A/n:

Sorry for the late update. My holiday just ended recently. I have to get back to work, and there is a lot at hand.

I also want to respond to a few comments. First of all, I am and am willing to take comments and criticism. However, I do not accept false accusations such as plagiarism, and therefore I responded accordingly. As for my writing, I admit that I am not a skilled writer. English is my second language, and this is another reason for the slow updates. As I mentioned in a previous Author's Note, this journey has been a chance for me to improve my English proficiency. Also, some of you have pointed out my writing mistakes, and I am grateful for your advice.

I enjoyed writing this in my free time, and it has become a hobby. I will continue to write, and if you like my work, feel free to join me on this journey.

It was clear that the troll went to the girl's bathroom during the Halloween Feast. The whole bathroom and nearby corridors were severely damaged, and debris was everywhere. The area was closed off for a week for reconstruction, and no students were allowed to go near.

When Crabbe and Goyle learnt the news, they were terrified. It would be their fault if anything happened to Hermione, and they would have to live with that for the rest of their lives. They were finally relieved after seeing Hermione in the Great Hall during breakfast hours. Perhaps they were afraid that they would make similar mistakes again. They had been acting quite timid around Hermione. It took them a good period of time to go back to their usual selves, being the mean bullies.

On the other hand, Hermione noticed their change in behaviour and suspected that they had something to do with her broomstick incident. She didn't tell anyone about her suspicion, though, because she was still trying to get her head around Draco's intention. If Crabbe and Goyle were the culprits, Draco would know about it, and he might as well be part of it. At least, this was what Hermione thought of Draco. So when she was told that Draco was the informant, she couldn't believe it at all.

Hermione tried to figure him out without asking him directly. She would look over to the Slytherin table at the Great Hall or sometimes peeked over to his desk at Potions Class to watch him. She couldn't spot anything out of the ordinary but just some hateful glance back at her from time to time. He was still the mean, awful boy she met from the beginning who despised muggle-borns. He would always hate her for the blood inside her, and she would always hate him for being a despicable bully.

However, she did notice his pretentious behaviour, especially when he was with his group of friends. The way he slightly adjusted and distanced himself from the group made Hermione even more suspicious of him. He would always laugh and gossip with his friends, but when they tried to be mischievous or planned something evil, he would stand back and watch only without involving himself. Hermione found it quite strange as she always thought Draco was sort of the leader of all the things they did. Was Draco pretending to be mean? Or to be a typical Slytherin? All of a sudden, everything didn't make sense.

Soon Hermione grew tired of figuring out the blond wizard as she knew she wouldn't be getting answers anyway.

As the wizarding world entered November, Quidditch season began.

Quidditch flags and banners were hanging around the castle, and Quidditch players had been running to the training field during break time for practice. Everyone was thrilled by the enticing competition. Ron had been talking to Harry about Quidditch non-stop and explaining the rules and such to him. Little did Ron know that Harry was the new Seeker for Gryffindor, and the team had kept it a secret as a surprise. Although Harry had gotten all the information he needed from the team captain Oliver Wood, he was delighted to hear the stories from his friend.

Hermione noticed how Harry acted differently than usual and felt that he was hiding something from them. Harry had gone missing after classes, and when he came back late at night to ask Hermione for homework advice, he was already exhausted. Eventually one night, she found out Harry was secretly practising for Quidditch because he was too tired and forgot to remove his protective arm guards. Lucky for Harry, Hermione kept it a secret and helped him catch up with all the schoolwork. Ron, on the other hand, was always fast asleep before Harry returned to the dorm. Both of them felt that it was better this way as Ron had quite a big mouth.

On the first day of Quidditch with Gryffindor versus Slytherin, the appearance of Harry as the seeker in the Gryffindor team shocked everyone. Cheering filled the air as he walked in with his broomstick, but there were also doubts as first years were not supposed to join the Quidditch teams, let alone be the most important player on the team. Hermione and Ron couldn't care less as they cheered and shouted Harry's name from the top of their lungs.

Draco had been looking forward to Quidditch since he was admitted to Hogwarts, and having the Slytherin team in the first match was an extra delight. He had wanted to join the Quidditch team for a long time. Knowing the Slytherin team had been employing players only by their brute strength, Draco knew he had the actual ability to be the seeker Slytherin needed. He had already planned out his Quidditch years and was preparing for next year's tryouts. So when Harry walked out into the field, Draco couldn't believe his eyes. He was devastated and envious.

Why was it always the famous Harry Potter? The boy who got all the fame and all the attention?

Draco watched as the game began and got drowned in the cheering from the crowds.

"Look, it's Snape," Hermione said as she passed her binoculars to Ron.

"No, it can't be. Snape is a good teacher," Hagrid defended.

"Look at him," said Hermione. "He is muttering something while looking right at Harry without breaking eye contact. He's jinxing Harry's broomstick."

"What can we do?" said Ron. The crowd gasped as they watched Harry barely holding on. "Harry's gonna fall."

"Leave it to me," said Hermione, and she quickly disappeared from the crowd.

Hermione quickened her pace and squeezed herself through the crowds and the wooden towers. It was a long way as Snape was sitting right across the field. As she was climbing through the Slytherin's tower, a familiar voice called out to her.

"What on earth are you doing here?" said the blond figure.

"It's not your business, Malfoy."

Draco quickly squeezed himself in front of Hermione, blocking her way.

"Go away, Malfoy, or I will..." Hermione said as she reached for her wand.

"Or what? Jinx me?" Draco said with a smirk on his face. Hermione didn't respond. She never intended to do anything besides bluffing.

"I thought so. You don't have the nerve to do that." He watched as Hermione's face turned red. He didn't want to admit it, but he quite enjoyed watching her with her little ball of anger swirling inside. "Tell me, what are you doing here while your famous seeker friend is going to fall to his death?"

Hermione pressed her lips into a thin line as she tried to come up with ways to get past Draco. She tried to sneak past him, but he quickly blocked her. The crowd gasped again, and Hermione knew she didn't have much time to spare.

"I am trying to get the culprit and help him. Go away and let me through," she fired back and stared at him furiously. Then she recalled her broomstick incident during Halloween. With anger boiling inside her, she didn't think before spitting out the words, "Or do you want to tell me that you are responsible for jinxing his broomstick like what you did with mine?"

Hermione instantly regretted it as Draco frowned with shock and anger. She knew he didn't do it, and he was probably the reason why she was still alive. She knew the truth, and yet, in the moment of anger, she blamed it on him. She swore she could almost see the pain in his eyes.

Draco didn't know Harry had told her the truth, but it still hurt being accused of doing something horrible. The fact that he was worried for her and had put aside his prejudice to save her made it even worse. He had been feeling very low lately, jealous and full of self-doubt, but nothing could compare with what he was feeling at the moment.

"Try to say that one more time! I swear I will..."

"Harry, watch out!"

Another wave of gasps and screams from the crowds caught their attention. Harry almost fell when dodging a Bludger. Draco and Hermione watched from afar as Harry tried to hang onto his broomstick in one hand while the Weasley twins circled beneath Harry, hoping to catch him in case he fell.

Before the two could continue with their confrontation, a Beater from the Slytherin team hit the flying Bludger again, intentionally aiming at Harry. Hermione almost screamed when the Bludger shot across the field just inches away from Harry.

However, her worries soon became terror. The dashing Bludger was flying directly at Draco and Hermione, and there was no player nearby to redirect it.

She had read all about Quidditch in the books, and she knew how dangerous a Bludger could be. But when the Bludger was flying straight at her, shock and fear took over her, and she didn't know what to do. As the Bludger closed in and crashed through the tower, Hermione stood still.

The Bludger smashed through, and the wood was shattered in the air, punching a hole in the wooden tower.

"What are you thinking?"

The two were lying on the cracking floor, panting heavily. Draco had pulled Hermione away, dodging the Bludger at the last second.

Hermione looked at the disastrous scene. She could have been knocked through the tower, and no one would even notice. She slowly relieved her anxiety and stared at the boy next to her.

"Why didn't you move?" Draco shouted, still breathing heavily.

"I..." Hermione knew the answer, but she didn't know what to say. Draco Malfoy had saved her. Again. And that was something she couldn't understand.

"For Merlin's sake, you aren't that bright, are you... ouch..."

Bright red blood was dripping from Draco's hand. It probably got cut by some broken pieces of wood. It wasn't a very deep cut, but the sharp painful sensation was hard to bear.

Guilt immediately swirled in her stomach as she watched him tend his bleeding palm.

"Why..." she asked under her breath, but Draco didn't seem to have noticed her doubts. He was too busy to notice anything else.

She could leave right now, and he wouldn't be able to block her anymore.

Hermione sighed. She couldn't leave him there, especially not after he saved her.

She grabbed his hand and pointed her wand at his wound. With a quick whisper of Episkey, the open wound slowly mended together.

Draco was a bit sceptical at first when she pulled out her wand. He didn't trust her, but the pain made him surrender. He watched her as she slowly and delicately cast a healing spell. He admitted that she was indeed talented, being able to cast various spells at such a young age. Her brilliance just made him loathe her even more. Yet he felt a bit of relief while watching her taking care of him.

After making sure his wound had completely healed, she stood up and tidied her robe. Draco was still sitting on the ground in his thoughts, and she took the chance to leave the scene. With her wand in her hand, she turned and ran towards the other tower.

Draco tried to grab her by her wrist to ask her questions, but she was too quick, and she slipped away.

"I can't believe it!" Pansy was shouting and stomping in the hallway as the group of Slytherins walked back from the Quidditch ground. "He was hanging there for a good ten minutes, and Higgs did nothing!"

After regaining control of his broomstick, Harry managed to catch the Golden Snitch and brought victory to the Gryffindor's team. While everyone was celebrating Harry's victory and glory, all Slytherins were furious at their house team.

Pansy looked over to the quiet Draco. He went missing during the competition and stayed silent after returning. "What do you think about the game, Draco? Ridiculous, isn't it?"

Pansy's voice drew Draco away from his thoughts. He didn't pay much attention to the competition. Despite the fact that his house team had lost to their long-time rivalry, he had much more on his mind.

The itch from the newly healed skins and the slight tingling feel of Hermione's magic was still lingering in his palm. He had questions for her.

Where was she going? What was she trying to do to help Potter? Why didn't she move when the Bludger came at her? Why did she help him?

And he had so many more questions for himself, for all his unexplainable actions.

Draco struggled to find an answer that wouldn't make things seem weird. His hesitation only made things worse as Pansy leaned in and watched him closely. Their other friends had their eyes on him as well.

He liked attention but not this kind. Having everyone waiting for him to reply stressed him out. He felt like someone would always be disappointed with him. It made him feel weak.

As he struggled in the awkward situation, he caught Professor Snape storming through the hallway with a burnt robe. He had questions for the professor as well. He came up with a random excuse and left to find the professor.

Hermione might not have told him anything, but he was not dumb. She had something to do with sudden the fire, and she might as well be the one who started it in the first place. Draco wasn't going to tell on her. But for someone so honest and upright as Hermione, she would never do such things just for fun. Recalling her intentions to save Harry Potter, Draco was curious.

A professor was jinxing a student's broomstick. That would be quite the headline.