Author's Note: I just about collapsed when I read all those reviews. Thank you so much all you people out there. *cries* If you expected it sooner, here's my reason: I needed to gather up an angsty feeling for this chapter. And my Quarter Exams are already next week (time sure flies, doesn't it?), so my grades are also a big setback. Thank you!      

Author: The*Spangled*Pandemonium

Title: The Whole Truth

Chapter Title: Crashed and Burned

~~~*~~~

Draco:

I had let her go.

Really, what in the world could I say to defend myself? What was my fantastic reason for treating her this way?

 There was none. Only that lame-ass explanation I gave Crabbe and Goyle, and I certainly wouldn't tell her that.

I was lying on my green and silver comforters in the Slytherin Dormitories, gazing blankly out of the windows where the pale watery sun was rising in the east.

There was no beauty in it. The weather seemed to match my general mood these days. It had been drizzling lightly ever since. No thunder. No lightning. Just a weary bleak shower that seemed like it was going to be permanent.

It had been a week since that she told me that she knew everything in that hallway.

Maybe she was just angry, already plotting her sweet vengeance against that awful Slytherin boy that had fooled her. But her complete dismissal of me that day showed nothing. There was no faint flicker of hate, or even a tinge of embarrassment in those honey-brown eyes. The door was shut. And I was locked out. Had she loved me, even a little as she stood in that drafty hallway, telling me not to hurt her?

Ever since, Hermione had evaded me, and I tried my best to avoid her too. Fine. Whatever. I would not hurt her again.

 It wasn't like I needed her or anything. If I didn't need her before, why would I need her now? It wasn't like a few days of fooling around would convince me that we were meant to be.

But now you'll never know, will you? Something murmured sadly in my head.

I don't need to know! I hissed back.

Unwillingly, the memories of me holding her, kissing her, came back like they had been doing for the last few days.

Cripes. What had I done?

I turned over in my bed, wrapped one side of the cover over my legs, and closed my eyes.

I would have to eventually stop moping over someone I merely liked (loved?) sooner or later, right?

~~~*~~~

"Draco?" Crabbe said, giving me an exasperated look. "DRACO!"

I snapped out of my foggy stupor as Goyle poked me lightly on the shoulder. Flicking my sleepy-eyed, silvery gaze towards them, I saw faint aggravated expressions on their faces, along with a spoonful of worry.

"Finally," Goyle muttered in a hushed tone (people who thought they were stupid were nearby) while rolling his eyes. "His Majesty actually graced us with his presence."

"What." I mumbled shortly. It wasn't even a question anymore… I knew I was being callous towards them, and I felt an indistinct feeling of guilt welling up in me. So, that was another thing to add to the growing list of things I should feel terrible about. Great.

I ran my hand through my pale blond hair for the 50th time this morning. I had barely gotten any sleep, and two hours of daydreaming was not exactly going to rejuvenate me enough for a whole day of classes.

I probably looked like I slept in my clothes, with my appearance now. My black robe was crumpled, and my hair probably looked frazzled cause I kept on messing with it. I wasn't exactly the usual impeccably groomed Draco Malfoy at the moment. I was too busy sulking.

"What's up with you?!" Crabbe whispered angrily, "You've been gawking at that mudblood since Care of Magical Creatures! And it's already lunchtime!"

We were in The Great Hall, and had been there for the past twenty minutes. I still hadn't touched my food. And I swear I didn't notice that I was staring at the Gryffindor table.

Tch. Sometimes I wished that my two friends were as stupid as everyone thought they were. They saw too much.

"I'm just tired." I said wearily. I couldn't even make my brain think hard enough to shoot back some witty comment! All I could think about was her apathy that night, and comparing it to the adoring, affectionate way she used to look at me.

"I don't think I believe you." He replied brusquely.

I couldn't stand it anymore; I had to get out of the room. There were too many people. I really didn't want company right now. All I wanted to do was shut myself up in my dorm, away from the Slytherins, and away from the Gryffindors.

My muscles groaned as I rose up from the table, and I felt mild irritation (wow, another emotion besides regret and exhaustion!) as I saw that Crabbe and Goyle were getting up too. They were sticking with me.

There was no talking when we walked down the hallways going to the Slytherin dorm.

And when I saw Potter and Weasley, I simply looked at the floor. Forget about wanting to pick a fight, just like the good ole days.

When they were gone, Goyle was the one who started up more talk.

"You've changed Draco." He said seriously "Why the ceasefire with Potter and Weasley? What's with you?"

I said "Salazar," our password, to open the Slytherin Common Room and watched silently as the moist granite wall slid open.

The Common Room was it's usual self. The greenish lamps were still ablaze with light, and the soft, high-backed chairs stood empty of people. I was relieved to find no one in the room, and, without saying anything, plopped down onto a chair by the unlit fireplace.

"Well?" He asked again, unwilling to let the subject drop.

They were my friends… Why shouldn't I tell them? Shaking my head somnolently, I explained myself, "I feel kind of guilty about her."

"Guilty about who?" Crabbe asked.

I sighed, annoyed at his denseness. "Hermione? You know? Girl with books in hand? Muggle-born? The smart one? Guilt."

"Oh." He replied, and paused for a moment, "Well, you haven't showed you had a conscience before," he said, smiling crookedly, "why now?"

"It's worse than anything I've done before," I said, looking at the thick intricate oriental carpet on the floor. "I've never fooled a vulnerable person to think I was trustworthy, only for them to find out I was just scheming against them." I shrugged. "It just seems… appalling, picking on someone who doesn't even have her memory back."

"It'll pass…" Goyle said, squinting at me, "She knows already, right?"

My mind brought me back to that memorable corridor. "Yes. She does."

"I get it now!" Goyle spoke triumphantly. "She burned you, didn't she? That's why you're moping!"

I couldn't help but chuckle, seeing his obvious pleasure at my pain.

Then again, what better way to lighten a bad situation by not taking it seriously?

"I guess she did." I muttered pretending to be annoyed (but not doing a good job of it). "Let's go now, we're late for class."

We left the Common Room, but unlike what happened in the train before, I didn't miss that sharp glance between my two friends.

Were they up to something?

~~~*~~~

Later that night…

In his office, with portraits of his past descendents napping around him, Lucius Malfoy took out a shiny jewel- embedded envelope opener and sliced open a small packet that he had received earlier that evening.

It was already four in the morning, and he still hadn't found anything worthwhile to bring back to the Dark Lord.

His brain had concluded that if he couldn't deal with that matter, he'd do something else.

Pulling out a piece of parchment from within the packaging, Lucius read the message…

***

Lucius,

Draco has become more withdrawn these past few days. I am not the only one who has noticed it.

Crabbe and Goyle have told me rather interesting. Apparently, something happened over Draco's summer with that Mudblood Hermione Granger. They think that Draco had some sort of relationship with her.

I am not sure how this came to be, but as you wanted me to keep a watch on Draco ever since he turned down being a Deatheater, I believed that I should tell you.

~ Serverus Snape

***

Fuming, Lucius crumpled the paper, and threw it into the dimly lit fire.

He would have to deal with that blasted son of his soon.

~~~*~~~

Author's note: You may have noticed Snape sent the letter. If you immediately think that wrong because Severus is a 'good' guy, remember that it was hinted by the previous novels that Snape has to act as a spy for Dumbledore. What better way is there to make people in Dark side to believe you're with them by telling the condition of your heir one in a while? Well, if you didn't understand that whole mess coming from my mind, I'm sorry…

And Mesa Miscina? This story takes place in their sixth year at Hogwarts. As you noticed, the first flashback in the previous chapter came from book two, and the other one came from book four. I figured sixteen was a reasonable enough age for them to have a little romance in their lives. ; )

Thank you everyone! REVIEW please! And let me warn you, like this one, the next chapter isn't going to be too long, but you need to see Hermione and Draco's reactions to the entire thing, don't you?

Bye now!