Author's Note

First of all: SORRY FOR LACK OF UPDATE!!!

I went to update Thursday afternoon, and found that wouldn't load on my

computer. After pressing Refresh about twenty times, I decided to give it a try later. Well,

after checking periodically, Sunday I could access the site... And then I went to upload the

files (hehe, more server not responding messages). Okay, but it seems that finally, now,

Monday, I was able to access it without trouble (yay!). That was truly a nuisance, and a

setback, so okay, now, I'm adding four chapters (enjoy) and things may drag out longer

than planned (hehe, more time to think more ideas...)... Maybe I'll add more later

tonight... If not, count on it tomorrow... If the site is working...

So anywhoo, here are the chappies, enjoy, r&r, and thanks for your time!!!

Chapter Sixteen: A Different Sort of Girl

Harry awoke before the first rays of sunshine peeked over the horizon that Saturday.

The day before had certainly presented an interesting series of events, and while he hoped

Hermione was making the right decision, and indeed worried about what Malfoy would do to

her, there was an air of suspicion presently surrounding the other member of the Golden

Trio.

Ron had not said much after coming from the library; that in and of itself served as

an indication that perhaps something out of the norm had occurred. He had a look in his

eyes that also suggested something was up, but he certainly did not say anything to that

effect. The fact that he planned to meet Millicent Bullstrode for lunch, however, was

unquestionably out of character.

As Harry pulled a sweater over his head, careful not to wake any of his roommates,

he wondered what those two could be up to. They were getting along, which was likely

Professor Malfoy's goal, but this newfound "friendship" (could it really even be called that?

It was actually more of a partnership of enemies to achieve a common goal) would certainly

not bode favorably for Hermione and Malfoy. Harry shook his head. It was just too much.

'Well, deal with things as they come, and take it one day at a time,' he thought. Hermione

would be fine. If Malfoy wouldn't take care of her, then he would.

The green-eyed Gryffindor made his way to the Common Room, carefully closing the

door behind him. Once he had descended the stairs, however, he found that he was not

alone. Hermione was there, sitting by the fire again. He went up to her, and she turned to

meet his gaze.

"Hey Harry," she said sleepily, revealing the fact that she had likely woken not long

before.

"Good morning, Hermione," he replied.

She had a distant gaze in her eyes. It was difficult to describe, rather like a mixture

of contentment and... worry? It dawned on Harry at that moment. She was happy. She

liked Malfoy. And she was anxious, likely unsure of whether he felt the same about her.

This was not surprising.

Harry sighed. "So, Hermione..."

She looked at him, and then down. "Harry, there's something I need to tell you. I

mean," she paused. "He kissed me again, Dra-- Malfoy. Last night, in the library."

Their eyes met again, and she took a breath. "And I kissed him back."

Harry nodded. He took her in his arms and hugged her tightly. "I just want you to

be happy, Hermione."

"He's not that bad… really… It's just…" She sighed. "I wonder whether he's just

playing some sort of game with my feelings..." Hermione's voice faded.

Harry spoke now, the emerald green of his eyes meeting the honey brown of hers.

"Listen, Hermione, I want you to know that no matter what happens, we'll all be here for

you, alright?"

Hermione nodded and he handed her a tissue. "Promise, Harry?"

"Always…"

Harry and Hermione waited for Ron to wake to go to breakfast, and together the

three made their way to the Great Hall. Ron didn't say much, which was predictable given

the events of the previous night, and though Hermione had decided not to mention what

had happened, she had the feeling that he already knew.

Finally when Harry's weak attempts to make stiff communication and break the

silence became unbearable, Hermione chose to speak. "Ron," she paused as he looked at

her. "I thought you should know... Being that you're one of my best friends and all... I

know this is going to make you very angry, but... Malfoy and I kissed in the library last

night." The look in his eyes said it all. She had been right, he did already know.

He nodded, wordlessly, not confirming her silent allegations, but merely responding

with a single word. "Why?"

"Ron, I don't know how to explain it. Can you try to understand, please? I mean,

it's like, whenever I'm around him, it seems like my whole world is bright and sunny. If I've

had a horrible day, one look from him and it all seems to feel better. I don't know why this

is happening, I don't know why him, why now, but I do know that it feels right... Please try

to understand --"

The eyes of the redhead seemed full of hardness and coldness -- there was even

something more there... bitterness -- and stopped dead in his tracks. ". What is there to

try and understand? I thought we were friends, and now it turns out you're with the

enemy. No, 'Mione, I think the one who needs to gain some understanding is you." With

that, he turned on his heel and left.

Hermione had promised the night before to meet Draco for breakfast, so she parted

ways with Harry before he went to breakfast, to look for him. She scoured the entire castle

for Draco, but was unable to find him. She searched the Great Hall, various hallways, the

lawns, some classrooms… She thought she had looked everywhere he could possibly go – or

think of going – and was about to give up when a pair of hands went over her eyes,

blocking everything from view.

"Don't think I didn't look for you, Draco, because I did," she said icily, quite

exasperated and rather upset.

"Oh I know, I just thought it'd be more amusing if I found you instead," he said

roguishly.

"So that's all I'm good for, is it?!? Your petty amusement? What, Draco, am I some

sort of toy you think you can just play with and push aside when you get tired of? Like all

those other girls you've been with?"

"That's not true, 'Mione, and you know it! I haven't really been with anyone, alright;

I'm just a bit of a flirt is all. Please don't be this way. Sometimes you take things so

seriously, and you have this way of making me feel guilty about everything!!!"

She looked away. "Well, maybe you should," she replied acrimoniously.

He was silent for a bit until she looked at him again. There was hurt in his eyes.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Draco, I'm sorry about what happened last week. You were just… you came on a

bit strong, and it was too soon for me. I'm sorry. I know that you probably thought I didn't

have any feelings for you, but I do, and this past week has made me realize that. I'm just

very sorry that I maybe am not able to move at your rapid pace, and if that has altered

your feelings, if there ever were any, I sincerely apologize, again. And I want you to know

that now, because of what happened last night, Ron refuses to talk to me."

He looked at her, his mouth open. He had not expected her to say that, rather to

reject him flatly and be done with it. He certainly didn't deserve her… but then, she feared

he didn't feel something more towards her? That maybe he didn't to begin with? How

could she think that? But she felt something towards him. And stood up to one of her best

friends over it?

"Listen, I'm the one who should be sorry. I don't want you to ever apologize for

something like that again. From now on, if I ever do something that makes you feel

uncomfortable, please let me know. That's all I ask. I never want you to feel that way. I

never want you to think I won't understand, because I will, or I'll try at least, and things

work better in a relationship, any type of relationship, if people communicate."

Hermione looked at him, uncertainly. "Draco… I'm not sure. I'm sorry…"

"What did I say? Don't ever say those words to me again. It's alright. I

understand. You need time to sort things out. I just want you to know how I feel, because

no one has ever made me feel this way before. Hermione, you're a different sort of girl;

you're special."

"Really? You mean that?"

"Yes… would I say it if I didn't? Hermione," he held her face in his hands "I would

never do anything to hurt you, trust me."

"You mean that?"

"Yes."

"Promise?"

"Yes, with all my heart, yes," and he took her into his arms…