CHAPTER 3 – Call Me Hermione

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Hermione stood in shock of what happened and left the clinic silently without saying any word to Ron or Harry.

Both of them rather, stayed in the clinic and worked out the bandages on Ron's leg. As the nurse was applying it, he said to Harry, "Why would Malfloy even bother of helping Hermione? I mean, they're like the worst of enemies!" Harry also helping bandage Ron answered, "I know. And why did Hermione just leave us like that? You are pretty hurt." Ron gave him a smirk on his face and said, "If you look at it closely, it would seem like Hermione was running after Malfloy. Ouch!" He screamed of the pain in his wound.

At about 10:00 PM, Hermione already was tucked in her bed and reminded herself of what happened earlier. After she had left the clinic, she searched for Draco everywhere. She thought it was wrong of her to push him off after saving her life. Also that she could have said a decent 'Thank You' to what he did.

After her tired feet roamed around the castle, she checked in the last place she didn't ---- the garden.

Luckily, she found him there sitting alone on a bench towards the Black Lake. She didn't want to disturb him because he seemed to be in deep thought. Though the bushes were tall about 5 feet tall, she still managed to see him since there was a bush behind him which was fortunately brought down by what she guessed was ---- Ron.

She watched him there alone but wanting to go up to him and thank him but also apologize. She didn't really have the guts of being polite to someone like Draco.

Hermione hid there waiting for a sign that she might be able to talk to him. She looked at him now feeling as depressed as she was and decided to go up to him.

She silently walked near him but then stopped because she had stepped on a twig which made a frustrating sound.

Without looking back, Draco said, "What do you want, Granger? You already pissed me off that much and now you want to rub it in?" Hermione feeling insulted said, "You know, I went searching for you all around the castle..." Still being annoyed Draco interrupted, "And? You didn't have to look to far..."

"Please! Please! Let me finish." she said now in a more sorrowful voice and tears started to roll down her cheeks.

"I went looking for you... to tell you that... that... I'm sorry." Now she felt even more depressed and noticed that Draco wasn't touched by her words. So she said again, "I'm really sorry... I never knew you would help me even though I wasn't your friend. I'm sorry that I didn't give you a chance to explain."

Draco still sat there now in silence. Hermione was waiting for him to say something but he just didn't.

Wanting to go back to her room, she walked slowly making the leaves crackle on the ground.

"Wait." Draco finally said in soft but clear voice. Hermione then stopped but didn't face him and wiped the tears off her face. "What now?" she said frustratingly.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and steadily turned around. Only to find Draco looking at her eye to eye. His face wasn't in the evil state that it usually was in. The expression on his face looked like it said 'Sorry, too.'

Hermione didn't feel comfortable but wanted everything to be that way.

Still tears dropping down, Draco felt that it was appropriate to wipe them off. He did it slowly and gently while saying, "I'm really sorry, too, Herm... Granger."

Finally, Hermione looked up, smiled and whispered, "Call me Hermione."