A/N: Sorry it took so long you guys...I really have no excuse so if you want to beat me...call my manager. This chapter was written for the most part by my collab Untamed Spirit. Enjoy, and the next chapter should be up...as soon as she beats me with a stick for being lazy..

Disclaimer: I'm currently disclaiming, please standby.

Chapter 2: A Series of Blurs

Hermione leaned against the door with the right side of her body, forcing it open with somewhat exaggerated effort. She stumbled into the Great Hall and paused, blinking as she looked up to the blue skied, sunny scene overhead. No one really seemed to notice her entrance, except Harry who was seated facing the door across from Ron and also probably expecting her. She walked briskly toward the Gryffindor table making eye contact with both boys in turn as she nodded a 'good morning'. She sat slowly on the edge of the bench facing away from the table, and then used her hands to balance herself as she lifted her feet from the floor and spun her legs over the seat.

She made to ladle some porridge into her bowl, but glancing at the food, she suddenly became disinterested and let her hand rest back down on the table. She looked up across the hall and found Draco looking straight back at her. Hermione's expression was bored and she lowered her eyes to focus on her friends.

"Hey, how come you came down to breakfast so late?" Hermione shrugged at Harry.

"But you're always up way before us and you didn't even go to bed late last night!"

'That is true, Hermione thought, I didn't stick around long with Draco – but I don't think I had a very good sleep…'

Ron continued on,

"And if we're ever late for breakfast you usually tell us off - " Hermione's eyes unfocused again, and Ron became a blur on her left as she stared past him, further down the table. Ginny and Diego were sitting and talking coolly to their friends, but there was something about the way they sat, though they were not even close to touching, that told Hermione just beneath the table, their fingers were intertwined.

"….and what's up with that look? Are you dazed or something?"

She fixed her gaze back on Ron as he finished his little rant.

"Tired, I guess." She then moved to get up from the table. Ron seemed about to stop her, but Harry gave Hermione akind smile and started to speak.

"We just want you to know we waited for you. After about 20 minutes, we figured you might be feeling a little under the weather and had stayed in bed."

'What weather? It's bright and sunny. Dumb expression.' Hermione nodded, and although her mind was telling her she wanted to smile, she just didn't feel she could.

"See you in class," she mumbled, and left, adjusting the collar of her robes as she walked through the door. Something seemed wrong. Since when did the doors stand open? However, Hermione wasn't fazed. This was a magical castle after all, why shouldn't doors open for the students? She kept on walking.

"Your welcome," she heard a slightly sarcastic voice call after her.

She paused as a reflex, then silently cursed herself for it. She wondered if she should just continue walking, but she knew it was too late; he must've already seen that she'd heard him.

"Leaving already?" Draco asked as he took his time catching up to her, "Would you like me to accompany you?"

By now he was at her side, and without waiting for an answer he started down the hallway. Hermione
took a few steps and stopped again.

'What am I doing? I don't want to be here..this is wrong...'

Draco turned around as Hermione had fallen behind. He took a couple of long
strides so that they were face to face. His hands moved to her shoulders and
turned her body so that her back faced the wall.

"What…" she couldn't formulate a question; her mind had become consumed by the image of Ginny and Diego. He saw the drained look in her eyes, and with a swift decisive move, leaned down to kiss her. He pulled away after a moment, and shuffled forward so that their toes touched. With another soft nudge, Hermione's foot seemed to step backwards of it's own accord. Then the other. Draco placed his hand behind her head before it met the wall, and as the other slid over the curve of her waist, he lowered his lips to hers again.

Diego stared at the door.

'27, 28, 29, 30.' He finished counting and a small smirk tugged at the corner of hs mouth. He turned to Ginny.

"I've just realized, I've left my Herbology book in my room. Do you mind if we leave early so I have time to go get it before class?" He asked.

"Not at all, let's go." Ginny smiled and they got up to leave the Great Hall.

Hermione was just corresponding the fact that Draco's tongue was roaming her mouth. Slowly she began to kiss back. She could feel the absence of his fingers on her side, but did not care to discover where they had moved to; didn't want tofeel what new skin they had found.

Neither of them heard the doors open and swing shut, but as footsteps approached, Draco felt Hermione's breath catch and her lips relax in an attempt to pull away. His eyes openeda crackto see hers looking past him. He then realized that it was Diego and Ginny walking behind them. He had almost forgotten about that part of the plan. Hetriedhis best notto laughinto the kiss, amused with the thought of Ginny's confusion, and closed his eyes again.

Hermione met Ginny's eyes as Diego and her passed them. Almost as soon as Ginny had looked away, Hermione's eyes brimmed with tears. She tilted her head back, trying to prevent the imminent spill of emotion. Draco, who couldn't see a thing wrong, took this as an expression of ecstasy, and began to trail his lips down her petite chin and arched neck. Hermione lost it. She stood up straight, placing both hands on his chest and giving a soft, but firm shove.Leaning back again,her head hit the wall with a quiet thump. She tried to
ignore the small shot of pain and blinked her tears away. Sliding her hands behind her back, she flattened her palms against the cold wall and was silent. After what seemed like forever, she gathered the courage to look at Draco. The most disbelieving expression accompanied a look of offense on his face.

Wiping his features blank, he took a step towards her and brought his nose within centimeters of hers.

"What more do you want?" He murmured, turning and walking away.

As he rounded the corner, she slid down against the wall and sighed.