As Hermione left the dark room, her heart sank down to the tips of her toes. She felt so sad and so upset that she almost couldn't make it up the dungeon steps. All she wanted was to put this horrible mess behind her...forget the bet, forget the deal, forget Malfoy, forget Oliver.

It was all just weighing down her heart and she just didn't need that right now. What Hermione really wanted to do was shake her hands and feet and have it all flicked off of her like a dog shaking free of water droplets after a swim.

But that wasn't possible.

"You look upset," observed a cold voice from the top of the stairs.

Hermione laughed out loud, "That's an understatement." She looked up to see the speaker and gasped.

*

He rounded the corner and watched her walking away. He wanted to run after her, to hold her. To tell her how he was really feeling. But he held back. Now was not the time. But wait. Oh no. Why is Hermione talking to her?

He stepped closer so he could hear their conversation but not close enough to be seen.

*

"Pansy? What do you want?" Hermione asked crossly as she stood in front of the Slytherin girl.

Pansy Parkinson crossed her arms across her chest, "What do you want?"

Hermione sighed, "What are you talking about?"

"Why were you in the dungeons?"

"Can we stop just answering each other with questions?" Hermione yelled, throwing her hands in the air.

"You just answered my question with a question," sneered Pansy.

"What. Do. You. Want?" Hermione was very fed up with this whole situation and she certainly didn't need to be talking to Pansy just then.

"I want to know what kind of spell you've put on Draco," answered Pansy.

"Spell? I haven't put a spell on him."

"It seems like you have. How else did you get him to take you to the Ball?"

Hermione had almost forgotten about the Ball entirely.

"He asked me," said Hermione huffily. "And I was in the dungeons because....it's none of your business."

"Were you with Draco?" asked Pansy, suddenly sounding interested.

"What's it to you?" Hermione retorted.

Pansy shrugged and looked at her manicured fingers, "I don't know. He just seems awfully interested in a Mudblood."

That was the last straw. "Shut up, Pansy. Go get a life."

"I have one," replied Pansy.

"Well maybe you ought to buy a new one. I heard there's a shop in Hogsmeade that's selling some good ones from the Get A Life Company." Hermione pushed past Pansy and strutted up the stairs.

Pansy stared after her in shock until she heard footsteps coming up the dungeon steps. She turned to see who it was. "Oh no. What do YOU want?"

"What's your problem, Parkinson?" Draco Malfoy yelled.

"What's YOUR problem, Malfoy?" Pansy yelled back.

Draco sighed, "I don't have time for you." He stalked off the stairs after Hermione.

Pansy stared openmouthed after him. "WHAT has gotten into him?"

Hermione was crying by the time she reached the portrait hole. She racked her brain for the password, but couldn't remember it for the life of her. She leaned against the opposite wall and slid to the ground, her robes billowing out around her. It made her look like she was sitting in a velvet sea of blood.

Draco ran up the stairs at top speed, turned left, then right, then left again. He didn't know where Hermione was going and more importantly he didn't know where the Gryffindor common room was.

By the time someone found Hermione, her dress robes were soaked in tears.

Harry ran towards her frantically. Lavender hung behind him, watching.

"Hermione! Are you all right? What happened? What did Draco do to you? Hermione!"

Hermione lifted her head and looked at him. His green eyes were flashing with fear and questions.

She sighed heavily and keeled over, sobbing uncontrollably.

Harry didn't know what to do. So he told Lavender he'd see her later and he sat down beside Hermione. Harry wrapped his arms around her shaking shoulders and pulled her into him. She buried her face in his robes and cried.

"It's all such a mess!" She wailed.

"What is?" Harry asked gently, smoothing back her hair.

"Everything! Draco. Oliver...Oh, Oliver." She sniffed loudly as more tears came. She just couldn't stop. "He doesn't even like me! But Draco...Draco acts like he does like me! But I don't know what to do because he's a Slytherin! And I'm not! And Oliver is so sweet and nice and funny and handsome....I like him so much, Harry! But he's a Professor! And I'm not!"

Harry thought Hermione might have completely gone crazy, but he didn't say so of course. He felt so bad for her...he wanted to help. But he didn't know how.

"He won't be a Professor next year," said Harry, shrugging. He wasn't sure what else to say.

Hermione picked up her head and wiped her eyes. "You're right! He won't!" A faint smile appeared on her lips, but disappeared quickly, "But that won't change the fact that he doesn't like me!"

"He does like you," said a voice coming around the corner. Hermione and Harry both looked quickly to see who it was.

"Draco," whispered Hermione.

Draco nodded, "I do like you, Hermione."

Hermione glanced at Harry and then looked back at Draco. She didn't know what to say. She just looked at him helplessly.

Draco outstretched his hand, which she took. He hauled her to her feet. "I've been trying to tell you." He smiled slightly. "You know, you're the only girl here I've ever smiled at."

Hermione smiled despite her feelings of confusion. Harry stood up behind them, waiting.

"And I'm not afraid to say it," Draco continued. "Even in front of Potter."

Harry chuckled slightly. Hermione looked back at him, slipping her hand out of Draco's.

"Harry, I need to speak with Draco alone, please."

"That's fine," shrugged Harry. "I just thought you might need me." He glanced at Draco and took a step towards the Fat Lady. He remembered just in time that Draco didn't know the Gryffindor entrance, nor should he. Harry cleared his throat.

"Thanks Harry," whispered Hermione. She took Draco's hand and pulled him down the corridor.

"Good idea, sending Potter off," said Draco once they were out of Harry's ear shot.

"Draco, I---"

Draco placed a finger to Hermione's lips. She pulled back instinctively, but before she had time to react more, his lips were on hers. The surprise was more than Hermione had bargained for. His lips weren't at all like she'd imagined. They were soft and warm.

Hermione didn't know what to do. So she pulled away a second later.

"What's the matter?" Draco asked her.

"I can't."

Draco sighed, "Is it because of Blaise? Because I wouldn't do that. Just because we're both Slytherins...."

"It's not that, Draco," said Hermione softly. "It's that I don't have those kinds of feelings for you."

Quiet laughter could be heard as another person stepped into the room. Hermione gasped and looked around. Then her heart plummeted.

The person laughed coldly, "I told you, Draco. I told you it wouldn't work."

Hermione stared from him to Draco and then back again. It was apparent to her why she didn't have feelings to Draco, why she hadn't walked into the Great Hall with him....and why she hadn't let him capture her heart.

She'd never really trusted Draco Malfoy. Not really.

And it was a good thing she hadn't. Everything was suddenly falling into place. The lies, the games, the comments....the hurt. It all made sense to her now.

As tears fell down her face, she wished it didn't.

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