A/N – thanks so much to everyone who R/Red! sorry it took sooo long to get this chapter up. But I was having a huge brain fart. I'm not completely satisfied with this chapter, I think it could be a lot better, but because I would like to finish this story one day, and seeing as I'm not even half way through (there'll be 9 chapters btw) I decided this will have to do. Oh and I'd like to thank my marvelous friend Devon for helping me out with the dialogue in the last segment. Enjoy and please R/R!

CHAPTER 3

"In his eyes I can see

Where my heart longs to be

In his eyes I see a gentle glow

And that's were I'll be safe I know…"

It was nearly noon when Hermione finally woke the next day, though you could barely tell because of the clouds covering the sun that promised a nasty storm later on. Her face was still sticky from dried tears and she was still dressed in her now wrinkled clothes from the night before. She sat up and looked herself over in the mirror that lay opposite her four poster bed. She looked terrible.

How in Merlin's name had this happened? How had she let herself get this upset? As she walked to her bathroom she recapped the events of the night before in her head. It had all started so pleasantly; walking in the chilly yet beautiful night down the long trail that lead to Hogsmeade with Harry. For a while Hermione had even managed to completely forget Ron and his stubborn ways.

And then Harry had asked for the map. That damn map that started this all. If Hermione would have just left the awful thing in her trunk where it belonged, none of this would have happened. Well, technically it would have happened, but Hermione would have been perfectly oblivious to it, and in this case that is what she would have preferred to be.

I suppose you are wondering what was on that map that could possibly make Hermione so upset. Well she was wondering close to the same thing, only more along the lines of why it had made her so upset. Slowly, the memory of those fateful seconds came creeping back into her mind. In that moment when Hermione had grabbed the map from Harry's unwilling hands, she had found Ron's name almost immediately. To anyone else it might have gone unnoticed. It could have easily been mistaken as a tiny marauder malfunction. But she knew that the marauder's map was never wrong. When she saw that the single black dot had two names, she knew exactly what it meant. Hermione had never really thought about it before. Somewhere in that clever mind of hers there was the silly little thought that Ron would wait for her. But he hadn't. It was stupid to think that he would have in the first place, especially with all the girls he had been with in the past couple years. And Pansy Parkinson should have been a red flag to Hermione. Pansy never, ever left her men unsatisfied.

The sickening knot returned to her stomach as Hermione nearly drowned herself in the shower, almost hoping to wash the memory away. As much as she hated to admit it, she knew that in the very back of her mind, stowed away in the most secret part of her heart, was a great, painful amount of love for the fiery red head with the deep blue eyes. And although she told herself that it was nearly every day, it was not the same kind love she held for Harry or Ginny or anyone else.

Stepping out of the shower she looked herself over in the mirror once again. If she needed any more proof of that unrequited love, this was it. Feeling a rogue tear making its way down her cheek, Hermione heard the loud rumble emitted from her stomach that begged to be filled. She knew Harry and Draco were probably worried sick about her, so after getting dressed she mustered up all the pride she had left (which wasn't much mind you) and slowly made her way down to the great hall.

Ron sat in the Gryffindor common room working avidly on a new play for the next Quidditch game against Hufflepuff. He had improved dramatically since his first year on the team, and was even appointed co-captain along with Ginny, who had become a chaser the last term. It was a little embarrassing to be sharing such a high position with his little sister, but Ron had to admit that Ginny was good, and though the smallest member of the team, she was without a doubt the most forceful. With a sigh he leaned back in his large armchair and stretched his arms. He looked around the common room. He had not seen Hermione all day. Ron had been preparing his apology speech in his head all morning, and was slightly disappointed that he had not been able to use it yet. He had meant to talk to Harry before going to bed the night before, but he hadn't come back to the dorm until late, and he was already dead asleep. The next morning when they woke up, Harry didn't say a word. He had only flashed him a look that seemed a mix of anger and sympathy and disappeared out the door.

Suddenly, Ron had the burning feeling on the back of his head that someone was watching him. He turned in his seat to see Hermione at the bottom of the stairs. She looked very tired and droopy, and Ron wondered if maybe she was sick. He sent a small smile her way, hoping to break the ice and begin reciting his apology that he had rehearsed so many times now. Hermione never turned down an apology. But today there was something eerily different about her. She showed no emotion as she stood there, and in another moment she was heading for the door. Ron suddenly felt a wave of panic overflow him. As if she was leaving him forever, and not just going to lunch.

"Hermione!" Ron called, then turned slightly pink when he realized the panic had come through in his voice and that the whole common room was now staring at him. Hermione stopped in her tracks. She was only inches away from the portrait hole. Slowly she turned her head to him, and gave Ron the saddest look he had ever seen. It was a look of utter and complete defeat and loss of hope. It made him want to… to cry. No words could have affected him like that one look from Hermione's once sparkling milk chocolate eyes. The sparkle was gone now, and without anything else she stepped over the threshold and into the hallway beyond.

It took all the willpower Ron had not to jump from his seat and run after her, but all eyes were on him now, and he didn't want to create more of a scene, so he quickly looked down and tried to return his attention to the parchment in front of him. But he could not. He slapped down his quill in frustration and ran his hands through his ginger hair.

"You look awful," said a dreamy a voice in front of him.

"Luna?" Ron said in surprise, "How'd you- I mean… wait- this is the Gryffindor common room."

"I was visiting with Ginny," said Luna as though it was the most obvious thing in the world, "I saw what happened."

Ron turned back to his parchment. "Did you?" he said, pretending to have no interest.

"I did," replied Luna, "I suppose you're wondering why Hermione is so upset with you."

"We got in a fight," said Ron simply, "listen Luna, I'm a little busy-"

"I know, but that's not it," Luna continued, "You see, Hermione had the marauder's map-"

"Wait a minute," said Ron irritably, "how do you know about the map?"

"I know a lot more than you think Ronald so if you would be so kind to listen to me I'm trying to tell you something important."

Ron was taken aback, he had never seen Luna so… so… concentrated? Or something like it.

"What I was trying to say, is that last night, Hermione had the marauder's map. And she, well, she saw you and Pansy."

"What?" Ron asked confused. He didn't know the marauder's map could see so much.

"I mean that she saw that you and Pansy were…together."

"I know what you mean," snapped Ron, before quickly apologizing. Luna nodded and said no other word before floating out of the common room.

Ron couldn't find Hermione for the rest of the day.

Draco sat in a large black armchair located in one of the many spacious living rooms inside Malfoy Manor. He had flooed here earlier that morning as he did every few months on his father's order. Lucius liked to keep up with Draco's schooling as well as other matters… Draco had been waiting for his father for nearly four hours now. At first his mother had joined him and they had shared a delightful breakfast. But Narcissa Malfoy was never one to talk much or be largely entertaining so Draco had made no protest when she left him in the cold living room once more.

Finally, the giant dark wooden doors opened and Lucius Malfoy strode into the room. He made no move to hug or greet his son or show any love at all. Those kind of things didn't matter to the Malfoys. No, Lucius simply sat down in the armchair besides his son and started asking him questions.

Over the next few hours, Draco told his father about school and grades, friends and enemies, mudbloods and purebloods, anything and everything Lucius asked him about. And then there was the plan. The evil plan that Draco had been reluctant go along with ever since it was first brought up months ago. But he never dared go against the strong man sitting adjacent to him. Not even as a child did he dare disobey him. This particular order, however, had been the hardest thing Draco had ever had to do in his entire life. And on top of that, Draco was already picking up flaws in the scheme. Every day he wanted to be a part of it less and less, yet every day he continued only because of one driving force – love.

Draco had never felt true love in his entire life. Not for his father, not for his mother, and certainly not from either of them. He wasn't sure that he loved Hermione, though he told her so often that he did. But he was certain she loved him. Maybe not romantically, but every time Draco looked into her sparkling eyes he saw a warmness that he had never seen before. He had managed to form a bond with Hermione he never thought possible. As much as the bond drove him, it weakened him as well. Hermione Granger was the only reason the he was able to continue with the plan, and the sole reason he felt guilt over it every day. In the end, she would be hurt. It was inevitable. But he could not tell this to his father. No, he did not even dare. He put on the cold, heartless face he had grown so accustomed to that often he would forget it was not really him.

"And the plan," Lucius said, searching Draco's eyes for any trace of a lie, "how is it going?"

"About the plan father," Draco said, so nervous he suddenly found that had forgotten how to breathe. He had practiced the line in his head so many times since he sat down in front of the cold fire, but now he could barely spit it out. "There are a few problems. I… I don't think it is working. And I think it's best to.. to abandon it."

"Really?" said Lucius, unperturbed, "and why's that."

Draco froze. He could not tell Lucius the real problem. Somehow he didn't think it would go over very well with the blonde man. He mumbled many bunched up words and hoped they made since. While Lucius waited patiently.

"Has someone caught on?" he asked.

"Yes," Draco replied, thankful for a decent excuse.

"Potter?"

"No, Potter is pretty oblivious to it all," said Draco honestly, then added, "the idiot. But Weasley, he may be on to me." Draco was very proud of himself for that last part. Even now he never had warmed up to Ron, or any of the Weasleys. And he looked at Hermione a little too often if it was up to him. No, he had no trouble putting the blame on a Weasley.

"Interesting," Lucius said placing his fingers together. "and Granger?"

Draco gulped audibly, then mentally slapped himself for it, "The stupid mudblood doesn't have a clue."

It was true, Hermione was oblivious.

Ravenclaw was hosting a huge party in their common room to celebrate the end of the term. Even though they were both Gryffindors, Harry and Ron had been invited by several eager young fifth year girls. Initially they had both passed on the offer – Ravenclaw parties were known to be boring. But now Ron was beginning to think that getting butt drunk would do him some good. Between dodging Pansy in the hallways, Quidditch practice, attempting to study for midterm exams, and trying to find Hermione, this had been one of the most stressful weekends of the term.

He didn't arrive at the party until well after midnight, when most of the Ravenclaws had gone to bed and all that remained were a few clusters of students playing drinking games and talking amongst themselves. Ron helped himself to a bottle Firewisky which had most likely been smuggled into the castle earlier that day and sat by himself on an empty couch by the large fireplace. That's when he first heard it; that sickening laugh that stirred up so many emotions of hate and anger every time Ron heard it. He knew that patronizing laughter all to well. Draco's group was made up of his cronies Crabbe and Goyle and a few Ravenclaw boys sitting in a far corner of the room. Ron knew he should leave before he did something he regretted. He downed the last of his bottle, and stood to stretch before heading to the door.

"Well, if it isn't Weaslebee," Ron heard that annoying voice snicker behind him. Draco was pissed drunk. Ron stopped in his tracks

"Isn't it a little past your bedtime Malfoy? You wouldn't want daddy to catch you." Ron retorted, facing Draco and his cronies.

"Bed time? Oh yes I get plenty of that," said Draco.

It took all the willpower Ron had not to hex him right there. "Don't tempt me Malfoy," Ron replied, "I'm half drunk with a wand."

"Oooo I'm sooo scared. Yes, and that bushy haired slut of yours isn't the only one who tucks me in." Drunken laughter erupted from Draco and his gang. Ron felt his ears go red. Before he knew it, he was on top of Malfoy. Punching him in the face, in the gut, anywhere he could. He had six and a half years of frustration against Draco, and it was all coming out now. Draco managed a few good swings as well, which left Ron with a bloody nose and his fair share of bruises. Nobody moved to break up the two, until suddenly Ron seemed to realize in horror what he was doing, and he leapt to his feet and ran out of the common room.

He had just enough time to hear Luna Lovegood, who had seen the whole thing, say "Oh dear, Hermione is going to be so very angry at you Ronald." Before he slammed the door behind him.

a/n: please R/R!