A/N: chap you've ALL been waiting for! aren't u glad it's here. haha!

Kichou: ...you should feel sorry for everyone...except Cho, she's getting exactly what she deserves. KILL CHO! KILL CHO!

XXRoseDawsonXX: (a.k.a AWESOME BETA) did i not give u a shout out:gasps: soooo sorry meg! i truly am! i could have sworn i did though, but i see i didn't. i'm sorry again! so this is my thanks and shout out to the best beta! thank u for reviewing even though u already know what's gonna happen. THANKS!

I-Lurve-Harry-and-Ron: on behalf of ur request, all i can say is that u should watch out for the next chapter!

Oro4 what's up my great friend! sorry about saying that Ginny can't be in this fic. i'm permanently ANGRY with her, and i just can't put her in this specific fic. though i'd love to do it for that reason. OMG! i would LOVE to be Hermione beating them both up! AAARRGGH! i dont' even have to have a reason to beat Ginny straight into pulp! HATE GINNY! KILL GINNY! KILL GINNY! KILL GINNY! (i gotta say she's perfect in ur fic, oooh i got an idea, have Hermione beat up ginny in your fic! COME ON! i can't do it in mine, but Hermione is so bad ass in yours, u gotta do it!

Chapter 16: Regrets

It had been a few days since the day Draco awoke with a well deserved hangover. He hadn't talked to Hermione at all, nor had they worked on their Potion's assignment. Though that didn't bother Draco, he knew Hermione was working on it. Nothing gets in the way of her studies, he mused as he saw her eating dinner yesterday alone. Well not really alone, she was sitting with Ginny and one of the redhead's friends.

There were several times in passing when he knew she wanted to talk to him, but Draco knew what was coming if he gave her his time. She'd say that she 'still wanted to be friends'. Fat chance. Draco wanted all of her or nothing to do with her. Guess he'd just try to forget about her...

But everything was slowly coming undone. Ever since he first laid eyes on Hermione earlier this year, subconsciously he knew it would be the end of many peoples' lives...And it looks like he had started it all.

What was worse was when Cho came to him after dinner yesterday as he was heading towards the Slytherin common room.

"Hey Draco, I haven't seen you around the mudblood too often, come to think of it she's been all alone this whole time. You should really try to get closer to her. I've been trying with Harry, but–"

"He won't give you the time of day. It's only obvious," he interrupted bitterly. He hadn't sneered at someone in so long. He remembered it was her coming to him with her 'brilliant plan'. What a load of bullshit, he concluded. "Well Chang, I don't want to hear about your boring life. And I want to tell you to drop the charade, as I have. This plan was possibly the stupidest thing I've ever done in my life. And I don't give a damn anymore." He began to walk away.

"Malfoy, you can't just leave in the middle of this!" She shouted at his back. "Malfoy! Fine! I'll do this on my own! I don't need you!" He smirked as he heard her groan in frustration. It's not like he cared what happened to those stupid Gryffindors, he thought defiantly. No he didn't care, his mind stated firmly... "I'll get rid of her on my own." She added under her breath, Draco didn't hear it.

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In the week that followed, Draco found himself brewing the potion on his own. He sent a note to Hermione one evening, and told her that the potion was done, as it only just needed to simmer everyday for a week after the poisoned roots were added. Hermione read the note hoping it would just say something else that told her that he somehow forgave her for what had happened. She wished that he could just forget it all and come back to her. Not romantically, but as a friend. That's what she needed now. She didn't need Harry coming to her every few days asking for forgiveness. Sure Ginny was there, but she was mostly occupied with whatever boyfriend she had at the moment.

As the days progressed Hermione found herself studying much more than usual. She'd nit often and give some hats to Dobby and Winky, who sadly still had a lot of butterbeer daily. Hermione would sometimes talk to Winky about her problem, but Winky hardly listened. Hermione found herself in the kitchens very often, not caring that she's a student and shouldn't be there.

When Hermione headed for dinner that night, she ran into Cho. Her face instantly turned to loathe at the sight of Cho, whose face was as unpleasant as hers.

"Hermione," she knew that voice and it was Harry's. They were all outside the Great Hall. Hermione began to walk the few yards to the Great Hall and Harry ran up behind her and took her by an arm —

"Harry, don't touch me!"

"Hermione please, this has gone far enough, just please listen to me–" said Harry forcefully.

"Harry let go of her. Didn't you hear she wants nothing to do with you, us." said Cho. Harry turned to her angrily.

"Cho, this has nothing to do with you," he said to Cho in a low and dangerous tone, still not letting go of Hermione. Once he turned to Hermione he added in the same low tone, though this time it was much gentler, "Hermione, I just need to talk to you for a little bit, please." He said, not pausing to let Hermione turn him down, he just led her a few yards away from Cho, not caring if Cho was still there, he just really needed to talk to Hermione again, even for just a second.

"Hermione please just–" Harry started, but Cho didn't give up that easily and before Harry could say what Cho was certain he would say again, she forcefully interrupted.

"Harry, give it up. Just come with me. I'll make your time worth having a girlfriend." She said calmly to Harry's back. Harry didn't turn around, nor let go of Hermione's arms. Not that she was struggling. She, however, did look at Cho. Hermione glared at her; her nostrils gave the tiniest of flares. Cho came dangerously close to them, and added in a soft, seductive tone to Harry behind his ear, "isn't that why you came to see me? I know you don't want a little girl, Harry. I know you need someone mature like me. Someone who's willing to–"

All of a sudden, as Cho was looking at Harry, Hermione's fist collided with Cho's cheek. Cho gave a surprised yelp as she fell backwards with a loud thump. Hermione had had enough of this foul bitch! The grotesque tart! Offering herself to Harry right in front of her face! How dare she!

Hermione stood there, surprised to actually do what she had wanted to do for so long. Harry also gaped at the scene. This was just like when Hermione had decked Malfoy in third year! (Only better!) Cho was at once set on her feet and also aimed for Hermione's face, only Hermione reacted so fast that she moved to the side with quick reflexes she didn't even know she had, and Cho's fist hit the wall.

Hermione moved towards her and wrenched her hair to turn her around, Cho yelped again, and Harry tried to stop them by getting in between, only to be hit squarely in the side of his face, by his right eye, by an angry Hermione. He flinched in surprise and his glasses screwed up at the contact, and in regaining his vision he saw that Cho was rolling on the floor with Hermione and when they stopped Cho was on top of her, her hands wrapped around Hermione's throat.

"You stupid bitch! You think you're going to get away with Harry!" Cho shrieked. "There's no way in hell that I'm going to allow you to keep him! Go with Malfoy you whore!"

Hermione responded by scratching her nails as hard as she could against Cho's wrists, where they held tightly against Hermione's throat. She was gasping for breath until Cho let go of her when her wrists started to bleed from the scratches. Harry quickly moved to get Cho off Hermione. He knew they'd beat each other into pulp if he didn't do something soon. He took Cho from under the arms and pulled her up. Hermione rolled the side as Cho tried to kick her.

Harry looked everywhere for someone in sight to help him stop the fight. He was sure that Hermione would resume to trying to scratch or slap any part of Cho she could reach. His vision fell on Malfoy who was leaning against the wall, watching the fight, his face looking slightly amused. Well, his smirk was in place.

"Malfoy you mind helping a bit!" shouted Harry as Hermione tried to punch Cho, he was trying to get the both of them out of each other's reach, but it wasn't exactly working. He didn't want to ask Malfoy for help, but he couldn't get picky at this moment.

There were sounds of slapping, punching, shrieking, and groaning. Even Harry got his fair share of slaps from both girls. Malfoy quickly moved and pulled Hermione backwards with him, damn she's really fighting. Hermione and Cho were similar in size; Cho slightly shorter, but they both looked petite enough to not cause a lot of damage, but that was quite different to what was actually happening.

Draco struggled a bit to restrain Hermione from squirming her way out of his arms and aiming again for Cho. Harry was having equal trouble in holding onto Cho, but she elbowed him in the ribs, where he already had a bruise from the bludger at yesterday's Quidditch practice. Cho was released and ran straight for Hermione where she was trying to get free from Malfoy. Cho pulled Hermione's hair harshly; Hermione yelled furiously and took a hold of Cho's sleek, long hair and pulled it down as hard as she could; Cho whimpered loudly and kicked Hermione in the shin. And Hermione writhed in pain.

"That's enough Chang!" shouted Draco. He stepped in front of Hermione and suddenly pushed Cho to the floor. He abruptly looked dangerous.

Cho got to her feet, "Don't you fucking touch me Malfoy!" She ran to him, but not before Harry had her again.

"What on earth is all this!" shouted an angry, stern voice. They all froze at the sight of a fuming Professor McGonagall. Harry holding onto Cho, whose hair, had been pulled out. Wrists and face was bleeding in several places; Hermione with very disheveled looking hair was now again in front of Draco, who was also cautiously holding onto her again. "Explain yourselves immediately." She shouted, pointing at every single one of them angrily. Oh shit... They all remained quiet. "Well!"

"Er, Professor, we're really sorry. We won't do it again–"

"I asked for an explanation, Miss Granger. Not an apology!" McGonagall barked at her.

Again they all hesitated in speaking. "It's my fault Professor." Hermione said at last in the smallest voice she'd ever used. "I...started..."

The Professor, perhaps thinking that she didn't really want to know what had caused the fight decided to deduct points. "20 points from Gryffindor for both of you," she barked looking at Harry then Hermione. "10 points from Ravenclaw," she shouted at Cho. "And 10 points from Slytherin," she yelled at Draco. "Miss Granger, detention tomorrow at 8 pm. in my office!" She barked at Hermione. Hermione bowed her head in shame. One more thing to occupy my time with, at least... "You should think about your actions before you do them if you want to keep that badge!" Hermione almost let a tear roll down her face as she thought of having her Prefect badge getting taken away. "Now all who need it, I suggest you go see Madam Pomfrey!" She said tartly, before turning away and stalking off.

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ooh, poor Hermione. oh well, pleasure never comes without a little pain. heehee.

so what did you'll think about Cho getting her ass kicked?

REVIEW! FOR THIS CHAPTER, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO!