Hey everyone! Sorry I'm so late with the next chapter. Something came up. Anyway, here's the next chapter. It's a little different, narrated from a different perspective. Hope you like it!

Chapter 19

Confrontations

Harry's POV

I woke up a little early that morning for no particular reason. Hermione was on my mind. I was worried about her, which was usual. I worried about everything. I wanted to know who had cursed her. I just hoped it wasn't to get at me. I had enemies, namely Voldemort, and now that he was back my worries were worse than normal. But someone had hurt Mione. My Mione. Even if we have never dated, she was the only girl close to my heart. Besides Ginny, of course, but she was the closest. I knew if something happened to her my world would crumble. The same for Ron, my best friend. It wasn't that we were gay or anything, but everything we had been through had brought us closer together. If something happened…

I shook my head, I was making myself paranoid… Again. I got up quietly. The other boys in the room were still sleeping. I pulled on jeans and a red T-shirt and a school robe for warmth. Ron rumbled something in his sleep and rolled over. I slipped out the door and down the stairs. The common room was silent, which wasn't surprising as it was six am. My thoughts skipped back to Hermione. I was scaring myself, thinking she was gravely hurt or dead. The thought wouldn't leave my mind. Giving in, I left the common room and headed for her dorm. Reaching the portrait, I muttered the password and stepped inside.

Malfoy was standing over her sleeping form on the couch, a strange, almost pained look on his face. He bent over her ankle and touched it gently, whispering a few spells over it. I charged in.

"What do you think you're doing, Malfoy?" he pulled his hands away from her ankle and looked up at me quickly, surprise blanked out almost immediately.

"What are you doing in my common room, Potter?" his voice was soft and blank.

"Checking on Mione, and it's a good thing I did. You're the one who cursed her." I was angry. Mione had trusted him, and this was the ultimate betrayal. She had asked me to trust him and I almost had.

"Why would I curse her and then bring her her homework?" he had a point but I ignored it.

"Because you're a Death Eater and are probably under orders from Voldemort to harm Hermione." He glared at me, then rolled up his left sleeve. His skin was pale and flawless. "So you're not a Death Eater. You still don't like muggleborns, you made that known in second year."

"We were all naïve in second year, Potter."

"I don't care. I want you to stay away from her, Malfoy. I won't let you hurt her." His eyes narrowed.

"And what right do you have giving me orders when you walked into my common room in the first place?"

"Hermione is my friend. I'm not going to sit back and see her hurt again."

"Then maybe you should try listening to her sometime." He glared at me and stormed up the stairs. Hermione blinked groggily and sat up.

"Harry?" she yawned. "What are you doing here?" she sat forward. "Am I late for breakfast?" she moved to stand. I shook my head quickly.

"No." she looked up at me, confused.

"Harry? Is everything alright?" When I didn't answer, she panicked. "Is it Ron? Ginny? Remus? Is Voldemort moving again?" I shook my head.

"Nothing happened, Hermione. Everyone is fine." She sat back, relieved, then patted the spot next to her. I sat; suddenly glad to be off my feet.

"Don't scare me like that. Now what's wrong? You're upset about something. Did you fight with Ron?" I shook my head. "Is your scar hurting?" her hand moved briefly up to my unruly hair, then clasped around the hand in my lap.

"It's nothing."

"If it was nothing you wouldn't be here." She caught my gaze and searched my eyes for a few minutes. "Harry, please." She tugged unknowingly on my heartstrings.

"Mione, it's-" she gave me her 'I'll-cry-if-you-don't-tell-me' look and my resolve broke. "It's just my usual worries. I know Voldemort wants to hurt me. I'm afraid he'll do it through the ones I love. Namely you, Ron, and Ginny. If anything ever happened-" she cut me off.

"Nothing is going to happen that we won't make it through together. Everyone is alive and well."

"But-"

"No buts, Harry James Potter. Now we're going to Hogsmeade today and we're going to have fun, got it?" I couldn't help but smile.

"Got it."

"Good." She gave me a hug, then stood up, wobbly. "Now then, Mr. Potter, could I entice you to take me to my room of am I going to be forced to hobble up the stairs?"

"I'm not sure, Ms. Granger, is this the beginning of the 'fun' I'm supposed to have today?" she gave me a look. "Just kidding." I scooped her up and deposited her in her room, promising to come back at eight to help her down to the Great Hall.

*~*~*

Hermione's POV

The day passed quickly without incident. Everyone found wonderful costumes; Ginny's find the best of the day. I caught Harry being pensive a few times, but we managed to clear him up. The ball was the next day and the mood when we returned showed that. I couldn't stay in the Gryffindor Common Room because of the noise level so I left early. Ron 'followed' me up to my room, carrying me up the stairs. I was thankful to be off my feet. When we entered the common room, was laughing. I dropped off when I saw Malfoy, sitting at the table in the middle of the room, glowering at me. Ron's eyes narrowed.

"Where have you been, Granger?" Ron stepped up angrily.

"Why should it matter to you, Ferret?"

"This isn't your business, Weasel."

"Mione is my friend, so that makes it my business." Ron's hand was hovering over his wand pocket. Malfoy's was doing the same. I slipped my own out and hid it in the folds of my robe.

"If you were a Prefect, it would be your business. We were supposed to go over payment," his emphasis on the word was biting, "for a few things. Another matter you wouldn't know much about." Ron was near breaking; unfortunately Malfoy either didn't know or didn't care and continued. "Of course, consorting with Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers is always the lowest thing a pureblood can do. You're covered on both accounts, I mean, with your father and all." Ron turned bright red and both pulled their wands, but I was faster.

"EXPELLIARMUS!" both their wands flew to my hand. Both turned their glares at me. I headed for the stairs, tired. "Ron, go back to Gryffindor tower. Malfoy," I spat the name, "go back to Pansy and your "own kind". I'm going to bed." Ron was surprised.

"Mione, what about-?" I threw him his wand and he left. Malfoy spoke up.

"Give me my wand." I whirled on him.

"Why in bloody hell should I? You insult my friends and everything else about me. I'm bloody fucking surprised you're not a Death Eater, you'd fit right in. You're just like your father." He crossed the room and pinned me to the wall in one swift movement. His eyes were hard and full of hatred. I was scared out of my mind but refused to show it.

"I am not like my father." His voice was deathly quiet.

"You sure as hell act like him. You said you were trying to change and I believed it was for the better. But I was wrong. You've changed, but for the worse. You're acting more like him and Voldemort daily." His hand raised then like he was going to slap me. My eyes cringed shut, but no blow came. When I dared open them, he was glaring coldly at me.

"If I was as like my father as you say I am there wouldn't be much left of you, wand or no. My father is a coward who beats on people weaker than him. I am not like my father." He let me go and stormed up the stairs. I sank to the floor and stayed there until I heard Adrian and Cho at the portrait. I quietly pulled myself up onto my crutches and up the stairs to bed.

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Yay! Another chapter! Go me! Hehe. Now for my lengthy thank you list.

Hg/dm fan, moween (yup yup!) hPfAnFoLyFe (soon…) RebelRikki (Thank you) fantasymei-aqua (I know the feeling. Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better but they always get better.) Mousas (Tea would be lovely. Oh! And crumpets if you have them! I'll bring the jam!) evil-angel-666 (thankz!) paprika90 (Well, bloody is English slang for some sort of swear word. I'm not sure which.) Meg (Yup, I'm a Southern Yankee. Loooong story.) heather Malfoy (glad you could join us. If you need any help, email me, its in the profile! And thanks for the review!) Kosetsuno Tenshi (They LIVE!!) Heather the Feather Malfoy (Me too! Thanks!) Belle the Philosopher's Cookie ( I like complaining too….) Dancechic0869, RebelRikki (Good idea, it might work in a few chapters…) Dreaming One (That's otay. I'm always tired.) and last, but not least, ChickFlick0042 (Thanks!)

Whew! Now my hands are tired. Hope you liked it. Leave me a review and let me know! Flames will be used to heat the chorus room at school!

~K~