Chapter 10

"You might want to grab your rain jacket."

Hermione woke to a door slamming; she shot up from her pillow clutching her blanket close. Draco was up and about she guessed, remembering he had returned to stay last night. She leaned over the mountain of pillows to check her clock, 7:12am.

"Ugh, Such a jerk!" She yelled.

After moping in her bed for about 15 minutes following being woken, it was obvious sleep was not going to come to her. She slammed her fists down on either side of her body and pulled herself up to the seated position. She then made her way to the bathroom to prepare herself for the day. After freshening up and dressing herself for the nice warm weather ahead she walked over to the window and grasped either side of the curtains and spread them with a huge smile on her face. Instantly horror struck her, her mouth hung open and her eyes wide in disbelief. It was raining cats and dogs!

"Noooo, it was supposed to be sunny all weekend." She whined into the curtains. "Ginny you are so dead!" she said as she made her way back to the closet to throw a dark gray zip up sweater over the white tank top she had on.

She dragged her feet all the way from her room to the Great Hall, breakfast was about to begin so she rushed to her still gaping spot at the Gryffindor table. As she took her see she could see Ginny cowering in across the table, Hermione shot her a dirty look, and Ginny mouthed "I'm Sorry." Before looking down at her bowl of oatmeal like a sad puppy dog; Hermione just rolled her eyes and flicked a piece of scrambled egg at her. It wasn't really Ginny's fault the weather was so terrible, she wasn't a weather girl. Hermione was just grumpy from her abrupt wake up; she wasn't really mad with Ginny. Hermione ate slightly quicker then she normally would seeing as she knew she was on a time limit; it was 8:40am when she finished and stood. She started towards the large double doors; Ginny stuffed a mini muffin in her mouth before jumping up behind her followed closely.

"Hey Hermione! I'm really sorry to have mislead you about the weather, Neville swore it was going to be gorgeous out." Ginny rushed.

"It's alright Gin, I'm not mad at you." Hermione answered, seeming distracted.

"So have any plans for this crumby Saturday?" Ginny asked.

"Uh, well I do actually have to kind of be somewhere.." Hermione said looking over Ginny's shoulder.

"Oh well a couple of the girls and I are going to watch the Wizards chest tournament, you're welcome to join?" Ginny offered.

This was no time for small talk, especially seeing as the person waiting on Hermione wasn't known for being too understanding.

"Sorry Ginny, I'll have to catch up to you later." Hermione declined with a smile.

"Say, aren't Harry and Ron away this weekend? Who's waiting for you if I'm here and they're away?" Ginny asked confused.

"I really don't have time to explain." Hermione said with her hand up in front of her chest. "It's complicated but I'll fill you in at supper!" She promised.

Hermione walked around her friend and started power walking towards the common room.

"You'd better!" Ginny called, cupping her mouth to make her voice travel.

Without turning around Hermione waved her hand above her head to signal that she had heard Ginny's demand. She was practically in full sprint, rushing up the stares pushing past any slow walkers. Finally reaching the room she swung the large door open, panting frantically. Sitting on the corner of the love seat was Draco, looking down at his right hand picking at his nails.

"You're two minutes late Mudblood." Draco said without looking up from his nails.

Hermione hated that he was totally back to the jerk he'd always been, but she hated more looking over at the clock on the stove to see that he was right .. 9:02am.

"I have friends you know, sorry I'm not going to blow them off to rush to your side." Hermione said in a harsh tone.

"You sure seemed to be in a hurry rushing threw the door just now, no?" He challenged.

"Can we just go now please?.." Hermione asked

Draco rose from his seat and walked towards the door sliding his raincoat on.

"You might want to grab your rain jacket." He suggested.

"Since when did you care about me?" Hermione said in a rude voice.

"I don't." He smiled wickedly. "I just don't want to hear you complaining halfway there." He finished.

Hermione rolled her eyes and grabbed her rain jacket off the rack by the door before pushing past him.

"After you.." He said sarcastically.

The rain wasn't coming down too badly as they walked across the large school grounds; Hogsmeade was about a half hour to 45 minute walk away from Hogwarts, so they knew they were going to get wet regardless. They walked at the same pace, side by side.

"Are you sure you don't want to grab an umbrella before we get too far from Hogwarts?" Draco asked in a softer tone then usual.

"No I'm alright, it's only rain. I won't melt." Hermione replied in a polite tone.

"Pfft. Whatever then." He said more aggressively.

Hermione looked over at Draco with a confused look on her face, again with the bi polar attitude she thought; feeling her stare Draco glanced in her direction.

"What?" He asked in a stern voice

"Nothing.." Hermione answered sounding like a mouse as she looked away.

They walked another 15 minutes in total silence; the rain had begun to pick up and was really starting to come down. Draco's pace had picked up as well, he was two whole strides in front of Hermione. Her brain was working to try and figure out the reasons behind his absurd personality disorder.

"I just don't get you!" She cried out, instantly regretting each word.

They kept walking for a moment in silence before she got any kind of reply; she saw Draco tilt his head back as if to say "oh great.." with his body language.

"What is there to get Granger.." He answered in a frustrated tone. "I'm a Malfoy, and you're nothing more then a pathetic mudblood. My presence alone here is a privilege for your kind. Purebloods aren't supposed to associate with the likes of you, under any circumstance." His tone seemed to sound more and more sad, rather than insulting. "I'm supposed to hate you; I'm supposed to look down on you with my every inch of being. You're an insult to the magical world; a waste of every professors teaching. You don't deserve to be called a witch; you shouldn't even have a right to be under the same roof as me. Don't you get it!?" He yelled.

Hermione bit down on her bottom lip to prevent any sign of the sheer ache her heart felt from every one of his words; it took everything she had not to break down in tears, running back for Hogwarts. She stopped walking and stood staring at him. It took Draco 6 more steps to notice she was no longer trailing slightly behind him; he too stopped, though he didn't turn to face her. He reached his hands to his face and rubbed his eyes in frustration; as well as letting out a deep sigh.

"What?" He asked in a crude tone. "Did I hurt your feelings?" He added still without turning to face her.

Though his question sounded more like an insult then true concern, he really was concerned. His heart thudded in his chest; he squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for her reply. He felt sick, he wished he had a time machine to go back and prevent those words from every leaving his mouth.

"Supposed to." She finally spoke, in a broken voice.

Hearing her speak sent a shrill of shivers up Draco's spine; though she tried to hide it, it was clear she was seriously damaged by what he said.

"What?" He asked in a soft, confused whisper.

"You repeatedly used the words "supposed to." Her voice grew stronger with each word.

There was a moment of silence between them again; Draco finally turned to face her, staring into her big, broken brown eyes. His face was perfectly angelic; the rain soaked his silver bangs to his forehead, exposing his eyes. They were gorgeous, steel blue, ice-like and clear as crystal. They were even more prominent when his hair was wet; showing they're full erotic potential. They looked at each other in silence; his eyes were sad, and for the first time ever it seemed as though he wasn't trying to hide it.

"So what?" His voice matched his eyes.

"That all sounded so rehearsed? You're not explaining to me that's how you feel..You're trying to convince me." She said sounding disgusted.

His eyes stayed on hers as he walked towards her closing the space between them, until they were inches apart from one another. His baby Sapphire eyes held hers; sending an electric serge throughout her whole body. Being a whole head taller then Hermione, Draco had to lean down to match her eyes in a dead lock. She couldn't look away, no matter how much she wanted to she couldn't. It was like she was under a spell, lost in his beautiful gaze. Being so close to him she could see the true astonishing features of his eyes, blue crystals with shades of azure, cobalt, and cerulean flecked and glinted in them. They were piercing; and their full power was drawing her in.

"This conversation is over." He spoke softly but rigid.

Breaking eye contact by his own will was the only reason Hermione was able to react; as Draco turned to continue walking she grabbed his left wrist and yanked on it gently. No one had ever put their hands on him before like this other than his father but in a much rough manner. This enraged him, resulting in his right hand striking hers off of him. She gasped from the scare and sting of contact; he then grabbed her right arm just above the elbow yanking her, an inch from his face. He paused for a moment, realizing how hard he was squeezing her. His breathing was slightly erratic; he struggled to control it. Shock was written all over Hermione's face, as she stared up at him truly frightened.

"I'm…" He began.

He loosened his hold on her but placed his other hand on her left arm also just above the elbow; he held her in place. He leaned his head in, resting his forehead on hers for a minute or two. Hermione was frozen from the contact, this almost felt intimate. He then moved so his lips were at her ear.

"Please, don't do this Hermione." He whispered softly.

Her eyes widened, 'Hermione' she thought.

He released her completely, standing in front of her as if he was waiting for a response. He didn't get a verbal reply; instead Hermione just stared up at him for a long moment, she felt like he was toying with her. He had such a strong effect on her now, her heart was thudding from the gentle contact. She suddenly became angry, why couldn't he just pick, being one way towards her. Enough with the flipping back and forth; She looked forward for a second before pushing past him to continue on her way to Hogsmeade without a word.

Please R&R!