Ron swallowed thickly. He's heard of many stories on Julie "Fuckaholic" Pyatt, but he wasn't sure if all the stories about her were true. If they were, it would mean that she had sex on the school's piano, in the courtyard with shackles, in Snape's dungeon... Maybe he would be getting a little taste tonight...?

'Red hair...' Julie observed, 'and you're still not turning around!' She twirled a lock of his hair around her fingers. 'Must be a Weasley.' She turned Ron around by his shoulders. She observed his wide eyes, and brushed his cheek with her thumb.

'We shall see if you're good, now, won't we?' She asked, smirking. She stood up, making sure Ron had his eyes on her. Which wasn't difficult; Ron found it hard to look away.

She shook her shoulders lightly and her robes slipped off. She unzipped the flimsy nightgown underneath it slowly. Ron felt his mouth hang open, but he ignored it. Could any woman look that fine? With a final pull, the dress fell away, revealing every bit of curve and dip she had on her body. Ron gulped.

'What, are you just going to stand there and wait for me to come play nurse?' she demanded, placing a hand on her hips, cocking them to the left. She twirled her hair with her pinky finger. 'Are you just going to watch?' she asked smugly, raising an eyebrow.

That did it. Ron was tired of everybody looking down on him. He was tired of being underestimated. He was tired of being questioned, 'Are you sure you can do this, Ron?' or 'Do you need help? You don't seem to be managing it well.' He was tired of everything.

Heaving himself up, he walked to Julie and grabbed her roughly by the nape, pressing his lips on hers and they crashed against the wall. His hands roamed around her body, cupping every of those curves he saw just a moment ago while she dug her nails into his back, wrapping a leg around him. She gasped when he pressed his hardness into her.

'The aggressive one, eh? I knew there was something beneath that layer of freckles.' Julie smirked. Ron proceeded to assault her lips again, wanting to wipe off that smirk. He heard her moan in delight when his hand roamed to her hardened nipples, pinching and teasing.

'Hm, I prefer kneading. Malfoy does it so good.' Julie whispered against Ron's lips.

Malfoy?

Ron pulled away from her. 'Did you just say Malfoy? Like, as in, Draco Malfoy?'

'Yes, but who cares?' Julie asked, leaning towards Ron again, lips all eager.

'I do. When was your last shag?' Ron asked.

This stopped Julie. She looked around warily.

'I'm not supposed to say but...' she traced a finger on Ron's heaving chest. 'If you reward me I'll say.'

'Just say it, Pyatt.' Ron ordered. Julie pouted.

'You boys are all such killjoys. Come to think of it, Draco did stop me just before we actually got to it.' Julie tapped a finger on her lip. 'I just thought he couldn't get it up, but when I hand-jobbed him he could perfectly inflate well...'

'Spare me the details. When did you last shag? Or er, last had a rendezvous?'

'I think it was a few days ago? Maybe last Monday...? I'm not really sure. Now, for my reward...?' She pulled Ron in, nibbling lightly at his collarbone. Ron pushed her away.

'Some other time... all right?' He asked, but he wasn't listening. His brain was trying to process the information. He blindly put on his clothes, and walked out of the bathroom, hearing Julie huffing something about the bathroom being a jinx.

If Malfoy went to shag Pyatt just a few days ago... Was that the time he was still with Hermione? I suppose so, yes. But... doesn't that mean... Malfoy cheated on Hermione? Bloody hell! If Hermione ever found out, Malfoy won't ever get her back. Yeah, and I'll be there, waiting with a comforting shoulder, all ready to lend her the same shoulder to cry on.

Ron mentally gave himself a pat on the back for a good plan thought through. He turned around the corner, almost banging into Malfoy.

'If it isn't Malfoy...'

'Shut up, Weasley.' Draco snarled. It was good to know he still hadn't lost his steely touch to everything. Yeah, maybe that's what I should do, isolate everybody away from me.

'I used to think you'd have a better comeback than that, see? But, just a reminder, keep away from Hermione. I've found out about your little... rendezvous with You-Know-Who, so, even if you tried to get back with Hermione, it wouldn't work, so why don't you spare us the laugh, and just go shag some other girl eh?' Ron asked, smirking. Draco wanted so badly to punch the daylights out of him.

'Why you...' Draco raised his fist to punch him but stopped himself. What would Hermione think of him then? That he was a revengeful, hateful man? No, he couldn't let her think of him that way; he wanted the good memories to stay with her, even if she didn't want them. Besides, it would get his fist dirty with blood from a scum like him.

'Can't bear to? Or are you just too scared? Come on, hit me again like you did last time.' Ron challenged, laughing.

Draco couldn't resist taking it down. 'Yeah, I'd love to se you faint like a fair lady after seeing that widdle bit of blood. Icky-Won Won too scared of it?' He smirked. Ron stopped laughing.

'Just stay away from Hermione if you know what's best for you.' Ron growled and pushed past him, walking away. Draco held on the smirk until he heard the heavy footsteps recede. The moment he was sure the bastard was away, the smirk fell off his face completely and he slumped against the wall, bringing his knees to his chest, banging his head lightly against the wall. God, Hermione, I miss you.

Harry walked blindly around the castle, not caring if Filch caught him wandering in some of the supposed forbidden corridors. He was sure whatever the sadistic old fool had in store for him wouldn't hurt as much as he was now. His life was so messed up. His personal life was in shambles; one best friend turned into an emotionless, near-dead zombie, the other is now an insensitive, prejudiced, intolerable idiot and he can't really decide if he should ask Ginny out yet. Even his supposed celebrity life was crumbling; people believe that he's gone mental, spouting nonsense that Voldermort is back, and the Ministry can't wait to have him popping around like he's working for them. Great. Just great. God, I'd take on Voldermort any day, just to get away from all of this.

He mindlessly walked to Hagrid's hut, and knocked on the door—hard. Well, he sort of banged his fist on it, before full-out slamming the poor door with his palms.

'Alrigh', alrigh'! Comin', ye impatient—Oh, hello, Harry!' Hagrid looked pleasantly surprised that Harry had come to visit him. Harry suddenly felt guilty; how long has it been since he had visited Hagrid? Great, add another horrible emotion to the pile he was feeling.

'Hi Hagrid.' Harry managed a weak smile.

'Well, come on in then, what're ye doin' standin' out in th'cold?' Hagrid stepped aside and shut the door behind Harry. He filled a normal sized cup of tea for Harry, while filling his goblet-sized cup. Harry accepted it with another weak smile.

'So, what's up with yer three nowadays? Didn't really talk much durin' classes, but ye' know why. Come to think of it, where are those two?' Hagrid looked around, as if expecting Hermione and Ron to pop in out of the air.

'Uh, well, Ron and I had a fight. Hermione's kind of a living dead right now. As you can see, it's normal.' Harry added dryly.

'A fight eh? About girls?' Hagrid gave a smile.

'Sort of? It was about Hermione.' Harry explained.

'Hermione eh?' Hagrid gave a 'Not one of those!' looks. 'Knew it would 'ave come down to this someday... If ye really want Hermione, I won't stop ye from tryin'a get her from Ron.'

'What?' Harry immediately tried to correct Hagrid. 'No, no, Hagrid, we were fighting about Hermione, but not that way. All right, let's just say it this way. There's this boy. Let's call him Bob, all right? Bob and Hermione used to hate each other. But recently Hermione found out that Bob liked her, and they got together secretly.

And then now Ron realizes he wants Hermione, so he dumps Lavender, and declared his love for Hermione, which really confused her because you know she and Ron were sort of ambiguous about their feelings, and now, Hermione's with Ron! But she looks so miserable anyone can tell she's forcing herself to be with him. As much as I don't like Bob, I know Hermione would be much better with him. So Ron and I had a huge argument about it because he overheard me trying to get the truth out from Hermione.'

'And who's this Bob?' Hagrid asked, looking severely confused.

'This, er, guy, at school. I'm not really in the position to say his name, yeah? But, really, Ron is being such an arse, and Hermione... Ugh!' Harry let out a stream of words he wasn't supposed to know.

'Harry James Potter!' Hagrid bellowed. 'Did Fred and George teach ye' that? Don't mind me one day if I go an' pull those red hair right off of 'em gits...'

'No, no, Hagrid, they didn't teach me those words.' Hagrid raised a bushy eyebrow. 'All right, they did, but this thing here, it really is just so complicated I can really go... bang my head on the wall or something.' Harry tugged at his hair, taking a huge gulp of his tea, wincing when it scalded his tongue.

'Well, it isn't that complicated, if ye look at it this way, Harry; just get Hermione to realize she loves Bob and not Ron.'

'Yeah, but how?' Harry queried.

'Well, I never had much experience with th'ladies, Harry, but me thinks that jealousy might work.' Hagrid nodded.

'Jealousy?' Harry echoed.

'Yup, that's one thing ye should really hope women don't get. They get all screamy and scary, bit fright'nin for my likes, if you asked me.' Hagrid winked.

'Thanks, Hagrid,' Harry smiled, genuinely pleased that Hagrid could help. Honestly, he was expecting Hagrid to get confused, seeing the simple way he looks at things. But sometimes the simplest way is the best way.

'I've got to go, Hagrid, but I'll see you around?' Harry handed Hagrid the cup of tea.

'Yeh, alrigh' then, off ye' go.' Hagrid opened the door, waving goodbye as Harry left.

Harry walked back to the Common Room, trying to think of a way to get Hermione to get jealous. Maybe he should get Malfoy to walk into a midst of girls and let Hermione see... but what if that will only make Hermione feel worse and isolate herself even more? He couldn't look at this from a normal girl's point of view; Hermione wasn't exactly normal. Oh wait, did I just say 'from a normal girl's point of view'? Yeah, I just did. Great, Potter, you're turning into a girl, congratulations!

Harry tugged at his hair unconsciously.

'...I've found out about your little... rendezvous with You-Know-Who...'

Wasn't that Ron?

Harry turned to walk to his right and peeked from around the corner. Ron's back was facing Harry and he could see Malfoy, not that Malfoy noticed him, though. Uh oh, things look a bit ugly...

'...even if you tried to get back with Hermione, it wouldn't work, so why don't you spare us the laugh, and just go shag some other girl eh?' Harry couldn't see Ron's expression, but he had a pretty good hunch that Ron was more than smug. What little rendezvous? With who?

'Why you...' Draco raised his fist, wanting to punch Ron but something seemed to stop him. He dropped the fist to his side lamely, exhaling as he did so. He seemed to be having a hard time trying to control his emotions.

'Can't bear to? Or are you just too scared? Come on, hit me again like you did last time.' Ron laughed. Even Harry, who has hated Malfoy since their very first meeting, felt sorry for Malfoy. Ron was being a total arse right now. Harry saw the long-gone familiar smirk suddenly appear on Draco's face and knew the blond had something else to say.

'Yeah, I'd love to see you faint like a fair lady after seeing that widdle bit of blood. Icky Won-Won too scared of it?' Harry grinned. It was good to know at least one of them was acting normal.

'Just stay away from Hermione if you know what's best for you.' Ron snapped, and stalked off. Malfoy kept the smirk on his face before Ron's heavy footsteps faded and the smirk completely fell off. He slumped against the wall, banging his head lightly. Harry decided that he had enough of eavesdropping.

He cleared his throat loudly as he walked to Malfoy.

'What do you want, Potter? Here to see me suffer?' Malfoy asked without even looking up.

'As much as I'd like to... no. I want you to tell me the truth. I'm not asking, I'm demanding. Hermione's not telling me anything, Zabini is completely clueless, so you're the only one left.'

'Funny, I used to think the day the great Harry Potter needed my help would be the best day of my life. Stupid really, weren't we?' Malfoy asked, looking up at Harry for the first time. The startling grey eyes were still as glacial and piercing, but they were also sad and empty. Malfoy looked defeated. Harry heaved a sigh and sat down beside Malfoy.

'You know, I think that's going to be the second thing I'll ever agree with you on.' Harry pursed his lips, wondering how he should go about asking Malfoy. A few moments passed.

'Out with it, Potter.'

'What?' Harry asked.

'You are just about dying to bombard me with questions.'

'No I wasn't.' Harry huffed.

'Yes, you were. God, you are so candid!' Malfoy cringed. 'Just like Hermione. God, god, god.' He chanted, banging his head against the wall again.

'Stop it, or I'll slap you. The two of you away from each other remind me of the living dead. Look at Hermione! Does she look happy to you?'

'Yes.' Came Draco's miserable reply. Harry tugged at his hair.

'No! She isn't! Just now I got her to confess; she says she didn't want to get back to Ron, so there must be a reason! As much as I don't like you, Hermione was a lot better off when she was with you.'

'My, I feel so honoured.' Draco murmured sarcastically.

'Be serious, Malfoy. Seriously. If you're around Hermione today, you can already tell she's empty inside. Ask her a question and she answers, yes, but her eyes are totally dead. Empty. I overheard from the girls that she cries herself to sleep every night. She cried in my arms, just now, when I merely mentioned your name! Doesn't that mean anything to you?'

'Yes, Weasley must be really horrible and she needs to be sent to St. Mungo's for extensive treatment for the traumatic experience of swapping spit with him.' Draco replied.

'No,' Harry massaged his temples and counted to 3 slowly. 'What it means, is that, she wants you. I know it. And, well, we just have to find out why she's distancing herself from you. What's the reason she left you for? Why Ron?' Harry questioned the both of them.

'Look, I don't know, all right? If you want to be the Saint you always are, Potter, I suggest you go look for someone else to be your sidekick. I've had enough of shit from Blaise, and I don't need anymore from you, or anyone else. If Hermione wants to be with Ron, so be it. I don't want to force Hermione to go against whatever stupid reasons she has thought up of in the ginormous brain of hers, all right? So just, go bugger off and fuck a dog, or something.' Draco muttered, pushing himself up and walking off.

Harry inhaled deeply. Count to 10, think of happy thoughts, think of happy thoughts— Oh, screw the happy thoughts.

'Ugh!' He yelled, slamming his fist into the wall.

'What's up besides you moping over Hermione mate?' Blaise asked cheerfully as Draco stormed into the almost empty Slytherin common room. Well, it was practically empty. Only Blaise was there, and the gorgeous boy was actually reading. Blaise raised his eyebrows at Draco's entrance and placed his book down gently.

'Potter.' Draco gritted his teeth. 'And I am not moping over Hermione.'

'Yeah, sure you aren't.' Blaise rolled his eyes. 'So what did the pothead do this time?'

'Question me! First it was stupid Weasley, telling me he found out about Julie and me. She most probably told him. That bitch. Wait till I get my hands on her. And then Potter walks in right after Weasley; you'd think they actually practice this choreography. Potter starts telling me how miserable Hermione is, and starts grilling me as well. You know, you'd think he'd take a break from being a do-gooder some time, but he doesn't! God, I really wonder how any of the other Gryffindors can stand him, unless they're like him...' Draco exhaled slowly. Anger seemed to be the only thing he was feeling nowadays.

'Relax, mate. I told you, Hermione's confused. And if you don't lure her back, she'll remain confused, and she'll only sort it out when she's in her mid-40s with a dozen of Weasley brats running around her. But what do you say when I tell you to go? Oh, that's right, 'No, Blaise, I do not want to force her, it's her choice.' Since when were you so noble? It's her choice, yes, but what about yours?'

'We've gone through this. My choice is for her to be happy.' Draco snapped.

'But she isn't, that's the point! Now... what's wrong with that little picture?' Blaise questioned.

Draco looked at him, and for once, he felt flabbergasted. Now he could sort of understand Hermione's feelings; how much had he complicated her? Because she most certainly was complicating him. Usually he wouldn't even give two hoots about the girls around him, but right now he was sacrificing his own wishes for hers. Sacrificing! Wonder what will Dad say?

'God, you don't know what it's like! She's right there, in the same room, and I want to touch her! I want to scream 'Look at me!' I want to catch her eye and make her blush again. I want to just talk to her but Weasley will just do some over-protective, zealous, stupid thing. This is worse than when we were trading insults all day. At least she'd look at me in the eye when we do. God, I spend every night, thinking about what was and what could have been and you know how much that kills me? I don't care if she doesn't want me anymore, but all I want for her is to finally be able to look my way, so I can finally look at her beguiling face and drink in every essence! I want her back with me!'

'So why are you yelling it out at me, instead of going to her and win her back?'

'Because, I do not want to force her! If it was meant to be, she'd come back.' Draco ended, his voice breaking. Oh no, crap, Malfoy, do not cry. Not now. Malfoys do not cry in public. Not now. Not now. Think of the best memory you can... Ah, Weasley fainting. Yes, lovely, just lovely...

'Stop holding it in, wussy. If you want to cry, go ahead. I won't tell.' Blaise rolled his eyes and grinned.

'It's just...' Draco thought for a while, trying to put his emotions into the simplest words, letting his voice drop to no louder than a whisper. 'I just miss her so much. I really do. I miss the feel of her hair. I miss every curve and dip of hers. I miss the stupid fruity smell she forever has. I miss staring into her eyes. I miss annoying the hell out of her in front of everyone then giving her lots and lots of make-up sex after it when we're alone. I miss every part of being with her.'

'There, let it all out, mate.' Blaise engulfed Draco in a massive hug, which triggered the tears. Draco willed himself not to sob too loudly, but he allowed Blaise to hold him still. He needed physical contact, even if it only was his best mate. He was just about to go crazy from the absence of Hermione.

'If you ever tell anyone about this...' Draco sniffed, trying to sound menacing.

'It's already forgotten.' Blaise pulled back, grinning. 'But I still stand by my words, Malfoy, go get her back. You only live this once.'

'So do I. I'm not going to force her. Not ever.' Draco nodded, hoping that he was doing the right thing.

A/N: I know, you're just about to kill me for taking so long, but really, BLAME FF! For a whole fucking week I couldn't upload a single shitty thing and even trying to edit my documents so that I can post it up here was IMPOSSIBLE. But now the problem's fixed and all of us can be happy again, right? Hope you enjoy.