A/N Loll Okay I finally decided to update. Enjoy!

Chapter Eight

"I am not going to kiss Malfoy.", Hermione fumed. "Never."

"Hermione, it's your fault. You chose dare.", Fred said innocently.

"Fine.", Hermione snapped back. "Fine. I'll show you. I'll get you the damned picture."

"Now, let's continue on with the game, shall we?"

"I'm going to bed.", Hermione said loudly.

"Really? But you were the one who wanted to play? Surely you aren't going to ditch us?", Fred said matter-of-factly.

"I'm tired.", Hermione merely said.

"Oh let her go.", Ron said. "She's endured that task already. We'll play, then."

"Thanks.", she whispered gratefully into Ron's ear. He turned pink and gave her a goofy grin in return. She did not notice this, as she had already went back to her room.

"Now, Ronniekins, truth or dare?", George challenged.

"Don't call me--!"

xxx

Hermione pressed her forehead against the cool glass window, and closed her eyes, sighing deeply.

"What have I gotten myself into?", she muttered. Just then she saw a pale figure walking slowly across the lawn, and even in the dark, his pale blonde hair was unmistakable.

Malfoy? What's he doing?, Hermione thought. Malfoy leaned against a tree trunk, and appeared to be sighing. He leaned his head into his hands and then his figure began to shake. Was he crying?!

Hermione could not believe it. She had to see this up close. She pulled on her cloak and walked quietly out into the common room.

"Hermione? What are you doing?"

"Harry, may I borrow your Cloak?", she asked.

"What for?"

That was an easy question. "I've simply got this dumb question in my head about homework, and I need to get the answer or I'll go crazy. I need to go to the library."

"Oh, all right then."

Hermione grabbed his Cloak from his dorm and went into the deserted hallway. She made her way past the entrance of the Great Hall and out the front doors. Then she ran to the tree near the lake to see that Draco Malfoy was still there.

She removed the Cloak. The memory of the previous week was fresh in her head, but... he looked so sad.

"Draco?", she said softly. He looked up, and immediately brushed the tears from his eyes. He was crying.

"What are you doing here?"

"I saw you from my dorm, and I wondered--"

"What do you care, Granger? I'm a liar remember?"

"I'm sorry. I--", for once Hermione was at lost for words.

"Hermione... please, leave me alone. I-- I'm going through a lot right now... and I don't need someone to taunt me at the moment."

"I-- I'm not here to taunt you... I want to know why you're-- you're so sad."

"You wouldn't believe me anyways. And why would I tell you, for God's sake. You'll probably have it posted around the whole school. 'Ferret Face Crying! Extra! Extra! Read all about it!'."

"I wouldn't do that!", Hermione said, aghast. "I'm not that-- I wouldn't sink that low."

"Oh, sure, perfect Granger, perfect life! Part of the Golden Trio!"

"What! I'm not perfect! I'm-- I'm-- I'm an Insufferable Know-It-All Mudblood! Bookworm, hated by-- by--"

"Oh please, Hermione. That's not true."

"Oh yeah? I'm friends with Harry Potter. I've been through every injury possibly imagined."

"Do you regret it?", Draco said suddenly.

"Regret what?"

"Being friends with Harry? Having only guy friends? Having been just found out you're a girl?"

"Well... life could be a bit more different, if I hung out with girls more... but..."

"But?"

"But it happened already, and I'm not about to change it."

"Okay..."

"I've told you how I felt. Why can't you tell me?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Why wouldn't I? You can't know until you've tried."

"Well, how about I hate my father?"

"That's it?"

"No, Hermione, there's a lot more than that. But that's all you need to know right now. My father is a two-faced bastard."

"Draco?"

"What?"

Hermione leaned over and lightly kissed him on the cheek, which turned pink. She had no idea why she did that. She was going to tell him she knew how he felt, but she had had a sudden impulse to kiss him.

"Good night.", she whispered. And she pulled on Harry's cloak and left him sitting there, his fingers lightly tracing where her lips had met his skin.

Little did the two know that two certain identical redheads were hidden behind the bushes, and had taken a picture of it.

"Wow, she actually did the dare.", Fred said.

"She's got guts.", George said.

A/N: Okay, I updated. Please review. This was all I could write for now. And please no flames. Constructive critism welcome. Reviews are much appreciated.