Disclaimer: I'll own this fantastic series when bowls sprout wings and fly to the moon. (Which would be never). XD

A/N: Sorry for not updating! I wanted to catch my new story up to this one. Chapter-wise anyway.

A/N: As I promised, this chapter will be in Draco's POV.

"Ron?" I could hardly hear myself as I said the name. "RON?!"

"Y-Y-Y-Yes," she replied, sounding extremely nervous.

I didn't reply. I stood and left the Common Room, knowing precisely where I needed to be. That filthy fucking asshole. How could he do that to someone he claims he fucking loves?

Ass.

I rounded the corner of the Gryffindor Common Rooms. I shouted the password at the portrait and entered the room, spying the redhead on the couch with Potter.

I walked over to him, anger causing my ears to ring. Glaring down at him, I asked,

"Why the hell did you do that?"

Weasley stood. He was shorter than I was. Good.

"I didn't do a damn thing Malfoy," he snarled.

"You did something you fucking asshole. Something so fucking bad she started crying her eyes out," I told him, my voice on the brink of menacingly.

"I didn't do anything to the whore," he said, his voice low and furious. "She fucked up her life all on her fucking own."

"You are so full of shit!" I yelled at him. "How the hell is it her fault if her uncle decided to be a pedophile and rape his own fucking niece? How is it her fault that you used that knowledge to hurt her even more? You fucking asshole. It's not her fault you can't get a girl to sleep with you willingly!"

"The bitch said yes, you stupid ass!" he snapped. "She said yes, then right in the fucking middle of it, told me to get off of her! I said no, she calls it fucking rape!"

"If she told you to get off of her, you should have gotten off of her. If you wanted to finish that badly, then you should have used your fucking hand!" I could barely see with the anger brimming my eyes and clouding my vision.

"I got off of her when I was done!" he yelled.

"You are such an arrogant prick. You can't get girls to sleep with you willingly, so you force them to. Is that why you and Brown broke up?" I demanded.

"You ass!" He shouted.

Next thing I knew, he was punching me. My reactions were quicker than he expected, and soon, he was under me, and I was throwing punches.

I looked down and I could see the blood on his face. I didn't care. He deserved it. He deserved every terrible thing ever inflicted on his worthless self.

I felt someone pulling me off of Weasley. I looked up and saw Hermione staring back at me through teary eyes. I stepped back from Weasley, and wrapped one arm around her.

Potter must have disappeared at some point, because he was now coming down the stairs.

"What in the world happened here?" he demanded.

Nobody answered.

I saw Weasley give Hermione a death glare. I nonverbally hexed him. That pig tail sure will look funny tomorrow morning.

"You can kiss that Head Boy position good-bye Malfoy," the stupid redhead threatened. I suppressed a snort.

"Not unless you want to be expelled, Weasley. You hit me first. I was simply defending myself," I told him, anger dripping from my words.

"YOU BLOODY BASTARD!" Potter was yelling like a madman. He approached Weasley and punched him directly in the gut. I laughed inwardly at that.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Potter's screaming was starting to annoy me. "WHY WOULD YOU HURT HER?! SHE'S OUR FRIEND YOU BLOODY BASTARD! OUR BLOODY FRIEND!"

Weasley did NOT expect Potter to get so pissed off at him. That much was obvious. The look on his face said he didn't even realize Potter knew he had hurt Hermione.

"What are you talking about, mate?" Weasley asked, being the dumbass he is.

Harry pointed to Hermione's arm. Her sleeve must have been pushed up during the brawl. Apparently, she hadn't even noticed.

"What do you call those Ron?! I call them bruises! And guess what? They didn't get there by bloody MAGIC!" Potter was overflowing with anger.

"I didn't put them there! What do you take me for, some sort of wife beater?!" Like the coward he was, Weasley was denying beating Hermione. The bastard. I pray he and I never cross paths again, for his sake.

"Don't play dumb, Ronald!" she screeched. Now he's done it. "YOU FUCKING BEAT ME, AND YOU DENY IT? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"

She was beyond pissed off. In fact, she looked about ready to let Weasley know just how it felt to be beaten while you are helpless.

I pulled her to the door, ensuring she didn't do something she would utterly regret in the morning.

She and I walked hand-in-hand down the stairs. We seemed to make a simultaneous decision without talking to go to the lake.

As the cool September air blew across my hot face and through my short, matted hair, I felt calmer. Not much mind you, but calmer even in the least.

We sat under a billowing willow and stared out at the lake. I stared at the motionless water. It was too still. The lack of stars and moonlight caused the Lake to have a completely sinister look to them. It reminded me of myself actually. At least, myself before Hermione. I was such a lost, evil little boy. My parents had drilled it into my head from the moment I was born that I was to kill any person who ever got in my way. When I was naïve, I thought they were just playing around. They weren't.

I stared up at the stars and was momentarily lost in thought as the stars seemed to dance through my mind. I was back quick enough, and when I glanced over at Hermione, I noticed she was lost in thought as well. I sighed, regretting to have to be the one to disturb her. However, I proceeded with my question anyway.

"Hermione, are you okay?" I tried to make my voice as gentle as humanly possible.

"No, I'm not," she told me. I sensed she was trying to hold back tears, so I gave up on pursuing my questioning.

I wrapped my arms around her and she buried her head into my chest. I rubbed her back gently, contemplating how to put my next sentence.

"I love you." The words slipped out, but were completely true nonetheless.

My breath caught in my throat. I wasn't sure if I was even breathing anymore. Did I just say I loved her?

When she didn't reply, I continued.

"I've always loved you Hermione. Always. And I'll do anything for you. You just say the word, and I'm on it. If Ron or anyone else ever touches you again, you make sure I know. I'd die for you, Hermione Marie Granger," I spoke to her softer than I would have thought possible.

She started crying. Shit. Did I say it too soon? I felt her body shaking as she was resting with her head buried in my chest.

I pulled her away from me so I could look her in the eye. She had such beautiful eyes.

"Why are you crying?" I asked, concern filling my voice. I silently prayed she was alright.

"I-I've never had somebody love me before. I never thought anybody ever would," she sobbed.

I wiped the tears from her face and looked her in the eye again. I was trying to convey a message of warmth, comfort, and understanding all through the look I gave her. I hope I succeeded.

I leaned in and pressed my lips to her ever so soft ones. At first, she didn't react, which greatly worried me. But, she realized what was happening, and began kissing back. The warmth of her body felt good in the coolness of the night. I wished this moment could have lasted forever. However, she pulled away and whispered to me,

"I love you, too Draco Abraxas Malfoy."