A/N: I want to thank my reviewers... Thanks for the reviews!! Well, here's... Chapter Eleven, is it?

Chapter Eleven

Draco did not know how long he stood in the library, in the exact same spot as Hermione had left him. He leaned gently against the bookcase as his mind pondered over and over the idea that Hermione might just like him... but he was never the one to get his hopes up. He had learned that a long time ago. Every time his heart began to hope, it was left with a terrible, uncurable ache. Someone was always there to break down every last hope or desire he had left. And that someone was usually his father. No, scratch that, it was always his father.

"Draco, please come into my office, your father is waiting for you.", came the voice of the oily-haired hook-nosed Potions teacher who had appeared suddenly behind him. It was not a request, it was a demand. It wasn't like Draco could say no.

"Speak of the devil!", Draco muttered.

"What was that?"

"Nothing, Professor."

Draco silently followed his Head of House down into the dungeons, pulling his cloak tighter around himself as a draft of invisble cold air flew in through the cracks in the wall.

"Did he say what he wanted?", asked Draco.

"You know very well why he is here."

Indeed, Draco did. He entered the dark office, where his father sat waiting for him.

"Draco, I have some news for you."

------xxxxxx-----

Hermione was angry, confused, and felt very helpless. She had mixed feelings right now, and no one to talk to about them. Ginny was at practice, and everyone else would either laugh or look disgustedly at her for thinking she liked Malfoy.

Do I like him?, she thought, No, that's absurd. Hermione, stop it. You mustn't get tangled up in any more relationships.

Not that she had been in many...

You need to focus on--

"I know! I know! The tournament, contest, whatever!", Hermione heard a rustle and turned to see a first-year staring wide-eyed at her. Hermione smiled at her, and she ran away. Hermione couldn't blame the girl. She supposed she must have looked a bit deranged. Her hair was as usual messed up and quite a bit static-y, stacks of books formed a sort of wall around her, and she was talking to herself.

She cursed herself. Her heart had skipped a bit when she heard the first-year. She had expected to see Draco and was a bit disappointed. She shook it off and squared her shoulders.

"No!", she told herself. "Focus Hermione!"

She put the books back in their place, for Madame Pinch would have had her head if she left them on the floor, and brushed her pants off from any lint. Then she plucked three books off the shelf: Transfigured Transfiguration: A Simple Guide to Complex Things!, The Charming Book of Spells, and lastly The Herbalist's Manual(I got this name from a Chinese series, a great movie! If you can't understand Cantonese, you should read the captions). She carried the books carefully, for they were quite thick, and together, they would've added up to the weight of an average first-year.

"Hermione!"

"Aaah!", Hermione dropped her books. "Ron! You-- don't scare me like that!"

"I'm sorry.", Ron turned pink.

"Is Quidditch practice over already?", Hermione said, picking up her books.

"Yeah, I-- umm, I accidently threw the ball at Ginny's head and Harry was furious... He dismissed us..."

"Is Ginny okay?"

"Well, she's at the Infirmary... her head's bandaged up. Harry's with her, and I-- I thought... someone should tell you what happened?", he finished lamely. He obviously had something else on mind that he wanted to tell her.

"I'm sorry, Ron, but I'm busy right now. After I get these books back up to the common room, I need to go visit Ginny. Then I've got to start reading the books."

"I'll bring them up for you!", Ron said, his eyes brightening.

"Umm, okay, sure..."

Ron took the books from her, and Hermione sighed with relief, rubbing her aching arms. He walked away, looking as if the books were feathers or something.

Hermione went to the Hospital Wing, arriving to see a worried Harry and next to him, Ginny. Ginny's bright red hair was covered by bandages that wrapped around her head, and she seemed to be trying to soothe Harry.

"Really, Harry, I'm all right. Madame Pomfrey says I'll be up and about in no time, you'll see. You can go, Harry."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. Ah, look, Hermione! She'll keep me company!"

Harry looked at Hermione and said, "Will you keep her company?"

"Yes, Harry. Don't worry. Go get dinner."

His stomach growled, as if agreeing with Hermione.

"Yeah, go get yourself some food.", agreed Ginny. "Could you bring me back some dessert?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. Reluctantly, Harry stood up from his chair and walked out of the Wing.

"Phew! I thought he would be here until tomorrow."

"It's sweet, how he cares for you.", Hermione said, settling into the chair Harry had left.

"So...?", Ginny raised an eyebrow.

"So, what?"

"How's Dracooo?", she said, stressing his name.

"Umm..."

"Come on 'Mione, how thick do you think I am? Just cause the idiot that's my brother threw the Quaffle at my head doesn't mean I've gotten brain damage!"

"Well, we sorta... got into a fight."

"Ahh, I see...", Ginny said knowledgably. "The Lover's First Fight."

"Ginny!", Hermione hit her softly on the arm.

"Kidding! You know, I could tell something's really bothering you, 'Mione. Knut for you thought?"

"You don't have a Knut on you right now, but okay. I think... Ginny, I think I like him...", Hermione said seriously. "Everytime I.. I look at him, it's like..."

She trailed off.

"Mm-hmm. Real headcase you are. Hermione, calm down. It's perfectly normal for girls to like guys. Umm... if you didn't like guys, that would make you lesbian. But, you see, I was starting to think something was wrong with you over these past years, you alone never joined in the gossip about guys. But I'm content, now. You've shown the regular signs of a regular girl."

"Ginny!", but although Hermione protested, she felt a little better.

"Now... didn't you have some book you had to read?"

"Of course! I'll see you later Gins'.", Hermione air-kissed Ginny and turned to leave. She glanced at Ginny once more, who waved goodbye to her, and set off to the common room.

Then she saw a piece of what seemed like fabric trailing out from behind a suit of armor.

"Draco?" Not again. Please don't let him be crying again.

"What?" He wasn't crying. His face was stony.

"Who're you hiding from?"

"What do you care?"

"I care alot. But if you want to be like that...", Hermione began to walk away.

"No, please don't leave. I'm sorry. I just-- my father was here."

"What? What's he doing here?"

A/N: I decided I'm going to cut it off right here. reviews are much appreciated!