A/N Dedicated to Yvonne and Abie, and my Best Friend Aaron, even though he'll never read this (he seriously disapproves of Fanfiction…shhh! * hides*). These 3 have helped me through so many hard times, and have had so much influence on my writing style and career. Thank you for being the so supportive of (almost) everything I do!

Chapter 5 is REALLY called- A Conversation With Malfoy That Did Not Cause Me To Re-Evaluate The Way I've Lived My Life For The Past 4 Years

But that took up too much space.

Last time:

Harry and Ron come to visit Hermione in the hospital wing and Hermione has an unsettling dream involving Draco.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------

Morning. First Person- Hermione.

I wake up to a cheerful Madam Pomfrey bustling about the infirmary. (A/N Does it seem like everyone is always waking up or going to sleep in this fic? Lol) She is humming and fluffing pillows. I reach over to my bedside table and pick up my glass of water, bringing it to my lips. Since I am lying down, this results on the water pouring over me. It takes me a full minute to register what is happening.

"Wha? Wet… water? On me? Huh? AAAH!" I quickly right the glass and replace it on the bedside table. Madam Pomfrey comes over to me, smiling at me happily.

"Morning Ms. Granger!" She says, propping me up on the pillows gently and giving me a fresh glass of water.

"You seem happy today! Have you a new admirer, Madam?" Madam P. blushes and giggles, something I've never heard her do.

"Maybe. But that's not what's important! You're potion will be ready by tomorrow morning, and we're letting you leave the infirmary today!" The colour drains from my face (well, as much as it can with the blue).

"But, but Madam… I can't, not with my blueness and all!" I stutter. Madam Pomfrey frowns and looks at me closely. She can't understand, that was the real me… for just a second. " But of course, I need to get to my classes! I wouldn't want to miss anything! Dear me, I'd better start getting ready right away!" I say hurriedly. Madam P. smiles in a relieved manner.

"Now that's the Hermione we know and love! I knew you would be excited about getting back to work!" I sigh inwardly. I'm so tired, I was hoping for a bit of a break. A break from my whole, pointless existence. I look over at Draco's bed; Madam P. has pulled back the curtain to let the air circulate. To my surprise, Draco is awake. And laughing quietly. At me.

"Did I miss something?" I ask him curtly. He nods and laughs a little louder.

"Yeah, I think you did Granger. For a minute there you let yourself slip. I'm surprised. You're such a good little actor." He smirks at the look of surprise on my face. "Surprised Hermione? Did you really think that the master of masks wouldn't notice?" He looks mercilessly cold. Yesterday he seemed sweet. I wonder which of these 2 personalities is his mask. It's hard to believe. Is that what I'm really doing? It sounds so rough and cold, 'wearing a mask'. I guess it's true. I am 'masking' my true feelings and natural reactions. Still, I don't want to believe that the dreaded Malfoy and I have something in common. Maybe more than one thing. Ugh. All of a sudden, I wonder why I even bother. Why shouldn't I let everyone know just exactly what I am really like? Why shouldn't I just talk about boys with Parvati and Lavender, or laugh when Neville blows up a cauldron? Not that I don't feel bad for him, but it IS funny. I do have a cruel streak, no matter how insubstantial it is. But then I would have to break out of my comfortable role as 'bookworm' and 1/3 of 'the Trio'. Because then people would see the real me and maybe they wouldn't like it. But really I haven't played either of those roles sincerely since 1st year. It's been so hard, always on guard… is it even worth it? Wait… a conversation with MALFOY is causing me to re-evaluate the way I've lived my life for the past 4 years? No way.

"You're wrong Malfoy." I say defiantly.

"Of course I'm not. Everything you do is fake. You don't want to go back to classes so you can study. Just like you don't want to be the studious female counterpart of Potty and the Weasel. Not anymore, anyway. "

"You don't know what you're talking about. So you're the Master of Masks, what's that supposed to mean? What is your mask? " Ah, turned the tables.

"I figured you out easy enough on my own. Why aren't you smart enough to figure me out?" Tables re-turned.

"Because you're you! I don't even know you, Malfoy."

"I didn't even know you Hermione." He says quietly.

"You still don't!" I say angrily just as Madam Pomfrey walks in and gives us a stern look.

"Alright, you two are ready to leave." She says. We both nod miserably.