Chapter Twenty Two

Hermione was still lying on the couch thinking about everything that had just happened - from the bombshell that Blaise had dropped on her about Draco becoming a Deatheater to that totally unexpected kiss from Blaise…hmm.

Suddenly she was jerked rather rudely from her thoughts by someone barging into the Head Common room yelling her name.

"HERMIONE!" they shouted.

She sat up abruptly and glared at the intruder - but then her expression softened when she realised who it was.

"Oh hi Harry, hi Ron…" she said wearily.

"Thank god we've found you, Hermione. We were starting to wonder where you had disappeared off too…you never came to Hogsmeade to meet us." Harry said.

"Sorry guys I didn't mean to make you worry! Its just that I kind of… passed out before I could make it back down to meet you guys so I didn't end up going." Hermione lied feebly.

"You fainted -" Harry started off

"On the couch?" finished Ron sceptically.

"Yes I did. Is it that hard to believe?" Hermione defended

"Well its very lucky isn't it? You seem perfectly fine to me, Hermione. Are you lying to us?" Ron said bluntly.

"Ron! That's not what you were supposed to say." Harry hissed.

"No Harry, its either we confront her now or we're never going to get the chance again." Ron answered.

"Confront me about what?" Hermione asked in surprise.

"Um, well it's just Ron and I have noticed that you've been acting quite strangely lately." Harry replied.

"I have not been acting strangely!" She protested indignantly.

"The first symptom is denial." Ron commented sagely

"Shut up Ron." said Harry and Hermione in unison.

"But its true! Honestly, what's up Hermione? You just haven't been yourself since you came back from the past. We don't know what really went on between you and Malfoy, but I'm betting that its more than you've told us. Look, I really don't want you to get hurt by that ferret so whatever is going on between you two at the moment really has to stop." said Ron quietly.

Hermione was shocked.

She hadn't even realised that she had been acting differently because of Blaise and Draco…but then she thought more about it and there really was no denying that she had been keeping things from her best friends ever since she had come back - she was even lying to them at this very moment about why she didn't end up going to Hogsmeade.

After an awkward silence, Hermione cleared her throat and started to talk.

"You're right Ron. I guess I have been acting differently since I've gotten back…but its not really about Draco. I mean something did happen back in the past, but its really nothing major so you don't have to worry about that and I still think that he's a prat and all that. I do realise that I have been pretty unfair to you both in keeping things from you, but its only because I don't want you guys to worry about me."

"Hermione by keeping things from us, you're making us worry more about you." Harry pointed out.

"Well you shouldn't because I know how to take care of myself. Relax, everything's perfectly fine its just that I'm still trying to settle back into the school environment. Its weird to see Malfoy and not being able to talk to him anymore after spending a whole month alone with him you know?" Hermione admitted.

"Do you…miss his company?" Ron asked with a disgusted expression.

"Not anymore." Hermione said truthfully.

"Well its good that you've finally kind of cleared things up with us, Hermione." Harry said with a smile.

"We really appreciate it." Ron added with a grin.

"I'm sorry that I didn't talk to you about it earlier…its just that I was afraid that you guys would think badly of me." Hermione said.

"You shouldn't worry so much about our reactions - we're your friends, there's nothing that can change that." said Ron seriously.

"Thanks guys…" Hermione said softly, reaching out to hug them both.

"Well we had better get going if we still want to go to Hogsmeade. Hope you feel better soon Hermione. We'll bring some stuff from Honeydukes back for you." Harry said, waving a cheery goodbye to her.

"Have fun!" Hermione called after them as they left.

It was strange, but she still didn't feel relieved even though she had just had a talk with her best friends. But that was probably because she hadn't really told them anything - but she had a perfectly legitimate reason right? No matter what Ron said about nothing ruining their friendship Hermione knew that if they found about Draco asking her out on a date they would not be quite as understanding as they had been today.

Then suddenly a loud noise from outside the portrait hole interrupted her thoughts again.

Hermione shook her head - it must be Ron and Harry coming back to persuade her to go to Hogsmeade or something. She walked towards the portrait hole but then stopped dead in her tracks at the sound of the voice on the other side.

"GRANGER! I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE! OPEN THE BLOODY DOOR!"

Hermione gulped.

It was Draco.

Draco stood fuming on the other side of the portrait. He was covered in melting snow flakes and shivering slightly from the icy cold slush that was seeping into his cloak and onto his expensive clothes.

That damn Granger. Why did she always have to ruin everything? He had never felt so humiliated in his life - a girl had never stood him up before and to add insult to injury, he had been forced to wait for more than two hours out in the snow for her and brave the long snow filled walk back to the castle to find her!

"GRANGER! OPEN IT UP NOW OR ELSE I'LL HEX IT OPEN!" Draco yelled at the portrait.

The portrait was of a rather scholarly looking woman and she was glaring at him.

"I don't know who you think you are young man, but you mustn't shout so loud or else I shall inform the Headmaster about your inappropriate behaviour." She hissed at him.

Draco glared right back at her and continued to shout.

"GRANGER THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE! OPEN UP NOW OR ELSE I'LL KICK IT OPEN!"

There was still no response so Draco took out his wand and was racking his brain for a spell which would force the portrait to open up when incredibly it opened up of its own accord.

Draco stared up in shock at the woman in the portrait.

"Why-"

"I couldn't stand your shouting. Hurry up and get inside young man, I don't have all day." The portrait cut in bluntly.

Draco obliged and walked smartly into the Head Common room which he found was empty much to his chagrin.

"Granger, I don't have time for this. I will find you wherever you're hiding eventually anyway, so why don't you just come out and talk to me?" Draco said silkily.

He looked around the room and found that the Head Girl's door was closed. He set his mouth and walked slowly towards it, his wand in front of him.

"Alohomora." he muttered and the door burst open.

Hermione stood on the other side biting her lips and refusing to meet his eyes. She looked so pretty in her simple outfit of a brown overcoat and white sweater over jeans and he knew that she had originally planned to meet him -otherwise why would she be wearing such warm clothes inside the already warm Hogwarts castle?

So why hadn't she come?

"Look at me, Granger." he ordered in a low voice.

She blinked once and then raised her eyes to meet his. To his surprise, her eyes were not filled with fear or regret or guilt…they were hard and icy and filled with anger and hatred.

"What are you doing here, Draco?" she asked coldly, emphasising the fact that she was still calling him by his first name.

"Why do you think I'm here, Hermione?" He countered.

"I know why you're here, but what do you hope to accomplish by coming here to see me?" Hermione responded.

"I don't understand what you're trying to say - and I don't know why you're acting like this but I just want you to answer this question - why are you doing this to me?" He asked quietly.

"Its only what you deserve after what you've done to me." Hermione answered.

"Excuse me? What have I ever done to you that warrants me standing out in the snow waiting for you for more than two hours and then walking all the way back to the castle to see you? I think that I should be the one asking the questions, not you Hermione." Draco retorted.

"What have you done? I'm guessing that you don't remember all the things you've done to me and my friends throughout the six years we've been at Hogwarts." she responded.

"I cant believe you're acting like this! I thought that we had sorted all our differences out - we're supposed to be friends now for god's sake. Do you have any idea how much you've put me through just to get to this stage with you?" Draco exclaimed.

"Well I'm sorry that I've ruined your little plans for me. The secret's out, Draco. I'm not going to let you use me." Hermione answered icily.

"Use you? Is that what you think this is all about?" Draco asked in surprise.

"No its not what I think this is all about. Its what I know what this is all about - I can see right through your act, Draco. I'm not stupid you know. You haven't changed one bit and I was stupid to believe that you had." Hermione said bitterly.

"What the hell are you talking about, Hermione? You really have no idea what this is like for me! I have put aside everything that I've ever been taught by my father so that I could start over with you. I want to be your friend, I don't bloody care that you're a Mudblood anymore!" Draco exclaimed.

"Stop it, Draco. Just get out. I don't ever want to speak to you again. You're nothing but a lying, arrogant, mindless ferret and I don't want anything to do with you." Hermione responded harshly.

"I don't know what you're playing at, Granger. I don't know whether this was your plan all along - to set me up and then push me back down when things were getting better between us but let me assure you that I won't forget this. I wont forget what you've done to me you selfish bitch." Draco sneered angrily.

Then he slammed Hermione's door shut and walked away.

A/N: Ok guys don't bash me up just because I made Hermione and Draco fight! Sorry…but it had to happen. Anyways, hope you guys all enjoyed that chapter - I am so damn tired now because I stayed up late to finish it off.

THANKS TO ALL MY REVIEWERS!