Chapter Four: Year Three Part 2

"I don't really feel bad for Hagrid, Buckbeak isn't really the nicest creature around." Draco muttered, staring down at Hagrid's hut, in a sudden burst of anger I raised my hand, clenched it in to a fist then brought it hard down on his face. "OW! HERMIONE!" He howled in pain, he and Harry looked at me in horror. "You broke my nose." It was almost impossible to tell what he was saying, but I think I figured it out. "You broke my bloody nose!"

"Nice Draco, you realized that a nose is almost always bloody when someone punches it and breaks it." I glared angrily at him, expecting him to hit me back, I was doomed. But he just stared at me. "Apologize for what you said about Hagrid and Buckbeak now, or else I'll punch you again." I really wouldn't have, I swear, it's just that I have him pretty frightened right now.

"I'm sorry for what I said about Hagrid and Buckbeak." Draco said hurriedly, his eyes big and wide. I walked off, my hand aching like crazy, but probably not as much as Draco's nose, I really did feel bad, but I couldn't bring myself to apologize just yet.

"Hermione!" Someone called after me and I turned around angrily, but relaxed a bit seeing who it was, even though I would probably get in trouble for not being in class. "What happened?"

"I just punched my best friend." I was trembling as I replied to Charlie's question. "He wasn't being sympathetic about Buckbeak, only because Buckbeak hurt him. I know, it's a lame excuse." I sighed, taking in a deep breath. "But I just guess it affects me more because when my dad died, I felt terrible, even though he hurt me, but that was on accident or I really aggravated him, and it wasn't even much. It's almost as if he doesn't have a heart."

"Mimi!" Astoria hissed, having just turned the corner and probably heard everything I said. I pretty much just told Charlie I was adopted. "Sorry, she's not feeling well today Mr. Weasley." Astoria quickly said, grabbing my arm and dragging me away. "Were you thinking about what this could do to my family, Mimi, no one can know, I'm really, truly sorry."

"I, I don't know, I didn't mean to Tori, I swear." I nearly burst into tears, what else could go wrong today? What bloody else.

"Mimi, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to explode on you, I just, overreacted." Astoria hugged me tightly and I hugged her in response.

"Detention Miss Greengrass for not attending class." Professor Snape rapped out and I glared at him, I just learned what else could go wrong.

"So sorry Mimi." Astoria whispered to me as I began to leave, I gave her a weak smile and began to head for Charms.

But I couldn't go to Charms, I just couldn't. I couldn't face Harry and Draco so soon after I punched the latter, so I returned to the library, where I fell asleep on my books. I was awoken suddenly, but thankfully this time, not by Darren Grate.

"Hermione, I'm really sorry about making those comments about Buckbeak, now will please stop avoiding me, I hate not talking to you." It was Draco who had woken me up, much to my surprise, and Harry wasn't anywhere around. "Please, please, please, stop avoiding me and not talking to me? Are we still best friends?"

"Draco, I am sorry for punching you, your being mean about Buckbeak was no excuse for violence. I'm the one who should be asking if we are still best friends." I smiled at him.

"Really? We are best friends, I swear, forever and ever, no matter what." Draco's face lit up like a five year old who was just given a box of candies, I had no idea that I meant this much to him, wow. "Can I hug you?" He then asked tentatively.

I laughed softly and pulled him into a hug. "Any time."

The events that followed were extremely strange, I don't even want to go into detail of them, Remus Lupin is a werewolf, I already knew that though, Harry performed a fully fledged patronus, Ron's rat Scabbers was really Peter Pettigrew, who was alive, Sirius Black is innocent, we rescued Buckbeak, Peter Pettigrew escaped. And non of that was in that order, oh and we also rescued Sirius Black and he is on the run now. Let's say, that was an action packed day, and the year finally ended, so now we are on our way home on the train, yay, yay, yay. Sarcasm, gotta love it.

"Can you believe it, Sirius Black is innocent? I'd have never guessed." Draco announced his thoughts for the umpteenth time, and I once again had the urge to lean over and slap him silly. "It's a pity that no one else knows this, he'd be a very good ally, don't you think?"

"Draco, for the millionth time, he is our ally, but not openly, now please shut up." Harry groaned in frustration.

"Yea but if he could be our ally openly it would be awesome!" Draco persisted, I sighed, completely understanding Harry's frustration, so I stood up. "I mean- hey where are you going Hermione?"

"I- uh, bathroom?" I felt horrid, leaving Harry to listen to Draco's endless talking, but hey, I can't stand it most of the time.

"Oh, okay, don't be long." Draco grinned weakly and waved as Harry gave me a look of fear when I exited, I tried to give him a look of sympathy but I don't think it quite worked.

As I continuined on my way to the bathrooms I bumped into somebody, typical me. "Oh my word, Merlin, I am so sorry!" I said immediately from the ground, because I uh, fell over, and they didn't. "Oh, hey Charlie, sorry again." I mumbled going a bit red, what was it with me and bumping into this Weasley? I mean, it could have been anybody, but it was always Charlie Weasley, weird, huh.

"Nah, it's my fault, I was uh, zoning off." Charlie chuckled a little bit and helped me up. "I should be the one apologizing, your the one who ended up on the ground. So yea, sorry about that." I smiled at him and continued. "Hey, I haven't been able to talk to you recently, did you and Draco fix things up since we last talked?"

"Oh that?" I was surprised he even remembered that. "Yea, and how did you know it was Draco, I don't remember saying that it was him." I squinted suspiciously at Charlie, creeeeeeeper alert, well probably not, the Weasley's were pretty okay people.

"Guessed, Harry isn't quite the one to not be sympathetic, and you mentioned that Buckbeak harmed the guy." Charlie laughed a little bit. "Plus Draco sounds like the one to botch things up like that."

"Yea, I guess, Harry's not that bad now that I think about it, Draco just seems a bit slow on the uptake I guess." I nodded, understanding, at least he wasn't a creeper, yay! "But he's still an amazing friend

"Hey, who you guys talking about?" Speaking of the blonde haired devil, Draco had appeared.

"You," I answered simply and his eyebrows shot up immediately.

"No seriously, who are you two talking about?" He continued, not believing me, silly Draki-poo.

"No seriously, we are talking about you." Charlie rolled his eyes at the young Malfoy, who just glared at him.

"Hey look! I think we are at the station now!" I suddenly said before Draco could think of a retort for Charlie's words.

"Well, nice talking to you Mimi, see you around!" Charlie turned around and began to walk away.

"Nice talking to you too Charlie, hopefully we will see each other later." I waved smiling at myself.

"He calls you Mimi?" Draco blinked looking from the retreating red heads back to my face.

"Oh shut up Drakikins, let's get Harry and get off." I laughed at his surprised face, and shouldered my bag...