Disclaimer: All characters belong to J. K. Rowling and her publisher.

Can't Say I Love You

Chapter 2: Admitting Feelings

            After resting in the hospital wing for several hours, she ate the piece of candy that would make her stop getting sick. She looked around to make sure no one saw her, which was the last thing she needed, someone knowing that she skipped class. When she saw no one watching her, she leapt off her bed and headed towards the Nurse's office. Just as she reached the door, she felt someone's eyes on her. She took another look around and groaned.

            "So, Granger was faking sick to skip class, tsk tsk, what would the teachers think, the Head Girl skipping?" A cold voice mocked.

            "Malfoy, sod off, it's none of your business! I had a good reason for doing this!" Hermione said, walking towards his bed.

            "What, did your little boyfriend dump you?" Draco said sarcastically.

            Hermione looked down at her feet. She felt tears welling up in her eyes. She turned around so he couldn't see her. 'If he catches me crying, he'll have a field day with it,' Hermione thought. She felt a lone tear running down her cheek. She was so preoccupied making sure Malfoy didn't see her cry; she didn't realize he was staring at her.

            'So, one of those jerks hurt her, I could kill them. . . Wait! I hate her.' He thought with horror. He found himself staring at her. He tried to look away but couldn't. He suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

            "Hermione-" he started.

            "What?" She said with a bit of surprise, still turned away.

            "What?" he said quickly.

            "What did you call me?" She said, turning around, revealing her tearstained cheeks.

            "Hermione, that's you name, isn't it?" He asked.

            "Oh, yes of course. It's just; you've never called me that!" Hermione said with a slight smile.

            "Well, anyway, what I was going to say was, I'm sorry. . . About what happened? By the way, what did happen?" Draco said, realizing he didn't know what was wrong.

            "R-R-on dumped me. I told him that I- What! Why do you care?" Hermione said with a glare. She looked at him, suddenly suspicious for why he would care about her personal life.

            "Well, when you start crying in front someone, they kind of wonder what's wrong," he mumbled.

            "I guess. Well, I have to be going, thanks for listening. I have to get to potions before I'm considered late by that prat of a professor. Bye!" Hermione said, heading towards the door.

            "Wait! I'm headed there too, what to walk their together?" Draco said nervously.

            "Uh, sure, I guess. Just don't let Ron see us walking together, he'll blow!" Hermione said, suddenly clapping a hand over her mouth. Tears formed in her eyes. She had totally avoided saying his name for a while; she tended to break out in tears when she did.

            "Hermione, it's fine," Draco said, looking into her eyes.

            "No, no, he dumped me, I hate him, or I should, but I can't. He hates me!" Hermione mumbled.

***************************************************************************

            Draco finally got Hermione to stop crying. He started a conversation about class. She was finally back to normal. They rounded a corner and suddenly stopped. Tears formed in her eyes once again. Standing right in front of them were two people. Ron and Lavender. Draco pulled her back around the corner and covered her mouth. He listened intently to Ron and Lavender's conversation.

            "I feel so terrible, I loved her so much, but, I still can't fight my feelings for you Lavvy," Ron said, wrapping his arms around her. Draco felt Hermione shiver next to him.

            "I love you Ron!" Lavender said, kissing him on the cheek.

            "I love you too honey!" Ron said with no hesitation. Hermione finally struggled out of Draco's grip and ran up to the two. Draco could see that her eyes were red and puffy and tears were still running down her face.

            "I told you and you blow me off, but this-this-this . . . slut tells you she loves you and you think its grand! You jerk!" Hermione screamed. She slapped him crossed the face and ran the other way. Ron stood in the same spot for a moment, then turned and saw Draco.

            "So, you put her up to it, didn't you, she wouldn't explode like that unless someone suggested it.

            "Think about what you did to her, I think she had ever right to do that, you made her feel like dirt!" Draco said, approaching Ron.

            "Oh, and this is from the one who calls her a Mudblood," Ron said with fiery.

            That was it, Draco couldn't take it. He threw a punch. Ron stared in shock for a few seconds to long, and got a punch in the nose. Blood poured out. Ron looked Malfoy in the eyes. "Defending one of your enemies are you, I thought you didn't care about Hermione!" Ron screamed. Draco thought for a moment. Why was he defending Hermione? He didn't know. He felt Ron's fist on his cheek. He wasn't prepared and fell hard on the floor. He blacked out.


R&R! Hope you liked this chapter! If you have any suggestions, include them in a review! TY!