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Painful Exchanges

That evening at dinner, Hermione scoured the Slytherin table with her eyes for any sign of Malfoy, but his usual seat between Crabbe and Pansy was vacant. She knew it was because of her, he was avoiding her, why else would he have left so abruptly? He must have seen something in her mind…

"Ask the fraternizer to pass the potatoes, Harry." Ron requested loud enough for Hermione to hear.

"Hermione, Ron wants-" Harry began, but Hermione lost all patience, she hated being interrupted in a train of thought.

"Yes I know what Ron wants, I can hear." Hermione snapped picking up the platter of steaming potatoes and dumping them in front of Ron. "Grow up, Ron."

"Grow up? Me? I'm not the one betraying my friends!" Ron bit back sourly.

"Oh? And just how am I betraying you and Harry?" Hermione asked her voice at a soft and dangerous tone.

"You and Malfoy looked pretty cosy in Potions." Ron replied quickly, looking Hermione straight in the eye, an unhappy satisfaction plastered over his face.

"So you're jealous of him are you?" Hermione replied without thinking. Ron went scarlet, a large vein pulsing in his temple.

"Jealous? You think I'm jealous of that piece of pureblood crap? I'm just sick of your-" Ron ranted but was cut short by Harry.

"That's enough, that's IT I can't take your bickering any longer!" Harry exploded, standing up and leaving the table.

"Harry, mate, wait!" Ron called after his friend, chasing after him out of the Hall.

"Ron, we all know you like Hermione! And even more people know how much she detests Malfoy! So would you stop bickering with her about him?" Harry chastised as soon as they were out of the earshot of everyone – or so they thought.

Ron opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish. He was horrified at this news; he'd always thought he'd been pretty subtle in hiding his ardour for Hermione.

"I…I…Harry, you know that's not true, Hermione's just a friend!" Ron stuttered going even redder.

"Don't lie to me, I know. Look, Ron, if I think you should apologise to her right now. I know she was out of line …but so were you. You don't want to loose her as a friend, do you?" Harry advised austerely, feeling like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"I don't…I'm not…you're right, Harry. I do like her." Ron gave up, hanging his head, the colour draining from his face.

"That's great, mate! So, do something about it, and stop squabbling with her, because it's driving me insane!" Harry implored. "I'm going back to the common room, coming?"

"Nah mate, I'm going to wait outside the Head Quarters for Hermione. I'll be up soon, though." Ron replied, a plan forming in his mind. He was resolved to tell Hermione how he felt. He needed to, he'd liked her for too long, and Harry had finally made him realise how much she needed to know. So, ran up to the Head Quarters, his mind frantically trying to plan what he was going to say to her as he charged up multiple staircases.

Meanwhile, nearby, Draco had heard the entire exchange between Ron and Harry from an empty classroom he'd gone into to think things over, and was alarmed by it. He'd known for quite some time that Ron had feelings for Hermione – but never thought he would do anything about it. His heart began to race, as dinner began to come to a close, knowing that if Ron spoke to Hermione, he would tell her everything. What if they got together? Draco shuddered at the thought, but didn't really know why he was so bothered with the golden trio's affairs. Well, with Hermione's affairs.

Malfoy was sick of thinking thing through, however. His feelings seemed to difficult to process and he therefore impulsively put together his own plan. He needed to stop Hermione from meeting with Ron, and right away!

So Draco had slipped out of his hiding place without being seen, and ran up the same staircase Ron had in the direction of the Quarters Stalking down a particularly dark corridor, he hid behind a statue of Harriet the Hairy. He knew Hermione would pass this statue because he saw her pass it everyday after dinner, as he would usually follow her with his eyes wherever she went. He just couldn't seem to help himself recently.

Suddenly, he heard the clicking of shoes, walking up the corridor briskly. He recognised the swift clicking heels and delicate the swish of her robes. He took a deep breath and peered down the corridor. Sure enough a small, wavy haired silhouette was approaching him speedily.

The closer she came to his hiding place, the faster Draco's heart beat against his ribcage. Once she was but a few metres away, Draco positioned himself conveniently took out his wand, pointing it to Hermione's legs.

"Fallacious," Draco muttered sending a dull beam towards Hermione.

The spell caused Hermione's foot to get caught in the flagstone, sending her flying forwards. Then, being the agile Quidditch player he was, out swooped Draco to catch her before she hit the ground.

Once Hermione was in his capable arms, it took a couple of seconds for the events to register with her. She opened her hazy eyes and took in the silvery hair and grey eyes looking down at her. For a little while she smiled, and wondered vaguely if his hair was as soft as it looked to herself. Then suddenly, her focus became sharper, and she realised whose arms she was in, and forced herself to think of how greasy his hair really must be.

"Granger, you need a haircut, and then you might be able to see where you're going." Malfoy sneered, pulling a very flushed Hermione to her feet.

"Yeah, well, you need to wash your hair. Goodnight Malfoy." Hermione said abruptly, ignoring his comment and turning to walk from to the Quarters.

But Malfoy was too quick for her and blocked her path before she could leave. He had to stop her from getting to Weasley at all costs.

"What, going already? No thank you? You know, I could have just left you to fall on your arse, Granger." Said Draco, rounding on Hermione and drawing himself up to his full height threateningly.

"So why didn't you?" Asked Hermione, raising her eyebrow slightly, wondering for the first time why Draco was acting as he was.

"Because I'm human, Granger. I see someone fall, I go to catch them. I'm not as evil as you like to imagine me in your silly little head." Malfoy vilified, smoothing his slick hair which had been slightly ruffled when he had gone to catch Hermione.

"And where do you think my 'silly little mind' might have gotten that idea, Malfoy?" Hermione asked, her eyes flashing dangerously, ignoring Malfoy's towering profile.

"Who knows? You do, after all, hang around with Pot goes the Weasel. No wonder you're such a moron." Draco retorted resentfully, feeling slightly hurt that she would think him that evil.

"At least I have friends." Hermione muttered just about loud enough for Malfoy to hear.

"What was that, Granger?"

"You heard me."

"I have many friends, not just two morons."

"All your friends are morons. And they are only your friends because your daddy will get them if they are mean to his poor widdle baby Dwaco." Hermione jeered, feeling a rush of malicious excitement as she sneered at Draco as he had her for many years.

Draco was surprised at this reply. Hermione had never once jeered at him like this, and though he resented it, he was really enjoying her wicked streak and little smirk.

"Granger, you don't know my father. And for your information, not only am I the most popular Slytherin, I have many girls who would kill to be in your position right now." Draco said proudly, puffing out his chest.

"Like who? No girls like you, save for Pansy Parkinson who's a desperate little pug anyway." Hermione scoffed, placing her hand on her hips, smirking up at Draco even more.

"You just can't accept the fact that you'll never have anyone interested in you." Draco retorted, knowing immediately from Hermione's change in expression that he had hit a delicate spot.

"Screw you, Malfoy." Hermione muttered, breaking eye contact with him.

"I'm right, aren't I Granger?" Malfoy sneered, moving in closer to her, making sure she couldn't get away. "You hang around with Potter and Weasley everyday, and have they ever once shown romantic interest in you? No, they haven't, have they Granger? No that I can say I blame them really."

Malfoy had taken a step too far, and by the look on her face, he could tell he had. Her eyes had filled up with silvery tears, and one had slipped down his cheek. Then she looked up at him with angry, sorrowful eyes and said "No-one could ever love you, Malfoy." Said Hermione, her voice dangerous and very serious indeed, and with that she pushed past him, breaking into a run, she was desperate to get away from him.

Malfoy narrowed his eyes, staring down the dark corridor in front of him, just knowing that she was probably right. He had made an innocent girl cry, and for what reason? Simply to stop her from seeing Weasley. Why did he care so much, anyway? Draco just couldn't find a reason as he thought of the small, wild haired, crying girl. He point-blank refused to accept any of the obvious reasons nagging at the back of his proud mind.

Hermione stormed up to the Quarters, her eyes now streaming with silent tears. Malfoy must be right; Ron and Harry had never shown much interest in her in that way so therefore she couldn't be attractive at all. Who could love a boring bookworm, like Malfoy was always implying?

But once she got to the Quarters, a gangly red-head was standing anxiously outside about to prove her wrong.

"Ron?" Hermione called throatily, trying to hide the fact that she had been crying, when she saw him.

"Hermione I have something very important to tell you."