A/N: Hi there! Thanks to all those who've reviewed. Idon't feel like visiting the reviews page and getting all your names, so I'll just thank you all in general! I'm sorry it took so long for me to post this chapter up but we've had like tons of long tests and quizzes in school… of course, that's my first priority…

Anyway, here's chapter 4!

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CHAPTER FOUR

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Hard to find, rare, and few

True love's what that is

Never let it escape from you

For its something you'll sorely miss.

- poem by me

How could one single harmless word give him so much pain?

Draco sat quietly at the Slytherin table, staring down at his empty plate. His appetite had gone hours ago, the food had disappeared and everyone but himself went back to their Common Rooms. The Great Hall, which during dinner, was full of zest and life, was now dark and gloomy, and the enchanted ceiling above revealed a starless sky. The only source of light was from two flickering candles, hovering quietly above his head.

Draco held his fork tightly, unable to let go of it. In his mind a single word echoed endlessly without cease and he cringed every time he heard it.

Yes.

Hermione's voice was cold and heartless when she had uttered the word. Draco recalled the way she looked at him; full of anything and everything but love and warmth.

He couldn't understand why she hated him so much.

Maybe because you've been so cruel to her for the past seven years, a logical voice said in his mind. Draco gritted his teeth and told the voice to keep quiet.

He knew that… he knew that perfectly well. And now he regretted being so cruel to her. He recalled the time in his second year when he sincerely hoped that the basilisk would kill Hermione… and how he called her Mudblood just to annoy her… And when she had slapped him in third year, he felt no shame.

But I was just a kid!, he thought angrily, banging his fist on the wooden table. I didn't know what I was thinking!

Draco ran his hand through his hair.

But I did show some kindness, didn't I? He thought. Didn't he constantly remind her and her friends to stay away from the Death Eaters during the World Cup? At that time, he just didn't want to lose his favorite Mudblood…

And during the Yule Ball, didn't he keep quiet? He hadn't uttered a horrible word about her appearance… wasn't that saying something?

And now… now that he had finally admitted to himself that he had already fallen for Hermione, everything was just going wrong…she was head over heels in love with her best friend, she hated him more than ever… and Draco knew that he had no chance to have her for himself.

Draco buried his face in his hands.

"A student awake at midnight?" a voice said from behind him.

Draco turned around and expected to see either Filch or a professor. Luckily, it was only a pearly-white translucent ghost, particularly the Gryffindor one… Nearly Headless Nick.

"What're you doing here?" Draco spat irritably, turning away.

The ghost chuckled. "Surely you don't think that I sleep during nighttime, do you?" he replied, floating beside him.

"Well, what do you do? Float around the castle or something?"

"Well—yes, if I feel like it."

"Oh." Draco glanced at him and scowled. "It must be boring to be a ghost."

Nick sighed and nodded. "Yes, yes," he said, now taking a seat. "I even regret taking this path. Sometimes, I wonder why I didn't take the other…" He adjusted his neck and took another deep sigh. He turned to Draco and smiled. "What is your name, young man?"

"Draco Malfoy. And you're Nearly Headless Nick, right?"

"Why does everyone call me by that foul name?" Nick said, annoyed. "I do have a proper name; Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington!"

"It's quite long."

"Well, call me Sir Nick then, for Merlin's sake!" Nick shook his head exasperatedly and calmed down. "I apologize if I'm bickering or anything; it's just that it's seldom for me to have times when I sit down and converse with another being… I just miss those days when I'd do that for hours, talking with someone else…"

"It's fine, I understand." Draco half-smiled and looked back down to his plate.

"Now, what are you still doing here in the middle of the night?" Nick asked. "Dinner's been finished hours ago."

"I couldn't sleep."

"Couldn't sleep? Why, troubled?"

"No," he lied.

"Oh." Nick adjusted his scruff around the neck. "Do you mind staying for a while longer? I'd love to talk with someone at the moment."

Draco nodded. "Alright."

"Delightful!" Nick clapped his hands happily and started to talk. Draco on the other hand, grinned and listened to him.

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It was already one thirty in the morning, and Draco was still with Nick, talking. They had paused for a while, and silence was once again lingering in the Great Hall. Nick was humming a pleasant tune, and Draco's mind was filled with thoughts of Hermione.

"Nick," he said.

The ghost glanced at him. "Yes?"

"Have you… ever… well…" Draco was reluctant to continue his sentence. Was it right to ask a ghost for advice?

"Go on. Don't be shy, I'm just a ghost you know."

"Well… you know…" Draco's cheeks had turned red. "The L word."

Nick blinked and looked back at Draco. "The L word?" he repeated blankly. "Your generation sure does have some odd words for things."

"You know—the L word!"

"L word…" Nick rubbed his translucent chin and pondered deeply for a few minutes. Draco drummed his fingers on the table, waiting for an answer.

"Ah yes!" Nick grinned triumphantly. "As in love!"

"Keep quiet, you!" Draco was now beet red. He knew that no one heard them, but it was still somewhat embarrassing.

Nick ignored him. "Your question is if I ever loved someone in my life?"

"Yes. Well—have you?"

"Of course, why shouldn't I?" Nick sighed dreamily and stared up at the enchanted ceiling. There were fewer stars than the hour before, and darkness was slowly fading away. "Ah yes… the lady I loved was beautiful and elegant. And graceful, of course… and kind, and gentle, and courteous… not to mention witty… she was absolutely perfect."

Sounds like Hermione, Draco thought, as a smile crept to his lips.

"She had many suitors, but surprisingly, I wasn't one of them." Nick chuckled, as he recalled the memory. "I never even met her… Until that fateful day."

"What happened?"

"I was strolling around the lake, and I came to chance upon that lady. She was just sitting quietly on the grass, her umbrella up, wearing a beautiful blue dress. Her blonde curls were just hanging loosely on her shoulders, and she glanced at me, and I looked at her green eyes… and I knew I was in love." Nick chuckled softly and closed his eyes. He continued. "At first, I thought that it was only I who felt the feeling, but to my surprise, it was mutual."

Draco listened intently to the ghost. "And then?" he asked.

"Well, after that, we met each other secretly." He replied. "Every single night, that was… every single night. But then…"

Nick sighed sadly. "It all ended one day."

"Why?" Draco blurted out almost too suddenly.

"Her father arranged for her to marry another man. Of course, she protested. But she couldn't do anything." Nick shook his head in shame. "I couldn't do anything."

"Why not?"

"Oh, I was too frightened to." Nick sighed once again. "Her father was a powerful man, and I was only an adolsecent then… she wanted me to defend our love, she wanted me to step into the wedding and tell everyone that I was the one who truly loved her, that I was the one who was meant for her… but I didn't do that."

Draco furrowed his eyebrows. "What did you do then?"

"Nothing," Nick replied, "Absolutely nothing. And I regret that now."

He kept silent for a still moment, and Draco looked away from him. The grandfather clock in the Entrance Hall rung slowly, and Nick stood up and made his way to the exit. He looked back at Draco and gave him a sad smile. "Well, it was nice of you to stay with me for so long, lad," he said quietly. "Good night."

Before completely leaving the room, he turned back and glanced at Draco, who was still seated at the Slytherin Table. Draco stared at him silently.

"One piece of advice, Draco," he said. "When you find someone who you think and know is the right one for you, never let her go. Never let her slip away from your hands."

Draco stared at him.

"Trust a ghost for the first time in your young life."

And with one final wave of goodbye, Nearly Headless Nick passed through the wall and disappeared, leaving a very moved and inspired Draco alone in the Great Hall.

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A/N: So, how'd you like it? I know it doesn't have any fluffy bits in it concerning Draco & Hermione, but this chapter's very essential to me and obviously Nearly Headless Nick… he he… how'd you like his love life?

I know it doesn't have any cliffhangers, but there was no space for it in this chapter… so I hope you understand!

Anyway, review!!!

Thanks a bunch!