Draco sat staring at the fire in the Slytherin common room. All of the younger students had retired for the night, and the other older Slytherins were still at the party from Hell in the Room of Requirement leaving Draco mercifully alone. His self-contempt was extreme. Why was it that he had to push away anyone or anything that might actually care for him? Hermione had given him more chances than he could count, more chances than he certainly deserved, and he had once again treated her like crap. This time, he had finally blown it, and he felt agonized over that fact. He truly was a self-fulfilling prophecy. He believed that he was undeserving, he believed that no one could love him, so he made it so.

It was in that instant that Blaise entered the common room, having returned from his angry solitary walk he had taken after his angry exchange with Harry.

"Draco—"

"Zabini, don't." Draco cut him off with a snarl. Draco's wrath was such that even Blaise heeded his advice, and he stalked off to their quarters.

Squaring his shoulders, he returned to staring at the fire, wishing more than anything that he had a pensieve into which he could syphon off his thoughts so as to escape the roaring turmoil in his head.

Another Slytherin entered the common room, this one more quietly and thoughtfully. Daphne sat next to Draco and said nothing for several moments. Whether because he was too lost in his thoughts or because he sensed that she would not chastise him the way Blaise would have, Draco allowed her to sit next to him without complaint. Eventually however, Daphne did speak.

"So, you like Hermione." Daphne said softly.

"Shove off Greengrass!" Draco snarled in his defensive way. "Don't lecture, don't judge, don't patronize. You have no idea what I'm going through, you wouldn't understand, so leave me the hell alone."

In her quiet yet strong way, Daphne held her ground, replying, "I know what you're going through more than you think, Draco."

Such was his surprise at her admission that he finally turned and faced her.

"You do like Weasley, don't you."

"Yes," Daphne replied sadly. "I do."

"Why don't you do anything about it then? It seems as though he might reciprocate your feelings."

"Hermione certainly returns your feelings, and yet here you are with me instead of her!"

Sighing, Draco turned and said to the fire, "It's not the same."

"Like Hell it isn't! Or at least wasn't, you certainly have managed to make things more complicated."

"Shove off!"

"No!" Daphne cried. Her raised voice shocked Draco into silence. Though she was Slytherin, Daphne was a fairly quiet good natured girl. She tended to observe the Slytherin cruelty, not participate in it.

"That's enough self-pity!" She continued. "You've complicated things, but I think that you still have a good chance if you'd just grow up a bit and not shy away when things become difficult. Granger's a Gryffindor, if you apologize the right way she just might forgive you."

Draco hated to admit it, but, "You're right." He sighed. "Tell you what Greengrass, I'll make you a bargain."

Daphne regarded him through narrowed eyes. She was no fool, Draco tended not to be the trustworthy type.

"I want to hear this bargain before I agree to it."

"It's quiet simple really. I'll man-up and talk to Granger if you confess your feelings to the Weasel."

"No. Absolutely not."

"Practice what you preach."

"….fine."

xxxxx

Second period the following morning found Hermione heading to Adjustments class accompanied by a seething Ron, a quiet Harry, an apologetic Ginny, and a nervous stomach. Ginny had apologized profusely to Hermione when she had gotten back to their dorm and found Hermione curled up in the fetal position on her bed, staring blankly at the wall. Though Hermione had told Ginny over and over that it was absolutely not her fault, Ginny had insisted that it had been her idea to host the party, and she therefore was partly to blame for what had transpired between Hermione and Draco. Hermione had decided not to disclose all that had transpired between her and Draco to her friends. It was easier for them to think that the reason that Hermione and Draco weren't talking was because of Draco's terrible words at the party instead of because of Hermione's rejection in a moonlit corridor. It was the coward's way out, but she thought bitterly to herself that she was entitled to some cowardly behavior given how Draco had behaved throughout this mess.

It was interesting to see how the events of the previous evening had affected the entire class. The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were as friendly as ever to one another albeit in muted tones—even the Hufflepuffs could sense the tension radiating from the Slytherins and Gryffindors and did not want to chance catalysing another fight. The tension between Harry and Blaise was evident, it seemed to roll off them both in waves, Hermione half expected one of them to spit fire. They were both resolutely staring ahead at the empty chalkboard, not daring to even chance making eye contact. Pansy and Ginny seemed to have fallen back into their loathing for one another. Unbeknownst to Hermione, after she had left the party, Pansy and Ginny had had a terrible row, each one defending Draco and Hermione respectively. Hermione made a mental note to herself to ask Ginny what had happened later. Ron and Daphne were an interesting pair to watch. Ron was completely ignoring Daphne, though Hermione knew from experience that it was nothing personal per say, Ron simply had an incredible gift for pouting and was being rude to everyone at the moment, particularly Slytherins. His silence seemed to be upsetting Daphne more than one would expect however, she kept shooting him alternately sad and nervous looks, seeming as though she had something she wanted to say but did not dare breach his heavy silence. Strangely enough, she also seemed to be sending annoyed glances at….Draco.

Hermione gulped. He had slid into his seat next to hers tentatively a few moments ago, and Hermione had not dared look at him. The pain she felt at the knowledge of his presence next to hers was bad enough. She could hear him breathing softly, feel his warmth next to hers, and it pained her. She wanted to turn to him, to make him laugh, to kiss him….and she couldn't. The fact that it was because of her own decision that she couldn't do any of those things made it even more difficult. At that thought, she gave herself a mental shake. No! It was HIS fault that she couldn't do any of those things. He was the one who couldn't put pride and tradition aside to be with her, and she would not stand for that. It took all of her dignity and self-respect to convince herself to avoid temptation.

"Hermione."

Damn! Now she was even imagining that he was talking to her. Then, more urgently,

"Hermione!"

When Hermione finally turned to him, she looked exhausted and incredibly trepid.

"What is it Draco?"

Draco's heart leapt at her use of his first name.

"About last night, I—"

"Please don't." she cut him off. This is already hard enough. Please don't make it harder. With that, she turned and engaged Harry in conversation, causing jealousy to swell in the pit of Draco's stomach.

Fortunately, he didn't have to watch her with Potter for long as McGonagall called the class to order. As usual, she wasted no time in getting right down to business.

"Though there is no exam in this class, there is a major assignment that will be used to assess your personal growth in this class. Each of you will have to stand at the front of this class and confess to an embarrassing or personal fact or story. You have to expose yourself to your classmates, to trust. The Ministry is so determined for this class to be a success that they are insisting on strong incentive for this project. If I or the ministry official who will be proctoring this project feel that you are not being truthful, Veritasserum will be used. Please do not force me to subject you to it."

Draco shuddered and tried to ignore the furtive glances his peers were shooting at him. Daphne did catch his eye however, and it was then that they got the same idea. Casting a glance at Hermione, Draco smiled to himself. It wouldn't be easy, but Draco knew what he would be talking about for this project.