Title: Show Me Your Colors

Author: Sweet Canadian

Email: sweet_canadian@pigpig.net

Category: Romance

Ships: mainly Draco/Mika with traces of Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione

Rating: PG for kissing, mushiness and things younger readers may not understand

Summary: Mika is slowly drifting away from her best friends...and into the arms of the Fab Four's most hated enemy. Is there something more behind the hateful facade that Draco puts on? Is he scum like his father or something else? As the fiery redhead discovers the true Draco, thanks to Professor Snape, she begins to question everything, from her best friends' opinions of the blond to her own confusing feelings. Is Mika, whose hate for the boy was the most passionate and fiery of the Fab Four's, under his spell or is it...true love?

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. Basically, I don't claim to own anything in this story!

Author's Note: This story is told from Mika's POV so if seems a little one sided, that's why. Mika wakes up to a card and a dozen red roses. Later on, Draco seems a little to eager to help her catch up on what she missed in Potions...although she only missed one class. And Hermione does something awesome to put Draco in his place...at Mika's expense!

~*~*~^~*~*~^~*~*~
Chapter 6: Tensions Arise

~*~*~
I slowly opened my eyes and looked around. I saw a dozen roses and a card on the table on my right, next to my bed. I grabbed the card and read it outloud to myself.

"Hey, Mika! I hope you're feeling better...I missed just seeing the back of your head in the Great Hall. Get better soon! - DM.
PS. I know you're gonna miss Potions today so...expect to see me later with some notes."

I shoved the card under my pillow. This is just too weird for me...I replayed my dream in my head.

"I'm sorry...for what the real me has done to you."

"Don't be...the real you's probably not, so why should you be?"

"Well...I don't know...listen, I'm only saying what you'd want me to say. This is supposed to be a perfect place. I thought maybe I should try and act the part of the perfect dream date."

"Well, that's good to know!"

"I know you're still thinking about your reality, babe, but this is your perfect little world! Why don't you just take advantage of this and do what we both know you really want to do???"

"Exactly what do you think you know about my deepest, most passionate desires, Draco-Muffin-Head???"

"I know exactly what you want. I gave it to you last time and you didn't have any objections it!"

"Good morning," Ron's voice said, breaking through my thoughts.

I looked over at him and saw that he was accompanied by Hermione.

"Oh, hey, you guys!" I said softly.

"Thought we'd come and visit you before Potions!" Hermione explained.

"Thanks! I appreciate it!" I told them, faking my enthousiastic voice.

"So how are ya?" Ron asked me.

"Good...I'll be able to get back on my feet in time for lunch!" I said with a smile, sort of relieved that I didn't have face Draco in Potions today.

"That's great!" Hermione said with a grin.

Ron wore a similar one as Hermione and I smiled back at them.

"Well, we gotta go!" Hermione said, "You want any help catching up? I think you'll be missing History of Magic and Potions."

"Uh, no, that's cool..." I told her carefully, "I have it covered, really!"

Hermione smiled knowingly and Ron shrugged.

"Okay, if you insist!" Hermione said cheerfully.

The pair left and I summoned my Arithmancy homework. I began working on the assignment, trying to distract myself from Draco Malfoy and my confusing situation.

~*~*~
A few hours later, Madame Pomfrey took the bandages out of my leg.

"Thanks," I said, "Uh, Madame Pomfrey?"

"Yes?" she answered.

"I want you to keep these roses...as a token of my appreciation," I told her, pointing at the roses I had gotten from Draco.

Madame Pomfrey said, "Ooh, thank you, Mika...they're beautiful!"

I watched as she took the roses and left the room. I couldn't be caught with those! People, especially Hermione, would ask questions...and I really didn't want to hear anymore about Draco fancying me. The card and the roses were a friendly gesture...right?

I stood up, grabbed my Arithmancy book, my parchment, and the card under the pillow. I wobbled a bit, but regained my balance. I took my stuff and went off to Gryffindor Tower.

~*~*~
I walked into Gryffindor Tower and headed straight for my dormitory. With a smile, I shoved my Arithmancy stuff into my rucksack, along with my Potions stuff and my Care of Magical Creatures stuff. I took my History of Magic stuff out and left it on my bed. I changed out of my Quidditch robes and into a fresh set of school robes. I put Draco's card in my pocket. I brushed my black hair and put it into two low pigtails. I gave myself a quick glance in the mirror before leaving the room and heading out to the Great Hall, ready to face another day.

~*~*~
I reached the Entrance Hall when I saw Draco heading towards me.

"Mika!" he called out at me as he approached me, "I was hoping to catch you before you got to the Great Hall!"

I smiled as he stopped in front of me.

"Uh, here," he said as he handed me a roll of parchment.

I smiled brightly, remembering what the card he left me said.

"Thanks!" I told him, "For these notes...and for the flowers and the card too."

What happened after my display of gratitude threw me off guard. Draco began to blush! Too weird...

"You're welcome," he answered, "I gotta go!"

Before I could say anything back, he rushed off to the Great Hall.

~*~*~
A few minutes later, I walked into the Great Hall. I waited because I didn't want anyone, especially Hermione, to get all worked up if we walked in at the same time.

Lost in my thoughts, I headed for the Gryffindor table, limping slightly. On my way, someone knocked me off balance and I slipped, landing straight on my rear end. I looked up to see who ran into me.

Justin Finch-Fletchley said quickly, "Oh, Mika, I'm sorry...are you all right?"

"Sure!" I assured him, "Not a problem at all!"

He helped me up and smiled at me. I smiled back.

"Thanks!" I told him, "I'm still feelin' kinda unstable on my feet."

"Well, I'm sorry...I was kinda in a hurry," he explained.

"No need to explain!" I told him.

"So I'll catch ya later?"

"Count on it!"

I walked away from the Hufflepuff student and sighed. "Count on it!"? Boy, I really sounded desparate there! I hope he didn't take it the wrong way! Then again, he is kinda cute...and Muggle born. He'd probably have more in common with me then Draco would, right?

I sat down at my usual seat next to Harry and was greeted happily by my friends and teammates.

"Hey, good to have you back!" Ron said.

"Ditto!" Ginny echoed her brother's sentiments.

"We were worried about you!" Harry said with a smile.

Katie said from the other end of the table, "Yeah, we missed ya, girl!"

Fred and George just waved at me and I waved back. I looked across from me and noticed that someone was missing.

"Hey, you guys, where's Hermione?" I asked Harry, Ron and Ginny.

Ron explained, "Oh, she said something about the..." He stopped, then said, "Never mind! There she is!"

Hermione sat down across from me with a mischivious gleam in her eyes. I wondered what she was up to.

We all ate our lunches, and I let conversations float by. I focused on eating my food and trying to figure out what to do about Draco Malfoy.

"Well if isn't the Muggle Lover and the Mudblood!" Draco's voice behind me broke through my thoughts, "Well, I suppose I know who pays for the dates in this relationship!"

I could feel my blood boil as he spoke. I guess it was an automatic reation to the 'ol Malfoy charm...*mental gag* Anyway, I almost forgot how much of a jerk he can still be. I could feel him standing behind me and my heart began to beat faster and faster.

"Shove it, Malfoy! You're not wanted here!" Harry told him with a cold tone of voice and a matching expression.

I watched as Ron's expression when from 'happy to see me' to 'angry at Malfoy' in five seconds flat. Ginny's did the same but Hermione was still wearing that mischivious look and I wondered yet again what was going on with her.

"Don't you have someplace to be?" Ginny asked the blond behind me.

"Get outta sight, Malfoy!" Ron said menacingly, "Or else..."

"Or else what, Weasley? You and the Mudblood will make me pay?" Draco challenged, then he looked at Hermione and said, "What? Speechless, Granger? Why don't you back your boyfriend up?"

Hermione's lips slowly formed a smug smile and she replied calmly, "Ron's a big boy! He can handle himself. I would watch who I was picking a fight with, though."

"What are you talking about about, Granger?" he said.

I watched as Hermione pulled a card out of her pocket and said, "Oooh! What's this? 'Hey, Mika! I hope you're feeling better...I missed just seeing the back of your head in the Great Hall. Get better soon!' Guess Ron's not the only pureblood that fell for a Muggle born!"

My card! I reached into my pocket and realized that it wasn't there! *mental groan* It must have fallen out of my pocket when Justin knocked me over!!! I'm glad Hermione found it and not someone else...but still...

I made the mistake of looking over my shoulder to see Draco's reaction. I watched as a look of total anger took over his face.

"Give me that!" he hissed as he reached for the card.

I watched as he took the card out of Hermione's hands, ripped it apart and dropped the pieces onto my empty plate. I gasped.

Draco walked off and I bit my lip. Hermione smiled victoriously and was slapping fives with Ron, Harry and Ginny. I just sat there in shock, looking at the pieces of the card in my plate. I took the contents of my plate, shoved it in my pocket and went off without saying a word.

~*~*~
I walked off to Care of Magical Creatures with mixed feelings. There was a part of me that was glad Draco got put in his place. I thought that was bloody brilliant how Hermione had done it! I mean, she thought that Draco's feelings weren't returned; I guess it never occurred to her that it would bother me one way or another. Another part of me was devastated, torn apart, seeing the card I cherished with Draco's kind words in it destroyed. I was angry at Hermione for being an insensitive bitch, angry at myself for carrying the card around instead of hiding it, angry at Draco for stepping out of line. I mean, he was nice to me outside of Potions...technically, that was not part of our deal!

~*~*~
Once outside, I felt the chilly fall breeze hit my back and the sunshine in front me. I walked off, heading for class.

"MIKA!!!" Hermione yelled out behind me, "Wait up!!!"

I slowed down my pace but I didn't stop.

When Hermione caught up to me, she said, "So, how did you like how I handled it?"

I tightened my expression and replied, "You did well..."

"You don't seem thrilled!" she commented.

"Way to overstate the obvious! You know...for someone so clever, you're so dense!" I shot back at her.

"What are you talking about???" she said sounding confused.

"You've gone and ruined everything! Why didn't you just return the card to me?"

"Mika, you never fancied him back...I never saw any harm!" she said, trying to justify her actions.

"Obviously, you overlooked one simple fact."

"What would that be?" she asked me in a clueless tone I had never heard from her.

"I have to work with him all term...I don't need an angry partner to add to my already oh-so-enjoyable Potions class experience!" I explained to her, using some sarcasm to make my point.

Hermione sighed and told me, "I thought you could handle that..."

I rolled my eyes at her and said, "Listen, Herm, you don't understand, okay? You just don't understand..."

I walked away from her and headed for class.

Once class got started, I stood a good distance away from Harry, Ron and Hermione while getting a good view of Draco and his Slytherin friends.

~*~*~
At the end of the day, I felt completely exhausted. At suppertine, I just ate quietly, sandwiched between Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas. I went off after dinner and went straight to bed. I changed into my pyjamas and I plopped onto my bed and drifted off into a deep sleep.

~*~*~
The next week was pretty much routine. Struggling through classes, attempting to enjoy every Quidditch practice, just trying to get through the day. More of the same the week after that...I was still angry at Hermione, going as far as to give her the cold shoulder on her birthday. Ron, Ginny and Harry sided with her of course! And Draco was still angry and hurt...and taking it out on me. We became all business during Potions, and he stopped speaking to me. It was more of the same the week after that. So much for September...