Disclaimer: Do I have to go through this again?

Author's Note: I'm inspired! *lol* Thanks for all those wonderful reviews I received...keep 'em coming and constructive criticism is most certainly welcome!

Summary: Hermione & Draco received a nasty blow to the head when an out of control bludger careened towards where they stood bickering during a Quidditch practice. They woke up in the hospital wing not knowing each other--but they know everyone else--and an instant attraction towards each other soon formed.

Setting: 6th year

Pairings: Dreamy Draco Malfoy & Heavenly Hermione Granger

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X. Conquest or the Real Thing?

Hermione pondered on what Harry revealed to her about Draco Malfoy.

She couldn't be his conquest! He wasn't that mean-spirited to think of her as such! Or is he?

Damn you, Harry! her mind screamed as she buried her face under her pillow. She knew talking to Harry about things helps, but in this case what he said didn't help her much. In fact it only made her go crazy even more!

Why did Harry have to drop that bomb on her? Wasn't he the one who told her about her true feelings for Draco? Now why the hell did he start bad-mouthing Draco to her?!

Stop it, Hermione! Don't be condemning Harry when you yourself knew deep down inside that Draco isn't all what he seems to be. that same voice, which she now called as her 'conscience,' told her soothingly.

True again. But a conquest?

Please let Harry be wrong. Please, please, please let him be wrong. she prayed silently before falling into a dreamless sleep.

~*~

Draco, on the other hand, remained wide-awake in bed that night. He clasped his hands behind his head and stared up at his bedroom ceiling thinking of the scene he witnessed in the Great Hall earlier.

Hermione left the hall with Potter, her arms wrapped around his and they both were looking mighty serious about something. Something jumped inside him when he saw the two of them walked away. He noticed that Hermione was more close to Potter than to Weasley, and that made him wonder. In transfiguration they sat side-by-side and kept on giggling, talking, and discussing something. Then that first night since he was released from the hospital wing during dinner, there was easy camaraderie between Potter and Hermione that was sure hard not to miss.

Something was sure going on between Potter and Hermione, and he wanted to know what it was.

Are they together? Or are they just good, best friends?

"Aaargh!" he hissed and turned face down on his bed, burying his face against his pillow.

He has got to stop thinking about Hermione. Sure she was a helluva good kisser and he wanted her more now than ever. But he doesn't want to hurt her. Damn, he could have played her in the palm of his hand then discard her, but he couldn't do it. Not to Hermione anyway. Not ever as it seems. Something inside him told him he would be borrowing trouble if he did that.

Hell, he hasn't had a girl to keep him warm at night since...well since before he woke up in the hospital wing and first laid eyes on the sultry Hermione Granger! And after he got to talk to her he didn't want to look at any other girl ever again. But he sure as hell know that there were quite a few who would want to keep him company at night--especially on a night like this when his mind was filled with things he'd rather not dwell on too much.

~*~*~*~*~

to be continued...

A/N: Okay, okay, this is indeed one of the shortest chapter I have written so far, but please bear with me. The next chapter will be posted later on today. I just want to get this chappie out of the way and showcase how Hermione was dealing with what Harry told her earlier in the evening and on how Draco was dealing with his own feelings concerning our brainy Hermione. As always, read, review, & enjoy!

nessa-girl: I let Hermione address Ron "Ronald" a lot 'coz it seems quite right in a condescending way for her. I mean it's my way of showing Ron that Hermione is serious and somehow putting him in his place, so to speak. hehehe, sorry, kinda messy explanation there but that's why I often let Herm address Ronnikins by his full name

Rebecca: don't be damning Harry, please! *lol* He's just a friend worried about his naive best friend. I know this one is another short chappie but hey guess what? I'll be uploading another one later on today--once I figured out what I'm gonna do in the next chapter! *lol*

Queen Li: thanks for leaving your mark

Multiple Lilys: Harry's mean? Whoa! I didn't know quite a few people would react that way to Harry's reaction, hehehe, well if you did react that way then you know how our heroine feels after he told her what he did...

Happy little Rin-chan: thanks for your review once again

maxzoid: thanks for loving the fic so far, and I read your fic and it's good...update it soon! *lol*

Starrynights13: once again thanks for your review, and tell your friend thanks for liking the fic too. sorry for the cliffies, but I doubt this chappie I posted is a cliffy! *lol*

Draco's one and only: well now you obviously haven't forgot to leave your mark. Thanks for the review & enjoy the rest of the fic

Courteney112389: thanks for liking that remark I made Harry say. You were right, it was totally unexpected! I just felt like writing it last night 'coz...well, 'coz I just felt like it and it seemed right since almost throughout the first few chapters innuendos are evident! *lol*

ju: don't worry, I'll upload some more chapters pretty soon, for now enjoy this short one.