Hermione searched the whole castle after the ferret, but could not find him. If she hadn't known better she would have guessed he was in his common room, but this is Hermione Granger, and she knew better. She was very well aware of Draco's current position in the Slytherin house. She also knew that the Blonde boy would rather be outside wander around in the caste, than being locked up in a room in the dungeons; he'd probably had enough of that by now. She decided to give it up for now, she may see him at dinner, and walked outside.

What she saw the moment she walked through the doors, made her stop dead in her tracks and mouth wide agape. There, down by the lake, was two very familiar boys standing over someone, she could not really place, kicking and beating the depths out of him. Ron and Harry had their wands in their hands, while their victim had lost his wand, Hermione saw it a few inches away. What was wrong with them? They had never acted like that before.

Hermione ran towards the incident and with each step, she recognized the boy who lay on the ground more and more. It was Malfoy.

"Harry! Ron! What on earth are you two doing!" she squeaked as she got closer. The boys stopped and looked at her with wide eyes, as if she'd caught them taking cookies from the cookie jar. What has gotten into these boys? Since when did they beat someone up?

"What in Merlin's name is wrong with the two of you!" Hermione was so angry at them, not because they've beaten Malfoy(as we all know she'd done it herself), but the fact they actually beat someone up.

"But Hermione," Ron whined and gave her the puppy eyes, Hermione rolled her eyes. "He was being an arse!"

"What did he do then?" she demanded to know.

"He... He... He was calling us names!" He said in victory and crossed his arms.

Hermione couldn't believe her ears. She looked at Harry to get some answers but he wouldn't look at her, instead he glared at the ground.

"Harry? What happened?" She asked softly and touched his shoulder, he shrugged it off and stormed back into the castle with Ron just behind him. She sighed and decided she'd confront them later.

She got down on her knees beside the unmoving Draco Malfoy and turned him over, so that he lay on his back. His lip were swollen, he got a cut just above his eye and he had bruises all over his face. She didn't even want to think about how he looked underneath his shirt. She took out her wand and healed what she could, meaning the smallest cuts as well as bringing down the swelling.

"Malfoy?" she whispered while shaking him softly "Malfoy, are you okay?" she said a bit louder. He made a weird sound, which made Hermione sigh in relief.

"Do I look okay?" he groaned and sat up with difficulty. She couldn't help but to smile and roll her eyes at the blond, no matter how hurt he was, he would always go back to his own arrogant self, he would never let anyone see his weak side. She didn't want to admit it, but she respected him for that. She herself would never be able to lock so many things away; she would probably go mad with the weight on her shoulders. It got her thinking; Even if Malfoy was strong, in his own twisted way, he, too, would go mad when the time comes. Who knows how long that will take? He, if anyone, needed help.

Hermione was very well aware he wouldn't let her help him, she'd been telling that to herself so many times now she even dreamt it, but she had to try. She knew that with enough support anyone could make whatever it was weighting them down. She would even go as far as to care. The thought made her close her eyes hard and shake her head. However, the Gryffindor had made up her mind and she would do this, if not for him, then for herself.

"Here, let me help you," she said when she got up and offered him a hand for him to take. He stared at it, as if it suddenly had turned green, and then looked at her as if she was out of her mind. She was, but she wouldn't tell him that.

"Are you serious?" he asked her with raised eyebrows, when Hermione shrugged Draco made a move as if he gagged. "As if I would even consider touching the hand of a mudblood," He sneered and rolled his eyes.

Mudblood, the word stung her still, but she had to shrug it off if she was going to do this. Instead, she smiled a forced sweet smile, which made Malfoy frown, and shook her head.

"Malfoy, I really don't care what you think, but we both know you need my help right now, so why not take it? If it makes you feel any better; it's dinner now and everyone is in the Great Hall, no one will see you take the help from a muggle-born."

He thought about what she'd said, but still didn't take it, and tried to get up on his own, only to fail miserably.

"Fine," Hermione snapped. "I guess you won't thank me for healing some of the bruises either?" she glared at him when he shoot her an are-you-serious-look.

"Well then, I'm sorry I tried to help you Malfoy, I really am. Next time I am going to just watch Harry and Ron hit you, and let you lie there in your own blood when they're done. You're really not worth the trouble Malfoy!" how many times in one day could this bastard make her furious? She turned her heal and stormed back to the castle, but not before kicking his wand towards him, but still out of reach.

Draco sighed heavily as he watched her go. He couldn't believe he just called her that, the one word he said he would never again utter.

Mudblood.

A/N: Sorry for the delay, I was actually going to upload yesterday.
or if it was the day before? nah I dunno..
the reason? I have a good one.. .
I wasn't home! dum dum dum.
Got home today. so yeah..

Three days left folks!
You want to know what I wish for?
*You reviewing like crazy.
*Like Crazy you are going to review
(The grammar is fucked up, it's supposed to be that way)
*Reviews.
*Long reviews!
*You, telling Me, what You think!

You choose what you want! :)

Next chapter tomorrow or the day after that.
I will give you my longest chapter (yet) on friday!
just one last thing:
REVIEW! :)

Nicco