[COLOR="Dark Green"]ATTENTION: THIS IS THE SECOND TO LAST CHAPTER IN FOREVER YOUNG.....thanks![/COLOR]


Hermione and Kit searched for Ron. Hermione's mind was working frantically. Could she convince Harry that it had all been a mistake. No....such....luck. They found him: with Harry. Ron's ears were red, a sure sign that he was mad. And Harry's face looked worse: It looked hopeless.

"Ron...Harry." Kit held Hermione's hand tightly, to reassure her. Hermione grasped it back as well. "What's up guys?"

"Kit...I assume you know just as much as we do. So why are you still with her?" Ron asked. No friendliness in his voice. None at all.

"Not really Ron. See, YOU only know what Harry told you. I, on the other hand, know exactly what happened, because Hermione has been gracious enough to tell me."

"And? What did that lying cheat tell you?" Harry asked, infuriated.

"Hermione told me that all she was doing was telling Draco-"

"Draco??" Ron said.

"-that she didn't want to date him anymore. That she wanted to be with Harry. ONLY Harry. Draco went to hug her, and that's when Harry came in. See? I'll bet you anything that's not what Harry said."

"Is this true, Hermione?" Ron asked her. Hermione hung her head. "Hermione?"

"I don't feel like talking right now. I just want to-"

"Of course not. We're all just wasting her time. She wants to be with Malfoy. Just get her out of my sight." Harry turned from Hermione. Her eyes filled with tears.

"I suppose..." She walked up to Harry. "I suppose that we're not dating anymore?"

"You bet."

"And...I suppose you hate me?"

"Yes I do."

"And.." Hermione's voice faultered. "And I guess...you would want me to die right now."

"Possibly." Harry refused to look at her. Hermione nodded.

"Then this is goodbye, right?"

"No. You don't get a goodbye. Just go away." Harry turned from her.

"So be it." Hermione walked away. Kit and Ron looked at him.

"Did you mean that? About her dying?"

"Of course not. She'll get over it. But right now, I don't feel like talking to anyone right onw. I'd better go." Harry also left, leaving Kit and Ron standing in the middle of the corridor.

*****

Draco was walking back to the Slytherin Common Room. He wanted to talk to Dave about this. Dave always put things in perspective for him.

"What a guy..." Draco sighed aloud. It was true. Dave was a great guy. A much better friend that Crabbe or Goyle had ever been.

"Draco?" Draco jumped.

"Hermione?" Hermione emerged from the shadows. "What on earth are you doing down here? If anyone here sees a Gryffindor here, they'd-"

"Please Draco. This is important. I...I just talked to Harry."

"And?"

"He....he said he didn't care whether I lived or died."

"Oh Hermione...he didn't mean that..." Draco took her into his arms. She stood there, unresponsive. He pulled away, and looked at her queerly.

"Draco...I'm going to do as he says."

"Hermione...that's-"

"But there's more."

"What?" Draco stared at her, as though he'd never seen her before.

"I need you to come with me."

It's drawing to a close now....the suspense is killing me!

Katie