A/N: I love the reviews everyone! You are all great people! Although the whole new rating thing has just confused me… greatly… but all is good now I just went and read up on the new rating thing and mine is properly rated. Anyway… onto the chapter I say!

DISCLAIMER: All is J.K Rowling's except for this plot.

Chapter Four: Ashamed

So he had over reacted and confirmed Blaise's 'fears'. With a scowl evident on his face, Draco stormed towards the meeting room. He'd forgotten all about breakfast and with the mood he was in at that moment food was the last thought on his mind.

No doubt Blaise was confirming the rumor to everyone – Draco Malfoy doesn't hate muggleborns. Now what was he meant to do? If his father found out on his beliefs… all of hell would break loose.

Draco opened the meeting room door and slammed it close behind him before sitting at his seat. He dropped his bag on the floor and rested his head on his folded arms, on the table.

This year was not meant to be confusing. It was meant to be just like every other year at this miserable place called Hogwarts. But no, spending too much time with a bloody know-it-all has changed that. But why was the question Draco couldn't answer. Why on earth did she make him view little things differently? Draco had spent time with her before and always viewed her as the same witch. What was so different this time around?

Just as Draco was about to loose more control of his temper the problem at hand walked in. Draco inhaled a deep breath to keep control of his emotions; he would not let her see that she was sending his life out of control. He needed to do something, something to make her get really mad at him, which would make him hate her again.

"Morning," she said sitting in front of him.

"Whatever, Granger. Let's just get this miserable time over so I can go throw myself off a cliff or something," he replied in a monotone voice.

Granger raised an eyebrow at his comment, than cocked her head to the side a serious expression on her face.

"Look Granger, I know you have a crush and all that on me, but please, starring at me is really annoying."

"Don't flatter yourself, Malfoy. I heard about you punching your friend at breakfast this morning."

"What does that have to do with planning things for this stupid school?"

"Nothing, I was just wondering why you hit him."

Draco sighed and looked down at his hands before looking back at her, his eyes as cold as ice, "Because you have made me question things and change my bloody beliefs. So do me a favor and stay out of my life."

Granger stood up, glaring at him, "I've never, NEVER been involved in your life. In fact I think nobody has because you won't let anybody in. Think about this Malfoy. How can someone possibly change you – which I find highly impossible- if you won't give them a chance?"

Draco stood up as well, "Obviously you have changed me because I can't even say that word to you! I don't know what it is Granger but you… you are just always there!"

"Well think yourself lucky than. Because I won't be there any more."

Draco watched, speechless as the Gryffindor girl stormed out of the room, slamming tha door hard behind her. He sat back down and slammed his fist into the table.

"Life is so bloody stupid."

!D!

The period came to an end meaning Draco had Potions. Great, just great. Like he hadn't seen enough of her already, he also had to face the Slytherin's. Slowly, Draco carried himself towards the dungeons classroom. Behind him he could hear the chatter of talking. He recognized the voices instantly, the Golden Trio, only one voice had stopped talking. No need to ask which one that was. What did she have to be so upset about? Her life was perfect, perfect grades, close friends, everybody was in love with Hermione Granger – except the Slytherin's and Snape.

Draco kept his head down, not wanting to see anyone at all. He walked down the Entrance Hall staircase and turned towards the door entrance to the staircase leading to the Slytherin Chamber and the dungeon classrooms.

"What's up with Malfoy?" he heard Weasley mutter.

That guy couldn't whisper to save his life.

"Who knows?" replied Potter.

"Just drop it. Let him wallow in self pity," came Granger's cold response.

Draco finally looked up and glanced behind him to meet the cold brown-eyed gaze of Granger. Angrily Draco glared at her before opening the classroom door and walking in. He took a seat in the back row on the edge and pulled his books out, ignoring the eyes of the Slytherin's and some of the Gryffindor's.

The trio walked in a few seconds later and took their seats up in the back row, Granger sitting on the edge as well.

This would not do. Draco needed to say something. He opened a book with parchment paper and ripped a page out. He grabbed his inkbottle and took off the lid, dipping his quill in before writing something on the page in his neat loopy writing.

Granger,

You really are nothing but a snotty nosed, stuck up witch. You think you have so many problems in your life, yet you have no idea what I live with.

-Malfoy.

Nodding he folded the paper up and tossed it too her, just before Snape walked in, barking out the normal orders – books out, wands away, no funny business. The normal.

Draco glanced at Granger and saw her scrawling something. And so did Snape.

"Miss Granger," he snarled walking between the desks towards her, "Give me that."

Reluctantly she handed the parchment over. Snape walked back to the front and held it in front of him. Draco felt his heart pounding as Snape cleared his throat.

"Granger. You really are nothing but a snotty nosed, stuck up witch. You think you have so many problems in your life, yet you have no idea what I live with. Signed Malfoy," Snape looked up at Draco who was pretending to be interested in his quill, "Malfoy. You know nothing about what my life contains or myself. How can you expect me to know what you live with? I'm nothing but a filthy mudblood, which you have been so kind to call me on many occasions over the past seven years, remember? Signed Granger."

The whole class was silent and either looking at Draco, Granger or Snape. Draco looked up at Snape and saw him folding the parchment and placing it on his desk. Slowly he turned to face the class, his face looking remarkably calm.

"This is a Potions class. You come here to learn about the makings of potions, not to send any form of notes to each other. We do not socialize during the lessons in ANY form at all. As a result of Miss Grangers and Mr Malfoy's doings they shall spend tonight on detention."

Everybody gasped, including Draco. Never in his seven years of attending Hogwarts had Snape placed a Slytherin on detention.

"I will put up with note passing and chatter from younger students, but not from seventh years. It is childish and you all should be mature than that. Now open your books to Chapter 3, read it and summarize it – in essay form!"

Everybody shot glares at Draco and Granger, who was giving Draco a deathly look. Draco kept his face down – he'd never felt so humiliated in his life. And it was all Granger's fault.

!D!

So there he was, at 7PM, in Snape's office waiting. As was Granger, who was standing as far away from him as possible. Draco shot her a glare, which she returned. Draco sighed and leant on the wall behind him. He looked around the dim room, just as the office door opened, revealing Snape, Dumbledore and McGonagall.

"Mr Malfoy, Miss Granger," said Dumbledore nodding to them both.

Draco stood up right, as Granger made sure her uniform was tidy.

"Professor Snape has told me that you too were passing, rather nasty notes to each other this morning in potions," said Dumbledore eyeing the two Head students, "Miss Granger, would you like a seat?"

Draco looked at Granger and saw that she had turned a shocking pale white. Before the girl could answer, she collapsed to the ground out cold.

Draco looked at the Gryffindor eyes wide, not knowing what to do.

"Mr Malfoy, go and inform Madam Pompfrey that Hermione Granger has collapsed," barked McGonagall, "She is will know what is going on."

Draco just nodded and ran out of the office towards the Hospital Wing. Now, last year if this sort of thing was happening, Draco would've dawdled, but he was different and he knew it. He also knew he was worried for the Head Girl. Something was not right about her and he knew it. But why did he care? She was the reason the Slytherin's were all angry with him, why he was on detention and also why he was feeling weird emotions. But he couldn't work out what those emotions were all about.

Draco turned towards the corridor leading to the Hospital Wing.

Once at the door his shoved it open, startling Pompfrey who was tending to a student.

"Madam Pompfrey," gasped Draco, "The Head Girl has collapsed. She's at Professor Snape's office with Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore."

Pompfrey nodded and grabbed a bag on her desk and hurried out of the office. Draco bent on, hands holding his knee's as she caught his breath.

"Draco?"

Draco jumped up startled and spun around to see Pansy looking at him, scabs all over her face. Obviously her boils were almost healed. Draco just looked at her, waiting for her to speak.

"What is everyone going on about?" she said, "They are all saying you and Granger have something going on."

"Nothing is going on," he replied coolly, "Everybody is just seeing things that aren't there."

"Than why were you sounding so panicked when you were telling Pompfrey about Granger?"

"I did not sound panicked, what is it with everybody? You are all acting as if I'm in love with her or something! For Merlin's sake we have done nothing but call each other names since we met!"

"But you punched Blaise…"

"He pissed me off. So do me a favor and tell everyone that I am not in love with Granger and that they are simply all going crazy. Goodnight Pansy."

Before Pansy could say or do anything Draco turned and left. He walked back towards the Entrance Hall in silence, not daring to think anything at the moment. He kept his mind blank and started heading down the dungeon staircase towards the Slytherin Chambers. As he reached the bottom Granger came around the corner, looking a bit dazed.

"Granger?" said Draco in surprise.

"Malfoy," she replied tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, "Snape said to say not to worry about detention for now. He will make another date later."

"Right… you collapsed."

Granger looked away and put on what looked to be a fake smile, "I was stressed, you know? Um… anyway. See you tomorrow night."

Draco didn't reply but watched as she made her way up the staircase, swaying a little as she walked. Perhaps she was drunk or something? Draco shrugged his shoulders in the whole whatever manner and headed to the Slytherin Chambers, thinking of all the homework he had to complete.

How he wished he were on detention, than he would have an excuse as to not do it.

!D!

Tuesday came and Tuesday went. It really was a blur for Draco. No one spoke to him and he found himself enjoying it. At least he didn't have to put up with them droning on about pathetic he/she doesn't love me problems. Although he was slightly pleased to see Blaise sporting a bruised, swollen nose.

But now it was Patrol time and tonight Draco was not going to be confessing any secrets to the Head Girl, not when you have people hiding and listening to you.

Draco ran up the staircase and walked into the Entrance Hall. Granger was waiting for him patiently and didn't even smile when she saw him. That was just how Draco wanted things to be.

They both headed up the staircase taking there usual routine – Ravenclaw, corridors, Gryffindor, more corridors, Library, staircase's, Hospital Wing, corridors, Hufflepuff and they make there way to the Slytherin area and dungeons before starting again.

Draco glanced at Granger and was actually surprised to see that she didn't look tried. Obviously she'd gotten plenty of sleep.

"I'm sorry about last night," said Granger softly.

"It's okay… not your fault," replied Draco, "Are –are you feeling okay?"

"My stress level is down. So yes."

Draco nodded, "Do you always collapse when you are stressed?"

He watched as she went quiet, as though thinking as to what to reply back to him.

"Well… not all the time."

"Only sometimes?"

Granger nodded and fiddled with her robe hem, "I also want to apologize for how the Slytherin's are treating you. You know… the whole how you don't hate my kind thing."

"Granger, it's not your fault."

"You practically said it was yesterday though."

"I was angry."

He looked at Granger to see she was just looking ahead. He followed her gaze to see Potter and Blaise yelling at each other. This was not good because one he would be inclined to take Blaise's side and two Granger would take Potter's side making them two argue, again.

They both started jogging towards the two. Draco grabbed Blaise by the arm pulling him away from Potter. He looked at Granger as she pushed Potter back, talking to him.

"What on earth are you bloody arguing about?" snapped Draco glaring at Blaise.

"The fact that the Mudblood has worked some magic on you," replied Blaise angrily.

"Oh for Merlin's sake! Granger has done nothing like that! I am not in love with her or feel anything like that for her! You have bloody gone bonkers! You and the whole lot of the Slytherin's!" snapped Draco.

"Than how come you're acting all weird around her? I saw you two walking towards us, talking quietly."

Great, just bloody great. Draco glanced over his shoulder to see Potter and Granger looking at him, waiting for an answer.

"I was telling Granger about tonight's plan," said Draco looking at Blaise, "Nothing lovey dovey. Now quit seeing things that aren't there and get back to the Slytherin Common Room."

"Get going Harry," came Granger's voice, "I'll see you in the morning."

Blaise glared at Draco, "You are hiding something. I know it."

"Zabini, move it!" snapped Granger annoyed.

Blaise glared at Granger who just glared back. He shot Draco one more look before walking down the corridor. Draco and Granger watched him in silence and once he was gone they both started walking again.

"He is such an arse," said Draco.

"Hmmm," was the reply he received.

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No."

"Granger, what have I bloody done now?"

"I've told Harry and Ron that you and I don't argue anymore. They understand my reasons behind it. But you haven't even got the guts to tell your friends that you have at least called a truce!"

"It's not that simple Granger. They are all against any form of a relationship with your kind."

"Stop speaking about me as if I'm from another universe! I'm just like you! I bleed, I breathe and I feel emotions!"

"Do we have to bloody argue every time we meet?"

"Why don't you answer that one for yourself."

"You started this one."

"You caused it though. I know I'm not up to your standards. I'm not blonde, with model looks. But at least I can tell people that I don't hate you."

Draco looked at Granger. Her brown eyes starred back at him, making him look away.

"Thanks for letting me know that you are ashamed of just having a truce with me," she said before walking away.

A/N: I'm trying to slow things down between them… so yeah… review!

Bye for now!

Love yas!

Love Coz!