Disclaimer: I legally adopted NOTHING from J.K. Rowling. :[

A/N: OMG! Look at me! Writing a chapter and getting it up way earlier than the last! :P Well, a lot of info this chapter. Try to keep up. Just kidding, it's not that hard to follow along. But please don't hate me for ANYTHING. K? :D Love ya all!

So onward with the chapter! (I say onward quite a lot. Don't you think?)

Draco remained calm sitting in front of none other than Astoria Greengrass. He was currently trying to decipher what she was up to. He had already figured out the obvious, that she was "Secret Love" and was getting some sort of information from a source. Who or what that source was, he was oblivious. Perhaps she was acting on her own accord? Either way, what exactly was her motive? Sure, Granger is a muggleborn and it's a well known fact that Astoria only loves purebloods. Maybe it was because Astoria truly hated the idea of Blaise, a fellow Slytherin, hanging around and actually becoming the best of friends with someone of Granger's…heritage. Could that really be the only reason Astoria was attacking Granger?

"What brings this pleasure, Astoria?" he inquired, coolly.

"Draco Malfoy, I believe we both know why we are meeting here tonight," she replied with a smirk. Damn that Slytherin smirk.

"Oh? Is that right? Then please enlighten me as it seems I've missed a memo or two."

"Oh, love, I'm sure you've heard about that Mudblood's plans with that awful spawn of hers." Draco flinched at both pet names she used for himself and Granger. He recovered unnoticed.

"I assure you I've only heard rumors, and you know I do not listen to such things."

"Well, dear, these are not rumors, but fact. I happen to know she is using you for your money. Think, Draco, why on Earth would anyone want a poor pureblood to raise their child? She obviously thinks she can easily get a wealthy pureblood to finance her for life. Thus, she chose you."

"I don't believe you, Astoria. What proof have you got? Plus, she's a public war hero. Wouldn't you think after she graduates she'll receive a hefty amount of money for her 'good' deeds from the ministry? True, it'll be much, much less than what I have waiting for me with my inheritance, but it'll be enough for her and her kid to live off of. So, I repeat again, Astoria, I do not believe you."

"Oh, but Draco! You see, I've got proof, and I happen to know for a fact that she believes she will not receive a single Knut if the ministry finds out she's dropped out to raise a kid."

"Proof? Where is it, then? What is it? Surely, you brought cold, hard evidence to back up your theory. Honestly, you should know I don't base beliefs on word of mouth like a teenage girl." He rolled his eyes.

"Alas, Draco, I do have, as you say, 'cold, hard evidence'!" She reached into the inside pocket of her robe and extracted a piece of parchment, folded into thirds.

"This," she gestured to the parchment, "is a letter from the Mudblood to Blaise. I found it in his room after we, uh, got to know each other." She winked and smirked at Draco as she slid the folded paper across the table towards him. Draco reached over and picked it up. Still eyeing Astoria warily, he unfolded it. Finally, he began to read:

Oh Blaise,

I'm not sure if I can tell Ron this baby is his. He doesn't deserve such happiness from this gift. Plus we both know he's worthless and wouldn't be able to support a child. As you know, I'm unsure I even can. Yes, we've spoke before of my 'war reward', but I've never told you that I had received a letter from the ministry a week after school began stating that, and I quote, "if the recipient has not graduated or finished their magical education at any qualified magical institution, they must and will forfeit every right towards their reward money." So, I'm fucked, because I can't raise a kid in Hogwarts! That's ridiculous! No one's heard of raising a baby while still in school. I'm sure once this kid's popped out, I'll be kicked out, top student or not.

So again, I'm fucked, or at least I thought I was. I have the most brilliant plan! I'm sure once I've told you in full, you'll kiss me right on the lips. (Well, I'm sure that'll happen anyways.) You mustn't tell Malfoy, though! Why, you make ask? Well, because it involves him, silly. Here's just a jist. Sometime, before Halloween, I'll 'seduce' Malfoy into a wild night. I'll be about 2 months along. A few weeks or so after, I'll let it slip that I may be pregnant from him. You must talk to Draco and let Ron 'overhear' you're conversation with him. Again, we'll discuss details later. The basic plan is to get Ron jealous where he'll over react and go to far and become an enemy in the public eye.

I'm entirely serious, Blaise. This could possibly be the best plan yet. By the time we're through, Ron will be the enemy, and I'll have a hold on the Malfoy family fortune. Of course, you'll get your share. You are after my partner in crime.

By the way, can you even believe this? If it wasn't for your family moving to my neighborhood this summer, we would never be this close and I'd never be as cunning and devious. Sexy, isn't it?

Oh well, that's what Ronald Weasley gets for being naïve and blind all these years towards my advances. Ugh! If only he had made his move much earlier, and didn't go after fucking Brown! She could die by the resurrected Voldemort for all I care. That bitch. But then again, we wouldn't be madly in love either. Our little secret.

Anyways, we must meet soon since Halloween is only weeks away!

Yours,

Hermione

Draco reread the letter that barely sounded like his Hermione.

Wait, since when did I have a Hermione? he thought, And since when did I start calling her Hermione again?

He shrugged it off and looked back at the letter. Indeed, it sounds a bit off from the Herm-..Granger he knew, but one thing was convincing him this letter was real: the handwriting. It was exactly like Granger's, right down to the crossing of the t's and dotting of the i's. True, it's quite possible that Astoria, or someone else for that matter, could have written it and cast a simple handwriting charm over it, but, see here, that was another problem that was confusing the hell out of him. He had silently cast a simple wandless charm that detected handwriting charms. He was coming up empty, and quite frankly, that was tipping this letter towards the 'believable' side of the scale. His face fell as reality washed over him.

"Draco, I came to you as soon as I found out to let you know. You know I have always cared for you," the blonde woman said placing her hand on his and smiling sweetly at him. Draco returned her smile.

At least someone still cares about me, he thought.

"Thanks, Astoria. Say, what are you're plans for next Hogsmeade weekend?"

"Just take me to dinner tonight, love, instead of waiting a whole week," she smirked.

Draco smirked at the Slytherin's sly assertiveness. He got up and walked over to a now standing Astoria.

"Shall we then?" He offered his arm. She instantly took it.

"I think we shall. For our first date, I was thinking of that small Indian café that opened just a few buildings from here. I heard it's exquisite." She stated, excitedly.

"Whatever you like, malady."

The two left the pub arm in arm, being heavily watched by a cloaked wizard sitting in a dark corner.

The stranger smirked to himself.

Perfect. Just perfect. he thought, deviously.

Hermione ran through the corridors, ignoring every odd and worried look she was receiving. She wasn't thinking of anything or anyone. She wasn't allowing herself to do so until she was safely in her own room behind powerfully locked doors. Once there, she collapsed against the door, sliding down to the floor. The tears that she had held back were now pouring down her cheeks resembling waterfalls. She couldn't believe what had just happened in the hall after Charms.

She had been quite happy, conversing with Blaise and Ginny, when she exited the class and spotted him. She watched, none other than, Draco Malfoy walk hand in hand down the hall with Astoria Greengrass. He had made eye contact with Hermione. Hermione had froze to the spot and just watched as the couple came closer and closer. Malfoy never broke eye contact with Hermione. Finally, as he was just passing her, he smirked.

"What the fuck are you looking at, Mudblood."

That word. He had used that god awful word. She didn't know what had hit her, or what had just happened. As soon as he and his inamorata rounded the corner, she split in the other direction. Running away from whatever that was.

Hermione was just so confused. As she sat on the floor, pouring her heart out, she couldn't help but think why? Why was this happening? Why was Malfoy acting like this? Why couldn't everything go back to right after Halloween? She couldn't stand this confusion, this pain, any longer. She had to get to the bottom of this whole dilemma. But for now, she was going to curl up in a little ball on the floor and cry until her heart was content. She fell asleep this way, missing all the other classes she had that day and absolutely not giving a damn.

Pounding. That all he could do at the moment: pound on that damn portrait, hoping Hermione would hear him and come let him in. She had run off on him yesterday after Charms without returning to the rest of her classes. It was almost dinner time, and she had missed all her classes today, too. He hoped she hadn't done anything drastic or stupid. So now, he was pounding, as hard as he could.

Suddenly, the portrait swung open violently, only to reveal a very pissed, half dressed blonde.

"What the fuck do you want, Zabini?" Malfoy spat.

"Where's Hermione?" Blaise responded, pushing past Malfoy.

"Hell if I care. Did I say you could enter?" Malfoy glared. Blaise ignored.

"Have you seen her? Heard from her? Anything?" Blaise was almost pleading, almost.

"Like I said, I don't fucking care what the hell that mudblood is doing. All right?" Malfoy was popping the personal space bubble, challenging Blaise.

"You should! She's carrying your baby! And yet, you have the never to call her that and not wonder if she's killed herself?" Blaise was raging. He squared his shoulders back at Malfoy, daring him to make the first move.

"Get the fuck out, Zabini! That mudblood spawn isn't mine and you know it! Get the fuck out of my common room before I fucking kill you!" threatened Malfoy.

Blaise contemplated what to do. Apparently, he took a fraction of a second too long, because his face suddenly collided with Malfoy's fist, causing Blaise to crash into a side table before hitting the ground. Everything immediately went black.

A/N: Cliffy! Don't hate! Be happy that it hasn't been six months since I updated! :D Yay!

Now as a reward, I'd like plenty of comments of how exciting and heart wrenching this chapter was. Please and thank you! :D

Review! Review! Review! Review! Review! Review! Review! Review! Review! Review!