A/N: Hey! Sorry for not updating for a long time…anyway, here's the new chapter!

It was the moment.

For both of them.

But not at the same time, that's just completely cheesy and unrealistic.

Hermione realized first, of course. She's the more mature one.

But Draco didn't catch on that much later.

Ugh. I don't believe I actually thought he changed. I mean, the date, it was actually good…or did I just imagine all of that?

Hermione was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling after a long day of work, scolding herself.

He's still that stupid guy he was in Hogwarts. He thinks his life is so hard, well, he doesn't know, he doesn't know what it feels like-

Or did he?

What if it was true? What if he really did live in fear for the first 17 years of his life? What if he did get tortured by his dad?

No. He's just being stupid, trying to make it seem like he's been through so much when he really hasn't. It's not funny to joke about, Malfoy.

If you are joking.

MERLIN, ARE YOU TELLING THE TRUTH OR NOT?

It was the moment.

Not the moment when they realized they loved each other.

Not the moment when they realized that they had so much in common.

Not even the moment when they realized they felt even the tiniest bit attracted to each other.

No. Those moments would happen in the future.

It was the moment when they, just for a second, became a little vulnerable and believed what the other had said.

Just for a moment.

A lot of things can happen from a moment.

Hermione sat up and walked to the kitchen to get herself a cup of coffee. She wasn't going to sleep that night, she would be too busy thinking about him. So she decided to make use of the time by getting some work done.

Of course, she didn't get any work done, and ended up reading, like she always did.

But Draco Malfoy never left the back of her mind.

"Stupid Mudblood. Ooh, I got tortured once. Ooh, I wiped my parents memories, and now they're living happy lives in Australia, but they don't know me so MY LIFE IS OVER! Well, guess what Granger? I got tortured three times! THREE! And you would think that you would be happy that your parents are living happy lives in Australia but NOOOO, you're selfish and depressed that your parents don't know who you are!" Draco kicked the wall as hard as he could.

And no, he didn't break it. The house was freaking magical.

Did you really think this was one of those Muggle films where the angry guy starts throwing things around and swearing and breaking stuff?

Well, uh, it's not. All Draco got out of kicking the wall was a hurt foot.

"Dude, take a chill pill." Blaise said, while playing on his new iPad (he loved the iPhone so much he just had to get the iPad…). He was currently taking funny pictures of himself in Photo Booth.

"A chill pill? What the bloody hell is that? Don't tell me it's some kind of muggle medicine…Blimey, the names they come up with…"

"It's an expression, Genius. Hey, look at this picture!"

"Haha. Very funny." Draco said sarcastically, not even looking at the picture and continuing to kick the wall.

"Doesn't that hurt?"

"Yeah."

Blaise stared at Draco for a better answer, but he never got one. He sighed. He never understood Draco, and never will.

"Dude, just, like, think about it for a sec. She's gone through a lot, too, you know. She got tortured for information, and she stayed loyal. I mean, you wouldn't do that, admit it."

Draco stayed silent. Yes, it was true, he wouldn't do that. He couldn't do that.

Hermione was right. He was a coward.

"And she doesn't have parents, too, Draco. Think about it, if you're allowed to sulk-"

Draco gave him an evil look.

"I mean, mope around the house thinking your life sucks-"

"Better."

"-then why isn't she? She went through the same thing. Still is, like you."

Draco paused for a minute.

He was right.

Every moment has a realization moment. The moment that comes right after, the moment you've realized what you've said.

And after that, comes the regret moment.

Hermione closed the book and set it on the table. She never had to use a bookmark, she always remembered what page she was on.

"You're a coward!"

She shouldn't have said that. If he was telling the truth…the words she said were pretty mean.

Merlin, if someone told that to me, I would never forget it.

Sure, he was Draco Malfoy. Sure, he bullied her ever since she was an eleven year old witch at Hogwarts.

But…what if he bullied us because his father threatened him?

It…would make sense.

A lot of sense.

"Yo, you okay? You haven't said anything for two minutes."

"I said…really mean things."

Blaise rolled his eyes. "Don't tell me you just realized this now…"

Draco gave another one of his evil death stares.

"You just realized this now…"

"I mean, the things I said to 'Mione on the date. Not the things I said at Hogwarts. I had a purpose for that, my father told me to. But now…I don't have father to tell me what to do anymore, I can make my own choices. And it seems like I'm not doing too well at this decision-making stuff."

"Draco, you're a hell of a lot better decision-maker than your dad. Didn't you say you didn't want to turn into your father?"

"Yeah. I don't. But I am."

"You could stop. Go the other pathway. Apologize, something your father never would've done."

"How? It's too late to apologize." Draco kicked the wall again. He screwed up.

So it wasn't just his dad's fault. He naturally sucked at this game called life, without his father to screw up his life even more.

Blaise smirked. "Call her."

A lot of things can come from a moment.

A lot of things can come from a phone call, too.

A/N: Whoa, longest chapter yet! I like this chapter, let me know if you did, too! Promise I will update soon…thank you guys for being so patient!

POTTER ON,

Bonniebonbon.