A/N: w00t! I have kept a promise. I am updating before the 30th. Yay, my broken, tarnished reputation as a promise breaker is somewhat fixed. Lol. Please review. It really makes my day.

A Farewell to the Ties that Bind.

"HERMIONE!" huffed Draco. "Slow down! I'm out of breath as it is and I don't know where you are going and can….you….please….STOP!"

Hermione turned around at his words to find him bent over with one hand on his knee. He started to say something but he stropped when he looked up and saw her eyes glistening with the shine of unshed tears. Immediately regretting his decision to yell he began to speak softly.

"Don't cry, I didn't mean to say anything to upset you , I just wanted to get you to stop running from me" stated the out of breath Malfoy.

Hermione; wisely deciding to end this before it escalated; quickly cut off her tears and gave him a watery smile. "Sorry, it has just been a hectic day" she said concealing the true meaning of her tears. "It's nothing you said, "I'm just a little emotional. At his confused look she embellished. "It's our last year, and I'm going to miss this place" she finished.

Malfoy's face brightened at the mention of the word 'our'. 'She's put 'us' together in a sentence.' Realizing he was most likely standing there with a foolish grin on his face; he stoop up, brushed the invisible lint off his robes and started towards her. She backed up a bit and confusion marred his features for a moment. The fleeting moment of emotion was quickly replaced with his normal mask of cool indifference and a scowl.

"Fine then. Let's go Granger."

Sweeping past her he grabbed the map off the floor where she had dropped it and found the statue of Branwyn the Sorrowful. He turned to look at Hermione and noticed that her head was down and she was stopped over as though she was punished.

"Hermione?" he queried, worry evident in his voice.

She looked up, wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and spoke the password.

"O amor brilha" Hermione stepped passed him into the common room and stopped short at the sight that greeted her.

Malfoy, who was following behind her stumbled a bit after bumping into her before he too was stunned by the state of the room.

The room was completely blank except for a piece of parchment hanging suspended in front of the fireplace. Hermione grabbed it and read it aloud.

Miss Granger and Mister Malfoy,

As I am sure you have noticed, the rooms are not furnished. You are to come up with your own color scheme and furnishing. Please work together in creating a livable area for you two.

You will both share a common room and a common bath, but you have separate rooms.

I assume Professor McGonagall has told you that the sleeping arrangements may be changed considering the temperament of this room. Your rooms do not yet have passwords. Also, the password to your common room may not be changed unless first informing the professors and myself of the change. Please wait until after the feast to arrange your surroundings.

I shall see you at the feast,

Professor Albus Dumbledore

"I wonder how he knew we weren't going to be at the sorting" murmured Malfoy. Hearing him, Hermione simply answered "He's Dumbledore."

"I think we should start to head down now. Our badges are glowing and it's probably close to half over by now."

"Of course Malfoy" she responded absently.

He frowned at the used of his surname but did not comment on it, just followed Hermione out of the common room towards the stairs leading to the Great Hall. They walked to the Great Hall silently, but to Draco's delight quite closely. After about two minutes of silence Draco spoke.

"H'Mione" he stopped her and turned to face her. "Please don't be mad at me. I didn't mean anything by whatever I may have said. I know you said it wasn't anything I did, but I don't believe you. Please, let me know what I did so that I don't do it again. I don't want to keep upsetting you."

She turned away from the pleading look in his eyes and responded with a resolute voice. "I can't do this Malfoy. There's been too much animosity from the years before and I just can't feel..." she broke off sniffling a bit and started walking towards the last flight. "This isn't going to work Malfoy. There's been too much hate. We'll be civil Malfoy, but we can't ever be friends." And with those words descended the flight of stairs not looking back once.

Malfoy stood there like an idiot staring at her retreating form. He felt as though his heart was ripped still beating from his chest and stomped on. No one has ever made him feel like this. Ever. 'Well fine. I see we'll have to do this the hard way. I'll wait for you, but I won't...can't wait long.' With this thought he picked up the metaphorical pieces of his heart, and continued on his way to the great hall keeping a great distance between the Head Girl and himself.

A/N: Okay, so I know this chapter isn't long. At all. But I did promise to get something up before the 30th. So here it is. And there you have it. And now is the time for reviews. I was so excited when I checked my stats. 1119 people have read the story! Or at least clicked on it. LOL. But only 34 people have reviewed? Does that ratio seem even remotely right? Hmmm. No? Puhlease review. Once again, even if it is to tell me I suck, it means something.

Also: My AIM sn is She Said Ohkay