Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the other characters in the books. Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling. But I'm sure ya'll knew that.

Warnings: This chapter has...a jumping off the ledge scene. Don't worry...I'm not evil. I don't think... Just for the record...this is a Gryffindor/Slytherin friendship fic. With Hermione and Draco as the peace bringers. (Yes, they are a couple later on) There are other pairings...but you'll have to wait for them.

Authors Note: So this is a new author's note to an old chapter. I just finished editing this chapter and I hope you guys like this product of it better than the original. If this is your first time even reading this chapter then be sure to review and let me know what you think of it. Thanks everyone!

Hermione ran until she couldn't anymore. There was stitch in her side, her arms ached as they rested by her side now longer pumping and pushing to run faster. When she looked around to see where she ended up she smiled softly to herself. She had ended up in a place she loved very much...the Astronomy Tower. It was her favorite place to go when she was feeling upset or lonely. She loved to look up at the stars and just think. People loved the Astronomy Tower for different reasons. They liked it because it was a place that the teachers never seemed to check so they could be alone without being interrupted. Hermione liked it because she could always go out onto the balcony and take in the beautiful Hogwarts scenery and the fresh air blowing softly from the direction of the Forbidden Forest; wafting in the sweet smells of trees and flowers. Mostly she loved the stars though.

They were beautiful that night. The night was crisp and clear. To her right she could just make out Orion's belt. She quickly spotted the big and little dipper. Letting her eyes wander she found her favorite star Sirius' Dog Star.

Thinking of Sirius pained her and tears threatened to fall again. Sixth year had been hard for her. Harry was distant from everyone and hated to talk about what happened in the Department of Mysteries. Ron didn't talk much in the first place, so Hermione was left to face her problems by herself.

Hermione swallowed hard thinking about the night that everyone thought that she betrayed Harry and Ron. Staring up at the stars she remembered that night...

Hermione lay on the stone cold floor, scratching at it desperately with her nails trying to forget the pain. Voldemort raised his wand and the pain ended and the after math set in. Pain racked her body as she shook. But no matter how bad the pain was, she would always bite on her lip to keep from screaming. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of hearing her give in. Within seconds she could taste the bitter steel flavor of blood flowing onto her taste buds. She shivered at the thought.


"Now tell me," That high evil voice whispered with ultimate power. "What is it that makes Harry angry? What makes his blood boil? What makes him saddened beyond relief?"

"Never! I will never tell you!" She shouted looking into his dead, red eyes. His eyes showed only one emotion in the entire time that she had been with him...pure loathing. He hated Harry and he hated 'mudblood filth' like her.

"Have it your way then," he said and with a flick of his wand, she was under the Cructicus Curse again. Hermione bit her lip again breaking open the almost healed chapped lips. It stung worse than the first time and she felt a tear run down her cheek and mix with the metallic blood. As she lie there writhing in pain, she though of Sirius with his strength and morals.

He would have never sold the Potters' out. He would have died before he told anyone anything about his best friends. Hermione had great respect for him. Peter was a coward and a fool to call himself a friend. Hermione decided in that moment that she would be like Sirius and die for her friends. She would die doing what she believed in. She would die standing up for what she thought was right. She wouldn't let her friends die because she was weak.

"Now, you have one last chance, you stupid mudblood! Tell me something about Harry!"

Hermione stayed silent, knowing that if she opened her mouth she would scream. Voldemort kicked her in the stomach and laughed evilly. She coughed and spurted gasping for air. "You will stay here until you tell me something useful then."

Hermione lost her sanity. She had been beaten and abused in so many ways in the last ten hours that she could stand it no longer. She knew she was bound to death. It was her only chance of leaving, and she took it. She lunged forward and scratched at Voldemort's face with her long ragged nails. Luckily this is not at all what Voldemort was expecting. Hermione herself was surprised she could even lift a hand in her current state, let alone attack someone.

He screamed in agony and she clawed with all her might in one powerful swipe. She felt his hot blood against her fingers and under her nails and she was satisfied. He pushed her off him and ordered two death eaters to take her away.

When they were out of the room Hermione used her last bit of strength. She gathered up as much as she could and let out a powerful burst of wandless energy that sent the death eaters off her. Wearily she wandered off into the night praying that they didn't follow her.

Hermione looked at the Sirius star, a tear falling down her cheek. "I should have died," she said to it. It twinkled merrily back at her, taunting her, as if to say, "Yes, you should have!"

Hermione leaned over the railing, holding onto it for support as sobs escaped her mouth. The ground looked so far beneath her. Before she knew what she was doing she was sitting on the railing looking at the ground at least twenty stories below her. No one was here to stop her. No one would have cared. But she couldn't bring herself to jump. Probably because someone was holding onto her arm easing her back onto the balcony safely. "Only a coward would do that. And I know you're no coward," they said to her softly.

"Ha! I am a coward. How am I not one?" Hermione said wiping away the tears blinded and not seeing her rescuer.

"I saw what you did to Potter and Weasley."

Hermione laughed a hollowly and turned to face her rescuer. She had to hold back a gasp of surprise as she saw Blaise Zabini standing in front of her.

Blaise was one of Malfoy's followers. She followed him where ever he went, along with Pansy Parkinson and occasionally Crabbe and Goyle. Blaise was one of the prettiest girls in the school and she knew it. She had long, black raven hair that flowed like an ocean wave. Her eyes were sharp and dark brown like she hid many secrets. Her eyelashes were black midnight and long giving her a mysterious look. She was rather skinny and where she was somewhat big, it wasn't fat, it was pure muscle.

That's why most people stayed their distance. Plus with Malfoy on her side you wouldn't just be dealing with her, but also with him. Crabbe and Goyle were an added bonus...or nightmare if you thought about it. Pansy was just there to add her hurtful words. Together they hurt many people.

"I've wanted to do that for a while now," Hermione said a smile coming to her lips for the first time in a couple weeks.

"I thought it was bloody brilliant." Blaise said leaning against the railing looking up at the stars. "Those egotistic jerks need to be put in their place, and I'm glad you did it for me."

Hermione flinched when she insulted them. Why, she didn't know. "And what exactly is their place?" Hermione asked interested in what Blaise would say.

Blaise glanced side-long at Hermione and studied her for a moment. Hermione felt self-conscience and straightened trying not to look intimidated. "Below people like us," She stated as if it was the only answer to such as silly question.

"Us?" Hermione asked laughing. "What is that suppose to mean?"

"Just that. It just means that people like us don't care what other people say; we go for what's inside. Potter and Weasley dumped you because of what people were saying. They didn't look beyond the surface."

"So you don't believe that I sold them out, huh?" Hermione asked almost laughing at the thought of someone finally believing her.

"You don't have the guts to," Blaise laughed.

Hermione's happy mood vanished. Her blood pounded in her ears. She had finally found someone who believed her and now they say that she doesn't have guts. Blaise had no idea what she was talking about! Guts are what Hermione Granger was made of! "I do to have guts! I've faced death and laughed in its face many times before! If that isn't guts, then I don't know what is!"

"Whatever you say, Granger." Blaise stood up to her full figure, rising a good two inches above Hermione. "But I don't judge books by their cover. That's why I hang out with Draco and Pansy. They're just misunderstood. The same goes for you. I can tell that you have strength that no other Gryffindor has, I'll give you that."

Hermione sighed. "I misjudged you, Zabini."

"Join the club," She laughed pushing away from the wall. They sat in silence for a moment before Blaise added as if on an afterthought, "Oh, and uh, call me Blaise."

"Why? You call me Granger." Hermione was puzzled. What is with her tonight? We hadn't said one word to each other that was even remotely friendly and now she wants me to call her by her first name?

"Because everyone deserves to be called by their first name, Hermione," she said simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"What about Harry and Ron then?" Hermione asked snidely.

"Ha! They show respect, I'll return it."

"Fair enough."

After that it seemed that conversation came easily for Blaise and Hermione. They weren't exactly friends, just people with a lot in common. People who didn't argue as much as they thought they would. They had never really talked before. After fighting with each other for many years it was nice to actually get to know someone.

It turns out that Blaise hated her deatheater parents. She had grown up without the proper care for a child. She had never been looked upon as an equal, but a slave or dirt. She had one little sister who was too young to come to Hogwarts yet. Blaise seemed to love to talk about her. Hermione could tell that she was full of love but only shared it with people who understood her.

They had many things in common. They loved Hogwarts: A History and loved to quote it to their friends. Hermione had laughed out loud when Blaise had said that she loved to read books over again. Blaise had never seemed to be the person who would read something. She was the type of person who you would think spent most of their time in the gym working on their muscle so they could pummel someone to the ground.

In the distance the clock chimed twelve times. Blaise looked at the clock tower glaring at it slightly. "I should be going now," she said standing up.

Hermione got up too glaring at the clock the same way Blaise did. "Me too, it's past curfew."

"You actually worry about that still?"

Hermione thought about it for a moment. She had been in more trouble lately. She didn't do her assignments like she use to. She wrote just the bear minimal on her essays and was always hounded in class to pay attention. No one said anything on her slipping grades though. They were too scared of her. "Well, I guess not."

They laughed. "Maybe we could meet here again tomorrow. Ha! I never thought I'd be inviting someone like you to hang out with me."

"Someone like me, huh?" Hermione asked in false anger.

"No, I just meant..."

Hermione cut her off. "Ya, that'd be great actually."

"Just don't tell anyone that we actually talk politely to each other," Blaise warned, fire blaring in her eyes.

Hermione laughed hollowly. "Like I would. No one speaks to me remember?" Hermione said icily.

"Right. See you tomorrow."

Blaise walked out of the tower leaving Hermione to her troubled thoughts.

Why had Blaise been nice to her? Hermione had never really been nice to her. What happened in the Great Hall after she left? When was Voldemort going to return? What would happen if someone found out that Hermione and Blaise now talked civilly to each other? Why had Blaise saved her life?

Of all the unanswered questions Hermione had, one troubled her the most:

What in the blazes is happening?

Author's Note: Well here ends Chapter Two! I'm rather happy with myself for the title of this chapter. It's something that anyone could have come up with, but I'm happy about it :D I am happy too with the reviews I got! Thanks to everyone who reviewed!

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