Howdy folks! I've been so overwhelmed with the response to this story. Of course, I don't have loads of fans, but it's enough to keep me happy. I want to thank you guys for reviewing...even if some of them sting a little. This chapter isn't going to be terribly long, but I have a reason for it! So, without further or do...here's chapter twelve of Differences.

Chapter Twelve

Hermione's Point of View

The days past in a blurry haze. Classes seemed to fade together and it seemed like nothing would retrieve me from this horrid mood. Of course, it was all Malfoy's fault. Malfoy had put me in this mood. This tasteless, horrible, bitchy mood. Even the professors knew not to call on me for answers. They always would get a snide remark back. Most of them probably thought that it was my friends that had me in this situation. And-if I being completely honest with myself-it had to do with them, too.

Ron and Harry were completely ignoring me.

They were ignoring me! They were ignoring me because of the Malfoy incident. Again...Malfoy's fault. They ignored me in our classes. They ignored me during meals. They ignored me in the common room. They even ignored me when Ginny and I were talking together in the Green House before Herbology. They had looked directly at Ginny-cutting off what I had been saying-and began a conversation with her that did not include me. I had to admit that that stung. I could handle everything else that they were throwing my way, but that one confrontation actually hurt more than the others.

And now, as I sit in Transfiguration, I thought about what I had been missing.

I had been missing my so called "Mystery Man". I'd been missing our nightly writing sessions and our talks about nonsense things. I'd been missing him calling love.

"Hermione," Neville asked curiously from beside me. "Are you feeling well?"

"Dandy, Neville." I said in a slightly cheerful voice which seemed to surprise Neville...and myself quite honestly. "I'm just thinking."

"Is there something you'd like to share with the class, Mr. Longbottom and Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagall interupted with a smooth voice and a raised eyebrow.

"No, Professor." Neville replied hurriedly.

"Actually yes there is, Professor." I intervened instantly. I didn't know who or what was making me do these things, but I truly felt obliged to say something.

"Well, please, do tell."

I sucked in a quick breath, "I just realized what arses my supposed friends are. I mean, they're blaming me for something that I couldn't control and they're acting like I don't existed. Of course some would be begging for their forgiveness, but I truthfully don't think I need to apologize for anything. They're the ones that have an issue with me. Apparently, think they're superior to me, but they aren't. So what if Malfoy was getting sleezy. That is defiantly not my fault! If it's anyone's fault, it's Malfoy's! Why aren't they confronting him? Oh right, because they must not care enough about me to understand what actually happened. I know for a fact that Harry doesn't care, because he's too busy bossing his girlfriend-who also happens to be one of my best friends-around, making sure she doesn't talk to me! Are they trying to push me over the edge? Are they really hoping that I just cut all connections and-who knows-even maybe kill myself in the process? I didn't realize that they can be such selfish people! I didn't realize that they didn't care about me enough to work things out! It's been three weeks since we've talked. It's been three bloody weeks since I've had a decent conversation with someone. And that last conversation was with Draco bloody Malfoy, for crying out loud!"

Everyone's eyes pierced mine as I took in the crowd I had just poured my heart out to.

I didn't want to look, but I did. My original plan was to run like a bat outta hell once I finished my monolouge, but I got sidetracked. Ginny had tears falling down her rosy cheeks and that alone made me want to bawl, but instead I shook my head at her and ran out of the dead silent classroom.

Once I was finally in a deserted corridor-which I thought was far enough from Transfiguration-did I take off the black heels and sit down. I let a few rogue tears stream down my pale white cheeks as I mauled over what had just happened meerly minutes ago.

I had told off my dearest friends in front of the entire Slytherin and Gryfinndor 7th years. Oh blimey, the entire Slytherin 7th years. Why had I chosen that particular class to lose it in? That was the only class that Slytherin and Gryfinndor 7th years had together and I chose that class to rant about Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Malfoy.

Well played, Granger.

I sighed. That Mini Me inside my head was being sarcastic now. Yipee.

"I'm not the Mini You, Granger." Malfoy chuckled quietly and quickly before appearing out of the shadows of the corridor. "And I'm not hear to make you feel foolish either. What you did back there was...well, amazing."

Amazing? Is that what they're calling mental break downs these days?

"It doesn't matter."

"What doesn't matter, Malfoy?" I growled. "It doesn't matter that I've been without friends for three weeks? It doesn't matter that I just made my best girlfriend cry? It doesn't matter that it's your damn fault that I'm in this bloody mess?"

"Don't you fucking dare!" Malfoy hissed back at me. "Don't you fucking dare say that this is my fault! I happen to think it's your fault! If you weren't so...so fucking desirable, this would not be happening!"

That's when something happened.

That's when something sparked inside of me.

That's when I kissed Draco Malfoy.