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How could this have happened? Where did I go wrong? Was all that was going through Hermione's head.

"When Malfoy hurts you don't even think about coming to me or Ron! For once we won't be there."

"Maybe I don't need them."

She thought to herself. She was lying to herself. She had been lying a lot more often these days.

"You could be killed!"

No. There was no way Hermione was going to let anything else fall apart.

She also knew that none of this was going to get better. The way that Harry's eyes had turned cold was etched in her mind.

He has never looked at anyone like that except for You-Know-Who.

"I might as well be Lord Voldemort. He would hate me a whole lot less if I was." She wished she was anyone else but Hermione Granger.

She had once again walked to the lake which was probably her second place in the entire school next to the library. She sat on a stone cold gray bench and brought her left knee to her chin and wrapped her arms around the knee. The sky had started to cloud up and wind was starting up. She ignored it though. Hermione just looked out to the icy water.

The trees were swaying and her hair was blowing into her face. The giant squid had sunk back down into the depth of the lake, the birds flew around playfully.

She wished she were a bird.

Not a care in the world. Just flying around all day and soaking up the sun.

She wished she were a fish.

Swimming around in the refreshing water and not having to worry about what the other fish were going to think.

She wished she were a tree.

Swaying in the wind and standing tall and proud.

She wished she were apart of the Earth.

Helping the survival of life and having he people safe.

That wouldn't happen of course.

It was a lovely idea but not lovely enough for it wasn't reality.

But if she was all those things she wouldn't be with Draco. She wouldn't of have that feeling when she sees him. She would've never had the first day she fell in love with him.

"Granger! Granger! Come on now turn around please. I just want to talk. Please." Hermione stopped didn't look back and kept walking

"And what makes you think I want to talk to you?" A smirk was growing on her face she knew Malfoy was getting upset because his breathing was getting heavier.

"Well the way you stopped and the smirk grew on your face because you know you are making me upset." He was right. Hermione stopped once again but turned around and he was closer than she thought. He was so close their faces were almost touching.

"And how did, I mean do, you know that?" Her voice got breathier and lighter as she looked up at his face she had never noticed how much taller he was than her. He looked down at her and flashed her a gorgeous smile.

"I know a lot of things. Actually I know more a lot more than I let you believe. I noticed the way you twirl your hair when you think really hard or that your nose crinkles up when you are upset. I also noticed your little crush on weasel bean." His voice flowed together and was soft and comforting.

"What? You think I have a crush on Ron? Well that's just crazy."

"You know I'm right and I know he fancies you too. The way you two look at each other sometimes, oh yeah I noticed that too, it's just so obvious. I also know something you don't it's a bit surprising actually." He chuckled. Their bodies hadn't moved an inch. Hermione could hear his heart beat and feel his chest move up and down as he took nice slow breathes. She closed her eyes and opened them again and took a step back.

"Really and what don't I know?"

"Well that I'm jealous just like your jealous. Except I'm jealous of Weasley." Malfoy looked down at the ground and kicked the floor. He looked like a little boy with his first crush.

"What?! Your jealous of Ron? Why?" She took another step back and looked him up and down with a confused look on her face.

"Of course! He can have you and I well I can't." He got closer to her as he spoke his voice sounding even more comforting that she could just go to sleep in his arms and not have to worry about anything.

"I, I , I don't believe you. You could just be telling me this so you can humiliate me once again an-" He cut her off, grabbed her in his arms and kissed her surprisingly soft on the lips. She looked up at him and he kissed her again but not as soft. It was a little more aggressive but soothing his soft lips on hers. His arms were so warm around her. She moved her hand to his face and stroked his cheek and then suddenly they both stepped back and looked at each other. Both of them turned around fast and started power walk in different directions. Both with a big smile wide across their faces and they could still feel each others lips on their own.

She, of course, isn't even sure if he loves her too. No surprise if he wasn't.

The scenery had taken her mind off of everything. She knew classes had started, but she wasn't going to go. She needed some time.

(The Hospital Wing roughly around 10a.m. that same day)

"He hasn't said a word since this morning. I'm worried." Madame Pomfrey looked down on Draco and whispered to Severus Snape. "He hasn't moved either, no response to anything. I tried sending him to his morning classes but he would not budge! Something is eating at him. And yes I already checked his internal organs." Madame Pomfrey put her left arm across her chest and her right hand to her mouth with the elbow resting on the left arm.

"And what exactly would you like me to do about it?" Snape spat out in his cool sly voice.

"For heavens sake talk to the boy! You are his head of house." She threw her hands in the air and left the student and teacher alone.

Severus Snape looked down on the boy with disappointment, turned on his heels and left.

Draco looked around now that he was alone. All he wants is to be left alone. Now he was.

Left to drown in self pity.

He got up and walked to the stained glass window. It too overlooked the black lake. It had to be his favorite place in the whole school, the lake.

He saw the trees swaying, the birds flying, the cloudy gray sky, and giant squid splashing the birds that flew over head.

He too turned on his heels and left down to the lake.

He ran down the stairs through the courtyard and down the hill to the lake. He stopped dead right at the shore. He stood there frozen watching the waves come in and out.

His death eater task day was coming closer and Draco was so conflicted.

"I can make you stop seeing her. I hope you haven't forgotten your job of the death of Dumbledore. I just wish you wouldn't do this to yourself and the Granger girl. I have been jumping to conclusions though; you have no actual feelings for her do you?" His face turned from anger to worry. He knew that if he got involved with her nothing good would come out of it.

Nothing.

Draco looked down. "I do have feelings for her. It just happened. Something changed that I can't put my finger on." He felt ashamed but knew it was wrong to. How could he be feeling compassion for someone all of a sudden? Draco was always taught, since he was a little boy that life was a game and you have to beat out the people who are weak and who you know can never win the game. The worst morals a family could have but it was just the Malfoy way. It was about lies, deceit, and greed. Draco was a player and was playing the most horrible game for his life and a spot at the top. Now it wasn't just himself he is going to have to worry about now that he is infatuated with Hermione Granger.

"Well," Snape gave a disgruntled sigh. "Draco you must know that this will make it hard and I have no trouble in telling you that.." Snape's expression changed drastically. "YOU MUST NOT DEFY YOUR FAMILY AND YOU MUSN'T STRAY FROM YOUR LIFE'S PATH!" He tried to stay collected but lost it when the first syllable came out. Snape couldn't let Draco ruin his life. What little life he had. Snape's greasy hair was shaken out of place as he had yelled.

He had gone through this in his head for a long time. It seemed so redundant though. Knowing and telling himself that him and Granger couldn't be together and things will end up badly.

Very badly.

No matter what though he had to be with her.

The waves moved gently back and forth along the shore. He could hear the bell indicating the end of the first morning class. There were students coming from every end of the school all caught up in their care free lives. Innocent first years confused and scared, comfortable second years liking the idea that were no longer the youngest in the school, excited third years about the hogsmeade trips on special weekends, bored fourth years ready to graduate, stressed out fifth years with the studying of their O., a few lucky sixth years ready for their next apparition lesson, excited but even more stressed out seventh years about their N.E.. Their problems were nothing compared to his.

Once again redundant.

The students finally went to their next class except for one.

He wanted to know who it was right away so he could determine if he should run back to the castle or to stay.

He looked down and then up. He saw a faint outline of a girl, she was looking down and out at the same lake he was.

He tiptoed to a near by tree and peeked from behind it.

She was crying.

He wanted to metaphorically speaking kick her when she's down but something stopped him.

He looked a bit closer and saw Pansy.

His pug faced, short black haired friend. But crying her face softened.

Why was she out here crying?

All these years of knowing her he has never seen her cry.

Not once.

Pansy wiped her face with her sleeve and sniffed. She had always stood up straight and proud but now she was slouching and her head was down.

He had seen Crabbe and Goyle whimper and whine but not Pansy.

He wanted to know what had happened but whatever it was he knew that she deserved whatever it was.

Horrible but true.

"Alright you can come out from hiding now." Draco was caught off guard when she spoke. He didn't know she was talking to her. "Draco."

He came out from behind the tree reluctantly.

"How did you know?" He looked at her kinda peeking around her body to see her face.

"I saw you out of the corner of my eye." She shrugged and looked at Draco with sad eyes.

"Well, I, I..." He trailed off. He felt so awkward talking to her like this.

"The rumors are true then, you are running away from your task?" She looked up and then back down. Draco didn't say a word. "I knew it." She breathed. "But I want to know why? Why are you running from your family? Why are trying to get us all killed? Why?" She moved toward Draco. "WHY IN THE DAMN WORLD DRACO, WOULD YOU DO THIS?!" She had cracked. She pushed Draco against the tree he was by and grabbed his collar and shook him as hard as she could.

He wanted to slap her for becoming a bucket of nuts but he stood completelystill. He looked down at her and grabbed her hands and made her loosen them up.

"Take your hands off of me." He spoke calmly. His eyes got wide.

"Please tell me." Her eyes once again filled with tears.

"There is nothing to tell. I'm not running! I've had a change of heart is all." Pansy turned and walked away from him.

"Yes, well your destiny has not changed!" She turned back around to face him.

"No, but I can make it change. I will make it change. No matter what." He was so still and calm. Not even a shiver.

"I won't let you!" Pansy had tears streaking down everywhere. Her eyes sat in puffy hammocks now, they were red and glistening like a beautiful diamond.

Draco walked up to close her and whispered in her ear.

"I'd like to see you try."

She backed up and looked up at Draco. Pansy shook her head slowly and walked away brushing against his shoulder.

Draco looked out at the lake and shook his head in disbelief with a sarcastic smile.

Draco started to walk by the lake and saw another figure.

A girl.

Hopefully not Pansy.

She wasn't crying. The way the lighting was all he could see was an outline of the body.

The girl was sitting on a bench with one knee up by her chest with some what tiny bushy haired but under control non-the-less.

Hermione.

He walked up slowly and quietly toward her. He just wanted to watch her for a while. Surprisingly enough she didn't hear him.

Hermione sat not aware of what was going on around her. She let her hair fly into her face then gently brushed it away. She wanted to sit and think about everything and she wanted to run away from it.

"You broke Ron's heart and even though Ron does have Lavender his heart is still broken."

"When Malfoy hurts you don't even think about coming to me or Ron! For once we won't be there."

"Of course not! I just think that you and Malfoy aren't for each other. You two are sworn enemies!"

"he is a death eater!"

"Then why are you even speaking to me!" Tears were building up and she was trying to hold back. She didn't want to look weak.

"Then I won't! Not now not ever again!"

No.

She knew deep down that he was a death eater. Nothing can change that.

"Hermione." Draco finally spoke up but in a whisper.

She jumped up a little and turned around. She knew right away who it was.

"Draco." She gave a tiny smile and a sigh of relief then she turned back around.

Hermione put down her leg from her chest and set her hands in her lap delicately. Draco came around the bench, sat down and took his hand in hers.

Tell me what you think about this chapter! I want to know! Tell me what you think about this story! Oh! Does anyone want to make a trailer for this story to get it out there?! Tell me if you do!