Hermione kept going to the classroom in between lunch and potions, and Draco was always there. At first, she wondered why he always came, or why she did. Once, she fiercely asked herself what her parents would say if they knew that she was… friends?… with a Slytherin. But then she remembered that her parents were muggles, and, no matter how much she loved them, they didn't really understand Hogwarts's system of housing and wouldn't get it even if she told them.

Harry, Ron, and Cho were clearly getting suspicious, though. They kept asking why she always went to that particular room to study and not the library. Finally, Cho tried to come along with Hermione on her way to her daily meeting with Draco. Hermione had quickly lied, saying that she was, in fact, heading for the library. Then, she had to go there, keeping Cho's questions at bay until they had to leave for class. This happened again the next day. And the day after that.

Finally, Hermione had her chance to hurry off after lunch to the classroom. She opened the door and saw Draco sitting with his back to her, on a desk. She caught her breath, set down her bag, and walked toward him, unable to repress a smile. He didn't show if he heard her or not.

"Hello," Hermione said tentatively.

"What's it been? A couple weeks?" he asked stonily.

Hermione was taken aback. "What?"

"That you've blown me off?"

"I didn't blow you off!" she cried, stung. "And it was a few days, not weeks."

"Fine," he snapped. "Then why did you forget for a few days?"

"I didn't forget. They're getting nosy." They both knew who she meant. "I mean," she continued, "I could have dragged Cho here, but that might have been a bit of a disaster." She was getting mad.

"It might have been better than sitting here on my own for ages, wondering where the hell you could be."

In a much quieter tone, she asked, "You care that I'm here?"

"Why else would I be here?" Her eyebrows raised in shock. "It's time to go," he mumbled, not meeting her eyes and scowling. "We'll be late for class." He retreated out of the room as quickly as he could, almost leaving his books behind him. Hermione stared after him in astonishment. When she had recovered enough to check the time, she still had half an hour before the start of potions.

The next day, after Hermione had shaken off Ron, she slid in the door to the classroom. It was empty she sat on a desk, unhappy, but not surprised. Why am I thinking about him? At all? she thought. This is ridiculous. She stood, swinging her bag over her shoulder. He's not coming. He doesn't care. And I shouldn't care either. I don't care. But she couldn't forget his words, "Why else would I be here?" And Hermione didn't have an answer. She had no idea why he should be there. She shook her head and stood impatiently, stomping toward the door, not really paying attention to where she was going. Her foot caught on the leg of a chair, and she flew down, her head cracking on the corner of a desk. Her vision blacked out as she hit the floor.

About ten minutes later, Draco rounded the corner of the corridor that led to the classroom. If Hermione had been conscious, she would have wondered why he was there. He looked irritable. For whatever reason, he stalked to the door Hermione was lying behind.

"What am I doing?" he muttered. "She probably just blew me off again." Then, he caught sight of one of the books that had fallen when Hermione had. His brow furrowed and he walked faster, looking confused. He tried to push open the door she had closed behind her, but it was blocked by Hermione's leg. He squeezed through the small opening he had made. When he got inside, he stared at the fallen Hermione in horror.
"Oh, hell," he whispered. What was he supposed to do? He couldn't just leave her there. But if he took her anywhere while she was like this… he stopped that thought forcefully, scooped the girl into his arms, and took off running down the corridor to the hospital wing.

He had just raced down his second flight of stairs, his arms aching with Hermione's weight, when Ron burst out from a nearby door, almost colliding with Draco.

"Malfoy!" he bellowed. "What the bloody hell did you do to my girlfriend?"

Draco's face paled even more than usual with anger as he hissed, "Girlfriend? You broke up with her nearly three weeks ago."

"Get your bloody hands off her!"

"I wasn't going to kill your girlfriend," Draco said the title with loathing. "But I suppose it is a bit hard to duel when your wand arm isn't free. And don't jinx me now," he warned. "What if you hit her?" He carefully set her down on the floor, making sure her body wasn't twisted. He had a look on his face that he never would have let Hermione see if she could see. It had worry in it, but it was more than that. Ron noticed, though, and glared.

"Hurry up, or I will curse you."

"Well, I could, if you really want her to break a couple bones to match her head." Ron was still glowering as Draco stood and pulled out his wand. They began circling each other.

"What were you doing with a mudblood, anyways?" Ron taunted. Draco opened his mouth furiously, but Hermione stirred.

"Ron?" she asked. Her head felt fuzzy. Then, she noticed the other boy standing there. "Draco? What happened?"

Draco turned, the worried look back on his face, and started towards her. "You-"

But Ron got there first. "This absolute git cursed you."

"What? No I- " Draco began heatedly

"Shut up, Malfoy."

"No," Hermione protested. "I think… I think I fell?" When she looked up again, Draco was gone.

"Maybe because he pushed you," Ron snorted.

"No. I tripped." Hermione could recall the scene now, although her head throbbed like crazy.

Just then, Harry rushed from a nearby corridor, followed closely by Cho.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked, panting. "Colin Creevy said something about Malfoy and Hermione?"

"Oh, no! Hermione!" Cho squeaked. "Your head! We have to get you to the hospital wing right now! What happened?"

"Malfoy jinxed her," Ron cut in.

"No, he didn't," Hermione said, starting to get annoyed. " I tripped and hit my head. It had nothing to do with Dra- Malfoy. And I'm fine. I don't need the hospital wing." This was a complete lie, but Hermione didn't want anyone fussing over her.

"Yes, you do," Cho replied, touching the back of Hermione's head. Her hand came away covered in blood. "Right now."

Cho took her left arm, Harry took her right, and Ron hovered behind nervously as they hoisted Hermione up and helped her to Madam Pomfrey's assistance.

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A/N: This chapter wasn't quite what I expected, but I hope you liked it. As always, please review. The next chapter will be out as soon as I can type it.