A/N: If you're wondering what on earth you did that made me take so long to update, it's because you only gave me like 4 reviews. So that's why it took so long. Okay, so it was actually because I was at an international competition in Michigan, meeting people from Australia and New Zealand and Great Britain (and they had AWESOME accents!) but still. OMG, IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!! SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!

Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to my wonderful Hannah, because she actually wrote like a page of it. I LOVE YOU, HANNAH!!!!!!! SHOULD'VE GONE TO CORONADO!!!!! To everyone who isn't Hannah, just don't ask. Onto the story.

Ginny sat in the library, trying to concentrate on an essay for Charms without much success. She felt bad about storming out on Hermione that morning. But she was so scared. She would never admit it to anyone but herself, but it was true.

She glanced up as someone walked into the library. It was Malfoy.

"Hey," he said, to her surprise.

"Hi," she replied curtly. She wasn't really in the mood to talk to anyone, especially not Blaise's best friend or Hermione's boyfriend.

He didn't take the hint as he sat down next to her. "What's up?"

"The sun," she snapped. She really wanted to be left alone. "Why do you care?"

"Actually," Malfoy said easily, not appearing to be offended at all, "I don't. Hermione sent me to find out why you're so upset since you won't tell her."

"And what makes her think I'd talk to you?"

"I have no idea. Why don't you ask her?"

"Because she's right; I'm not about to talk to her. Do me a favor, and tell her to take a wild guess on why I'm 'so upset'."

"Will do." He stood smoothly. "But I'm not so sure you'll like the answer."

When Malfoy was out of earshot, Ginny let out a long string of very bad words and wished the words would push that morning out of existence.

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Hermione made her way to the Great Hall for lunch in a daze. She felt bad for Ginny, but she still thought it was sort of funny. She saw Ron and Harry and Cho walking together. She felt a twinge of guilt about the little chasm that had grown between them. They had been such gook friends for such a long time, ad now it was sort of sad. But if they couldn't accept who she liked, then that was their problem. Or at least, that was what she told herself. Then, she spotted another head of red hair, but it wasn't Ginny. It was Fred. She froze and her breath caught in her chest. He was talking to Ron and Harry, but paused when he spotted Hermione. He finished his conversation and walked over to her. She started walking away, but he caught up to her with no trouble.

"Hermione, I… I need to talk to you." His tone was pleading.

"I don't want to talk to you," she snapped. He was the reason Draco had been so angry with her.

"Please… I want to apologize." Hermione stopped again.

"Fred Weasley, apologizing? You're funny," she scoffed. But something in his eyes stopped her. Maybe he really was sorry. "All right, fine. We can talk." She led him to an empty class.

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Ginny was about to enter the Great Hall for lunch when two familiar figures started towards her, one with blond hair, one with black. Shit, she thought. Blaise and Draco were still headed strait for her, but she was pretty sure that they hadn't seen her. Hurriedly, she pressed herself into the alcove where Hermione had ditched her that morning. Don't notice me, please, please, please don't notice me. I'm not here. Don't notice me, Ginny thought desperately. Malfoy and Blaise were passing her. Don't notice me!!! For a split second, Draco's eyes caught hers, and she know that he had seen her. But he didn't say a word, much to her relief. She held her breath as they passed, and Draco shot a small smile over his shoulder at her. It was one of those infuriating smiles that says, "Haha, I know what you're doing. Watch out before it gets to be a bad idea." She wondered what he was warning her with that look for, but decided not to pay much attention to it just then. She just didn't want to be noticed.

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Fred shut the door behind him. He turned to face Hermione who was sitting on a desk.

"So…" she said, waiting for him to speak.

"Listen, I'm really sorry. I just… I don't know. I've liked you since forever, and the thought of you and Malfoy…" He trailed off.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know. I…I'm…"

"You're just a guy and guys are awful when it comes to feelings," Hermione finished with a smirk.

"Yeah, pretty much," Fred said, smiling. Hermione had broken the tension and he relaxed. He walked over and sat down on the desk next to her. "Again, I'm sorry."

"It's fine. Chill."

"Good."

"Cool. Let's go down to lunch. I'm starving," Hermione said, hopping off the desk. Fred followed suit and opened the door for her.

"After you, my lady," he said with a mock bow.

"Why, thank you, kind sir," Hermione laughed, curtsying. Fred laughed too as they walked out of the room.

"Thanks for apologizing, Fred. You really are sort of – Draco!" Hermione jumped. She winced into the eyes of a glary Draco.

"I thought I said-" he began angrily.

Oh, shit, did this have to happen again? Hermione thought. "It isn't like that," she said helplessly, but Draco was still talking and didn't hear her.

"And I was just so –"

"Draco."

"I can't believe you-"

"Draco."

"How could-"

"Draco!"

He stopped, finally. Hermione motioned for Fred to leave while he could still walk, but he shook his head stubbornly. Boys, she thought impatiently. "Okay." She tried to sound calm. She hadn't done anything wrong. "I know it looks bad."

"Damn right it does."

"I'm not finished yet," Hermione growled. She took a deep breath. "I had a perfectly good reason."

Draco snorted suspiciously. "I'd like to hear that."

"Fred was apologizing."

It got very quite. "Excuse me?" Draco finally managed to choke out.

"I said, he apologized for… before."

Silence. Awkward, Hermione thought, but she kept her mouth shut.

Fred was the one who spoke first. "Well, I should probably go. I have a shop to run, you know."

"Not so fast," Draco snarled.

"Draco," Hermione said warningly. "Please don't get expelled."

"Don't worry about me." He glared at Fred. "Stay away from my girlfriend."

"Someone a bit overprotective here?" Fred asked. "Anyways, can't promise that, but I really do have to go." Draco glowered as Fred left.

Hermione sighed. "Draco, please. I am not a china doll. I can take care of myself. And I'm not about to run off on you."

"I know that."

"Then why do you act like…I don't know, like if you let go for an instant, something will break?"

He looked away. "I'm sorry. I don't want-"

She touched his arm. "Don't worry about it. Just… It's okay, all right? Now come on, I'm starving."

He grinned slightly. "I already ate."

"You're a loser," she muttered crossly. "Okay. I'll see you later."

He kissed her lightly and turned to go. Hermione smiled and walked over to Cho, who was next to Harry.

"Hey, Cho. Do you mind if I sit here?"

A/N: So, I hope you liked it! You had better review! Oh, yeah, and I will be posting a new (amazing!) story soon, called Just Can't Stay Away, so look for that! IT'S MY BIRTHDAY! Anyone who can guess my age gets brownie points and an imaginary hug! (No, really, I want to know how old you think I am.) Love you all!

-k