(A/N Thanks for the reviews! I just wanted to say that I know this chapter is a little weird, but I thought, what the hell, I have to update. Also, I WILL NOT UPDATE UNTIL I REACH 24 REVIEWS! Also, the song is I Hate Everything About You, which I thought was very appropriate for Hermione and Draco.)

Chapter 4

Hermione sat in the Griffindor common room, trying to concentrate on her two foot long essay on the polyjuice potion. She had thought that working in the Griffindor common room would be better than in the Head's common room. That way, she could avoid bloody Malfoy. But now, in the midst of all the noise, she was rethinking that.

With Ron, Harry, and Seamus laughing and passing a fanged Frisbee, Ginny, Parvati, Lavender (who glared at Hermione when she got too close to Ron), and a couple of other girl laughing and shrieking wildly, and everybody else talking far too much, one would think that they had already finished their homework, which was far from the truth. Hermione's futile attempts to tell people to quiet down amounted to nothing. And her anger was boiling. After all, this essay was due tomorrow!

Hermione rubbed her temples, a headache forming underneath her fingers. She bit her lip in exasperation.

Then, when she could take it no longer, she gathered up her books and things, and, while stomping to the door, tore the fanged frisbee out of Seamus' hands and coolly vanished it.

"Fanged frisbees are banned," she managed to say befire she stomped out of the room.

Seamus, Ron, and Harry exchanged a long look.

"P.M.S.," said Ron with a shrug.

Hermione sat down with a slight sigh on the cherry red couch in the Head's common room. Silence, enveloping her, was a welcome change to all the hubbub and ruckus that had bugged her earlier.

Malfoy's (or at least Hermione assumed it was Malfoy's) texts, papers, quill, and open ink bottle lay on the couch next to her. He wasn't in sight, though.

That's weird, thought Hermione. But no matter. She promptly opened her scrool, got out her quill and ink and began to write.

Malfoy, coming back from the bathroom, appeared soundlessly next to Hermione.

She started when she saw him and her arm knocked his open ink bottle all over his freshly written paper.

He let out a howl of rage, "Look what you did, you filthy mudblood!"

"I'm sorry," said Hermione, carefully picking up the ink bottle. "I didn't mean to."

Malfoy shook his paper off and sent her a look of deep disgust. Though there was a spell to clean the ink off the paper, no spell could replace the words Draco had written. "Do you know how long it took me to do that? Bitch."

"I didn't do it on purpose," Hermione protested, anger flaring up again.

I hate everything about you
Why do I love you
I hate everything about you
Why do I love you

"Sure," he scoffed.

"You know, I have always wondered that, if you hate me so much, and can't stand to be in the presence of a "filthy mudblood" why you always go out of your way to cause me anguish," said Hermione, who had angry tears forming in her full brown eyes.

They were standing nose to nose next to the couch, Hermione's face inches away from Malfoy's.


Only when I stop to think
About you, I know
Only when you stop to think
About me, do you know

Oh crap…" said Harry.

"What?" Ron asked in a mildly interested tone.

"Hermione forgot her Ancient Runes book."

"I'll go give it back to her," said Ron.

Harry eyes his friend suspiciously. "Fine," he said, and settled back into his chair.

When Ron got to the Head's room, he heard voices, so he ducked behind a pillar so he could eavesdrop.

I hate everything about you
Why do I love you
You hate everything about me
Why do you love me

"Why do you hate me? Why?" she looked up at him with cold eyes.

Malfoy's eyes look strained. Then, on impulse, he did it. He kissed Hermione Granger. He, Draco Malfoy, kissed a mudblood.

Ron gasped.

The kiss lasted half a second, when Hermione pulled away. She spit contemptuously, and wiped her mouth on her arm.

"What was that, Malfoy?"

I hate
You hate
I hate
You love me

He didn't answer, but looked her in the eyes. Grey eyes met disdainful brown eyes. And then he quickly hurried into his room.

Hermione stood there for a minute, and felt her lips with her hands. Those were the lips that Draco Malfoy had kissed.The last time she had been kissed was by Ron, at the dance, before he broke up with her.


I hate everything about you
Why do I love you

Ron emerged quickly from behind the pillar.

"Why did you do that?" He asked her, outraged.

She turned to face him, and when she did, Ron could see her eyes were full of tears.

"What, Ron?" she said, with annoyance.

"Why did you kiss him?" His face was red with agitation.

"I didn't. He kissed me," she burst out at him. "And what were you doing, eavesdropping on us?" she shouted.

He pressed the Ancient Runes book in her hands. She took it.

"Thanks, Ron. I … have to go now."

He eyed her with a look, and she turned painfully away.

Then he said, "Goodnight, Hermione," and walked out of the room.

Needless to say, Hermione got no sleep that night. She stood out on the balcony and thought. She thought about Draco, and that kiss. She thought about Ron, whom she secretly still loved.

Meanwhile, Draco pondered on his own problems in his room.

Why did I do that? He thought to himself. Why did I kiss her? I wasn't thinking. Maybe I can blame it on… I dunno… I exhaled toxic fumes or something. Or better yet, just pretend it never happened. Yes, that's what I'll do.

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