*Draco's POV*

When I saw Hermione crying, I felt horrible. I hated to see her cry. She used to always cry when I picked on her, and I never wanted her to cry again. I bet it was Weasel. But was it? It could be anyone! It could even be me. Who was it?

I had so many questions, but of course, I couldn't answer any of them. I didn't know whether to see what was wrong or not, until I realised, it is the perfect way to show her that I've changed and that I care about her. So I turned the corner and stood next to her crying form.

"Hermione?" I asked "Are you ok?" she looked up, with make-up down her face and red, puffy eyes.

"I-I'm fine" She lied. Mentally kicking myself I thought, of course she wouldn't tell me. I had been horrible to her since forever.

"Well... why are you crying? Was it the weasel?" I asked she looked up at me, straight into my eyes and sighed. She looked so innocent, I felt like crying myself! When she sighed, it made me feel so angry with the world. What was happening to me?

"Yes, it was Ronald." I instantly hated the jerk. Not that I didn't hate him before, but I hated him more.

"What did he do Hermione? Did he hurt you again?" She shook her head

"No, he didn't hurt me, he was just being a jerk." I nodded, the same thoughts I had in my head.

"Ok. Well, we have class in a minute, so shall we get you cleaned up?"

"Yeah, I think I should." She said, while laughing slightly "Scourgify" and she was instantly clean.

I held out my hand for her, and helped her up. I would like to think she appreciated this, but who knows?

"Thank you Malfoy" She said, in a small voice. I instantly found her adorable. Why have I never found her like this before?

"It's ok." I said after thinking a lot.

By the time we were finished talking, Professor Slughorn came to the door and unlocked it. Shortly after it, the rest of the class turned up. I could see the Weasel giving me daggers out of the corner of my eye, but I didn't care, He wasn't going to bother me. At all.

*Hermione's POV*

I walked out of the front hall and made my way to potions. I didn't know why I was going so early, but I could feel the tears threatening to make their way down my face, and I knew if Ginny saw it, she would ask questions. I just couldn't take it right now. I knew that I had to do something about Ron, but I didn't have the heart to do it right now. What would he do when I told him? Would he hurt me again?

I shook my head, being very confused at the moment. When I got to potions, I slumped down on a wall and started to cry. It was only silent tears to start with, but I knew more were going to come. Before I knew it, I was full on sobbing. I tried to stop, but I knew I was fighting a losing battle.

When I almost completely lost it, I heard someone speak.

"Hermione?" The voice asked "Are you ok?" I looked up and saw that it was Malfoy. I knew that lying to him was no good, but I tried anyway.

"I-I'm fine" I lied. From the look in his eyes, I knew he didn't believe me.

"Well... why are you crying? Was it the weasel?" He asked. I looked up at him, right into his eyes and knew that he wouldn't leave it. I sighed

"Yes, it was Ronald." I said. He suddenly turned as hard a stone. What was wrong with him?

"What did he do Hermione? Did he hurt you again?" He asked. He actually had worry on his face. It seemed strange that the person who I had loathed for 7 years of my life, could be more caring then the person I had loved for 7 years.

"No, he didn't hurt me; he was just being a jerk." He nodded at me, like he had the same thoughts, like he understood.

"Ok. Well, we have class in a minute, so shall we get you cleaned up?"

"Yeah, I think I should." I said, while laughing slightly I needed someone to cheer me up "Scourgify" and I was instantly clean.

Once I was clean, Draco held out his hand and helped me up. I thanked him in a small voice, I don't know why, I just felt a bit self conscious around him. When I said it, he looked as if he was in deep thought. He managed to say "its ok" though.

By the time our chat was over, Professor Slughorn had turned up. He was unlocking the door, didn't even notice us. A little after that the rest of the class turned up. I could see Ron, but I didn't look at his face. If he could hurt me because of Blaise, what would he do when I am with Draco?

*Ginny's POV*

I knew something was wrong. At breakfast, Hermione was all over the place and Ronald was being a jerk. Hermione looked like she was going to cry. When Ronald started shouting, even I got scared. He had no right to be like this. Hermione isn't a piece in his chess game, she's a person, his girlfriend.

Hermione excused herself from Breakfast, saying she wanted to get to lesson. I decided to follow her, see if she was ok. I walked out of the great hall about 5 minutes after, heading to Potions. I could hear her crying, but before I could say anything Malfoy turned up. I mean MALFOY of all people.

"Hermione?" He asked "Are you ok?" He actually seemed concerned. And since when did they become on a first name basis?

"I-I'm fine" She lied. Even I could tell she was lying and I wasn't looking at her! I think she needs to practise at lying.

"Well... why are you crying? Was it the weasel?" He asked. How does he know? Has something happened before?

"Yes, it was Ronald." How dare Ron make her cry! Hermione has to talk to Malfoy to feel better. This is so weird!

"What did he do Hermione? Did he hurt you again?" Again?! He's hurt her? He is going to be so dead when I get hold of him!

"No, he didn't hurt me, he was just being a jerk."

"Ok. Well, we have class in a minute, so shall we get you cleaned up?" Why was Malfoy such a gentleman all of a sudden? He actually sounded as if he cared.

"Yeah, I think I should." She said, while laughing slightly "Scourgify"

There was some shuffling of feet, probably Hermione standing up, and then I snuck from my hiding place, ready to come line up with the rest of the class.

I had no idea what has happened with Hermione and Ronald, but I do need to talk to her. If he has hurt her, I need to know.