Disclaimer: A few characters are mine & the plot of course, but the rest belongs to J.K. Rowling

Author's Note: I sincerely apologize for writing a very short previous chapter. Writer's block a real pain, but fear not for I am somehow "recovering" from having a bout with writer's block--I think :-/

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: Draco & Hermione

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XXII. Why Can't We Be Friends?

"Hermione, got a minute?" Draco asked when he intercepted Hermione from going in to the Great Hall for dinner that evening.

Hermione stopped from taking another step as soon as she heard Draco's voice come from somewhere in the dark. She turned to the direction where she heard his voice and slowly walked towards it, but Ron, who was walking alongside her, grabbed her by the elbow and stopped her from taking another step. She cast a confused frown over her shoulder at her friend and asked, "What?"

"We're going to be late for dinner." he said simply.

"Doesn't matter. Just go on in without me."

"But Hermione--" she cut him off with a stern look. Ron knew that look. It was the one she often used when she wanted him to back off. "Okay, okay. But if you don't make an appearance in five minutes I'll come looking for you." he told her.

"Ronald..." she hissed.

"Okay. Okay! If you don't show up after five minutes I'll make sure to save you some leftovers." he grumbled irately and let go of her arm.

Hermione flashed him her megawatt smile. "Thanks Ron. And if they have those cupcakes make sure to save a lot for me." she reminded cheerily.

"Yeah, yeah." Ron walked away reluctantly from his best friend, glancing over his shoulder every two seconds until he disappeared inside the Great Hall.

Hermione waited until Ron disappeared from sight before she turned to head towards where Draco was lounging against a pillar.

"Took you long enough to get rid of Weasley." he said sardonically.

Hermione raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest, "What do you want, Draco?" her tone meant she was there for business and business only.

"I asked for a minute of your time, didn't I?" he snorted.

"Yeah. So you better start talking because the clock's ticking. What is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Let's take a walk outside." he said, crossing the space between them and steered Hermione to the direction of the Entrance Hall doors.

"But it's cold out." she protested.

"Not as cold as the last time we were out there together." he reminded her, making Hermione's cheeks blush a deep crimson red colour.

Of course she didn't feel cold that time. They used a heating spell to keep both of themselves warm throughout their make-out session, a make-out session she thought they wouldn't stop before anything else happened between them. Well she was reduced down to just her pants fly gaping open and Draco's hand slid inside before she put a stop to what they were doing.

"Oh...so, you going to use a heating spell again?" she asked as she followed him to the doors.

"If you want." he shrugged and held the door open for her.

A cold gush of wind swept towards them as soon as they stepped outside, making Hermione gasp at the chilly air. Her reaction to the cold was the answer Draco needed before he muttered something under his breath and soon they were both warm and toasty as they made their way towards the lake. They walked in companionable silence until they reached a large tree that was big enough to hide them both from any prying eyes that might catch them frolicking in the dark outside the castle.

"So, what did you drag me out here for?" she asked once Draco removed his robe and set it on the ground for her to sit on.

"About what happened between us." he said simply, sitting beside her and resting his back against the sturdy tree trunk.

"What about it?"

"We used to be...friends." he said slowly, dropping his gaze to rest on her throat, "And now...we're not, and I don't think I like that." he admitted.

Hermione chewed on her bottom lip before contemplating on what to answer back to him. She wasn't expecting to have this kind of conversation with Draco tonight. She thought he would be pursuing what almost happened between them a week and a half ago that changed their attitude towards each other. She had been mulling about their last encounter for over a week now, thinking what made her stop from taking the next step and actually slept with Draco Malfoy. But she knew why.

She didn't want to be another mark on his bedpost.

So against her will she politely, but firmly, asked Draco to stop what he was doing (he had her pants fly open by then and his wonderful hand was doing something really good to her) and put her shirt and robe back on.

"I...uhm...nothing's changed--much." she amended, avoiding to make any eye contact with him.

"Nothing?" he echoed.

"Nothing." she agreed.

"Liar." he teased and pressed the back of his head against the tree trunk, his gray eyes staring at the lake. "Everything has changed."

Hermione lifted her gaze and stared at him, "Isn't it always like this? I mean, weren't we always hating each other's guts long before Ron hit us with a bludger?"

Draco tore his gaze from the lake then and met Hermione's questioning dark brown ones, "You remembered?"

"I remember snippets of what life was before I woke up and saw you in the hospital wing." she shrugged, "And of course Harry, Ron, and Ginny were kind enough to remind me of what I was like up until a few weeks ago."

"Any regrets?"

Hermione held Draco's gaze for the longest while. The only regret I have is that this time around I fell in love with you unlike before when I just hate you.

"Are there any?" she asked instead.

"Hermione..."

"What?" she asked innocently.

"Don't answer my question with a question."

She took a deep breath and replied, "No, I don't have any regrets. Do you?"

"Yes." he replied without hesitation.

"Care to tell me what is it?"

Draco took a deep, long breath. "You already know what it is."

"Unless I'm a mind reader I wouldn't know what you regret." she answered sardonically.

"Why can't we be friends, Hermione?" he asked out of the blue, his gray eyes somber as he gazed at her lovingly.

Hermione knew what he was asking her, and to answer that would mean she would have to deal with the broken heart she has been nursing for quite some time now. But if she let this moment pass without as much as saying something, she will have a much bigger regret in life.

Carpe Diem, Hermione. a small voice cheered at the back of her head, Seize the day and see what happens. What have you got to lose, girl?

Nothing. She got nothing to lose. And after tonight she doubt if she'd be alone with Draco Malfoy like this ever again.

"Because I love you too much that it hurts me so much because I know that you never could--or even would--return my feelings back."

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A/N: Aaarrrrrgh! Writer's block is really a pain in the butt!!! I've been suffering from it for days hence why the last couple of chapters I posted sucked or short--because my creative juices aren't flowing! Please tell me what you think of my second attempt at battling writer's block. I am not particularly happy about this chapter 'coz I think I did a poor job at writing it, but it's up to you readers to tell me if I did an "OK" job or whatnot :-/

Shards of Normality: thanks for leaving your mark. I'm flattered that you enjoyed reading a D/Hr fic. I like reading G/D fics too and I am formulating a story plot for a possible D/G fic--but I am not sure yet about its status 'coz the lead female character is kinda a toss-up between Hermione & Ginny! *lol*

CrystallineLily: I know the previous chapter was short, but my brain just wouldn't want to function! :-(

Queen Li: don't you just really hate it when you're suddenly hit by writer's block and you're really antsy to continue on writing a certain story???

Draco's one and only: thanks for liking the previous chap albeit how short it was *lol*

Rebecca: thanks, I hope I get over my writer's block soon! and I'm thinking on how they will end up getting together when a quite a few other twists and whatnots were swimming about in my head regarding the direction of this story...

Starrynights13: something almost happened between them, but it's not really bad

Arial: I think I explained--sorta--what happened that night in this chap...

Rach: *lol* if updating 5 chaps every 2.5 seconds is possible, I'm sure a lot of stories will be completed a whole lot sooner

Hannah4Daniel: thanks for liking last chapter even though it didn't discuss much :-)

song*breeze: welcome back! it's so nice to see your name(s) in the reviews section! *lol* and I don't think it's a bad thing that my fic almost beaten yours when it comes to reviews, hehehe, and I think you did read this fic slowly if it took you 2 hours to finish it! your butt must've been sore after sitting in front of your comp for 2 hours straight finishing the fic! *lol* btw, I'll be checking out your fic soon

nessa-girl: hmm...I am seeing the end of the fic, but getting there is what I'm having problems with :-/

Lynnie: whoa! thanks for leaving your mark and thinking this story rocks :D

ju: hmm...I think Draco & Hermione are suffering enough as it is and I'm sorry for making you suffer too...

Shivohnsongbreeze: after reading your review and the part where you mentioned about Lucius's reaction and Draco's possibility of becoming a Death Eater, an idea popped into my head, but the only problem is how and where I'll be able to put that idea in *lol* thanks for the review and for giving me another idea to mull over with :-)