PROLOGUE
Draco tapped his foot impatiently. Crabbe and Goyle were late. Again.
He didn't want have to go out and face Harry Pothead by himself.
It was the night of the 6th years Yule ball, they had hosted the event as a sort of "tribute" to Cedric Diggory.
Draco scowled, and he was the only one without a date.
Or, a real date anyway, Pansy hardly counted, she was too ugly to be considered a girl.
He scrunched his eyes together.
"Man up Draco, you're a Malfoy for gods sake!"
He got up, not even stopping to admire his reflection, a first for him.
Draco strode purposely to the door, then slumped against it.
"Coward," he told himself.
"No one calls me coward!"
He straightened up, pushed the door open with a grunt, and marched out to meet his - he shuddered with distaste - date.
He was not disappointed. Pansy was standing right next to the Door, just waiting for him to come out.
"Arghh!" Draco fell backwards against the door frame, "shi-p," he cut himself off, gentlemen never swore.
Her sickly yellow dress brought out the green in her skin, showing off the many faults, and her purple stockings made her legs look mutated, as well as clashing with her dress.
He looked up at her hair, the lank black strands had been tied into something ungodly which now sat perched on her head.
No wonder he had mistaken her for a troll.
"Oh Drakeykinns, you look so pretty!" Pansy gushed.
"Pretty?" Draco frowned. No-one had ever called him that.
"Come on Pansy," he shrugged off his insecurities, after all. He was a Malfoy, and he knew he looked damn hot. "Lets get going."
Pansy trailed after him, a pathetic puppy dog expression marring her acne spotted face.
A new Weird Sisters tune thumped through the halls, vibrating under Draco's feet. He scowled, "House elves taste like candy" was never his favourite song.
Even so, the clip clop of his expensive shoes soon matched the beat as he waltzed through the floors, coming to a stop beside the oaken doors which marked the entrance to the great hall.
"Coming?" He muttered to Pansy, who was standing a little to the side, staring in apprehensively.
"O-of course," she stuttered, hoisting up her skirt and heavily, well, Draco assumed it was skipping, to the drinks.
He rolled his eyes and followed, walking proudly, chin up, into the sea of colours.
Pushing past a gaggle of giggling girls and a hoard of guys in badly done up bow ties, he made his way towards the drinks.
Just as he turned to give his "undivided" attention to Pansy, he heard a collective gasp.
Turning to see what all the fuss was about, he noticed most of the eyes of the guys moving to the entrance, while girls huffed and blushed.
He followed the line of stares to the doors, then sucked in a gasp himself.
Granger.
Shit.
In a dress.
Double shit.
He adjusted his tie, then turned back to the drinks. Nothing was wrong. He was fine.
He HATED that mudblood.
He pounded his head against his hand.
"Drakey? What's wrong?" Pansy gave him a questioning glance.
Damn.
He'd gotten caught by Pansy.
"Nothing," he grumbled.
"It isn't her is it?" Pansy glared, her ugly face forming a beam of hate towards the unbelievably beautiful looking Hermione.
"No," Draco lied boldly, "It's nothing. I just need to get some air is all."
"Okay then Drakey, be back soon!" Pansy smiled at him, before turning the evil eye towards Hermione.
Outside the hall, Draco was pacing madly.
What was WRONG with him?
What was he DOING?
Why did he CARE?
He banged his head on his hand.
He didn't know what he was doing, he didn't know why he was doing it, and he didn't know why he cared.
All he knew was how beautiful Hermione had looked.
"Shit." He muttered, and turned towards the dungeons.
This was not good.