WITH OR WITHOUT YOU

Hi, everybody!

Californianchick, Nichole-sumpter, Scarlet-knight13 and Greyon Hell: really really thanks!! It makes me really glad to know that you like my fic and loved the last chapter (#9)! As you might have read, the real romance between those two will take a little longer to happen, but please just be patience... I promise you won't regret!

Danny: law? Nice! A friend of mine just graduated in law a couple of months ago! Thanks for the compliments!!

Masha: hey! Thanks! I couldn't imagine that someone who read my last fic would be reading this one! What a nice surprise! I'm also a Ron-Hermione supporter, you know? But, as you could see in "The Kiss", I had to put Draco in the story... don't they say that love and hate walk side by side? Well, it would not surprise me if JK makes Draco realize that he loves Hermione, that's why I like HGDM fics and why I'm writing this one! And don't worry, I was thinking about Ron's love life too... it will take some time but he'll not be alone, trust me! And thanks for telling me about Ginny's name! I didn't know it and the only name I could associate with Ginny was Virginia... but I would never think about a name like Ginerva... please, forget that mistake... and this request is to all of you... really sorry if I'm mistaken... and thanks for your comprehension! I'll update as soon as I can, promise!

Gonzogirl: sorry, but... you were reading "The Kiss"? If so, I hope you read what I said to Masha... and it's just a fic! I'm writing this way cause I believe it won't happen in the book!

Here's the next chapter! Hope you like it!!!

Chapter X

"But, Mione, it's ONLY the second day of school!" Ron said annoyed.

"No, Ron, it's ALREADY the second day of school!"

They were at the 4th floor, on the west side of the castle.

He sighed. "You're hopeless..."

"Honestly!"

"And just when I thought it would be an easy patrolling..."

She stared at him for a few seconds with her mouth opened then started to walk quickly, leaving Ron behind. "Well, then..."

"Hey! Why the hurry?" He quickened his pace.

"I'm leaving so you can have an EASY patrolling!" she was almost running.

"C'mon, Mione!" He was right after her. "I didn't mean it! It's just that you don't give a break! Lately you just keep lecturing us! 'N.E.W.T.s this! N.E.W.T.s that!' Don't you have anything else in mind?"

She suddenly stopped. "I'm being that boring?"

"Well, just when you start speaking about the tests and kind of get nervous with everything".

"Ok, Ron... it's only the second day of school".

His jaw dropped then he gave a slight smile. Better not show I'm that happy. "You know, it got worse since yesterday. You seemed ok when we were at the Burrow".

She looked at him. "I think sharing duties and a room with Malfoy is getting on my nerves".

"I can imagine... but, did he do or say something that..."

"Well, same as always. Mudblood that, mudblood this..."

Ron clenched his fists.

She smiled. "Calm down, Ron. Do you think I mind? He's so stupid that he can only repeat himself. I'm laughing at it... and it's a really good excuse to call him ferret. He hates when I call him ferret". They laughed. "Well, I need to go. Wanna see how Malfoy is".

Ron looked at her confused. "'See how he is'? What do you mean? He's ill?"

She smirked. "He was in pain when I left him".

"Pain? Why... Hermione, did you do something?"

She grinned. "Nothing much. I just hit him on... you know". She pointed where at Ron.

His eyes were wide open. "You didn't!"

"Yes, I did".

He whistled. "No wonder he was in pain. But why you did that?"

She crossed her arm with his. "I'll tell you on the way to my room".

"Alright!"

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Malfoy managed to get up and walked to the table, sitting in front of that paper Hermione left there. Damn! She'll pay me! But, to say the truth, it was really good that she hit me. I was about to kiss that... thing! That lesson would cost me a whole week washing my mouth with the most powerful dirt cleaner potion! I was so angry at her that I wasn't thinking. He pulled the paper to him and took a look. "But she... she changed everything! Even the dates! Ouch... damn! I wish I could kill her! I'll ask my father to leave her to me! I'll beg him if I need to!" He glanced at the paper once more before hearing the portrait moving.

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"It was well-done, Mione!"

She laughed. "Yeah, I know. Now, off you go. I can't tell my password in front of you".

"Ok. See you tomorrow!"

She looked at him till he turned at the corner. "Partnership".

The painting moved. "Good night, mademoiselle. I hope you'll have nice dreams".

She smiled. "Thanks! And good night!" She entered.

"What... is... THAT?"

She looked at him. He was holding a crushed paper in his left hand (and the other was... hum... you know where).

"Feeling better?" She walked towards the sofas and sat on the right one, near the table.

Malfoy's eyes were flashing. "Granger, you changed everything".

"No, only the dates. The matches are exactly like you chose them". She said, calmly.

"Only the dates? ONLY THE DATES?" He tried to get up, but he felt the pain again and gave up. "There will be no game in November and January? Is that what you're saying?"

"It will be winter. I thought that it would be better if no one has to play while snowing. And I didn't cancel the November game, I just put it in the beginning of the month".

"You know the matches were ALWAYS arranged like this, don't you?" He asked angrily.

"Yeah, so it's time for a change".

He punched the table hard, making Hermione jump on her seat. "You're just doing that to protect your 'oh so loved' despicable friends!"

She leant on the sofa lazily. "Maybe... since you made this schedule to protect your house..." she pointed to the paper in his hand "... I made some changes to protect mine".

"I won't allow it!" He got up so quickly that he curved his body in pain.

Hermione suppressed a laugh. "Still hurting, huh? It was for being such a scoundrel. Now, you don't have to allow anything, but we have to get in an agreement... so?"

He looked at her, anger boiling inside him. "There's no agreement. We'll give to McGonagall my schedule and that's it". He stepped towards her and stopped right in front of her. Hermione got up and faced him. "And I don't care if you like it or not".

Her eyes were flashing too. "McGonagall said we HAVE to work together, so you can't take it to her if I don't like it!"

"I said I don't care. WHICH WORD DIDN'T YOU UNDERSTAND?" He yelled at her face.

"Sorry, Malfoy, but it's you who didn't understand. I don't approve it..." she took the paper from his hand "... and we have to work together, so we have to achieve an agreement. As you can see, I'm trying".

"Give me that!" He raised his hand at her chest height, asking for the paper.

"What for?" She asked, still looking at him.

He sighed. "I'll take a look... and see what I can do. Team work, right?"

She looked at him suspiciously.

"I don't want to lose my head position, if you're thinking about a reason".

She put the paper on his hand. "I hope you're serious, Malfoy".

He gave her his back and walked towards his room, really slowly.

I hope he's serious. When he closed the door, she entered in her room, her mind full of worried thoughts.

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It was a nice morning. Malfoy wasn't in the room and she didn't dare to knock on his door again. She went to the great hall and saw that he was already there. Nice! There wasn't a single class with the slytherins and she managed to not lecture the boys about the tests.

She was leaving the arithmancy class happily when McGonagall approached her at the corridor.

"Yes, professor?"

"Just want to congratulate you, miss Granger".

Hermione grinned. "Thanks, professor, but... what for?" We didn't give her any work yet... and I didn't answer any difficult question as well... at least, I can't remember.

"Well, miss Granger, I thought that you and mister Malfoy wouldn't be able to give me the quidditch matches schedule till monday but you could deliver it in my office today".

Hermione took some seconds to fully understand what McGonagall was saying and then... "WHAT?!"