Hi folks. Back again. Man, I'm sick of all the snow already... Anyway! I looked over everything for this book and decided that this was really the last big thing that needed to be mentioned. After this, I'll have a closing chapter and then move on to Year Four, where the fun really starts (So glad how that first chapter came out...). Um, I normally go with the books, but let's just say Hermione punched Malfoy in the book instead of slapped him, mmkay? Cause that just works out so much better... Oh and thanks to Sololight and Satanica-Demon of Pride for reviews... Enjoy!

Year Three

Chapter Four

Year Three: The Passage Of Time Definitely Doesn't Mean It's Over, And When Things Start Up Again, Your Best Choice Is Violence, No Matter How Stupid That May Seem

For whatever reason, Draco gave his plan up for broke and didn't bug me at all for the better part of the year. I was definitely grateful for this, seeing as it gave me more time to focus on my studies. However, Marika became disappointed, and was constantly bugging me to have some interaction with him, which I blatantly refused at every turn. It was always when I thought she would leave me alone that the topic would resurface, only for me to shoot it down in the same manner as usual.

Then, in late April, right before the Easter holidays, events decided to shove themselves on me again. Since I knew the break would most likely be filled to the brim with homework, I had decided to partake in spending some time under my tree while I still could. The weather was nice, and I was enjoying myself thoroughly until he showed up.

It was an extremely awkward moment. Draco obviously didn't know what to do, since sitting down beside me would most likely result in some physical injury, but standing was much more nerve racking than anything else. The fact that I was once again refusing to look at him probably heightened that factor. He eventually decided to clear his throat.

"Matrons," Draco supplied as his greeting.

"Draco," I coldly responded, finally deciding to look at him, noting that he had a bruise on his left eye. I stifled my urge to smirk. "I assume whatever you did was fully deserving of that black eye."

A small tinge of pink formed on Draco's cheeks, but he kept the rest of his composure intact. "Granger's going to pay for that," he stated before muttering a few insults under his breath. I rolled my eyes and waited for him to refocus, which didn't take as long as I thought it would. "That's not the point, Matrons. The point is that I need to try something."

I raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you be focusing on Quidditch?" My question was concerning the quickly approaching match between Gryffindor and Slytherin that would determine the winner of the Quidditch Cup. "And what the hell does this have to do with me? Can't you try whatever it is on Crabbe or Goyle?"

Draco winced at my suggestion. "No, it has to be you," he said. "Definitely has to be you. As for your first question, I won't be able to focus unless I know how this goes." He had at least learned from our previous conversation that I didn't like leaving points unanswered.

I sighed and stood up to lean against my tree, an abnormal feeling of unease blossoming in my stomach. "Okay, since your life is so much more important than mine, care to tell me what this thing is?" I asked. The sooner this was over with, the sooner I could go back to relaxing.

"Actually, I think this is just best done," Draco muttered, looking at the ground instead of me. Wait a minute, the little brat was nervous? That couldn't be right; there was just no way…

"Draco, there is nothing you can do to me that will change my opinion of you, seeing that it's pretty damn low as is. So just say it, do it, or leave it so I can go back to ignoring your existence." That seemed like a pretty sound plan to me. It finally occurred to me in the back of my head that Marika could've had something to do with this, but I really didn't give a damn.

"You said it…" he muttered, like that made a difference. In any event, my words seemed to bolster his confidence since he came closer to me. I suddenly began to regret my sentence, and with good reason, too. His arms on either side of me, I was successfully pinned up against my tree.

Well, fuck, I thought, just before Draco pressed his lips against mine.

When it was done, I felt a particularly strong wave of anger unlike anything I had experienced. Part of me wanted to punch him in the nose, but I didn't want to explain (and by that, I mean lie about) the resulting blood to Marika when I returned to the common room later that night. However, causing him pain seemed like a really good idea. Now I just had to figure out how…

I pulled back my left arm the best I could with the tree behind me and gave Draco a second black eye to accompany the first. He staggered back, and I felt extremely pleased with my handiwork.

"Damn, Ivy, I didn't know you could do that," he said in awe. "So you're still not going believe me if I tell you…"

Tell me what? I glared as opposed to asking my mental question. Still seething with anger, I did my best not to punch him again, no matter how satisfying it would have been. "You, Draco Malfoy, are the most infuriating person I have ever had the unfortunate displeasure of meeting in my entire life," I stated. "Now, unless you want additional injuries to be caused to the Slytherin Seeker, I suggest you get the hell away from here. I'm in a particularly nasty mood right now, thanks to you."

Draco looked at me for a few moments before actually deciding to return to the castle. I watched, wand at the ready while thinking up some jinxes I could use if he decided to turn back. When he was safely out of sight, I stowed my wand back in my robes and picked up a rock off the ground. I stalked over to the lake's edge, bypassed the entire concept of skipping the stone, chunked it out into the water with all the force I could muster, waited until I heard the splash, and stormed back to under my tree where I would seethe for the remaining hours of the day.