Disclaimer: Totally don't own Harry Potter. Totally not J.K. Rowling. Totally not a billionaire a gazillion times over.

In Denial (Sorta)

I am currently in the security of my dorm room, checking my two and a half rolls of finished Charms essay (the required was only one roll) for the third time. You can never be too sure, I always say to myself! And that's why after this, I'm gonna go over my assignment in Herbology (List down and explain each the 12 uses of unicorn hair) which I already finished last week.

Oh this is so peaceful … Just checking over my assignments, smelling that precious scent of parchment, and having dabs of ink on your fingertips, it's sagacity sanctuary. With nothing to think about but studies, acquiring new knowledge and so much more! …

…

OH WHO AM I KIDDING?! I can't take it!! What's wrong with me? I keep thinking about him! Always him! WHY?

I've tried everything!! Organizing my things, finishing my assignments, checking my essays for errors, Merlin! Even reading couldn't do the trick!! What's happening to me? Why is he constantly in my head?! Why can't he just go away?? …

I know why.

Oh shut up!

It's because you're in love with him!

No, I'm not!

Yes, you are!

No, I'm NOT!

Yes, you ARE!

Naah!

Yaah!

Oh this is rubbish! I've completely gone insane! I'm arguing with myself!!

It's all in the workings of love, my dear.

"Ugh! That's it!! I'm gonna … I'm gonna … oh I don't know!!"

I hate being in love! Wait … is this really love? Nah. Just plain old simple hormone-driven infatuation for the hottest guy in school. That's all.

"I need something to distract me. This is really driving me nuts. Maybe a good read in the library would do."

So I rose from my bed, smoothed out the wrinkles on my uniform, and then started opening the door. It was just a simple process really. I do it everyday! That's why I was surprised to see a 17 year old guy, with bleach blonde hair, standing right in front of me when I opened my door.

Maybe it's because of the lack of warning that someone was at my door, or maybe it's because of the mere presence of him near me, that my heart started to pump into overdrive.

He was just right in front of me. Wearing that look of his. Like he's bored and that nothing in the world is worth of his time. What a git.

A really really handsome git.

Yeah, a really really handso – oh crap.

You were about to say it!

Oh shut up!

Hey! Don't tell me to shut up. I'm your –

"Why, hello Malfoy. How nice of you to drop by."

"I'm here against my free will, Granger. Dumbledore wants to see us."

"Now?"

"No, he wants to see us by the next millennium – yes, of COURSE he wants to see us now. Now hurry up, this has delayed my agenda for the day already." We started walking out of the common room and into the hall.

"Oh-ho! You actually enjoy things Malfoy? It thought the world wasn't even enough for your overly inflated ego." I like having light conversations with him. It's so relaxing. Can you just feel the sarcasm dripping?

"Well, unlike you Granger, I actually have a social life." We walked on. Our voices so casual, unlike the conversation we're currently having.

Well, considering it's you two, this is casual.

Hmm, I guess so. So sad isn't it?

"Well, unlike you Malfoy, I have friends who actually care for me." Hah, take that! So what if I don't have such a swinging social life? I have my friends. That's enough for me.

Malfoy gave an elegant snort (if ever that's possible).

"Friends? What? Do you mean Pothead and Weaselby? Oh that's rich!"

I stopped walking.

"What do you mean by that statement?"

"What I meant Granger, is that though they may seem like your "best of buddies" to the eyes of the public, if you really look closely, they're not really considered as your friends are they?" He kept on walking. So I started walking again to keep up with him.

"I mean, Pothead is The-Boy-Who-Lived (To-Be-An-Insufferable-Goody-Good-Boy). He's friendly to anyone he meets! Well, he's friendly to anyone who's in his side anyways. Always used to favoritism, I suppose.

"And Weaselby? Well, you can tell by just looking at him that he's not really exceeding in his academics now, can't you? It's most likely he's hanging out with you because he needs a little bit of, let's just say, "assistance" with his little problem.

How could he say that? That's not true!! We've been friends since first year! And never did someone say something like that about our friendship!

"I say that's a load of crap, Malfoy." I was boiling inside already. "And how could you be sure about what you're saying? They're friends with me because we've been through many tough things together! Not because Harry's just really friendly and Ron's just using me for my knowledge!"

"Ah-ah-ah! You didn't let me finish what I was saying Granger. It's really rude to interrupt. I was saying, before you disrupted me with your irrationality, that maybe Potty and Weasel has stuck with you for another common reason among this so called "friendships"."

"Oh yeah? And what is that?"

We were already in front of the stone gargoyle, where behind it, lays the spiral staircase leading up to the Headmaster's office.

He turned around and looked at me straight in the eye. And just with that, he sent my poor little heart into overdrive again. I still acted coolly, not letting him know that I was having a major trouble keeping up my normal breathing.

"You've been with them for six years, Granger. You figure it out for yourself."

He whispered to password to the gargoyle and immediately sprang to life. It moved aside and revealed the staircase.

He immediately stepped into it, not caring if I get left behind. But it's no big deal. He always treats me like I'm inferior to him … stupid git.

'You've been with them for six years, Granger. You figure it out for yourself.'

I know what he meant by that. I'm not dumb. I just didn't want to admit it.

Harry and Ron are both teenage boys. They're bound to notice I'm actually a girl during our time together. And I know one of them is sure to fancy me when that day approaches, even just a little bit. And honestly, I'm hoping that day would never come. I just couldn't bear to be "romantically inclined" with one of my best friends. It'll totally destroy our friendship because one of them will be left out, and it would be probably weird for the both of us (well, it'll definitely be weird for me) if we started doing all that mushy stuff that lovey-dovey couples do -shivers-. But alas, fate has something else in store for me. And thus, the 'Dreaded Day' came during our 4th year, in the figure of the Yule Ball.

I didn't know what to expect. Viktor Krum just asked me to the Ball and I felt the pressure on me. I mean, even if he's not expecting me to be drop dead gorgeous for the Ball, I just felt like it's an obligation or something. He's Viktor Krum for crying out loud! An internationally known Quidditch player! And I wanted to reassure him that he didn't need to regret asking me, Hermione Granger, to the Yule Ball. I just hate it when I let somebody down, you know? So, I swallowed my pride and researched everything there is to being glamorous and charming. Who knew there was so much you needed to do to look pretty! I mean I thought you just need to put a little make up on, put on your sweetest smile and just bat your eyelashes for forevermore! No one ever told me that looking presentable was such a hassle!

Anyways, four hours of painstakingly putting make-up on my face, fixing my hair into an elegant knot (my arms were aching!), and carefully putting on my dress, I was ready. I couldn't believe that it was me who was staring back when I looked at myself in the mirror. By that moment, I believed my night would be a blast. But if only I knew what one of my best friends' reaction would be, and how it would destroy the ending of a supposedly wonderful night …

I knew, by the time that we were having another row in the Gryffindor common room after the Ball. I knew by then … Ron was the one who fancy me. And it scared me to death. It really did.

"Aah! Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger. Please come in." Dumbledore's voice intruded through my thoughts.

I must have had a really spaced out look on my face. I shook my head a little. I was so deep into my thoughts that I didn't notice that we were already in front of Dumbledore's office.

We both walked into his office. It's just the same as always. With its semi-circle structure, pictures of old headmasters and headmistresses snoozing contently in their portraits, and Fawkes, also standing (more like sleeping) on his golden perch beside the door.

I gave a quick stroke on Fawkes magnificent gold and red feathers, feeling their smoothness make contact with my skin, before I proceeded on sitting on one of the armchairs placed in front of the Headmaster's desk. Malfoy was already seated on the other one.

Once I was comfortably seated, Dumbledore spoke.

"Well, you're probably wondering why I've summoned you both. You see, next week end, there will be an exchange student from China. Her father will be very busy handling certain businesses with the Ministry of Magic and has no time in watching over his daughter. So, he has decided that his daughter would be a lot safer if entered here in Hogwarts, instead of just locking her up in the hotel."

"A Chinese exchange student? How long would she be staying Professor?" I asked. Oh, I'm so excited! I've always thought that Asia was pretty interesting!

"It'll be only for three days. But I hope that those three days would be full of educational things. With the guidance of the Heads, I'm certain she would love this place!"

"What? Us? Be her guide? Who is she anyways?" piped in Malfoy. "Professor" he managed to add.

"As I've said before Mr. Malfoy, she is an exchange student from China. Her name is Te Pei Ming."

"So, all we have to do is show her around Hogwarts and tell some boring old stories about its history and stuff like that?"

"Malfoy!"

How rude of him! Talking to Professor Dumbledore like that! But it seems that the headmaster doesn't seem to mind at all …

"Yes, more or less it's 'stuff like that', as you put it." He replied, twinkling seen present in his blue eyes.

"I hope you two will be of great company to her. I give you the responsibility to make her feel right at home."

"I'm sure to not let you down, Professor."

"Why thank you Miss Granger. And I hope Mr. Malfoy would do as good if not better than Miss Granger?" he asked, peering at Malfoy through his spectacles.

"Wouldn't dream of anything else better to do next weekend, Professor." He answered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

It's either Dumbledore didn't notice the mockery, or he chose to ignore it that he bid us good-bye without any lecture from him to Malfoy about giving respect to elders.

We were both quite in going back to the Heads dorm. It was quite creepy. Then we headed directly to our separate rooms without saying a word.

I flopped down on my bed, face first. I let out a groan.

Way to go Hermione! You've really made an effort in making Malfoy like you back! Just look, you don't even need words when you two are together! Oh! I just love a good dose of sarcasm every evening before I sleep!

Oh, just shut up for once will yah? I'm already down at very bottom! No need for that! It's like adding insult to injury!

Well sorry honey, but I can't. I'm your conscience; I just can't go into hiding!

Ugh! I just hope this … this … thing or whatever it is I'm feeling for Malfoy would quickly go away. Before I do something stupid like –

Talking to yourself/conscience?

No! Something really stupid like actually confessing my true feelings for him!

Well, there's nothing else to do by now but hope.

Yeah … at least I've got the Chinese girl to distract me from Malfoy. I can't wait!

a/n: (fate speaking through author) Muwahahaha!! You'll never know how wrong you are my dearest! You'll never know … Muwahahahaha!!

Anyways, please review!!