The Given Choices

*~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter Fifteen *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The portrait of the Slytherin common room slammed shut and a very angry Draco Malfoy walked in. All of the students fled at the sight of an unhappy Draco, except for one dark, curly haired wizard that was sitting on the couch with a thick book in his hands. He raised an eyebrow when his friend stopped in front of the large table by the fire and slammed his fist down. Blaise placed the book beside him as he asked, "What happened?"

"Oh, it went bloody fine till she kissed me. After that, she flew out of my arms and said that I was going to hurt her, like Potter did," the blond fumed and kept his fists tight on the desk's edge.

The other Slytherin got to his feet and leaned on the desk near Draco as he stated, "Well, that's not too much of a surprise."

Cold, silver eyes met his for a second before he used his arm to throw everything that was on the floor off of it and on to the stone floor. The black cloak billowed behind Draco as he headed in the direction of his room. With a heavy sigh, Zabini picked up his book from the couch and followed his best friend as he muttered, "It's going to be a long night."

*~*~*~*~ About the same time but in different part of the castle *~*~*~*~*~*

Tears dripped down Hermione's face in two thin lines as she sobbed in front of the mirror in the girl's lavatory. It was the same one that the troll attacked her in when Harry and Ron came to save her. No one was in there since it was a little past curfew. She turned on both knobs of the faucet and brought the water up to her face. It somewhat helped, but her heart still hurt. Slowly she turned off the cold water but ran her damp hands through her hair as the hot water continued to run.

When she opened her eyes, part of the large mirror in front of her was fogged up. With the tip of her forefinger, she drew a heart in the fog and looked longingly at it. Bits of her talk with Harry that happened before her date slid into her mind. The hug was what stood out the most to her because it was the thing that made her realize that the part of her life where she loved Harry as a boyfriend was gone. That alone really shucked her up inside. Then when she was in Draco's arms, it felt more 'right' than it did the first time she hugged Harry as a boyfriend.

Is every romantic moment in my life going to be compared with Harry? Or is just because it hasn't been that long? But the answers didn't come to her as she stared at the heart shape in front of her. Her hand reached up and lightly touched her lips as she remembered the kiss that she had just shared with him. That was what was killing her inside. The single kiss was amazing. It was so different from any of the kisses with Harry. A kiss from Draco made her melt inside and feel like that was all she ever wanted.

Yet in the back of her mind, it felt as if enjoying the kiss with Draco was betraying Harry. Yes, he had broken up with her, accused her of lying, and broke her heart. They had been broken up for a month now and there was no tangible reason for that feeling. It could've just been bad timing. But the kiss was perfect, the date was perfect and Draco was being perfect; too perfect.

The pain churned inside of her and started to simmer as she thought about the Slytherin Prince. For the past five years, they had been on opposite sides and both parties had said nasty words. Draco Malfoy - the Slytherin pureblood, who would've done anything to break up the 'Golden Trio', could not truly be interested in her. He never showed her a kind gesture till he came back from the summer. The summer when he found out that she was no longer of 'dirty blood'. The presence of 'refiner blood' made it okay for him to date her.

Well, that was not okay with her. That was the only thing that changed. But that wasn't enough for her. Why had she been so quickly to forgive his past sins against her and her friends? What, because he smiled at her and talked with her? It did not change who he was. It did not change that he was the son of a Death Eater. Hermione scratched her fingers through the fogged heart as she hissed, "This can not be what is meant to be. And I will not be made a fool, especially by a Malfoy."

*~*~*~*~Back the in Slytherin Dorm sixth year *~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*

Luckily, the others sixth year boys were elsewhere, probably raiding the kitchens or bowing at Parkinson's feet. Draco stormed in but quickly followed by Blaise, who had managed not to be hit with the door that his friend slammed closed. "What is your problem, Draco?"

"My problem? My problem?" the blond raised his voice as he paced around the room as Zabini took a seat on his own bed. Draco continued on with his ranting, "She's the fucked up one. Who runs after they've been kissed by me?"

"I would," Blaise teased and gave a playful smile but only to be given a death glare. "Sorry, just trying to lighten your mood, Draco. Anyways, this isn't about you."

"Then who is it about?"

Blaise got to his feet and stopped the stalking Slytherin in his footsteps. "Damn it, Draco. Her heart is still mending from her first love. You can't-"

"Yes, of course," Draco interrupted as he flung his arms out dramatically and rolled his eyes. "This is about Potter. Bloody fuckin' Harry Potter. Potter will always be her first love. He always beats me at whatever I want. Be it here, on the field, or with her heart."

The raven-haired wizard took a step closer to him and prodded a single finger in Draco's chest. "Well, maybe it's all for the best and she's just saving herself from your family's plan."

"This has nothing to do with them. She is denying me!"

Blaise circled around him as his Italian temper, which rarely showed, was out and ready to go. A thin vein throbbed at his temple and his fists were clenched tight. He shouted, "Yes. She is denying you for all of your past crimes against her. Maybe she is suspicious of how you are suddenly there for her at her weakest moment."

The blond stood completely still and stared forward, not really looking at anything. By the look in his light-gray eyes, anyone could see that Malfoy was deep in thought. So, his best friend continued his lecture, "The timing is perfect, Draco. That could be what she is thinking. That things are just too perfect and the last time she associated the word perfect to a guy was Potter, who made her cry on more than one occasion. Just like you have."

Malfoy quickly flashed with confusion, grief, and then back to anger. Once back in front of him, Blaise softly asked, "I want the truth, Draco. Do you really have romantic feelings for her? Or are you just doing all of this because your mum and dad told you?"

A moment of silence fell upon the room as they stared each other down. With his eyes closely focused on the silver ones before him, Zabini stated, "Oddly enough, I consider her my friend. And I will no longer assist you on this matter, if you are going to break her heart or do anything to hurt her. She deserves better than that."

"I'm going out for a walk," Draco announced in a low tone as he left the room but without the slamming of any door.

*~*~*~*~*~ Meanwhile at Gryffindor Tower *~*~*~*~*~*

Hermione walked in through the portrait to Gryffindor Tower, as she had reached it without getting caught. Her brown eyes were still a bit red but there were no other sign that she had been crying for the past hour. A few fifth years sat, the table poring over what looked to be Divination but the three figures that caught her eye were at their usual spots by the fire. In the two large armchairs, Ron and Ginny sat sound asleep with their mouths just slightly open. Harry sat on the couch with a book in his lap and looked up when she came in.

After more than five years of friendship, she could tell that he realized that she had been crying. Having a talk about Malfoy was not the thing she wanted to do at the moment, especially with Harry. With a soft sound, he patted the spot on the left side of him but didn't say a word. Hermione gave a small smile for thanks.

Harry moved the book into his right hand and used his left to tug at her arm to put her head in his lap. A look a worry came on her face, she didn't move as he smiled and stated, "Relax. Just friends."

Hermione nodded as she laid her head in his lap like she had done on many occasions. Slowly he stroked her hair as she watched the fire. Occasionally, he would turn the page of his book but sleep soon found her.

A few hours later, she snuggled under the blanket that surrounded her. Her eyes flashed open as she remembered that she had not fallen asleep with a blanket. Hermione sat up to notice that she was in a bed but she noticed it was not her own. The maroon curtains were pulled closed but quietly she pushed down the blanket. When she opened the hangings, the fact that she was in the boy's dorm hit her. She looked around and saw that all the sixth years, minus Ron and Harry, were still sound asleep. In fact, it seemed that Neville snored in his sleep.

With the throw from the edge of Harry's bed wrapped around her, she headed down the stairs to the common room. Ron and Ginny were still asleep in the common room and Harry was also asleep stretched out on the comfy couch. Silently, she lowered his blanket onto him and brushed the dark hair away from his eyes. I hope we will always be friends, Harry. For we can never be anything more, but I will always love you as a best friend.

After a quick flick of her wand, blankets from Ginny and Ron's beds came down the stairs and into her arms. Once all three of her friends were tucked in, Hermione trudged up the stairs to hopefully find some more much needed sleep for herself but at the moment seemed doubtful.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*

A/N2: I am SO sorry for this taking so long to get to all of your lovely readers. I was having some beta problems but everything worked out. So, no worries. Three more chapters are being gone over at the moment as well. *Hugs* Thank you for your patience.