Author's Note: Thank you firstly to all those who reviewed my previous chapters. You know who you all are… Lol. Reviews are indeed the best things a writer can receive from anyone who's read their works. Hehe.

I apologize if I wasn't able to satisfy the expectations of some of my readers. Some parts of the story were, I admit, very cliché already. But do not worry, I'll try my very best to make it a bit different from usual.

Anyway, here, with great pride and honor, is chapter eleven!

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CHAPTER ELEVEN

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He didn't think it was fair.

It wasn't fair at all. Here he was, loving a certain girl with all his heart who, in turn, thought that he was utterly despicable.

Why was life so unjust?

Draco just couldn't understand. He considered giving up, for he knew he had no chance. It was clear that Hermione was just too head over heels in love with her best friend. Besides, he knew there were thousands of other girls out there in the world, both wizarding and Muggle, who just as much deserved his heart as the girl he preferred to be with did.

But then, he wanted Hermione.

She was the only girl he felt so strongly for ever in his entire life. No one else had her magnificence or her brilliance. No one possessed her unique smile or laugh. No other person had this certain aura that attracted Draco in the first place.

No one else in the entire universe was anything like Hermione Granger. Nobody had captured his heart except her.

And probably, he realized, that was why he was so determined to call her his own.

But then, he recalled what she had told him the night they were alone in the carriage. I just wish you were Ron.

Though she was drunk at the time, he knew fully well that she wasn't lying. She still loved Ron Weasley.

And very much at that. How was he to compete and win her over?

~**~

Hermione bore her eyes through the thick Arithmancy book she held in her hands. She had been reading the whole day in the terrace of the castle grounds, not letting one minute pass by without finishing a page. Though her eyes already stung with tiredness, she did not stop. This was, for her after all, the only way to stop pondering on anything related with her ex-boyfriend. Her mind already wandered several times before about Ron, and it had only ceased when she finally decided to instead focus on something heavy a topic as her favorite subject.

Not that the unfavorable event concerning Ron was something one could easily forget.

There I go again, she thought, turning the page rather violently as an image of the redhead appeared vaguely in her mind. Stop it, Hermione; you're just hurting yourself.

A group of young second years passed by her, disturbing the quiet she had just seconds ago. Hermione sighed and closed the book. It was a beautiful day that day, and here she was, studying Arithmancy. Though it was indeed something she thoroughly enjoyed, even it could sometimes fail to be something that cheered her up. She looked around and her eyes passed by for a second over the place near the lake where the willow tree stood.

Just weeks ago, she had enjoyed an afternoon like this alone with Ron. She was contently in his arms, laughing at the funny remarks he made about everything that caught his attention. There he told her that he was just simply blissful whenever he was in her company, and whispered in her ear that she was beautiful. And he shyly told her that he loved her with everything he had in him, which made his ears turn bright pink and made Hermione's heart tingle.

Everything just happened so fast, she told herself, resting her arms on her knees. One minute, he loved me… And the next, he completely forgot about my existence.

She sighed heavily, and with a heart so weary with the pain, she once again opened her book and returned to her world of numbers.

But then, thirty minutes later, her reading was once again disrupted. An owl the color of dirty gold swooped down to where she was and dropped yet another white rose on her lap. It cooed loudly and flew away, leaving Hermione clueless of its sender. She opened the note attached to it and read it silently with furrowed eyebrows.

Don't cry anymore.

"Wha…" Hermione blinked. The person knew about Ron!

Which only meant that the whole population of Hogwarts would have heard about it too. Everyone was always bound to know about any breakup that happened even before any spell could be uttered and cast.

Here's a rose to let you know that someone in the world still cares for you in a way he'd never be able to.

The person emphasized on "he'd". Hermione reread it again and her cheeks flushed red. Unusually, her heart began to race. She was filled with a feeling she only experienced once in the past—when Ron had asked her to be his girlfriend.

And she wondered. Who was this person who loved her so much as to say that he cared for her more than Ron ever did? Who was her secret admirer who was thoughtful enough to cheer her up with something as frivolous yet romantic as a rose?

So many questions entered her mind, and as she pondered on each one, she stood up, picked up her book, and with now a hopeful spirit, made her way to the castle wearing a genuine smile she hadn't worn for a really long time.

~

Night came. Hermione happily set her way to the Gryffindor Tower after eating dinner with Ginny down at the Great Hall. In her hands was still the same Arithmancy book she was reading that afternoon outside plus the rose from her secret admirer. She opened the book and took a glance of what chapter she was already in. As she did so, she came across the path of someone who was heading down the stairs.

"Hermione?"

Hermione cringed. She knew that voice too too well. She unwillingly looked up…

And she knew it. "Ron," she said in a stiff yet civil voice. "Good—good evening."

Ron raised his eyebrow and smiled. "Loosen up, will you?"

Loosen up? Hermione threw a dagger look at him as she repeated his words in her head. "I'd rather not, especially when I'm going to be around you."

"Are you still angry at me because of that incident?"

"Why, yes, I believe so."

"Didn't I tell you that it wasn't my fault?"

"Oh? Then whose fault, pray tell, was it?" Hermione was heated up. She couldn't understand why she was talking with someone whom she now hated. Her mind was set to leave, but it was apparent that her body wasn't. "I'm sure it wasn't mine."

"Hermione, can't we just—make up? I'm sorry for what I did, honestly I am." Ron placed his hand on her shoulder. "I feel horrible. Absolutely horrible."

Hermione kept silent and gazed into his eyes, trying to see if what he was saying was true. The touch of his hand still sent shivers down her spine, which before was something she loved to feel. But now… it felt different and uncomfortable.

Ron smiled hopefully and said, "Will you forgive me?"

Silence came quickly once he asked her the question. Hermione blinked and replayed what he said. He was asking for her forgiveness for something unforgivable and unforgettable.

But then… This was Ron, she thought. It took time for the redhead to evolve into a mature and responsible person.

"Well?" Ron flashed her one of his boyish grins as he tucked a strand of hair behind Hermione's ear. "Will you forgive me?"

Hermione smiled sadly as she placed her hand lovingly on his cheek. It was something of a habit when she was still Ron's girlfriend. The feel of his skin was one of the things she absolutely loved in the world. She stroked it gently and with care, as if it were a priceless piece of gold, and she looked up at his dark brown eyes. They were filled with hope and love and Hermione bit her lip as she spoke with caution, using the right words to tell him what she felt.

She caressed his cheek and finally with slightly pained emotions and a woeful frown, she ended the conversation.

"Sorry, Ron.

"But I just… can't."

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Author's Note: Done with the eleventh chapter. It's a tad bit longer than usual (I think)—this, I guess, will serve as my Christmas present to all of you, my dearest and most precious readers and reviewers. Lol.

I'll try to update a bit sooner after the second week of January (since the second week is my examinations for the third quarter or the first part of the second semester).

Anyhow…

Have a merry and jolly Christmas! May the upcoming year be filled with wonderful things which will be for the betterment of your lives! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!