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Chapter Twenty

"ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?" Hermione screamed, anger pouring from her words as she looked to the sky. "ARE YOU HAPPY NOW? HUH? ARE YOU? ARE… YOU… happy now?" she whispered the last two words, defeated in all ways possible.

Only after crying all the tears that she felt she had left did she return to her room. A soft smile graced her lips as she saw Andy sleeping soundly in her bed. She crawled onto the other side and fell into a nightmarish sleep. All night, she tossed and turned; causing her to feel as if she hadn't slept at all by the time she awoke. She fought the strong desire to sleep through the rest of the day. After showering, she pulled on her uniform and swept her hair into a messy bun at the nape of her neck. She applied concealor to her face to cover the signs from lack of sleep.

"Andrew, wake up! Andrew!"

"Whaaaaat?"

"Wake up. Go take a shower, and get dressed. I'll be on the couch in the commons."

"Okay…."

Grabbing her bag, she dragged it to beside the couch and then lay on the couch that looked oh so comfortable at the moment. She lost herself in the warmth of the fire.

"Hermione… Hermione, wake up. Hermione?"

"Five more minutes," she mumbled.

"No, I think you're late already."

"What?" she popped up. "Ugh, let's go." She grabbed his hand and began dragging him to Madam Pomfrey. She ambled leisurely into History of Magic afterwards, trying to cover the fact that she'd run there as fast as possible. Mr. Binns didn't acknowledge her. Her friends sure did stare her down, though. No one could win her attention, despite his or her pitiful attempts. She ignored them all, focusing solely on her notes, catching every word the professor said.

"And that is how Mary Magnificent saved her village from the gnomes. Alright, class dismissed."

Hermione gathered her things and left promptly. Her friends all caught her easily regardless.

"Hermione, are you okay?" Pansy asked.

"Yeah, fine… just tired."

"Watch where you're walking!" Draco snapped coldly at a first year who had run into him.

"S-s-sorry."

Draco just stared menacingly. The kid ran.

"What's up with him?" Ron questioned to anyone with an answer.

"I don't know! Why would I know? Do you think I know? … Because I don't!" Hermione snapped. She walked away, leaving shocked faces behind.

"Jeez…" Ron said.

"Yeah," Ginny agreed, understanding what he meant.

For the next month, Hermione became excessively committed to her studies. She finished all homework the night it was assigned and only left the library to eat, sleep, or take care of Andy. She got food from the kitchens rather than eating with the others. In her spare time, she hid behind various books, learning useless information she'd never need.

(A month before)

Draco watched Hermione from the window in his room. Why was she yelling? Why was she crying? Didn't she break up with him? All of these questions took their turns fleeting through his mind. No answers came.

Suddenly, he realized that something was certainly going on. The always calm and rational Hermione was screaming to the sky. And, she'd broken up with him. What girl in her right mind would do that?

He decided that he'd figure it out. A feeling in him told him that he needed to figure it out. That Hermione needed him. Oh, how he wished he could hold her now.

In attempt to forget just for mere hours the emotional pain coursing through his body, he climbed under his covers and fell into a light sleep.

The next morning, he'd felt as if he hadn't slept at all. He was a tad cranky as result.

He went to breakfast after he was finished getting ready, taking note to the fact that Hermione did not appear. Strutting to History of Magic, he glared at anyone in his path. They rushed to escape rather than endure the wrath they were sure would follow.

He sat towards the middle. Class began shortly thereafter, and Hermione did not appear. He lost the angered look on his face when, for a short-lived moment, worry took shape. The glare came back seconds later. Hermione entered the classroom without uttering a word. She sat in the back and diligently took her notes, refusing to meet any gaze that tried to call her attention.

When she looked up, briefly but still noticed, Draco saw it. There was sadness in her eyes. Her eyes betrayed her by showing such a thing, but Draco knew it was there. He knew she was suffering, hoping… and possibly becoming hollow. For once, she lost the façade of being the strong, brave Gryffindor who had all the courage in the world. It was replaced with the soul of a small child, wishing her parent whom had lost her would find her soon. She was exposed to the elements of the world.

And, with one deep breath taken by Hermione, her exterior return to the strong, brave Gryffindor. Why hadn't he seen that side of her before?

He now longed to see it again, cradle her and love her… tell her everything would be all right, but he looked at her eyes again. They betrayed her no longer, letting no emotion escape the wall she built many moons ago. He abruptly wished he'd have thought to break it down.

"And that is how Mary Magnificent saved her village from the gnomes. Alright, class dismissed." Mr. Binns broke through his thoughts. Draco threw all of his things into his backpack slowly. In the corner of his eye, he saw Hermione attempt to make it out the door without being caught by her friends. They caught her just outside it though.

He waited another moment before taking his leave.

"Watch where you're walking!" Draco snapped coldly at a first year who had run into him. He glared with all he could muster. In an afterthought, he felt bad for scaring the kid, but he had to vent, and the kid got into his line of fire. It was the munchkins fault, not his.

"S-s-sorry." Draco just stared menacingly. The kid ran.

"What's up with him?" Draco heard Ron ask that question just before he walked past the group to his next class.

Your dear friend broke my heart… and lied to me. He thought this bitterly.

For the next month, Draco stalked around school as if he'd lost the ability to be civil or nice. He acted cruel and uncaring, taunting his peers and antagonizing all around him while the bitterness grew inside him and seemed to eat at him. He didn't talk to people around him very much unless he was saying something mean. All of his friends tried to talk to him, but he brushed them off, unwilling to be soothed.

Author's note: Mmkay, This was my weekend home and I'm posting this beautiful chapter like so many of you begged for. Thanks so much for all of the reviews. Don't worry, Draco will save Hermione soon. I promise. Anyways, I'm going to start the next chapter now. Hopefully, I'll finish tonight. If not, I probably won't be able to post for another two weeks. It all depends. So, leave me tons of lovely reviews that will motivate me!