Only Potter could get under his skin that much. Draco sat through dinner with his fists clenched and his teeth clamped down to stop him from screaming at Potter to take his hands off of Hermione. He barely ate anything and kept throwing dirty looks at Potter. After dinner Malfoy was walking out of the dining hall when he overheard a conversation.

"Harry we're throwing a, 'Welcome Back' party. You have to come tonight." Neville said, clamping his hand on Potter's shoulder.

"Yeah, c'mon Harry, for old time's sake," Cho Chang added.

"Yeah sure, I don't see why not," Harry laughed as he started walking with the two of them. But it was Granger who stayed back, "I think I'm just going to go to bed, I'm pretty tired."

The three of them nodded then walked away. Draco walked over to Hermione and touched her elbow lightly, "Can I walk you to your dormitory?"

Hermione glared up at him, she put her hands on her hips and her lips were pursed, it was the classic Granger look, "Fine, but only because I want to talk, but no physical contact. I swear to god Malfoy, if you touch me I will turn you into a ferret. I know how much you liked that the first time."

Hermione grinned as Draco shuttered, that was one of the worst experiences in his life. "You have yourself a deal Hermione."

"Oh and you have to call me Granger, it's weird if you don't."

"Nope, that wasn't part of the deal. I like your name; it's unique, just like you."

Hermione snorted, "Unique huh, you are just excellent with the ladies aren't you?" Her voice dripped in sarcasm, and then she turned away and started walking towards her dormitory, "Okay Malfoy, there is something up with you and I don't like it. I don't' like you being sweet, I don't like you being nice, and I most definitely don't like you being jealous of Harry. It's Harry, being jealous is just insane and not to mention gross."

Draco reached his arm back and rubbed the back of his neck cursing silently to himself, "Was it that obvious?"

"A blind person could have been able to tell. It was terrible. Malfoy you can't have feeling towards me, unless they are feeling of hatred then get rid of them. That's the way this world works."

"So you are asking me to be mean, rude, and hateful?"

"Yes Malfoy, are you deaf?"

"Okay just checking." He nodded and looked down at her, a smile playing on the corners of his mouth.

"Now if you don't mind I would like to go to bed." She nodded her head with authority and headed up the stairs.

"I hope the bedbugs bite Granger. Oh wait, you're safe, they wouldn't want any of your mudblood blood." Draco lied right through his teeth, but if that's what she wanted he would do it for her. He would do anything for her.

Hermione heard him yell up the stairs, and instead of feeling a sense of relief, she felt sad. He was doing exactly what she told him to do, what she wanted him to do, or at least that's what she thought she wanted. But a part of her was hoping that he would yell something sweet up the stairs, to match the kiss from earlier. The kiss that had taken her breath away, like no other kiss had.

The next day at breakfast Hermione's heart dropped when Draco came in and didn't even pay her the slightest glance. Just talk to him Hermione, stop being a baby. Make a witty comment, or a flirty one, maybe he will get that you made a mistake last night.

But the best she came up with was, "Could you pass the jam?"

"Oh so the mudblood can't get her own jam? No wonder you were always around Potter and Weasley, you needed their help, didn't you? The little mudblood can't do anything on her own."

Hermione's heart broke at his cruel words, and to add insult to the injury… she never got the jam.

Draco felt horrible saying all these terrible things to Hermione, all he really wanted to do was wrap her in his arms and tell her that she was perfect. But that's not what she wanted him to do, and he needed to make her happy. He would do just about anything to make her happy.

How many times had he called her 'mudblood' in the past two days? More than he would like to admit. Not to mention that he hadn't called her Hermione once, only Granger, just like she asked. Draco would fall asleep at night mumbling her name over and over, "Hermione, Hermione, Hermione…" It was just so beautiful, just like her. He would fall asleep picturing her face and dream that she actually thought he was a decent person. Then Draco would wake up and he would have cruel to her, it made him sick to his stomach.

How long would he have to be mean to her before she realized she loved him? How long would it take her to realize that he would never do what that little red headed weasel did? No he wouldn't do that. He wouldn't dream of that. But god knows that Hermione would never believe that.

"Malfoy, wait up!"

Draco turned and saw Potter running down the corridor to meet him. Potter caught up with him and right hooked him in the jaw. "Ouch! Bloody hell man, what was that for?" Draco rubbed his jaw with his hand.

"Calling Hermione all those terrible names, I thought you had gotten over those childish games, but I guess you just got better at them. Kissing her, acting like you changed, then BAM! You go acting like your psycho aunt. "

"Potter you have no idea what the hell you're talking about, now back off and mind your own business."

"No she's one of my best friends and you aren't going to go treating her like a speck of dirt on the bottom of your shoes, because let me tell you something Malfoy, she is a way better person that you could ever dream of being."

"And you think I don't know that Potter? You think I want to call her this? No Potter I don't. She asked me to be mean to her, so I'm doing it even though with each word it kills me inside. But I would do anything to make her happy. So back off, and get off your high horse."

"You're in love with her," Harry whispered.

Draco turned and walked away.

Hermione was acting like a little girly schoolgirl. She would try to purposely run into Draco around Hogwarts, curl her hair around her finger, purse her lips, and flutter her eyelashes. He didn't seem to notice though, he seemed more pissed than ever, and it seemed like he had a bunch of built up hatred towards her. It was only a couple of weeks ago that he had kissed her, without giving Hermione a heads up.

Harry left a week ago after he claimed, 'he couldn't handle any of this Malfoy loving.' That was followed by Hermione smacking the back of his head, but it all ended in a loving hug. Since Harry had left Draco had smiled at her once, she had caught him staring at her twice, and she ran into him in her favorite section of the library three times.

This couldn't be a coincidence, right? Hermione somehow knew that he had feelings for her. Well, at least she hoped he did. She would fall asleep at night just picturing that kiss, the kiss if it had gotten hotter, if she hadn't pushed him away. Hermione sighed a blissful sigh and ran her hands through her hair, opening her eyes slowly. She was in her classroom, trying to grade papers, and failing… miserably.

Hermione groaned softly and looked back to the paper that a 6th year wrote. It was already terrible and she was only on the second paragraph. "That moan was very attractive Granger, if you are trying to get me hot and bothered, you have succeeded."

Hermione jumped out of her seat, and quickly ran her hands down her black skirt that fell mid- thigh. "Malfoy! What are you doing here?" This was just too perfect, she was just thinking of him. Her hands self consciously worked up to her hair and fixed the curly mess.

"Well I walked in here getting ready to pull your hair out. Granger, my kids come to class without my homework done because apparently they spent all night finishing your paper. Chill on the homework load, it's not fun not having any competition for favorite teacher, you are making it too easy."

She rolled her eyes and stepped around her desk, "If you were a student's favorite teacher, we better have them go see Madame Pomfrey. But seriously Malfoy, why are you here."

"I'm serious, that's why I came. But now, I have something else in mind…" He ran his fingers through his white blonde hair and Hermione couldn't help but stare, when his arm reached up, his shirt came up, exposing his rock solid lower stomach.

She slid onto her desk and crossed her legs, knowing that would make her skirt rise up her legs a couple of inches. From the way Draco was staring at her Hermione knew that he noticed. "And what would that be Malfoy?"

A smirk formed on his lips and he worked his way over to her, setting his hands on her bare skin. He leaned in and nuzzled the smooth, warm skin on her neck. Hermione's hands found his shoulders and a whisper escaped her lips, "Draco," the whisper turned into a moan.

A low chuckle came from Draco's mouth and he leaned back, his eyes dancing. "Wow Granger, is that all it takes? Weasley must have been terrible in bed."

Hermione's eyes snapped open and she saw Draco standing there, a cocky grin on his face, but his hands still resting on her hips. "I knew you had feelings for me Granger, but you just make this way too easy."

Hermione pushed his hands off her legs and looked up at him, a hurt expression plastered on her face. "What about the kiss? You kissed me Malfoy."

"You see Granger; I only kissed you before because I like the chase. I never actually liked you. No way, I mean look at me, then look at you. Gross. I like chasing girls, but now that it's so easy, I'm done with you Granger." He patted her lightly on the head, then spun on his heels and walked out of the classroom, leaving Hermione in tears.

Draco barely made it out of the room before he turned and punched the stone wall of the hallway. Tears of anger ran down his face, but he had to do it. He knew he had too, after a talk with Potter before he left.

"You can't be with her Malfoy." His voice was deep and it almost scared me.

"Excuse me?"

"It's obvious that you too have feelings for each other. But Malfoy we both know that she can do a lot better than you. She deserves a hero, someone like Ron, if he hadn't cheated of course."

"Bloody hell Potter! That Weasel is no good, he is scum." My voice shook with anger, as I pictured Ron standing next to Pansy. "You can go to hell Potter."

He placed a hand on my shoulder and looked my straight in the eyes, "Think about it, and really think about it. She needs a good guy."

My head dropped hearing his words. I knew he was right, deep down I knew, I just needed to stay away from her.

"Draco…"

My head snapped up at the sound of my first name mumbled from Potter's lips. Never before had he said my first name.

"Please stay away from her. If you break her heart now, it will be better than later. Promise me."

"I promise."

Draco shook his head and looked down at his now swelling hand. "Bloody hell," he muttered and walked off to the Hospital Wing.

Draco sat there in the chair in the Hospital Wing cursing under his breath. Madam Pomfrey walked over to him, shaking her head slightly, "Oh Draco, when will you stop getting yourself into trouble?"

Draco shrugged his shoulder and let his hand get bandaged up. "Here, let me give you some pain medicine. It will make you tired so go right to your dormitory after you swallow." He nodded, took the pill, thanked Madam Pomfrey, and then left for his dormitory.

Moving staircases, Draco hated them that night. It was dark, and he was tired. He was sure that the staircase had met the floor it was supposed to, but apparently it hadn't. And he fell.

Down,

Down,

Down.

Which led to many loud cracks, followed by blackness.

So, this is still the old, but the new is coming soon, I promise! If any of my old readers are reading this please leave a comment! Any new readers please remember to review and follow the story, it would mean the world to me.

xoxo~Emi