A/N: I confess I felt a little sad about the lack of response I got from the last chapter. Anyway, I hope you like the next one; it will probably start to explain where Hermione's feelings come from. I will make a commitment to updating at least once a week.

"What could you possibly mean by that?" He questioned. Malfoy was staring blankly at her, like a fish out of water, opening and closing his mouth.

"Nothing", she breathed out. "Forget it", she told him, trying to dissuade him. She turned around in the direction of the school wood gates, meaning to leave him behind.

He shook his head from side to side in denial, confused. "You can't possibly have feelings for me". He felt positive about that.

"You are right", she affirmed with the same security he had shown in his expression.

Hermione sighed. She did not understand why she had told him what she did. She did not care for Malfoy, let alone had love related feelings towards him. It was absurd.

It was just hatred…

If she thought better about it, she would know she did not really hate him, though. She could not hate anyone other than Voldemort, whom she found not even to be a human being. Spirit deprived.

Draco did disgust and infuriate her, but it was not hatred.

"Leave me alone, Malfoy", she said firmly.

She lifted her stare at his features another time before continuing, "I don't want to be anywhere close to you when your shit explodes in your face". She walked away.

He did not try to follow her this time.

A strange feeling was infiltrating his skin and he could not figure out what it was. it kept eating his stomach from the inside.

He needed to focus. If he could not figure out his task soon her sentence would come true, and not only things would combust, but there would not be a part of his left to wonder about.

After watching her go, he went back to the castle, to the Room of Requirements, with Snape's book in his mind.

-8-

Hermione tried to process the sequence of events that had taken place in the last couple of days. She attempted to speculate what her affirmation intended to show him or to show her for that matter. It had just poured from her mouth. She could not understand herself, not her actions and especially not her own words.

She despised him. She was sure of it.

Nonetheless, some thoughts invaded her. Things she kept buried in her mind. Moments. Small fragments that were so insignificant in the long run, that she felt sure she had only dreamt they happened.

Fourth Year – Yule Ball

Hermione had appeared in the arms of no other than Viktor Krum.

She knew no one could have figured out he would ask her for him to escort her to the dance. She was astounded herself when he gathered his courage to court her in Hogwarts's Library.

The popular Quidditch player had invited Know-it-all-bloody-Granger to accompany him.

A pair of minutes before being by Krum's side holding his strong arm, however, she was petrified on her spot. She could not leave the Fat Lady's portrait.

…

She inhaled. She did not like to be the center of attention concerning her looks. She knew she was no extraordinary beauty. Now, she would be exposed to all of her schoolmates as Krum's date: his prize. Not that he felt like she was that, but she knew many of the students would think that way. Especially the other girls. Jealousy had a way of showing the worst in people sometimes.

She was late. 'Great'.

Suddenly, Hermione heard footsteps approaching her way. Another student must have loosed track of time. She could make out the strides nearing her and then stop by her side.

The person was waiting for her. 'Could it be Krum?'

She was not prepared to see Draco Malfoy staring blankly at her. His shock was transparent: his blond eyebrows almost disappeared under his locks.

He felt his eyes scrutinize her, head to toe, searching for something, anything to insult her.

She waited.

Notwithstanding, he did not let out any words. He only took a deep breath, calming his mind.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Hermione barked at him. "Aren't you going to say something?" she asked to confront him.

He looked her up and down, taking her in for the second time.

"Not today." He simply said and left her behind.

This time she did not need the courage to continue on her way but felt disoriented.

It took her another 10 minutes for her to make an appearance.

-8-

She did not know why she was reminiscing this now. Nevertheless, it was not the only time Malfoy had surprised her positively though.

-8-

Third year – Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures Class

Hermione studied her professor and friend.

Hagrid looked so happy to have been given the opportunity to teach at Hogwarts. She could tell he felt exhilarated, gesticulating and trying to gather the students around what he called "Buckbeak". It was a hippogriff.

The girl herself was mesmerized by it. The creature looked both elegant and proud lifting its head in direction of the sky as if the people surrounding it should bow to it.

That was exactly what it wanted.

Although every student was afraid to go near Buckbeak, Harry had not wanted to leave Hagrid standing there like a buffoon. The boy reverenced and looked the half-eagle, half-horse animal straight in the eyes. After gaining its trust he was able to pet and, afterward, even mounting it.

Things were going great for Hagrid. His class was turning into a success.

However, Malfoy was jealous and could not refrain himself from stepping in where he was told not to. Therefore, he had ruined everything for the half-Giant.

He angered the bird by approaching it too fast and too precipitously. Buckbeak, scared and angry, had begun spreading its wings and flew in the student's direction.

Malfoy looked at what he had done and was surprised to see that the 'half-bird thing' was uncontrolled.

The Slytherin observed how the Mudblood tried to reach it, but the result was only raging it further. Draco watched as the Hippogriff was about to scratch and harm the bushy-haired Gryffindor. Suddenly and on instinct, he ran in her direction and pushed her far away from it, taking the hit in her place.

Nobody had seen what he had done except for her. The other boys were too distant from the scene and could only note that Malfoy's was bleeding because of Buckbeak.

Hermione turned her head to gaze at her childhood nemesis's steely eyes, but he pretended not to notice her and ignored her stare. Instead, Malfoy began to yell at his teacher, threatening to tell his father about the episode.

Strangely, it was the girl who had made sure Hagrid took back the control of the situation and ensured the professor carried Malfoy to the infirmary.

-8-

She was looking at nowhere in particular when she saw Harry approaching her.

"Hermione, I am worried about you."

He asked, "Where were you? You never cut classes." The dark-haired boy with the round spectacles faced her. His green eyes half tightened, accompanying his concerned expression with his furrowed brows. He touched her arm with care.

The brunette shook her head from side to side, shaking off her daydreams. She took a deep breath.

"It really is nothing to worry about, Harry. I appreciate your apprehension, but I think I am just tired. I am studying too hard and my body is not being able to endure the lack of sleep or all the junk food and coffee I have been taking", Hermione lied to him.

Half of it was true. She had been sleeping and eating poorly, but the cause had nothing to do with her academic activities.

"Are you sure this is everything?" Harry questioned her suspiciously.

"Yes, I am", she guaranteed to him. "Do you want to go and grab something with me at the kitchens?" She tried her best to sound convincing.

Her best-friend half-smiled and agreed, "Sure, let's go".

-8-

Meanwhile, in the Room of Hidden Things, Malfoy was practicing and reciting an enchantment.

The platinum Snake repeated once and once again: "Harmonia Nectere Passus, Harmonia Nectere Passus, Harmonia Nectere Passus".

He could hear the cabinet mending, like gears, turning and fixing itself.

Suddenly, he was aware of a different click and because of that, his face went extremely pale. He could tell himself what that sound stood for.

He had fixed it.

A/N What do you think it is going to happen?