" Hermione, " Ron's voice came from the other side of the door. " Can I come in? Are you- decent? "

It had been a week since the incident, and Hermione had marvelously avoided both Harry and Draco, minimally talking to Ron, and not even participating in class discussions at all. Sometimes, she didn't come to attend classes, pretend she wasn't feeling well, blaming it on PMS or something connected to it.

Harry had secretly confided to Ron that he was very much worried, and Ron knew he was as well. He had not imagined what an impact having a relationship with someone from Slytherin would leave in its wake.

Hermione sighed and slowly slid out of the bed. She opened the door. " You do know this is a female dorm? "

He nodded. " This is very much important. "

" If this is about Harry and Draco, not now. I've had enough. I've no plans of seeing them for the whole semester, or better yet, forever. Especially Draco. "

" This is just about Harry. Your best friend. "

" Ron, if he was, would that have happened? "

" Could we discuss this at a more private place? This female dormitory has the most unusual scents of female toiletry- "

She nodded, finally, seeing how she needed to remain as level-headed as possible. Ron sighed thankfully and they walked out of the Gryffindor dormitories and out of Hogwarts. The days had progressed slowly and painfully for Hermione.

Scenes, ugly scenes of Draco kissing Pansy stuck to her like superglue. Scenes of Harry and her talking. And she had asked him to kiss her! Betrayal had taken in the psychical form of Harry and Draco. And she couldn't believe she had not seen it coming!Harry

They walked towards Hagrid's garden patch, all frosty and slippery, as the snows came heavily the night before. They were both quiet, Hermione lost in her thoughts, Ron hoping that this would turn out for the best.

" Ron? " Hermione suddenly said.

" What? "

" Aren't we heading for Hagrid's cabbage patch? "

" We are. "

" Well, we just passed by it a few feet ago. "

" Well- I know. "

" Ron-"

" Just- just walk. "

She shrugged, not knowing what to do or say anymore. She was tired of thinking, of being analytical about everything. The amazing part about her pain was that no one else in school knew about it, well except the four of them, and Pansy perhaps, who must be laughing her ass off by now. Pansy had been giving her smiles of knowing, smiles that screamed "stupid girl" at her, smiles that said, " you were just played at "- for a whole five days. She wanted to lose control, hex her, and hex everyone she thought caused her pain. But some part of her wanted to remain in rigid control. She wasn't about to lose to any of them.

And they walked, and her mind wandered someplace else. It was only until she almost stumbled on a piece of rock that she realized she was now standing some place familiar to her. Some place that burned an everlasting memory in her. That good memory now felt bad.

She was standing on a little tiny cliff, overlooking the lake.

She spun around, only to find herself alone.

" Ron? " she called out. She frowned. " Ron, this isn't funny! "

She looked around. It was quiet, strangely quiet. She looked at the lake once more. This was where Draco had saved her, after that little freak accident. Where he had kissed her, where he had kept her warm-

She heard the crunching sound of snow.

" Hermione. "

It was Draco.

She stepped back, suddenly cautious of him, like he was some sort of demon or something like that.

" I- "

" Where's Ron? " she asked warily. " Are you three conspiring against me now? "

Draco shook his head. " Nothing like that. "

" I thought I was meeting Harry here, " she said tightly.

" He forgot to mention me, I guess, " he said quietly.

" What do you want? " she asked tartly.

" To be honest? You. "

Hermione gave a short, dry laugh. " Please, keep your charms to yourself. I've had enough of them for two months now, don't you think? "

He shook his head. " You've been avoiding me for a week- "

" So what if I have? I deserve to be away from you, from Harry and you! "

" I want that to stop. "

" You think you can just order me around? I may have fallen for you-before- " she choked as she said that. " I may have- but not this time- never again! "

" Listen to me- "

" What for! "

" Because I love you! " Draco finally said exasperated.

She looked into his gray eyes, and she felt herself weaken. Her knees were turning into jelly. Her lower lip began to quiver, and Draco knew- she was loosing her footing, her stubbornness. They lapsed into quiet, feeling the cool winds blow on their skin, biting into their thick coats and scarves.

" You heard me, " Draco finally said. " I love you. You may not want to believe it anymore, but I know this is true. "

" Stop it. "

" You know it. You just want to deny it. "

" Of course I do! Seeing you and- her! It's not easy- and- "

Draco took another step forward. " Hermione- please- I've been trying desperately to get near you- to explain all of this- I for one, want to get to the bottom of this. "

" You know why this is so hard, Draco? "

He shook his head.

" I've been lied to by two of the three most important people in my life. I trusted Harry, he hurt me, I trusted you- you hurt me- " Hermione said sadly.

" I didn't mean to! No one wants someone hurt when they love that someone! "

" I loved you! " Hermione cried.

" You said that in the past tense- " Draco looked hurt, suddenly hurt. And Hermione felt something sting through her as she looked at Draco's face.

She shook her head. " Keep away from me. Stay away. If Ron and Harry are listening to us- " she spun her head on both sides. " Come out! Wherever you're hiding! I don't understand why you have to do this! You're making everything painful for me! So stop it! Come out! "

Harry and Ron materialized out of thin air. Harry's invisibility cloak. She knew it. She had this gut feeling. This thought.

Harry looked at her with a remorseful look. " I'm sorry Hermione- "

Hermione looked away.

" Just stay away, " Hermione finally said. " Not until- just- just stay away, all of you. Even you- yes, even you, Ronald Weasley. "

And she walked away from the cliff, and the three were left, standing in heavy silence. No one went after her as she walked slowly.

" She said my full name, " Ron said, incredulous.

" What gives? " Draco asked, slightly annoyed.

" It only means- she's that upset, " Ron replied.

Harry looked at Hermione's cloaked figure. She seemed to be hugging herself to ward off the cold, and perhaps the pain. He had planned this, along with Draco. Something he thought he wouldn't have done. But- he loved her- and being the asshole he was, had wanted her happy. The least thing he could do was help Hermione and Draco get back together, after the chaos he had caused- well almost- since he knew he never did conspire with Pansy in the first place. And now it had come to this. Hermione wouldn't hear any of it at all. He had hurt her that well.

Draco watched her as she walked down the little slope. She was walking away from him again. He hadn't anticipated this at all. He had hoped she would bend to this. He and his silly romantic notions! He felt annoyed at himself, at why Hermione didn't indulge herself to him when he did that to her, when he said all those words that could've made any girl faint. He had been true to every single word that left his mouth. But he had hurt her too much…

" Stop her, " Harry suddenly said.

" What? " Draco looked at him, frowning.

" Stop her, you moron! " Harry said louder this time.

Draco looked at Ron and Harry and spun around at break neck speed, to chase after the girl that was getting away with everything, getting away with his heart. He didn't want it back, though. He just needed to see it was well taken care of…or if she already threw it…

A/N: review please? thanks to all those who reviewed again! it means so much! oh yeah..i'm almost done! heheh just a reminder to the readers...