A/N: Hello. I'm not sure what to rant about in this author note. Shucks! Smurglenergs! Well, being a Ravenclaw, why not give a fact? The snake Harry frees from the Zoo in the Sorcerer's Stone is Nagini. Aren't you glad you're reading from a Ravenclaw? ;)

Draco's P.O.V:

I heard Granger yelling as I was coming out of the Great Hall, "You ruin everything, Ron!"

Curious to see what they were arguing about now, I walked around the corner so I could see, but when I saw her crying all thoughts of taunting her about it left my head. I just felt horrible that a guy would do that to her, she was a great girl. A know-it-all, yes, but still amazing.

The Yule Ball was coming to an end and everyone was leaving, so I decided there wouldn't be anyone watching to talk about what I was about to do. Gathering the little bit of bravery I had, I walked over to Granger and put my hand out.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" She asked me while wiping her tears angrily away.

"A dance," I kept my hand out, waiting for her to take it.

She laughed humorlessly, "You're kidding right?"

I started to get nervous when she laughed. I'd been wanting to dance with her all night and if she didn't accept my offer it would be quite embarrassing.

"No, I'm not," I stared at her nervously, hoping she'd answer soon before I lost all of my courage.

Hermione stared at me, her wide eyes, "This has to be some kind of joke."

"It isn't."

She just kept staring, which made me feel slightly uncomfortable, "Please, just one dance, I'm practically begging," I needed a way to make her smile; I couldn't keep asking when she still looked so upset. I fell onto my knees and grabbed her hand with both of mine, "Come on, Granger, I'm on my knees for Merlin's sake! Just one dance, please!"

She tried to hide her grin and I smiled at her, "You're pathetic, Malfoy."

"Horribly."

Sighing loudly and dramatically, she stood up, "I guess one dance wouldn't hurt anything," Still holding onto my hand, I scrambled to my feet and followed her to the Great Hall.

When I realized there wasn't any music playing, I deflated slightly, knowing I missed my chance. When Granger reached her bra, my eyes widened, unsure of what she was doing even after she pulled out an odd-looking muggle device.

Seeing my confuzlement, she explained, "It's an i-Pod, it plays music. I don't like much of the music wizards and witches listen to. You just put a headphone in and you can listen to it."

My eyebrows shot up, "Really? That's amazing."

She giggled a little at my sudden interest and gave me a headphone after she'd put one in her ear. This mysterious "i-Pod" started playing a slow song and I suddenly felt much more nervous than before.

She started fumbling with the device, but I blurted out, "No! It's fine –" I tried to catch myself, "I mean, if you're okay with it. If you're not it's okay, I mean, I asked you to dance and you can change the song if you want to but –"

Hermione put her arms around my neck, "It's okay, Malfoy. I don't mind."

I blushed horribly and wrapped my arms around her waist as she laid her head on my shoulder. We rocked side to side somewhat, since neither of us obviously wanted to do those extravagant dances they taught us, we did the minimal.

I instantly felt… better being like this. Being with her. We danced for about four songs without speaking.

"Thank you," A mumble from Granger broke it.

"I think I should thank you for actually dancing with me."

"It's nice," She said and I nodded my agreement.

I was still kind of high on happiness, so I felt like I needed to explain and apologize for the last four years, "Granger, I –"

"Whadda you two think you're doin' in here?" Filch yelled at the top of his lungs and we quickly turned to look at him, "Get outta here! You're 'spose to be in your dormitories!"

Granger looked horrified because she obviously didn't want to get in trouble. She looked so scared, that I walked forward and picked up Mrs. Norris then took off running without a second thought. The insufferable cat was hissing and scratching at me, trying to get back to Filch who happened to be running after be, screaming at the top of his lungs.

I started laughing hysterically. I mean really? I'd just danced with Granger and then saved her from getting in trouble by running away with Mrs. Norris! How much weirder could it get?

I was doing well until my foot sank into that step on the stairs. Falling forward, Mrs. Norris jumped out of my arm just as I was hitting the ground with my face.

Filch cackled, chest rising and falling rapidly, "Caught ya!" He picked up Mrs. Norris then went to get Snape, leaving me stuck in the stair.

I used my arms to lay my head on since I couldn't lie on my back. When I heard footsteps, I tensed and waited to hear my godfather's monotone, telling me I had detention, instead, I felt a peck on the cheek. I was really hoping it wasn't Snape.

"Thank you, Draco," I turned my head quickly and stared at Hermione, open mouthed. She smiled and walked up the rest of the stairs, leaving me staring incredulously after her.

Draco's P.O.V:

I still felt like crap, but decided to take up my position as Seeker. I knew we were going to lose, but had to try anyway. Or pretend to.

As we all took up our positions, I looked into the crowd to see if Granger came. She was there, in the Gryffindor stands, obviously uninterested in Quidditch but came to support her friends anyway. I thought about what it would be like to have her sitting in the Slytherin stands, cheering me on, when an oncoming Bludger hit me in the side of the face and almost knocked me off my broom.

I glared at the Gryffindor Beaters before flying up so far everyone was just ants. I enjoyed it up here. No one else around to snap or yell at me, just the distant sounds of the match. Truthfully, I wasn't much of a Quidditch fan myself. It was really quite uninteresting.

My solitude was broken when Harry freaking Potter flew up in front of me, "Not even trying to win for Slytherin, I see."

"Not even bother to look for the Snitch either, I see," I slumped down, still staring at the moving dots.

Potter raised an eyebrow at my horrible comeback, "Someone's not themselves today, Ferret."

"Well, I'm sorry for puking my guts out then not feeling up to stupid banter, Potter," I snapped at him. I was starting to feel like I was going to do it again. Hoped it was on Potter. Or Weasel.

We bother stayed silent, halfheartedly looking for the Snitch.

"So… The weather…" I tried to make conversation, but it was just too awkward.

"Yeah… It's, uhm, nice…" He replied, seeming to feel as awkward as I do.

"Uhm, how have you been?"

"Shitty, you?"

"Shitty."

"Surprising," He said in a level tone.

"How is that surprising?"

He shrugged, "I mean, what in your life could possibly be shitty?"

"Nothing that concerns you, Potter," I rested my chin on my broom and sighed, looking for Granger again, "She doesn't like Quidditch much, does she?"

"Who?" His tone suggested he was surprised at my sudden question.

I almost said Hermione, but instead to stay true to character simply described her as "The Mudblood."

Looking at him, he was obviously annoyed, "No, Hermione doesn't. Why?"

I shrugged and kept looking for her in the crowd.

"She's told me you know."

"About what? Hating Quidditch?"

He rolled his eyes, "No, about how you're nice to her sometimes, like the Yule ball. Times like that."

I shot up, wide eyed. Who else did she tell? Did anyone hear when she told him?

He laughed, "Relax, she only told me. No one's going to be hearing about how you're really a nice guy. You can keep up your image."

I did in fact relax, even if two people knew I wasn't as horrible as I acted, it was okay. I bit the inside of my cheek for a moment before blurting my question out, "Does she ever talk about me?"

Potter looked at me like I'd just kicked his muggle goldfish, "Why?"

I shrugged and looked back down at the field, trying to make it seem like I was simply making conversation.

"Well, most of what she says is horrible," He said slowly, "But she does say nice things about you sometimes."

I felt him watching me, waiting for a reaction, but I wasn't going to give him one. Even if I really wanting to scream, "YES!" at the top of my lungs.

"She's never said it, but I think she may even like you, Malfoy," There was no missing the disgust in his tone, but I started grinning broadly as my stomach flipped.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that Potter was so shocked he almost fell off his broom, "Are you smiling?"

"Oh, look! The Snitch!" I flew forward away from him and started looking for the Snitch. There was a flash of gold and I took off after it, Potter following me. We flew around for a few minutes until I saw it by Weasel's ear. That should be fun.

Just as I was about to go after it, Potter did and of course caught it, falling off of his broom and taking Weasel with him. They landed in a heap on the ground with Potter on top of him as the Gryffindor's erupted in cheers.

I flew down and dismounted my broom as Granger ran down onto the field to check if they were okay. She kneeled down next to them, Weasel pushed Potter off of him, then sat up, and kissed Granger. Of course she kissed him back, she loves him.

Jealousy is fucking bitch.

Harry's P.O.V:

I landed on top of Ron and laid there trying to get my bearings until he pushed me off. I looked over to see him and Hermione kissing.

Jealousy's a fucking bitch.

Lavender's P.O.V:

Won Won sat up and started kissing HERMIONE! NOT ME! THAT ASS!

Jealousy's such a fucking bitch.

Crookshanks' P.O.V:

Walking down the corridor with Mrs. Norris, getting ready to go on our date ;)

Draco's P.O.V:

I didn't want to stand there and watch them, so I turned around and left the Quidditch pitch. I put my broom in my dormitory then went for a walk to clear my head. I really needed to cut, but couldn't with so many people around. If anyone found out I'd be forced to stop and I don't think I could handle that right now, with so much going on.

It was only seven days away now until I was being made a Death Eater. Unless I just turned up dead, then I wouldn't have to. But I can't be that selfish. If I were to just turn up dead, my mother would certainly be killed. I don't care if Father is killed, he can rot in Hell for all I care.

When it was dark, I walked out to the lake and sat next to it. I took off my Hogwarts crap and rolled up the sleeves of my shirt. I didn't need to look so "perfect" when I was by myself.

I thought back to Potter saying Granger liked me and snorted. I didn't see why she would and of course she had Weasel.

I laid back and closed my eyes, enjoying the quiet. I'd always liked nighttime, everything about it. It just made me feel safe, secure, and calm. I did worry about what might be hiding in the dark, of course, but I'd given up on worrying about it.

I heard a few meows, so I opened one of my eyes and saw Crookshanks and Mrs. Norris lying by the lake. Sitting up, I stared at them. Really? Crookshanks and Mrs. Norris dating? Can Kneazles even date? Is it okay to be jealous of them? I mean, they can just be in love and not have to worry about anything.

They were just sitting there, rubbing it in my face that I'd never be able to be with Granger.

I sighed and looked at my forearms. I needed to find a way to get rid of the scars before next week, but at that moment all I wanted to do was add another one.

Hermione's P.O.V:

I stopped kissing him and pulled back, "YOU HAVE A GIRLFRIEND, RON!" I got to my feet and stormed away. I felt horrible for kissing him, no matter how much I liked him. I hate Lavender, but still! Kissing a guy when he had a girlfriend was just wrong!

A/N: Thanks for the alerts/favorites :) I now obviously support the Crookshanks/Mrs. Norris relationship. I had something to rant about but I can't remember it now… Think, think, think… Oh well! Comic relief coming next chapter with hug a Slytherin day! :D