Wow. I really don't mean to sound like I'm bragging or anything, but... I'm a little incredulous about the 1416 hits I have on this story. Considering I have three reviewers I'm about to ask them if they keep refreshing the page.

I'm pretty mad at myself. I had written the most heartbreaking love scene and for some really stupid reason when the paperclip prompted me about whether or not to save changes, i said 'no.'

So I could use a little bit of encouragement, someone to say that I have the ability to do it again, even make it better...

:( No one wants to humor me?

Next is a big crazy dramatic chapter. I know y'all will love it, so I'll post it regardless of the fact that no one will review this chapter.

Lunch had been… awkward, to say the least. Neither Ron nor Harry said much, Ginny noticed, and she was confused as to what was going on with her brother… or it could just be that he's finally picked up the skills of empathy and knows that neither Ginny-nor Harry- were in the mood for talking.

Harry kept glancing nervous glances at Ginny, then Hermione. Ginny felt a streak of anger rise at this. He was going to break for her, she knew it. After what they had both gone through after Hermione was so… bitchy… he was going to apologize, she just knew it.

Instantly deflating as she noticed there was a tear in his eye, Ginny tried her best to remind herself that Harry did not possess the illogical, fiery Weasley temper.

Turning her attention to her potatoes with a sigh, it took all she had not to send a glance over to her best friend.

Whenever Ginny lets her emotions run her actions, logic reprimands her for eternity.

-

Hermione was jogging around the lake that afternoon, now that she was back in school there was no reason for excess poundage.

She had already set up a training schedule, and she was relatively pleased with herself for getting back on track.

She closed her eyes, feeling comfort in her route, and enjoyed the sunshine on her face- when she felt a tapping on her shoulder.

Looking beside her, ready to create a unique glare just for Malfoy- she found herself in the presence of a stranger- one she had never noticed before.

Instantly wary, Hermione surveyed him up and down- sweatpants, a muscle shirt and- green hair?

With the latter so striking, it was truly a wonder to Hermione that she had never noticed him before.

She was about to ask him of his business-when he grinned and held out a hand to her.

Hermione blinked in surprise, but as a reflex shook his hand. Grinning wider, the boy proceeded to state his reason for being there.

"Listen, I just had to come over here and introduce myself. Well okay it doesn't really matter if I introduce myself but- okay so I just had to tell you that I love that you had the balls to shave your head. Well no you're a chick you don't have balls so uhh, I think its awesome that you had the ovaries to shave your head- I couldn't even shave my own head and…" He scratched the back of his head and smiled at her, not knowing what else to say.

Finally understanding why a random stranger had approached her, Hermione blushed and laughed, staring at her feet before turning her smile on him.

"Well, thank you, I guess. It's nice of you to come over here and introduce yourself-which you haven't done yet- and shake my hand instead of the non-confrontationists I was expecting. I appreciate that and… yeah…" Realizing she was rambling, Hermione blushed and could not bring herself to look into his smiling blue eyes, a shade she rarely found pleasing, too bright and clichéd.

He laughed softly at her reaction and held out his hand again, which she instantly took. "I'm Kevin. And if my memory corrects, you're Head Girl."

Hermione could not help but smile up at him. "More than that, I'm Hermione Granger. And are you a new-?"

"Who the heck are you?"

Hearing the snarl behind her, Hermione closed her eyes in dread, fearing what would occur. Kevin seemed flabbergasted.

When Malfoy appeared at her side with an arm around her shoulders, he glared at the boy. "I asked you a question, creep."

"Malfoy!" Turning herself away from Kevin, Hermione roughly pulled his arm off her shoulders.

Kevin started backing away slowly, looking between the two apprehensively. "Uhh, I'm just going to… go. It was… nice meeting you…" Kevin's voice dwindled as he started to move away, quickly.

Malfoy spat in his general direction, and muttered "Good riddance," once he was gone.

Hermione glared up at Malfoy. "What the heck is your problem?"

Malfoy looked down upon her as if it was obvious. "That guy's buddies dared him to come up to you and ask you out."

Hermione's mouth fell open slightly. Glancing in the direction Kevin had traveled, she did not see any of his 'friends.' "I don't believe you."

He raised an eyebrow at her and started jogging. "It doesn't matter if you do or not, he's long gone now."

Hermione was slightly disappointed that the only decent character she had met was only acting so because of a stupid dare.

She thought this over for a few minutes, slightly hurt, and did not answer when Malfoy asked her something, but aroused herself from her stupor when he jabbed an elbow to her ribs.

Awaking painfully, she glared at Malfoy but remained silent as he towered above her, jogging at her pace.

Malfoy smirked at her. "You should really stop spacing out; people might think you're on some kind of pill."

Hermione didn't laugh, the situation with Ginny and Harry fresh on her mind.

Draco, however, interpreted this the wrong way. Stopping abruptly, his smirk fell as he looked her straight in the face, his eyes urgent. "You are, aren't you…"

Hermione pulled an indignant look, disgusted at his accusation. "I am not considering myself when you suggest the topic of drugs."

Draco squinted slightly, searching her eyes for hints of deceit. Partially satisfied, Draco turned his face from hers slowly, keeping his eyes on hers, and brought up their jog again. "Then who?"

Hermione contemplated her response. "First I need to know your opinion of such simple escapes."

He hesitated- "If you're wary of my opinion before even telling me what the big deal is then I presume you think I'm a druglord?" Before she could move to defend herself, Draco continued in an even, steady voice. "I would offer no opinion of them unless I hadn't tried them myself. All I can say…." Malfoy's voice cracked uncharacteristically. "All I can say is that they are not something to pursue unless…. I've done… there is a tendency to do stupid things when you're not even in your right mind… but it's only natural for anyone miserable to experiment. If it benefits you mentally and emotionally, who cares about physically, anyways?" Draco spat this out bitterly, then added his actual opinion. "I guess if you really need them…"

Hermione sped up subconsciously, uncomfortable. "What if you don't need them?"

Malfoy continued at her fast pace, but looked down at her. "Then you're pathetic. Just… just deal with it…" Draco replaced his gaze to the scenery before him and asked the question that had evaded his mind since this conversation began. "So who brought it to mind?"

Hermione didn't hesitate to tell him the truth. "Harry and Ginny."

Draco stopped for the second time in their route, abruptly turning his open mouth to her. "Pothead?"

Hermione frowned at the nickname but said nothing; Malfoy wasn't even paying attention to her, or his ironic nickname, lost in his own thoughts. Not continuing their route, Draco stared out across the lake, let out his breath, and ran a shaky hand through his hair.

"They were… they were fooling around in the boys' locker room…"

"That's why there are no points left?" Draco smirked and gave Hermione a praised look. He then realized what she said- "Wait, what the hell! I thought Zeus was all nuts over her?"

Hermione nodded and moved along with their jog. The silence was not uncomfortable, and they remained at a fair distance from each other while continuing on their run, both running individual thoughts through their heads.

Deciding to change the subject, Hermione asked him why he was out jogging.

He shrugged and smirked at her. "I don't care what anyone says, Quidditch can't keep anyone in shape. Look at all the Quidditch players- we're all pretty pathetic looking… as a Seeker, I'm supposedly better off that way but…" Malfoy shrugged again.

Hermione appreciated the fact that he did not return the question, she was in a bit of a tense mood about herself at the moment.

"Granger," Malfoy asked after a moment of silence, "Granger, do you consider yourself part of the female population of this school?"

Hermione puffed up, she was already moody about herself. "If this is some insult, Malfoy-"

"The other day, Zeus said that the female population finds me attractive."

Hermione scoffed. "Leave it to an ego as big as yours to remember something as trivial as that… you may have buffed up Malfoy, but it takes more than a six pack for me to look twice at such an asshole as yourself. What he said about your 'aura' was correct."

Draco's lip and disposition twisted at her response. "I asked you a simple question, and you feel the need to insult me! What's your problem, Granger! We were getting along just fucking dandy until you decided to open your fat mouth!"

"Excuse me?! Oh, so sorry. For once it wasn't you that had to break a perfectly tranquil moment with a lame brain, rude, instigating statement!"

"What are you all cynical about now, you fucking Mudblood?"

"There you go again!"

Draco scoffed "This couldn't be less of a 'perfectly tranquil moment.'"

"Fine then! Then I say it's a perfectly tranquil moment now, so keep your fat mouth shut!"

"I will if you will!"

"Fine."

"Fine."

"Fine."

In this silence, Draco considered why she was so uppity when he asked her that question. Reviewing their conversation inside his head, he paid attention to the fact that she was defensive of being part of the female population of the school- because Malfoy was basically asking her if she found him attractive. Quizzical, Malfoy tried to figure out if all those rude instigating statements she said- were they real or just defensive.

Glancing at the angry girl beside him, she huffed up in indignation and wrinkled her nose at him when he smirked at her.

But inside his own head, he was going nuts. He didn't want Muddy to have a crush on him; that would mess everything up. If she had a crush on him then they weren't proper enemies. And he needed to know what made them enemies. If Muddy fell for him then nothing would work out.

Running through possibilities, Malfoy was about to open his mouth and spout something insulting-just to reassure them both that they were enemies-when he realized that if he did that then he wouldn't be able to even talk to her. Besides, it's not these stupid comments he made that made her hate him so much, right?

Inside Hermione's head:

I hate that git.

-

Professor McGonagoll was not used to having to run around the school, it was not her job to hunt down students.

Trying not to lose her composure, she rushed down the hallways and knocked on the portrait to the Head's common room for the umpteenth time.

The angry monkey was even angrier at seeing her again. "I told you," he said in an oddly high pitched voice, "they aren't here!"

Grumbling in frustration, McGonagoll rushed past a window and was about to check the library-again- when she glanced outside the window and- "Well. It's about time."