A/N: All the characters are fictional (sighs) and only the story belongs to me. Hope you enjoy it. Don't forget to review. Also, this is my very first story, I have ever written so reviews matter a lot. Happy reading!

P.S: All the words/phrases italicized are the character's thoughts and the words/phrases that have been made bold are important to the plot.

"Malfoy, you are an idiot."

"Well, same to you darling. Might I know the reason for this wonderful compliment?"

"Why in the name of Merlin's most baggy pants would you tell that first-year that lie? Who are you trying to fool here? Why are you doing this to me? Aren't I already enough miserable? Now there would be even more rumours and Oh my God what if Ron and Harry come to know?"

"Grang-"

"And what if the Weasleys hear about it! What a scandal would it be?"

"Gra-"

"I'll be doomed. Also I'm the Head Girl and you are the Head Boy and if Professor McGonagall gets even a small whiff of it, you and I are both dead and it will all be your fault, you twitchy little albino ferret. If I lose this position, I will kill you myself and blame you for it and then come back and haunt you till your death and-"

"HERMIONE, WOULD YOU JUST SHUT UP ALREADY." Hermione stood there shell-shocked. An internal battle started raging inside her mind. He called me Hermione. Oh no, I might have misheard. He's Malfoy and I'm Granger. He wouldn't call me that, right? After all I'm just a mudblood to him. Hermione, get a hold on yourselves for Merlin's sake. It's not as if he likes you. Ha! As if. He can't like me; I'm plain old Hermione Granger with bushy-hair and ordinary looks and know-it-all tendencies. And he is Draco Malfoy and he would definitely prefer blonde beauties with exquisite looks, even if they are daft bimbos.

"Granger, snap out of it. I know I'm pleasing to the eyes and I appreciate your attention but I'm trying to tell you something here."

"Malfoy, as if I would even look at you that way. You obnoxious, self-centred ferret. Speak what you were trying to say."

"I, uh, I was about to. I mean, what I'm trying to say is. I just wanted to ask you to accompany me to the Annual Masquerade Ball but I got cold feet at the last moment. Blaise was saying that I couldn't do that and that I was too chicken to ask you out. To save my ego, I might have kind-of told Blaise that we were both together and you do know Blaise, right? He invented some lucid details about us being together from a year and it escalated from there. I swear I don't know how these reached the ears of that midget. I'll find him and Avada his ass."

"Draco Lucius Malfoy, you will do no such thing. It's your own fault that this, mess was created and I want it to be sorted out as soon as possible. After all,-"

"Yea, I get it. After all, this will ruin your relationship with Weasley and your friendship with Potter and we wouldn't want that, right? You don't need to worry I will sort it out. And I should leave. You shouldn't be seen in the company of the big-bad-death eater. Your Head Girl position would be compromised then."

"No, Malfoy. I didn't mean it like that at all. You're clearly misinterpreting what I said I was just-"

"It's perfectly fine Granger. Go get dressed. The ball starts in 3 hours. Wouldn't want your date to be kept waiting. I have to go get ready too for Astoria."

It was like a knife stabbed into Hermione's heart. She felt numbness and pain. Of course he was going with Astoria and look at silly me thinking of asking him. He must have wanted to ask me earlier to accompany me because of the mandatory Head Boy- Head Girl dance at the beginning. How dumb can you get Hermione? How could you even think for an instance that he was interested in accompanying you to the ball? After all, Astoria is his girl-friend. Well, I can't go to the ball stag now. So I guess I won't be going then. Might as well tell Professor McGonagall that I have the flu. Hermione blinked back sudden tears.

"Umm, Her- Granger are you okay? Who are you going with, to the Ball?"

"Wha- Yea I'm okay, just down with flu. That was what I was about to tell you. I'm not coming to the ball. Just going to inform Professor McGonagall. You have fun. Bye."

Hermione started walking away. Draco ran after her and grabbed her by the wrist.

"Wait, Granger. You seriously aren't down with flu are you? You can't skip the Ball and most importantly the one YOU organised."

"Malfoy I really am not coming. And what's it to you? It's not as if I'm asking you to not go too. You can go and enjoy. Now leave me alone and get ready. Wouldn't want your date to be kept waiting, eh."

"Granger, listen if it's about those rumours, then I really am sorry. Please don't leave on my account."

"Malfoy, get off your high horse. It ruddy well isn't about those rumours. In fact, I couldn't care less. Now please stop bothering me. I have to go and first inform McGonagall and then rest. Leave my hand."

Draco dropped Hermione's hand as if burnt. She can't be that much upset with the prospect of being associated with me that she is skipping out on the Ball, can she? Ugh, Draco you just ruined all your chances with her. And why did you have to mention Astoria in front of her. Now she'll just never talk to you again. Bloody idiot you are. Well, I might just as well skip the Ball. What use is it going if she wouldn't be there?

Hermione went to Professor McGonagall and told her about the non-existent flu.

Wow…. I almost felt like McGonagall wouldn't allow me to skip. Well, it's done now. I should just go and wallow in self-pity. Or I could get my Arithmancy and Transfiguration essays done. They are due next week.

As Hermione went to the Gryffindor common-room to get her parchment and quill, she couldn't help but look around all the excited girls and boys getting ready or chattering merrily. She felt gloomy again. Thinking about Draco and Astoria together, brought fresh tears to her already swollen eyes. Oh come on Hermione, get a grip. You are Hermione Granger. You helped vanquish Voldemort and you are considered the 'brightest witch of your age' and here you are crying over a stupid crush. Just take your things and get going.

Hermione quickly exited the common room and went to the library. She took the longer way so that she didn't have to see the Great Hall. As she entered the library, she felt safe. She wished Madam Pince a good evening and went off to her usual desk at the far and cosy end at the back. She sat down and started writing the Transfiguration essay. A few minutes into her work, she felt the familiar sensation of someone watching her. She looked around but not seeing anyone continued with her work. After a few more minutes, she went to the bookcases to get a copy of Advanced Transfiguration for Outstanding Wizards. Just as she was about to turn, she felt a pair of arms grabbing her from the back and before she could shout, a pale hand came up to her mouth to shut her up. She was terrified as she had left her wand at the desk and Madam Pince was also not visible from her position. The person turned her around and slammed her into the bookcase roughly but not that forcefully. When Hermione saw who it was, she bit into his hand and stomped on his foot.

"Ow, no need to be violent woman. Gosh that hurts."

"Serves you right, you brute. Why the hell did you do this?"

"Oh Granger, nothing just wanted to talk to you. Thought might as well make it a bit of fun. But you've killed my foot."

"Malfoy seriously? You wanted to talk to me? Do you Slytherins talk to each other by slamming each other into walls? Stop with the theatrics, already. I didn't hurt you that bad. Now speak up before I maim you even more."

"Oh, nothing important. Just felt like I could use a chat with a lovely Gryffindor. You see I was getting a tad bit bored and only you can always entertain me."

"Malfoy, do you mean to tell me that you ditched your date for the Annual Masquerade and instead came here to 'have a chat' with me? Why can't I believe you? Now just tell me the truth."

"Granger, you hurt me. Seriously though I did come here to talk to you."

"Why aren't you at the Ball? What will dear Astoria think? Won't she be quite upset that she got dressed up for nothing? You mustn't keep her waitin-"

"Granger, did I just detect an ounce of jealousy in your statement?"

"What? What jealousy? I'm not jealous and why should I be? Jealous of Astoria, please. Now please stop pestering me and let me complete my Transfiguration essay which-"

"Which happens to be due next week and therefore can wait. Our conversation, on the other hand, cannot. You see I have something to tell you and it can wait no longer. It's a certain pressing issue that needs to be addressed immediately and I feel only you are the one who can help me with that", smirked Malfoy.

"Malfoy, what are you doing?"

Draco started backing Hermione up even more into the bookcase and when there was no space left, he encaged her head with his arms on both sides of her head.

"Malfoy, what are you doing? Don't come any closer or I will hex you."

"Hermioneeee," he purred. "Don't make empty threats, darling. I know your wand is lying on the desk quite happily. Just listen to what I have to say please. Hurting you is the last thing I wish to do."

"Fine Mal-"

"Draco, call me Draco. We are cordial with each other now. One might as well go on and call us friends."

"Okay Dra-Draco… Tell me what you wanted to say", said Hermione not so bravely.

With that being said, Draco lowered his lips onto Hermione's and kissed her with all the built-up passion. Hermione was shocked and stood there non-responding. When she felt Draco bite playfully on her lower lip, she unconsciously moaned. That gave Draco all the reassurance he needed and he started nibbling on her earlobe and then started trailing soft yet teasing kisses to her neck. Hermione brought up her hands and linked them behind his neck and then slipped one hand into his soft, blonde and perfect hair. Draco again started kissing her and it was rough and demanding this time. Finally when the need for oxygen became dire, Draco pulled back. He started smiling dazzlingly when he saw that Hermione's lips were swollen and her pretty eyes were closed. She looked so beautiful to him that he never wanted to let go.

Hermione then opened her eyes and seeing Draco smiling at her, was confused as to what had happened.

"That was mind-blowing, Hermione."

"But what, what just. Why you, I mean I uh- why we", she stammered.

"Very eloquent, baby", he winked at her.

"Malfoy, but why?"

"This is what I was about to tell you each and every time we fought. This is what I have been dying to do to you since last year. This moment here, I would give up everything; all the riches in the world to be able to do this to you. Hermione, I have fallen in love with you and this love has not stopped growing ever since. Every time I look at you, I see my future with you."

"But Draco, what about Astoria?"

"I'm sorry if I ever made you insecure or jealous. I never wanted to do that. You see, Astoria doesn't mean a thing to me. She was just a way of distracting me from you because I thought I could never get you. She knows this too and she helped me in my lie all along. I don't deserve you. So, I just spun a web of lies to keep myself away from you, till a time I could finally tell you about how I feel about you. I'm really sorry. But these lies started drifting us apart slowly. We were at the least cordial with each other at the beginning of this year; but my stupid, thoughtless lies created an invisible wall between us. Please forgive me Hermione. Your forgiveness would mean the world to me."

"Well, whatever I suspected, I never expected this. Mal-Draco, knowing this now hurts even more. I spent nights crying myself over you. You holding Astoria close to you; whispering sweet-nothings in her ear; kissing her in hall-ways, these memories haunted my dreams and never let me sleep. I too longed to be in Astoria's place."

To say that Draco was shocked to hear that would be an understatement. Hermione, on the other hand was on the verge of tears. She looked broken, a total contrast to her usual self.

She continued, "I must have fallen in love with you too at around the same time as you did. I wanted to tell you and I would've too if I had known you were single but no, initially you were always known for your playboy ways. Never stopping at one girl. But then, at the beginning of this year, you got committed to the gorgeous Slytherin beauty and everywhere rumours started flying as to how you were so in love with each other. It hurt, a lot and I cried even more but then I backed out. Thought to myself, that I would never want to jeopardise a couple's relation just because of my silly crush. I started distancing you from myself, started despising myself for liking you. And you seemed so happy, so in love that I gave up entirely."

"Her-Hermione please."

"No, Draco. You then again gave me false hope that night, when you kissed me under the stars on the top of Astronomy Tower. I was so happy that night and had decided to finally tell you that I loved you come morning. My heart shattered when you said that it was an 'idiotic mistake and it would never happen again'. You went back to being your snarky, pureblood self with your precious Astoria and I was again left feeling like a fool. You showed me love but gave me despair. You damaged me entirely, you taught me to give up on love. You, Mr. Draco Malfoy are the reason why I will never be able to trust someone again. You are the reason why I will never be able to love someone else completely again, because a piece of my heart would always belong to you. Knowing that we can never be, is only what will help me live away from you."

"Hermione, please forgive me. I love you and I can't live away from you. I was immature to think that all those lies would help me; but in the end it only showed me, that love is being truthful always. I am sorry."

"Draco, remember that we all deserve someone who knows how to make things better again after messing up, not someone who is just good with the word 'Sorry'," cried Hermione.

Draco was lost for words. He felt as if his world was breaking in front of his eyes and he couldn't do anything to keep it whole.

Hermione sensing no more arguments coming, went off to her desk, packed up her things and exited the library, never once looking back. Draco saw her leaving but he kept standing in the library at the same spot, feeling as if he had lost the most-important thing in the world. Can you actually lose something without it ever being yours?

A/N: Hope you liked reading this. Please do review. Help me improve.