Disclaimer: Does anyone on this site own the rights to Harry Potter? No.

Last chapter: We got introduced to all the lovely characters. We find out Draco's been sleeping around and one of his many lovers was a mudblood! Gasp!

This Chapter: Who was that girl anyway? Doesn't matter now, cause she's dead. How does Draco feel about that? What's wrong with Hermione?

Sick of hearing about how Draco and Hermione fall in love and live happily ever after? Think that could never happen even if someone used the Imperius Curse on them? Well then this is the story you'll love. In fact, I'm even dedicating this story to that type of person: the person who hates people who write about d/herm because it's unrealistic.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Draco laid down on his bed, facing his ceiling. His hands fumbled searching along the blankets for something that wasn't where he left it. He grunted in slight anger and sat up. How cruel was it to grow up with house elves and then be expected to be on your own? Fingers raked his hair to one side of his head before he straightened it. Slowly, he got to his feet and moved along his desk. One hand gingerly traced the fine wood to a desk drawer. He pulled it open slowly to reveal a photo album.

"Stupid house elves always misplace everything. I'll tell father that the Hogwarts elves are incompetent."

He retreated to his bed and flipped open the book. Every girl he ever fancied, ever lured into his room was in this book. He had either found pictures of them or stolen them. Some pictures he took himself. But last night's conquest had a page all her own. It was the very last page. In blood red letters he had written "mudblood" at the top of the page. He pasted the picture right below. The girl in the picture crossed her arms and stalked off the frame. Draco grinned, knowing he had successfully ruined another's life. But he didn't know to what extent.

There was a scream from somewhere in the castle. Ron, Harry and Hermione all heard it. They had been studied outside near the lake. Hermione stood up, putting a hand on her heart. Ron just shook his head.

"You'd think someone died."

Harry looked back to his books; he didn't want to talk about death.

Ginny Weasley came running down the steps. Her red hair was flying out behind her. Her face was panic-stricken. When she reached the three friends and bent over and tried to catch her breath.

She spoke between gasps, "Ravenclaw…girl…suicide…dead…"

Harry's eyes went wide. He looked at Ginny.

"What did you say Ginny?"

Ginny's brown eyes met his green ones.

"She's dead."

Hermione was the first to react. She ran up the stairs into Hogwarts, forgetting her books on the bench with Ron and Harry. Inside there were girls sobbing, crying, and bawling. Boys stood on the sides, shaking their heads silently. Down the stairs into the Entrance Hall came two men carrying a stretcher. On it was a body covered in a white cloth. Dumbledore stood at the top of the stairs. A woman and a man walked behind the body, the woman was crying. Her face had turned red and she kept covering her face. The man was the only thing keeping her standing and walking. Hermione was in total shock.

A boy in yellow robes approached the man and woman who were obviously the girl's parents. He handed them a tiny box and explained it to them.

Hermione watched for a moment and then the body passed her. She could see the ends of black hair slipping out from underneath the cloth. She had to look away and shield her eyes. Suddenly she couldn't help herself. Overcome with emotion she began to cry. Her hands covered her face and she began to drop to her knees. Ron came up behind her, catching her and slowly lowering her to the ground. He kneeled behind her, hugging her.
Harry watched them and Ginny watched Harry. (A/N: Ginny silently wondered, "If I start crying, will Harry hug me like that?")

Slowly, Ron managed to get his arms under Hermione and picked her up with some effort. Her arms found their place around his neck. Ron carried her up to the Gryffindor common room with Harry and Ginny following behind them.

Ron set Hermione down on the couch and retreated to one of the squishy armchairs. It was Harry's turn to comfort. He knelt beside Hermione and gingerly touched her face.

"Mione?" Harry whispered. "Mione, you didn't even know her. She's a few years behind us. What's wrong?"

Hermione sniffled and rolled over onto her other side. Harry looked away into the blazing fireplace. His face illuminated with the red and orange. After a moment he looked to Ron. Ron shook his head, giving Harry the silent advice to back off.

When Dumbledore knocked on his door, Draco had just sat down to go over potion ingredients. Its not like it would have made a difference in his grades. He would pass the class with flying colors even if he failed everything. Not caring who had interrupted him, just thankful for the distraction, Draco stood up and walked to the door. He wasn't very surprised when he opened it.

"Headmaster Dumbledore. What have I done to deserve such a wonderful visitation?" Draco's voice took on its oily tone with long drawn out words.

Dumbledore walked into the room even though Draco hadn't formally invited him in. His sparkling blue eyes gazing around into every corner, but he didn't touch anything.

"I have heard, Mr. Malfoy, some very interesting rumors. Perhaps, you could tell me their origin. Have you heard of what recently happened to young Mrs. Condannat?" Dumbledore turned to face Draco.

Draco shook his head, "I don't even know the girl Professor, why would I be bothered with such rumors of what happened to her?"

Dumbledore shook his head, sitting down in Draco's armchair.

"Perhaps you misunderstood, Mr. Malfoy. It's not a rumor what recently happened. She's dead."

Draco feigned confusion on his face. He sort of tilted her head the tiniest bit and acted very uncomfortable. He strode over to his bed and sat down, hands on his knees and then crossing his legs.

"Professor, excuse me, but how does some poor girl's demise effect me?"

"Mr. Malfoy, let me get straight to the point. Rumors circulated about you using her in what many people called a 'one night stand'. That you misguided her into thinking that you're something you're not. She killed herself, Mr. Malfoy. She hanged herself this morning in her room."

Malfoy thought silently to him, "Damn Blaise, going around shooting your big mouth off." But what he said was, "Professor, I could not tell you where those rumors come from, but that they are just that, rumors without a basis of fact."

Dumbledore stood up with some effort. Draco noted how old the headmaster suddenly seemed. But he did nothing to help him up.

"Well, Mr. Malfoy, I think I should take my leave. Ms. Condannat's parents will be wanting her things." And with that he left.

Draco shook her head once and looked out his window. Night was setting in and with it the sky was becoming littered with millions of tiny stars. At the lake below some students were setting tiny candles out into the sky. Soon the lake mirrored the night with millions of tiny candle afloat in it. Draco pulled the black curtains shut.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

And that ends chapter two. Reviews are greatly appreciated. Even if you just write, "ooh" I would be elated. I was thinking we'd dive into Hermione and Draco this chapter, but this was a tad bit more important. So Hermione had a little mental breakdown…wonder why.