Disclaimer:

Me: (eating food with no carbs)

Ron: I'm annoyed.

Me: Why?

Ron: You should appreciate food, especially the carbs. You don't see me getting fat.

Me: That's because you exercise.

Ron: True. Quidditch does do that for you.

Me: Exactly.

Ron: Which is why I am going to eat this nice glazed doughnut.

Me: (Trying to resist)

Ron: It's so scrumptious.

Me: Can I have just one little bite?

Ron: I'm sorry, what? I couldn't hear you.

Me: I want a bite!

Ron: Sorry, it's ALL mine!

So, I can't own a character's doughnut. Therefore, I can't own a character, or anything else for that matter.

Reviewer Shout Out: Thank you once again for reviewing. Don't worry, I'm not going to drop this story. This one's my pride and joy. I'm sorry I didn't update in like...two weeks, but I have school, and I had three project due last week. I finally got to type last weekend and sometimes during the week. I hope this chapter isn't too disappointing. And to the one new reviewer who wanted to read Divine Humiliation, it's on my favorites list. Just click on my name and go to Author's favorites story. I also recommend Temporary Insanity (strongly recommend), The Bachelor (not as cheesy as you think, and Trick Stair (a nice light story that will cheer you up completely). So anyways, don't give up on me just yet. Like I said, I won't be updating as often. So, to stop my rambling, here's the story.

Reviewer Poll: I don't know if I will be able to do this story at all. My schedule is not really allowing me to update this one as often as I did over the summer. But just in case I will, here is the winner.

Scenario Four: Blaise has never really been with anyone that was important or mattered to him. And then there was Snape, Hermione, and a task to invent a potion by the end of the year.

I realize that I can do this story with Draco as the leading man. So if Draco is more preferable, than by all means tell me.

I woke up at five in the morning on a Sunday. Sunday was always my off day. Ron got me accustomed to calling it...

Ron didn't matter right now.

What did matter was coming up with the Head Girl and Boy present we would present the school with. We had to start planning for it today, although I doubt we will. Next month, we would start planning the bigger than ever Graduation Ball. And on top of that, we have a possible apocalypse in our midst.

I need to read a book.

I turned and picked up my book on Goblins. I started reading about secret inscriptions and all these other neat things in the tunnels.

'Goblins have always made secret codes in their tunnels. It's a way to keep them hidden and keep the enemies out. Only the ones who aren't human but roam the night can see the secrets they hold in their tunnels. Most think that it's a beast or bat that can see these inscriptions. Not one theory has been proven right.

Goblins themselves were night dwellers. They always gamble at night. In fact, they thrived in the night like beasts thrive on flesh. They were hungry for money. This led to...'

Grumble.

Damn stomach. Couldn't it wait?

Grumble.

Guess not. But I don't want to go by myself. Maybe Blaise... No, I would have to go down to the Slytherin Common Room or knock on Draco's...I really don't want to knock on his door. I don't want to go to the kitchen by myself either.

I took a deep breath and headed down to the workroom.

Knock, knock, knock!

This was stupid. He won't hear me. Arg, and the person in his portrait is gone. Maybe I should...ooo, light bulb.

'Sonorus!' I whispered while pointing my wand at my hand.

I then knocked on the door again.

I held my breath. The knocking was loud enough for everyone in Slytherin to hear. And I was going to face him again. The thought of it gives me...fear? Since when was I afraid to talk to him? Sure, I ignored him, but I was never afraid.

This was new.

Maybe I should just go by myself. Yeah, I'm just going to go by myself. I'm just going to turn around and...oh crap, the portraits opening.

"What is it?"

Well, he's not being as rude as I thought he would be.

"Umm..."

"Listen, Granger. We need to-."

"Malfoy."

"Hmm?"

I looked at him. He was still in his uniform. It was all ruffled and his hair was everywhere. The bags under his eyes were a little scary also.

"Can you get Blaise...please? I need to talk to him," I said a little more nervous than I wanted to sound.

Draco gave me a disappointed look. I would have to make sure that I give him some time today. I can't believe I actually thought that. But, we need to talk about it. I know we do.

"You want Zambini?" he asked again.

I nodded. He turned around swiftly and shut the portrait door. Did he lock me out, so I can't get Blaise, and then I would have to go all the way to the Slytherin Common Room? I hope he didn't do that to me. He would get a swift kick in the knee the next time I see him.

The portrait door opened again.

I would have to hold back on the kicking.

"Come down to my dormitory..."

"I thought these paths connect to our common rooms?"

"Yours might. My room is the highest room in the Slytherin Common Room. It wouldn't make sense to put it all the way down there in the regular Common Room."

I looked at him skeptically. This was an invite into his room. This was very strange of him. "Okay?"

"That way you won't think that I blew you off or something like that," he said shrugging.

I stared at his back as he led the way. He was actually being considerate?

We arrived in his room a few minutes later. I entered and tried not to gape. It was a mixture of green and silver swirls. The carpet was plush, the bed was clean, and his whole room was clean as a matter of fact. There was a desk in one corner with book self next to it. There was another door on the left side that I assumed was his bathroom.

He opened the door and yelled for one of the Slytherins in the common room to get Blaise. He then turned around and stared at me. He wanted to tell me something. I challenged his stare with one of my own. I was daring him to tell me, because in all truths, I was curious.

And it was driving me crazy.

He finally cleared his throat. "We need to talk about it."

There was a knock on the door.

"Later."

"No, now, Granger. You know as well as I do that we need to."

The knocking came again.

I know I wanted to talk about it. But it just wasn't the right time, and I wasn't ready. I knew I would lash out at him if we talked now.

So, I decided to open the door.

"What is it...Hermione? Whoa, I'm confused. Did you and Draco switch Houses?"

I knew Draco cringed at that moment.

"No. I didn't feel like going to the actual front of the Slytherin Common Room because..."

"Yeah, I get what your saying. So what's up? You want to eat more chocolate with me?" he asked with a grin.

"Maybe hot chocolate. You want to have breakfast with me?" I asked casually.

Blaise got really serious. "You woke me up at 6:30 in the morning to ask if I wanted breakfast?"

"Yes," I said a little nervously. I then caught the glint in his eye.

"Okay. Gosh, I think I could eat more than Weasley in a week, which is saying a lot," he said rubbing his stomach.

I laughed despite the fact that he mentioned Ron. Then I remembered that Draco was still in the room. Blaise realized it too. He grabbed my arm.

"Sorry to have inconvenienced you, Draco," he said apologizing formally. Draco nodded somewhat stiffly as we left the room.

Once again, what has gotten into him today?

I finally had my coffee. I had realized that coffee had not been in my hands since Harry and I were talking again. It was also too sugary, as I had predicted. Blaise always puts two or more cubes in my coffee. He was currently staring at me skeptically.

"Okay, what's wrong?" he asked concerned.

"Nothing," I replied passively.

"It's never nothing," he said impatiently. "I know that for a fact. So does Potter, but he leaves well enough alone. And, he let you into his room. He never let me into his room. Not even when you got sick. We had to go the long way around."

"It's..." Geez, I could never lie to Blaise. He was the person I could never lie to. "Malfoy. He's just, been acting very...strange."

Blaise took a bite of his toast. "I know. He always has some excuse to go up to the workroom. No affair right? Just Head's duty?"

"Well, yes," I said trying not to be obvious.

Blaise knew me too well. "What happened? Did he hit you?"

"No."

"Did he threaten you?"

"No."

"Did he kiss you?"

"No."

"Oh, that's right, you kissed him!"

"How do you know!?"

"I can read your mind, Hermione. It comes with all sorts of benefits," he reminded.

Damn his smartness.

"Why did you do it? Did he attract you with his charm and the fact that he practically ruined you!"

Blaise was mad. "No, I was just mad at him. Then I remembered what you said about getting the ultimate revenge on him, and I just did it. It was the only thing that at the moment."

Blaise searched my eyes even though he didn't have to. "Did it work?"

I shrugged. I tried to keep my thoughts from rushing through my head. "He seemed unaffected."

Blaise shook his head. "You know better than that."

I puffed. "I didn't really pay attention to how he felt, because I was sort of in shock!"

"Clearly he is," Blaise concluded. "You need to talk to him."

"I will, just...not now," I said drinking my coffee.

"Well, why? It's well...your thoughts say you're bothered by it...a tremendous amount," he informed.

As if I didn't already know.

Blaise cracked a smile.

Why does he always have to do that when we're talking about something serious?

"It must have been funny," he said bringing light to the situation.

I crossed my arms. "Not for me. Definitely not for me."

Blaise turned serious again. "Did you like it?"

I answered the only way I knew how. "I don't know...and it's driving me crazy."

Blaise swiftly looked at his watch. "You should find out. But, I have to go practice."

"At the beginning of February?" I asked.

"Draco's orders. Have to beat you bloody Gryffindors," he said grinning.

"Right," I sighed sipping my coffee. I wasn't even half way done with my breakfast.

Blaise patted my head. "Don't feel bad, babe. Hey, maybe Potter can join you."

I nodded. "Either that or else he's with...with..."

"I know," Blaise said cutting me off. "Just keep a nice distance away."

I had to laugh. "Okay. Now go, you're going to be late."

There was no other word for it. I knew Harry and Ron were playing chess. They always do on a Sunday. Well, first they go to breakfast, then they play chess. And I tried to read again, but Blaise's words affected me way too much.

Did you like it?

How the hell am I supposed to know?!

All I knew is that I was bored. I was bored out of my mind. Reading didn't help either, unfortunately. In fact, it worsened everything. In fact, it got me worried about Crookshanks. Where had he been? Maybe he found himself a mate or something.

I heard a meow from a corner.

I know this sounds totally cliché, but Crookshanks was here, in the workroom.

"Crookshanks?" I asked unsurely. Crookshanks came running into my arms. "Oh my gosh, where have you been all these months?"

Crookshanks just kept quiet. He apparently didn't have a mate, because if he did, he would have shown me. Crookshanks was up to something. I just didn't know what he was up to. I would ask him, but Crookshanks couldn't talk.

I pet him as I picked up my book on Goblins and tried to read again. To my surprise, Crookshanks turned to the page I had been reading earlier. It seemed like he was scanning it or something. I shook it off and closed the book again.

This was getting annoying.

I decided to get one of Crookshanks's toys and play with him for a long while. He deserved a break after all the supposed traveling he's done. I went over to my desk and bent down to reach the lowest drawer. As I stood back up, I caught something rather peculiar.

It was very slight and subtle, but I could've sworn I saw something green and long rush into the forest. It might be a coincidence, but if there was one thing I've learned from being Harry Potter's friend, it was never a coincidence. Something was up.

And yet another cliché moment, I heard a knock on the door of the workroom.

Three guesses who it was.

I pressed the stone that would open the door and saw, how shocking, Harry Potter.

"I couldn't wait to tell you," he said rushing into the room. He started pacing back and forth as I watched him. "Voldemort is trying to reach me again. And what's worse, I almost killed Ron."

"You almost did what?!"

"Oh don't worry. Ron immobilized me and hit me unconscious. He said I was trying to strangle him. And in my dream, I was really strangling one of the Death Eaters. I think it was Nott, but who really cares."

I went and sat down on the couch. "Keep going," I said in a voice that was almost inaudible to hear. Harry opened his mouth again, but I interrupted him. "Wait." I wasn't going to be careless this time. I soundproofed the room and cast a weak locking charm on Draco's portrait. That way, he would make noise whenever he decided to come in.

Harry waited patiently and continued to go on. "His snake, Voldemort's snake, wasn't there. Voldemort said that she was in her chambers or something. Anyways, the war...the final battle will be held somewhere around the area. I just don't know where."

I shook my head trying to take this all in. "What are we going to do about it?"

"Dumbledore said to just wait-."

"Since when have you listened to Dumbledore?"

"True. But around this time of the year, we usually know almost everything about what we're facing. But right now, Voldemort is hiding something well...really well."

"Okay, okay. I need to go visit the library. I'll owl you Harry, okay?"

Harry nodded and looked confused. "What are you going to research?"

"All the areas around Hogwarts, which will most likely take me all day. Just expect a late owl Harry."

He nodded again and left. This is more of a complicated matter than I thought. Of course, Harry never really told me anything about what's been happening. So, I need to pick up the speed.

I came back to the workroom about an hour later with all the books I could carry. There were books about Hogwarts, Hogmeade, the countryside, the surrounding area, and even on the haunted places around Hogwarts. In other words, I was desperate to start taking notes.

I opened the first book about Hogmeade Village. I remember reading it earlier during the year, but it wouldn't help to rescan it. Then again, it would do me better to read about the secrets around Hogwarts. I tossed the book aside as I tried to find the other one. Crookshanks, who had been sitting on the opposite side of the couch, came running towards me. He jumped on the table and knocked off every book except the one about Goblins in Hogsmeade.

I personally didn't think that there would be that many books about Goblins, but apparently there were. I just never took the time to look for the books, because I wasn't interested in the subject. It was just another word for Divination to me.

But after the Hogmeade incidences, the subject became more interesting to me. And thank goodness that Crookshanks knocked the books over. I would have been to caught up to read about it.

If it weren't for people knocking on the freakin' door/stone wall, maybe I would've gotten to the first page. I was betting it was either Harry or Blaise. And if I remember correctly, Blaise had Quidditch until lunch, so my best bet is Harry. I rolled my eyes and opened the stone door.

Yep, it was... Justin Flinch Fletchy?

What the hell would be appropriate to use for this setting.

"What he hell are you doing here? And how did you find my room?" I asked a little peeved. I never liked him.

"All prefects know where the Head Boy and Girl workroom is. It's labeled on our school map," he said in the you-should-know voice.

I rolled my eyes. "What do you want?"

"Well, I have come to a conclusion. I blame you for everything that has happened to me," he stated matter of fact.

"What did I do?" I said leaning on the wall bored. I heard a faint scraping noise but didn't really care to address it.

"You, my dear, have made me hypothesis something. I used to be with Hannah, right?"

I shook my head lazily.

"And we broke up when I started talking to you. Then, when I told Lisa I didn't like her, I overheard you and your friends talking about how you overheard me. So in conclusion, I think that this was meant to screw me up."

Well, he did hear about my bet with Malfoy. Maybe he finally figured something out.

"We were meant to be together."

"Wait...we what?!"

"Dear Hermione, we were meant to be together. And yes, I know what things you've done to other people, but I think that I can change that. I'm the best a girl can get. Yes, I am the very best. And I know that you've fallen into my charm. Remember when you stared at me that one time in Transfiguration?"

Since when did I stare at him?

"It was a rather dreamy stare really. But don't worry, I wasn't offended."

Let me rephrase. Since when did I stare dreamily? I don't dreamily stare at anyone. And staring at him would give me nightmares for at least a year.

"You weren't offended. Well, right now, I am. You can't say that I like you when I don't!"

"But you do. I know you do. I took inspiration from you, which you should be very proud of, and read a book. All signs point to it. You stare at me, act like you hate me, but you look sad everyday. That must mean you can't eat or sleep which means you're in love, with me specifically. And, you have to like me, because...I say so," he sputtered.

I took a step back and shook my head. Then, I tried to muster the best talking-to-a-child voice I had. "Justin, you make me want to laugh at you very hard. You can't force me to like you when I clearly don't. My gosh, since when did Hufflepuffs become so cocky."

Justin looked at me mad. "But everyone likes me. And...you should, or else...you're just not normal woman!"

"Aw," I said brushing away a fake tear. "Thanks, now go away." I said quickly and closing the stonewall. My gosh, he was so annoying.

I turned around and looked at the wizard clock in the corner. It was time for lunch. He ruined my reading time!

I was still mad when I got back from lunch. Like I said before, Justin ruined my reading time! I can't believe I put up with him that long. What shocked me when I walked in...no wait, it didn't shock me. Draco was sitting on his couch looking up at the ceiling. This probably would be a good time to talk...damn it.

I inwardly sighed and went to sit down on the little space that was at the end of his couch. He pulled his legs in like I do when he sits on my couch. Why was he being so...not him? Maybe he's just doing it so I will talk to him. Should I tell him the truth? Yeah, I probably should before we both consider...I don't even want to think about it right now. I took a deep breath. "I only did it, because I was mad."

Draco didn't move and was lying there calmly. "Because you were mad?"

"Yeah."

He sat up. "Who kisses people when they're mad?"

Why is he so calm? "I heard you kiss Pansy when she won't shut up."

"That's only because she leaves after I kiss her. So you just...did it because you wanted me to get mad?"

"Hoping...I was hoping you would get mad," I corrected.

"But I didn't"

"Which is why I'm confused."

"Well, I was mad."

"Why?"

"Because now I'm confused."

"You shouldn't be. I just told you all you needed to know."

"Exactly, but I don't feel like you have."

"Why are you making this so complicated?"

"Because it is complicated."

"How then? Tell me how it's complicated."

"Because, you simply... kissed me."

"See, even you say it's simple."

"Well, simple things get complicated don't they?"

"Only if you make them."

"Okay, okay. Let's just stop for a second," he said rubbing his temples. Arguing with him really does take a lot out of you. "What I am trying to say is... I don't know what to make of it."

"Well, it was a kiss."

"From you. If it was from Pansy, I would assume she was practicing for when she's going to say I do. But from you, I know it's something more than to make me mad."

"No, I just wanted to make you mad, that was all."

"No, seriously."

"I am serious."

"Don't be that way, Granger."

I paused for a second. "Are you trying to make me confess, because...because...you felt something?"

"I didn't feel something," he said lightly.

"Sure, okay." Gosh, I wasn't that bad at kissing.

"I just finished telling you that I don't know about the...kiss. I should've been mad, but I wasn't."

"Why?"

"I don't know," he said starting to lose his cool.

I should cut him some slack. "I don't know either."

"So how do we find an answer to our question?"

I thought for a moment. We went into a sort of uncomfortable silence. And, as hard as it is to believe, I was thinking about it really hard. Of course, if I was smart enough to find another way to get him mad, I wouldn't be in this position. I have to stop doing some things on impulse. It's never good for my health. I mean, how am I supposed to find the answer to his question? I couldn't even find the answers to my questions. Notice how my side is plural. Anyways, the only way we could ever answer our questions was too...oh crap.

I looked over at him. He was apparently thinking the same thing. I shook my head no. He shook his head no. We both shook our heads at each other. There was absolutely no way I was going to do...that. Nope, there was no way.

He looked at me in the eyes. "It's the only way, Granger, and you know it."

"No it's not. Maybe you could travel back in time illegally so you could experience it again. But there is no way!" I said shaking my head to the point of dizziness.

"We have to try it again. I know for a fact that you hate being confused. In fact, you don't understand why you're confused sometimes. I should know, because it's been bothering me the whole damn day!" he said frustrated.

I huffed. He was right. Sometimes it's creepy how much he knows about me. I hate being confused, which is why this whole issue was bothering me. If I just thought I did it to make him mad, and that was all, I wouldn't be here talking to him. But somehow, I got confused, and I don't know why. And what's worse, he got confused along with me.

I took a long, deep, soothing breath. "Okay. If you really want to find out why you're confused, then lets...go for it."

"Thanks for making me feel better about it, Granger," he said annoyed.

I didn't pay attention to his comment and waited for one of us to move. A few seconds went by. Then, those seconds turned into long, excruciating minutes. It was about thirty minutes before we did anything.

He finally sat up. "Are you sure you're not going to mentally break down or anything?"

"Do I ever mentally break down in front of you?" I said in my obvious tone.

He sighed. I bit my bottom lip. Then, we both leaned in and kissed like we did the first time. We just sat there for a few minutes with our lips glued together. And they were glued together for what seemed like forever. Then the weirdest thing happened. His lips parted and caught my bottom lip. I absentmindedly parted my lips as well. And from there...it just went on like that. There were no tongues. If there were tongues, I would've stopped. But we sat there kissing like that for a while. The kisses pace got faster as we went along. And...I could've sworn his fingertips were on my face. But then again, I wasn't paying attention. His kiss was...very nice. It wasn't just nice, it was very nice. I thought I was out of my mind. He was so...not him. It wasn't natural. And when we both needed air...I was sort of reluctant.

He took a deep breath and looked at me again.

I laid back. "Are you still confused?"

He sighed. "Yes...and no."

"What do you mean?"

He sighed again. "I liked it, Granger, that's what I mean."

He got up and started pacing. "If you're thinking I didn't like it, I did."

"You...did?" he asked getting more confused.

"Yes, weirdly enough," I said touching my lips to make sure one wasn't growing a boil. Nope, no boil, and so I definitely liked it then.

"What is there left to do then," he said getting frustrated. I guess that the fact that he can't get out of this one is a little mentally straining for him.

My answer, unfortunately, came out all wrong.

"We could, just be friends?"

Chapter review: and so you have you're long awaited chapter. I made it fifteen pages on word, just like all my good chapters are. How was it? Was the second kiss part a little suspensful? I tried making this one good enough for the two weeks I didn't update. And, I did add Justin into this chapter. So, yes, he is important. And I had to add him back into the mix. Plus, he is a little full of himself, so who knows what he was thinking when he saw Hermione. I hope the aftermath talk wasn't a total disappointment. I tried to make it interesting (hehe). Anyways, same rules apply. Review, criticize(nicely), and I hope to see you next chapter.