and leaned against a stone pillar for support while her head stopped spinning. She thought things couldn't get any worse, when she heard an obnoxious voice cut through the silence like a knife through a wooden block.

"Granger!" yelled Draco Malfoy loudly.

"What Malfoy?" she asked tiredly, rubbing her temples.

"I'm just reminding you that it's your turn to be patrolling, and I'm not picking up the slack for you tonight."

"Great!" she shouted.

He looked at her awkwardly,"What's wrong?"

Hermione glared at him "Nothing that's any of your concern."

"Fine."

The blonde boy turned around and walked away, leaving Hermione alone in the empty corridor. She rolled her eyes and began walking again. "What is he playing at?" she wondered. "He doesn't care whats wrong with anyone, let alone me. He must be ill."

By now she had reached the library, only to decide that she was not in the mood for studying at all. She turned around and walked back towards her dormitory. She told the portrait of the smiling witch the password and walked inside. To her surprise Malfoy was sitting on the couch reading, except this was no wizarding book, it was a muggle book that she couldn't catch the title of. She walked over and sat in the cushy armchair across from him.

"Well, this certainly is a first," she joked. "Draco Malfoy reading a muggle book! Who would have thought I'd see the day."

Draco looked up in surprise; apparently he hadn't heard her come in. He quickly shut the book and put it beside him. "So what? I'm allowed to read whatever I want, aren't I?"

"Yes," she giggled, "but what is this mystery book that has caught the Slytherin Princes' attention?"

Hermione stood up and walked swiftly over to the other couch, reaching for the book, only to have Malfoy pull it away quickly and put it face-down in his lap.

"It's nothing."

"Well if you're keeping it a secret it certainly is something," Hermione said stubbornly.

"It's none of your business Granger."

"Maybe not, but I'm curious all the same."

Hermione looked away, pretending to be distracted by the roaring fireplace, and then moved quickly and snatched up the thick book. Smiling to herself, she clutched her prize and walked back over to her armchair, still not looking at the cover.

"So let's see here," she said, turning it over. She glanced down at the title, still smiling, glanced back up, and then back down, to be sure she read it correctly.

"Malfoy," she said slowly,"why are you reading this?"

"Er, I want to get healthier..." he trailed off awkwardly.

"Malfoy.." she said warningly.

"Alright, fine. I want to know what's going on with you Granger."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Hermione said too calmly.

"You don't eat!" he exploded.

"Yes I do!"

"No, Hermione, you don't. You don't eat in this kitchen, and you don't eat in the Great Hall. The most I've seen you eat this week was a banana when I forced it on you yesterday morning!"

"What, have you been watching me? Spying on me? I eat fine thanks, and even if I didn't it's none of your business!"

"You do not eat 'fine'! Don't you see? You're slowly killing yourself! You're all skin and bones! I don't think it is possible to get any skinnier."

"Stop lying to me! I'm fat and you know it! Just stop! You just want me to keep putting on more and more weight so you can continue to make fun of me!" Hermione screamed.

"Hermione..."

"No, don't! You live to make fun of me, and torment me Malfoy, don't pretend that you don't. The last thing I need right now is you continuing to do just that! Don't you ever get sick of it? Don't you ever realize that what you say may just hurt someone? Don't you? Well I suppose it doesn't matter. It's just one big game to you. Well guess what, I'm done playing! Don't look at me, don't talk to me, don't even think about me! From now on you are dead to me, and you would do well to think of me the same way!" she paused, completely out of breath, her head spinning. "Oh yeah, and here's your precious book!," she spat, throwing the copy of Anorexia and Bulimia-Help for the Helpless at his head.

She spun around and walked quickly towards the staircase, head still spinning. Draco stood up to go after her and had almost reached her when she stopped on the fifth step, her hand on her forehead. She began to fall and the last thing she remembered before blacking out was Draco Malfoy, catching her before she hit the ground. Of course.

A/N-Yes, yes I know! Very short. But I only have a miniscule seven reviews on my whole story! Maybe if there were more I would be compelled to write longer chapters hint hint. Haha yes, well, the quicker you review the quicker I write (and the longer the chapters are) soo come on guys! I have over 700 reads...but seven reviews! Mmkay, enough of this pointless complaining. Byeee.