Hermione sat down on a seat out of the Great Hall. She shifted her feet several times. Why did she feel so uncomfortable?

"Surprise!"

Hermione turned around to see Draco walking towards her.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked.

"I don't know."

Draco sat beside her. "Are you all right?"

Hermione sighed. "Not really."

"Oh come on. I never knew Hermione Granger to be so depressed all the time," Draco teased.

Hermione smiled a little. "You're right. I don't even know what I'm so mad about. I'm not that hungry though. I already had a little bit of dinner Are you up for a walk?"

Draco shrugged. "Sure, why not?" He and Hermione stood up. They stood there for a second until Hermione laughed nervously and started walking.

"So, what's up?" he asked.

"I met Kathryn and Sean."

Draco didn't say anything.

"Yeah, Kathryn's got Sean doing anything she wants."

"She's always doing that to people," Draco muttered.

"Do you still like her?" Hermione asked.

Draco hesitated. "Well yeah. She and I used to be really good friends. She wasn't so mean before, you know. Then she met Sean. and well, she dumped me."

"I'm sorry," said Hermione.

"It's all right," said Draco.

"Wow, look, here's my first class," Hermione said, gesturing towards the Professor McGonagall's class room.

They stood looking at each other. "Well, um, bye Hermione," Draco said.

"Bye."

Later on that evening.

"So, what are you up lately?" Draco asked Hermione as they were taking a walk outside.

"Nothing much, why?"

"Oh great, look who's coming," Draco whispered and put his arm around Hermione and hugged her close. Kathryn and Sean were also walking around the lake.

The four stopped in front of each other.

"Hullo, Draco," said Kathryn, looking a bit trouble-minded.

"Hey, have you met Hermione?" Draco asked, gesturing towards Hermione, who kissed Draco on the cheek. He froze.

Kathryn gave Hermione an ironic look. Sean tried to put his arm around Kathryn, but she pulled away.

"Well, we'll see you around," said Draco. Kathryn motioned Sean to walk with her, and they passed Draco. Once they were out of earshot, Draco grinned at Hermione. "That was great. She's so angry."

Hermione blushed. "Yeah, I know."

They faced each other. "So." Draco said uncomfortably.

Their faces leaned in until a few inches apart when Hermione suddenly said, "Uh, I have to go um do something. See you later, Draco." She turned around and headed back to the building.

Hermione ran into the Gryffindor Common Room and sat down. A few minutes later, Ron came stumbling down into the room.

"Hermione? What's up with you?" Ron asked.

Hermione was busy doing her homework when Ron interrupted her. She gritted her teeth and stared up at Ron, who's face was full of worry. Hermione dropped her quill and sighed. "We've had this conversation before, Ron."

"Yes, but that time you weren't exactly, well."

She sighed again. "Ron."

"You never have time for your true friends anymore," Ron said sadly.

"Oh? And what about Harry?"

"Um, he's. he's."

Hermione groaned. "So you stand up for Harry, and you think everything is my fault, don't you?"

"No. I don't!" Ron protested.

"Look, I have to tell you something," she said quietly. "We have to go somewhere where nobody can hear us though."

Ron raised his eyebrows. Hermione dragged him to a spot where they were out of earshot.

"Now you can't tell anyone! If you do I'll put you in a room of spiders!"

Ron shuddered. "Okay, I won't tell. What is it?"

Hermione inhaled and then exhaled deeply.

"Are you planning on telling me today? Or maybe we should stay here until next year!"