J. K. Rowling owns Harry Potter.

Song: This is How it Goes Down, by Pink.

(Summer after third year, age 14)

I hear my name
I hear the trash you're talking
In your sleep, the secrets that you're keeping
Oh shit, you're smart
Did you really think you could keep her in the dark

I can't believe this, thought Draco. She hit me.

The girl I've secretly liked for years hit me in the face last month, and I swear I can still see the bruise.

That's what she would always be.

A darkened pink mark on his face, a symbol of her hatred towards her.

He had slipped up, she had been too smart.

He had insulted her, and he had deserved the hit.

It still hurt like hell, though.

Does she purr
Does she make it hard
Hard to speak
Does she dress the part
I'm sure she'll take some getting used to
Brother she will never be me

Hermione didn't just make it hard, she made herself impossible, yet irresistable to love.

Sometimes he wanted to punch her himself for how she made him feel, and she still had no clue!

How could anyone do that? How could he, Draco Malfoy, manage to like a female, a muggle-born, for more than a day! Three entire years, it had been!

And even the only time she acknowledged his presence was when she was glaring at him or jeering at him, she still took his breath away.

He still found it hard to walk by her without wanting to snog her senseless.

He still felt it all, even after three years.

Feel the burn, take a spin
Suck the poison out of me,
I'll make ya beg, I'll make ya come
To your senses if you keep
Up the shit, take the hit
This is how it goes down,
This is how it goes down

The burn? Of course he felt it, whether it was the flaming joy at seeing her smile or the heated anger towards her, it was obviously there.

His muggle radio reminded him painfully of Hermione, and he smiled to himself at the thought of her listening to this song at the same time he was.

He found Pink's songs to be quite comforting at these times, and today was no exception.

They also reminded him of the old days, when Dobby had been here all the time, there with him.

Now he was gone.

"Dobby!" he whispered, his heart breaking.

Muggles have dogs for best friends. He had a house elf.

Somebody done lied to you
Because you're not such a big shot dude,
You might wanna rethink it through,
You should've asked me I would've told you the truth.