A/N: Ok, I'll admit it, I'm JK Rowling...I've got millions of dollars in the bank and am writing the seventh book. To occupy my spare time I write fanfiction...cause I'm just that cool!

So sorry about the long wait, I'm sorry but this chapter isn't as funny as previous ones, probably one of the more serious chapters in my story...but promise not to make em all like this!

---

So he made her cry. It wasn't as though he hadn't made anyone cry before. In fact Draco had an impressive talent at making people cry. He's even made Granger cry before. In fact he shouldn't be feeling any of this...whatever he was feeling over it.

He didn't even have a name for what he was feeling. It was as though something was gnawing at his insides. He felt a pain in his stomach - only not his stomach more like his pit, an empty pit inside him now had pain, and it was filling with something. He was feeling sorry for Granger, but not just sorry, it was something more...something deeper that was eating at him, eating at his ...soul...

But that wasn't right, Draco didn't have a soul. Well he was sure he did, but figured his soul was simply such a minute part of him that it worked much like appendix. No actual purpose, but there anyways, just something discarded through human evolution.

Draco was feeling guilty... something that he had felt only four times before in his life.

Once as a wee five year old...he caught a small baby pixy with a broken wing in a tree one day, but in his childish attempts to save the pixy''s wing, Draco killed the little creature.

Once when he said something that made his mom cry. He was seven, and could never recall exactly what he had said, he could only remember the steady stream of tears pouring down his mothers beautiful face.

Once when he was eight. He was learning how to fly with Pansy and her father. She called him an Easter bunny... which as everyone knows is a terrible insult for a pureblood child to be compared to the lowest of non magical creatures beloved by muggles. So he hexed her broom and she flew directly into a tree and had to stay in the hospital for a month.

And once when he realized his father had almost gotten the youngest Weasley killed during his second year. He barely knew the little twerp. He had no idea what actually happened, except that Harry-the-Wonder-Potter killed a giant bascillus to save her. But he knew his father had something to do with the almost death of a person he actually knew. The connection stirred something deep inside Draco. Something that he was sure he would be better off without, but couldn't -for the life of him- get rid of it.

Since then, he had not felt guilty once. Not when he had to detain the golden trio and company last year. Not when he purposefully manoeuvred Large-bottom to trip into the trick step on the moving staircases late one night and leaving him there till Peeves found him the next morning and dump a large tub of lard on the boy. And most certainly not when he insulted people to the point of making them cry.

His damn conscious was acting up again. For Granger-the-Mudblood of all people.

It was anomalies like this one that made Draco truly question the sermon of the Scientology-Wiccan's who came to his door three years ago and lectured him about purebred interbreeding and it''s effects on something called Jen-Ethics. They attempted to explain how years of pureblood marriages has diminished something called the Jean- Pool (something Draco was CERTAIN was a muggle garment - he remained awake for at least some of his muggle studies classes-)

He shouldn't be feeling this way about Granger. He''s always been the evil villain and he's never had a problem with it before, so why did it simply commence now.

Perhaps his curse/gift/power/annoying-pain-in-the-ass was affecting him more-so than he thought.

---

So she did try a little hard. And so she was a little pushy. And a little bit of a know-it-all. And she was smug when she was right. And she was...well everything Draco had told her, and more.

After her altercation in the library, Hermione ran to the first available bathroom, sealed the door closed and sunk into the wall.

She cried until she had no more tears to cry.

She then stood up looked at herself in the mirrors and then proceeded to draw out all her flaws.

She was not as altruistic as she liked to believe she was. It had never really occurred to her before now. She wanted people to think she was. She needed people to see her as a kind generous person.

She defended her beliefs as though there was no tomorrow. But never really considered that for some people they didn't care about tomorrow, and therefore didn't really care about her beliefs.

She tried to impress the teachers for the approval she desperately missed from home. She was an only child, and received the brunt of her parent''s affection, as well as criticism. It simply carried over into Hogwarts.

She did need to prove her worth here. Muggle-borns, did on average, tend to be at a disadvantage in the magical community, many were in fact weaker than the average pureblood, or half-blood wizard, with few exceptions. Hermione did feel the need to prove herself, both academically and magically. She felt empathy for creatures who were looked down upon, such as she was. She felt that as a muggle-born she had a unique perspective on the wizarding world, who appeared to contain a seriously warped view of ethics, in her personal opinion. However, Malfoy was right, it wasn't her place to force her beliefs on anyone.

And people MUST find her over-achieving tendencies annoying.

One thing Malfoy said nawed at her mind moreso than the rest, however. She wasn't Head Girl, she had been expecting the position, her grades unmatched by anyone else in the school, her contribution to the community - she believed - was great, -Hell she managed to withstand the pressures of Voldemort, she would surely be able to withstand the pressures of being Head Girl.

But the position had gone to Padma Patil of Ravenclaw, whose average was half a NEWT below hers, whose only contribution to the school thus far had been in her prefect duties. And she was one of the many who had had to see Madam Pomphrey for a calming potion during last years exams.

Had Malfoy been right? Did the teachers see right through her facade, did they find her as annoying as the students?

Hermione's depression over the situation subsided slightly, replaced with a feeling of hurt, and...anger... anger at Malfoy for him pointing out all her flaws, anger at the students for going along with the status quo and not challenging for what was right (albeit her views on what was right WAS different from those of the students apparently), and anger towards the teachers. She was not trying hard ONLY for them, could they not see everything she had to deal with being a muggle born friend of Harry Potter? How dare they find her annoying, they were adults! It was their place to help her in her quest for fitting in and change.

Hermione needed explanations. She needed answers and, most importantly, she needed her Arithmancy text because she was going to be late for class...

---

Draco was getting another headache. He had gotten better at ignoring the thoughts of other students, but he still felt large crowds overwhelming. He would have continued to avoid the Great Hall, but he hadn't eaten properly since he received his...abilities ( he had yet to decide whether they were a gift or a curse as he was tired of hearing about female monthly''s but often enjoyed listening in on naughty fantasies.)

"I never noticed how Hannah's bum shakes as she walks...she has a cute bum" Draco looked up from his plate momentarily to find the Hufflepuff, who indeed had a very cute bum, and then returned to his meal.

"The sum of the magical properties of a imperious curse are..."

Draco decidedly tuned out the thoughts of arithmancy being done some people down from him, attempting to focus, somewhat futilely on Pansy''s voice, going on (and on and on) about how she beat Weasley at his potion quiz, (the only student in the class she actually managed to surpass)

"When I told him about the grade his face turned a shade redder than his disgusting hair," she said for the umpteenth time. "Draco, look at me while I'm speaking to you, this is important..."

He did as he was told, but didn't suppress the sigh of annoyance that escaped his lips.

"What is it Draco?" she said looking him in the eye, "Well if I'm THAT bloody annoying, why are you still talking to me?" her face betrayed her thoughts however, as she gave him a false look of empathy, patting his hand gently. "What's on your mind?"

"Everything," he mumbled only audible enough for himself to hear,"-nothing Pans, I think I might be coming down with a cold, is all."

"Well no snogging tonight then, I refuse to get sick" she thought, eyeing him slightly, "Oh? Do you need to go to the hospital wing?"

"No, I just want to go lie down a bit" he responded, standing up to leave. As he did so, he searched out a familiar head of bushy hair at the Gryffindor table, but saw only Potter, Weasel and She Weasel.

"Well feel better" Pansy said lightly, jolting Draco away from his search. "Yes, I think Blaise will do fine for tonight..."

Draco made a mental note (the irony was not lost of him) of never sleeping with Pansy again.

As he exited the hall, Draco didn't even notice that the more his own thought were consumed with thoughts of Granger's whereabouts, the more the voices of students around him faded.

---

"Miss Granger, what brings you to my office this evening?" Dumbledore said lightly, a twinkle in his eye. "You really did not need to, what is the muggle term 'Book an appointment' with me, I'm always available for my students" he chuckled, impressed by her professionalism.

All of Hermione's Gryffindor courage seemed to evaporate within her as she sat looking at the old headmaster. She suddenly no longer wanted to offend him, didn't want to question his decision, and didn't want to upset him. And what if she had to explain to him Malfoy's abilities, it wasn't her place to say anything, although it could be dangerous if his powers went unchecked. Hermione was suddenly feeling slightly nauseated, wishing she hadn't booked the appointment.

"Well you see Proffessor..." she began, "Umm, well, ok the thing is," she bit her lower lip and looked at the palms of her hands, wishing she had written her speech on them like she used to do, before asking for something from her parents, "...I mean I probably shouldn't be bothering you with this...in fact it's not that important, I just, I dunno wanted to ask you..."she trailed off...

"Would this be simpler if you simply wrote down your question Miss Granger?" he asked gently, sensing her obvious discomfort for being here.

"Umm no sir..."

"What is your question Miss Granger" he nudged.

Hermione looked up from her hands at his gentle face, wondering if he found her as annoying as the rest of the world apparently did. He of all people would be understanding to her situation. "Why didn't I get head girl?" she asked suddenly, regretting the words the instant they left her mouth.

Albus chuckled to himself, mentally making note to tell Pince that she won the pool.

"I'm surprised you didn't ask sooner Miss Granger." He said softly, not letting her brake his penetrating gaze.

"You are possibly one of the brightest students that has passed through Hogwarts in years, possibly even decades." Her heart swelled at her headmaster saying this, but become even more confused. " You have been through much more than the average teenager, even a wizard one. You are quite possibly one of the reasons that Mr Potter is still alive today. You're fight for house elf freedom is a commendable on, if slightly misguided. And finally, have overcome odds that students from wizarding families will never understand. On the surface you are the best person for the job." He stated simply.

"If I'm the best, sir, why didn't I get it?" she asked, suddenly feeling tears prickling at the corners of her eyes.

"Sometimes, my dear, being the best isn't the right reason to get the job" he said gently.

Hermione urged herself not to cry infront of the headmaster. Nodding slowly she stood up and said "Thank you professor, I'll let myself out."

"Miss Granger, please stay a minute more."

"Sir it's ok, I understand, I was the best for the job on paper, or I should say parchment, but my personality does not comply with the job description." she said turning to leave.

Dumbledore had been headmaster for years, and professor for nearly as many. He could count on one hand the number of times he had been truly confused by a student.

He was finally going to have to add another hand, he thought bitterly.

"Miss Granger, please sit down." he said waving the chair back under her. "I'm sorry, but quite frankly my dear, I'm not sure I understand what you mean."

Hermione drew in a long breath and paused... did she really have to subject herself to this humiliation, admitting to one of her idols the fact that she was an annoying little witch that everybody hated, despite the fact that she was fairly sure he already knew that - how mean was her headmaster anyways?

Looking at the palms of her hands once again, she gathered all her courage and resolved herself not to cry, which would only add insult to injury, and said "Sir, you obviously didn't offer me the job because students and professors alike find me...annoying. You couldn't offer me the position because I only wanted it to prove I was the best, that I don't actually deserve it because I'm a fake..."

To say Dumbledore was stunned was an understatement. For a full minute he said nothing to the girl in front of him, to the girl he, well to the girl he admired.

"If it's ok with you sir, I think I'll go now" Hermione finally said, still not looking up from her palms.

"Miss Granger - Hermione. In all my years at Hogwarts, I have met thousands of good students, hundreds ofgreat students, a handful of amazing students, and only a small fraction of extraordinary students - a student who continually surprises me, a student I personally admire and learn from. I've never had more than one exceptional student per year, often not more than one per decade. Since you've begun Hogwarts, I've had three; Harry, Mister Weasley, and you."

Hermione was beginning to lose her temper. If she was so spectacular, why on EARTH hadn't she received the Head Girl position?

Before she could ask the obvious question, Dumbledore spoke up again.

"Miss Granger, it wasn't because students or teachers found you annoying that you didn't receive Head Girl, in fact I must say I've never heard those sorts of comments from students or teachers -"

"You've obviously never spoken to Ron or Harry after I've tried to get them to do their homework" Hermione interjected, to which Dumbledore chuckled.

"Why do you think Mister Weasley received the head boy position? He did not have the top grades in the school."

"I assumed he recieved it because of everything he had to go through with Voldemort."

"No, he received it because with his relationship to you and Harry, and more importantly, everything Harry had to go through with Voldemort."

"I'm sorry I don't think I understand sir." she said, finally looking up from her hands, letting her curiosity overcome her.

"Ron has had to live in his brother's, Harry's, and your shadows. When he looked in the mirror of Erised, he saw himself as head boy, this was something he needed in order to look at himself in normal mirrors." Dumbledore said, waiting for her response, when none came, he continued, " Miss Patil lives in a similar, if slightly less grand-scale, situation. It is her belief, as it is with many students -believe it or not - that they live in your shadow Miss Granger. Miss Granger, if you looked in the mirror of Erised, you would not see yourself as Head Girl."

"My shadow? But - well - if they - What?"

"Miss Granger, you are a smart and lovely student, who is helping to defeat the darkest lord of our time. You, Harry, and Mister Weasley don't realize this, but you three are envied, and somewhat idolized at this school. Other students, such as miss Patil, have confessed to me that they wish to be somewhat more like you. And for the very reason that Mister Weasley received the head Boy position, Miss Patil received the head girl position."

Hermione let the information sink in.

She didn't know what to say, she felt like a huge fool for believing Malfoy, and somewhat of a jerk for being idolized, but at the same time she felt dignified and, almost special, for what Dumbledore had just finished telling her.

"Thank you professor." was all she said before standing up and walking out of his office, at the door she turned and said "I'm sorry about this, I, well I just needed to understand."

"Of course, again I say I was surprised you hadn't approached me sooner," he said smiling, "and Miss Granger-" she turned again " I trust you to use your discretion when you tell whoever has been filling your head with nonsense that they are wrong?"

"Yes Professor." And with that she left, wondering how exactly she was going to use her discretion when Malfoy was able to read her thoughts so easily.

---

Malfoy avoided the library that night, Madam Pince had begun question his motives in her mind the last time he was there. The last thing he needed was the creaky old librarian running to the headmaster saying Draco was up to mischief in the library.

However, he didn't return to the Slytherin common room either, as he was beginning to findthe thought of his comrades were rather dull, as they spent most of their time thinking (and discussing) they're dislikes: of other house (Gryffindor in particular), the professors, they're homework, and most commonly, of their fellow Slytherins. Draco realized something about his house, something that had eluded him prior to his newfound ability, his house was full of a bunch of bloody wankers and whiners.

Since he was avoiding the library, the great hall, and his own common room, Draco found himself wandering the school grounds. It being the beginning of November, their was a crisp feeling in the air. It was not quite cool enough to be unpleasant, but not quire warm enough to enjoy the night. The wind had a certain chill to it, but the night still had a bit of warmth. The starts were shining brightly, and the semi moon was enough light for him to travel outside without worrying about tripping.

"Fang won'cha jus' eat the steak. I got it special for ya'." Draco heard in the distance, must have been the half giant trying to feed the creature he tries to pass off as a dog. "Those butt-worms haf' downrite taking away your apetite then eh?" Draco heard the oaf think. Draco decided to avoid that direction all together, and headed towards the quiddich pitch. He suddenly wished he has his broom, however it was all the way back in his dormitory, and Draco had neither the energy or the will to go get it, so he did the next best thing, he broke into the broom supply shed and stole on the ancient Comet brooms he used during his first year.

The broom was not steady, nor was it smooth, but it got him in the air, and at the moment that was all that mattered.

He flew around the pitch a bit, without a real purpose other than to fly. He was getting rather bored and was going to continue his flight around the school when he heard "Boys and their quiddich, is their really a point to the dumb game? Ok, perhaps this is not something that is restricted to the wizarding community as football seems to be a very popular sport, I simply don't understand the lure of danger. Why would anyone willingly put themself in harms way." Draco was straining to hear her thought from high above the pitch "What could one possibly learn from quiddich anyways? Other than how to knock themselves of their broom. Damn brooms, almost worst than a hippograff...ooh I wonder how Buckbeats doing, I should ask Hagrid next time I see him."

"MALFOY" she yelled suddenly, surprising him so much so that he jerked the broom. Now on his own broom, or on any broom of high quality, he would have been able to compose himself midair, however on the old Comet he was currently riding, he was unable to keep himself from losing his balance and slipping off the broom

He yelled momentarily and was vaguely aware of Granger's screams, before grabbing hold of the handle and pulling himself back up.

When he had regained his breath he looked down to the feild and shouted "What the fuck are you trying to do Granger? Kill Me?"

She looked up at him seated comfortably and confidently maybe 50 metre's above her, and shouted back "If I were trying to kill you, I would do it quite a bit more creatively than trying to get you to fall off your broom...afterall, even if I got you to fall, there's not guarantee you'd die...I'd much prefer some more colourful curses designed to torture and humiliate you."

"How very Slytherin of you Granger" he shouted down.

"Me Slytherin HA... Why on earth would I want to be associate with those coniving, future death eater, sons of a bit-"

"Ah ah ah, Granger watch your tongue...er I mean thoughts." Draco said suddenly a little confused. "What do you want?"

"What makes you think I want anything?" she asked defiantly,

"You searched me out remember?" he said lowering slightly so he didn't have to shout. "And I have no idea what a 'Maurauder's Map' is, but I would very much like to know how you used it to find me."

Hermione suddenly blushed, she was having trouble keeping her thoughts in check.

"I know you're having trouble keeping me off your mind, Granger. It's only natural, I am devastatingly handsome."

"I think I might vomit"she thought purposefully.

"You clearly have no taste Granger" he said spitefully "Now I'll ask you again, why are you here?"

"Could you just come down, we need to talk." she said, her neck starting to hurt her "More like I need to yell at you"

"Now why would I to go where I can be yelled at?" he said smugly, enjoying the looks of frustration as she realized once again she had to be careful with what she thought.

"Malfoy stop being a git and get down here." she said stomping her feet.

"Such a delightful temper you have there Granger." He called out. He heard something in the distance, and stiffened, straining his hearing. Thought's and voices... coming closer. Of course!. Ravenclaw had booked the pitch, which is precisely why Slytherin wasn't having practice that night.

"I have a better idea for you Granger," he said swooping down towards the ground, "How about you come up?" he reached out his left hand and grabbed her wrist. Her mouth was agape, and before she could properly react, he had yanked her onto the broom and flew off again.

"MALFOY. What are you doing?" she screamed before throwing her arms around his waist and burying her head in his back, truly not caring that this was Malfoy, the ferret rat who had tormented her and her friends for years.

"Oh god, oh god, oh god, oh god," were her only coherent thoughts.

Malfoy realized something, that he was sure as hell surprised he never realized before, Granger was afraid of heights.

Oh he would have fun with this.

He was strangely aware of her arms around his waist as she held on for dear life, but paid no mind to it. As soon as they were clear of the pitch, Malfoy took a dive, straight into ground, laughing at Granger's screams behind him. He pulled up well away from the ground and continued upwards again, twisting the broom as he went. He flew atop the school, twisting and diving as he went, enjoying her screams very much. He flew towards the lake and dove once more, deciding to go for the piece de resistance. The broom was coming dangerously close to the water, but Draco wasn't worried, he had done this on solid ground plenty of times. Almost nose to nose with the water he pulled up, forgetting that this was not his Nimbus 2001, but the schools old and worn Comet. The broom narrowly missed the water, but the tail slapped the surprisingly hard surface, causing Hermione to hold onto Malfoy tighter. The tail slapped the water again and sent a shock wave through the broom causing Malfoy and Hermione to be lifted off the broom handle. The broom twisted in Malfoy's hands and was pulled ouf from under them both. They fell to the water with a sickening crunch, Hermione hit the water first and promptly let go of Draco. Draco was aware that hew as still holding the broom as he slammed into the water with enough force to knock the wind out of him. The momentum of the broom dragged him several feet away from where Hermione had fallen before the broom was completely submerged and he floated to a stop. The tightness in his chest was constricting him, and he began to panic. He had been winded before, and tried to force himself to calm down. Still clutching the broom, Malfoy rose slightly in the water, hoping that the Comet was not useless enough to not fly when wet. He broke the surface and thanked whatever deity was above for the still floating broom. He caught his breath and hoisted himself onto the broom, somewhat ungracefully with the pull of his wet clothes. He looked around the surface for Granger, but could not find her.

He began to panic. He would not be the cause of the Gryffindor Princess's death. No no he would NOT! He would not go to Azkaban for something this simple and pointless. It was an accident, he told himself as he began to search the water somewhat frantically now.

He couldn't hear her thoughts. "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit" he chanted to himself, staring into the blue. A sudden ripple in the distance caught his attention as he jolted his broom in that direction. Hermione was being raised out of the water, half basked in moonlight, her wild hair stuck to her face. Her eyes were closed and she was limp.

The sudden appearance of a tentacle, quelled Malfoy's curiosity as to how she was raising out of the water.

She looked peaceful. Her lips were a soft shade of pink that matched her cheeks. The moonlight highlighted the drops of water falling off her face, rolling down her cheek.

Her white oxford uniform shift stuck to her wet body in the right places to leave a boy in normal circumstances dry in the mouth.

These weren't normal circumstances.

Draco was suddenly reminded of a painting he had seen once. Of the Greek Goddess Venus in his muggle studies class. Professor McDouglas had said that Venus was the most desirable and beautiful of Goddesses, Draco, quite frankly couldn't see the beauty in the painting.

Hermione's beauty was striking here.

Another tentacle raised out of the water and tapped Draco on the foot, subtly reminding Draco of the girl being suspended in water.

Draco swunge his leg over to straddle his broom and leaned sideways, slipping a hand under Hermione's neck, and becoming somewhat flustered at the thought of trying to find the back of her knee. The squid complied and lifted the rest of her out of the water.

Once he had a strong grip on her, he placed her gently on his lap, he somewhat clumsily directed the broom towards the shore.

Without his hands to control the broom, Draco found it difficult to manoeuver, however at the sight of a couple of student out for a late night stroll near the lake, Draco made an impulse decision not to get caught rather than fly directly to safety. With his knee's he directed the broom to the top of the Astrology tower. His lack of "knee-flying skills" and the poor quality of the broom got the better of him, as he was thrown - with Hermione in hand- off the broom across the tower roof. They landed with Granger still in his arms, her head on his chest, sprawled across his stomach. Draco was suddenly thankful Granger was knocked out as it was otherwise he would have probably gotten an earful of her thoughts as well as her screams.

He realized suddenly she wasn't thinking. Perhaps she couldn't think if she were knocked out. Or perhaps she couldn't think if she were dead.

Draco sat up, still supporting her head, lying her down gently in front of him, he got up and began inspecting her.

He heard a small hitch in her breath, and a wave of relief passed over him. He inspected her more closely, revealing a few bruises on her arms, he assumed they were most likely on her back and arse as well. His eyes were drawn towards he now heaving chest, her shirt practically see-through revealing a light blue bra underneath. He couldn't tear his gaze away from her chest and had the sudden urge to touch her. Anywhere. He followed his hands motion his gaze falling upon his finger, suddenly stroking her soft skin.

"What...Malfoy?" Hermione said barely above a whisper, slightly disoriented.

Draco realized he WAS touching her. He wasn't even touching her in an inappropriate way, but rubbing her cheek gently with his thumb, in almost a caring manner. Possible consequences of his action dawned on him, and he yanked his hand away as though her face was on fire.

Before he would let her think, he stood up and grabbed his broom.

He began towards the edge of the tower, before flying off he turned and said "I'm glad your not dead Granger, " surprising himself and Hermione, who was left alone on the top of the astronomy tower.