Disclaimer: Characters/settings/names/thewholeworld/etc. belong to the talented mrsJKrowling. :)

Roonil: Yep, it was a dream:) Good job, you're like my story psychic! Yay, you're awesome!

Wako: Wow, thanks for the review! I'm so glad you like the pairing:)

Sukuri99: Ahaha, that's so funny, I just had a mental image of two girls ripping out each other's hair and this guy just leaning against a wall watching. oh my gosh, that's hilarious.

Quillqueen: Thanks for the review! I'm so happy to find more D/C supporters! Your story's awesome:)

Chapter 6.

For the next few weeks, Cho tried her hardest to avoid the fifth year Slytherin that had invaded her dreams that night. Unsurprisingly, Cho slept a lot better after that dream, and felt herself return to her normal self. Now that Cedric had given her his blessing to move on, her grades improved, and she didn't feel guilty when guys looked at her anymore. Plus, she felt genuinely happy again, not just, as if she was wearing a mask that hid her true sadness. In fact, as her life returned to its original pattern, Cho felt more and more determined to detach herself from Malfoy.

He's just part of my past, Cho told herself, as she worked on a Charms assignment with Marietta in Flitwick's class. The past that I'm going to forget. It was just a fluke that he was in my dream. It was just because, yes, just because he was the last boy I thought about. And that was just because I was grateful for what he did. It doesn't mean I like him, or anything! How preposterous!

Against her will, Cho remembered the intense emotion she had felt while she was with Malfoy in the dream. Nothing's ever made me feel like that before… Cho thought, biting her lip. But she decided to shake it off.

The bell rang, and Cho packed up, preparing to make her way to lunch. As she exited the classroom, she found herself smack dab in the middle of an odd assortment of people she was less than happy to see.

"5 points for contradicting me, McMillan," Draco Malfoy was saying, smirking evilly at a tall Hufflepuff boy. "And Weasley, 5 points for having your shirt untucked. 5 points because I don't like you, Potter. Oh yeah! And 10 points because you're a Mudblood, Granger, I forgot…"

At this, the boys in the group visibly desired to do nothing but jump and beat Malfoy to a pulp, but Hermione held them back, whispering fervently in their faces.

Cho's blood boiled with fury at Malfoy and sympathy for Hermione. Truth be told, Hermione Granger wasn't Cho's favorite person in the world, mainly because Harry always seemed to like her so much. However, Cho now found all animosity toward Hermione gone, and oddly likewise, all interest in Harry gone.

Shouldering her book bag with fierce determination, Cho strode toward the group of students and, grabbing Malfoy by the neck of his robes, spun him around.

"Hey! What did you just call her?" Cho hissed in Malfoy's face.

He gave her a surprised but contemptuous look, and then spat defiantly back at Cho, "Mud. Blood. I called her. A. Mudblood. Now if you need any more help understanding the English language, I suggest you find a tutor. For now, get out of my face."

Cho let go of Malfoy in surprise. Why was he being so mean?

"Thank you, Cho, but it's all right," said Hermione from behind. "He's said it so many times that I'm immune to it." She smiled thankfully yet a bit wearily at Cho, and then turned to her friends. "Come on, guys, let's get out of here. This hallway's been dirtied by Slytherins." She spared Malfoy an ugly glare, then turned on her heel and left. The boys followed. Cho noticed Harry send her a kind smile, but before she could smile back, he had already left.

So Cho turned back to Malfoy, who was staring at the Gryffindor hourglass with a satisfied expression. The rubies were steadily retreating back into the top glass, and Cho noticed that Ravenclaw's and Hufflepuff's were doing the same. Only Slytherin's stayed full and inactive.

Angered at the injustice, Cho shoved Malfoy. "You are so uncivilized!" she yelled at him. "Where do you go around calling people such foul names? Don't you ever insult my friends like that again! And what are you even docking points for? You are so stupid and immature, and you're abusing the idiotic power that Umbridge has given you! Merlin, I can't stand you! You have no morals at all!"

Malfoy didn't move or show any sign that he was listening to what Cho was yelling at him. He simply leaned nonchalantly against the wall, blowing blond bangs out of his face. His indifference infuriated Cho even more, and she continued shouting at him until he sighed dramatically and drawled, "5 points from Ravenclaw for all that…whatever you just said." With that, he straightened and pushed Cho roughly out of his way.

Cho was practically steaming through her ears now. She stopped in front of him, arms folded. "I know why you go around doing all this 'Inquisitor' stuff and Quidditch and insulting other kids," Cho started coldly, as quietly as she could manage. "I know, Malfoy, exactly why you do all this. You just want attention. You just want to be noticed. You're pathetic." She spat the last word into his face. Cho continued, words continuing to flow out of her mouth at top speed. "You just can't stand having someone be more powerful than you. You can't stand having someone be more popular than you. You just want to be someone. You can't stand watching someone else get all the attention. You just want to make a name for yourself. Why are you so obsessed with attention? Huh? Merlin, did your parents neglect you when you were a kid or something?" Cho finished her rant, breathing hard, but instantly regretted what she said the moment that she saw Malfoy's reaction.

Malfoy's thin face remained impassive and emotionless, but Cho noticed something behind his grey eyes…

…shatter.

And in that moment, Cho could almost hear Malfoy's soul splinter into a million pieces, yet he never gave away what he was feeling inside. If it weren't for the extreme pain that shone through his deep eyes, Cho would have thought he was continuing to ignore her. Her eyes filled with apologetic tears.

"I'm s-," Cho started to say, but Malfoy cut her off sharply.

"Don't ever," he whispered, voice dangerously quiet, "talk to me again."

And he swept past her and disappeared around the corner.

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(A/N) How was Chapter 6, you guys? I hope you enjoyed it! Now that my finals are over, (runs and jumps in joy) I'll probably be updating daily! So Chapter 7 will be up tomorrow, I can almost guarantee it! In the meantime, please review! I honestly love reading reviews and hearing what you think! ;)