Disclaimer: Don't own a thing.
~*~*~*~
Chapter Two
Draco's Point of View
As usual my day was dull. Nothing interesting here, nothing to keep me on my toes. The people here are as boring as hell, which is probably why I don't bother with hanging out with anyone. It's no surprise though, what could these so-called warlocks have to offer to me? As if I haven't seen magic at it's greatest. And ever since father and Voldemort had disappeared I figured that there was no reason to hide that I actually want to learn about the world on the opposite side. Of course, there is no way I am actually going to tell some half-breed student here that I am fascinated with the muggle culture. But I've been waiting for my father and Voldemort to finally attack and still nothing. It's been a year and my life is getting duller by the minute.
I clutched on to my book about the muggles greatest inventions. The computer and the internet is what fascinated me the most. As I made a turn towards the garden near the infirmary someone hit me and hard. It made me drop my book and all of its contents.
"Watch it!" I growled. I refused to let anyone see my book. What gossip that would be if this idiot sees what I am actually reading, it would definitely be an eyebrow raiser.
"I'm sorry." The voice was weak. "Here let me help." Her hands brushed against mine and strangely caused tingles all over my body. Maybe it was electric shock, I read about that in one of the books I had got.
"Don't help." I growled almost automatically. It was some kind of defense I had. Her hair had touched my cheeks and for some strange reason I felt the blood rush to my face. Why was I acting like this around this stranger?
"Shit, I can't do anything right." She complained. I knew that voice anywhere. I looked up at her and suddenly I had no idea who she was. 'Could this be mudblood?' That was nearly impossible. This girl had straight hair, a little touch of make-up and she actually looked pretty.
I know that somehow behind that shaggy thing that she called hair, the little mudblood would actually be pretty. And I hadn't seen Granger since the beginning of the school year but there is absolutely no way that this girl in front of me could be her because this girl was crying, hard and Granger never cried.
"I'm really sorry." She ran out away. It couldn't possibly be her. I dedicated my life to make her cry and never, well maybe a couple of times but it was only tears brimming on the side of her eyes. She has nice eyes, that's what I've always noticed about her. There's just a spark in them. Whether she's angry, happy and even sad. I've always noticed that about her. It took me awhile to admit to myself that there was actually something about Granger that I found attractive.
If that was Granger why on earth was she crying? It intrigued me. She intrigued me. Why on earth am I intrigued by Hermione Granger?
I walked over to my usual spot and my eyes instantly began to study the things around me. I looked up at the window and there I spotted her sitting by herself with so many books. As I watched her flip through her books I only wished that I could approach her and ask her exactly what was going on without anyone wondering why I was there. It was getting dark. I looked up one last time and left.
~*~*~*~
I can't sleep and it's nearly one o'clock in the morning. Every time I shut my eyes all I can see is her. Her face, her pained face. She's haunting my dreams and I have no idea why. Is it because I've never treated her as a person? Am I guilty of wanting to make her feel unworthy of breathing the same air I breathe? I try to contemplate why- that girl in the hallway, the girl who I know is Hermione Granger- I can't seem to get her out of my head. She's everywhere and it is driving me crazy.
I change my clothes and go to the one place I know at this very moment is open and still empty. I make my way through the dark hallways of the school and even bump into some rotten ghosts. As I head towards the entrance I see light coming from inside. Someone is here tonight. Who could it possibly be? I walked through quietly. The library was the one place in school that was open. Of course at night it was only there for light reading. I made my way through the shelves and found the place I was looking for. It wasn't a table or anything it was really more like a crack in the wall. With a candle in one hand and my book on the other I took a seat. I heard a muffled cry and my curiosity had gotten the better of me. I walked to the other end of the library leaving everything behind. I didn't want to get caught.
"Don't let me go, please, don't ever let me go." I spotted the prophet holding on to the one person I could not get out of my head. Was she still crying? What was going on? What could've possibly happened to make her cry like that? Prophet boy held her close and rocked her. I noticed that he had a lost expression on his face as he stared into space and he too was crying. Not hysterically like the way the girl was but tears were slowly falling from his face.
It wasn't everyday you saw Mudblood and Prophet Boy crying together. What could've possibly happened? Weasley the Weasel die? Nah, that would definitely be wishful thinking. If he did die wouldn't they be gone instead of crying in the library at . . . what time was it? I looked at my watch to see that it was nearly two. There was no way I could stay here any longer; I won't be able stay up tomorrow if I do.
As I walk back to my room all I can think of is that scene I had just seen. It looked like they jumped out of a muggle movie. Like her parents died or something.
That's it!!! Granger hasn't gone to school for nearly two weeks! Someone in her family must've died. Nah, that can't be. Why would Harry be crying?
There was something in me that just had to know why Granger has been crying.
~*~*~*~
Author's Point of View
Hermione sat in her usual place ready for Potions. Today, she hadn't bothered to go to the Great Hall for breakfast. Her medication was making her sick again. It wasn't her chemo though, it was the pills she had to take to balance her body. With her face buried into her arms Hermione began to feel drowsy.
"Hermione!" A voice yelled from the entrance.
"Ron." Hermione sat up. She recognized his voice anywhere. It had been so long since she had last seen him but nothing had changed. He was the same sweet yet sometime stupid Ron. He always managed to make her smile and she knew that he would do anything in his power to protect her.
"I heard from Harry." He took a seat beside her.
"I'm glad he told you. I don't think I'd be able to do that again. It's far too hard." Hermione laughed. "I was a little emotional yesterday but I'm totally fine now, just really tired from all that crying. I'm accepting things slowly, it's not easy though."
"You have no idea how proud I am of you." Ron kissed her forehead. "And how happy I am that you chose to stay in school."
"I could never let you guys have the last year all to yourselves you know?"
"I know." Ron put his arm around her protectively. "I know."
Students began to pour in and most of them greeted Hermione wondering why she had been gone for so long.
"A big family trip." She said again and again ending it with a smile. They all nodded and told her not to worry. She hadn't missed much and that she had probably learned about everything way before.
"Now, I see we have a return student." Snape hissed as he walked out onto his platform. "Today, we are making a very powerful potion. And I want all of you to be prepared which is why you are going to be working in pairs. Each of the girls will draw a name from this box right here and that boy will be your partner for the rest of the year."
The girls stood up and picked. Some were disappointed and others ecstatic but Hermione was not into this. Whoever her partner ended up to be she knew she would be doing most of the work, not that she minded though.
She stuck her hand in the box and pulled out a piece of paper. She opened the paper and felt all the blood in her body go to her face. There was no possible way. This had never happened before.
Her hands shook as she held onto the paper. The girls were walking around the room trying to find their partners. Hermione searched for her partner around the room and she found him in his usual spot. She smiled and waved the piece of paper.
"Harry! You're my partner!" Hermione beamed. She walked over to the seat next to him.
"Wait! It seems though we lack a piece of paper. Miss Winston here has no partner." Snape hissed.
"I don't have one." A deep voice came from the corner of the room. "I don't think I need one though."
"Mister Malfoy in this room I do not accept idiots who think they can do everything by themselves." Snape looked at him sternly. "Now I know the problem. Granger!" He called Hermione's name and she shot up like lightning. "Who is your partner."
"Harry Potter, sir." She answered almost automatically.
"Winston with Potter." Snape said.
"But he's my partner." Hermione reasoned.
"Are you questioning me?"
"No sir, I just," She began but Snape cut her off.
"Five points from Gryffindor. You students better learn how to respect me. No one is to question my authority." He crossed his arms. "Now Potter with Winston and Granger with Malfoy."
"What?!" The two teenagers yelled in unison.
"You must be joking." Draco rambled. "Do you not remember what happened when you put us together before?"
"Do not question me Mister Malfoy, a point from Slytherin. Two times is enough for one day. Now Miss Granger please take your seat beside Mister Malfoy and I will explain exactly what the project is."
Their project was to make a potion using a few weeds, some roots and . . . a little bit of magic!
"I will not tell you the exact purpose of this potion. I want you to review exactly what happens to each of you. Now by pair I want all of you to go outside, anywhere in the school grounds. I want you to sit and talk about anything at all. Friends or even enemies will work together on this." Snape looked at Hermione and Draco in particular. "When you think you've found the perfect spot take a sip of the potion and ask questions that you might never ask. I want all of you to take the time to think about the questions and whatever you tell each other will not get to anyone else. Understand?" Snape didn't wait for a reply. "Now go!"
The students shuffled out of the classroom and it was no surprise that Draco and Hermione walked out last.
"I know a place where we can go." Draco said.
"The dungeon?" Hermione kidded.
"Haha." Draco rolled his eyes.
"Why aren't you picking on me?" Hermione asked as she trailed behind him. "Fine. Don't answer."
"Here we are."
"You're joking." Hermione whispered.
"Nope, Hogwarts a history says," Draco said.
"It's the only place that you can see, all the places you wish to be." They said in unison.
"You read Hogwarts a History?" Hermione asked.
"A couple of times." Draco shrugged. "So do we agree on our location?"
"Yeah." Hermione smiled. She could never be mean to anyone no matter what they've done to her. She took a seat as she tucked a strand of her hair behind her hair. When she looked up she caught Draco staring down at her. "Is something wrong?"
Draco shook his head furiously. "No." He sat down.
"Okay, so we drink the potion now?" Hermione looked at him as she motioned for the potion.
"Yeah."
"Well now we agree on two things." Hermione took the potion and took a small sip. Draco took the bottle from her and sipped it as well. "I can't believe that you just did that."
"What did I do?" He looked at her.
"You just placed you precious lips on the bottle that a mudblood drank from." Hermione said honestly. "I'm surprised you're not dead."
"Yeah, I'm stronger than I thought." Draco replied bluntly.
"Ask me a question." Hermione looked at him.
"Ladies first." He replied. He didn't feel at all different but he knew that there was nothing wrong with their potion. Maybe this was some kind of joke so that Snape could have some time off.
"Okay." Hermione replied almost too quickly. "Why do you hate me?"
"That's easy." Draco's replied. "I don't hate you. I just have to. It doesn't give me pleasure to see you breaking down, it's just how I was raised. In fact, I feel really crappy when I see a frown on your face." Draco's eyes shot open. "And honestly I find you really pretty and if you weren't muggle born I would really like to go out with you."
"Huh?" Hermione's eyes shot open.
"I didn't just say that out loud did I?" Draco asked. His inner most thoughts had poured out of his mouth faster than anything.
"That's more than I can swallow." Hermione whispered. "But I still don't understand why. Is there something I should be ashamed of? Is that why you degrade me?"
"Of course not." Draco replied. "I just. Maybe I degrade you to make me feel better about not being able to have you."
"I beg your pardon." Hermione looked at him in disbelief.
"You are the only person in this school I can never have." Draco struggled to stop himself but couldn't. "It would just be unacceptable."
"That's enough!" Hermione covered her ears. "Don't you dare say another word!"
"Why were you crying yesterday?" Draco asked.
Hermione looked up at him and her entire face went pale. She just stared at him for what seemed like forever. "I can't tell you."
"Excuse me?" Draco looked at her. "I just poured out the one thing that no one else knows and you won't tell me why you were crying yesterday."
"I'm dying." Hermione replied. Her eyes opened wide in shock. "I can't believe I just said that."
Draco looked at her more confused than ever. "You're dying?" He huffed as if she were teasing him.
"I'm serious." And once again Hermione could feel her feelings getting the best of her. "As if my life couldn't get any worse. In grade school I was made fun of for being in grade one when I should've been in kinder two. Then I come here and here you are teasing me just because of my family background like I'm not worthy to be here. Just to let you know, I work my butt off just to get into this school unlike most of you warlocks who are just born into it. And now when I'm finally getting out of this hellhole. I want to go back to a place where people will accept me just because I'm intelligent. Do you know that I got into Harvard Law on scholarship but now I can't take it because I won't even be a live next school year? And now you're giving me this bullshit about secretly feeling something for me. Yeah, Malfoy, I am dying not becoming stupid and no I do not plan to let you graduate with the highest honors because that's all I'll be able to accomplish in this life anyway!" Hermione covered her mouth. "What the hell did we drink?"
"I think it's more than just an honesty potion. It's like this thing that makes you want to tell someone exactly how you feel."
"Yeah well it looks like it backfired on you." Hermione said quickly. For the first time in Hermione's life she saw a pained expression on Draco's face. "But don't feel bad for me now because I don't remember never not wishing that I was dead and now that my first wish ever is going to come true I have no idea what to do! I'm going to die in eight months so who cares. Don't give me that crap Malfoy, don't make me think someone actually thinks about me!"
"I never said I thought about you!"
"Yeah well you implied it." Hermione replied. "You've got it all made out for you rich boy except that you don't have a heart."
"You have no idea what I've gone through in life so you can take your problems and shove it." Draco glared at Hermione.
"Don't you dare talk to me like that you incoherent bastard!" Hermione looked at him. "If you have such a crappy life why don't you tell me about it."
"Why should I?"
"See? Lies! Face it Malfoy you've got it all." Hermione replied.
"Do you know what it like to watch innocent people die before you and feel good about it? But deep down inside your gut is telling you it is wrong? Do you know what it feels like to be haunted by the people your father has killed in front of you. Or how badly you just want to run away from home because hey your father beats you up. Or that each time you visit your mother is just getting weaker and weaker? I haven't seen my father in nearly two years, I can't talk to my mum straight, I can't even tell the one person who truly mystifies me how much I want to get to know her. I can't even be myself, damnit! Because I have no idea what the real me is like!"
"Oh, woe is you." Hermione rolled her eyes. "At least you're not dying."
"Yeah well, just because you're dying doesn't make you more pitiful than me." Draco breathed deeply and studied his surroundings. A few students who were passing by were gaping at the two of them. They sat in silence for a few moments.
"Thank you." Hermione whispered. "I feel so much better now."
"Me too." Draco replied. "What was that all about?"
"For the first time in my life I have no idea." Hermione pulled back her hair.
"We should go." Draco collected his things. "It's probably dinner time."
"Yeah." Hermione did the same. They walked in silence towards the Great Hall. "Draco, what you said awhile ago. Did you mean it?"
"Yeah." He whispered. He wondered if there was still potion left in him.
As the two stood behind the door to the Great Hall Hermione pulled Draco back and kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you, again." Hermione backed away from him and walked into the Great Hall.
Draco stood there for a moment in shock but he could feel his blood rushing up to his face. A few moments later Draco finally entered the Great Hall for dinner.
With a kiss on his cheek.
~*~*~*~*
A/N: Please read and review!
~*~*~*~
Chapter Two
Draco's Point of View
As usual my day was dull. Nothing interesting here, nothing to keep me on my toes. The people here are as boring as hell, which is probably why I don't bother with hanging out with anyone. It's no surprise though, what could these so-called warlocks have to offer to me? As if I haven't seen magic at it's greatest. And ever since father and Voldemort had disappeared I figured that there was no reason to hide that I actually want to learn about the world on the opposite side. Of course, there is no way I am actually going to tell some half-breed student here that I am fascinated with the muggle culture. But I've been waiting for my father and Voldemort to finally attack and still nothing. It's been a year and my life is getting duller by the minute.
I clutched on to my book about the muggles greatest inventions. The computer and the internet is what fascinated me the most. As I made a turn towards the garden near the infirmary someone hit me and hard. It made me drop my book and all of its contents.
"Watch it!" I growled. I refused to let anyone see my book. What gossip that would be if this idiot sees what I am actually reading, it would definitely be an eyebrow raiser.
"I'm sorry." The voice was weak. "Here let me help." Her hands brushed against mine and strangely caused tingles all over my body. Maybe it was electric shock, I read about that in one of the books I had got.
"Don't help." I growled almost automatically. It was some kind of defense I had. Her hair had touched my cheeks and for some strange reason I felt the blood rush to my face. Why was I acting like this around this stranger?
"Shit, I can't do anything right." She complained. I knew that voice anywhere. I looked up at her and suddenly I had no idea who she was. 'Could this be mudblood?' That was nearly impossible. This girl had straight hair, a little touch of make-up and she actually looked pretty.
I know that somehow behind that shaggy thing that she called hair, the little mudblood would actually be pretty. And I hadn't seen Granger since the beginning of the school year but there is absolutely no way that this girl in front of me could be her because this girl was crying, hard and Granger never cried.
"I'm really sorry." She ran out away. It couldn't possibly be her. I dedicated my life to make her cry and never, well maybe a couple of times but it was only tears brimming on the side of her eyes. She has nice eyes, that's what I've always noticed about her. There's just a spark in them. Whether she's angry, happy and even sad. I've always noticed that about her. It took me awhile to admit to myself that there was actually something about Granger that I found attractive.
If that was Granger why on earth was she crying? It intrigued me. She intrigued me. Why on earth am I intrigued by Hermione Granger?
I walked over to my usual spot and my eyes instantly began to study the things around me. I looked up at the window and there I spotted her sitting by herself with so many books. As I watched her flip through her books I only wished that I could approach her and ask her exactly what was going on without anyone wondering why I was there. It was getting dark. I looked up one last time and left.
~*~*~*~
I can't sleep and it's nearly one o'clock in the morning. Every time I shut my eyes all I can see is her. Her face, her pained face. She's haunting my dreams and I have no idea why. Is it because I've never treated her as a person? Am I guilty of wanting to make her feel unworthy of breathing the same air I breathe? I try to contemplate why- that girl in the hallway, the girl who I know is Hermione Granger- I can't seem to get her out of my head. She's everywhere and it is driving me crazy.
I change my clothes and go to the one place I know at this very moment is open and still empty. I make my way through the dark hallways of the school and even bump into some rotten ghosts. As I head towards the entrance I see light coming from inside. Someone is here tonight. Who could it possibly be? I walked through quietly. The library was the one place in school that was open. Of course at night it was only there for light reading. I made my way through the shelves and found the place I was looking for. It wasn't a table or anything it was really more like a crack in the wall. With a candle in one hand and my book on the other I took a seat. I heard a muffled cry and my curiosity had gotten the better of me. I walked to the other end of the library leaving everything behind. I didn't want to get caught.
"Don't let me go, please, don't ever let me go." I spotted the prophet holding on to the one person I could not get out of my head. Was she still crying? What was going on? What could've possibly happened to make her cry like that? Prophet boy held her close and rocked her. I noticed that he had a lost expression on his face as he stared into space and he too was crying. Not hysterically like the way the girl was but tears were slowly falling from his face.
It wasn't everyday you saw Mudblood and Prophet Boy crying together. What could've possibly happened? Weasley the Weasel die? Nah, that would definitely be wishful thinking. If he did die wouldn't they be gone instead of crying in the library at . . . what time was it? I looked at my watch to see that it was nearly two. There was no way I could stay here any longer; I won't be able stay up tomorrow if I do.
As I walk back to my room all I can think of is that scene I had just seen. It looked like they jumped out of a muggle movie. Like her parents died or something.
That's it!!! Granger hasn't gone to school for nearly two weeks! Someone in her family must've died. Nah, that can't be. Why would Harry be crying?
There was something in me that just had to know why Granger has been crying.
~*~*~*~
Author's Point of View
Hermione sat in her usual place ready for Potions. Today, she hadn't bothered to go to the Great Hall for breakfast. Her medication was making her sick again. It wasn't her chemo though, it was the pills she had to take to balance her body. With her face buried into her arms Hermione began to feel drowsy.
"Hermione!" A voice yelled from the entrance.
"Ron." Hermione sat up. She recognized his voice anywhere. It had been so long since she had last seen him but nothing had changed. He was the same sweet yet sometime stupid Ron. He always managed to make her smile and she knew that he would do anything in his power to protect her.
"I heard from Harry." He took a seat beside her.
"I'm glad he told you. I don't think I'd be able to do that again. It's far too hard." Hermione laughed. "I was a little emotional yesterday but I'm totally fine now, just really tired from all that crying. I'm accepting things slowly, it's not easy though."
"You have no idea how proud I am of you." Ron kissed her forehead. "And how happy I am that you chose to stay in school."
"I could never let you guys have the last year all to yourselves you know?"
"I know." Ron put his arm around her protectively. "I know."
Students began to pour in and most of them greeted Hermione wondering why she had been gone for so long.
"A big family trip." She said again and again ending it with a smile. They all nodded and told her not to worry. She hadn't missed much and that she had probably learned about everything way before.
"Now, I see we have a return student." Snape hissed as he walked out onto his platform. "Today, we are making a very powerful potion. And I want all of you to be prepared which is why you are going to be working in pairs. Each of the girls will draw a name from this box right here and that boy will be your partner for the rest of the year."
The girls stood up and picked. Some were disappointed and others ecstatic but Hermione was not into this. Whoever her partner ended up to be she knew she would be doing most of the work, not that she minded though.
She stuck her hand in the box and pulled out a piece of paper. She opened the paper and felt all the blood in her body go to her face. There was no possible way. This had never happened before.
Her hands shook as she held onto the paper. The girls were walking around the room trying to find their partners. Hermione searched for her partner around the room and she found him in his usual spot. She smiled and waved the piece of paper.
"Harry! You're my partner!" Hermione beamed. She walked over to the seat next to him.
"Wait! It seems though we lack a piece of paper. Miss Winston here has no partner." Snape hissed.
"I don't have one." A deep voice came from the corner of the room. "I don't think I need one though."
"Mister Malfoy in this room I do not accept idiots who think they can do everything by themselves." Snape looked at him sternly. "Now I know the problem. Granger!" He called Hermione's name and she shot up like lightning. "Who is your partner."
"Harry Potter, sir." She answered almost automatically.
"Winston with Potter." Snape said.
"But he's my partner." Hermione reasoned.
"Are you questioning me?"
"No sir, I just," She began but Snape cut her off.
"Five points from Gryffindor. You students better learn how to respect me. No one is to question my authority." He crossed his arms. "Now Potter with Winston and Granger with Malfoy."
"What?!" The two teenagers yelled in unison.
"You must be joking." Draco rambled. "Do you not remember what happened when you put us together before?"
"Do not question me Mister Malfoy, a point from Slytherin. Two times is enough for one day. Now Miss Granger please take your seat beside Mister Malfoy and I will explain exactly what the project is."
Their project was to make a potion using a few weeds, some roots and . . . a little bit of magic!
"I will not tell you the exact purpose of this potion. I want you to review exactly what happens to each of you. Now by pair I want all of you to go outside, anywhere in the school grounds. I want you to sit and talk about anything at all. Friends or even enemies will work together on this." Snape looked at Hermione and Draco in particular. "When you think you've found the perfect spot take a sip of the potion and ask questions that you might never ask. I want all of you to take the time to think about the questions and whatever you tell each other will not get to anyone else. Understand?" Snape didn't wait for a reply. "Now go!"
The students shuffled out of the classroom and it was no surprise that Draco and Hermione walked out last.
"I know a place where we can go." Draco said.
"The dungeon?" Hermione kidded.
"Haha." Draco rolled his eyes.
"Why aren't you picking on me?" Hermione asked as she trailed behind him. "Fine. Don't answer."
"Here we are."
"You're joking." Hermione whispered.
"Nope, Hogwarts a history says," Draco said.
"It's the only place that you can see, all the places you wish to be." They said in unison.
"You read Hogwarts a History?" Hermione asked.
"A couple of times." Draco shrugged. "So do we agree on our location?"
"Yeah." Hermione smiled. She could never be mean to anyone no matter what they've done to her. She took a seat as she tucked a strand of her hair behind her hair. When she looked up she caught Draco staring down at her. "Is something wrong?"
Draco shook his head furiously. "No." He sat down.
"Okay, so we drink the potion now?" Hermione looked at him as she motioned for the potion.
"Yeah."
"Well now we agree on two things." Hermione took the potion and took a small sip. Draco took the bottle from her and sipped it as well. "I can't believe that you just did that."
"What did I do?" He looked at her.
"You just placed you precious lips on the bottle that a mudblood drank from." Hermione said honestly. "I'm surprised you're not dead."
"Yeah, I'm stronger than I thought." Draco replied bluntly.
"Ask me a question." Hermione looked at him.
"Ladies first." He replied. He didn't feel at all different but he knew that there was nothing wrong with their potion. Maybe this was some kind of joke so that Snape could have some time off.
"Okay." Hermione replied almost too quickly. "Why do you hate me?"
"That's easy." Draco's replied. "I don't hate you. I just have to. It doesn't give me pleasure to see you breaking down, it's just how I was raised. In fact, I feel really crappy when I see a frown on your face." Draco's eyes shot open. "And honestly I find you really pretty and if you weren't muggle born I would really like to go out with you."
"Huh?" Hermione's eyes shot open.
"I didn't just say that out loud did I?" Draco asked. His inner most thoughts had poured out of his mouth faster than anything.
"That's more than I can swallow." Hermione whispered. "But I still don't understand why. Is there something I should be ashamed of? Is that why you degrade me?"
"Of course not." Draco replied. "I just. Maybe I degrade you to make me feel better about not being able to have you."
"I beg your pardon." Hermione looked at him in disbelief.
"You are the only person in this school I can never have." Draco struggled to stop himself but couldn't. "It would just be unacceptable."
"That's enough!" Hermione covered her ears. "Don't you dare say another word!"
"Why were you crying yesterday?" Draco asked.
Hermione looked up at him and her entire face went pale. She just stared at him for what seemed like forever. "I can't tell you."
"Excuse me?" Draco looked at her. "I just poured out the one thing that no one else knows and you won't tell me why you were crying yesterday."
"I'm dying." Hermione replied. Her eyes opened wide in shock. "I can't believe I just said that."
Draco looked at her more confused than ever. "You're dying?" He huffed as if she were teasing him.
"I'm serious." And once again Hermione could feel her feelings getting the best of her. "As if my life couldn't get any worse. In grade school I was made fun of for being in grade one when I should've been in kinder two. Then I come here and here you are teasing me just because of my family background like I'm not worthy to be here. Just to let you know, I work my butt off just to get into this school unlike most of you warlocks who are just born into it. And now when I'm finally getting out of this hellhole. I want to go back to a place where people will accept me just because I'm intelligent. Do you know that I got into Harvard Law on scholarship but now I can't take it because I won't even be a live next school year? And now you're giving me this bullshit about secretly feeling something for me. Yeah, Malfoy, I am dying not becoming stupid and no I do not plan to let you graduate with the highest honors because that's all I'll be able to accomplish in this life anyway!" Hermione covered her mouth. "What the hell did we drink?"
"I think it's more than just an honesty potion. It's like this thing that makes you want to tell someone exactly how you feel."
"Yeah well it looks like it backfired on you." Hermione said quickly. For the first time in Hermione's life she saw a pained expression on Draco's face. "But don't feel bad for me now because I don't remember never not wishing that I was dead and now that my first wish ever is going to come true I have no idea what to do! I'm going to die in eight months so who cares. Don't give me that crap Malfoy, don't make me think someone actually thinks about me!"
"I never said I thought about you!"
"Yeah well you implied it." Hermione replied. "You've got it all made out for you rich boy except that you don't have a heart."
"You have no idea what I've gone through in life so you can take your problems and shove it." Draco glared at Hermione.
"Don't you dare talk to me like that you incoherent bastard!" Hermione looked at him. "If you have such a crappy life why don't you tell me about it."
"Why should I?"
"See? Lies! Face it Malfoy you've got it all." Hermione replied.
"Do you know what it like to watch innocent people die before you and feel good about it? But deep down inside your gut is telling you it is wrong? Do you know what it feels like to be haunted by the people your father has killed in front of you. Or how badly you just want to run away from home because hey your father beats you up. Or that each time you visit your mother is just getting weaker and weaker? I haven't seen my father in nearly two years, I can't talk to my mum straight, I can't even tell the one person who truly mystifies me how much I want to get to know her. I can't even be myself, damnit! Because I have no idea what the real me is like!"
"Oh, woe is you." Hermione rolled her eyes. "At least you're not dying."
"Yeah well, just because you're dying doesn't make you more pitiful than me." Draco breathed deeply and studied his surroundings. A few students who were passing by were gaping at the two of them. They sat in silence for a few moments.
"Thank you." Hermione whispered. "I feel so much better now."
"Me too." Draco replied. "What was that all about?"
"For the first time in my life I have no idea." Hermione pulled back her hair.
"We should go." Draco collected his things. "It's probably dinner time."
"Yeah." Hermione did the same. They walked in silence towards the Great Hall. "Draco, what you said awhile ago. Did you mean it?"
"Yeah." He whispered. He wondered if there was still potion left in him.
As the two stood behind the door to the Great Hall Hermione pulled Draco back and kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you, again." Hermione backed away from him and walked into the Great Hall.
Draco stood there for a moment in shock but he could feel his blood rushing up to his face. A few moments later Draco finally entered the Great Hall for dinner.
With a kiss on his cheek.
~*~*~*~*
A/N: Please read and review!