Disclaimer: Nope.. Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Draco, etc. aren't mine. *sob sob* Oh well. At least this plot is!

Notes: Sorry!!!! This chapter took super long! My computer died and we had to completely restart it, and then I um *cough cough* got 3 D's on my report card and was forced to have practically no computer time. And the dumb site wouldn't accept this!! GRRR!! *coughs again* anyway..

Notes (Related to the Story): This time, the views are switching between Hermione/Ron and Harry/Draco. "Why Ron and Harry?" Because.. they're noticing weird stuff happening.. duh.. ;)

Warning: Yeah, I know you're tired of reading all this! Oh well! I just wanted to warn you, there's mild swearing in this chapter. It's not too bad, but it's scattered in here. Okay, I can finally say it.. Read on!!

Chapter Three - Suspicion

Hermione was increasingly irritable for a while.. especially at breakfast the next day.

"Hey, 'Mione, why weren't you at dinner last night? Or even down in the Common Room all night?" Ron asked, then stuck a piece of chicken in his mouth.

"Reading," she replied matter-of-factly, even if it was a lie.

Harry made a face which told her flatly he didn't believe it. "C'mon, even we know you don't read that much."

"I was reading! What's so wrong with that?"

"Well, 'Mione, it's just that we're worried 'bout you. I mean, you've been acting.. wierd lately," Ron said inbetween chomps of food. However, he was eating slower then usual this morning, which made what he was saying understandable.

Hermione snarled, "I have not been acting differently!"

"Well -" Harry began.

Hermione interrupted him, "What would you know about the way I act, anyway? You don't care!"

As she left the Great Hall in a huff, Ron called after her with a full mouth, "'Mione!"

Hermione couldn't explain it. She had been so moody lately.. and touchy wheneverr certain topics came up. During Charms class, for example, when Pavarati inquired why Hermione left Potions yesterday, she snapped in response, "It's none of your business!" and sent her toad flying against the wall.

Hermione didn't come down to lunch. Instead, she hid out at the Library, hoping no one would find her. Thankfully, no one did - except one person. They said nothing to her, however. Instead, they just sat behind a book like she did, and thought. That person was Draco Malfoy.

*~*~*

Meanwhile, at lunch, Ron and Harry were quiet. They weren't sure what to say - besides, they were busy thinking. Then, Ron was the one to bring it up, "Why do you think Hermione's been acting funny?"

"We've got to think about it. When did she start acting weird?"

"Probably when we got to Hogwarts. Maybe she's hiding something?"

Harry paused, and chewed the rest of his bite. "Of course."

Both were silent again. Ron chewed quietly for once, and Harry bit his own tongue, ignoring his scar, (which was prickling slightly), and thought about when she acted differently. The day after they came. Yesterday. Today.

"Wait - she left during Potions, remember?" Harry interjected suddenly.

Ron nodded, and answered, "Yeah, then Malfoy left."

"Malfoy!" they exclaimed together.

Rubbing his head, Harry wondered, "But why Malfoy? I mean, what does he have to do with this?"

"The veritaserum. Maybe she remembered him asking something really bad," Ron suggested.

He shook his head. Harry couldn't see that, "No. Malfoy knows his potions.. so he wouldn't have messed it up so she could remember."

Ron sighed, "True."

They spent the rest of lunch in silence.

*~*~*

Draco had spent the majority of the time in thought.. why had he flared up? He always answered the same thing - because he was talking to the Queen of Mudbloods, Hermione Granger! But he knew differently.

It was because he wanted to keep up with his image. Draco Malfoy, the "King of Slytherin". He who hates all muggles, Mudbloods, and Squibs. Especially anyone in Gryffindor.

He groaned inwardly - why did he have to have such a stupid title? That was before this summer, anyhow. A single event had changed it all.

Now he always felt longings to just give it all up, be a completely different Malfoy. But he knew he could never do that. After all, to be a Malfoy is to be the same.

He was thrown out of his thoughts as he crashed into someone while walking away from the tables at dinner. Looking at the ground, he saw who it was - Hermione.

At first, he thought of just growling, 'Watch where you're going, Mudblood', but he couldn't. He wanted to help her. But they.. Damn them! He thought suddenly. He put out his hand for her to grab. What did he care what they thought, anyway?

*~*~*

Hermione looked at his hand oddly. Was he joking? Some stupid, malicious prank? She didn't care. On the contrary, she liked it. Taking his hand, she got back onto her feet. She looked into his eyes suspiciously.

"Why did you help me?"

Draco said nothing. By the expression on his face, he didn't know what to say. In reponse, he just grumbled, "Don't mention it."

She watched him as he walked off to the Slytherin Dungeons. Then she turned, feeling eyes on her. Harry and Ron quickly looked back at their plates. She didn't care. Who cares what they thought.

Hermione walked to the Gryffindor Common Room, almost laughing.

*~*~*

Later that night, Hermione sat in the Common Room, staring into the fire dreamily, smiling. Ron and Harry finally gained up the courage to talk to her about it.

"What's wrong with you?" Ron blurted out.

Hermione scoffed, "What do you mean?"

"Well, it's just that you've been acting either moody or.. dreamy," Harry explained.

"Dreamy?"

"Er, I mean.. Thoughtful."

Hermione bit her lip.. should she really tell them? They had a right to know all these odd feelings... Hermione swallowed, and said slowly, "I've been thinking about Draco lately."

"WHAT!?" they both yelped, but Ron was much louder.

Hermione flared up, "What's so wrong with that?"

"Dra - 'Mione, we're talking about Malfoy here! Malfoy - the one who hates our guts!" Ron cried frustratedly.

Harry was only too thankful that there were only a few people in the Common Room.

"He doesn't hate our guts - well, I don't think anyway! If he did, why would he talk to me?"

Harry's jaw dropped, and his voice faultered, "Talk to you?"

He could see her grow uncomfortable.

"Well, not much. Just like.. at dinner. That's all."

Ron snorted, "Right."

"What's your problem, Ron?" Hermione snapped at him viciously.

He leapt out of his seat, and shouted, "My problem? You're the one talking to Draco Malfoy! Our mortal enemy!!"

"For one thing, he's your mortal enemy. And why should you care?"

"What if he's up to no good?"

"Oh, right, Ron."

"You should stop talking to him!"

Hermione gritted her teeth, then, impulsively roared, "Oh, rot in Hell, Ron!"

As she stomped upstairs, Harry and Ron looked after her, speechless. The others in the common room gawked at them, then went back to their business.

Then they turned toward each other. They didn't have to even say anything - they just wondered the same thing.. Why did she defend Malfoy?

~~~

After Notes: Yep. Here it is. Sorry it focused so much on Harry and Ron/Hermione sort of ties, but I thought it'd beb important to keep them in. After all, they are best friends! And now Hermy and Draco are at the point where they're both sick of pretending.. are they going to stay this way? Or will things change? You never know!! As a treat of this chapter taking forever, I'll try to get the next one up quickly. There ya go.