Author's Note

THREE CHAPTERS ADDED!!

Sorry about not updating earlier... argh!! I kept getting "Website not

responding" messages when I would try to go on sigh This chapter is

really short, and it just basically lets you inside Draco and Hermione's heads for a bit

after the fight...)

E. Caddy Compson (persephoneia)

Chapter Ten: Feelings

Draco stood in the hallway, confused, numb. Weasley had just attacked him,

pulling out his wand in a fury, and then lunging at him once disarmed. His own

superior athletic skills had allowed Draco to turn the tables, and then she had come.

He had heard her voice, asking them to stop. He looked up at her, Hermione,

the newfound light in his life. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and there were tears

staining her rose cheeks. It was more than enough for him to bear to see her like

this, so he sat there, dumbstruck, wanting right then and there to run up and take

her in his arms, to wipe away the tears, and kiss away the sorrow.

Weasley had used this opportunity to turn the tables in his favor. Pinning

Draco against the wall, he swung at him, before Potter had pulled him away.

Weasley struggled furiously, as Potter held him back, and tried to calm him down.

The redhead was able to break free of his friend's hold, however, and had lunged at

Draco yet again.

This time, however, Hermione had jumped in the way, shielding him from Ron

with her seemingly fragile body. She had asked him to stop, between sobs, as she

sat there, crying, wanting it to all end. Weasley had backed away, turning on his

heel and leaving.

Draco had stood there, with Potter and Hermione, for what seemed like an

eternity. None of them moved, none of them said a word, until Potter's eyes met

Hermione's, and he motioned for them to leave.

Granger had left him there, alone, walking after Weasley with Potter, hand in

hand. Draco felt his eyes burn, as tears threatened to escape them. He closed his

eyes. How could she do that? How could she just pretend that she didn't care? How

could she just leave him there? But maybe she wasn't pretending. Maybe she

hadn't cared to begin with. Who was he trying to fool? Maybe she had been leading

him on. A scowl came across Draco's face. So that's how Granger wanted things to

be? Alright, fine then...

Hermione awoke with a start. The crisp, end of summer breeze came through

the window nearest her bed. Causing the draperies around her to flutter about. She

had left the window open the night before, having stayed up late to just look outside

and think. She had needed that; she had needed to clear her mind from all the

things that were troubling her.

Reluctantly climbing out of bed, she closed the window. It was just before

sunrise, and none of the other girls in her dorm were up yet. It was Friday morning,

and while she only had one class that day, in the morning, the last thing she wanted

to do was go out and face everyone; go out and face Draco. But today she had

Defense Against the Dark Arts, so it would be impossible.