well here's my ch 10, hope you guys like it, keep reviewing, whether you like it or not!

NikolaosDhampir: thanks for reading this! it means a lot that you took the time to review! and you'll find out if Draco is EVER nice to Hermione, eventually. Thanks a bunch again!

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Oro4: EVERYONE READ HER STORY! thanks for reviewing!

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Chapter 10: Get Your Feelings Straight

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Draco awoke to realize it was already dinnertime. He had been asleep and had one of the loveliest dreams he had ever had. Obviously Hermione was in it. He had been doing nothing but holding her. She was not crying, but was smiling a radiant smile. Like the one she always wore when she had achieved a perfect score on an exam. They were both completely carefree. They didn't care what Potter, Voldemort, his parents, or anyone else for that matter, thought. They only needed each other's embrace. And it was perfect. As perfect as he could ever be...

Indeed, he didn't yet have the Dark Mark polluting his arm. Yet it was a matter of time when he would be asked to join the ranks of the Dark Lord. He had wanted it before, but soon he came to realize that, that was not what he wanted to do. He was far better than that. Yet he wasn't sure he had much of a choice. He didn't think that he could refuse...

Yet he subconsciously vowed that if Hermione chose him, he would refuse the Dark Mark...no matter what...

But now, he had more important matters occupying his mind: first of all tomorrow his and Cho's plan was finally going to happen. Hermione would accept him and his life would be perfect, if only she said yes. He grudgingly stepped out of his stupor and got up from the bed. It was dinner time, not to mention he had a load of homework that he would have to do before more pressing matters took place.

He stepped out of the Malfoy Room, thinking he might just bring Hermione some time. Just maybe...if she deserved it...He had never brought anyone in there, not even when Pansy and he needed a place to shag, badly...And at least in Pansy's case, that was what the broom closets were for...When he didn't have another choice.

He felt slightly refreshed as he walked down the dark corridors, and up to the Great Hall. When he walked in he looked around and saw that Hermione was not there, nor were those friends she had.

Those friends who continuously used her brilliant intelligence and calming presence...and everything else that was her. If it was true, and he admitted to himself that it was obvious that Harry and Ron took Hermione for granted every single day of their lives. He very much doubted that they would have made it this far in Hogwarts if it wasn't for her. Perhaps Potter would of, but he was positive that Weasley would have cracked during their first year.

Draco was sitting at the Slytherin table, of course, and as he silently ate (as usual ignoring the wretched 'friends' he had), he kept his silver eyes on the entrance, just to be sure he didn't miss Hermione walking in. Yet somehow he knew she wouldn't come. She was probably still upset over something. Though what it was, he wasn't sure. If he had to admit it to himself he knew deep, very deep down that Hermione was a very sensitive person. She was easily provoked as well, which was hell if she didn't like you, but could be the sweetest thing if you were madly in love with her. The gods knew that she was just so irresistible when she was angry.

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Hermione was feeling sad, as it was predicted. Why did he have to come? He only hurt himself more. Viktor was a gentleman and Hermione didn't like seeing him here. They both had to live with the fact that Hermione was not going to take him back. She couldn't. She didn't love him and he knew that.

Dinnertime was about to start and once again Lavender came in the dormitory and asked her if she was going to finally go downstairs and confront Harry and Ron. Hermione just shook her head and said, "Later." Lavender looked sadly at her and sighing she left.

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"Sorry guys, she still doesn't want to come down," said Lavender to Harry and Ron. "Are you sure you didn't do anything to upset her?" She asked them skeptically.

"We already told you no! She didn't say anything she just ran away from us." said Ron.

A million things went through Harry's head. And none of them could be reasons why Hermione was like that. Could she of found out about him and Cho? No...that can't be it...it can't...She had been up in her dorm for about twenty minutes now.

Harry and Ron sat at the couch nearest the girls' dormitories and waited to see if she would come down. It was pretty silent except for the loud grumbles of Ron's stomach.

Students from dinner were about to start coming in and as this thought struck Harry, Hermione was making her way down the stairs. She quickly spotted them, and they her. She stood there for a few seconds before walking to them.

There was a somewhat awkward silence within them and Hermione spoke first, she wasn't sure whether they were the right people she should talk this out with. But she didn't really have any other friends, none she could fully trust. So she took her chance, "Erm...do you guys want to go for a walk," she gave them a watery smile and they looked confused, not knowing how she could do that now. But she's a girl...Harry and Ron mentally reasoned...we'll never understand them...And so they nodded and got up following her out.

"Ron, I think we'll stop at the kitchens," she said once she heard Ron's stomach grumble. Lavender told her that they didn't want to go to dinner. She supposed they would rather see what was up with her than go to dinner. She loved her best friends. They were always there for each other. They always put each other before anything else...

Once they got to the kitchens Ron stuffed his pockets with éclairs in napkins and they thanked Dobby and the rest of the house elves. Harry, Ron, and Hermione left, all eating a roll in there hands after having a somewhat good meal. At least they were no longer hungry.

They walked in silence until they reached an exit, and they went out onto the grounds. The cold evening air hit Hermione's face. She liked the air, it felt cold yet refreshing.

"So, Hermione, are you going to tell us what happened?" asked Ron as they made to sit near the beech tree by the lake. Hermione sat down and rested her back against the tree, while Ron and Harry sat in front of her. She gathered her cloak and held it slightly tight around her body, as it was getting a bit chillier.

"Yes...It was just that...Viktor came earlier..." She didn't look at them, but merely looked down at her knees. Harry had frozen. He didn't expect it to be this. They hadn't heard from Krum in a long time. Ron looked at her with his mouth slightly open. She couldn't like him anymore. Her and Harry were dating and they were happy...

"Hermione...er...what happened?" asked Harry and though Hermione noticed that he didn't seem mad, he did seem just a bit uncertain.

"Well...he...wanted us to get back together..." she said as the other two young men hung on her every word. "But I said no...But it was awful...he was so sad, I couldn't do it...I hurt him so much." She let a couple of tears fall down her face, yet did nothing to get them out of the way.

Harry wanted so much to hold her, but he resisted, he felt horrible. She was too much for him; she deserved everything good in the world. And somehow Harry couldn't bring himself to touch her. He was so inferior that it hurt him to look at her, but once another tear went down her eye, he got rid of his feelings and closed his arms around her lithe body. He loved the feeling it brought him. He really did love her...then why had he fallen and broken down when Cho came to him...

Ron saw the both of them and though Hermione seemed very sad, he couldn't help but think that they really did complete each other. But he had no idea the true struggles they were both facing individually.

"Hermione it's ok. It's better to go through the pain now, than have to hang on to hope and have the truth fall down on you brutally...It was for the best, for him, and you." said Ron as he rubbed her arm smoothly. They all knew that it was the truth.

Hermione gave them a small, sad smile. Then there was a brief comfortable smile before she sighed and said, "you're right, Ron. It's for the best that I do it now...Still..." She couldn't say anymore, but sniffed and all three of them got up and left.

The worst, or so it seemed for now, had passed. Hermione truly had great friends, and she hoped that it would never end...

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