Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and BarlowGirl owns Never Alone, but I, however, own the story. So ha!

Never Alone

A week had passed since the beginning of the school year. Hermione and Draco were relatively used to their duties as Head Girl and Head Boy. They fell into a pattern. Malfoy treated Hermione like a servant, and she retaliated by completely ignoring him except when necessary.

They sat on the couch after classes were over after school, working on their never-ending piles of homework.

"Mudblood," said Malfoy.

"Stop calling me that," replied Hermione tiredly, twiddling her quill between her fingers.. "Stop treating me like your servant. I'm your EQUAL."

"No, we're not," he insisted callously. He stood up to his full height and towered over her. "I'm a pureblood, and you're-"

"Who gives a damn?" Hermione exploded, standing up to face him. "It doesn't matter! Blood does not matter! Look at your family," she said with disgust. "It doesn't matter that they're all purebloods, does it? They're a bunch of pricks. Snivelling, whiny, violent pricks!"

Draco slapped her hard across the face, his single ring drawing blood on her cheek.

She turned white under her tan.

"And that's for disgracing the Malfoy name," he said in quiet fury. He stalked off, presumably into his room, leaving Hermione standing in the middle of their common room.

She held her hand to her cheek as a single tear ran down her face. She tried to think of a time where Malfoy had ever hit her. In the third year, she had slugged him, but no, this was the first time he had ever physically laid a hand on her.

Hermione knocked on the door.

In seconds, McGonagall, now the headmistress, opened it.

"Miss Granger," she said sternly, by way of hello.

"I won't take but a minute of your time," Hermione said quickly, stepping inside the office. "I just had a question."

"Sit down," said McGonagall said as she herself sat at her desk. Hermione took a seat in a straight-backed wooden chair opposite from McGonagall.

"I was wondering…" began Hermione awkwardly.

"I don't have all day, Miss Granger," McGonagall said sharply, eyeing the clock on the wall.

"Is there any way to resign as Head Girl?" she blurted out.

"Do you want to resign?" asked McGonagall, raising her eyebrows.

"Well no… um… maybe… yes. Yes, I do," Hermione stammered.

"Any particular reason?" McGonagall asked.

"Malfoy and I… we don't really like…"

"You and Mister Malfoy are having problems, you mean," McGonagall noted.

"Something like that."

"And you wish to resign?"

"Yes," said Hermione, relieved.

"You wish to resign?" McGonagall said again. Hermione nodded.

"You are a Griffindor, Miss Granger. Griffindors do NOT give up, which is what you're doing. You want to resign? I can't let you. You are a capable person, and best fitted to this position. I don't care if you and Mister Malfoy do not enjoy each others company; you will endure it because you have to. Is that clear? You will be glad later that I did not let you resign, I assure you," McGonagall said coldly.

"Have a nice day, Miss Granger," she finished in her sharp voice, ushering Hermione out the door.

"He's such a bloody bastard," Hermione told Harry.

He nodded sympathetically.

He and Hermione were in the library together. Ron was not with them.

"You know," she said, "He hit me today. I was telling him not to call me a mudblood, and then I told him his family was a bunch of pricks, which they are, and he slapped me."

"He slapped you?" Harry said angrily.

"For 'disgracing the Malfoy name' or something." Hermione made a face.

"Don't worry Hermione, it'll get better," Harry told her.

"Thanks," Hermione said.

She hadn't told him about her meeting with McGonagall. It was embarrassing.

"I have to go," said Harry. "I promised Ron I'd do homework with him." He patted her shoulder and left.

She watched him go. Harry had always been so great to her. When Ron dumped her, he was there. When her muggle parents had died, he was there. He was always there for her. They had no romantic interests in each other, despite what some people thought. Harry had Ginny. Hermione had nobody. They were just friends.

And though I cannot see you
And I can't explain why
Such a deep reassurance
You've placed in my life.
We cannot separate
'Cause you're part of me.
And though you're invisible
I'll trust the unseen.

"You have a crush on Potter," said Malfoy's voice. Hermione whirled around, startled.

Malfoy stood behind her.

"I do not."

"You do," said Malfoy with a laugh.

"I don't. And even if I did, it's none of your damn business. So piss off, Malfoy." She dropped her books into her bag, swung her bag onto her shoulder, and walked away.

She's right. Why do I care? I don't. I hate Granger. I just slapped her, thought Malfoy.

"Wait!" he called to her suddenly.

Hermione stopped. "What?"

"I'm ... I'm sorry for hitting you. I was being an ass. I'm sorry." He walked away quickly before she had time to answer.

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