Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, unless otherwise mentioned. They belong to J.K.Rowling. =)

Chapter 4 - Damsel in Distress

Draco's POV

I pushed myself up and looked around in disgust. I so have to get out of this freaky place.

Just as I was walking out, I bumped into Dumbledore.

He shook his head and clucked his tongue at me. "Why did you say that?"

I glare at him, annoyed. "Say what?" I snarled.

The silly fool shook his head at me again, then continued walking in his direction.

"Crazy fellow," I muttered.

I turned a corner and say -

"Oh my god!" I yelled, sprinting.

- Pansy Parkinson strangling Hermione.

I pushed Pansy away and slapped her. "Ger away from her!"

Pansy pouted. "How can you like her?" She looked at Hermione with distaste. "Which part of her is better than me?"

I stared blankly at Pansy. "When did I say I like Hermione?"

"You don't?" Pansy squealed, then paused. "Then why are you protecting her?"

[a/n: Okay, rewind a little]

Hermione's POV

I was being thrown off balance.

"Pansy!" I exclaimed in surprise.

"Full marks, that's my name," she hissed in my ear, shoving me against the wall.

"Slut." Pansy spat.

"What?"

"Draco's mine, bitch!" Pansy punched me in the stomach.

I winced in pain. "Well, hooray for you!" I said bitterly.

Out of sheer madness or something, I felt her hands around my neck.

"Let go, Pansy!" I struggled in vain. Pansy tightened her grip, glaring at me. It was ... getting difficult to breathe. I started coughing. "Pansy ..."

I heard someone yell out and closed my eyes in relief. I'm saved.

Pansy let go of me and I fell to the ground. I heard some words exchanged. Get away ... like her ... better than me ... Hermione ... protecting ...

Was that Draco? I opened my eyes hopefully.

It was.

"Why are you protecting that mudblood?" she looked at me in disgust.

My eyes watered. I looked down at my shoes. I seemed to be crying a lot these days.

"Don't call her that!" Draco commanded.

Pansy turned to me and gave me another slap. "Did you bewitch him or something, mudblood?"

Draco wrenched Pansy's hand away. "Go away, Pansy," Draco growled dangerously.

Pansy glared at me, then stormed off.

My lips trembled and I ran back to the prefects' common room, away from Draco Malfoy.

Draco's POV

I reached the common room much later. I've been walking about the garden thinking.

Sighing, I walked into the common room. Hermione is driving me crazy.

Why am I thinking of her again? I scolded myself mentally.

There she was. Lying on the couch, asleep. Looking like an angel without even trying.

I got out my blanket since I wasn't allowed in her room to get hers. I laid it on her, careful not to wake her up and placed the book she had been reading on the side table.

History Of the Dark Side, it read.

My expression darkened as I flipped through the book. There it was, Lucifer Malfoy. Infuriated, I threw the book down, forgetting about Hermione and stormed up to my room.

Hermione's POV

I stirred. What was that?

Opening my eyes, I decided to stretch a bit. Was I sleeping on the couch? I thought I was ...

My eyes caught the name on the blanket. Draco Malfoy. H-he lent me his? Don't he need it?

I got up and started towards his room when I spotted my book. It had been opened to ... the Malfoys.

Realization dawned on me.

Oh no, I thought miserably. He must think I hate him.

I hesitated outside his room, debating whether to leave his blanket outside or wake him up.

Feeling courageous, I held up my fist. It was about to touch the door when it suddenly opened. Oops.

Draco rubbed his forehead. He looks so ador-

"What do you want, mudblood?" he snarled.

I couldn't trust myself to speak. I might start crying instead. I thrusted the blanket into his arms before turning away.

"Granger," he said softly.

I paused, my head hung.

When he didn't speak, I started to move away. Why does he run hot and cold on me? Doesn't he care about my feelings?

"Do you like me?" he blurted out.

What? Am I hearing right?

Stupid idiot, I thought. Of course I do.

But I remembered the incident in the infirmary.

And pride got the better of me.

"No," I answered coldly.

Draco's POV

I slammed the door hard and leaned against it. I knew it, I thought.

How would someone so virtuous like her fall for me?

I spotted my penknife lying on the floor. Unable to resist the sharpness of the blade, I carved a 'H' on my left arm, to remind me of how Hermione hurt me.

I hate her.

][A u t h o r 's n o t e ][

I hope this chapter is longer. =P Please r/r. Thanks ^-^.

LonelyGer

P.S Happy New Year!