This story takes place in the 7th year of Hogwarts and follows all of the events of the 7th book. Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or plots from the Harry Potter books or movies. This is all fictional guysJ

"If I didn't know you better, I'd think you actually liked her!" Draco Malfoy barely heard Pansy Parkinson bark from across the table. They were all eating breakfast in the Great Hall. Hermion Granger had just walked in and he had noticed her hair was slightly less poofy than usual, and he liked it.

Draco sneered, "You only wish, Parkinson! I was just trying to think of a way to embarrass Granger about her hair. She looks like a faft lion with her hair all puffy around her face. Pathetic!"

Pansy smiled, satisfied. "Ha, Draco! You should trip her and then ask why she didn't land on her feet, like cats are supposed to!"

Draco ignored the lame joke and glanced over at Hermione one last time before pushing off the table to go to first period Potions.

After shoving Pansy off his arm, he began to walk to the dungeons, losing himself in his thoughts.

"I can't like her! She's a Gryffindor! Not only that, but a Mud-" Draco shuttered. He hated that word when he was talking about Hermione now. "She is a muggleborn. Father would never approve. He would kill me if he ever found out. -So don't tell him- the little voice in his head whispered. No. He could never lie to father. He would just have to force her out of his mind.

He'd started liking her at the end of their fourth year, when he had seen her in her Yule Ball dress. He finally began to see her for the beautiful woman she had grown up to be. But he had spent four years embarrassing and torturing her. He couldn't change that with a few nice words and an apology. So that was when he had started writing the letters.

Every week, Draco wrote a letters to Hermione, in which he confessed his feelings and showed her the man he truly was. But he never signed it. This had been going on since 6th year. He knew she expected the letters and he loved to see her face light up every week when she saw the school owl delivering his letter to her. She never read it in front of Ron and Harry. She claimed that it was a letter from her parents, who had finally figured out the mailing system. They were so dumb that they believed her; never questioning it.

Draco finally came out of his trance and stopped before the Potions room. Slughorn was probably waiting for him, he knew he was late but he didn't care. Ol' Sluggy didn't like him anyway. When he walked into the room, Slughorn nodded to him and Draco found his seat next to Blaise. He glanced up to see Hermione staring right at him. Realizing that he had caught her, she ducked her head down quickly, her face turning pink. Ron whispered something in her ear.

"Like what you see, Granger? Don't get your hopes up. With that blood, you'll probably burst into flames just from my touch you filthy Mudblood." Draco laughed.

Slughorn choked on his own spit in shock. "Detention, Mr. Malfoy!"

Ron must have finally figured out Draco's comment, because he pulled out his wand and bellowed some unintelligible word at him. Slughnorn must have assumed it was a curse because he said, "And one for you too, Weaseleb. This afternoon."

Ron muttered something under his breath while Hermione blushed furiously.

Draco could tell that she was on the verge of tears, and he felt horrible. If she only knew how he felt…

Draco was suddenly overcome with a powerful need to get out of the room. Get away, now. Or he might break down in front of everyone. He hurriedly gathered his things and rushed out of the room at the exact time Hermione was doing the same. She crashed into him, just outside the doorway. They both fell to the floor on impact. The heavy door slammed shut after them. Draco sat up and looked at Hermione, then said…

Chapter 2 will be up very soon. I must warn that it will be rather short, but the third chapter will be updated really soon! Promise. Review please J