Hermione sobbed into the comforter, wishing it did as its name entitled. But it only soaked up her tears as they streamed down her face. Kellie rubbed her back, making comforting sounds. Rowan stood by the door, feeling awkward, but not leaving. They'd seen Hermione run into the Gryffindor's Common Room and up to her room in a fit of tears and sobs.

"That...that bastard," Hermione cried as she clutched a pillow to her chest. "He was only...using me. I...should have known. No guy has ever liked me like...like that."

Kellie rubbed Hermione's shoulders and said, "Maybe you misheard something?"

Hermione shook her head. "I heard every word that ass hole said," she said. "He just wanted to...sleep with me because I'd accidentally kissed him on the...the field and he wanted to get back at me. He was going to sleep with me and then k-kick me out. Then he was going to tell everyone in school." She burst into fresh tears. "I thought he liked me...that he'd...he'd changed."

Kellie held Hermione and stroked her hair. She'd had tons of experience with broken hearted sisters, having five older ones who fell in love easily. But, where they got over their 'love' quickly, Hermione wasn't. Because she was in real love. There was nothing unreal about her tears or pain.

A ghost poked its head through the wall and said, "There's two boys and a girl standing outside the Fat Lady's portrait. They want inside." The ghost sneered. "They're Slytherin."

Kellie looked at Rowan. His jaw was tight at the mention of Slytherins. "Are two of them dark haired and the other light haired?" Kellie asked the ghost.

"On dark haired boy, one dark haired girl, and the other boy's blond," the ghost replied.

"Let only the dark haired ones in," Kellie said. "Keep the blond out until we say he can come in. If ever." The ghost nodded and disappeared. Kellie lowered her voice and said, "Hermione, do you feel up to talking to Blaise and Pansy? They're here to see you."

Hermione sniffed back a few tears and slowly nodded. She sat up and used her sleeve to wipe some tears away from her cheeks. "I'm sorry you have to see me this way," she said.

Kellie smiled. "Don't worry about it. I have sisters and they cry a lot more than you do," she said.

Hermione smiled back, though it was a bit watery. The door opened and Pansy raced in. She hopped on the bed and hugged Hermione. "I'm so sorry," she said. Blaise stood by Rowan. He had the same uncomfortable look on as the younger boy. Man and crying women rarely mixed.

Pansy pulled back and said, "I've already hit that git. I knew this was going to blow up in his face and I was right. You're not like the other girls he's been with. You're smart, kind, funny-"

"Wait," Hermione said. "You knew this was going to happen?"

Pansy flinched at the accusing tone in Hermione's voice. "Well...yes. Draco came to me a few days before he said he wanted to turn over a new leaf with you. He said he wanted help in seducing you. I told him it wouldn't work, that it would blow back in his face." She sighed. "I didn't expect for him to fall in love with you."

"Love?" Hermione said. "Ha! That bastard was going to use me and drop me like one of his other girls. He doesn't love me."

"Yes, he does," Blaise said, speaking up. The girls turned to him. "I've seen Draco flirt with and dump thousands of girls. He never smiled the way he does at you, he never laughed like he does when you're around, and he certainly never told his parents that he wanted to love you."

Hermione paused. "He said that?" she asked. "To his parents?" Blaise nodded. Hermione blinked. "I don't believe you," she said. "How do I know you're not just saying that so I can forgive that ferret?"

"Because he really is sorry," Pansy said. "Yeah, Draco can be a self centered, egotistical, arrogant, annoying, cold hearted at times, careless with people's feelings, mean-"

"Pansy," Hermione said. "How is this suppose to make me feel better?"

"What I'm trying to say," Pansy said. "Is that he may be all those things and more, but when he says he's sorry, he means it. And it takes a lot to make him feel sorry, too. Just give him five minutes. That's all I ask. Then you can hex him into the next millennium. Okay? I don't like see my friends fight."

Hermione was sure it was claiming her as a friend that got her to agree. She nodded. "Fine," she said. "I'll meet him in the Room of Requirements." Pansy squeezed her hand and left with Blaise.

Draco paced the room, feeling extremely nervous. There was a good chance Hermione wasn't going to forgive him. A very good chance. But, even if she just showed up and let him finish what he was going to say, that would be enough. He silently cursed himself. Never had a woman made him feel so insecure. He'd always been in control, the ball firmly in his court. Now, the roles were reversed and he was clueless as to the new rules of the game.

The door opened and he turned. Hermione walked in and he felt his chest constrict as he saw the tear stains on her cheeks and her puffy eyes. He'd caused those. He was a serious git.

"Hermione," he said, moving forward. She stepped back. Her jaw tightened and her hands fisted. Draco frowned. "I'm not going to hurt you, Mia," he said.

Hermione glared. "No?" she said. "You already did. What the blood hell were you thinking? Why would you do that? Make me fall in love with you just so you could get me into bed? Do you know how much that hurt, hearing what you told your parents? What? Did you want them to know so you could laugh even harder to the rest of the school?" She advanced, poking Draco's chest, backing him up to the wall. "Well, I've got news for you, you bloody git. I'm not going down without a fight. I will hold my head up high and I will not let you, or anyone else, bring me down. So go ahead and tell the school that you were trying to use me. See if I care!" By the time she was done, she was panting with exertion.

Draco blinked. "You love me?" he said.

"That's the only thing you heard?" Hermione said, staring at him as if he'd just lost his mind.

He shook his head. "I heard everything you said, Mia. And you're right. I am a git. A stupid, selfish, arrogant git."

"Not to mention egotistical," she said.

"Yes," he said. "I'm that, too. And I'm sorry. You are a strong, beautiful, smart, funny, and loyal woman and I thought I could do what I did without consequences because I didn't see that. All I saw was a Gryffindor who had embarrassed me. I wanted back at you and I had planned to use you, yes." He reached out and pulled her close, hugging her to his chest. She didn't squirm or struggle. "But the more time I spent with you, the more I changed my opinion of you. I saw so much more. Please, forgive me?"

Hermione was silent for a moment before stepping back. He let her, feeling his heart start crumbling. She looked at him and said, "Beg."

"What?" he asked, not sure he'd heard her correctly.

"Beg," she said. "Beg me to forgive you. Beg on your knees, O Ferret Face."

His lips twitched at the name. If it had been anyone else, he would have been offended, but it sounded like an endearment from her. He lowered himself before her and spread his arms. "O Wise and Beautiful One," Hermione giggled. "I am sorry. More than I could ever say, I am sorry. I put myself at your mercy to do with me as you wish, for I know that I should be punished. Am I forgiven?" He finished by bowing his head. His hair fell over his face and he waited for an answer.

The silence stretched for a while, then Hermione said, "No. You're not." Draco looked up in time to see her heading toward the door.

"Why?" he asked.

She looked over her shoulder. "I know when someone's in my head, Draco. You're going to have to beg for forgiveness for that and keep doing so until I feel like forgiving you. Have fun." She walked out and closed the door behind her, leaving Draco on his knees and completely stunned.

AN: Hehehe. Aren't I just so evil? Lol. Review and tell me what you think. I'm not going to make it easy for Draco.