Author's Note: I do not own anything. New chapter!

Harry

Harry climbed through the portrait hole and went straight to his room. After he deposited his book bag, he grabbed his Charms homework and made his way back downstairs to the common room.

"Ron, have you seen Hermione around?" Harry asked as soon as he spotted Ron.

"Um no Harry, I haven't, sorry," replied Ron, who sat in his favorite armchair, pouring over his homework. He seemed stressed, Harry noticed, as there were large ink blots on his parchment and his red hair was mussed up. "I think she may be in the library with Malfoy."

Harry grimaced, sitting down in the chair next to Ron, and opened his book a bit more harshly than he'd intended. "Still? Its past four."

"Well you know how those two are," muttered Ron, who still hadn't looked up from his work. "Two bookish people in a room full of books are bound to be gone awhile."

"If she's not back by five, we should go find her."

"You go ahead, Harry, I'm not in the mood to deal with Malfoy."

"What about Malfoy," asked Ginny, who had just come in. She ran her fingers through her long hair and then sat across from the two boys.

"Harry wants to go find him and Hermione in the library."

"Oh I forgot they were going together."

"They aren't going together, Ginny," spat Harry, "they're just studying."

"Sure, Harry. Anyway, do you know anything about snorkaks?"

As Ron sighed and launched into an explanation that slightly surprised Harry, Harry turned to his book but found he could not concentrate very well. He quickly read over the chapter, and tried and failed to come up with a decent opening paragraph for his essay. He sighed in frustration after the conversation next to him had died out and Ginny had began her own work.

"Anyone know the time," he implored, looking up with his be-speckled eyes. Ginny shook her head as she leaned over her books in much the same fashion as Ron was. Harry was about to check the time on his watch, then remembered he hadn't put it on that morning. "Well, I'm going now." When no one so much as looked up in response, he put away his books in his bag and headed out the portrait hole and was off to the library. He was ancy to the point that it was actually annoying himself, so he drummed his fingers on the stone walls as he walked briskly along the halls.

Once he reached the library, he went immediately to Hermione's usual place, rushing past Madame Pince's penetrating gaze as she fingered the pages of the large tomes she was shelving, and expected to find her there. But he was surprised to see that, in fact, Hermione was no where to be found, and there was no evidence that she had been there at all lately. Confused, he doubled back along the aisles, and even checked the tables in the front. He swallowed slowly as he realized where he had not yet checked. With his jaw set in jealousy, Harry made his way determinedly to the very back of the library, near the Restricted Section.

The closer he got, the more he swore he could hear quiet laughter coming from the secluded corner, and when his route opened out into the small alcove where Hermione and Malfoy had stolen away, his worst fears were realized. Indeed, the Slytherin blond was seated close to Hermione, as they examined a huge volume, laughing quietly. Hermione was laughing too, which disturbed Harry, as it showed as evidence that the Slytherin's laughter was in no way malicious. But what really made his blood boil was how he watched Malfoy's arm creep slowly up Hermione's back and finally was draped across her shoulders. She didn't seem to mind, didn't shrug it off. Harry paused behind the bookshelf, unsure of how to proceed. His temper and jealousy was beginning to crescendo within him, and he felt himself growing hot.

There was no way around it. Malfoy needed to be put in his place. It was not right for him to be getting so chummy with Hermione, and Harry just couldn't bear to let it happen. But of course, his rational side was decreasing in importance in his mind; now all he saw was a large red spot growing in his line of sight. Confrontation was the only thing he could think to do, so he marched over to the table in front of him.

"Hermione, what are you doing with Malfoy?"

Hermione looked up in alarm and just as quickly back down at her book. as a sneer set itself on Malfoy's mouth. He chuckled lowly and hardly acknowledged Harry's presence. The Slytherin squared his shoulders as Hermione scooted away from him. "Well well well, Potty to the rescue, is it? I daresay your courage is unneeded here."

"Ha, right. Hermione? Maybe you should come with me."

"Why, Harry," Hermione asked, peeling her eyes from the book in front of her slowly. "Nothing's wrong here, we're just studying."

"What's with the chummy attitudes then, huh? He's got his arm around you and everything! You can't trust him, Hermione, he'll hex you as soon as you turn around!"

"Harry, that's ridiculous. We're partners in potions, you know that. So what's wrong with us being friendly about it? Draco has done nothing wrong."

Harry and Draco snorted at the same time. "Draco? You call him Draco now?" This was all so ridiculous, and Harry couldn't believe his ears. He had always been so sure Hermione was smarter than this, but the situation at hand had him worrying that maybe he had misjudged her. It seemed to him that Hermione thought Harry was overreacting, he could tell by the way she sighed and got up from her seat.

"Yes, I do, because we are friends," she gathered up her books and put them in her bag, while Harry waited patiently. "Honesty, Harry, you're the only one who has a problem with Draco and I being friends."

"I just don't like it, Hermione," said Harry as they left the library. He honestly didn't like the way she smiled and waved at Draco as they left. He hated to admit it, but he was very jealous. He just hoped the two didn't get too cozy, and that he could find a way to tell Hermione how he felt. But as they walked back to the common room, he realized it wasn't going to be easy. Since he wasn't known for having good timing, he was prone to rash decision making, and just before they reached the common room, Harry grabbed Hermione's arm and pulled her aside.

"Can we talk for a moment? I need to tell you something."

"Is this about Draco and me?" Her brown eyes were staring into him, and as he nodded, he felt shameful of his behavior. But he had no other way to handle his feelings, and now that he had his chance, he had no choice but to voice them. "Harry, I really don't want to hear it."

"No, I mean its not exactly about that, its about other things, but anyway I just need to tell you something."

"Then tell me."

"Well...erm...okay, but just hear me out, okay?"

"Its fine Harry, I promise to."

"Well I like you, Hermione so-"

Hermione interrupted him."I like you too, Harry, now what is it?"

"No, I mean...I-" but before Harry could explain any further, Ron came out of no where and called over to them.

"Oi! Hermione, Ginny's looking for you, and Harry, want to go over the Charms homework now?"

Harry mentally slapped Ron, but he pasted on a friendly smile. "Yeah. Sure."

Following Ron and Hermione through the portrait hole, he vowed that as soon as he could, he would send Hermione an owl telling her everything. He just hoped it would be sooner rather than later.

A/N: I know, craptastic chapter. Oh well. Imma update soon, I promise!