Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns everything recognizable

Previously:

And after what had occurred during the week, she could honestly say that Draco was at least acting like he had missed her and wanted to get back together.

The only question now was when were their boys going to have the guts to ask them out?

The Hogsmeade trip was only a day away and neither Harry, Draco or Daniel had come up to either of the girls. Skye and Rhia, however, had made a pact to not give up hope until the Hogsmeade trip was actually over.

Skye had spent every second of the days leading up to the trip trying to persuade Harry to ask Rhia. Hermione had even joined in but Harry was remaining adamant.

"I don't want to screw things up," he had said. "I want to go slow with her."

And even though Draco had made no move to ask her out, he was constantly talking to her nowadays. They would spend their evenings studying together in the Heads Common Room, often ending up with midnight trips to the kitchens for snacks or coffee to keep them going.

Daniel, on the other hand, barely left her alone in the corridors. He was always there, talking to her about her classes or random things, asking her about her studying and whether she was stressing about the upcoming NEWTS.

The most stressful times for Skye, though, were when Draco and Daniel both ended up competing for her attention. They would glare at each other while trying to flirt with her at the same time. Mostly, though, they just ended up looking like idiots.

Skye had taken to latching onto Harry whenever the boys were in the same room, or even corridor. Harry didn't seem to care and neither Draco nor Daniel were brave or stupid enough to try something in front of Harry.

"So what's going on with you, Malfoy and Brady?" Hermione asked during their free period. "They're either glaring at each other or trying to get your attention."

"Yeah," Skye sighed. "It's weird actually. Draco's barely talked to me before this week and suddenly he's all over me again. Now, it's not like a don't like his attention, but I'm just kinda confused."

"I would be too," Hermione agreed. "He cheated on you and you exploded at each other and now he's trying to get you back?"

"What do you mean, get me back?" Skye asked, her heart rate accelerating.

"Oh please," Hermione rolled her eyes. "How can you not notice the way he looks at you."

"How's he look at me?"

"Like he did when you were dating, but now there's more longing in his gaze," Hermione explained. "Because he obviously still loves you but isn't quite sure how to go about getting you back."

"How do you know all this?" Skye asked impatiently. "How can you sound so sure?"

"Ginny told me," Hermione shrugged.

"WHAT?" Skye shrieked. "And she hasn't thought to talk to me?"

Skye was so sick of not knowing anything.

"I'm sure it's nothing personal," Hermione assured her friend. "You've just been so busy with all your Head stuff and studying. Which, by the way, is great to see. I thought you wouldn't start studying until a couple of weeks before the exams!"

"Yeah, well, I kinda realised these exams were mega important," Skye grinned. "They make or break my life. So, I took a leaf out of your book and began to study more."

"And this wouldn't have anything to do with one Mr Malfoy studying more often too?" Hermione asked cheekily.

Skye ducked her head in embarrassment.

"Maybe," she said.

"Just maybe?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, so I like studying with Draco!" Skye exclaimed. "Sue me. I can't help the fact I still love him. And he's showing interest in me again. We're not fighting anymore and I've forgotten just how much I love his company. Studying is a good excuse for spending more time with him."

"I don't blame you," Hermione said. "It must be hard to have to get over a person like that. At least with me and Harry it's not like I was actually in love with him."

"Yeah," Skye nodded. "You got out easy. I think me and Draco were in a little too deep for me to get over it so quickly. I know it's been almost five months, Rhia pointed that out, but I don't think I'll ever stop loving him."

"Don't let it ruin your life," Hermione advised wisely. "You deserve a chance to be happy."

"Yeah, I know."

"Besides," Hermione smiled. "I really think he's into you."

"Really?" Skye bit her lip.

"Yes, really," Hermione promised. "I wouldn't lie."

"Thanks," Skye said quietly. "Rhia and I decided that we would take our chance to be happy, and for me that means giving Draco another chance. I really want to but my logic is telling me not to. But, now I've promised Rhia I will; that's if he ever gets around to asking me."

"He will," Hermione said. "Ginny told me that Blaise said he's been acting really nervous and all. Like he was when he wanted to give you your ring."

Skye fingered her right hand, where the ring used to live, absently. She missed being able to wear the promise ring. She missed the promise of love always and forever.

"I want him to still love me so much," Skye admitted quietly. "So I like hearing other people assure me that he does."

"I've noticed him staring at you a lot as well," Hermione confessed. "That's got to be good. But I've also noticed Brady unable to keep his eyes off you. What's up with him?"

"I think he really likes me," Skye said quickly. "But I only like him as a friend. The only problem is that he really wants to be more. I can't let that happen, though. I like him to much to hurt him and if we have a relationship I'm going to end up hurting him. I know I will."

"You sound like you're having a bit of a hard time," Hermione said sympathetically.

"I am," Skye said. "Between Draco and Daniel always jostling for my attention, Harry making sure I don't do anything overly strenuous, studying for NEWTS and trying to find time to keep in contact with Ri, my whole life is just spiralling out of control."

"Yeah, seventh year really sucks," Hermione laughed. "I'm glad I didn't get the Head position. I don't know how you could cope with that on top of everything."

"I don't know how I'm coping," Skye grinned. "But at least Harry is captain of the Quidditch team so he understands what I have to do. I can always get out of training for that if I get too tired."

"Taking full advantage of your power to manipulate your brothers to bend to your every will, I see," Hermione teased.

"It's helpful!" Skye defended. "It's not my fault they're such pushovers when it comes to me."

"Yeah, yeah," Hermione grinned. "Whatever you say."

Skye pouted as her friend laughed. The bell rang and both girls sighed.

"That was such a waste of a period," Hermione sounded horrified. "I should have studied!"

"Oh come on," Skye rolled her eyes. "We all need a break sometime."

"But I had a plan! I was supposed to stick to it religiously."

"Don't stress," Skye said. "Just do some more tonight or something. You know everything anyway. Speaking of studying, though, I must go. I was going to go over my notes in the Heads room. It's so much quieter there."

"Okay," Hermione nodded. "I'll be in the library. I need to look up some books."

"Sure," Skye said. "If you see Ginny can you ask her to come see me please? I think I need to have a chat with her about what her boyfriend has observed of his best mate."

"You sound desperate," Hermione smirked.

"I am," Skye agreed, completely unembarrassed. "I think I'll take things into my own hands if he doesn't get a move on."

"You, Skye Potter, are completely overly self-confident."

"Yeah, yeah," Skye waved a hand impatiently. "Can you tell Ginny though? Maybe ask her if we could have dinner or something? Anything works for me. I'm only going to be sorting out my notes."

"Sure, I'll let her know," Hermione said.

"Great, thanks."

Skye hugged her friend before they parted ways. Skye entered her Common Room, greeting Draco, before dumping her bag in her dormitory. She grabbed her notes and headed back into the Common Room, fully prepared to collapse on the couch.

The couch was already occupied by Draco, however, and he sprung up when she entered the room.

"Er...hi," Skye gave him a little, awkward wave.

"Hi," Draco said. "Long day?"

"Yeah," Skye nodded. "I had a free last though which I spent catching up with 'Mione. So that was kinda good, but very counter-productive on the work front."

Draco laughed and Skye's heart missed a beat. She loved that sound.

"Well, I was organizing my notes," he said.

"Finished?"

"Yeah," Draco nodded.

"Damn," Skye sighed. "Lucky you. I was just about to do that. All my notes are kinda jumbled together currently. It's so annoying and hard to find anything. I've even managed to mix my subjects up together."

"Huh," Draco said. "That'd suck."

"Yeah..."

There was a short silence.

"Listen," Draco began. "There's a Ho..."

He didn't get to finish his sentence though, because at that exact moment Daniel Brady burst into the Common Room. Skye was seriously starting to regret ever giving him the password.

"Hi Skye!" he exclaimed happily, completely ignoring Draco.

"Hey," Skye said. "What's up?"

"Nothing much," Daniel shrugged. "Do you have a minute?"

"Sure," Skye said. "What do you want?"

"I want to talk to you," Daniel said, turning to eye Draco. "Alone."

"My Common Room," Draco said stubbornly, sitting back down on the couch, his arms crossed over his chest. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Fine," Daniel glared. "I'll just talk to Skye here then."

"So talk," Skye said. "What's going on?"

"Well, as you know there's a Hogsmeade trip tomorrow and..." the next words came out in a rush. "Iwaskindawonderingifyouwantedtocomewithme."

"Err...sorry," Skye said. "What was that?"

Daniel took a deep breath.

"I was kinda wondering if you wanted to come with me," he repeated.

"Like a date?" Skye asked.

"Yeah," Daniel nodded.

Skye bit her lip.

"Look, Daniel," she said. "I like you, you know I do, but strictly as a friend only."

"One date," Daniel pleaded. "Just one is all I'm asking."

"I..." Skye hesitated, almost giving in.

"Please?"

Skye closed her eyes and when she opened them, she had made her decision.

"I'm sorry," she said. "But you know I can't."

"I know you think you can't!" Daniel exploded. "But you've never ever giving me a chance. From the moment I met you we were only ever going to be friends. And I want so much more than that."

"I can't Daniel," Skye whispered. "I don't want to hurt you."

"YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HURT ME!" Daniel yelled.

"I will," Skye said. "I don't like you like that."

"Because you're so fucking blinded," Daniel said bitterly. "You're living in the past Skye. You and Malfoy broke up. Yeah, I'm sure you were sad but please get over it?"

"I LOVE HIM!" Skye screamed. "How can I just get over him?"

Daniel looked like he had been slapped.

"If you give me a chance I can help you get over him," he said. "I know you think you can't and that you'll always be in love with him but you've never actually tried to move on. I know..."

"No, Daniel," Skye interrupted harshly. "You don't know anything about me. Now, I think it's time for you leave."

She directed Daniel to the door and pushed him out, ignoring his protests and hurried apologies. She returned to the Common Room where she found Draco once again standing.

She caught his gaze and was unable to look away. She knew without a doubt that he had listened to every word that was said which meant he had heard how much she still loved him.

"I'm sorry," he muttered, before pushing past her and running out of the Common Room.

Skye collapsed on the couch, fighting her need to cry. She had already spent too long crying over him. She thought they were getting better! But instead, after what was basically a confession of her love for him, he runs away. And it hurt.

It hurt because she had truly believed that he still loved her too. It hurt because everyone else believed that as well. It hurt because she wanted it so bad. It hurt because it was Draco and she would always love him.

Skye sat on the couch, looking absently into space, lost in her thoughts. Her notes lay forgotten next to her. She didn't know how long she had been sitting there for, but it seemed like an eternity later when the door opened.

Skye stood up and took a few steps towards the door, fully expecting it to be Daniel coming back. Instead, what she saw shocked her.

"Skye," Draco said hoarsely. "I need to talk to you."

A/N Sadly, this is the second last chapter before the epilogue...*sigh*. Now, I have some ideas for my next story, but I'm not very good at decision making so if you could please check out the poll on my profile page and select two options which you would like to read that would be great. If you want any more information about each story just PM me and I'll be more than happy to give you a brief outline of the plot. Thanks and don't forget to review!