A/N: Wow. I posted Chapter 7 and in a few hours I got 3 reviews. Thanks guys!

Chapter 8 – Healing

Draco Malfoy walked up the steps toward the knight and shinning armor when he saw that Harry Potter just come out.

"I see that you've finished talking with Granger, Potty," Draco sneered.

Harry had turned around to find Draco at the top step of the stairway.

"Better move before the stairway does. Don't want to 'get hurt' now would you Malfoy?" Harry advised, continuing to walk. Draco stepped off quickly, in time for the stairs to slide off.

"So what were you two doing in there?" Malfoy asked, heading toward the portrait.

"Don't go in there," Harry warned.

"Why not?"

"I heard water running. And don't you dare sneer Malfoy because I'll jinx you at once," Harry said, turning around.

"My, my. Don't worry Potty, I don't want to see that mudblood naked anyway," Malfoy said. "Not that I haven't but" but Harry but him short.

He immediately turned around, wand ready at hand, facing Draco. "Don't you ever talk about Hermione like that! Do you understand?" Harry said, pushing his wand even further into Draco's chin than before.

"I got it!" Draco cried and fell backwards.

"Don't understand how she would like a guy like him," Harry muttered to himself.

"What was that? Did you just say that Granger has something for me?" Draco replied. "I knew it. She didn't act all snobbish in the bathroom the way she usually does…"

After a slight pause Harry answered him. "I'll admit to you that she thought about breaking it with Ron to be with you. I don't want you to go around being all braggy about it the way you usually do. If you toy with her I swear I will bloody hells kill you. She's one of the best people I know. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I have trust you with her," Harry said.

"I can't believe the words that are coming out of your mouth either," Draco admitted.

"Are you going to hurt her in anyway?"

"Absolutely not," Draco promised in a sarcastic tone.

"If you do, you know what'll happen won't you?" Harry replied.

"Yes sir," Draco said in an idiotic voice.

"Now stop acting like a bastard and get it there, the water stopped," Harry said and walked away.

Shrugging it off, Draco walked inside. He immediately heard a song playing softly in the background but couldn't recognize it. He saw that Hermione was lying casually on her bed, sleeping. Her bright red lingerie curved her body and her hair swallowed her pillow as her legs criss – crossed each other. Her face was light and relaxed that made Draco lighten up as he stared at her.

Maybe I do like her. But my father! My family! Wait… what family? He thought. Murmuring, Draco lies on his bed and falls asleep there.

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A week after Harry and Hermione's talk things got tougher with Ron and better with Malfoy. They were constantly arguing but with Draco, everything seemed content.

It isn't supposed to work this way! Hermione thought.

"What's wrong Hermione? You're acting all strange these days... Are we over?" Ron asked all of a sudden in the Griffindor common room on a Friday night. Hermione, Ron, and Harry were sitting together when Hermione pulled away from a kiss. Harry glanced a quick look at Hermione. It was the kind of look that said, 'You have to break up with him,' kind of look.

"Honestly?" she asked.

"Honestly! I don't get it. You're spending way too much time in your Head Boy and Girl room. I have to start Quidditch practice soon. This is about the only time we can really get to be together," Ron stated in a frantic worry.

"Ron! Please, you're reading too much into this. True, I don't think that I like you anymore. Why? I don't know. I don't think we had that spark. Don't you feel it?" Hermione blurted. The whole common room had come to a dead silence. Whispers had come behind them and Harry had to turn around and shut them up.

"What the fuck just happened here? Did you bloody hell break up with me Hermione?" Ron cried out, his eyes becoming blurry. Hermione's cheeks were wet and soaked with tears before she could talk.

"Ron, I didn't know what to say! I'm sorry – I'm just… so – so sorry," Hermione blurted.

"Damned hell! Hermione, what did I do? I'll do anything. I – "He stopped short again and his time, walked away, leaving Harry and Hermione alone.

"I'm sorry," Harry said. "I'll talk to him,"

"No Harry. That won't be necessary. It's obvious that he hates me to the very end. You said it was going to be alright. Does this seem alright to you?" Her voice getting louder. "You said that he was going to take it. But did he?" she shouted. She screamed for a second to let leash out on anger. She had never acted this way before and everyone seemed to get out of the way. They were shocked, and Hermione was shocked at herself too.

"Hermione, if you would just calm down for a bit, maybe we can sort this out. It's okay," Harry suggested.

"No, its okay, I told you. I'm fine, you're wrong. I'm going to be fine," she said finally and headed out the door.

She cried herself to sleep and Draco had found her for the second time in bed. Only this time, her face was puffy, her clothes ruffled, and she didn't seem as peaceful as she did last time. Her head was curled up in a ball and her hand made a fist that wouldn't loosen.

Women are so weird. Malfoy thought as he did the same as last night.

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The next morning Hermione avoided everyone. Every face she saw felt like a sword had sunk into her heart. I can't talk to Harry or Ginny. They saw what I did to them. I acted like an idiot. I feel like one too. She told herself.

Harry had caught sight of her and ran up. "Hermione! Wait up!" he called.

"Please Harry; I don't feel like talking to the person I yelled at last night. Especially if it's her now ex-boyfriend's best friend," Hermione argued.

"I'm your best friend too," Harry answered.

"It's not the same anymore Harry. Can you truthfully tell me that Ron isn't sulking?" Hermione said. She stopped midway of the hall and waited.

"No. In fact, he's probably miserable. It's bad enough that I have one best bud sulking. It's even worse if the other isn't talking to you," Harry replied. She had no choice to smile at that one.

"I'm sorry,"

"It's okay. I understand how you feel. Imagine me and Ginny breaking up. Ah, I don't want to even think about it," Harry said and shuddered. They continued down the hall and went to Professor Sprout's room.

The days went by and soon after, Ron started brightening up a bit. "I'm glad you're up and ready for the big game tomorrow," Harry explained. "We've gotta have tactics and strategies. I heard Hufflepuff got a firm keeper that won't budge," Harry continued.

"Alright mate, don't have to get all racked up about it," Ron commented.

"Oh, sorry," Harry apologized. "I guess it's the first game of the year. It gets me heated up,"

"Okay, I'll let you two boys be boys while I got up to finish my books," Hermione answered with a laugh.

"Oh bloody hell Harry don't go sticking those things up my nose!" Ron cried out. They were Fred and George's new product. The fake worm that will go into your body and cause great pain but will disappear in 5 minutes.

"I'm sorry, but it was just a free sample," Harry cried out in laughter. "Fred and George sent them to me to do that. Ah, fuck that was funny,"

I see that their totally ignoring me anyway. Hermione thought and walked away.

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It was a usual Friday night like all nights where Hermione and Draco would sit at the table covered in books and papers that were scattered everywhere. This time, Hermione had been muttering incantations from Chapter 14, where she was supposed to be on Chapter 2 and Draco was writing a 10 in. essay on the procedure to protect oneself from 6 jinxes for the Dark Arts.

"So…" Draco said, trying to make friendly conversation for about the 10th time in an hour. Why am I even bothering? Oh, maybe because she's hot? He thought.

"Pedda…no….um….oh! What's this Malfoy?" Hermione asked. She handed over the textbook to him and he stared at it.

"You know Granger, we aren't even close to this, why are you-"

"Just figure it out Malfoy, before I jinx you," Hermione snapped.

"It's Peddarande. To control another's leg? Why is that in fucking plant book?" Draco asked.

"Because Malfoy, it's to control any plant viruses to get out of the system of your foot. You should know that, its first aid," Hermione explained.

"First what?"

"Never mind," Hermione said.

"Do you like me?" Draco asked.

"Well, that was pretty sudden," Hermione said, turning towards him.

"It's a question, just like the answer I'm going to give you,"

"Oh?" Hermione replied. "And what would that be?" she said, leaning toward him, not noticing how his hand was on her hip.

Without any restrain he cupped her face and pulled her in. There lips touched just slightly and brushed against each others face. When he let go, he sighed and said, "You're a good kisser,"

"Um…thanks. I guess. But wait-"But he left the room and was gone.

A/N: Oh! It's the first Hermione/Draco action. There will be more…...hopefully!