Yay, next chapter! When I orginally wrote this, I ended up writing most of the next chapter too, and completely forgot that I hadn't posted this one yet- so opps, this should have been up a few days ago! -Sorry! The next chapter is almost done though, so I hope that makes up for it! And I'm aboslutely loving all the hits I've been getting on this! -I've been getting over 1,600 hits the day I post a new chapter, which makes me VERY happy. I would really LOVE to get over 2,000 in one day(hint hint) so tell your friends about this story!

This chapter (and the next one) I tried really hard to not make Draco look like the horrible bad guy, so please don't kill me if he ends up in that light- I mean, he DID spill the secret, so he kind of deserves it... but I tried really hard not to throw him there :-P

"What?"

"What did he say?"

"She's a 'Pureblood'?"

"He loves her?"

"Is she really what he said?"

"What's going on?"

The room erupted with questions, but Draco was focused solely on Hermione.

What did I just do!? I betrayed her! I just shouted her secret to everyone! I was supposed to protect her, not throw her to the wolves! Oh Merlin, what did I just do!? Oh, I am so screwed! No, she's screwed! I just ruined everything! Oh, she's going to kill me! Why, why couldn't I just tell Pansy to go fuck off? Why did I have to retaliate? She trusted me and I just told everyone!

The questioning ceased as Hermione rose from her seat, her eyes focused on Draco. Her expression was one of shock, hurt, and anger. She was furious, furious at the one person she had thought she could trust. Her friends, and most of the student body, flashed their focus back and forth between the two. She spoke in barely more than a whisper, but it carried throughout the silence of the Great Hall. "I hate you Draco Malfoy." Without a second glance, she retreated from the chaos that was erupting.

It felt as if a hole had been punched through his chest. She hates me... Without thinking, he ran after her, unsure of what he would do. He had to find her, to apologize to her, and protect her from the hell that was sure to come. Assuming that she would escape to her room, he sprinted down the corridor. He should have expected it, but wasn't prepared for the two bodies that tackled him from behind. Air left his lungs as he slammed into the stone floor. He found himself being flipped over and a wand stabbing against his throat.

"What did you do!?" Harry was on top of him, expression murderous, with Ginny and Ron standing over them. "I told you that I would kill you if you hurt her, now tell us what is going on!"

Draco coughed as Harry pushed the wand against his windpipe. He didn't want to tell anymore of the secret, since he was in serious trouble as it was, but he really didn't have much of a choice. It's going to come out now anyway… She's not going to talk to me anytime soon, so I'd better tell them so they can help her. He looked at Ginny and Ron. They had been raised in the Wizarding World, so they would be familiar with the rumors. "She… she's Gryffindor's heir." They understood what he was saying, but Harry obviously didn't. "She was adopted by Muggles when her biological parents died. It was to keep her safe from the power-hungry Wizards who would want to take advantage of her."

"How do you know all of this?"

He sighed. "Ginny, can you go check on her please? She's bound to be upset by all of this…"

She stepped forward, glaring at him. "I knew you hadn't changed. You'll always be a stupid, ferret, son of a Death Eater; nothing will ever change that."

Ginny's words echoed through him. She's right… The only person to trust me just had her biggest secret blurted out in front of the entire school. Even if no one tells them, they'll figure it out. The ones raised in the Wizarding World will put the pieces together. She's never going to have another real moment of peace in her life... I'm a monster, no better than Lucius.

"How do you know all of this Malfoy?" Harry was shaking with fury.

"She was informed of it by a letter after Dumbledore told her about her parents' deaths. I found the letters when McGonagall asked me to check on her. I… she knew I knew about the deaths, but didn't know I knew about the adoption until much later… I told her I would keep it a secret and protect her…" He closed his eyes, trying to hold back the tears of shame threatening to escape. "Please, just do whatever you're going to do… Whatever it is, I deserve it."

Harry was taken aback for a moment. Abruptly, he shoved Draco and got off of him. "Get up, we're not going to do anything."

"WHAT!?" Ron's eyes nearly bulged out of his head. "He- he just ruined her life! Harry, you- you don't understand that significance of this!"

"No, I understand exactly Ron." Harry pointed to his scar. "And she needs us more than Malfoy deserves to have his ass kicked."

"Fine, you go to her and I'll stay here!"

"Ron, you're barely back on her good side; you're not going to do anything except come with me."

Ron growled and jabbed a finger into Draco's chest. "Don't let me find you alone in a corridor, Ferret!"

"And don't even think about showing your face in the Heads' Tower tonight or anytime soon!" Harry grabbed Ron and the two headed up the stairs.

"Harry…" They turned around, eyes about to pop out of their sockets. "C- can you tell her I- I'm sorry…?"


Hermione stared out at the inky, black surface of the lake. Streaks of tears ran down her face; she didn't bother to wipe them away since they would be replaced by more. The air was cold against her skin since she didn't have her jacket.

How could I have ever thought he changed? I can't believe I trusted him. He just… It was so easy for him to tell, to scream, it to everyone. What am I going to do now? How are people going to treat me? Are they going to hate me or are they going to treat me like a celebrity, like how they treat Harry? She looked up at the castle. They're looking for me by now… What if I don't want to be found? What if I just want to disappear?

The giant squid broke the surface of the lake to grab a bat that was flying too close. She mused to herself if that rumor was true. People had wondered, it was even in Hogwarts: A History, that Godric Gryffindor was still alive, living in Animagus form as the giant squid. If it was true, it would mean that he was the largest Animagus in existence. She shook her head. Of course it's not true! There would be some kind of proof by now if it were true! Hermione sighed. He would reveal himself if it were true… He wouldn't let me, his great-great whatever, suffer alone like this if it were true…

She picked up a rock and threw it into the water. "Stop being so stupid! It's not true! It's just some story to prevent the First Years from being afraid of it!" The squid sank below the surface, as if to confirm her statement, returning the water to its mirror-like state. The night was clear, so no stars were reflected.

Hermione hugged her knees to her chest. She knew people would start to get worried about her and would probably start a search, but she didn't care. It didn't' matter, anyway, if she as missing now. No, it didn't matter since she would probably never get a moment alone again. She was already famous for being part of the Golden Trio; she didn't need any more fame.

The brightly colored bird startled her out of her stupor. She looked up to see Fawkes perched on a log beside her. Upon her noticing him, the phoenix came closer, a dark material clutched in one of his claws. Fawkes placed the item at her feet before taking off in flight. She watched his flight to a high tower. A window opened and she saw a white beard allowing the phoenix entrance.

Cyber cookies if you guess what Fawkes brought her! Lol, just kidding, but I really would love some awesome reviews please! -Or some, not so awesome, reviews too. Just let me know what you think about my story- I can't fix anything if no one tells me what needs to be fixed!

Oh, and this was only going to one chapter, but it kind of took on a life of it's own, so the next chapter will continue from where this one ended...