After that painful conversation they both went their separate ways. From the outside it was as if nothing had changed. But that wasn't true of course everything had changed for the two of them. They watched each other from afar in secret. Stolen glances were exchanged with extreme caution so as not to let the other know they were looking at them, or concerned with each other in anyway. He watched as she laughed with her friends, seeing her smile was bittersweet. He wanted her to be happy, but he also wished desperately that he could play a part in making her smile, in making her happy. He had convinced himself he was going insane, but sometimes he swore he caught her looking at him, those warm brown eyes full of concern, worry, and conflict.

Time passed on for her much like it always had, but something was different about the passing days, weeks, and months now. She found herself constantly thinking about him, even though she tried her hardest not to. He would be in her dreams, in her thoughts, and she would have to snap herself back to reality, with each time getting harder. She tried to not look at him, but she couldn't help herself. They were no longer potions partners, something Snape pulled she was sure of it, some bullocks about Draco finishing the class's requirements early. She watched as the handsome man she now loved grew a tad frail. She was certain no one would notice the subtle changes, that where painfully obvious to her. His eyes were distant and icy cold, they were only cold when he was trying to block something. His perfect milky white skin had become paler with dark circles forming under his eyes, as if he hasn't slept in months. She tried not to worry about him, he didn't want her, or her concern she told herself over and over again. But still she watched him, hoping that she'd catch him looking her way. She only saw him staring off into the distance, not bothered with anything going on around him. He looked lost almost, all the passion gone from his features.

He was sitting in the library's restricted section, doing some research on repairing dark magical objects. He was nothing if not a good compartmentalizer; he allowed his bottled up caged in emotions to come out only as determination and drive towards his mission. He was getting close to accomplishing his first task of repairing a vanishing cabinet, which was now kept in the room where he'd made love to the first woman he'd actually felt anything for. Just then he felt a book smack him across the back of his head.

"What the fuck?" He lightly shouted while rubbing his head.

"That is for totally abandoning your position as my wing man." Blaise said as he casually tossed the book over the one his best friend was reading.

"Oh I'm sorry Blaise let me get right on getting some pussy for you… oh wait I've got to smuggle some bloody death eaters into the castle and then off one of the greatest and most beloved wizards in the world." He said while angrily scowling at him.

"Woah mate I was just trying to lighten up your mood, you've been completely comatose lately!" He exclaimed with his hands up in mock surrender.

Draco looked up at him through half-lidded eyes.

"Not that I don't know why." Blaise stated calmly. "I just figured I'd try and cheer you up a tad, I mean at least get a few shags in mate, you have a rep to protect after all you God you." He finished still trying to lighten the mood.

"I have no interest in shagging anyone right now Zambini, thanks for the concern." Draco said in a monotone voice while staring straight through Blaise.

"What happened to going after Granger, I mean I thought you were going to take a shot at bedding the mudbl-" Blaise was cut off by Draco standing up and grabbing him by the shirt roughly.

Draco felt a rage inside him like he never had before. Blaise was like a brother to him, but anything against her, even the slightest negative notion ripped at his insides. He spoke and his voice was laced with the torment over letting him go.

"Don't call her that." He finished as he let go of his best friend.

Blaise took a step back totally taken aback by his friend's sudden outburst. "Ok so I'm going to save my attempt at kicking your ass for later cause I know you have a lot on your plate right now and well I'm an excellent lover who is going to shag tonight, and you're a dirty fighter. But would you care to explain the dramatics?"

Draco sat back down and bowed his head covering his face with his hands.

Blaise continued, "The last time you acted human, was when you were talking about her. I mean did you try and fail? I don't get it, but clearly there is some sort of connection between Granger and your recent zombie like tendencies."

Draco groaned, "Ugh I want nothing more than to die right here and now."

"Oh Merlin you did fail didn't you? Hah did she hex your dick off or something?" Blaise asked eyes wide.

"Nooooo. I've literally never been in more pain just having a conversation Zambini."

"Would ya just tell me Malfoy!"

"I can't. I just can't Blaise. It would have some pretty serious repercussions."

"Are you seriously telling me, your best friend that you can't tell me if you bedded Granger or not? I'm hurt, I really am. And it does bring up some more questions if I'm being honest Draco. Why exactly can't you tell me? I've known you forever, and I know when you're lying, and you already said you didn't fail, so why would Draco Malfoy the sex god of slytherin not wanna brag about a conquest, quite possibly the biggest conquest you've ever had?" Blaise rambled on in a condescending tone. Draco didn't know how much longer he could stand to hear him talking about her, it was bad enough he couldn't keep his own thoughts in check.

Blaise continued on with his rant raising his voice now. "Which would lead one to assume there is some big secret reason you don't wanna talk about it, and with your reaction back there to me calling her a mu-" Seeing Draco abruptly stand up caused Blaise to quickly rephrase. "I mean me calling her that… my brain is leading me to think that you have developed some sort of feelings for her.

Draco was incredibly angry but he tried to keep his cool, and he could lie a lot better than Blaise gave him credit for.

"You know me so well yet your conclusion is completely off base; I don't have feelings, especially not for some girl with bushy hair who was a lousy shag not worth the breath to tell you about it Blaise."

As soon as the words left Draco's mouth a loud thud could be heard from right next to the pair. Draco quickly looked over to see the copy of the fairytale he had given Hermione.

TBC-sorry for the delay!