As much as she had hoped, the next day was not any easier for Hermione. She had been dodging Malfoy all day, sitting as far away from him as she could in classes, and avoiding eye contact at all costs. She made sure that she was always with Ron or Harry when she went somewhere, knowing he wasn't stupid enough to try anything while she was with them. When Harry and Ron had said not to worry, and that they were going to "take care of things", she should have known that all it meant was they were going to yell about how much they hated him, but not actually take action.

If you want the job done right, then you have to do it yourself. Hermione thought, sighing as she walked alone up to the Gryffindor common room. This was her first mistake. As if on cue, a pair of hands reached out from around the corner and pulled her into the dark closet near by. Had it been any other time in her life, she would have screamed loudly and struggled to get away, but she knew who her assaulter was, and she almost expected him to pull something like this. She allowed herself to be tugged with ease into the tiny room, and then pushed up against the hard wall. This was mistake number two. She should have just slapped him and walked away.

"Lumos." She said in a bored tone. The soft light illuminated the small area, and Hermione could now see Malfoy's face close to hers. She could feel his body heat radiating off of him. She stood up straight, and set her jaw, determination flashing in her eyes.

"You need to stop this. It was a mistake. Don't you understand that this could cost me everything? I'm sure that's why you're doing it, to humiliate me, but you could lose everything too, your reputation for one. Just stop following me, stop harassing me, and stop trying to manipulate me. It won't work. Stay away from me." He stood there listening to her intently, going over the words in his head, and choosing his own wisely.

"Do I scare you Granger?" He asked with a malicious tone.

"You wish Malfoy." She said, saying his name as if it left a nasty taste in her mouth.

"Ah, sharing come-backs with Potter again, are we?"

Hermione's eyes narrowed to slits and she pursed her lips. "Look, if you don't drop this charade right now, I will be forced to resort to violent measures. Just leave me alone. "

"Why are you denying yourself Granger? Why keep lying to yourself when you know you want this more than I do." He placed a hand on her hip and slowly began to draw her closer to him. Mistake number three. She could feel his hot breath on her neck. It was driving her wild inside. She wanted him to kiss her, she wanted to give in and just be outlandish and rash. She wanted to know what it felt like to truly melt with someone, and let his body press against her own. Her breathing stopped for a moment, and she shook her head.

"No." She pushed him away from her. "Anything you think we had, we didn't. It was a stupid blunder. We hate each other. We always have, and always will. Stay away from me or you will find yourself becoming very well acquainted with Madame Pomfrey." She broke past him and barged out of the closet, stomping off to the common room.

Up in the room, Ron and Harry sat playing wizard's chess in front of the fire. When the portrait hole banged closed, Harry looked up from his knight that had just been smashed into smithereens by Ron's queen.

"Hello 'Mioine." He said politely. He took little note of her flustered and disheveled state, and turned back to his game. Throwing down her book bag and dropping onto the couch nearest to the fire, she angrily crossed her arms across her chest. Her eyebrows furrowing together as she thought, she desperately tried to think of a way to get the Malfoy monkey off her back. What am I doing wrong? How can I possibly be more clear and blunt than I already am? Hermione wondered curiously. Perhaps she was going crazy, or perhaps she already was, but for whatever reason, she felt she just had to know why. Why her, and why know. Why the Mudblooded book worm. Jumping up off the couch, she tore off towards the portrait hole. Her sudden movements startled Ron and Harry, and the called after her.

"Herms where are you going?" Ron called. He was too late though, because she was already out the hole and racing down the corridor. It was only a moment ago, I'm sure I can still catch him. She though optimistically. Sliding around the corner and past the small broom closet he had pulled her into, she just barely saw a glimpse of platinum blond hair rounding another corner.

"Malfoy!" She yelled, picking up her pace to catch up to him. "Malfoy! Wait up!" She called again. Following his footsteps around yet another turn, she ran at her top speed; however she didn't know he had been waiting for her just around the bend. She collided with him painfully, and would have surely fallen backwards had he not quickly brought her to him to prevent her fall. Letting her head rest momentarily on his chest whilst the dizziness stopped, she regained her balance. She stepped back and out of his arms reach, looking up and him.

"I knew you couldn't stay away." He said suavely. She pulled a disgusted face and shook her head.

"I just wanted to- I mean, I'm curious…"

"Curiosity killed the cat Granger."

"But I need to know," She started again. "Why me?" She asked, looking into his eyes intently, and holding them to her with her own. When he didn't answer, she took the opportunity to speak once more. "What is it about this plain, boring, muggle born girl, that has you stalking me, and pestering me, and driving me out of my mind with… with- anger, and, and confusion," she struggled over her words, trying to force them out the right way. "And… want?" She said the last part in a voice that was barely audible, and she was almost sure he didn't hear her at all. She swallowed hard and she could feel tiny beads of sweat forming on her brow. As she had talked, her gaze had somehow managed to become cast down, so that she was now gazing fixedly on the stone floor. Daring to bring her eyes back up to his face, she searched it for the answer that she wanted. He still had not said a word, and Hermione couldn't stand there all night.

"Malfoy?" She whispered. He swallowed hard twice before he opened his mouth to speak.

"I wish I could answer that." He said finally. He turned on his heel, and continued his slow walk to the Slytherin common room. Letting out the breath she had been holding in, she too went on her way back to her dormitories, even more baffled than before.