AN- I'm getting back my interest for this story. A few weeks ago, I was like 'eh..' but yeeah. Alright, ONWARD! Heh. Me own Harry Potter LIE!

Though Draco had stopped his thoughts, the dejected/guilty look on his face just wouldn't leave. Luckily, Professor Snape took it in the wrong way. They were on either side of Snape's desk, the professor sitting. "You're not in trouble Draco."

Realizing that his godfather didn't see the real reason for his sad anger, Draco decided to go along with it. He forced his face to brighten and did his best to wipe his self-frustration away. Apparently, it wasn't enough.

Snape then asked, "What's wrong Draco? You can tell me."

Draco sighed subconsciously. "No. You see? I can't tell you."

The godfather's brows furrowed. 'What can't my own godson tell me? I've seen his grow up for Merlin's sake. He's told me secrets, so why is this one so different?'

Draco continued, "Sorry Sev, I'm not sure of it myself, and there's no need in worrying you--which I know will eventually lead to worrying Father."

This was the truth, all Draco's secrets were never exactly safe with Severus. 'If I can't hide them from my mind, Lucius would find a way to pry it out of me. However, as true as that may be, I'm a little put out that Draco can't trust me anymore. I know how he really feels about his 'friends'. They're just there. They're there out of loyalty, not friendship. Muscle can be useful, but brains is the company my godson enjoys--'

"Tell me something, Draco. Did you do that to Miss Granger?"

Even if Draco couldn't tell his godfather secrets, he definitely couldn't lie. So he sighed and steeled himself for whatever would happen after his answer. "Yes," Malfoy felt no need to elaborate. Severus, on the other hand, felt the need for an explanation.

"Care to tell me why?"

"No. Not really."

"Draco."

"Sev."

"Fine. Tell me as a teacher about to give you detention instead of a friendly conversation with your godfather."

There was a pause in which they both glowered at each other.

"Because I don't like her."

The answer came naturally. Though Severus didn't think much about it, to Draco, it meant something. 'Yes! I knew it. There was no way I could have liked her. I don't,

and I won't.'

"Draco, why are you smiling?"

The blonde boy snapped out of his thoughts. He felt the smile play on his lips at his new revelation.

"Because it was funny."

It was Snape's turn to sigh. "It wasn't very mature."

"I know Sevsev."

Snape inwardly smiled at the nickname given to him when Draco was a child.

"So what are you going to do about it, Draco?"

"Nothing?"

"Are you asking me or telling me?"

"No. Seriously? You know how much I hate that question."

"You're a terrible subject-changer."

"I know."

"You should apologize to her."

Draco was shocked. He couldn't believe that the Slytherin head of house didn't appreciate a good joke and was telling him to apologize to a Gryffindor!

"No." Draco said stubbornly.

"Merlin, you are acting like a two year old. It might do you some good to learn mannerisms. Apologize to her by tomorrow's class or I will give you a few night's detention and deduct points from my house!"

Draco's mouth now resembled a goldfish.

"You may leave. Now."

Snape's godson slowly turned and headed out of the dungeons. Though it was lunch break, he wasn't hungry. Nevertheless, he found himself walking the Great Hall to check on a certain Gryffindor girl.

Snape POV

'I can't believe myself. I just yelled at him. Not exactly, but I may as well have. My stupid past is continually interfering with my present. Gryffindors and Slytherins aren't meant to coexist peacefully, so why am I pushing this? Maybe Dumbledore's plan of inter-house unity isn't just a load of rubbish. Nah, it still is. Befriending that house only leads to trouble and hurt. Ahh, face it Severus. You're trying to live through you're godson as if it will rectify you're mistakes with..her. sigh Lily, see how you still torment me?'

Regular POV

Malfoy peeked into the loud hungry hall of students, seeing everyone except the one of his search. 'I must have hurt her feelings pretty badly. Nice move, Draco, you fool! sigh I'd better find her.'

Hermione was in the head dorm bathroom, still crying. Every now and then, she would mumble about how stupid Malfoy was, and how she would ever face Hogwarts again. She had put up a mental barrier so Ginny couldn't talk to her. Hermione doubted the redhead had heard at the actual time that it had happened, but Hermione was sure that Ginny had heard through other people. Gossip at Hogwarts spread like a match thrown into a field of dry grass.

Hermione sniffled, and made herself calm down enough to stop crying. She was never one for revenge, but this called for action. Draco Malfoy had hurt her. Badly. He needed to pay. Hermione took a deep breath and washed her face. The redness and puffiness of her eyes was lessened, thanks to a spell Ginny had taught her, sadly, the spell wasn't perfected enough to clear it completely.

--

Draco took a deep breath and muttered "Love fest."

The portrait hassled him. The Hermione of the picture asked, "My dear Merlin, what have you done to the poor girl?"

"Nothing. Love fest."

The Draco tssked, "Lies again. Remember about the conscience thing I told you about on the first day?"

"Yeah yeah." The real Draco was getting impatient.

"Are you going to apologize to her, young lad?" It was a battle of the Dracos.

"Maybe if my freakin' portraits ever let me in. Love fest! Love fest! Love fest!" Malfoy shouted like a little child in a tantrum.

Obviously, Draco's patience was running dangerously low. He stupidly tried to pry the portrait open. The picture Hermione gave a cry of outrage, her being closest to the side Draco had pulled on. The portrait Draco sprang into action. He pulled Hermione into his arms, as if protecting her, then gently and swiftly pushed her behind him. Draco reached out of the portrait and punched the real Malfoy in the face. In Malfoy's opinion, being punched by a portrait hurt more than being punched by a real person.

In an instant, Draco was on the floor for the second time caused by the portrait, clutching his nose this time. When Malfoy looked up at the portrait, the scene brought him uninvited sadness. Draco was cradling Hermione, whispering soothing words. She was barely upset, but enjoyed the comfort any way. The real Malfoy stood, forgetting about his nose, and just looked upon the scene with gloomy eyes. It was like the fantasy he couldn't admit to himself.

While looking into each other's eyes, the two portrait paintings kissed. Draco cast his eyes downward for a moment as if to give them an iota of privacy. It was a quick kiss, but filled with so much love. When they broke apart, they hugged. They held each other for longer than they kissed, but it was filled with the same intensity of love. Draco had never seen anything like it.

A new feeling entered him, a feeling completely foreign. It started in his limbs, and slowly and carefully crawled it's way into his heart. This feeling never reached his brain, and it felt perfect without having to think. Draco was aware of his heartbeat, which was lazy and playful. It was so loud, he wondered if the portrait had heard. For the first time, Draco Malfoy had felt love.

The portrait noticed Draco looking at them, thoughtfully, quietly. They opened the portrait hole, and Malfoy climbed in, still unaware of what the new, wonderful feeling was. As he came in, he noticed Hermione coming down from the bathroom. He knew she had been crying hard. He knew the spell Hermione had used to clear some of the red and puffiness of her eyes. Malfoy had seen his mother use it several times throughout growing up.

Hermione spotted Malfoy and paused. She just wanted to get her book bag, which she had forgotten on the couch in the main room. The main room was where Malfoy was standing. Hermione was oblivious of what Draco had just went through, except for the fact that his nose was bleeding. 'Stupid prat deserves it…plus many more terrible things.' Hermioneweighed her options: She could get her bag and risk more taunts or she could just retreat to her room. She looked at him. Something seemed different. That difference made her decide to retrieve her bag.

Just because she chose her first option didn't mean she had forgotten her embarrassment or anger. She felt it boil up inside her, and she let it out.

"How the hell could you do something like that to me Draco Malfoy?! Are you so inhuman that you enjoy tormenting me?!"

Against her will, the tears were well on their way to spilling over. She wiped them away in hurried anger. "You think tha--"

She was interrupted by Draco's voice, he was speaking normally. If anything, his voice carried hints of an epiphany and guilt. "I'm so sorry, Hermione."

"No! If-- Wait. What did you just say to me?"

" I said that I'm sorry, very sorry. I was wrong to do that to you. I hope you will forgive me."

The words were so truthful, Hermione couldn't do anything but believe that he meant them. Her eyes grew wide. 'Draco Malfoy was apologizing to me?! He even used my first name!! What's happening? Is this a terrible joke?! No.' Hermione stood shell-shocked with one hand on her bag. She just looked at him, blinking a few times here and there. Her revenge plan was forgotten and her anger and sadness was replaced with what could only be described as forgiveness and a small amount of flattery.

"Are you okay?" Draco asked.

"Uhh.. yeah. Just give me a second." Her knees gave out. Draco rushed to her, but she plopped harmlessly onto one of the couches. Draco sat down delicately, unsurely, leaving space between them. He was looking at her, and for once, it wasn't out of cruelty and it wasn't a glare, it was care and concern.

Hermione broke the silence, that was neither awkward nor comforting.

"I forgive you… Draco." The name sounded weird on her tongue.

He smiled. Genuinely smile. A smile without a tint of darkness. For a strange reason, Hermione found herself smiling too. In the midst of all of this, both the teens found themselves thinking simultaneously, 'Merlin! What is happening?!'

AN- I'm not sure if I want to go with the whole Severus/Lily thing.. Suggestions? Reviews? Wee, this chapter was loooooonnnnnnngg. Peace!