Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I only own the plot, Professor Clark, and Erzibeth (air-zi-beth). The rest belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Hermione had waited up for Draco till midnight. She was a little upset that he wasn't back yet so she proceeded to get ready for bed. At two in the morning Draco stumbled into the common room. The time spent wandering the halls contemplating what he was going to tell her still hadn't come to him. Hoping that sleep would bring some answers he wandered into his room, climbed into his four-poster, and without removing any of his cloths he was fast asleep.

Sometime between going to his room and falling asleep Draco locked all entrances into his room. Hermione found this out when she woke up and went to go open his bedroom door. Not thinking much of it she proceeded to get ready for school. By 7:30 she was in the great hall eating breakfast while waiting for the post. She finally saw her tawny owl Erzibeth fly towards her holding a newspaper. Erzibeth landed in front of her holding the Daily Prophet in her beak. Once Hermione took it Erzibeth gave a small hoot.

"I'm sorry Er (air), here's a bit of toast."

Another hoot and then off she flew.

No sooner had she flown off Harry sat down next to Hermione.

"Um, Hermione, can we talk?"

"If it's about the fight yesterday than you can just leave. I don't want to discuss how Ron's behavior was outrageous and hurtful. Draco did not corrupt my brain."

With that she slammed her fork down on the table, not letting the dark haired boy say another word and went to her Herbology class. Hermione took a seat at her usual desk and sat reading her textbook.

Draco woke up to the sound of the main portrait closing at 7:25. He didn't want to go to class to face Hermione but he didn't want her to worry either. That's when last night's detention came flooding back into full focus. Draco groaned in frustration. No sooner had he gotten her he had to give her up, and knowing his aunt that was not an empty threat.

'Raven has probably already gone to uncle Sev.' Draco laughed at this thought.

Raven was more like a cousin than an aunt since it was her mom who fancied Severus not Raven. Plus neither mother nor daughter knew that Snape worked for the light instead of the dark. Even though Dumbledore had passed on in his old age, McGonagall kept everything running. Yes he knew all about the order, he was exactly like his uncle, but he would never put Hermione in a dangerous position.

Draco decided to stay in bed that day. He'd lie to his father saying he had been up late gathering information for the Dark Lord. While in bed he came up with a way to let Hermione off easily without saying why he was really doing it. He would just have to live with the feeling of losing the best thing he ever had. To make matters worse, he couldn't tell her the truth without revealing that he was working on the same side as her. Only Severus and McGonagall knew that, afraid if others did that he would be forced to take his mark sooner.

By this time classes were over and Hermione proceeded up to the head's dorm. Once in she dropped her bag on the couch and went to her room but Morgan wouldn't let her in.

"Blood Song," Hermione repeated but Morgan still would not let her pass.

"Turn around dear and go find out what's wrong with him," was all she said to Hermione.

Hermione sighed in frustration and went over to the portrait of Merlin.

"Has he finally unlocked you," she asked.

With that Merlin's frame swung open to let her into Draco's room. Upon hearing his door open, Draco looked up from his trunk at the foot of his bed.

"Hermione we need to talk," he said while closing the lid.

Hermione didn't see the item he had taken from the trunk so she merely said "ok. What's up?"

'I love you,' was the first thing to spring to mind but he repressed it.

"We can't see each other anymore."

And just like that she felt her heart break. Millions of questions rushed to her head but the only thing that came out was "Why?"

If he hadn't of been standing only a few feet away he would have missed it for her head was bent and she had whispered it. Hermione briefly looked up and Draco could see the tears forming, getting ready to spill over. Inside Draco was yelling at himself, not even 24 hours ago you beat up that weasel because he made her cry. Draco wanted to run up and hug her, kiss all her tears away, but he couldn't. The damage was done and there was no turning back.

"I'm sorry Granger," it felt like a stab to the heart when he called her by her last name, "But I've come to my senses and a pureblood does not date let alone be seen with mudbloods."

That word was a poison on his tongue. Draco could still taste the word even after Hermione had run from the room with the little dignity she had left. It broke his heart to see her run, to say her last name instead of her first, to call her the foulest word of all.

Once Draco called her a mudblood she fled to the main portrait. She wanted to put as much space as possible between them. Before Hermione knew it she was standing outside of the Gryffindor portrait.

"Loyal Friends," Hermione said to the fat lady.

She swung open quickly knowing that what Hermione was looking for was behind her picture. Upon entering the common room a great hush fell. Next thing she knew Ron, Harry, and Ginny were at her side.

"So you and ferret leading a happy life?" Ron spat at her.

At this she broke down. Hermione Granger, Head Girl and Gryffindor lioness, lost the battle against herself. Ginny and Harry both smacked Ron upside the head before leading her to the couch by the fireplace. With Ginny cradling her she sobbed the whole story. From the dance to the daydreams and then to the last few days. She left out the nightmares because she thought her friends would think her childish for fearing what would probably never happen. The three sat in complete silence just listening to Hermione spill her guts.

After hearing everything Ron and Harry had revenge in their eyes.

"I'm sorry Hermione, for everything, including what I said about him corrupting you," Ron said.

"The important thing is that you're safe her," Ginny said, "You can bunk in your old bed."

"Oh, thanks Ginny."

"No problem. Besides Lavender misses you even if she doesn't admit it."