Chapter 3

"Ron, stop it. I said no, I meant no. We had a summer fling, decided together that we were better friends, and called it quits. I'm sticking by that. Just because Lavender is off snogging some other guy, does not mean that you can turn to me to try the same thing." I said furiously as I poked a finger roughly into Ron's chest.

"Oh, come on! We had fun, didn't we? What's a little more fun?" Ron whined

"No, Ron! Now, stop it!"

I turned and began to walk away. I snapped my head around when Ron grabbed my elbow to keep me from getting away. He had an irritated look on his face, "You will not walk away from me."

"I will do whatever I damn well please, Ronald. And you will let go of me or I will make you let go of me." I said softly, but with a dangerous edge to my voice.

Ron didn't used to be like this. He used to be sweet and kind. We'd had a small fling over the summer. We never went all the way; just a bit of heavy snogging and light touching. After a month or two of it, we'd called it quits because we felt as if we made better friends. I was truly done, but as I'd just now found out, Ron wasn't. He'd found out earlier in the day that Lavender was off snogging another guy in a broom cupboard and was furious because he had been that guy the night before and took it to mean that they would be getting back together. Turns out he'd thought wrong. Wanting to get even with her, Ron as sought me out and tried to charm me into a kiss. I refused and he tried again and now here we are. He may be bigger and stronger than me, Quidditch had refined his body after all, but I was furious and there was no denying that I was a better witch than he was a wizard. Ron didn't heed my warning and I felt his grip on my elbow tighten as he yanked me against his chest harshly.

"Let go of her, Weasley." Said a cool voice from behind me. I didn't need to look to know who it was; the look that came over Ron's face told me everything I needed to know. His cheeks turned red and his eyes darkened in anger.

"Bugger off, Malfoy. We're talking." Ron spat

"Doesn't look that way to me. It appears that you're manhandling the Headgirl and she doesn't look too happy about it." Malfoy said nonchalantly.

"Oh, I think you'll find she's perfectly happy about it, actually. We had a summer fling and were just about to pick it back up." Ron said with a smirk

"We were not!" I interjected angrily, "Let go of me, Ronald, or so help me I will hex you."

"No. We're not done talking."

"Oh, I think you are, Weasley." Malfoy said in an icy tone

"What are you going to do about it, Ferret?" Ron sneered

"Granger, I suggest you duck." Malfoy said an instant before his fist connected with Ron's nose.

I felt Ron's hand release my elbow as he staggered back, a hand to his nose and blood seeping from his fingers.

"What the fuck, Malfoy?" he yelled in a nasally voice

"I told you to let her go. You didn't listen. Even I would never stoop so low as to force myself on someone, Weasley." Malfoy sneered as he wrapped his long, cool hand around my arm to pull me into a standing position. I felt myself lean closer to him as Ron took a few steps forward. Ron noticed this small motion and raised his eyebrows incredulously.

"You can't be serious, Hermione. You feel safer with the ferret than you do with me?"

"Yes, Ronald, right now I do." I said softly as I felt the prickle of tears in my eyes, "Just go back to your dormitory and leave me alone."

Ron's face turned red and he glared at me, "Fine. I hope you're happy with yourself. You've turned into a right traitor."

I pulled in a deep breath in an effort to hold back the tears in my eyes as Ron walked away clutching his nose. As soon as he'd turned the corner, I felt cool fingers on my cheek.

"Don't cry, Granger. He's not worth it. No girl deserves that kind of treatment. Especially from the likes of him." Malfoy said softly.

"Why are you still here? Why were you hear in the first place?" I asked in a shaky voice

"I was on the way back to the dormitory when I just happened to see that you looked frightened and Weasley looked angry. I stopped and listened for a moment and then realized what was going on. I may be a right git, but even I won't force myself on a girl. Now, come on, back to the dormitory." He answered and lightly touched my back to guide me down the hall.

We walked back in silence. I was staring at the ground and trying to keep the tears from falling. Malfoy was watching me out of the corner of his eye with an indescribable look on his face. When we got back to the dormitory, he led me to the sofa in front of the fire and presented me with a cup of steaming peppermint tea. I breathed in the soothing sent and took a drink as Malfoy seated himself next to me, close enough for me to know he was there without him actually touching me.

"Thank you." I said softly after a few minutes.

"You're welcome," he replied just as softly, "What caused that? I mean, why would Weasley do that to you. Aren't you his best friend, or something like that?"

"I thought so. I thought he'd gotten over it; our little fling." I sighed, "He didn't used to be like that. He used to be so sweet and so caring. I guess it just went to his head."

"Tell me about it."

"Why? Why should I do that?"

"Well, you look like you need to get something off your chest. I'm here, willing to listen, at the moment. We don't hardly know each other so I'm not going to go off and judge you for anything." Malfoy shrugged, "Just tell me about the summer and why he's changed his behavior."

I sat my tea down, gingerly, on the table and leaned back into the cushions of the sofa. I heaved a large sigh and set my gaze on the fire that was blazing in the fireplace.

"It was an accident, really. Ron and I had gone on a walk to give Harry and Ginny some privacy, hoping they'd resolve whatever issue they had and get back together. It was a nice summer day, not too hot or cold and sunny. We decided to take a swim and were wrestling around in the water. At one point we stopped for a breather and out of the blue, he kissed me. It was something new and exciting for me. I'd never had a summer love before and I was enthralled immediately. He was so romantic at first; taking me out on picnics and leaving me flowers laying around the house." I took a moment to smile at the memory, "Then we started snogging. A lot. Every free moment we had, we were locked away somewhere together. He wanted to go farther and I didn't. I called it quits, saying that we were better off as friends. He agreed. Said he felt the same way. Obviously, he lied. He spent the rest of the summer dropping subtle hints about what had occurred between us. Tonight was the first night he'd actually approached me about it, though. He's mad because he thought that he and Lavender were going to get together, but found out that she was locked in a broom cupboard with some other guy tonight. He was looking to get even. Guess he thought that I'd be up for being used like that."

Malfoy snorted, "Idiot."

I just nodded in agreement and sat there, staring into the flames. I jumped in surprise when I felt an arm come around my shoulders and pull me into an embrace.

"What are you doing, Malfoy?" I asked in shock

"It's called a hug and you looked like you could use one." He answered sarcastically

"But.. But I'm a Mudblood. And you're touching me."

I watched as he rolled his eyes and scoffed, "Oh, come on. I know you haven't been around me a whole lot, but have I called you a Mudblood since we've started school again?"

No. No, he had not. Strange. I smiled a small smile and looked up at him, "Truce?"

Malfoy chuckled and I was shocked at the transformation that one small action made to his face. His features became softer and he didn't look so.. so Malfoy-ish. He looked like a normal teenage boy. He looked handsome. I mentally smacked myself for that thought.

"Yeah. Truce, Granger."

"Good." I stood and began to move toward my room, "And thank you, again, Malfoy. For saving me and for talking to me."

"No problem. Goodnight, Granger."

I smiled and took one last look at him before closing my door softly.

Well, who would have seen this coming? I asked myself as I walked to my dresser and pulled out a pair of shorts and a shirt. I think I just made a new friend.