Author's Note: Wow, it feels like such a long time since I last posted, and it's only been three (maybe four?) days. Sorry about the wait, though! I have a disproportionate amount of homework to do. I've only had two days of class! Ridiculous :/

Let's play "Recognize These Lyrics?" again! Because last time was rather fun ;)

"Let me stay where the wind will whisper to me, where the raindrops, as they're falling, tell a story."

Ahh, it's such a beautiful song. Beautiful voice, too. Anyway, here's the next chapter.

Chapter 62

"Seriously, Blaise. What happened?"

"Hermione and I were never together," I hear Blaise reply through the door. "You know I'm a joker, don't you?"

I'm surprised that they're only just talking about this. I was sure that they would have already discussed it by now.

"Yeah, but you joke about it for a reason, don't you?" Harry says.

"Sure. What of it?"

"I don't know. I just… I was sure you'd have something to say about how she acted with Ron yesterday."

"Well, I wasn't exactly planning on bringing it up," Blaise says.

He wasn't? That's surprising.

"What do you think of it?" he asks Harry.

"Well, I'll say that it was abrupt… and very unexpected," Harry responds.

"You know her as well as I do. It's completely unlike her."

"Yes, but she seemed really happy. I haven't seen her smile like that for… for a very long time."

"She's definitely been in a better mood," Blaise agrees.

I have to admit that I was in a cheery mood today. For what reason, I have no idea. I couldn't really stop smiling whenever I thought of Ron, and it happened really often. Plus, I didn't want them to think that I suspected them of anything.

"But I get this feeling that it's not for real," Blaise continues. "You must have noticed too, if you decided to bring it up."

"It is very unlike her," Harry says. "But what are we supposed to do about it? We're all in a very stressful situation. I can understand if she's trying to find a way to deal with it."

"I doubt that's what this is. She's handled it just fine for two years."

"Then what do you think it is?"

There's a long pause, and then Blaise says, "I don't know."

What does he think is wrong with me? I doubt he's telling the truth when he says he doesn't know.

"Should we talk to her about it?" Harry asks.

"I wouldn't be sure what to say to her. I think it'd be a better idea to talk to Ron when he gets back."

Then I push the door open to see the boys seated on their beds, facing each other. Harry's mouth is open, about to respond, and Blaise is looking at the door, eyebrows raised. I clearly surprised them.

"I heard you two," I say.

"I… thought you'd gone to bed, Hermione," Harry says quietly.

Well, at least they're not trying to deny it. "Obviously not. I woke up about twenty minutes ago, and I was reading."

"You said you heard us," Blaise says. "What did you hear?"

"I heard that you disapprove of Ron and me."

"Sorry, Hermione," Harry says.

"If you two have a problem, you should come to me instead of talking behind my back like this," I tell them, frowning. Maybe being straightforward with them will solve everything. After all, Draco didn't show up today like he said he would, so I can't necessarily count on him.

"We didn't mean to upset you," Blaise says.

"Upset? No, I'm not upset."

Blaise raises an eyebrow at me. "You certainly look upset."

"I'm not upset. I just don't like that you two are talking about Ron and me like there's something wrong with us."

"Don't you think you're overreacting a bit?" Harry asks. "Blaise and I are only discussing it because we're worried about you."

"If this is how you guys express worry for me, I'd rather you didn't worry at all."

"It's not like we want to worry, Hermione. Do you think we have nothing better to do?" Blaise says.

I frown. Why am I so angry? Harry's right—they're talking about me because they do care. Surely, it shouldn't piss me off so much. But there really is anger simmering in my chest.

"I'm… sorry," I say. "I don't know what came over me."

"Are you sure you're all right, Hermione?" Harry asks, his brows knitted together in concern.

I nod. "Yes, I'm fine."

Blaise is looking at me with an expression that clearly says he thinks there's something wrong. But I can't see why he's so worried. Ron has always cared about me, and I have every right to change my mind about him, don't I?

"I'll just go back," I say. "Good night, boys."

"Night, Hermione," Harry says.

The same expression remains on Blaise's face as I back out of the room and pull the door shut. I cross the dark living room and enter my bedroom.

Oh, when will Ron come back?

I wonder if Harry and Blaise are talking about me again. Maybe I should ask Draco for help again… he's close friends with Blaise. I'm sure he could talk some sense into him, if I asked him to.

But if he said that he would come today and he didn't, I'm sure he's probably busy with something unavoidable. After all, he did say that he cares about me. He wouldn't lie to me.

I think back on the feelings that I'd started developing for him—I really did feel something, didn't I? I frown as I recall the intensity of the emotions that had coursed through me when I'd thought that he might die. Thinking back, reliving that moment, I for some reason can't feel anything. It's as though his effect on me has completely vanished.

Maybe it was gratitude, then. Now that I've had some time to myself to put some space between myself and all of his actions, the gratitude must have faded off.

Then I remember that Ginny had seen me with Draco the morning that he recovered. I should probably find a chance to set her straight about that—I'm almost positive that she had the impression that Draco and I were in the starting phases of a romantic relationship.

I bite my lip. Hopefully she won't say anything to Ron…

Suddenly I'm worried. I hope Ron comes back very soon. What could they want with him, anyway? I can't see why they'd only ask for him and not Harry, Blaise, or me.

Then there's a light pop, and I turn around to see Draco standing by the door.

"Draco," I say with a small smile.

He nods and gives me a warm smile. "Hello, Hermione."

I guess I can understand why my heart would have softened toward him for a little bit. He really is beautiful. I just don't feel anything for him. Not anymore, at least. None of the passion that I felt remains when I look at him.

"I want you to help me," I say. "Harry and Blaise… I think they could be planning something behind my back."

"I highly doubt that," he says, grinning.

"Really, they are," I insist. "I don't think they like that Ron and I are back together."

He pauses, and the grin on his face slowly fades.

Oh, right. I probably should have been more sensitive about that—after all, he did admit that he had feelings for me. Darn.

"I… don't understand," he finally says.

"I want you to help me with—" I begin to repeat.

"I heard what you said the first time," he says. "What I don't understand is how you could… change your mind, just like that."

I frown. "I haven't changed all that much, have I?"

"I thought that we…"

His voice fades, and I wonder what he's thinking—a cool expression has settled over his features, and it gives me no clue at all as to what could possibly be on his mind.

"You don't approve either, then," I say. When he remains silent, I decide to explain. "Ron and I… we've had some trouble in the past, because I didn't know what I wanted. But we're past that. We're meant for each other. We belong together, Ron and I."

The words feel extremely true to me, and saying them just feels right. It seems so strange that I could have rejected him so many times in the past.

Still, he doesn't speak, and I begin to feel a little irritated. Won't he say anything?

"What did you expect?" I ask. "I wasn't going to fall in love with you instead of Ron just because you saved my life a few times."

His eyes meet mine, but I can't see any emotion in them.

"Why did you kiss me?"

His voice sounds curiously… dead.

"Well, why did you kiss me?" I return. "You started it."

"You know my feelings," he says, as though he's forcing the words out.

I look down. Oh, I've been leading him on terribly. The feelings seemed so real at the time, but now… god, this is awful. I think… besides the gratitude, part of me just wanted to know… what it felt like to kiss him. He'd always been so forbidden—that must have been part of the reason.

"I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression, Draco," I say slowly, my eyes fixed on the floor. "I just wanted to know how it felt."

There's a long silence, and I peek up at him to see that he's also looking at the ground.

But then, as though he feels my eyes on him, he glances up at me and shrugs. "It's no problem," he says easily. "Don't worry about it."

I let out a sigh of relief. Oh, fantastic. He's not angry.

"I'm glad you understand," I say with a smile. "But can you help me?"

"I'm busy with things that are more important than you and your dear Ronald," he replies.

"But… I'm almost positive that Blaise and Harry want to do something. It'd be great if you could talk to Blaise and find out for me. I can't help but feel like it's something that's going to—"

"Granger, I'm sorry if I don't really care about your suspicions. There are bigger things on my mind."

"Draco, please help me," I say, taking a step forward and looking at him pleadingly.

He turns away from me, and I frown, surprised. I was so sure that he would do this for me. He said that he understood, didn't he? He cares about me, so he'll do this for me… won't he?

Author's Note: Yes, I know some of you are going to think that Harry's thick for not suspecting Ron, but Ron is his best friend, so he wouldn't jump straight to that conclusion. As for why Blaise isn't voicing his suspicion, he has his own reason that I may or may not be able to fit in the story… I'll let you guys know what it is if I don't have the opportunity to put it in here. Although I'm pretty sure some of you can already guess what it is.

I realize that this wasn't a very nice place to end the chapter, so I'll try to put the next one up soon. Promise!