Chapter Four:

The next day during classes, Hermione was back to her know-it-all self, she handed in her Care of Magical Creatures essay which was two rolls of parchment more than what was required. She answered all the questions in each class, and was back to her books by lunch. Just before their next class, she ran out of the Great Hall, "Harry! Ron! I'll meet you in Potions! I picked up the wrong books!"

"Okay! See you later!" Ron hollered back.

Hermione knew Draco always arrived at Potions early so she ran as quick as she could. Within seconds, she saw his blonde head turn into the classroom.

"DRACO!" She yelled. A pain in Draco's heart struck as he heard her voice.

' I thought this was over, ' he thought. He turned around, his eyes as cold as night.

"What do you want?" He said coolly.

Her eyes became large as she told him, "Draco, I know why you did it! I am happy with Harry and Ron, but I was happy with you too! Draco, please, I'm not mad about what happened the other day."

Draco looked at her, reading the _expression in her eyes. ' She's telling the truth, ' he thought. He looked around and saw no one there. His icy glare melted, replaced by his soft blue eyes as he smiled. Hermione saw this and threw her arms around him. He smiled as he wrapped his arms around her, glad to have her back in his arms. The world must've stopped, because the two just stood there in an embrace, not knowing how long.

While still in their embrace, they heard the thud of books hitting the ground, and Hermione quickly spun around.

"H-Hermione?!" Ron stuttered, his jaw touching the ground. He turned around, leaving his books sprawled on the floor, running away from the hurt.

"Ron!" Hermione cried. She pulled Draco's hands off her hips and ran after Ron. Harry's eyes grew small as he glared at Draco.

"What are you trying to pull off Malfoy?" He sneered.

"Nothing Potter, " his cold eyes restores as he pushed Harry out of his way, and ran after Hermione.

"Ron! Wait! I can explain!" Ron stopped and turned to Hermione.

"There's nothing to explain, " Ron said bitterly. Draco caught up to them and put his arms around Hermione's shoulders, and looked at Ron, " Let her explain Weasley."

"Why Malfoy, so she can hurt me more? Is that what you want?"

Draco let go ot Hermione and stepped closer to Ron, " Look Weasley! You wanna know why Hermione's been off every lunch, after school and on weekends?! She's been gone because-"

"Because she's been with YOU!!" Ron cut in.

"RIght Weasley, she was with me...to help me with POTIONS HOMEWORK!!!!" Draco yelled back. Harry stood byt Ron's side listening, "So that's why she's been gone?! To help you with HOMEWORK?!" Harry questioned.

"Yes, "Hermione whispered. She put her hand on Draco's arm, signaling him to back off.

"Ron, " she started, "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you and Harry, it's just-" she stopped and looked at Draco. He squeezed her hand and nodded at her.

"It's just, Draco told me not to tell anyone."

"And you LISTENED to him?" Ron's face was so red.

"It's not her FAULT Weasley!" Draco jumped in, his hands forming into fists.

"Draco," she whispered, "Please, I can handle this."

Draco looked into her eyes, then took a step back, but stayed behind Hermione. She looked at him, took his hand and whispered, "Thank-You." She turned back to Ron and Harry and continued, "Draco asked me for help and I helped him with his potions. The night I yelled at you two, I went to my room crying, until I fell asleep. The next morning I was going to meet Draco to go over the weekend's homework, when I overheard you talking to Harry about me, so I started to cry again, and was late to meet Draco. Draco was worried about me when he saw me crying, so we went to Hogsmead and I told Draco about our fight, and then-" she paused and lookd down.

"I blamed the fight between you and Hermione on me, because it was my fault you and Harry weren't seeing her, "Draco told Ron. The look on Harry's face softened as he began to understand. Draco continued, "I decided that I didn't want to see Hermione miserable so I told her to stop seeing me...to go back to you and Harry. She wouldn't leave though, so I had to do something that would make her go, " his voice dropped.

"What did you do?" Ron asked angerly.

"I-" Draco started took a deep breath and went on, " I called her a 'Mudblood' and told her I didn't need her anymore."

Hermione cringed at the sound of that word, and Draco placed his hands on her shoulders, "I'm so sorry Hermione. I never meant to hurt you."

Ron was ready to charge at Draco, his fists ready to fight, but Harry held him back.

"You CREEP!" Ron screamed.

"Ron, let them finish, " Harry said calmly.

"At the party Ron, when you said that I was always happy with you and Harry, I had realized that Draco only wanted me to be happy, that's why he called me a-- well you know what, "she went on.

"That's why I found Draco today before class, to tell him I knew he did that on purpose, and I told him I was happy with you and Harry, but I was happy with Draco as well, " Hermione added.

"Why would ANYONE be happy with HIM?!?" Ron questioned.

"Ron...you really don't know Draco. He's not the insecure littel first year brat anymore. He's grown up now, he's...he's different now Ron, he really is, " she took Draco's hand into her's and pulled him closer.

"Look at him Ron, his eyes," she watched Harry and Ron examine Draco, "His eyes are soft, he's just like you and Harry."

Harry looked at Draco, then looked at Hermione, and saw her soft show a sign of happiness. Her eyes gleamed when Draco was there.

' She's really happy with Draco,' Harry thought. He still didn't trust Draco, but he knew that if Hermione trusted him, it wouldn't hurt to try and get to know Malfoy. He switched his glace to Draco, but something about him just didn't feel right.

She glanced at Ron. His face was still srunched up, his eyes showcased pain, hurt and anger. She let go of Draco and walked over to Ron. She lifted his chin, looked at him in the eyes, but he turned away.

"Ron , look at me, " she started, "I'll always be friends with you and Harry. You two and my BEST friends. That will never change. I'll always be there for you and Harry if you ever need me; schoolwise and personal wise. The only thing I ask of you is for your forgiveness and for you to accept Draco."

"I will NEVER accept a Slytherin! Especially Malfoy!" Ron sneered.

"Ron...please...this isn't the Ron I know. The Ron I know, cares for others, accepts them for their true selves and learns to love, " she pleaded, "Please Ron, give Draco a chance. Get to know him better. Do it for me Ron."

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