A/N: oh people…….I PROMISE I won't abandon this fic until it is totally useless and worn out….and that time is SO far from being anywhere near me! I'm happier now, I was just really depressed…I don't feel at all like talking about the things that happened with that…but yea! I had a great spring break, even if I did wish it weren't over! 48 more days of school! YIPPEE!

Hey, Sarah ha-ha 'member? Catherine: this is a taco burrito conversation, NACHOS! l0l…

Oh, and YEA! I got a 22 out of 31(or is it 32...oh whatever!) on my ACT! Yey!

I love all my reviewers oh so much! Keep it up people, if it weren't for you this thing WOULD be old, worn, and useless!

Disclaimer: Hmmm….sorry, no! All Harry Potter related things belong to the Great J.K. Rowling forever and always. All I can do is stand in her shadow and fulfill little thoughts and ideas of mine, and try to help my creative writing skills!

Last chapter: last chapter is what most of you have been waiting for! Hermione and Draco talking and…other things…this story's rated R for a reason, you just need to be patient that's all...; oD

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Hermione slowly began to recover from her traumatic incident. Eventually, and much to her shame, she left the hospital wing and joined the rest of her classes. Everyone had been told that she had been attacked, and that was all they had been told. Nothing about the rape had been revealed to the student body on Hermione herself, he friends, family, and the teachers' wishes.

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Draco slowly began to realize that he had more feelings for the Granger girl than just that of physical attraction (after all, he had seen her with no clothes, what man couldn't resist attraction to a girl like that?). He beat himself up over it, trying to convince himself he didn't like this girl. And he painfully realized he didn't like her. He thought in a sad, love sick suicidal way, he loved her. This couldn't be happening to him! He was in love with a Mudblood? No, no, no! It just, wasn't allowed to happen this way! He was furious at Fate for bringing him to her, and even more furious at Fate for making her be born from Muggles! The list went on and on as to why exactly it was Fate's fault, and not his fault, that he fell in love with her. He never once blamed Hermione for the whole thing, she was too lovely, and innocent, and smart to have done something as malicious and cruel as that.

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It had been at least 2 weeks since the assault, and Ron and Seamus remained at the school, unpunished. Hermione also remained unknowing that her best friend had planned the wicked deed, and recruited another jealous friend to do it. Harry learned that the reason no punishment had been assigned to the two boys was because Dumbledore had to be whisked away to some Ministry thing that had to do with Voldemort. The farthest he had gotten to was to have a stern talking with the boys in which they had come out of shaken up thoroughly, frightened, and sweaty. They themselves thought it was quite the lucky break and secretly thanked the evil lord for planning this move or that on that certain date. Little did they know that Dumbledore would eventually be back to expel them. But that was later to come. Dumbledore knew he had terrified the two young men enough so that they would stay out of trouble until his return, and he trusted as far as he could throw them, which surprisingly was rather far considering…

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Hermione ran up to Seamus after Charms, where Professor Flitwick had been explaining to them the importance of not breaking their wands, as it would be impossible to do their work otherwise (Dean had snapped his neatly into two, and for some reason it seemed untouched by the Professor's attempts to return it into one piece. Ron, who had broken his wand before, advised him not to use Spell-o-tape, and not to try using it, but to simply get a new one, as it was much safer.)

"Seamus!" Hermione called after his retreating back.

Slowly Seamus turned to face her, looking slightly fearful.

She laughed at his expression and gently slapped him on his arm.

"What're you so afraid of? I only came to ask you if you'd seen Dr-Malfoy."

He looked at her oddly before nodding his head and pointing towards the UPC (Universal Prefect's Commons).

She had quite forgotten about the recent installment to the castle. It had been to insure inner-House friendly relations, but really served for a place where 6th and 7th year prefects could get away from their house and be serious. Sometimes they went only to study or to plan something. Other times, mainly the male prefects with an escort of some sort, went there to do…other things. It really was a peaceful place for the serious students though. They each had their own bedrooms, and the common room was a blend of all the house colors and had the Hogwarts crest above the large Floo Network connected fireplace. It was certainly a haven to Hermione when she couldn't bear to look at Harry or Ron. The little outbursts of shame she felt, when she saw them and held that in her, she ran straight to the UPC, where none but Draco knew her secret, and he either wasn't around, ignored her, or what she always hoped for most, tried to comfort her.

The first time Draco had comforted Hermione she had been sobbing quietly in a cushy chair that was buried in the shadows of the back wall of the room. He had walked up on her, and glancing around the deserted room, put his arm on her shoulder. Her head had jerked up from her arms and her deep brown eyes had battled with his stormy grey ones before she looked away and more tears fell down her face. Hermione hated crying, and she hated crying in front of people.

She was a strong person, who usually held a mask, and when she knew something that was solid and unwavering, unlike her feelings, she showed it off. Hence her know it all acts and determination to know everything. If she knew it all, she wouldn't have to show people what they most wanted to see. That was her mask.

Of course, there was only so much pain a person could take before they bawled their eyes out regardless of who was there. She was not some person to think of suicide or cut her wrists, she was too smart a witch and Muggle to do a thing as that, but she had to let some of the pain out, so she cried. Crying never helped, but eventually she would cry herself out and be ready to face everyone again.

On the day Draco had sat there with her not bothering with her tears, she had looked at his eyes again, and in them she could tell he was human, not as cruel as everyone thought. Tears shone in his eyes, and although he never cried, the wet shine in his eyes told her that he did care. She had given him a meaningful hug before heading off to bed, she was just too exhausted by the racks of sobs that had consumed her, she just had wanted to sleep.

Occasionally he would comfort her again, but usually only if the commons were empty, and this she understood.

The day she had gotten out of the hospital wing she had broken it off with Harry. She was afraid to be in any kind of relationship with a boy then. She still was, but she didn't think she would mind being with Draco. Those hugs and comforting pats had made her feel so safe, like nothing bad would ever happen to her again. She knew it was impossible for her feelings to be returned, but she was so terrified that she liked him. For a moment, that fear was wiped clean, and then an even greater terror set in, she loved this Slytherin! This was insane! A Gryffindor and a Slytherin? It just wasn't done! She knew it would never happen, but she still loved him all the same, even if there wasn't a chance.

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A/N: ok, not my favorite chapter, but I HAD to write it because it needed to explain there feelings, get Harry out of the way, leave Ron and Seamus in the school, get Dumbledore, and get the UPC in! Now, I really hate adding characters and places that weren't originally there to my story, because it makes it seem AU, and I don't like non AU story's to have that element in them, but I have to add one or two characters, and I had to add the UPC! Sorry everyone! Plus it gets so mushy gushy here, which bugs me too, but again, it had to be done! Hope you liked how long (or is it just as short?) this chapter is!