DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling.

Rain pounded on the windowpanes as Harry strode along the empty corridors back to Gryffindor tower. Ron was at Keeper tryouts for the Quidditch team and Hermione was at the library doing her mountains of extra assignments she asked the Professors to give her. Harry glanced out the rain-washed windows and wondered how the team was managing to hold tryouts with all the rain.

His question was answered as Ron came running towards him, socked, clutching a goblet of butterbeer and beaming all. "Harry, I did it, once again, I'm Keeper! Have a butterbeer Harry… I can't believe my luck! Practically no one showed up and I… I'm Keeper- where's Hermione gone?"

Harry smiled and looked outside at the dark grounds once more. No wonder no one showed up. "Brilliant! Hermione is in the library doing homework."

Ron rolled his eyes and smiled, "Cedric said I got real potential! I have been practicing, you know? Over the summer… Fred and Gorge helped me."

"That's great Ron, really." Harry's tryouts were held earlier and he had made the team, naturally. They needed a lot of new additions to the team with Fred and Gorge gone and they were still short one player. No one just seemed good enough for Cedric at tryouts. Harry was right about him- he was strict.

Hermione joined them; moments later in the corridors and Ron didn't hesitate to share his good news. "That's really great Ron."

"What were you doing in there anyways? Hermione, you look so tired you should just give the quill and yourself a break and get to bed," Ron said noticing Hermione yawn.

"Lesson plans," Hermione said and then added, "Tutoring…" seeing Ron's lost face. Ron looked confused.

"What were you doing last night then? Didn't you do that last night? And why waste time on that pompous git anyways? Did you hear? He took Malfoy's place as Seeker! I swear I wish I could have taken a picture, his face was priceless… Malfoy is now a Keeper but still he looked so shocked when that new kid caught that snitch right under his nose!"

"Last night I was doing my assignments. And Ron if I'm going to do the job I might as well handle it in a professional matter."

"Malfoy is never going to hear the end of this," Harry said laughing.

Dinner in the Great Hall that night was not a pleasant experience for Draco. The news of him losing his spot as Seeker had traveled fast and he heard whispers all around him. He couldn't make out what anyone was saying but by all the glances he was getting in his direction he knew they had to do with him. Draco decided he had to handle this in the most non-caring way possible, he learned to hide his feelings well over the years and wouldn't let Derrick get to him.

Draco managed to put a smile on his face as he tried to look carefree as possible. This attracted a bunch of girls who came over to talk and comfort him. Realization suddenly dawned on him. They think the captain lost his mind and now hate Derrick as much as I do. That's what they are whispering about. Draco stopped his thoughts and brought his attention back to his fan club.

Hermione peered over at that certain blonde haired Slytherin with whom she would have to spend the rest of the evening with and sighed. "I better get going I need to go get the stuff and head over to the Room of Requirements (?). McGonagall told me Dumbledore said that he thought it would be better there, no distractions. And I agree with him, too. I mean it will be hard to concentrate with other students going about in there."

"Hermione it's a library, you're supposed to be quiet," Ron stated.

"I know but some people don't like to follow rules," Hermione replied staring at Ron and Harry. Hermione then excused herself from the table and went up the Gryffindor Common Room quickly to get her lesson plan and go tutor.

"Great Harry," Ron said disappointingly, "Now we can't watch what they are doing."

Hermione went down the hall searching for the door of the Room of Requirements. This door would only be seen by people who really need to use the room. It was forbidden to use by any students without the headmasters permission. Last year, Harry, Ron, and Hermione used the room to hold DA meetings to other students. They were caught eventually and the meetings stopped. Hermione hasn't been there since.

A few moments later, Hermione spotted the door to her left. She opened the door to find Draco, already there. The room was a decent size with a huge bookshelf filled with all types of useful books- just what she wanted. In the middle of the room was a small table with parchments and quills, three chairs, and some pumpkin juice in three goblets. Draco was on the other side of the room sitting on a green sofa with another bookshelf and then towards the back of the room was a bed. A bed? Why do we need a bed here? Who would need that…?

"Malfoy what is that doing there?" Hermione asked.

Draco looked up at Hermione, his usual smirk present and answered, "I have no idea. Granger, surly you know this room is for tutoring only?"

"You're a sick pervert Malfoy!"

"Honestly, Granger why would I put a bed in here? I know you might be disappointed…"

"Sod off, Malfoy," she barked. Hermione went over and sat down at the table. She grabbed her bag and pulled out her Charms notes. She didn't want to waste her time after all, Derrick would be arriving momentarily.

"Granger what are you doing?" Malfoy said amusingly, "Don't you have anything better to do then study?"

"Do I have something better to do? Let's see… I am stuck in a room with an arrogant prat. Nope, nothing here, but studying would be worth my time."

Draco sneered at Hermione and said, "You think I am just a waste of a wizard?"

"Actually, I couldn't have put it better myself."

"And I am wasting your time by talking with you?"

"Yes."

"That's funny Granger. I am a waste of a wizard? I wasn't the unfortunate one to be the offspring of two muggles."

Hermione looked down at her notes irritated. "Just leave me alone. Don't talk to me, sit by me, or even look at me."

"Granger, don't worry. I have no intentions of doing any of those things."

After a few more moments Draco couldn't take it anymore. He was late. 32 minutes to be exact. Draco slammed his bag on the table and muttered, "I am leaving if this git doesn't arrive within the next minute."

Hermione glanced up. She seemed so caught up in her studying she just looked at Draco and then turned the page of her notebook and began to read. Draco slammed his bag onto the table again, this time louder than before. However, unlike the previous time, Hermione didn't glance up at him. She just stared at her notebook. Draco seemed annoyed. Ignoring me? She doesn't realize how many girls die to be in a room with me alone.

Draco suddenly took his bag and 'accidentally' threw it to the ground. Hermione couldn't take it. She slammed her book shut. "What now?"

Draco looked at her questioningly, playing dumb. "Did you say something?"

"Don't play dumb. What do you want?"

"I am not playing dumb Granger."

"Right, I forgot it comes naturally to you."

"Let's just call it a night. Obviously he isn't coming."

"Maybe he got lost. We should go look for him."

"He is 45 minutes late now. I know you don't have anything better to do but I could be doing something much more useful with my time."

"Oh really," Hermione said acting as if she was surprised, "like what?"

"Granger I didn't think you cared."

Hermione grabbed her bag about to march out of the room when Derrick walked in. "Sorry I was late. It's hard to leave a table filled with girls. They follow me everywhere. Certainly you understand Draco."

"Now, mudblood do you have anything for me or am I wasting my time?"

Hermione looked taken back but remained calm and professional as she handed Derrick over some notes.

"Good," he said grabbing the notes from her hand. "I decided that if you two just prepare weekly notes if you give me the notebook I should be set. This way I don't need to waste my time. So er just write down lessons from previous years and give it to me."

"Wait. If your not willing to waste your time neither are we," Draco replied.

"You will. Because you are supposed to help me and I learn best that way. It's not much to ask for. I could require weekly notes and a tutor session. Oh and just one more thing. I prefer if you, Mafloy, write the notes. I don't want to touch things that have been touched by somebody like her. You understand of course? I come from a one of the finest pureblood families around and I wouldn't want some mudblood to taint my blood."

Draco looked at Hermione. Tears were in her eyes and he could tell she was trying hard to hold them back. He never realized how much comments like those hurt her. Did he sound like that too? She never seemed upset when he called her mudblood. Was it because she was used to it by now? Draco looked over to the seat where Hermione was sitting but she was gone.

"Filthy mudblood," he heard Derrick scream after her. Draco threw Derrick a nasty look as he left the room. He wasn't going to waste his time with a git like him. Even if she is a filthy mudblood. No one calls her that but him. He is the one to make the girls cry because of.

The corridors were already dark, lit only a bit by the torches on the walls. Looking ahead, he spotted Hermione turning the corner. She was running away and Draco couldn't help but think who she was running away from, him or Derrick?

A/n: I am going on vacation so I won't be able to update for another two weeks. Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up. Thanks to my great reviewers: LoneLight, Anigen, Suzaku's Rose, MysticalSpirits, black-unicorn13, RosaFinch, SOBs 4 Sirius 223, Nanu-kun, fcuking cathy, wolfy 65, average jane, The Fuzy Llama, innocentrose, Monikka DaLuver, and Priah.