I pulled the curtains around my four-poster bed, and undressed slowly. I felt too tired to do anything in a hurry, now that the adrenaline had worn off.

As I was folding my robes, I felt something in one of the pockets.

Malfoy's note.

I pulled it out of the pocket, and unfolded it carefully. It was extremely winkled and scrunched up, and I was afraid of ripping it.

Hermione,
Meet me at the astronomy tower after dinner I really need to talk to you - DM

The note crumpled again in my hands, and I laid down on my bed and cried.

---

When I first opened my eyes, I couldn't remember anything that had happened the day before.

It was only when I moved my hand, and saw the note that was still clenched in my fist, that it all came rushing back to me.

I glanced hurriedly at the clock. Classes had started hours ago.

I sat bolt upright. Why hadn't anybody come to get me?!

I was just grabbing my robes, when I saw another note sitting on top of them. It was from Dumbledore.

Miss Granger,
As three people tried to wake you up this morning unsuccessfully, we decided it best that you slept in. You are entitled to the day off, but you are allowed to go to your afternoon classes if you wish.
- Albus Dumbledore

Three people had tried to wake me up? I didn't remember a thing. I really must have been deeply asleep.

Slowly, I dressed, and made my way down to the great hall.

My timing was good, in that lunch was already under way when I entered the hall. My stomach rumbled, loudly, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since lunch the day before.

I was just walking over to the Gryffindor table, when I noticed that a lot of people were staring at me. I felt my cheeks redden. I'd forgotten about the whole school knowing about what had happened. What had they been saying about me?

I took a seat between Harry and Ron, and earned myself a dirty look from Lavender, who was sitting on Ron's other side. I forced a smile at her, but she just turned away.

"Don't worry about her, Hermione" Harry whispered.

"Hey 'Mione!" Ron said, around a mouthful of pie. "I thought you had the day off?"

"I do. But I still need to eat sometime, Ron."

"You going to classes this afternoon?"

I looked around at the curious looks people were giving me, from all around the hall, and sighed.

"I don't think so. I might just go to the library for a while."

---

I didn't go to the library.

I probably should have, seeings how we only had mere months before our NEWTs, but instead I decided to visit Malfoy in the hospital wing.

Madame Pomfrey allowed me in, provided I didn't make any loud noises that might disturb the other patients.

"Malfoy?" I said, quietly.

He looked at me, but didn't say anything before looking away again.

"I just came in to see ... you know, how you were doing."

"I'm just fine" he said, his voice cold.

I sank down onto the bed next to him, and winced as he automatically turned away.

"So ... did Dumbledore tell you what happened?"

"He didn't need to, Granger, I was there."

"Oh."

"But yes, he did talk to me."

An awkward silence spread between us, and Malfoy pointedly did not look my way. If Dumbledore had talked to him ... why was he still angry at me?

"Miss Granger?"

I turned around, and saw Madame Pomfrey looking at me with distaste.

"Professor Dumbledore has requested your presence in his office."

I blinked at her.

"But I just need to-"

"Miss Granger, I think it is quite obvious that Mr Malfoy does not want to speak with you anyway."

I sighed. She was right, Malfoy really didn't seem to want to talk to me. I decided to just ask him before I left;

"Malfoy ... if Dumbledore talked to you then why are you mad at me?"

For the first time since my entrance into the hospital wing, Malfoy turned around and looked at me. His stare was cutting into me.

"Because I know Hermione Granger, and I know that she would be in classes right now, rather than visiting me in the hospital wing."

I stared at him. What was that supposed to mean?

"I don't have to go to classes. Dumbledore gave me the rest of the day off."

"That's not the point. Since when would you ever give up an opportunity to go to class?"

"Since I-"

I stopped myself. He was right. Since when?

"See? Even you can't answer that."

Madame Pomfrey began advancing towards me, and I started to babble.

"I ... I wanted to come and see you. You wrote that you wanted to talk to me and then-"

"I what?" Malfoy asked, his eyes widening slightly.

"You wrote me a note. In potions. You said you needed to talk to me and-"

"Granger?"

"What?" I asked, irritably. Why was he acting so surprised about the letter?

"Oh, God. It really is you. I thought ... I thought it might have been Pettigrew again."

I sighed with relief. He wasn't mad at me! He was just afraid, and he had every right to be, that he was being tricked again.

Before I knew what I was doing, I ran over to his bed and hugged him.

"No. No ... its me. I'm so sorry, I tried to tell you in potions but-"

"Shh" he whispered, patting my back awkwardly.

It was plain to tell that he wasn't used to receiving random hugs, but I didn't care. I had no intention of letting go.

I let my babbling subside, and shivered slightly as I felt him running his hand up and down my back.

"Miss Granger? Release Mr Malfoy immediately!"

Madame Pomfrey pulled me roughly away from Malfoy, and pushed me out the door.

But not before he had time to call after me;

"I still need to talk to you, Granger!"