"Ron?" I asked, exasperated. "What are you doing here?"

"What were you doing in there with Malfoy?" he demanded to know.

I was appalled. To think, my best friend would think that I was with Malfoy? Okay. So maybe I was with Malfoy...but its not like I did anything- besides kiss him, anyway. "Why would you presume with that accusation?" I asked sweetly. "Ronald?" I put extra emphasis on his name.

"Because I saw you there with him."

"And what were we doing?" I asked, cocking my head to the side.

"You were talking."

"There you go." I smiled.

"What?" he asked, throwing up his hands in defeat.

"You asked me what I was doing and you just answered yourself. We were talking." I turned around and headed downstairs-again.

"Where are you going?" he yelled after me.

"To my next class," I answered without turning back. "Arithmancy." I stepped down the stairs barefoot. I thought of doing a little spell of numbness...maybe that would work...

"Hermione!" Ron yelled, running behind me. He grabbed my arm. "You've got to stay away from Malfoy!"

I looked him in the eye. "Ron. Be normal!"

"Why don't you? It isn't normal to be...be sleeping with a Malfoy!" he exclaimed. He seized both of my shoulders.

"I'm not sleeping with him!" I shrieked.

"It doesn't seem like you're not," he mumbled.

"Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that my word was good enough for you?" I asked, pushing him away. "Wasn't it?"

He refused to look at me. He refused to say anything to me.

"Ron. Don't freak out until you know the f*cking facts!" I yelled.

"You've changed, Hermione," he whispered, stepping away from me.

I swallowed the biggest frog in the world. "What?"

"You've changed. It used to be that I could speak to you at any time, but now...its like I only have a limited time...and that time isn't enough..."

"Ron," I said, reaching for his arm, but he pulled away.

"No. I'm not finished," he spat.

I gulped.

"You need to leave him alone. He's pure evil. He doesn't deserve you, Hermione-"

"And you don't deserve her," said a sly voice from behind me.

I turned and saw Malfoy. "Malfoy, stay out of this-"

"What do you want?" Ron asked.

"I want to talk to my partner in bed, thank you very much," answered Malfoy.

They weren't listening to me. It was like I was the frickin wall. Well, when have men EVER listened to women? My point, exactly.

"Your 'partner in bed'?" asked Ron, his gaze flickering from me to the devil.

"I am not!" I screamed.

Malfoy gazed at me coyly with that Snape smile. "That's not what you agreed to this morning."

"Hell," I mumbled.

"No, dear," Ron said. "Hell is for later...AFTER you sleep with the devil."

"There! You said it yourself!" I exclaimed. "I haven't slept with Malfoy."

"She got you there, buddy," laughed Malfoy. "That's the truth, I haven't slept with your girlfriend yet."

"I am not his girlfriend," I retorted.

Ron glared at me for two seconds and then focused on Malfoy.

"I'm glad," Malfoy replied. "Because miss hotness over there owes me a little pleasure." He lifted his eyebrows suggestively. I rolled my eyes.

"Truth is, Weasel, I'd do your girl any day-she's got the body that I've always wanted to see. Not to mention she seems like a great f*ck-"

Ron punched him. Malfoy skidded back a few steps. He let his hand feel the blood from his nose. "Nice."

"Guys, stop," I warned.

"Not until he shuts up about you," Ron said, stepping towards him.

"Ron, just drop this," I said.

"Yeah, Weasel. She's got a fine butt...I have tons of pictures. Besides, your mother would be happy to get a f*ck from me-"

Ron tackled him down to the floor. Malfoy struggled to get on top to kick Ron's ass.

"Ugh," I grumbled. "Not again."

Malfoy continued to talk about Ron's mother-and it was horrid and obscene language that I even refuse to recall. Ron's fist met Malfoy's body more than once and loudly. The sounds echoed through the empty halls.

"Guys," I said, laying my hands at my side. "C'mon. Stop this stupidity now."

They didn't listen to me. Then the bad thing happened.

Malfoy used his wand as a knife and cut Ron in the abdomen. Ron fell back against the wall, clutching his stomach.

"Ron!" I yelled, running towards him. "Ron!"

Malfoy stopped me. He grabbed me by the shoulders. Then he kissed me hard on the lips. It was good kiss-just the wrong time.

"Malfoy!" I screamed, trying to push him away.

He let go of me as Professor Snape walked out into the hall.

"What is going on here?" he demanded.

I flew onto Ron. He was groaning in pain and I hated to see him this way. "May I please take him to the nurse?" I asked.

"Not until I know what happened," answered Snape.

Malfoy spoke up. "Weasely jumped me."

"What?" I exclaimed. "That is not what happened! Malfoy jumped him-"

"Hermione, just leave it. You've done enough already," Ron said.

"Yes, Hermione," mimicked Malfoy. "You have."

I was hurt. I was crying. Why? Why me?

"Mr. Malfoy, please take Miss Granger back to your dormitories and calm her down. While I take Mr. Weasely to Madam Pomfry," Snape replied.

Instantly, Malfoy grabbed me and pulled me towards the direction of our chambers, and I was scared to bloody death.