Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

A/N: Hello again! I love all the feedback that I'm hearing and wanna clear up a few things that seem to be causing some confusion...Hermione didn't just all of a sudden fall in love with Draco for no reason, in chap 2, she talks about how her feelings for Draco started becoming un-platonic during their Sixth Year but she has never acted on them because she knows it would be a dead end and she has too much to lose if her secret ever came out, including his friendship. Draco started realizing he likes Hermione as more than a friend after sharing their Head's dorm and realizing she's not just one of the boys, but he obviously has no idea that his romantic intentions towards her wouldn't be welcomed. Hermione's main goal is to avoid anything that would cause her true heritage to come out, which includes any marital background checks that precede a betrothal contract. KEEP THIS IN MIND. Second, Hermione is NOT purposely breaking Theo's heart, she has no idea that his feelings run any deeper than her own towards him, which are that of close friendship and mutual attraction. She cares for Theo, even loves him, but is not IN LOVE with him because she already is in love with Draco. Theo doesn't know she is in love with Draco but, as we saw last time, he knows that Draco might love Hermione and is threatened by it because he doesn't want Hermione to get hurt seeing as Draco is not 'available'. He himself knows he'll be forced into a contract and doesn't want to damage Hermione's reputation, which is why he stopped them from going too far in the library...WHEW! lol Oh, and Theo is only getting the blame because Draco is convinced that he's messing with Hermione's emotions and reputation (Men, UGH!) lol god forbid a girl can take care of herself, ammiright? Hermione thinks Theo was off put by her pushing him too far and that she was pressuring him to give her more than what they had originally agreed on, which was just casual snogging without the commitment. NOW! Here were are, enjoy! Review if you love messy triangles :p

Chapter Seven: Broken and Not Mended

The next morning, Hermione was privy to bits of gossip from her House as she slid next to Millicent for breakfast. She reached for a piece of toast as her larger friend started talking about a big fight that happened yesterday in the dorms. Buttering her bread, she rolled her eyes at the immaturity of some of her housemates. Thankfully, Slytherin was a private house and she knew the news of a fight would not go past their table. "...and poor Theodore had to go to the Hospital Wing after and get stitches! Draco was furious but the boys are keeping silent about the whole thing, won't say a word. Bloody suspicious, if you ask me," the brunette finished, downing the contents of her cup.

Hermione went still. "Theodore and Draco? My, how strange indeed…" she finally murmured, losing her appetite and feeling a cold clamminess take over her body. "Will you excuse me, Millie? I seem to have forgotten an essay back in my room," she quickly gathered her bag and didn't wait for a reply as she made her way quickly to the dungeons.

Muttering the password, she quietly entered the Slytherin common room and looked to find Theo. "Granger, what a pleasant surprise," Blaise spotted her and smiled at her. "Morning, Zabini. Um, have you seen Theo this morning? I have a quick question for him," she lied glibly, plastering on an innocent face. The Italian boy's eyes tightened slightly but was gone before she could remark on it. "Nope, he spent the evening at the Hospital Wing, I'm afraid. Had a nasty fall from one of the staircases yesterday," he said smoothly, noting the small frown she shot him. 'Liar, liar…' she thought, unsurprised in the least. "Well in that case, I should go see him there then. Thank you, Blaise," she nodded and turned to exit the dorms.

Making her way up to the Hospital Wing, she fretted over the fact she caused a fight between the two boys. Draco could never just leave well enough alone, could he? Theodore would probably not be pleased to see her, but she had to make it right somehow. She finally reached her destination and found Theo behind a white curtain, changing out his pajama top for a clean oxford shirt. "Theo? It's Hermione…. may I see you when you're ready?" she asked politely, trying not to let her nerves get the best of her. She saw his shadow pause at her voice. "Please?" she added, slightly pleading.

After an excruciating moment, he finally nodded. Biting her lip nervously, she paced slightly as he slipped on his vest and then his robes before appearing from behind the curtain. Hermione looked up and gasped, her hands flying to her mouth in shock. "Oh Theo…." she whispered, her hands automatically reaching for his healing bruises and stitches across his left eyebrow. It stung when he pulled away before she could reach him. She forced her hands back to her sides.

"I'm so sorry, Theodore. I had no idea Draco would attack you, I told him to leave you alone! He saw me upset and jumped to conclusions, and I swear, I told him it was my own fault and that you had done nothing wrong," she whispered furiously, hating the tightness in her throat and the stinging in her eyes. He stood stoically still and made no motion he accepted her apology. She blinked back her tears. "This is all my fault. I led you on...and all you did was stop me from making a fool of myself. You're a good man, Theodore Nott, much better than I deserve right now. Please, even if it's not today or tomorrow…. please say we can still be friends? I promise never to embarrass you like that again, honestly...we can be strictly platonic and I won't ask for anything," she hated the way her voice wavered, bordering on needy. But dammit, he was one of her oldest friends and to lose his friendship now would be almost unbearable.

He sighed quietly, hating the tears that were falling silently down her cheek. She was so innocent, she had no idea that it was he who was the fool, not her. "Hermione, I... I think it best if we have some time apart for now. Honestly, what was between us...it's got to end. It's not fair to either of us to continue on like this. I could get a letter any day now about a betrothal, as could you, and then what? Let's stop this before you get hurt," he tried to sound casual but he felt miserable as he watched her cry quietly. 'You are an arsehole of the highest order, Nott, but it's for her own good,' he told himself. It didn't help him feel any less like a callous prat as she just nodded quietly at his words. "Yes, of course, you're right. I'm being unreasonable to expect things to be as they were. You have your responsibilities to think about, as do I. Perhaps someday we can look back on our time fondly and be friends again. Goodbye, Theo," she hastily wiped her tears and forced a painful smile before exiting the wing before he could see her breakdown.

He watched her leave, clenching his fists hard enough to draw blood to keep from going after her. His adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard, willing the prickling behind his eyes to go away. He had no right to feel sorry for himself, none at all.

Draco observed the dinner table and had yet to see Hermione's fluff of hair appear. She had seemed withdrawn in classes all day, only speaking when spoken to and not raising her hand even once. He noticed with satisfaction that Nott looked worse for wear, the bruise paste not working fast enough to hide the sickly yellow marks on his face, not to mention the stitches that marred his brow. Zabini's dark form moved to sit next to him, eyeing the blonde warily. "Granger stopped by the hospital wing this morning to visit our friend over there," he gestured to the barely eating Theo. Draco grit his teeth. That was not what he wanted to hear. However, considering that Hermione was not anywhere near the prat all day, he assumed Nott had kept his promise to stay away from her. Still, it didn't please him that Hermione appeared to suffer for it.

"Yes, well, it looks like our friend has learned his lesson. Hermione will get over it, I'm sure, and Nott will move on once he gets contracted before graduation," he smirked, digging into his shepard's pie. Well, that was one problem solved. Now, if only getting out of his own betrothal contract would be that easy.

He had little doubt his mother could persuade his father to at least do a bit of informal research on the Grangers', as was customary before any serious background checks began. Lucius Malfoy didn't like being made a fool of, and liked it even less when it involved Astoria's father, so they would have to tread carefully. His mother knew the biggest obstacle would be getting his father to part with the galleons required by the contract, which was not an inconsiderable amount, and giving it to a smug Mr. Greengrass. He knew that the Greengrasses weren't keen on letting their daughter marry into an accused Death Eater's family and would make Lucius pay dearly at the public affront of a broken betrothal.

By the end of dinner, Hermione had yet to make an appearance and Draco decided to bring her a plate up to their rooms. A sort of peace offering, since he knew she would be angry with him over this whole Nott business. Ignoring the glare from the Head's portrait, he entered and placed the plate on the coffee table before going to knock on Hermione's door. He paused but she ignored him. He tried to touch the door, but hissed as whatever wards she placed burned him. Sighing, he raised his wand and tried to figure out how to dismantle the wards, muttering a few complicated spells. After 15 minutes, he finally heard the click of her door opening and he entered, ignoring the tearful glare she shot him. "Get out, Draco," she said hoarsely, turning her frizzy hair from him.

"Hermione…."

She sat up suddenly, a fierce look on her wet face. "How dare you! How DARE you, Draco! I trusted you! Theodore was my friend and it was MY problem to deal with. I asked you to not interfere and you went and ATTACKED HIM in his own room! Now he hates me! He wants nothing to do with me, after seven years of friendship, because of YOU!" she cried, her magic crackling around her dangerously. Draco stayed silent, eyeing her warily. "Just get out, I can't look at you right now," she flung a hand and he found himself being flung back out of her room before the door slammed shut in his face. Stunned at her dismissal of him, he rubbed a large hand down his face. "Well, shite."