A/N: Here you go guys, chapters eleven and twelve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a test tomorrow!!! Eeeeeek!!!!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own them. I own this story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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CHAPTER XI – Confusion and hatred
The weird moment in the library had made Draco very distant. Somehow it made Hermione bit grumpy that every time he saw her, he ran away or ignored her. She seemed to be invisible to him. He didn't talk with her though she tried to make up a conversation. And even when she tried to talk about the ball, he just simply said he had no time and left. Hermione couldn't understand why he was acting this way. It wasn't like they had kissed or anything like that. They had just been little bit too close to each other. Was he embarrassed? What was going on? Hermione would've understood if he had been in love with her and then backed away because of his principles or something, but no. He couldn't be in love with her. That was just too impossible, and very ridiculous to think that he would like her.
"what are you doing on Christmas?" Hermione asked Harry when they were walking to transfiguration class.
"going to Weasleys", Harry said happily. "this will be my first Christmas at Ron's. What about you?"
"going home. The usual", Hermione said.
They stepped into the class. McGonagall hadn't come yet and everybody took a chance to talk with each other.
"er.. Hermione", came Neville's uncertain voice. "C-could we talk?"
Hermione looked around and then Neville.
"I guess. What's wrong?"
"it's", Neville glanced his hands nervously, "it's about Ginny."
"Ginny?"
"yes. I- she –", Neville was cut off buy a loud voice.
"Good afternoon class!"
"good afternoon!" the class answered.
Hermione, who had turned to McGonagall for a second, turned now back to Neville to have an answer but he had already gone back to his seat..
After the class Hermione went to Neville.
"Neville? What was the thing about Ginny?"
"it was just that…", Neville said.
"yes?"
"you know I asked Ginny to the ball?" Neville said carefully.
"yes."
"I- I only asked her because Harry said it would be the right thing", Neville said sheepishly.
"and?" Hermione drawled.
"I- I –"
"just spit it out, Neville", Hermione demanded.
"I don't want to go with her."
'good gracious! Why do they come to me?!' Hermione thought angrily. 'Ginny and Neville going to the ball together. Both don't want to go with each other but can't tell it to the other. What am I? A messenger?!'
"Neville", Hermione started not really knowing what to say. "just say her that you don't want go with her."
"but I can't –"
"yes you can. And make it quickly so you can have another partner", Hermione said bit rudely.
She turned her back to him and went to the Heads' common room.
'I hope he's not asking me…', she thought as she remembered she didn't have partner yet.
"bookworm", Hermione said and the portrait swung open.
Draco and Hermione had had to change the password after the two Slytherins had helped Draco to the common room. They had, of course, heard the password and Hermione didn't trust them. She had demanded that she and Draco should change the password.
This time Draco insisted to decide what the password would be. "Bookworm" had seemed to be a good one. Hermione didn't really like it though. But I could've been worse… like 'mudblood'.
Hermione walked through the room oblivious that Draco was lying on a couch reading a book. His cough made her notice him. Instead of going to her room she turned walked to Draco.
"hi", she said and sat in next to him keeping a good distance.
He didn't answer and frowned a bit.
"oh yeah, I forgot: you're not talking to me at the moment", Hermione said with an angry tone. "I just can't figure out why."
He turned his blue [[I know they are steel grey in the book]] eyes slowly to hers. Hermione gulped. His gaze was very piercing. Those eyes weren't warm anymore… had they ever been? Hermione would've burst into tears if that look belonged to someone she loved. Her heart jumped.
"you haven't?" Draco said coldly. "You are a mudblood, I don't want to make friends with mudbloods."
'what's wrong with him?' Hermione thought amazed.
He had been nicer towards her still few days ago but now he had turned back to himself...
"right, I forgot…", Hermione said angrily.
Draco turned his eyes away from hers. He started reading the book again. Hermione looked him sadness in her eyes.
"Malfoy", she said softly.
"Malfoy", Hermione repeated when he didn't make any move.
She touched his leg trying to be somewhat friendly but he shoved her hand off.
"don't touch me!" He hissed.
"sorry. I was just trying to –"
"save it!" He said angrily.
"what's your problem Malfoy?!" She snapped.
He turned his head and didn't answer. Hermione stared him.
"look… I don't want fight, ok? I'm going to have a terrible headache about this…", she whispered.
He sat there quietly reading, or pretending to read, his book. Hermione thought it was completely impossible to even try to talk with him. She stood up leaving him alone. And when she reached to her room and went in, she slammed the door so hard that even platform 9 ¾ would hear that.
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A/N: As you all can see this chapter was way too short!!! I thought I'd post another one, and I did! …just for you guys! :)
