Hey guys! I'm terribly sorry for the long wait! Really I am! So now i gotta add my thanks to my reviewers!

Kichou: Cho will get hers in the next chapter, I promise!

Allorna: Thank you a lot for reviewing! And about Blaise, well that's just the way i see him, always looking like he's sulking about, and after reading HBP, i know that i kinda had the right idea about him. Thanks for your review again!

boredaurorchick: I know how you feel. So "torn between Harry and Draco," that you don't know which to pick. I'm all for Harry-so-fricken-hot-Potter! But i also want Draco-not-so-bad-hot-Malfoy! You'll know what to pick by the time i'm done with this fic! I got all my chaps back from my wonderful beta, so now i'll be posting regularly, like before. (and keep feeling better! and keep writing your story!)

Oro4: Hey girlie! Cho will get her ass kicked! No problem! You really think i'd let Cho get away with what she's done without a single punch...:coughs "or kicks, and um, hair pulling, and um black eyes:coughs again: heehee!

I-Lurve-Harry-and-Ron: Oh man! Everyone wants Cho to get her ass kicked...gee, I'm starting to feel sorry for her...NOT! (oh, and just for the record, Ron's off shagging Luna!) LOL!

gabbytheelf : I know what you mean, even i didn't know how this would end! LOL! THANKS for reading it, i really appreciate it! Thanks for the review!

xox-lil-hotti-xox: HOORAY! for a new reader! Thank you for liking my story! Your awesome for reviewing! Again thanks!

>>

Well that was all my wonderful reviewers, and now on with the next chapter!

Chapter 15: I'm Possessive, It Isn't Nice

That night Draco gave Hermione a lot to think about. She was angry at the way he was. She knew something was going on with him. He didn't want to tell her though, and Hermione hoped it had nothing to do with her. She kind of knew that he had feelings for her, and they weren't the same ones from before. (That was obvious.) It wasn't hate, perhaps he was trying to pursue a friendship with her, but then he wouldn't change his mood so often, so what was it? She wished she knew.

One thing she was certain; she could never love him. She loved Harry. Maybe a friendship would be nice, but it could never be love...

>>>

As was usual, she hurried to lunch much faster than she normally did. She had been doing this for a while now, just like at breakfast. She hated running into Harry or Ron. But today Harry decided to hurry to meet Hermione and try to talk to her.

So as Hermione turned corridors, and in turning one more that would lead her to staircase to get to the Great Hall for lunch, she ran into Harry. She quickly tried to walk passed him, but Harry blocked her way. She sighed impatiently.

"Hermione, stop trying to get away from me. I really want to talk to you–"

"We don't always get what we want." She said bitterly, and not looking at him.

"Hermione please. Just spare me a minute, just one." He said looking at her, willing her to accept. Hermione slowly lifted her gaze to meet his eyes, and she saw the evident desperation in his brilliant emerald orbs.

Hermione sighed and nodded once. She was determined not to falter her attitude towards him, no matter what he would say.

"Hermione..." Suddenly he sounded like he didn't know what to say, but either way he decided to continue and just say what came to him from his heart, "I am sorry," he said firmly in a low voice, looking down straight at her. "I can't accept it's over. I never meant anything I did. I know you think that if I loved you so much than, I shouldn't have done what I did...And I can't explain it either, but you're right. I don't know what was going through me at that time, but I know this: I do not love Cho. I know I love you, and only you...There's so much we can still do as long as you just love me too." He ended looking into her brown eyes hopefully.

"Sometimes sorry is all you can say," she whispered to him, and Harry felt for one fleeting moment that everything would be alright, but her next words tore apart any hope he had. "But that doesn't mean it will help you," and she left him standing there, awkwardly, as she ran down the stairs crying silently, letting teardrops roll down her eyes. She had no intentions of going to the Great Hall anymore, maybe some fresh air.

Harry somehow knew this was the coming answer, but at the same time felt that she really was going to forgive him. Why did I have to be so stupid! He berated himself over and over. He couldn't move his legs from the ground, and looking straight out he could envision Hermione in front of him so clearly; her eyes brimming with unshed tears...He felt a sudden urge to let out a few of his own.

That day Draco decided to skip lunch, he wasn't feeling hungry at all. He retired to his Malfoy Room – skipping Charms, the class he had before lunch – once again thoughts on Hermione...

Damn! Can't I just tell her I love her! Because I do! Then why do I feel like I can't do it when she's in front of me? It's impossible to say. This just seems a little bit too hard. Damn it! Damn her!

He should completely drop all pretenses and get out there and tell her the complete truth once and for all. But he was a Malfoy; he had already said he was 'sorry' to her. A Malfoy couldn't descend to the level of declaring love to a mudblood. It was just morally wrong!

He smirked as he thought of his family having morals. Maybe telling Hermione that he loved her wasn't so crazy after all. He decided to go find her. This would be the right time. No more debating with himself over and over. He was just going to gather himself up and do it. Then once he had done it he decided that the best thing to handle this afterwards was to just take it slowly with her. Gradually gain all her trust. He knew that would be like fighting an uphill battle.

He walked out of his room with a determined expression on his face. He was really going to do it.

When he got to the main floor where the Great Hall was he spotted her on the other side. She was walking fast, her head bowed, and it seemed she was heading out onto the grounds. He quickly followed her, and once out of sight of people heading to lunch, he jogged the rest of the way.

He waited to reach her before talking. He saw her going towards the lake; she kicked a small rock into the water, watching as dark tentacles rose up and pawed the surface of the lake.

"Grang – Hermione," pathetic Draco, really pathetic, you love her yet you can't seem to always use her first name. "Hermione I need to talk to you," he said standing beside her. He noticed she didn't answer him and kept her head focused on the ground. "Is something wrong?"

Damn him for always knowing when there was something wrong. "Nah, what did you want to talk about?" she asked in what she hoped would be a casual voice. But come on Hermione, Draco was smart enough to notice the sadness creeping in there.

Draco didn't speak at all for a couple of minutes. Why did he all of a sudden – well not really all of a sudden – start feeling so sad when she wasn't happy? Was it just something that came packed with love? He wondered. It's probably Potter again. He suddenly felt very angry at the Boy Who Doesn't Die.

But Hermione all of a sudden turned to face him and flung her arms around his shoulders. It was obvious from the brief second he looked at her that she was crying. Damn Potter!

"I hate him Draco, I really do!" She cried against his chest and tried to keep her voice even but the quavering was obvious to him.

Well that's it. Draco needed to tell Hermione that Potter was a fucked up arse that should burn in hell! But that's not very sensitive Draco.

"Hermione, forget about him, please," great now he was reduced to begging, but if it was necessary than so be it. "Hermione he doesn't deserve you. Just forget it and...and..." he was finding it hard to say this, "and...if you want me to, let me help." Hermione registered what he said and slowly disengaged herself from his arms, except he wouldn't let her go more than half arms length away from him. Hermione looked at him with tear brimmed eyes. Right now was not the right time to say that she hated herself for crying in front of him, for looking so vulnerable. And maybe it was that look that made Draco forget to take it slow and plunge straight for her mouth.

He could feel Hermione squirm in his arms trying to free herself, but he didn't care, what was important to him right now was to taste and savor her sweetness. Nothing else was on his mind, but he was brought back to reality when she stopped struggling and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. He sped up his speed and kissed her even harder, not even remembering when she had granted him access to her tongue. He held her close to him; his hands pushing her waist against him. He could taste her tears as they rolled down and touched his lips.

When they stopped kissing they parted their heads a bit, leaving only their foreheads touching as they tried to breathe properly again. Hermione felt Draco's warm breath hitting her face and even for a moment she had forgotten why she had been crying. But it would be futile to accept his earlier offer knowing -- and now fully confirming -- that she really could never love him. It was awkward knowing that a few seconds before they had been in a full lip-lock.

Draco smiled down at Hermione. It was, she noticed, a first true and genuine smile. Not a trace of that usual sneer or smirk in sight.

Draco finally let go of Hermione, feeling high spirited, he got a hold of her hand and led her back to a patch of grass by the trees, where they sat. Draco had never felt that someone truly loved him. Well someone besides his mother. His father hated Draco. Draco was just for show. Lucius had never told his son a single word of love or comfort. It was always his mother there. She was the only one to ever worry about his comfort. She'd always send him a package from home, full of sweets and everything he liked. Draco feeling very content at the moment decided to speak.

"Hermione I want to tell you something." Hermione, not sure of what to do when he sounded so serious, waited to hear the rest of what he was going to say. When he didn't continue talking, and looked out into the lake pensively, she decided to say something.

"Draco, whatever you want to say, just say it. I won't judge or laugh at whatever it is." Draco shifted his gaze to her and looked at her as if asking 'promise?' Therefore she slowly added, "I promise." She did look sincere. And she was.

"Hermione, I want to tell you that all this time...that I've been getting to know you much better, well...what I'm trying to say is that all this time, that's turned into something else and I want you to know that what I feel is something strong...as strong as the kiss we just shared." Hermione looked at him, her face impossible for Draco to see emotions in. She had no reaction whatsoever.

This wasn't what Hermione expected...He didn't exactly make sense in the beginning, but soon enough she got the message. She kept her silence and Draco, already apprehensive about her answer, was really beginning to get nervous. She didn't say anything but looked into his eyes. They were a shy grey; oozing insecurity. "Hermione I love you." There he said it! He uttered words he'd never thought he'd say to a muggleborn, especially her. What was this world coming to...?

"Oh...Draco..." Wow, she really didn't know how to react. She knew she couldn't lie to him. And already Draco had a bad feeling about this. She spoke softly, as if her voice could soothe him away. "I...don't know...Draco, I want to be honest with you...You are a good friend, I never expected you to act this way towards me, but..." there was always a 'but'...Draco sighed and looked into the lake again, awaiting his doom. "I can't...like you that way...I don't," make it worse Granger by repeating it in a worse way. "But please, can you still be my friend. I'm sorry. I really am. I wish I could love you the way you do." She added trying to keep his friendship. But all that changed when he abruptly got up and began to walk away. Then he stopped and turned to look at her; Hermione had gotten up too.

And before she could say anything he began to talk. "So, that kiss...it meant nothing!" He shouted at her face. Damn bitch! Hermione was about to respond, but the plain, cold hurt in his voice made her wince slightly. This was not the way things were supposed to go. His face screwed up in anger. "Then tell me why this hurts so much!" He shouted to her, and when Hermione didn't answer he went on, "you know what Granger! To hell with you and you're friends! Go run after Potter and beg him to take you back if you're so upset about him that you have to resort to me in the worst way to forget your little heartache!" How dare she use him, kiss him, and then say he means nothing to her! And then be so hypocritical as to actually want a friendship with him! His words tumbled over each other as he tried to get them out quickly. He began to walk away again, fast.

Hermione jogged to get to him again. She shouted at his back, "Draco wait...Draco just...Draco don't do this!" she shouted, her voice also held hurt. And she sounded like she wanted to once again cry.

But Draco never looked back. Hermione buried her face into her hands. And trying to not cry, she thought of how truly fucked up her life was.

Draco ran straight to his Malfoy Room and didn't even think about throwing himself on the bed, he just did it. He then got up going to a cabinet; he smirked as he saw how it was always nicely equipped with the finest firewhisky. He brought out a bottle, not caring about the overrated goblet. Straight from the bottle is the best way to numb every feeling.

I spilled my heart to you, Hermione! REJECTION hurts!... He sat on the edge of the bed and taking a large swig of the bottle; he clutched onto it, and buried his face in his hands. Why does this hurt so much!...What am I thinking, I can't live without her!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

REVIEW PLEASE!