I smiled, happy to know Malfoy had accepted the fact that this battle was mine to conquer. I helped carry the unconscious boy uneasily – I wondered if I was even helping at all. But, fortunately, the Hospital Wing was just a short distance away. I pushed open the door with my foot, and went in first.

"Hello again, Madam Pomfrey," I said. I held the door open for Malfoy.

Hermione was scrubbing her face with a wash cloth just as Malfoy entered the room with the boy. He carried him over to the cot, and Hermione looked up and let out a gasp.

"Why are you here?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

"I was helping someone to the Hospital Wing – how is that a crime?"

"Because you wouldn't do something like that."

I rolled my eyes. "Hey, Hermione. Give him a break – at least he actually did it, right? He seriously did. I helped him."

"And he forced you to help him, right?"

I shook my head. "No, I offered."

"Rather, she insisted." Malfoy scowled.

I let out a sigh. "Hey, I've got to pick up my stuff from Potions . . . see you later, Hermione." I walked out the door to leave and heard Malfoy's footsteps behind me.

"Stupid mud-bloods," Malfoy muttered angrily behind me.

I turned around and shot him a glare. "Hey, you can't blame her for hating you. You're no angel."

"Neither is she – or you, for that matter."

"Look, I'm not trying to cause a problem here, Malfoy," I said, falling silent. I hadn't talked to him this close up and personal for what felt like forever.

"Yeah," he said. "I know."

I looked at him, an odd look plastered on my face. "How would you know?"

He looked up at me, and we both were just looking at each other, completely silent, for what felt like a very long time. Then he turned around and walked away.

"Hey! I was talking to you!"

I watched him leave, and something inside of me desperately wanted him to come back. He just shook his head as he walked on, and I sighed.

Despite everything I was feeling nowadays, that boy still made me angry.

DRACO'S POV

"How would you know?"

The smell of her hair, pulling her out of the lake, holding her hand and knowing I didn't have to let go . . .

She wasn't trying to cause a problem.

Ever.

Yes – I'd known that longer than I wished.

I looked back up at her, and my stomach twisted with confusion, nervousness, and those feelings I'd had to push away for so long.

All of a sudden, I felt myself longing to apologize. I felt myself just utterly failing, and with a blink of my eyes, I turned around and started to walk away from Bianca. Not just her, but everything. Everyone, everywhere . . . everything.

The feeling was overwhelming, bewildering, and mightily confusing. I felt like I was stuck between hate and love. And like love was winning.

Against my best efforts, I turned back, letting my instincts get the better of me. But she was gone.

I swore under my breath, and felt stupid for even considering an apology.

"Stupid Malfoy . . . stupid Woods."