Love and Hate

By Tennisplaya278


Love changes darkness into light and makes the heart take a wingless flight.

-Helen Steiner Rice-

-Disclaimer: Roses are red, violets are blue, I don't own Harry Potter and neither do you. Bananas are yellow, tomatoes are red, Stop reading this, and read my story instead!-

Draco's eyes were wide open in shock. Hermione was the same.

There, standing in the middle of the common room was Ronald Weasley.

She looked down at him and pulled her wand. Muttering a few words, Draco was rid of the spell. He slowly stood up and stood next to Hermione.

Ron was walking toward them, his eyes ablaze. His wand was out and he looked like he was ready to kill. But the question was, who was he mad at?

Instinctively, Draco walked in front of Hermione, shielding her from Ron. What he didn't expect was that she came out and walked in front of him. After all, she was Harry Potter's best friend. She could handle Ron's temper.

"Hermione, move out of the way. This spell isn't meant for you." Ron said in a dangerously low voice.

"No Ron. I'm not going to let you hurt him." Hermione said, spreading out her arms for effect.

Draco was surprised. What the heck had gotten into her? Ron seemed to have the same question in his head.

"What is going on with you? You – he – Malfoy was going to kiss you! If you forgot, I am your boyfriend!" He took another step toward her.

"I'm not Head Girl for just any reason Ron. I can take care of myself." She pushed Draco back.

"Yes, I could really see that when he was going to kiss you. Or maybe this has been going on for quite some time now? Yeah, you and Malfoy getting cozy?" Ron took another step.

"What?! You think I am going around with Malfoy? Well for your information Ronald  I am doing nothing of the sort!" Hermione's face was red.

Ron ignored the last comment. "Well I guess friendship doesn't mean anything to you. All that matters is money and power right?" He took another step. Ron was only mere inches away from her now. "I love you Hermione but I guess those words don't mean anything to you right? All this time I thought you loved me too but I guess not. Good-bye Hermione." He turned and looked at Draco. "I thought I told you Malfoy. Stay away from her." Then, without looking back, Ron left the common room.

Draco turned to look at Hermione. She had tears welling up in her eyes. When Ron left, she let them fall down her face. Uncertainly, Draco walked over to her and sat down on the floor next to her. Hermione looked at him with her tearstained face. He gave her a warm smile.

She stood up and ran to her room, leaving a very confused Draco on the floor.

&&&

It was February and romance was blossoming like never before. Valentine's day was in just a week and students were running around trying to find dates for the Hogsmede trip. Hermione didn't. She had given up on Ron. He was the reason that she was miserable. Why did she have to be so stupid that night?

Countless times, Draco had tried to apologize to her. She didn't want to hear any of them. Since when could she trust him?

Of course she still had to work with him on the potion's project which, thankfully, was almost completed. All they had to do was finish up their essay and test the potion and they were free as birds.

Hermione had decided to use it on Valentine's Day. Whether or not it would be helpful was up to her.

In fact, she was contemplating on this one night.

'Well of course there's the fact that I wouldn't have to see all those love sick students in Hogsmede. Then again, I wouldn't be able to go. If I did make it nice weather, then most people would go to Hogsmede and I plan to go. But if I don't have nice weather, then all these couples will be locked up in Hogwarts WITH me. I think I'm going to go crazy from this!'

She sighed and said she would sort it out later. Anyways, it was dinner.

That night, she had a visitor.

Hermione was staring into the fire. She was thinking about everything that had happened during the past weeks. Her thoughts were interrupted when somebody cleared their throat. She looked around and her eyes met emerald ones. It wasn't surprising. She knew why he was here. Harry wanted to talk with her about Ron. He came over and sat down next to her.

"Hey," Hermione calmed down a bit. There was something about his presence that made her feel cool down. Harry smiled. "You know why I'm here. Want to tell me?"

Hermione sighed. There was no lying to him. "I'm sorry Harry. I really am." She closed her eyes. "I don't know what came over me. I just wish Ron would talk to me or even just look at me." It was true. Ron hadn't looked at her since that night.

"Don't worry. You know what Ron's like. He'll come around. I'll talk to him. I mean, you two have been in fights before,"

"Yeah but this is different. Usually, I could believe I was right and he was wrong, but now I know I'm wrong. It's so confusing."

Harry gave a small laugh. "Yeah I know. The day Hermione Granger gets something wrong is the day that Neville gets an Outstanding in Potions."

She gave him a small smile. "Thanks Harry, but it's best if you go now. I wouldn't want you to get caught by Filch."

"Alright. Take care Hermione."

&&&

A pale figure soared across the sky in the moonlight. It was Draco Malfoy on his newly acquired Thunderbolt. Yes, it was after hours but he didn't care. He just needed some time to think.

He just stared aimlessly out into the distance, flying farther and farther away from Hogwarts. It was a magical sight, with the gigantic castle and the lights flickering within the windows against the clear black sky.

Then Draco saw something. It was a flash of red. He silently flew away from the light, trying to keep himself hidden. He watched the red dot slowly begin to grow into a beautiful phoenix and he knew what it was. It was Hermione on another of her night time flights, just as he was.

He was mesmerized by the sight of her.

With every flutter of her wings, she grew larger and larger and Draco tried to draw himself farther back into the shadows. Hermione however, was just too smart for that. She came closer and Draco noticed that she wore a necklace around her neck. It was the same one that she had that night. He tried to get another look at it but the phoenix came over and landed on his broom. In it's beak held a piece of paper.

Get down onto the quidditch pitch. We need to talk.

Feeling quite stupid, he nodded to her. He gently pushed down the broom and landed.

Once back on solid ground, the phoenix transfigured back into Hermione Granger.

He gazed into her eyes. They were filled with so many emotions that Draco wondered how she didn't just burst. Those lovely brown orbs were filled with sadness, fear, despise and mostly confusion.

"Listen Malfoy. What has happened has happened and I would really like it if you didn't tell anyone. Ron's mad as it is and…" Her voice trailed off.

"I haven't, have or will tell anyone. It was just an accident. If there's anyway I can help, then by all means tell me." Inside, Draco knew he was lieing. It wasn't an accident. It was fate.

Hermione didn't look at him, but instead toyed around with the necklace.

"That's a nice necklace." Draco commented, hoping to strike up a conversation.

"Thanks. I got it from Harry for my birthday. It is nice isn't it. He told me that it was a mood necklace, changes color to reflect my mood." Draco looked at it. Right now it was a peaceful blue color. "See that?" She pointed to the necklace. "It means that I'm happy and content. Which I guess I am, now that everything's ok again."  She smiled again.  "Um… Yes, that's all I wanted to say. I think we should head up now, it's getting pretty late. Oh, and can you please not tell anyone about me being an animagus?" Her eyes filled with hope.

"Of course I won't. Say, why don't you ride up with me?" Draco asked.

She looked skeptical at first, but finally she caved and said yes. They both got onto the broom and headed off toward their window.

And maybe, if it was brighter or their eyes weren't locked against each other, then just maybe they would have noticed.

Against the clear black sky, Hermione's necklace turned a beautiful light pink.

-Author's Notes-

Whoo. Bit of trouble with this one as well. Couldn't decide who the stupifer was going to be. I kept going back from Ron to Hary to Pansy to Blaise and even to Neville! In the end, as you read, I chose Ron for obvious reasons. Somebody mentioned that Ron was getting a tad OOC and yes he will be getting more and more OOC as we get through the story. Well, maybe not but I'm warning you!

Plus, there was some Hermione's PoVs. Hope that was ok!

Much thanks to the following reviewers:

Vampy The Choosen One: Thanks for the review!

Hamsters R Us: Thanks for the review! Love your user name!

Jomai: Thanks for reviewing!

CCBChunks: Thanks for the review! Yes, he's going to be a little OOC in my story. That's life.