A/N: Didn't take me as long as the last chapter did. I also like this chapter better than my last one, but it's not up to me, it's up to the critics, or should I say reviewers. And I'd like to thank all of my reviewers. If it weren't for you, this story wouldn't be unfolding the way it is. Well lets begin…

Rage and Confusion

The next day Hermione woke up around 5:30 in the morning so that she could beat Malfoy to the Heads' bathroom. He normally got up at 6 o'clock, and would always sneak his way into the bathroom first and use up all of the good water.

"Well not this time." Hermione chimed as she walked to the bathroom.

All seemed to be going well until Hermione approached the bathroom door. On the bathroom door was a note; inked in a serpentine green.

Granger,

I had a feeling you'd try waking yourself up early, so I too got up early. You see, I require long hot showers; and I won't have you taking that away from me.

.Malfoy.

Underneath Malfoy's name, Malfoy drew a picture of a bug sticking it's tongue out at her and teasing her. The bug did it over and over.

Hermione was seething until she recognized the bug Malfoy drew- a caterpillar.

'Does he remember? Nah! He must be teasing me about the other day.' Hermione thought as she continued to stare at the drawing.

While Hermione was still staring at the rude little bug, the bathroom door opened. Steam just rushed out of the bathroom as soon as, as much of a crack in the door was made. This made Hermione mad again.

When Malfoy stepped out- hair still dripping wet- Hermione couldn't help but stare at him. He was completely nude except for a towel hanging loosely around his waist.

Malfoy noticed Hermione eyeing him and decided to mock her.

"Well Granger, I know I'm hot but… you're looking at me as if I was the last piece of food left on Earth." Malfoy sneered.

Hermione glared at Malfoy as she realized what she was doing. 'How can I even look at that ferret! I'm so disgustingly desperate to think he's hot. 'But he is isn't he?' What? He is not! 'Is so. He's always been on the attractive side.'

Hermione began to have a conversation with herself; and Malfoy look at her confused in seeing all the different display of emotions on her face.

'When he was just a little boy he was cute.' Was not! He was butt-ugly, and dumb enough to call himself 'Man of a Million Beasts'!

Hermione was for a reply in her head, but heard none; so she directed her detention back onto Malfoy, who looked furious.

"Butt-ugly huh? Dumb enough to call himself 'Man of a Million Beasts'! I was A KID!" Malfoy began shouting. Apparently Hermione spoke that last part out loud. She just stood there with a hand over her mouth as Malfoy continued yelling. "…And you know what? You didn't look any good yourself- with those dull brown eyes, those stupid overalls, and that detestably wild hair that holds all kind of dirty little creatures and other filth!"

"What? I still have those dull eyes you were talking about, same with the hair; although, I resent the part of it holding-" Hermione never finished because Malfoy interrupted her.

"Yes! You do still have those ugly eyes and that wretched excuse for hair. So I may have been butt-ugly, but at least I grew out of it. You on the other hand. You are still as repugnant as a troll, as revolting as a sack of dung bombs, and AS DAMNED AS A FUCKING GROTESQUE WEREWOLF!" Malfoy shouted at her will all of his anger and frustration.

Hermione backed away from Malfoy slowly. Her eyes were wide with fear. She stood there silently; trembling in fear and saddened pain. Hermione wanted to break down and cry, but the fear she had prevented her from doing so.

Malfoy pushed her into the wall and walked straight to his room, being sure to slam his door.

It was then that Hermione began to cry. She slipped into the bathroom, all the while thinking. 'I never seen him this mad at me before. I even think he was fighting the urge to attack me… physically.' But that's all that she thought. She didn't want an incident like the previous one happening any time soon.

Hermione finally came out of the bathroom about two hours later. At first she didn't want to run into Malfoy, so she decided to stay in later; but she soon discovered that she still didn't feel like leaving the bathroom. When she finally left, she was surprised to see Ginny, Harry, and Ron sitting in the Heads' common room.

When they all heard her enter they turned to a complete surprise. Harry's and Ron's jaw dropped to the floor as Ginny shrieked in terror.

"Hermione, are you okay? What happened?" Ginny said with wide eyes clearly saying she was shocked.

Hermione was in the bathroom for two hours, but all she did was sit on the floor and cry or panic. She came out with a tear stained face, hair in tangles and knots, dirty fingernails (A/N: Dirty fingernails? Where'd that come from?), and a walked sluggishly while humped over.

Ron almost appeared to be holding in laughter. Harry looked terrified. Ginny looked as if she seen a ghost.

"What the bloody hell is wrong with you? You look like a werewolf." Ron blurted out. At that said Hermione shot daggers at him. She ran and jumped onto him and just started swinging her arms.

"H- how dare you. I- I hate you,… you prick!" Hermione bellowed as she continued to hit Ron, all the while crying. Ron yelping in pain and fear.

Harry and Ginny didn't know what to do. They should help Ron, but that could endanger them and cause Hermione to attack one of them. 'What should I do? What's wrong with her?' Harry thought to himself.

'Ron shouldn't have said what he said, but he doesn't deserve this. Someone should do something.' Ginny was thinking.

But no one had to do anything because soon Hermione stopped hitting Ron, and just hugged him tightly, saying "I'm sorry" over and over.

When Hermione seemed to be done with her little fit, Ron snuck behind the couch while Ginny and Harry tried to comfort Hermione.

"Hermione? What's wrong?" Ginny said as she and Harry cautiously walked over to Hermione. Hermione just shook her head.

"Come on. You can tell us." Harry said trying to sound soothing as he held Hermione.

Hermione looked into Harry's emerald eyes before saying to Harry, "Am I ugly?" Before Harry can answer Hermione begins again, "Why did I ask that? Of course I am."

"No you're not!" Ro shouted from behind the couch. As soon as Hermione even glance at him he ducked.

"Ron's right, 'Mione. You're pretty." Harry smiled at her as Ginny agreed with what he said.

"You know, I never told any of you this, but… when I was just a little girl and going to muggle school I was always teased. They said I was too ugly to look at, because I had buck teeth, and they said I had a bird's nest for hair-" Hermione ad only stopped because she heard Ron's slight giggle.

Ginny looked furious as she stomped around the couch a pulled Ron out of the common. Mouthing an 'I'm sorry' as she left Hermione and Harry alone.

"Hermione. You're not ugly, and you don't even have buck teeth anymore. Not after fifth year. And your hair…" Harry almost seemed at lost for words for while before adding, "I admit your hair isn't as tame as most girls here at Hogwarts, but it's not the worst. Besides I know a smart girl that would say beauty is on the inside and not the outside." He said the last part looking mockingly at her with a familiar twinkle in his eyes like Dumbledore.

This made Hermione laugh slightly. "Thank you Harry. I- I guess I'm not that bad off. Some people have it worse than me." Hermione stated.

"Yeah. Look at me." Harry said as his voice downcast.

"Harry you're not ugly."

"No, I meant the whole Voldemort thing." Hermione just looked at him sadly. "You, you can find the right person for you 'Mione, no problem; but me, I have to be careful of those who only like me because I'm the 'Boy-Who-Lived'. There's also the whole 'save the world' thing. I mean how am I supposed to stop Voldemort? Dumbledore hardly tells me anything anymore! I bet he-" Hermione shushed Harry by putting her finger to his lips. She knew he was about to start one of his rants, and that's not what she needed at the time.

Hermione still held her finger on his lips as the two stared into each other's eyes. His emerald green met her chocolate brown. They began to move closer- and closer- and closer. They both realized what they were doing and were going to do it anyway. They continued to move closer until there lips barely grazed each other. Before it could go any farther Hermione turned her head.

"Thank you. For what you said, it really helped." Hermione said, not daring to look at him.

"Thank you too. For what you said." Harry said. He realized the position they were in an blushed. Hermione was straddling his lap. Hermione, too noticed this and got off of him.

"So…" Harry said trying to cut the tension.

"So…" Hermione repeated, still not daring to look at him. "Oh- what are you and Ron doing today?" asked this time looking at him.

"Nothing, just finishing our potions homework." Harry groaned.

"None sense." Hermione said.

"What? But what about our homework?" Harry asked in disbelief.

"Oh, you can copy mine. How about you and Ron come with me to Hogsmeade?" Hermione asked. 'I'm desperate right now. If it means cheating then so be it.'

"Yeah!" Harry jumped up off the couch. No way he'll pass this chance up. "I'll go tell Ron. You should get ready." He said as he ran out of the Heads' common room.

Hermione smiled. Her smile turned into a look of disgust as she looked at herself. 'I need a shower.'

Hogsmeade

"I can't believe this. Are you sure you're the Hermione we know?" Ron asked. He was still amazed at the fact that Hermione let them copy her homework- with a few tweaks of course.

"Yes I'm the Hermione you know." Hermione laughed out.

"Are you sure? Ooh! A test!" Ron stated.

"A test? What-" Hermione began.

"What did me and Harry save you from in our first year?"

"Ugh. A troll." Hermione mumbled. Not one of her best memories.

"Okay then, what petrified you in second year?"

"A basilisk. Ron, can you not ask questions concerning bad things?" Hermione asked.

"I got one." Harry said, "In third year who did you punch?"

Harry and Ron were laughing about this one, though Hermione was reluctant about it.

"Malfoy." Hermione mumbled.

"What?" Harry asked.

"She can't be Hermione if she doesn't know that." Ron gasped.

"I said Malfoy!" Hermione said louder.

"What?" A cold voice snapped. Hermione turned around to see Malfoy in the streets of Hogsmeade with Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott.

When he saw who called his name he immediately frowned.

'Oh no! This can't be any worse!' Hermione thought.

"Hey Malfoy, you remember third year?" Ron asked. Hermione wanted so bad to shut Ron up, but she was frozen solid.

"What about it? If it's about that stupid chicken…" Malfoy said. His words dimming down.

"No. I was referring to when-" Ron began.

"Well Ron, Harry and I are hungry, so lets go." Hermione interrupted.

"Yeah Weasel. I bet you're famished, seeing as how your family is to poor to even put a little food on the table." Malfoy said with his famous smirk. Zabini and Nott were smirking too.

Ron didn't have time to retort back, because Hermione already began dragging him to the Leaky Cauldron.

"What was that about? I was going to publicly humiliate him and you interrupted me." Ron said to Hermione as they sat down.

"Well I wanted to leave." Hermione said. 'That and the fact that if Zabini and Nott knew I hit him, they'd laugh at him, and then he would come to me- and there'd be hell to pay.' She thought as they ordered three butterbeers.

Harry and Ron soon began there usual topic- quidditch; and no doubt did they go to that quidditch shop. Spending an hour in there. They didn't even realize when Hermione left to go to the book store.

"Where is it? I saw it last time I was here. Come on… show up. Aww, here it is. The Krad Tra's Guide to Potions and Curses.

The title had caught Hermione's eye last time she was in the book store, but she didn't pick it up because she was in a hurry. But now she can enjoy it.

'How do they put potions and curses together?' Hermione inwardly asked.

"Hey." a mono-toned voice spoke to Hermione.

Hermione looked up and saw that it was one of Malfoy's friends, Blaise Zabini. 'Oh great.'

"What did you do?" He asked, with no hint of emotion what so ever.

"What did I do? What do you mean?" Hermione asked. 'This guy is weird. He's creeping me out.'

"What did you do to Draco to make him so pissed.?" the mono-toned boy asked.

"Thought out loud." Hermione did it again. She was only supposed to think that- as an inwardly joke. Zabini seemed to have chuckled though.

"A Slytherin? Laughing?" Hermione questioned with a raised brow.

"Surprised? A lot of surprising things is happening today." he said as he leaned closer to her.

"Like what?" She asked, trying not to sound nervous by his sudden closeness.

"Well a Gryffindor. Not any Gryffindor, but the queen of the 'Golden Trio' herself, has buried herself into a forbidden book."

"What?" Hermione asked.

"I know you like knowledge. I myself do too, but I guess I never thought you the type to be reading about the dark arts."

"Dark Arts? I haven't read anything about the-"

"This." Zabini interrupted as he picked up her book titled The Krad Tra's Guide to Potions and Curses.

Hermione just looked at the book, in his hands, confused.

"Surely someone as smart as you discovered the trick wording in the title." He mused.

'Now he's mocking me. Wait a minute-' Hermione thought. She grabbed the book a looked at the title.

"Krad Tra is Dark Arts spelled backwards. The Dark Arts' Guide to Potions and Curses." Hermione said matter of factly.

"There. Now I know that brain isn't failing you."

Hermione just glared at his remark.

"Do you still plan on reading it?" He asked.

"Well…" Hermione was trying to decide whether or not to keep it.

"Do we have a thirst for forbidden knowledge?" He asked is his drawling mono-toned voice. Still mocking her.

"No. Nope, I'm not keeping it. Why?" She asked. She never thought as to why he wanted to know.

"Well I have a thirst for such knowledge, and it happens to be the only book of that title left. So thank you, and good bye." He said as he took the book and left.

'What kind of Slytherin is he?' Hermione thought. 'He's quite handsome, and he's polite; he even laughed. What's up with that? Not once did he call me a mudblood, in fact he called me the queen of the golden trio. Something's strange about him. Strange indeed.'

Hogwarts

Hermione walked all the way back to Hogwarts alone. She didn't know whether or not Harry and Ron were still in that quidditch shop or not, but she was ready to leave and she wasn't about to go searching for them.

"Well, well, well. The mudblood all alone with no protection from her idiot guards." Malfoy drawled at the Hogwarts' entrance.

'He almost sounds bored with talking to me, not like I forced him to or anything. I just hope he isn't so mad still.' "Funny- I was going to say the same to you. I guess you ditched Crabbe and Goyle for Zabini and Nott, huh?" Hermione responded.

"I see you still want to play the brave little Gryffindor." Malfoy said coldly.

"And what does that mean?" Hermione asked, easily getting irritated with the present conversation.

"It means watch your back. You're right I did ditch Crabbe and Goyle for Zabini and Nott; and the reasons shall be known in the future." Malfoy said in a chilling way as if flaunting 'I know something you don't'.

Malfoy began to walk away when he called out to her, "Oh, I won't be in the common room tonight." Then he continued to walk until he disappeared from her sight.

'Idiot. He's up to something, and I bet it has to do with that book I let Zabini have. Why, oh why didn't I keep it?' Hermione thought as she headed to the Heads' common room.

"Complications." Hermione said as she reached the portrait door. As soon as she was in the common room, Hermione dropped onto the couch.

"I'm so tired." Hermione huffed as she stretched onto the couch. She was just about to fall asleep when she spotted a note on the table in front of her.

She continued to look at it as if it had her mesmerized. She noticed her name on it when she first saw it, but she did not move. 'Go on. Open it.' A voice inside of her head said.

She finally did so. It read:

Miss H. Granger,

I know we haven't really been properly introduced, so I would like to do so. I'll be waiting for you in the kitchens on Halloween. I suppose you already know how to enter it. Okay, then you should have no problem. I'll see you there at Midnight.

Until we meet again, Yours Truly

Anonymous

Hermione just stared at the letter. 'Anonymous? Whoever he is he sure is direct. He almost makes it sound like I have no choice but to meet him; and for some reason- against my better judgment- I want to go see who he is. Until we meet again… until we meet again? So it appears I've met him before, just not been introduced. This is confusing. Maybe I'll ask Ginny.' With that last thought Hermione left the common room. It was lunch time anyway. She'll see Ginny there.

A/N: Well, how'd you like it? Next chapter we'll get more into the letter and Malfoy's little secret plan- maybe. Anyway, for those wondering where this story is going… well I'm not sure actually. Just keep reading, and reviewing.