A/N: So, so sorry for the late update. Finals, holidays, again sorry. Back on track I promise.

His words hung in the atmosphere of the cold hallway. Hermione was still against the same cold stone wall as when he had been there, but he'd been gone for hours. She let the wall hold her whole weight until she let her legs slide out from underneath her. She sat there, she didn't know for how long. She didn't know why he got to her so bad, why everything with him involved left her feeling so off balance. She couldn't make sense of it, no matter how long she sat there.

He said that he loved her. Not in so many words, but he had said it. He'd said it accompanied by an insult. She decided it would be best if she let that go for the time being. He said so much she didn't understand in his last little statements. She replayed his last words in her head.

"It's good though, really. Because I'd be putting not only my pathetic life in danger but I'd be putting yours in danger as well. And I won't do that."

Something was off about him when he'd turned back and said that to her. His voice was deeper than usual; it came out very dark, very serious. His steel blue eyes had become icy and dark over the time they spent apart, but when she he spoke those words they were fiery almost glazed over and glowing. There was something behind his words trying to get out through those eyes she loved. She just knew it.

She began to feel like her she spent all her time consumed in thoughts of him. It was strange considering how little time they'd actually spent together. It felt strange to her at first, but she now welcomed them. She usually got bored thinking of other guys, the ones in her life had become so predictable so fast. Even when she despised Draco, he was never predictable, she liked the uncertainty she felt when she was near him. The way her heartbeat could be felt in her finger tips had become her favorite feeling in the world.

She curled one leg slightly underneath her, followed slowly by the other. She put on hand on the ground and stood herself up. She turned the corner of the slow deserted hallway by the library. It was extremely cold; she felt her arms cover in goose bumps. They usually only popped up around him, she smiled to herself.

She walked quietly back to the Gryffindor common room, she said the password and as the portrait door swung open she was met by the faces of her three best friends.

"Hermione where were you all day? You missed class." Ginny said worriedly looking at her friend.

"I-" Hermione began wide-eyed. She had forgotten all about classes.

"Yeah you missed class, Hermione you." Harry said with a funny look on his face.

"Yeah Mione', we thought someone might have kidnapped you." Ron said with a hint of laughter in his voice and a small smile.

"Oh would you two shut up, seriously Hermione where were you, they kept bugging me in the halls trying to see if I knew where you were. Like I was hiding something from them, last time I checked I'm the one perpetually left out of loop." Ginny finished crossing her arms over her chest.

Hermione had to think fast for the first time this day; she actually succeeded at a clear coherent thought.

"I just had a headache that's all; I was in the infirmary most of the day." She said quickly finishing with a light smile. That she hoped would read thanks for your concern but kindly drop the subject.

Harry and Ron seemed to exchange a confused glance.

"But we went up there at lunch, we didn't see you in there, it was pretty empty."

"Oh well I went and got a potion to fix me up, and then I went to study, you know I hate being behind." She said quickly.

This seemed to assuage everyone's concern, as they laughed.

"When have you ever been behind in your life Hermione?" Ginny said smiling.

"You could have a whole month of sick days and still be ahead of everyone Mione'" Ron said laughing.

"Agreed, and a lifetime ahead of Ron." Harry confidently stated.

"Oh but you're still going to Slughorn's party tonight right? I mean your headache is gone right? Oh please don't bail Hermione." Ginny said walking over grabbing Hermione on her arm.

She had completely forgotten about Slughorn's party tonight. It was the last thing on her mind. Nothing else was on her mind besides Draco and her encounter with him earlier. But she knew she couldn't turn it down without raising suspicions after today, the last thing she needed was people poking at her trying to figure out what was going on. She wasn't sure she knew anything at all about what was going on.

"Of course Gin." She smiled weakly as she was pulled upstairs to get ready.

Draco found himself in the cluttered Room of Requirement. Being in here messed with his mind; it was a combination of the true beginning and the true ending of his life. He would sit in there repairing the hideous black vanishing cabinet in a mess of a million dark and dusty objects, when suddenly his thoughts would wander to her and the room transformed to the replica of his bedroom. And he could smell white roses, he could smell her.

He slammed his eyes shut and slung his head back hitting the closed cabinet doors. He had said way too much back there. He had no idea what came over him. He shouldn't have chased after her. He should've just let her go, it would've been better for her. But he didn't want her to hate him, even if he was just delaying the inevitable.

He let himself slide down the vanishing cabinet holding his head in his hands. He tugged on his hair and rubbed his eyes. It was like he had a permanent headache ever since he started his repairs on the cabinet. He turned his head back and tilted it up at the monstrosity he had constructed. This thing, that he fixed, would bring horror into the school. It would bring horror into her school. It would ruin his life; he was doing a bang up job at ruining hers as well.

He suddenly got up to his feet and bounded out of the room. He couldn't stand to be around that thing anymore.

He was walking down the abandoned cold hallways when he saw his godfather turn the corner. The last person he wanted to see right now who uttered something he was dreading for some time now.

"Tonight."

TBC- please review, next chapter soon