Disclaimer: The characters used are not my creation.

Chapter Five

Hermione stood in the Charms corridor frozen with shock. She had just been on Prefect Patrol minding here own business; she had not done anything wrong and yet here she was, being kissed by Draco Malfoy!!!

Not to say he was not a good kisser. Hermione felt that his kiss was passionate; tender. She almost fell into the kiss and imagined it was Ron she was being kissed by at that moment until she remembered

THIS IS NOT RON!!!' She gasped and pushed her predator away with such force that he stumbled. She thought Malfoy would have fallen to the ground but he of course recovered with that sort of grace that only belonged to him.

"What the hell was that?" Hermione screamed. She was angry because she had been violated, but even more upset by the fact that she almost let it go on while she was daydreaming of her love, Ron.

Draco seemed shocked that she would ask such a question. He looked at her with a questioning glance and then spoke very slowly "It was a kiss Hermione. I told you that I loved you, so I decided to show you."

"How dare you touch me like that! I am not yours to have your way with!" She was slowly walking away from him as she spoke, clutching her book to her chest. She was ready to beat him over his head with the heavy volume if he tried anything with her again.

He walked toward her as she backed away. He looked as if he was getting angry yet it was evident in his eyes that he was hurt by the harsh words emitted from her lips.

"ButI told you how I feel. How I want to be with you. You don't even have to tell Ron yourself, I'll do it for you in a heartbeat! Anything if you'll say that you'll be mine! Anything!"

Hermione was trapped against one of the stone walls in the corridor. He kept coming closer and closer until his face was inches from her own. He would not stop therehe seemed intent on coming closer to her than that. Hermione felt her heart beating like a drum while her breathing quickened. She could not get her muscles to function until finally

SMACK!

Draco backed away, his pale hand clutching his fair face that was gaining red mark from Hermiones hand quite fast.

"What the hell was that Hermione?"

"It's what you deserved! You presume too much Malfoy. You strut over to me and say that you love me' and with those words you think I'll automatically give up Ron and my dignity to be with you, as if it's some honor and you're doing so much by making the offer! If you love me Malfoy, you would have never said those horrible things you have said to me. I'm sorry, but I cannot say that I love you back. Even in confessing you're so called love you have insulted me by saying I'm Just a muggle born.' If you had not been such as asshole for the past four years, maybe something could have happened. But I will never forget some of things you have done to me; how you have ridiculed me and those I care for. I could never love you." she concluded.

Draco stared at her looking hurt. Hermione felt bad for her harsh words until he spoke.

"I would've thought that you would at least be grateful that someone like myself could love you. At least you could have realized that I was scared and yes, I won't lie, a bit ashamed of my own feelings! I'm not sorry that I said you were just a muggle born, because you are. You should at least be flattered, when thinking of my status! Think of what I would face for you! You say I've ridiculed you but that is nothing compared to what I would have to face! All that you have shown is what an ungrateful bitch you are!"

Draco paced back in forth in the corridor. His breathing was heavy and his fists were clenched in anger. Hermione began to feel frightened. What if he does something to me?" she thought. One of her hands gripped her book tightly while the other lay in her pocket of her robes in case she needed her wand.

Then, Draco screamed with more force than she had ever heard "Who else could love you???"

Hermione screamed back. The answer sprung from her before she could even register it in her mind. "RON!!! His love is real and not some perverted dream that yours probably is!" Then she turned and ran away. Draco watched her go, and felt a sharp pain in his heart.

He brushed away the tears that fell from his eyes. He felt an anger developing in his body which would soon overcome his sorrow. He was disgusted. She had chosen a Weasley over him. Ron' he thought. He may have won now, but I'll give him a prize. No one else can have her! No one!

********

Hermione ran back to the Gryffindor tower. She was afraid that he would try to confront he again and she knew she couldn't face that.

I won't tell Ron about this. That'll cause even more trouble. Malfoy knows the deal so hopefully he won't try anything again. If he does'

She did not actually know what she would do if he did. Perhaps then she would tell Ron because she felt another confrontation with Draco would be quite frightening.

When Hermione got back to the Gryffindor common room, she saw Ron sitting on one of the chairs. It was very late, Ron had probably been back from quidditch practice for an hour or more.

"What are you doing up Ron?" she asked. The common room was completely empty except for him. Ron looked up at he words. She felt her heart strings tug when he flashed his wonderful smile.

"I wanted to see you Hermione. I didn't want to sleep without knowing you were back."

Hermione smiled to herself. This was love.

She walked over to where he sat and in front of him. Her eyes made contact with his and she felt that now all to familiar shiverr go down her spine. He was just so fantasticeverything about him. She looked at his red hair which was wet from a shower he had recently taken. His freckled stood out against his pale skin (although Hermione noted that he seemed to be getting a tan.) He was tall, he had a cute crooked smile, and he did not have great posture when he sat which Hermione thought made him even more perfect for some reason

Maybe it was the events of night that made her so emotional but Hermione began to softly cry. Ron was everything to her; her heart was practically spilling over with love as she looked at him.

Ron looked at her with concern. He pushed back her bushy brown hair and kissed her forehead. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Between her soft sobs she answered "Ron, you're too wonderful" She smiled at him and he smiled back.

"Hermione," he shifted on his chair so he could bring sit her on his lap. "Sometimes, I can't breathe because I love you so much." His ears and face filled with a pink blush after he spoke.

Hermione hugged him and lay her head on his shoulder. They had been together for a month but she still felt overwhelmed by the Ron aura. "I feel the same way" she said as she hugged him. Ron whispered in her ear "I couldn't live without you." At that, Hermione felt more tears slide down her cheek. She knew exactly what he meant. Life without Ron would be empty. She looked at Ron, and they kissed; they kissed with a passion neither of them had known until then.

"Ron, I'll love you until the day I die."

********

Draco stared at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall the next day. Where is she?' he thought. He fiddled what would for others appear as nervously with his robes. Draco Malfoy nervous? Never! He swept a glance through the Great Hall for about the fifteenth time. Then he saw her walk in. That boyfriend of hers is of course with her.' Draco stared at the spot where she usually sat. Come on, just sit over there!' He motioned towards the spot slightly with his slender fingers. She sat and he saw her reach for her pumpkin juice. Then, as if in slow motion he saw her bring it to her lips. She drank it. When she put her cup down he suddenly realized her had been holding his breath. He let his breath out and put his head in his hands. Should I have done that? Was it really necessary?" he thought to himself. As he lifted up his head and saw Ron lace his arm around her shoulders his heart answered Yes, it is.'

********

Ron stared at Hermione as they were eating. She looked great until they arrived at the Great Hall. Now, all of the sudden, she seemed paler, and her eyes gave her a dazed expression.

"Hermione, is there anything wrong?" Ron asked with concern. He stroked her cheek when she faced him. She seemed a little warm.

She licked her chapped lips. "Oh, Ron I don't know. All of the sudden I have this headache." She took a breath. "And, it seems harder to breathe." Ron looked at her face. Her eyes really did not look right

" I think you have a fever. Do you want me to take you to the hospital wing?" Ron asked. She was starting to look worse by the minute.

Oh-" she breathed, "-I'm sure it isn't that big of a deal."

Ron put his arm around her and steadied her. "Hermione I think you should go!"

She closed her eyes for a moment and then looked at him.

"It's okay! I'll tell you if I feel that I need to go. This'll probably only last a few minutes or so."

Harry and Ginny walked into the Great Hall and then sat next to them.

"Morning Ron, morning Hermione" said Harry. Ginny said hello to both.

"Morn-" began Hermione, but then her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she collapsed.

"Oh my god, Hermione! Screamed Ginny.

Ron picked her up and tried to wake her up. He shook her but her head just rolled from side to side. Everyone in the Great Hall noticed the commotion. The Professors saw her limp form in Ron's arms and ran to her. They tried different charms to wake her; even Snape. Nothing worked. Finally, Professor Dumbledore summoned a stretcher, and Hermione was sent to the hospital wing while Ron, Harry and Ginny followed. Everyone in the Great hall was left, whispering about what could have happened to her.

Everyone that is, except a certain Slytherin.

Authors Note: That's chapter five! To be continued.

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