Disclaimer: I AM NOT J.K. ROWLING!

Chapter 4

Hospital Wing, 7:00 a.m.

Draco opened her eyes and the hospital wing came into view. Confused, he sat up suddenly trying to remember what happened. He had went for a walk, that he remembered, he went outside and headed towards the forbidden forest.

Stupid! He thought to himself, I must have been attacked in the forest.

"Oh so you're awake," Madame Pomfrey walked up to his bed, "What were you thinking walking into the forest alone at night? Your lucky Professor Hadgrid found you. Do you remember what happened?"

Draco shook his head.

Madame Pomfrey sighed, "Just as I thought, I must speak to the headmaster. No don't he'll also want to speak to you, going out to the forest at night…." She continued mumbling as she walked away.

Sighing, Draco laid back down and drifted off to sleep.

Gryffindor Common Room, 7:15 a.m.

Harry slipped out of the boys dormitory and down to the common room to find Hermione asleep in a chair and Ginny on the couch near the fire.

"Hermione," He whispered as he shook her awake.

"Huh?" she mumbled as she opened her eyes.

"Did you stay out here all night?" she nodded. "Ginny too?"

She nodded again and explained, "We stayed up talking most of the night." Harry frowned.

"You'll talk to her but you won't talk to me and Ron?" He asked, slightly offended.

Hermione sighed, "It's different Harry, she's a girl. Girls are easier for me to talk to. She's the only friend I have that's a girl."

"What about Lavender or Parvati?"

"Have you ever tried talking to them Harry?" Ginny mumbled from her place on the couch, "They're soo shallow."

Harry snorted, "Ok, if you say so. Come on let's go to breakfast."

"Alright, we'll meet you down there." Harry nodded and left. Hermione got up to go get dressed, "You coming?"

Ginny looked at her with wide eyes, "I don't think he meant both of us, he wants to be alone, that's why he didn't wait for Ron."

Hermione blushed, "Oh." Ginny looked at her, "Do you want to be alone with him?"

Hermione sighed and say back down, "I don't know," she thought for a moment, "No, I don't think so."

"Ok," Ginny jumped up and grinned, "In that case I'll wake Ron up to."

"He'll be extremely angry with you for waking him up."

"I know."

Hospital Wing, 7:30 a.m.

"Wake up Mr. Malfoy."

He opened his eyes to see Madame Pomfrey standing over him with a stern look.

"Wake up now, the headmaster is here and wishes to speak to you."

Draco yawned and sat up. Professor Dumbledore stood next to his bed and Madame Pomfrey left. Draco wouldn't meet Dumbledore's eye.

"Hadgrid said he found you in the forest this morning."

Draco nodded.

"You must have been there last night."

Draco nodded again and Dumbledore was silent for a moment. Finally he asked, "What were you doing Mr. Malfoy?"

Draco shrugged.

"You know very well that the forest is dangerous, you are lucky to be alive. Do you know what attacked you?"

Draco shook his head and still wouldn't meet Dumbledore's eye.

"Madame Pomfey is also unsure. She believes you are unharmed other than a few cuts and bruises but wants to keep you here until tomorrow." He was silent. Finally he sighed, "I know have been having a hard time lately Draco but that does not give you permission to break school rules and endanger your life. You will be getting a detention." He turned to leave but turned back to add, "If you ever want to talk, my door is always open."

Draco watched Dumbledore stared to go and hesitantly called, "Professor Dumbledore wait." Dumbledore turned back to look at him, "Um, I...I don't think I want to go back to the Slytherin dormitory.

Dumbledore seemed surprised, "Oh?"

"Well, it's just that, most of their parents are followers of Voldemort and so most of them hate me now and….." he trailed off.

"You don't feel safe with them anymore?"

Embarrassed, he looked down and nodded.

"I'm sure something can be arranged."

Great Hall, 8:00

When they arrived at breakfast Hermione knew that Ginny was right when she saw Harry's look when he saw Ginny and Ron. Disappointed. And like most things lately, she didn't know how she felt about that. Ginny purposely sat down next to Harry so that she would be in between him and Hermione. Hermione gave her a grateful look. Ron sat down next to her grumbling how tired he was, oblivious to it all.

As she butter a piece of bread, Hermione's eyes scanned the great hall casually, trying not to be obvious when her eyes landed on the Slyhterin table. Draco wasn't there yet.

"Here," Neville, who sat across from them as he handed them schedules, "We have four classes with Slytherin," he mumbled gloomily. Only Ron notice Hermione's face brightened.

"Why are you so happy?" he ask grouchily.

"Oh, um I have Arithmancy first tomorrow."

"Lucky you," said Harry, "We have Divinitation first thing." Ron groaned loudly and dropped his head on the table. Hermione giggled.

Ron glared at her, "Is my pain funny to you?" Hermione grinned and shook her head. "Well it's good to see you smiling agian." Ron said.

"Yeah," agreed Harry, "Real good." Hermione blushed and went back to her food.

A/N: Things will start heating up soon...i promise