Chapter 7

Draco woke up from his restless sleep and had to drag himself out of bed. He came back from his walk only to stare at the ceiling for several hours before exhaustion had taken him.He slowly got himself dressed, and left for breakfast. He found that Hermione had not come yet and then hadn't shown by the end. She was suppose to post the acceptance list for the banquet and several students had come bothering him about it.'Where the blooming hell is she?'He thought as he shoved his tray towards an unsuspecting house elf. The house elf rubbed his head where the tray had grazed it and scooted away in fright.

He quickly left the Hall and went back to the dorm to check to see if she were there. The portrait to her bedroom looked sad and withdrawn. It turned its head when he came, acting like it didn't want to see him. Obviously the same way Hermione must of felt. He walked to his door.

"Pure Blood."He said and walked to the bathroom disenchanting the lock he had bestowed upon it last night. He crept slowly through the door to her room. She was lying face down in her pillow. He could hear her sobbing. A tower of tissue lay next to her. She was still in her night dress.

"Clear off Malfoy!"She mumbled through her pillow not even looking up. He hated to see girls cry. He had only one other time seen a woman cry and that was his mother when the unfortunate accident occured. He shook the memory from his head.

"I'm sorry..."Why am I apologizing? Malfoy's don't apologize! Plus like I said before, she deserved it!

"No your not! You said it yourself on the train, your facinated with torturing me! I've never done anything to you except being born a muggle instead of a pureblood like you! She looked at him when she said this. The tears falling from her swollen eyes. Her face blochy and red, she looked as if she had been crying all morning long. It actually pained him to see her like this.

His first reaction was to just leave, he had caused her enough pain and trouble, but then something in the back of his brain told him to stay. He walked over to her bed sitting next to her. He pulled her up from her pillow. She tried to protest and pull away. He took his hand to her face to make her look at him.

"I really am sorry Hermione." He had used her first name! Her eyes widened at the sudden change but she still didn't say anything, she just looked at him with those beautiful dark eyes.

In the next moment he didn't even realize what he was doing. He had leaned down and kissed her forehead, then her cheeks, and her eyes. He tasted the salt of her tears. Then he kissed her mouth.

Hermione didn't understand it. One minute she was full of hate and anger towards him and then he kissed her and all those feelings just melted away. She pulled away from him slowly and looked into his eyes. It was like the first time seeing him in a different light. His eyes were studying her with concern. She collected her thoughts and looked away.

"Malfoy stop it, leave me alone, I don't know what game your playing at, but I won't be a part of it." She said and looked back at him.

Draco looked taken aback, like she had just slapped him again.'Was that actual hurt in his eyes?'She thought just as the hate returned to his face.

Letting go of her, he got off the bed,"Well Granger I couldn't have you snotting about all day. We have jobs to do. Like how you were suppose to post the acceptance list this morning. You've made alot of the sixth years pretty angry. I hope they curse you or something." With that he left her room out her portrait.

Having the duty before her pointed out she snapped out of her mopiness and jumped out of bed. She quickly bathed and washed her face. She threw on her school uniform and grabbed her robe.'How could I let that retched snake make me such a scatterbrain!' She thought going into the common room. She grabbed the list from the table and made her way to the Auditorium.

Malfoy was waiting for her there with several other students. She carefully posted the list on the bulletin board and before she could step away, the students who were waiting came flooding towards her."Hey!"She yelled as she was shoved to the side falling down on her arse.

Malfoy laughing,"Granger you have as much grace as Weasel's owl!"

She flicked him off and picked herself off the ground," Belt up Malfoy!"

"Is that an offer? I can arrange a time and place for you if you like."He smiled at her flustered face.

"Why you..."She was cut off by high pitched girly screaming. She turned around to see Katie and Ginny jumping around and hugging each other.'At least someone's happy around here,'Hermione thought.

"Stupid Girls,"Malfoy muttered and strode out of the auditorium. He had better things to do.

"Now practice your parts carefully and we will have a rehearsal Friday the night before the banquet. I will be around if you need help with anything and I will post the order you are to follow the night of rehearsal."Hermione made her announcement and turned back to ream Malfoy out and was not surprised to see he had snuck out.