A/N: Sorry it took so long to update, guys. What with that huge blackout, college starting, a major case of writer's block, and a penchant for perfectionism, this chapter didn't come out quite as quickly as I had hoped. But it's up now. A little short, but well worth it, and I'm working on the next one. Hope you'll enjoy. And I'm sure you will, if you enjoy confrontations. . .

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Hermione sat by the bed, Harry standing behind her. She looked a little glum, eyes staring at the floor as Ron spoke.

"Really, it's okay. You can go to Hogsmeade. That's fine." Ron said without much resolve. He wanted to go so badly! Damn Malfoy and his bludger! He messed up Ron's whole plan for the day.

"But if you want me to stay. . ." Hermione replied, seeking to find a middle ground for her guilt.

Ron quickly interjected. "No. No, you go. I wouldn't want your fun spoiled all because of me. I'll be fine here. Got my chocolate frogs, and a batch of Fred and George's new Portable Puddles. Might be interesting to see how many people I can slip." Ron gave a half-hearted smile. "And besides, if you don't go, Harry'll be alone. And if that happens, he may start talking to Cho again."

Harry winced slightly and nearly chuckled, remembering the grand mess he had made the last few times he and Cho had spoken. They hadn't talked since. In fact, he hadn't really seen her since, and nearly forgotten what her personality was like now. Funny, all that really came to mind for him was tears. Lots of them. Mostly from her. . .

Looking down at Hermione, Harry felt a warmth. Perhaps it was sympathy, or friendship, or maybe something else, but he quickly put his hand on her shoulder and said softly, "Whatever you want to do is fine, so don't worry about me. But you'd better make up your mind. It's nearly time for everyone to leave."

Hermione silently shrugged, and stood up, giving Ron's hand a quick squeeze, and then she turned and strode out the door. She was a horrible person, she was sure of it. She had betrayed her friends to humor her hormones with their greatest enemy. She had nearly trusted him, nearly fallen for him, nearly lost Ron. She was ridiculed and derided by the very boy that she both liked and hated. She was the catalyst for Draco's bludger attack. It was her fault. And yet. . .and yet she had dreamed of him last night.

She hated herself for liking him, for being taken in. Hermione frowned. She expected more of herself. For Merlin's sake, she was an intelligent girl! Why hadn't she seen that this would happen? Why hadn't she known?

Harry caught up to her brisk gait and laughed. "Trying to get away from me, huh?"

Hermione was snapped away from her thoughts. "Oh, sorry. Must be a bit preoccupied at the moment." She looked back down at the floor as she walked out the entrance gate of Hogwarts. The road to Hogsmeade was crowded with students, each vying to get their friends' attentions, pushing to get away from the teachers quicker. But Hermione hardly noticed them at all. Instead she stared at her shoes, slightly dirty from yesterday's run on the field.

Harry caught the look on her face. Curiously, he continued. "You know, if there's something you've got on your mind, perhaps it would be best to say it. We're friends, you know. You can tell me."

She grew hesitant. She wanted so much to tell someone, anyone at all. But she couldn't, and she knew just why. She had done so much wrong! And for the very life of her, she didn't know how to fix things. The disappointment built up in her, and she blinked away a few frustrated tears. "It's nothing. I'm fine." Silence reigned for long moments afterward.

They were nearing the main road of Hogsmeade. Harry was getting fidgety. "Seriously, 'Mione, I want to know what's going on. You're different now. So tell me." He straightened up, to try to make it seem more like a demand, but in reality, he knew he could never demand anything of her. He'd never been able to, ever. Those deep brown eyes could never let him.

And those deep brown eyes turned up at him, with a glint that Harry hadn't seen before. She spoke slowly, deliberately. "I don't have to tell you anything. There's nothing wrong with me, do you understand?"

Harry was taken aback. He proceeded calmly, but very cautiously. Something in the pit of his stomach told him it would be dangerous to do so otherwise. "That's horse shit, Hermione, and you know it as well as I do. Whatever it is, I don't care. Just as long as I know everything is alright."

Hermione's eyes narrowed. She had too much on her mind, and this questioning was getting obnoxious. "I said it was nothing. Can't you hear? I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to discuss. I don't want anything but for you to leave me alone."

Harry was getting exasperated. "Fine. Keep to your fucking self. All I know is you've been a pretty shitty friend lately, running off on us, mouthing off on us, and treating us like we're only there for appearances. You've changed, gone nutters, and it's just shit. I don't want you to act like you're forced to keep my company. I don't want you to take my stuff and never tell me why. In fact, to use your words, I don't want anything but for you to leave me alone. At least until you bring your attitude back to earth. I'll see you around."

Harry stormed away from Hermione, turning into the entrance of the new barbershop, Marvelous Mac Mane. Hermione nearly stomped her foot in anger. Could everything go wrong right now? Why now? Something had to go right. Suddenly, Hermione heard a laugh behind her. She turned to spot the tall towheaded Slytherin, arms folded across his broad chest in a rich green sweater.

"Feel pity for the barber that tries to tame Potter's hair. Never can keep it from standing on end, can he? Atrocious. Although I have to say, you're looking altogether lovely today." Hermione caught Draco casually eyeing her form. She felt disgust. "Blue really does you justice." He edged closer to her, trying to reach a hand out to rub against the cashmere of her shirt.

"Keep your filthy hands off me, you little snipe!" She pulled away from him quickly, scowling at the flicker of shock on his face. That bastard had managed to ruin a lot for her in the past few days. She had no sympathy for him. No pity. And certainly now, no mercy.

Draco composed himself. "That's a harsh way to speak, don't you think?"

"Not for a 'mudblood'! Not to you!"

"Now I simply don't know what you're talking about."

"That's all that I am to you! A Mudblood! That's it! I heard you! I heard you say it to Pansy! I heard what you said to Harry at the game yesterday! I did a charm and I heard it all! And you, Draco Malfoy, are a liar and a bastard. All you've ever done to me was lie! And worst of all, you're a cheat! I saw what you did to Ron!"

"Hey, look now," Draco raised his hands to stop her. "Ron knew the risks of playing Quidditch. There's always a chance that we could be hurt."

"Oh bullshit Malfoy!"

Draco raised his eyebrows. "Such dirty words out of such a sweet mouth. Why don't we stop arguing and get back to that. I like you better when you're using that tongue for other things."

Hermione's rage hit its peak. She began to scream. People began to stare. She couldn't have cared less. She spat out his name like it was venom. "Fuck you, Draco Malfoy! Fuck you for the shit you did to my friends! Fuck you for every little remark you have ever made about us! Fuck you for being the pompous asshole that you are! I wish only the worst on you! Death is too good for you! You are just like your traitorous, arrogant, murdering father! Filthy fuck he is! I hope he rots in Azkaban! And I wish you just as much luck! You're a waste of breath, you slimy sack of shit, and your mother should have swallowed you!" Hermione took a deep breathe, having raged quickly through her tirade. She noticed the people around her, students and adults alike, eyeing the two. She noticed Draco's face, with an emotion she'd never quite seen before on him. She drew in close and rasped out her message so that only he could hear. "Listen to me, Draco Malfoy, because I only say this once. You stay far away from me. Far. The hell. Away. I am disgusted with you and your lies and your games. And I am disgusted with myself, for falling for them. They have come so close to destroying everything I hold dear. So shame on me for that flirting, and those kisses, and that hope that you had changed. Shame on me." Hermione let one frustrated tear fall. Draco felt a pang in his stomach. "And shame on me for letting you hurt me so."

Hermione stood back, refusing to look at Draco's face. She raised her chin, in what she knew to be a false air of confidence, and turned to walk down the road, walking back to Hogwarts. She did not want to stay in Hogsmeade a moment longer.

Draco stood there, in the middle of the road, speechless. She said it herself, everything she loved was being destroyed. That had to be her friendships with Harry and Ron. His plan was working. He should have been happy.

But he wasn't. All he saw was that tear, slowly forming a glistening trail down her cheek. That porcelain cheek. Dare he say it, he missed that cheek, missed the arms rapped around him. Missed them so much, he almost felt them. . .

Then he heard it. That irritating voice baby talking in his ear. Pansy Parkinson rested her head on Draco's shoulder. "Did that lil bitchy witchy say something mean to my Dwaco?" She quickly pecked him on the cheek. Draco could feel the grease slime across her mouth from the popcorn balls she had eaten, and he fought a strong gag reflex. "No one should get away with bothering my Draco Darling. You shouldn't let her off the hook for that. Impudent Mudblood."

Draco was shocked, both at the fact that Pansy had used a large word, and the fact that she was correct. Granger couldn't get away with that. Not after what she had said about his father. Granted, the man may have made a few mistakes. But that was his father. And you just don't say that about someone's parent. 'Rot in Azkaban'? How dare she! No, she deserved what she had coming to her, and she deserved everything he had planned for her. All three of them, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, deserved it. He would follow through, and there would be no remorse in it. He'd simply have to make sure of it. After all, it's not like he cared for her at all. . .

He saw her, a little blue-clad spot on the long road back to Hogwarts, and a tingle ran down his spine.

This plan was proving more difficult than he thought.