Review Responses:

E'Claireee: Well, admittedly I thought the Ron-Harry relationship was always a bit stronger than the Harry-Hermione one, but, they're close, and I totally get your point. I tried my best to make it realistic. You don't like Harry-Ginny?! I love that couple! Well, to each his own, but I'm trying to stay stitched to DH as much as is Potterly possible (lol). As for the comment about the hook, it's in the Author's note at the end of the chapter, so keep reading! Thanks for reviewing!

Rowaine: Thank you so much! I've actually been wondering if this is going too slow...or too fast, so that comment makes me feel better about it. And you're right, I worry too much. I have to chill out. Anyways, hope you like this chapter!

Rob-girl: you're probably right. I guess I just like to talk. So, the A/N's in this chapter I took out, because they really weren't of any import. Thanks for the review!

Now, on to the story?

Chapter 6: Apology?

Draco sat in his room, on his bed, in complete turmoil.

He had had to get through the day knowing of what would come. He didn't know if, when he apologized, he would have to simultaneously expose himself to Granger. He wasn't sure if he maybe he wanted to. The scene played itself before him all day, made it hard for him to focus—Draco felt so bad about it. He wondered how she would react to his apology: would she accept it graciously, or remain upset and give him the cold shoulder? He was afraid of this.

When dinner had finally ended, Draco could have run back to his dorm to find Granger and get this off his chest. However, when he had gotten there, he had found her enjoying her evening with Potter and Weasley. Draco was extremely disappointed, but knew he was unwelcome in the conversation and grudgingly went upstairs to do his work. However, he had had a lot of difficulty concentrating when he knew that he couldn't talk to her, that Granger was downstairs, having fun with her real friends. He could faintly hear their chatter. Granger's laugh was as clear as a bell to him—Draco had heard it so many times.

So, unable to do his homework, Draco had gone and sat at the top of the stairs listening to their conversation, waiting for her friends to leave. They stayed there for over an hour. Draco was worried about himself. Was he getting obsessed? No, the other part of his brain said. I just feel guilty and want to talk to her as soon as possible. But this excuse was pathetic even to him. And as he listened to their jokes and banter, an unfamiliar pressure began to build in his chest.

At some point, Weasley had gotten up from the couch in order to leave and had begun walking toward where Draco was sitting. Draco panicked and fled back to his room. He waited for a while, until he couldn't hear voices anymore, and crept back to the staircase. As he peered into the common room, the ball of tension in his chest exploded. There were Granger and Potter, sitting on the couch, hugging.

It was a simple enough gesture, but Draco read a lot into it. It kind of makes sense, I guess, Draco said to himself as he walked briskly back to his room. They had been friends for years. Draco knew well enough that girls and guys couldn't just be friends. I mean, he had heard that Potter was dating the Weasley girl, but who was he to judge Potter on wanting something else?

And yet, he was judging him—no, blaming him. Draco wasn't sure what for. He couldn't quite explain what he felt. There was a thought that occurred to him, but he didn't dare even think about thinking about it, and pushed it out of his head so fast it didn't have time to develop.

Draco couldn't name it, but he was suddenly incensed with Potter and Granger. He wasn't sure what to do about it, though. Should he still apologize to her? All of a sudden, he thought she didn't deserve it, and banished that idea. Draco was left, for the second night in a row, to dwell inside his head for hours.

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Hermione was getting more and more aggravated when she didn't see Malfoy at all the next day. He seemed to be avoiding her. She was ambivalent: both annoyed and guilty—she had driven him off, after all. Hermione found herself missing their chats in the evenings.

For almost a week, Hermione endured this treatment; Malfoy going straight to his room every night, or not coming back until after she had gone to bed, finding any way not to meet her in the common room. Finally Hermione got sick of it. 10 minutes after he had walked by her in the common room and gone up the stone steps, she ascended and took a left, towards his room.

Hermione knocked politely. "Who is it?"

"Who else shares a dorm with you?"

Hermione thought he would make up something comical in response to this, but instead she heard through the door, "go away, Granger." It wasn't a menacing voice, just a tired one. She couldn't place this because it was, after all, only 8:45.

She sighed. "I'm not going anywhere, Malfoy. You've been avoiding me all week. I need to talk to you."

When Malfoy didn't respond right away, Hermione quietly tried the doorknob to see if it was locked. It was. She was about to perform a charm when it turned and there stood Malfoy.

"What do you want, Granger?" Hermione's annoyance melted away when she saw him. He looked troubled and tired. Papers littered his bed.

"I want to apologize."

Contrary to what she thought he would do, Malfoy stepped aside the door, an obvious indication for her to enter. He almost seemed surprised with himself for doing it.

She walked into his room and paused, glancing around. It was pretty messy, with the blankets thrown all over the place and his belongings scattered across his dresser, but it could have been worse.

She paused, then sighed. "Look, Malfoy, I'm sorry." When he didn't say anything, just stared at her with his back against the open door, she went on. "I didn't mean to pry. What I said that night…it wasn't right of me to ask you anything like that. It's none of my business and you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. Whatever did or didn't happen…" she stopped talking for a moment, unsure of how to go on. She had expected some response from him by now.

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Draco, on the other hand, was shocked. Why would she be sorry about how she treated him? There was no logic in this…yet it sounded just like Granger—to feel bad about being innocent. At this point Draco almost laughed out loud.

"I'm sorry too," he said. "I was a jerk. You had every right to wonder about me, and I shouldn't have…" his moment of relief flew away as he realized he didn't quite know what to say to her…to make it up to her.

He didn't have to.

"It's ok Malfoy. I forgive you if you forgive me. Alright?"

He smiled at her. "So we're good?"

"We're good."

Draco wasn't sure what to do now. Well, he had satisfactorily apologized, but there was still this thing nagging in the back of his head.

"So, want to join me in the common room?" she said.

She got up to leave. "Granger, wait." He was in a sour mood again. Draco had to deal with this.

"What's up?" she said, confused. Hadn't they just forgiven each other? She sat down on his bed.

"I…well…when you…" Draco started many times, then decided to just say what he meant. "What's up with you and Potter?" Draco said this in a rush.

"I have no idea what you mean, Malfoy."

He was having difficulty putting his thoughts to words. Draco sighed. "The other night, I saw you embracing Potter."

"Embracing? Malfoy it was just a hug. And since when did you start spying on me?"

"I was just wondering if your friends had left yet."

"Why would you care?"

"Because I wanted to apologize then, but they were there, so I couldn't...........You never answered my question."

"Nothing is happening with me and Harry."

"Then why'd you hug him?"

"What business is it of yours?" her voice became louder.

"I just bloody want to know!" so did his.

"Well that's too bad, because I'm not bloody telling you! And why is it that, if you were planning on apologizing a week ago, you've been avoiding me ever since..." she trailed off.

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Then she smirked a smirk to rival his own. "Draco Malfoy, are you jealous?"

It made sense to Hermione, logically. I mean, what other explanation could there be? He had just said that he was planning on apologizing that night...so why would he have changed his mind afterwards? Her train of thought continued as Draco stood there, mouth hanging open a little. She was quite flattered.

Draco seemed to shake himself and avoided the question. "So there's nothing going on between you and Scarhead?"

Hermione continued to smirk up at him. "No." When Malfoy still looked doubtful, Hermione colored angrily. "Fine, Malfoy, I hugged Harry because he was upset after having a fight with his girlfriend. Satisfied?"

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Draco could have punched himself in the face. Why did he always assume things? He had seen two people—two friends hugging—something normal people did—and jumped to the conclusion that they were 'together'. What the fuck was wrong with him? Now, not only had he made a fool of himself, but, furthermore he had made a bloody fool of himself!

Draco realized Granger was still waiting for an answer. He had none.

When he didn't say anything, she spoke up. "You really are jealous, aren't you?"

Draco might have winced at the way she said it—he wasn't sure. She was right on point, and he hated it. This was the thought he had avoided inside his head, but there was no other explanation for that pressure in his chest, and the more he accepted that their hug was truly an innocent, friendly one, the more that pressure faded.

He had nothing to say to her. Instead he turned to her and pointed through the doorway.

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Hermione knew at this point that she was right, and that he was angry that she was right. This was typical Malfoy, after all, but it annoyed her that he couldn't just be honest with himself.

She rose from the corner of his bed and walked out with the greatest amount of dignity she could muster.

Hermione heard Malfoy's door close behind her. Instead of going back downstairs to keep working, however, she went straight to her room. Hermione didn't exactly know why, but she felt she needed to be there, where she had more privacy, rather than downstairs, which already held so many memories.

As she sat on her scarlet and gold bed, she thought about all the things Draco had said.

Why would he assume so much from witnessing a single hug? We're friends, after all. Did he really read so much into it that he assumed Harry and I were...blech. Even the thought of it is absurd. It just figures that Malfoy would immediately jump to sex. That's where his mind is, generally, isn't it? I shouldn't be surprised. He is a man-whore after all. Hermione fell back on her bed, feet still on the ground, arms thrown out around her. And he was spying on me! How strange is that? Well, it's not exactly spying. He just came down at a bad moment. But still! Stalker much? Hermione pulled at her hair, until it splayed out above her head, and began playing with one of her curls. It was a nervous habit of hers. It's so weird that Malfoy felt like apologizing to me. Why would he need to! But why did it take him so long? I mean, if he felt bad...but then he saw me with Harry and got jealous. Draco Malfoy, jealous! I never thought I'd see the day. Hermione chuckled to herself. And more so, over me! Who'd have thought? But isn't it a bit odd? To be jealous of something, one has to like said thing. So......wait.....he....likes me??? Draco Malfoy likes me?!?!?! No! It couldn't be! Well, he is quite handsome. Maybe I should...no, I couldn't!

Hermione stared at the ceiling for so long it turned dark out. Finally, awakening from her thought-slumber, she realized she still had work to do. However, seeing as it was so late, she decided to wake up early the next morning and finish it. She slowly sat up, went to brush her teeth, went back into her room and removed all her clothes except for bra and underwear. Hermione didn't really feel like putting on pajamas tonight. She parted her covers and curled into a ball under them, quickly falling asleep.

So I had a lot of difficulty writing this chapter, especially the beginning, so it's probably not that great. Sorry! If you see how I can make it better, tell me, and I can always edit and republish it.

Ummm, so what do you think? I feel like the drma in this fic has been a little thin on the ground so far. I'm gonna try to spice things up a bit. If you have any ideas about how to make things more interesting, I'm all ears!

Now if you want to feel special and have me respond to your review in my next chapter, all you have to do is write something cool and interesting. Even something random. I love random. If you say 'I like toasters!' it will earn you a response, because I always have something to say about toasters (?). Or anything for that matter. I talk too much :-P

Also, I changed chapter 4. You shouldn't go back and reread it or anything, seeing as you probably wouldn't even be able to tell what I added. However, it is important nonetheless, so instead of making you guys go on a scavenger hunt, I will tell you my overarching theme (or 'hook' – thank you E'Claireee, I realize I kind of need one) straight up:

Healing

'Nuff said.

Review!

-Ginger

PS: For all you democrats out there: INAUGERATION TIME, TUESDAY! WOOT!