Hmmm…. I'm afraid I've been neglecting my poor fics for quite some time now. I've seriously had no time whatsoever, but not that marching season is over (tear) and once I finish with finals I'll be free again. It's pretty sad, since I have this one finished. Oh well.

I've also decided that I REALLY don't like how I changed or portray almost all of the characters in this, especially Draco, Pansy, and a couple others. So if you don't like it and you feel like flaming, I'll probably agree with you so might as well not waste your time trying to insult me and my work. However, I know many enjoy this type of fic, I do most of the time, and they still show interest in this so I'll continue posting as long as I get positive feedback.

But that's enough from me. Read and review. I'd like to know what other people think.

Disclaimer: I own naught but my imagination.

Chapter 4: A Disturbing Encounter

"Such a prat… such a bloody, arrogant, conceited, pig-headed prat!" Hermione muttered angrily to herself as she stormed back to her dormitory. She was, of course, talking about Draco Malfoy; their last meeting had been far less than productive. He, Hermione, and all of the prefects had met in the Room of Requirement, as usual, to determine the route each pair would take. Everyone went with someone from his or her own house, except Hermione and Draco, who always went together since they were Head Boy and Girl.

He was extremely unfriendly when they first got there, completely ignoring her, but immediately changed his countenance as soon as they were alone and no one else was around.

"Hermione?" he asked a few minutes into the patrol, with the tiniest bit of timidity at her stoic silence.

"What?" she answered abruptly, keeping eyes straight ahead, her mouth pressed into a straight line.

He began nervously; it was obvious she was mad at him, "So… I was wondering if we could talk about the whole ball th—"

"Of course! We can talk whenever it is convenient for you, can't we?!" she shrilled, biting her tongue to stop yelling at him, and continued walking at a rather fast pace.

He kept up, rolling his eyes at her over-dramatic response, "Please? Come on, I know I've been a jerk but—"

"You think?" she hissed sarcastically, "I've had enough of you trying to apologize then acting exactly the same as before! No more, Malfoy, got it? This is your last chance!"

She turned away, crossing her arms over her chest.

Draco looked at her, perplexed, "I… had no idea this meant that much to you."

She didn't answer for a moment, but when she turned back to face him he could see she was trying to fight watering in her eyes.

This just increased his bewilderment; he had no idea what to say, and though it was against his natural instinct that had taken hold the last six years, he wanted to help set things straight between the two of them.

"What's wro—" he began.

"Nothing!" she angrily shook her head, willing herself not to cry in front of Draco Malfoy.

He gently touched her cheek, "I'm sorry I've done this to you…"

She closed her eyes momentarily, then pressed her hand against his, "It's nothing… Thank you though." When she tried to walk away he took hold of her arm to stop her.

"What can I do?" he asked, with such genuine concern in his eyes that Hermione gave in.

"You just…remind me so much of Chris…" she looked down at the floor, knowing perfectly well he wouldn't understand.

"Who?" he asked, confused.

She gave a small shrug as if it didn't matter, "A guy I met last summer… we went out for two months, but then…" she broke off, keeping her gaze downward.

Draco paused uneasily, not sure how to respond; clearly this had affected her deeply, and he was treading on unsteady ground. "What happened?" he asked softly.

"I found out several times he was cheating on me. I kept forgiving him, giving him another chance. Finally he got sick of me and… left." Hermione shrugged again helplessly, desperately wishing she wasn't so emotional. Draco would probably just use this against her later on.

It was his turn to look away, "I'm sorry…" he said, definitely not in the practice of trying to comfort a girl, let alone Hermione Granger. "How do I remind you of him?" he asked, hoping her answer wasn't too harsh, but at the same time knowing he'd deserve it.

She sighed, "Never mind…" she continued walking again, but this time he didn't try to stop her, just walked with her.

Hermione inwardly scolded herself for letting him break so far into her emotions. Why in the world did she do that? Was it because he had been increasingly on her mind, and in her heart? Because she felt a pang every time he sneered at or insulted her, even more painful than it used to be? Or maybe just because she fell into a spell every time she saw those silver eyes and couldn't stop wishing his strong arms were wrapped around her…

She shook her head as if that could make such thoughts disappear.

Close by, Draco was having similar problems. He couldn't figure out why he wanted to help her so much, erase their whole history together and start anew, and somehow let her know he didn't think she was a good-for-nothing, childish girl who was a know-it-all Gryffindor Mudblood; he found those things didn't really matter to him anymore. All he knew was that his heart sped up when he saw her, no matter how she looked: whether she'd just woken up, had red, tearstained eyes and face, or just primped for an hour, which was unlikely anyway. He had started seeing her for what she truly was, and wished his head would agree to that sentiment instead of trying to go back to his usual ways and forget about her.

Both students were so lost in thought, they didn't realize another group of teens was walking close behind them. Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson, Draco's thug-like cronies Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, and several other seventh-year Slytherins caught up with them.

"Drakey poo!" Pansy yelled, running to hug him from behind.

Draco gave a sigh and rolled his eyes, wincing slightly as she collided with him, though only Hermione noticed.

"Oooh I've missed you so much, baby!" Pansy squealed, clinging onto him, batting eyelashes with far-too-much mascara in a way she thought was coquettish.

"Hey… Pansy," Draco forced a tight smile, trying to pry her off him.

Hermione rolled her eyes in annoyance and continued walking without Draco; didn't Slytherins have anything better to do than strut around making as much noise and trouble as possible?

"Hey, Miss Granger, why are you leaving so soon?" Blaise sneered at her, his voice husky and seductive. He grabbed her hands and tried to pull her back to where his housemates were, "Come on, have some fun."

Hermione turned away from him, only able to yank one of her hands back, the other firmly grasped by the Slytherin, so she slapped him across the face. He let go, raising an eyebrow at her feistiness.

"Aw, now then, that's no way to reply to a nice invitation. Come on. I want you baby." He mocked; it was obviously a joke.

She ducked away as he lunged for her, "Get away from me, Zabini!"

He let her go, smirking at her retreating back, "Malfoy, you've got odd taste in women." He laughed, speaking of their conversation earlier.

"Shut up, Zabini," he glared, "and leave her alone."

"Oh ho! Our man gone noble has he? Defending the poor helpless Mudblood." He cackled in cruel glee at the situation.

Draco's icy stare made him stop, "No. Just she'll go tell her boyfriends and they'll tell the headmaster you're sexually harassing her or something." He impatiently looked at Pansy, who had linked onto his arm as if she'd never let go, "Let go, Pansy." He shook her off and walked quickly down the way Hermione had, leaving the other Slytherins laughing and mocking them as he went.