She cried out loudly as she landed on her bottom and smashed her elbow against the floor in a weak attempt to break her fall. She was breathing in short quick breaths, feeling dizzy and breathless. Locks of her honey brown hair fell in her face and she edged back into her room further as Malfoy smirked and stepped into her room, drawing closer and closer to her.

She wanted to scream her head off, vivid flashes of the night before rushing back to her all in once. She couldn't breathe and the scream was caught somewhere between her heart and throat. Her brown eyes flew open in fear and she whimpered softly, feeling extremely faint. She needed air.

Hermione could only look up and watch as Malfoy's tall frame bent down elegantly and balanced effortlessly on his heels. He brought his face nearer to hers, seeing her overly flushed face, wide eyes, partially open mouth and the trickle of sweat that was beginning to form on the edge of her forehead, staining her honey brown hair dark brown. As calm and cool as he was, he was slightly taken aback at the evident look of fear in her eyes. Hermione Granger had never ever been fearful of him. She was always the first one to stand up to him and insult him back, cursing and shouting. But he didn't let his surprise show; he was always one good at hiding his emotions. He could hear her struggled breathing and saw that she was trembling from head to foot. Her throat was tight and he could tell from her expression that she wanted to scream but couldn't.

"What do you want from me?" she whispered faintly, her eyelids lowering for a moment, as though she was about to pass out.

"Nothing Granger," Malfoy drawled, his usual cold demeanor returning to him as soon as he heard her question. "Professor Mcgonagall pulled me out of Potions to check on you. She was worried." He said, placing mock emphasis on "worried", as though it came as a huge shock that anyone would actually worry about her. Spite colored his words, displeased that he had to cut Potions to check on her. Not that he truly minded skipping it; he could easily pass Potions without batting an eyelid, but the fact that he had to go specially to check on Granger made him disgusted. She looked positively fine to him.

Malfoy stared placidly at her, waiting for her comeback, but there was none. He peered at her drawn, tight face carefully, though making sure he didn't look like he was actually curious.

She looked really terrible at the moment, though she did all the time, but this time, it was much worse. Going by her expression, her face naturally should have been pale and white, but instead it was pinkish. Malfoy took this time of silence, when she had her head turned away, eyes down, trying with a lot of effort to breathe, occasionally looking fearfully and defensively at him, to take a good look at her and what was it that was suddenly so attractive about her.

Her hair was much nicer, smooth, shiny and wavy, with mild curls. They were the same color as they had always been, honey brown. From her side view, he could see her long eyelashes and the intense liquid brown inside. Her features had softened smoothly, yet sharpened nicely. Her legs were tucked awkwardly under her, but as far as he could tell, she was quite slender and tall.

Malfoy didn't realize just how long he had focused on her and a hint of shock jumped into his gray eyes when she opened her mouth and questioned him.

"Whether or not I'm fine, I think that you would know best, wouldn't you?" her voice was soft and hushed, but there was a strong blend of hatred and detest, yet defeat in her tone. She turned her head to stare at him and for the briefest of moments; Malfoy thought he saw a questioning pleading look in her eyes that was directed at him.

"You wrong yourself too much Granger. I have never been one to concern myself over the welfare of a Mudblood." Malfoy snarled coldly, not sure if he was behaving like himself or reacting because of that look in her eyes.

He stood up rigidly, running his hand down his flowing black robes. Eyeing the crumpled form of the girl he had so constantly insulted and infuriated, he hissed darkly at her.

"I'm going back to lessons. You can tell Mcgonagall yourself that you're fine. I have no intention of wasting anymore of my time." Feeling thoroughly disgusted with her, he whipped around sharply and stalked out of her room.

Before he could get two steps out her door however, he heard fast angry footsteps behind him. Instinctively, he looked behind him and received a loud cutting slap from Hermione. His face stung sharply from the whip of her hand and burnt like chili and mint. There was no move from him to touch the inflicted spot. Dangerously slow, his iron gray eyes lifted up to meet those brown flashing ones of hers. 

He was enraged. How dare she, that mere Mudblood. He strode over to her, grabbed her chin with his hand and jerked her head up forcibly to look at him. She was leaning against the doorframe for support and breathing heavily.

She winced as his long, but strong finger pressed against her jawbone. Tears sprung to her eyes and she tried to blink them away. She couldn't cry in front of him. It was just adding salt to her wounds and to his ego. Hermione glowered defiantly at him.

So what if you did rape me Malfoy? That doesn't make me your little personal slave. The words recited in her head and she opened her mouth to say them, but found that the words, for some strange, unnatural reason, couldn't come out. Instead, she started to choke as though being suffocated by her words. Malfoy didn't release the vice-like grip on her, only bringing her face up closer to his.

"You'll be sorry you ever did that, Granger. Don't mess with me. Mudblood." He whispered poisonously. Hermione knew she was in a precarious situation but she didn't care anymore. She hated him. Blood rushed through her veins at a furious speed and couldn't bring herself to care anymore.

"I already am." She replied bitterly in clipped tones, getting over her choking fit fast.

Malfoy gave her one last piercing, vindictive stare before he tore of his grip and stalked off down the stairs to the main door, his black robes billowing behind him in a majestic trail.

Hermione gazed at him as he walked out the door and shut it with a loud slam, her chin still quivering from his firm hold. Silent tears spilled down her face and she immediately brushed them away, for fear of washing off the make up she had on. Walking back to her room to retrieve her books she re did her hair and tried to smile.

Laughing softly at her unconvincing expression in the mirror, she left the room and walked out of the Head dorm, to the Potions lessons that were waiting for her.

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