Hermione flopped on her bed and placed her arms under her head. Bloody hell, she was getting uneasy about Draco Malfoy! She had always thought she could tackle him, take him head on without so much as a tear in the eye, but right now, he gave her palpitations! If she hadn't been so stupid! Oh the stupid 'ifs!'

What if I didn't allow myself to enjoy that stupid bet?

What if I never went to Moaning Myrtle's lavatory?

What if I had kicked him in the arse instead of running away?

Oh the stupid 'ifs!'

And Hermione groaned and placed her head under a pillow. Was there a spell to cure the pounding headache caused by Draco Malfoy! He was confusing her! He was like Arithmancy and Runes, except harder, the hardest probably! Was it his eyes? Sod his eyes!

She was acting like a silly girl who'd never felt attracted to the opposite sex before! Not counting Viktor, she did actually have a crush on Harry, but she quickly dismissed it as a brotherly sort of love after hearing about Harry kissing Cho Chang back in their fifth year.

And now this! It was a distraction!

Draco Malfoy, a pompous sack of dragon's dung, who charmed girls he met, and made girls who disliked him swoon in a second with eye contact or a smirk. Of course she had never fallen for either trick. Draco Malfoy was still a Malfoy, a pureblood, and she a mudblood. No other term was available for the wizard comparison of bloodlines. She wanted to change that. But how could she? It was age old tradition. Name calling…

Wait a minute, she thought. Why the hell am I telling myself about our blood! This has got nothing to do with my performance as a witch!

Hermione was annoyed at herself. She looked outside and saw the pristine Hogwarts lake. "Maybe a walk will help me calm down..." she muttered to herself. Harry and Ron were busy with quidditch stratagems, and she certainly did want any company from any of her Gryffindor female friends. It was a good time to go solo. And Hermione took her coat and went down.

As soon as Hermione had begun walking past the lake, she felt a whole lot calmer. Perhaps it was the breeze playing against her skin, or the quietness of the surroundings, but she knew she was less annoyed now. It was still a few minutes before six in the evening, plenty of time before supper began. Hermione walked further away from the castle and came upon a miniature cliff overlooking the lake. It was like looking at a wintry fairytale. Her mind was floating since she never thought of anything except how breathtaking the view was. It had been a long time since she had been this alone, and it was kind of nice.

Hermione hugged herself as the wind grew colder. She saw lights glowing from within the castle. She was thinking of cutting her short walk since it was getting a bit too chilly for her. Then she felt someone was behind her. She spun around.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite mudblood, " he said. He was wearing a coat and thick gloves and holding a Firebolt

" Ah, ferret boy, my favorite pet, " she retorted.

He laughed. " You have a knack for debate. "

Hermione was quiet. What else could she say? Was he complementing her or was it just an introduction for another string of insults?

" What are you doing here Malfoy? " she asked with a slight frown.

"Admiring the view, I assume you were doing that too. "

" Well the view just turned ugly. "

" Bad mood then? " And he gave a laugh.

She frowned. " Go back to your quidditch practice, or whatever you were doing. Don't waste your time here and don't destroy my solitude. "

" You don't own this place, you know, " he said walking up to her. She backed away from him, feeling the pangs of anger hot on her tracks.

" Get away from here, " she said.

" Make me, " he whispered inching closer to her face.

She bit her lower lip to control herself from slapping him in the face. She backed away inch by inch, trying to get away from the Slytherin ferret.

" You know, " he whispered. " You're not half bad this close- "

Her eyes widened. " You intolerable- " Suddenly, her footing gave way and Hermione screamed as she fell into the frigid waters.

Draco's mouth opened as he saw her body fall into the water. He stared at the large ripples created by her fall. His heart pounded.

" Granger! " he yelled. The ripples began to die out and Draco could sense the feeling that something was not right." Merlin's shit! It's not funny! "

Still no answer. Had she gone unconscious? Perhaps she broke her neck? Draco fished for his pocket and found he had not brought along his wand. He swore and dropped his Firebolt and his thick coat on the snow laden ground.

And doing what he never thought he would do in his entire life, he jumped into the icy lake to save an age old enemy.

As soon as the water had stung his body, he knew he wouldn't last long in it. The water was murky and had bits of ice in it from the snow banks. His hands desperately tried to feel for anything that was cloth or hair.

The coldness was creeping into his body and he tried to move faster, but he felt like he was only being dragged down. His body was hurting, like a thousand little knives were carving into his skin. And then he felt something brush past his hands. He quickly grabbed it and he swam up, feeling that his lungs were about to burst. He choked and coughed as he dragged Hermione without even looking at her face. He had to get to shore.

His arms were weakening. Get there! Get there! He screamed to himself as he grit his teeth. His legs were starting to cramp. His grip on her coat was weakening. And just when he thought he was never going to reach the shore, his shoes stumbled upon the banks of the lake and he hauled Hermione out of the water. One look at her pale face, and he knew it was bad.

He shook her hard. " Hermione! " He flung her to her back and smacked it with the remaining strength he had. He smacked her back again and again. And then Hermione began to cough and water spewed out from her mouth, like she had swallowed a gallon of water.

Draco collapsed, supported by his hands in relief as Hermione still coughed out while lying on the icy ground. He knew his teeth were chattering from the cold but he saw Hermione move out, wanting to stand up.

She was shaking violently and he saw her eyes and he knew she was trying hard not to cry as she shook. Her lips were tinged with blue.

He held her hand, instantly feeling diminutive heat flow from their contact. Without another warning he grabbed her arm and held her close to him. And he held her tightly and she did not protest.

"I-I- " she began hoarsely.

" It's okay, you're okay now- "

And she looked up to him and saw his pale face against the darkening sky. His eyes drowned into hers, a form of winter inside the human body, and it was melting fast into her.

" Hermione…" he began, feeling her cold breath flutter against his skin.

Hermione 's lips trembled from the cold…and perhaps from something else. His head bent lower and lower…nothing was better than human warmth.

And he kissed her.

A/N: Yeah, nothing better than human warmth! So give me some warm loving…err reviews! oh yeah, i'm kinda afraid i may have to cancel this fic. i'm kinda sad that not everyone (i would assume), likes Manic Star. it depends on how many reviews i get. i just feel this sin't being warmly received...sniff.

another thing, thanks to all those who reviewed! You know who you are! (am i repeating myself or what? )