I finally updated. thank goodness. it has been so long but here it is now. i hope you'll enjoy this chapter though excuse if there's an typo. i didn't proof-read so please understand. oh and btw, please review on what you think? a little feedback might be helpful folks! be back in a few!

tata! xoxo

Ps: I don't own anything.

Chapter 5

It was obvious who won, with Draco gone and another of his colleague stupidly being hit by a bludger during practice, the Gryffindors managed an easy win. Though everyone expected the outcome, the Slytherins were still moaning; everyone was also expecting it. Which made majority of the students in the castle to party hard.

When the match was over, students were cheering and laughing like they all won the lottery. Seeing the sour faces of the Slytherins being beaten once again by the Gryffindors was the highlight of their year.

And as instructed, Draco went and supported his team. When he meant support, meaning handing them a fat lot of galleons each. In spite their loss, the team grinned at the blonde and happily planned on sneaking out of the castle for some fire whiskey.

Draco bid them goodbye, not really feeling like getting shit faced with his colleagues. The team looked at him confusedly but he shrugged them off with his famous smirk, telling them about meeting someone.

Being the idiots that Draco thought they were, they believed him with a few catcalls and left. As he was leaving, he heard voices near the Gryffindor locker room. Looking around, he sneakily walked towards the voices and hid in the shadows.

"See! I can save goals without help, Hermione!" growled an angry Ron who stormed out of the locker room, missing Draco because of his hasty exit.

"I never said you couldn't –Ron, you thought you've been given it too!"

After a few heartbeats, Draco heard Harry muttered something and a distressed cry from his favorite mudblood to tease. He heard footsteps approaching so he hastily ran towards the Slytherin locker room to hide. He saw Granger passed by, head tilted down and fists tucked on her side. He followed her as she silently mutters to herself angrily.

He heard 'Idiot' and 'Ron' which he could not argue being thrown into one sentence. He trailed her as she trudged across grounds, walking passed the quidditch pitch, climbing up to the courtyard and out again towards the lake. All that time, Draco's eyes never left her. He didn't really know why he was following her, to see what she was up to maybe? He didn't know.

All he could think of was that to make sure she was okay. Whatever the argument with Weasley was, Draco was willing to bet his collection of American muggle designer shoes given by his sister that Weasley was the one at fault. He just always was.

It was cruel, really. Granger was obviously head over heels smitten by Weasley, for any wild reason he doesn't really know, and that idiot was brushing her off like dust.

'Like you would.'

He felt a tinge of guilt but then his mind told him Granger and him weren't friends so it was only appropriate he does that to her.

He watched as Hermione reached the edges of the lake near a bent tree. She plopped down on a not so comfortable looking rock and sighed heavily. Draco edged closer, deciding how to approach the fiery bookworm.

'She'll jinx you before you could even open your mouth.'

He shook the thought away, knowing full well the capabilities of what Granger could do to his jewels. He leaned casually on the bent tree and tried to look nonchalant.

"Shouldn't you be partying with your beloved Gryffindorks?" Draco cursed himself. That didn't come out right. 'You're supposed to console her, you bloody idiot!'

Hermione stopped her sniffing and tensed at the being caught in her vulnerable state. She hastily wiped her tears and glared at Draco.

"Now's not the time, ferret!" Granger shouted.

"Perfect, actually." Draco answered with a smirk. He saw a murderous expression on Granger's face that made him scared for his life.

"Fuck. Off." The words would have sent Draco in a fit but hearing those derogatory from Granger's innocent lips was such a turn on.

"Ohhh. Careful there, Granger. That's a big word for an innocent one like you." Draco almost slapped himself. 'Stop being a git!' His mind kept screaming at him.

Of course, in true Hermione Granger fashion, she blew up.

"Oh yes! I actually curse, Malfoy! I'm not as innocent as everyone thinks I am! I'm not as stuck up as everyone in this bloody fucking castle think. I break rules and I got a good snog every once in awhile and a rump or two in the past! I'm not the sweet little plain school girl who prances around the school carrying bloody tons of books –which is fucking with my already fucked up posture!" Hermione heaved heavily after her rant, feeling free for the first time in a long while.

Draco, on the other, was staring at her in awe. He was seeing her other than a rival; he was actually looking at her like she was a girl. An actual girl, like he could be attracted to. He was now noticing the changes that occurred to her since seeing her in their first year.

Gone were the buck-tooth beaver teeth and the crazy untamed hair; it was replaced with milky straight teeth and long soft curly hair that traveled to her midsection. She was actually filled in all the right places, he could see the silhouette of her petite but toned body in the thin scrap of shirt she was wearing under her heavy weather jacket. He noticed she had also gotten taller, and a bit leggy.

"That felt good." Hermione said.

Draco got snapped out from his Granger induced state and smirked at her. Hermione, now realizing she admitted something vital to her worst enemy, wanted nothing more than to crawl in a hole and die.

"That was informative."

"I swear Malfoy, if I ever hear a word about—"

"Save it. I wouldn't want to mess your prude-y reputation." Draco said sarcastically. "But really granger, you're not a virgin?"

Hermione, having the need to hit something, stood up from her rock and closed her distance from the blonde. She thumped him with her fists, shouting insults here and there.

"why you –bloody ferret! Good for nothing rat's ass!"

Draco, despite the insults and the pain (the girl really knew how to hit), laughed out loud. Ever since his sister came, he was more carefree than the past year. He was sometimes catching himself smiling which was totally odd.

Hermione, not expecting the reaction, stopped and stared. She had seen Draco Malfoy smirk, in pain, angry, murderously angry, stoic, cold, indifferent, snigger, disgusted, triumphant, cocky… but she had never, in her lifetime, seen him smile or laugh.

"What?" Draco smiled.

"You seem different." Hermione observed, pulling away.

"Yeah. So?" Draco questioned. Yeah, he was different. He'd grown right?

"Nothing. I've never actually seen you.." Hermione caught herself. She could not believe it. She was having a casual conversation with the one and only Draco Malfoy. What is wrong with her?

"Seen me what?" Draco said, sitting on the grass a feet from the rock where Hermione had returned.

"So carefree." Hermione mumbled. "Your sister was right."

"Of what, exactly?" Draco asked, looking at her irritatedly.

"About you!" Hermione motioned a hand towards him. "You've changed."

"Oh." Draco bowed his head down, even though it was quite dark, he was afraid Granger might see that he was blushing. 'Bloody hell would have to freeze if she ever saw me blush.'

"You two talk?" Draco asked out of curiosity.

"Just today at Slughorn's. She was quite funny and nice." Hermione smiled.

"Yeah." Draco smiled. 'That sounds like the old Bella.'

"She wasn't associating with Slytherins though. Which was weird, considering you know.."

Draco noted the awkward look Granger gave him. "She wasn't really friendly to my house. She could easily see right through their bullshit, y'know?"

"Oh. And you couldn't?" Hermione wanted to kick herself in the head. 'Why did I just blurted that?!' She waited for the upcoming hissy fit from the blonde but nothing came. Instead he chuckled.

"yeah I guess."

"Did you just admit defeat?!" Hermione feigned surprise.

"Bugger off." Malfoy said playfully as Hermione giggled. "And here I was, wanting to console you and you're teasing me?"

Draco caught onto his words and his posture became rigid. He looked at her cautiously, measuring her reaction to his slip.

"You… heard?" Hermione said silently.

"Yeah."

"All of it?"

"No. Just the end and you stomping off." Draco answered silently. He was confused. Why was he suddenly being honest? To Granger, of all people.

Hermione let out a breath she had been holding. She wondered what would happen to her and her friends if Malfoy knew about the thing that she and Harry pulled during the match and the try outs. She shivered at the ideas.

"You could do better, you know."

"What?" Hermione looked at him.

"Weasley." Draco said bitterly. "You're hurting and the idiot doesn't even know or care."

"I… I don't know what you're talking about." Hermione stuttered.

"Don't hide it. The whole bloody school knows except your precious Weasley."

"Why do you even care?!" Hermione hissed.

"I don't." Draco snapped.

"Then why the bloody hell did you follow me?!" retorted Hermione.

"Because, Granger!"

"Because what?!"

"I just thought maybe you needed someone to talk to because Potter back there was too daft to even comfort your bloody arse!" Both glared at each other, their breathing heavy from their emotions.

Draco was frustrated. He thought Granger would be thankful and would at least appreciate his efforts of wasting his time just so he could make sure she's okay. His time after all is galleons.

"Harry is not daft!" Hermione halfheartedly defended. Draco snorted and looked at her with a disbelieving expression.

"Okay. Maybe he is a little bit…" She mumbled defeatedly. "He just didn't know what to do. He wasn't exactly always the one in the middle of a row before."

"That's no bloody excuse." Draco said fiercely. "He's your friend isn't he? He should damn well act like one."

Hermione gave him a confused look, wondering where all this protectiveness was coming from. "The point is, it's not Harry's fault. Ron was being a complete git."

"No, Weasley is a git." Draco corrected.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I suppose... He just started ignoring me all of sudden and then giving me a cold shoulder. It's just frustrating really. I don't even know what I did wrong." The tone in her voice was so sad it made Draco roll his eyes.

"Shut up."

"What d'you say?"

"I said, shut up." Draco said. "You shouldn't be like this. You aren't pathetic Granger. You don't sulk about your problems; you solve them head on and fight for what you really believe is right. Like that damn S.P.A.T.—"

"S.P.E.W."

"—you kept on campaigning in our fourth year."

Silence followed after the Slytherin Prince's small speech. He and Hermione knew that Draco is big with words but he never was one for the emotional nor inspirational speeches. He has more of annoying the heck out of people whenever he opens his mouth.

"You're right." Hermione agreed, standing up. "I'm not some sissy who just cries her problems and complains a lot. I'm Hermione fucking Granger!"

"'Bout bloody time." Draco rolled his eyes and stood up as well.

"Malfoy."

"yeah?"

"Thank you."

Draco nodded and shrugged. With that, the two trudged up towards the castle, comfortable silence wrapped them, both lost in their own thoughts. When they reached the Entrance Hall, both looked at each other.

"This doesn't mean anything." Draco muttered. "We aren't friends or anything just because I talked some shit into you."

"Positive. And you didn't hear a word about what I said earlier."

"Al'right." Draco grunted.

"…"

"…"

"Goodnight then." Hermione whispered.

With a stiff nod, Draco turned around and headed down to the Dungeons. Hermione on the other just watched the blonde until he was out of her sight. She let out a sigh and decided to make her way to the party upstairs.

"Might as well get it all over with." Hermione mumbled to herself.

She climbed the stairs towards Gryffindor Tower where a very loud party music could be heard two floors away. She reached the Fat lady and mumbled the password. The portrait, was mumbling something and hiccupping as she drank something from her goblet. 'Looks like I'm the only one that's sober.'

As soon as the portrait opened, Hermione felt like everything was in slow motion. She saw Harry and Ginny talking, to which she was about to join in but then Ginny motioned something at the corner.

Her eyes spotted his hair before she could even see his face.

Hermione's eyes widened and slowly, she walked backwards towards the portrait. All of a sudden, she felt like the room was too full and she wanted an escape. She ran swiftly out of the portrait and went straight to the first classroom she knew that would be unlocked.

Hermione let out a shaky breath and walked towards the teacher's desk. Feeling a bit naughty, she decided to sit on the table and made herself comfortable. She remembered her recent conversation with Malfoy. 'Don't sulk Hermione!' she chanted to herself.

"But it fucking hurts." She said to herself and pulled out her wand. Out of thin air, she conjured a flock of yellow almost pale looking birds that was now circling above her.

"How do I solve this one, huh?" She whispered to one of the golden blonde creatures.

….

Bella was quite tired. After that thing with Slughorn and a meeting with Dumbledore, she was mentally exhausted. All she wanted to do was to crawl in her covers and never rise to all the chaos surrounding her.

As she was climbing her way to the astronomy tower near her quarters, she heard someone sobbing.

The hair on her arms stood straight and she felt chilly and alone. Slowly, she walked the few steps to the top of the tower and looked at the door handle. She looked back behind her, feeling paranoid. And with all her courage, she opened the door and the chilly wind met her.

"Hello?" Bella whispered to the dark.

The sobbing stopped and was replaced by shuffling and sniffing.

"who's there?" Bella asked again, this time her voice steady.

"It's just me." Hermione answered, leaning at the edge of the parapet.

Bella let out a relieved breath and suddenly felt silly for being paranoid a few seconds ago. But then she saw how close Hermione was to the edge and how tears were streaming down her face uncontrollably.

Bella slowly and casually walked to her. "What are you doing here so late Hermione?"

"I was just thinking. The Gryffindor tower was too loud so I decided to come here instead." She let out and looked away from Bella.

"Why don't you go with me instead? We could talk at my room. It's just a few corridors down." Bella chocked out. 'Just keep calm.'

"I don't want to intrude…"

"No. It's fine! I'm not that tired and I could really use the company." Bella gritted her teeth and hoped and prayed to whoever was upstairs that Hermione would not fall or…jump.

"I'm fine!" Hermione snapped. "I don't need you. And I especially don't need that good for nothing Ronald!" She screeched.

"Oh boy." Bella whispered to herself.

"H-He… why is he like that? How come he doesn't see me? notice me?" Hermione cried. "I might not be the prettiest girl here but I am a girl, am i?"

"Hermione…" Bella whispered, she was now gripping Hermione's jacket and was about to pull when Hermione slapped her hand away.

"Don't!" Hermione cried. "How come he doesn't love me, Bella?"

"I…" Bella looked at her. Tears were now forming in her eyes and her throat was starting to become stricken.

She couldn't really answer the girl. She was still solving that part of the riddle with Edward. 'How come he doesn't love me?'

'It's because you're human. Just a distraction.' Her mind talked back. The ripping pain that was waiting to swallow her every night came and she clutched her chest as if it was ripping her from the inside.

"Hermione! Look, I know how you feel. That pain inside you is what I'm feeling too." Bella said, pointing to her heart. "That empty ripping pain you can't get rid of. I know that. I-I have that."

"Y-You do?" Hermione asked, tears streaming down her face, her fingers and shoulders were shivering and her teeth were clattering from the chilly air.

"Yes. I am in love with someone too. And I know how painful it is to be left behind or to be rejected. It hurts like hell, yes, but you got to keep it together. Not for yourself, but for your family."

"I-I…" Hermione looked at the pain-filled grey orbs beside her and at the darkness beneath her. Her eyes widened and she let out a shaky breath.

"B-bella…"

She didn't need to say anymore because the girl beside her was gripping her waist steadily and was pulling her away from the ledge. The two girls sank on their feet and were hugging one another.

"I-I can't believe I was that close… I d-didn't r-realize…" Hermione mumbled.

"Shhhh… It's okay. You're alright now." Bella whispered, rocking both of them back and forth.

Hermione was clutching to the blonde so hard Bella couldn't hardly breath. But the thing is, Bella doesn't mind. It felt different to be needed, to be wanted.

After a few calming breaths, the two slowly rise from their position, Bella supporting Hermione along the way. They made their way inside the castle and down the flight of stairs. Bella steered the girl towards her chambers, wanting to find out what led this odd behavior from the star student.

Bella tapped her wand on the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy and hustled Hermione in. She led her to one of the sofas near the fireplace and made her sit. She snapped her fingers and her tea set started serving them. Another wriggle of her finger and blankets were being given to both girls.

"Thanks." Whispered Hermione as she takes a sip from her tea.

"What happened?" Bella asked bluntly. Her eyes were boring into the tear strained girl in front of her.

"It was Ron."Hermione said.

"Yes, I figured." Bella said patiently. "what else?"

"He's with someone. And I love him." Hermione said simply. Her expression was blank and there were no more hint of tears in her eyes.

Bella opened her mouth to answer but Hermione laughed suddenly. "And to think! I actually thought he love me back! I thought he was just hesitant because we're best friends and he doesn't want to ruin our friendship."

"Merlin! You must think I'm so pathetic right now…" Hermione covered her face with her hands and hid her flaming face from her enemy's sister.

"I don't." Bella said sadly. Hermione looked up, noticing the sadness in her voice. "I totally get it… The fact that you gave all your heart for love and in return, it rips you apart. Slowly."

Hermione, now forgetting of her situation, grabbed the blonde girl's hand and squeezed it affectionately.

"I-I don't mean to pry. But you could tell me. It helps when you get it all out of your chest." Hermione said.

Bella sighed heavily and pulled her hand away from the witch. "It doesn't, really. I told my brother about it, I cried every night, I screamed in my sleep from all the nightmares but it never gets better."

"Well, let's hear it then. Maybe I could help." Hermione said, sounding hopeful.

"I fell in love with the most perfect man. His name is Edward and I met him while I- uhh.. was travelling. He was the perfect gentleman, the beautiful creature I had ever laid eyes on. You could say he was my knight who drives a silver Volvo." Bella smiled at the memory.

"He's a muggle?" Hermione asked, looking surprised because she never would have thought a Malfoy would fall in love with a muggle.

"You could say that." Bella smirked. "Our love was forbidden but he never knew about our world. I never told him. And I was planning to, after I turned 18. And then there was an accident during my party that his family threw for me. Things got ugly and that started the...gap in our relationship. I knew he was slowly pulling away, and I just couldn't let go. I love him so much."

"What happened then?" Hermione suddenly felt stupid about her problems. To think she almost jumped off a tower because of some puppy love and here sat Bella who's got it worse than her.

"He broke up with me, said he's just easily distracted and he needed to leave." Bella chocked out, her voice thickening from emotion.

"He left you? Just like that?" Hermione looked at her incredulously.

"Don't hate on him. Draco hates him already, Edward isn't like that, I swear."

"Then what's he like?" Hermione said bitterly. She thought that if this Edward persona was so damn gentleman why'd he left like that?

"He looks at me like a blind man seeing the sun for the first time. He worships me, respects me, protects me…" Bella looked at Hermione and a single tear slipped on her cheek.

"He's everything that I could ever want my other half to be and he's my soul mate." Bella sighed. "Pathetic, huh?"

"No. You just fell hard. You'll be back up on your broom in no time. You're a strong woman." Hermione smiled.

Bella smiled sadly, "The thing is, even the strongest have their limits. At some point, they all will break. And at the rate I'm going, I am a lost cause."