Disclaimer: I am not J.K.R and I don't think you are either. If you are then it's my lucky day.

Chapter 10

Hermione and Draco were still sitting on the bed. Both silent, both lost in their own thoughts.

"Do you hate me?", Draco whispered breaking the silence.

'That was stupid of course she hates you. She always has', he thought mentally hitting himself for asking such a stupid question.

Hermione was busy thinking about what to answer. While Draco was mentally whacking himself to death. She didn't hate him. If he had asked her that before her parents died she would have said, "Of course you bastard". Now, well she didn't hate him. What did she think about him? He was almost a friend in an odd sort of way. He was the one who saw that she was depressed. He was the one who comforted her and was there for her at the funeral.

"I don't hate you, nor do I dislike you", she replied.

Draco just gaped at her. He was flabbergasted. She didn't hate him! No she didn't dislike him at all.

"Really?", he asked shocked.

She grinned slightly at this. One of the first smiles she had in a long time.

"Really really", she smiled.

"Friends?", he asked. Hope shining in his eyes.

"Friends", her smile grew bigger.

All he had ever wanted was someone who cared. Actually cared. He had always been so lonely in this busy world. He felt a void that needed to be filled. An empty coldness. Now he felt like someone was pouring the warmth in him that he needed. A joyful warmth, a friend. He felt like he had been looking through a dirty window all his life. Now that window was open, and sunlight streamed into him. Through his veins to his heart. Slowly opening his heart up, releasing it from it's prison.

Hermione watched where he sat, as thoughts flowed through his head. Then he smiled, he didn't smirk. No it was a genuine smile. He looked at her and smiled. A smile that made her melt.

She smiled back, with true happiness. A happiness she hadn't felt in forever.

Fate on the other hand would not let this perfect moment go on for long. The door slammed open and Harry Potter walked in.

"What the bloody hell are you doing with him?", Harry shouted.

His flicked in between both of their shocked faces. They both gaped at him. He watched Hermione's face go from shock to confusion to anger. He watched her face get redder and redder till she was fuming.

"I personally was having a nice chat with one of my FRIENDS. Is that okay?" She growled trying to keep her growing temper under control.

"You... you... him... friends?", Harry stuttered.

Draco just sat back and watched the argument unwind. He had a very amused look on his face.

"Well I didn't know you had a speech problem", she fumed.

"Why? Why him, he is my enemy. You are my friend not his", Harry told her.

Draco felt the need to step in to the growing argument. He would have let Hermione handle it, but the boy-who-won't-die was being arrogant and not even thinking about her. He was being clingy.

"Really? Where were you when she needed to be comforted? Where were you when she was sad and wasn't eating? I didn't see you at the funeral either" Draco yelled at Harry.

Hermione looked at Draco in horror, Draco fumed at Harry, and Harry just gaped at both of them with a lost look on his face.

"Funeral? What funeral?", Harry asked.

"Her parents funeral. Of course you wouldn't know that since the only time you ever pay attention to Hermione is well never", Draco told him

"I do pay attention to her", Harry stated, "C'mon Hermione can't you see he is just trying to hurt you"

"Harry, I think I can handle myself. I am not a child", Hermione told him.

"I am just trying to keep you from being hurt, like so many other girls", Harry whined.

"I won't be", she whispered.

I AM SOOOOOO SORRY THIS CHAPTER IS SHORT I HAVE BEEN BUSY. NEXT ONE WILL BE OUT SOON.