Chapter 4
Reunions

~*~*~

Hermione awoke to a confused January morning. Actually, since Draco had become outlandish, denying what they had experienced in the forest, Hermione had been confused. In the forest he was sweet and loving, kind and compassionate. Yet, in the comfort of the castle he had become impersonal,passionless, bleak and waxy. She had began to loathe his sudden changes in charachter. And, he had kissed her in a classroom just a few weeks ago, as if he liked her, then left without an explanation walking away. Hermione was utterley baffled. Her grades were still slipping horribly and she was terribly sad. Her only solace was in Ginny Weasly, her very best friend. Harry and Ron were not angry at her anymore, yet their friendship seemed very remote. They were kind to each other, but Hermione found it impossible to confide in either of them, as with the mention of Draco Malfoy, their lips curled in utter disgust. Only Ginny Weasly, could understand her sudden crush on Draco.

It was one particularly bleak Sunday afternoon when Hermione was disturbed by Ginny.
"Hermione?"
"Yes?"
"Come on, all you do is sit around lets go do something!"
"Like what?"
"How about we walk around the lake?"
"Well...ok"

Hermione followed Ginny out of the castle and down towards the dismal lake. As they walked, they stayed utterly silence. Ginny's long red hair was whipping behind her like a fire.
"Ginny?"
"Yes?"
Hermione began to pour out her emotions into Ginny's vacuous heart.

~*~*~

Draco Malfoy was walking along the lake, feeling quite sorry for himself. His blonde hair was being blown by the wind like a tornado. Seating himself on a large rock, he began to think. He looked up from the ground to see two girls walking around the lake. One had flaming red hair and he presumed it to be Ginny Weasly or maybe Eloise Midgen. The other had long light brown hair and was a bit taller than the other. There were many girls with long brown hair and since he wasn't that thorough when looking at them, he couldn't tell who she was. He began to watch the two girls. He soon became fixated with the girls and watched them intently. The brunette was talking with a lot of passion to the other. Suddenly he realized how pretty the brunette was. He almost kicked himself.
Get a grip Draco! Remember what happened last time you fell in love? a voice in his brain said.
Yes I remember! he said to himself
Wasn't very fun was it?
his mind said
No he thought being hung upside down for three hours being beatan with a metal rod is not fun.
If he dared to even like a girl, his father would just beat him again and again. Yet, his heart pounded for this new girl. Maybe, just maybe if he kept her a secret, it would be ok.
As the two girls drew nearer, he gasped and realized it was indeed Ginny Weasly, and with her Hermione Granger.

~*~*~

I am not still in love with Hermione!! thought Draco to himself that night. Yet, the more he said that, the more she popped into his head. Hermione, with the beautiful wind-blown hair and honey brown eyes. Hermione with a heart of gold and a mind of metal. Hermione.

~*~*~

Hermione was sitting on her four poster, when abruptly the curtains were pulled apart. Ahead of her stood Harry and Ron.
"Harry what are you guys doing-" Hermione was cut off.
"Look Mione'," started Ron
"We, well we-" shouted Harry.
"One at a time." said Hermione, sounding much like a teacher.
"Ok." breathed Ron. "We've been thinking, lately this friendship has been weird. I mean the last six years we've shared everything, but now it's so distant."
"It' didn't bother us at first," said Harry "but, we miss you Hermione."
"Look," breathed Hermione "I know you guys have good intentions, but you wouldn't understand."
Harry sat down on the floor by her bed.
"Hermione, we aren't leaving until you tell us what's been going on."
Ron nodded and sat himself on the floor also.
"Ok," smiled Hermione "You win."
She began to tell them all about how she had become stressed, her slipping grades, the rape, her liking for Draco, and her missing them.
"Hermione I didn't realize we were leaving you out." said Ron
"Yeah," said Harry "We're really sorry we haven't been there."
Hermione smiled and gave them each a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks guys!"
The two started walking out of the room, when Ron turned around.
"Hermione are you sure you like Draco?" he said, holding in his abomination.
"Yes." said Hermione strongly.

~*~*~

Hermione was walking again with a bit of spring in her step. She had what she had wanted all along, her friends back. One night as she was walking back to the common room, she heard a tapping in a nearby empty classroom. Letting her curiosity get the better of her, she peeked inside. She smiled when she saw what was inside.......

HAHA!! CLiffhanger. R/R please!