Author's Notes: I know… I know… I haven't been faithful to my story… I haven't been updating it… But here is the next chapter.

 I checked my reviews one day and one person (exlibris) made me react like I was poked with a cattle prod. So I got on working…Thank you… I won't say that I might not finish the story anymore, ok? I WILL finish it… Though it'll take a while.

Thank you to the people who are so faithful to me, especially the people who put me on their favorites list (Queen Li., Padfoot, sweetginny, candycanekid, and Nise). Also to Mesa Mescina, who has been with this story since the beginning. *sniffle*

Author: The*Spangled*Pandemonium

Title: The Whole Truth

Chapter Title: Something's Up

~~~*~~~

Hermione:

I was sitting with Ron, watching both armies of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team and the Slytherin Quidditch Team collide. Flint and Wood were glaring at each other. Apparently Slytherin had permission to use the field during the Gryffindor practice. The argument was temporarily postponed as a new subject came up.

"You've got a new Seeker?" said Wood. "Where?"

Draco emerged from the middle of the Slytherin group, smirking wickedly at Harry. His golden hair gleamed in the morning sun.

"Aren't you Lucius Malfoy's son?" Fred said glaring at Draco.

"Funny you should mention Draco's father," Flint smiled widely, "Let me show you the generous gift he's made to the Slytherin team."

The mass of Slytherins stuck out their hands, exposing their shiny new broomsticks.

"Very latest model. Only came out last month," The Slytherin captain said scornfully. "I believe it outstrips the old Two Thousand series by a considerable amount. As for the old Cleansweeps…" Flint cackled, "Sweeps the board with them."

Draco's eyes were cold and sinister. He was smiling an icy smirk at the members of my House. What in the world was he doing?!

Ron and I walked over, silent and determined.

"Oh, look. A field invasion." Flint muttered.

"What's happening?" Ron asked Harry. "Why aren't you playing? And what is he doing here?"

He glowered at Malfoy, looking at Draco's new robes.

"I'm the new Slytherin Seeker, Weasley," said Malfoy, in a harsh tone. "Everyone's just been admiring the brooms my father's bought our team."

Ron's mouth was shaped into a wide O and I was staring blankly at Draco.

"Good, aren't they? But perhaps the Gryffindor team will be able to raise some gold and get new brooms, too. You could raffle off those Cleansweep Fives; I expect a museum would bid for them." Said Draco silkily.

The Slytherin team laughed wildly, and I could feel my face turning red with embarrassment and anger.

"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in," I found myself saying. The rage inside welled up uncontrollably. "They got in by pure talent."

Draco turned his pale frosty eyes on me, an inner fire blazing beneath those arctic depths.

"No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood," He spat at me.

~~~*~~~

I woke up with a terrible jolt that made my four-post bed shudder in the gray darkness. What the hell was that all about!?

Pale moonlight shone through the open window, and my white satin nightgown glowed strangely. I could hear the faint breathing of my roommates, who showed no sign of hearing me awaken.

I bit my lip, and my mood became guarded. Was that a memory? Or a dream? It had seemed so vivid, like it was just reminiscence. Then again, most dreams are that way…

I shut my lashes slowly. I could still see the freezing expression in those faded eyes of Draco. I could hear that word echoing in my head. Mudblood… Mudblood…Mudblood, a demon in my head screeched evilly.

I shivered.

That word seemed painfully familiar. And I knew then and there that it had once been uttered in my presence, maybe even directed to me.

Was Draco really the one who called me that?

That bastard, I thought angrily, and then I immediately felt ashamed. I had absolutely no proof that the dream was actually true. I had jumped to conclusions about everything…

I shook my head wildly, trying to empty the suspicious thoughts slowly piling up in my head.

I mean, think about it… That would be the reason why Harry and Ron hated my boyfriend! If he really treats us Gryffindors like that… And then there's the whole thing with our "relationship" being silent.

I couldn't stand it anymore.

I plopped my head back on the soft pillow. I would have to think about this tomorrow, when the luminescence of the night sky wasn't clouding my senses, giving everything an ethereal look.

Maybe… maybe… somehow… I would go to sleep.

~~~*~~~

It was strange… Even though I had probably three hours knocked out from my usual sleeping time, I woke up thirty minutes earlier than usual. My skin practically buzzed with a nervous energy.

I did the usual. Took a bath. Put on my robes. Checked my books. You know… what any normal student does every morning. But that dream refused to stay out of my brain. It had to be a memory that I regained. I think… Argh.

I wondered distantly how I would get through with the day. My powers were by no means fitted for such a display; my voice was weak and my manner affected—I was in an aching agony, but still determined to run along as if nothing happened.

I saw a pile of papers that were left on a table in the common room. Our schedule for the school year. I ran through the documents sort of carelessly, but my eyes grew wide with shock.

Oh, fuck… Ron and Harry WOULD NOT like to see this. Gryffindors had Double Period Potions with the Slytherins the first thing on Monday morning. Shit.

And not only that… I would have to face Draco. Why me? Couldn't I just iron my hands like Dobby and get the pain over with? Instead of having it jump out in surprising bursts into my face?

I needed time alone, and people would be coming down in about five or so minutes to dress up. So I left the room, knowing that in a while; Harry and Ron would be quite annoyed at me for leaving without them. I still didn't care. I wanted privacy for even just a little while longer.

Walking to the Great Hall, I looked around me, remembering everything. I didn't even get lost or forget to skip a step on one of the second floor stairways!

But that same monster that kept on repeating that disgusting word in my head now changed the topic. The only REAL thing you know about Draco is that "dream." It hissed. What else do you know about that slimeball?!

The monster did have a point… I seem to be missing all my past memories of Draco. Though even insignificant details about my school had come back. What the hell was wrong with me? Was I simply in denial?!

I strolled over to the empty Gryffindor table and slumped down in my usual seat. The smell of food made me wrinkle my nose and want to gag. Shit. This certainly was hitting me hard.

But I told myself that Draco is innocent until proven guilty. And any proof that he certainly is a betraying asshole hasn't been found yet. That made my a bit of my gloom fade away. And he really did show a lot of compassion in that one kiss that I remembered we shared.

Hmm. Just thinking about that made me smile stupidly.

"What are you grinning about, Herm?" Neville said cheerily from behind me.

I glanced up, beamed at him and replied. "Nothing. Just happy to be home again." The grin faded away as I saw that my two friends weren't here yet. "Have you seen Ron and Harry?"

"Erm… Yeah. I recall seeing them asking Ginny were you were."

"Ginny?" I echoed softly, "I'll be back in a minute, Nev…"

Standing up, and no longer absorbed in circular questions about my boyfriend, I walked out of the Great Hall's doorway just as Ron and Harry strolled in.

"Ouch." I grumbled, rubbing my forehead. Really, this was getting too much.

"Where were you, Herm?" Ron demanded, massaging his cheekbone where my head had hit him. "We were looking for you…"

I gestured to the Gryffindor table.  "Here." I said, "I was just talking to Neville."

Chatting normally, we ambled over to our normal seats and sat down.

"Whoa," Harry muttered, looking wide-eyed at the table. "The house elves really outdid themselves today."

Ron's mouth was already full of food as he happily replied, "'Tis good!"

I smiled wryly at Ron, poking my fork gently at the scrambled eggs on my plate, "I may just ruin your appetite, ikle Ronnie-kins."

I laughed as he glared at me, but sobered up as I relayed the news. "Every Monday. Double Potions. Right after breakfast. Our next subject. WITH Slytherin."

A small splatter of food came shooting out of Ron's mouth, pelting me and a few other previously clean Gryffindors.

"God, man!" I yelled disgustedly. "Food goes in the mouth! IN!"

A small chuckle emerged from Harry as he pounded on Ron's back.

"Watch out, Mione… Any more news like that and you'll be covered."

I glared at him, though I wasn't really mad. Harry, the lucky cow, was sitting next to Ron, therefore being out of the firing range.

"WE HAVE SNAPE?!" Ron gasped out after he recovered.

I sent them a grim smile as I sliced the bacon on my plate (thankfully unharmed by Ron's previously chewed food, I think). "Yeah, a great start to our year, huh?"

"Perfect." Ron mumbled.

~~~*~~~

~~~*~~~

I was with Harry and a few of the Gryffindors, and unfortunately, with the Slytherins, in front of the Potions dungeons. All the members of the rival house were gazing at each other, both malice and mischievousness painted on their faces. In a perfectly coordinated second, they lifted their hands up to their SUPPORT CEDRIC DIGGORY--THE REAL HOGWARTS CHAMPION badges and poked animatedly at it. It suddenly flashed into a bright green POTTER STINKS.

I glared angrily at them all, as I watched poor Harry's face turn red. Ron had abandoned him, but I sure as hell wouldn't.

"Oh very funny," I said bitingly, to that pathetic bitch Pansy Parkinson and her friend, as they laughed in shrill tones, "really witty."

Ron stood silently with Dean and Seamus. His closed tight-lipped, close-faced expression read that he didn't like this one bit, but he wasn't going to do anything. After all, he was still mad at Harry.

"Want one, Granger?" I gave a fierce look when Draco turned his cool silver eyes on me, a sneer working up on his smooth face, and a badge in his hand. "I've got loads. But don't touch my hand, now.  I've just washed it, you see; don't want a Mudblood sliming it up."

Fucking bastard.

Harry… Poor bullied Harry suddenly snapped. He swiftly brandished his wand from his robes and jabbed it towards Malfoy. The spectators to this little prank suddenly backed off. A little teasing seemed fine to them, but anything with a wand…they would back off.

Idiots.

"Harry!" I said worriedly.

"Go on, then, Potter," Draco said sinisterly, his long fingers grabbing his own wand from inside his cloak. He glowered fiercely at Harry. "Moody's not here to look after you now - do it, if you've got the guts -"

"Funnunculus!"  Harry shouted.

~~~*~~~

"Herm…? Herm…?! HERMIONE?!" A loud voice yelled into my ear.

"Wha? Yeah? Wha?" I murmured, disoriented.

Another memory.

With Draco.

The monster was right.

And everything was back.

"Hello? Is anyone in there?" Ron asked as Harry proceeded to snap his fingers in front of my eyes.

"Urgh! Away!" I said, annoyed, while batting them with my hands.

"Well then, Hermione." Harry said with exaggerated tolerance. "You do have to go to Potions even though you don't want to."

"Besides…" Ron grumbled at me, reluctantly stepping in to the dungeons, "At least Snape hates you a little bit less than he hates us."

"Right…" I said under my breath, blanking out my brain, trying to calmly accept the fact that this shit-filled mother-fucker called Draco Malfoy told me, my parents, and a bunch of hospital people that I, Hermione Granger, was his girlfriend.

I could barely contain lashing out with my wand and attacking him with an unforgivable curse when I saw him sitting there. Quite calmly. Ignorant to the fact that I felt like my life had been shattered into pieces. That filthy Slytherin bastard.

Clenching my fists, I realized something ground-breaking.

I had said, "I love you" to him.

Red hot anger welled up inside of me, along with a deep, wretched feeling of embarrassment. 

I felt used. He had a few moments of fun kissing me, hugging me, spending time with me just for this exact moment. The moment when I finally remembered everything.

I felt my eyes well up with tears. But no. I WOULD NOT cry over that wanker! He wasn't worth enough for me to shed cry for.

I didn't realize I was looking at him, and I think the strength of my gaze made him look over to where I was sitting.

He turned his head slightly looked into my eyes, and quirked his mouth. Asshole!

And I DID NOT miss the fact that both Crabbe and Goyle saw it too. They actually gave each other looks of satisfaction!

I had confirmed it…

He really did lie to me. It really was a ploy to make me feel like this. It really was a scheme to hurt me, the ultimate Gryffindor girl.

What would I do now…?

"Are you sure you're ok, Herm?" Harry asked, with Ron peering over his shoulder at me. Harry's wonderfully innocent green eyes were full of honesty and real concern (unlike someone). And Ron didn't even care that Snape had entered the room already and was giving him the eye.

Harry… Ron… My true friends. I would have to leave them out of this… For as long as I could… I couldn't tell them… yet.

I nodded slightly and looked at my table.

I would get through this with my head held high and the Gryffindor signature waving as a flag behind me.

I would survive through this.

~~~*~~~

Right after Potions, which I barely endured, I scribbled a properly curt note, attached it to a school owl, and sent it to Draco.

During lunchtime, he received it, and kept on trying to make eye contact with me, which I carefully deflected.

Now here I was, in one of the minor corridors in the school at 9:30, leaning impassively (hopefully) on the stone wall.

Dressed in my Hogwarts robes, with light makeup on and my hair properly tamed into a ponytail, I made sure I looked like the perfect picture of a nice girl, who had never, ever been emotionally injured by a guy.

Inside, the overwhelming knowledge that I had been fooled enraged me.

But no, I would not let him see how hurt I was. I wouldn't show him anything. At all. He would be gone from my life. Finished.

If I showed that I was dipped in sorrow because of what he did, it would only increase his satisfaction that he wounded me.

I could either dwell painfully on it, or I could do the right thing, and concentrate on my O.W.L.S. for this school year.

In a course of a lifetime, what does it matter? I thought miserably, trying to gain some control on my rampaging emotions.

My heart sunk as stinging replies to that quote bounced up from the inner reaches of my mind. If we had meant something to each other, then it would have mattered in my life!

Thinking frantically, I found another one: What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger.

Wonderful. I would live through this, and I would become more emotionally stable. And I would never set myself to this kind of torture anymore.

As I was relishing that thought, I heard faint footsteps echoing down the hallway.

Draco.

He gave me his "usual" bright smile as he looked at me. Damn, he sure as hell was a good actor. The ass.

"Hey Herm… What was this all—" He said pleasantly.

"I know." I said shortly, looking into his eyes piercingly.

"What do you mean—"

"I know." I cut in. He was a smart boy. He'd understand what I meant in a while.

Something seemed to jerk at him. His nice-guy appearance changed into a wild-eyed, pleading look.

"Please Hermione!" he asked desperately, "Listen!"

My eyes filled up but I did not cry. I couldn't. If I gave in now, I wouldn't be able to stop myself.

I stared him down mercilessly, gazing intently to a face that I thought I trusted. I put perfect indifference in my expression, like the words I would say meant nothing to me.

"Will you listen?" He asked again.

My voice, clear and brutally emotionless, rang through the hallway. "You're hurting me Draco. Stop hurting me."

I forced myself to get away from this pitiful person.

Twisting my foot the other direction, I walked away.

My footsteps echoed in the still air.

I felt his moon-silver eyes latch on to my retreating back those last seconds.

He did not follow me.

~~~*~~~

Author's notes: Ok… Please REVIEW. I'm desperate. I need to know whether my story is interesting enough to read. Please. I'll stop begging now. I wanted this chapter to be 15 pages, but I couldn't stand it anymore. Forgive me. And REVIEW. Constructive Criticism is welcomed. No flames please.

And the story isn't over yet… ; )