"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good" Hermione had sneaked the marauders map from Harrys pocket, it would be easier to find the traces of Malfoy now that is was easier with the map, Hermione doesn't usually 'steal' things but this was a must. Under her velvet red sheets, she looked upon the footprints of Malfoy slowly walking over to the Library. "What would Malfoy be doing in the Library at this time of night?" she slowly whispered to herself "Mischeif Managed", beyond her imagination the map disappeared and turned into an ordinary looking spare bit of parchment. She lifted the invisibility cloak and swifting it all over her body untill she completely vanished "I don't think Harry will mind, I mean I will return it" she spoke to herself nervously. Hermione lifted herself up and gently slipped the map into her breast pocket and proceeded past the great hall, past the moving staircases into the Library.
There was no sounds coming from anywhere expect for the sound of tranquil bells. Trying to make no noise by covering her mouth, she proceeded towards the Library…Into the restricted section. Right in front of her was Malfoy. "Lumos" he whispered as he looked through a pile of old books which were the colour of cow dung. "Argh, why does this useless spell keep vanishing?! LUMOS" he shined his wand over the yellow tea stained coloured pages, Hermione moved closer to read what the pages said, it clearly read 'Love potions, the easy step by step guide how to make a girl fall for you instantly'. This was beyond anything Hermione imagined, why would Draco Malfoy, that stuck up Slytherin boy who will struck anyone who gets into his way be getting a wide glimpse of Love Potion books
"Now now, settle down. Get your potion books out and sit with a person you know you won't get distracted with" announced Professor Slughorn. Hermione looked around, there was noone she could possibly work with. Lavender was next to Katie Bell, Parvarti was with Padma, Dean was with Shemus.. And of course Harry was with Ron. "Seriously Hermione, there's never anyone for you in this lesson is there?" giggled Ron, "Shut…UP Ron, I'm perfectly fine working all by myself, I'm sure Proffessor Slughorn won't mind" "Actually miss Granger, you are perfectly fine working by yourself, as long as you get your potion done and dusted!" replied Professor Slughorn in a most calming manner. The lesson had proceeded and every student in the class was figuring out how to create a brand new 'Felix Felicis' potion until there was a slight knock on the big, brown broad door. The door slowly opened with complete silence, and in came Draco Malfoy, His bright blonde hair was muddled up and his robes looked like he hadn't washed them for months, with no facial expression he slowly strolled in and looked around for a seat. "Ah ! Shrieked Slughorn, how very nice it is to see you right now, care to join us?" Malfoy glared at Slughorn and sluggishly looked down again. There wasn't anywhere for Malfoy to sit in the classroom. "Why don't you sit by Miss Granger?" demanded Slughorn, in complete silence with everyone giving him an awkward stare he strolled over and sat next to Hermione ensuring he was an inch away from her. Hermione moved her books out of his way and looked completely in the opposite direction. It was hard for her to sit next to Draco, the one who called her Mudblood twice, it's a really harsh word.
Draco, with his hand on his chin and just gleaming at the table seemed like he didn't even want to get involved in any class discussion about potions. The chalkboard screeched and Slughorn went on and on "Love Potions, You will know who has given YOU that Love potion because you can smell their scent…Granger! What can you smell right now?" Hermione looked around in embarrassment, "What sir, you mean what can I smell at the present time?!" "Yes miss Granger, it's not a hard question" - "Well, for instance right now I can smell some lovely, beautiful roses.. Oh and perfume.. M-mens perfume, it smells so alluring" Malfoy lifted his head up and looked at Hermione with the corner of his eye. Slughorn laughed "Thank you miss Granger". The smell was anonymous. The lesson had ended, Malfoy lifted his bag and an open can of 'Alluring Body-spray for men" rolled out of his bag and without realising, he left the room. Hermione lifted the can.. "So that alluring smell was coming from Draco" she quietly mumbled to herself.
As Hermione walked into the Great Hall, she overheard Ron "Bloody hell! What do you think she could smell? I bet she was just dreaming!" Harry looked over and noticed Hermione gripping her books tightly and gleaming at Ron. "Errmm Ron" said Harry, "Do you think she's found someone? I seriously doubt that" mumbled the jealous Ron "Ron…I suggest you be quiet!" Harry nudged Ron to give him a deep insight that Hermione was listening. Hermione stormed over up to the table and crashed a pile of books in front of the baffled Ron. "For your information Ronald! It was the only thing I could smell at that point! So If you excuse me I have better things to do than argue with annoying idiots like you!" She lifted her books and stormed out. "Bloody hell! What's got her hair tinged in a knot ?" said Ron.
Hermione ran to her bed and started to cry, she felt insecure, she needed someone, someone who could make her feel better when she's down. "Hello Hermione", It was Luna Lovegood, a gentle pleasant girl. Wiping her tears with her bare hands, Hermione lifted herself up. "Hey Luna" "Are you okay? It looks like your feeling abit down, here have some tonic, just put it in your drink and it will make you feel better. When I have nightmares at night, I just drink some water and tonic so I don't feel the need to sleepwalk" "It's okay Luna, I'm just feeling a tiny bit annoyed, but everything's alright. Just..boys..you know how they are like" "Oh don't worry, of course I know how they are like. Did you know that if a boy argued with you in the past you will become lovers in the future?" Hermione's facial expression turned into happy instantly, she just hoped that Luna wasn't talking about Ron. "Really?!" "Of course, Have you been arguing with any boys in the past?" boasted Luna, "Yeah Dra.. I mean ehem, yes I have argued with a boy" giggled Hermione. "There you go then, that's sorted isn't it? Then you will be paired in no time"
Christmas was coming and the snow had filled Hogwarts grounds in the matter of seconds, the cold winds hit students in the face like a slap so that's why time was well spent indoors. Students would creep outside and hit each other with snowballs. Hermione sat next to the window dressed warmly near the fireplace in the Gryfindoor common room, she stared out of the window and watched students have fun outside, a horde of Slytherins buried Neville Longbottom in the cold, fresh snow and scurried away. Neville's head dashed out the snow "Why is it always me?" he implied. Hermione had a huge grin on her face, it was an amusing sight. She thought to herself, that day when Malfoy was recruited as new seeker he called her a harsh word "Nobody asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood!" . And that day in the 9th year when he said "How dare you speak to me! You filthy Mudblood!"… "I'm sure he's got good in him" she whispered to herself. Suddenly, the door wacked open and Harry dashed inside deeply out of breath. "Hermione! Hermione!" he shrieked whilst desperately panting for air. "Harry! Calm down! And what's the rush? Tell me what's going on in here!" cried Hermione. "Ok, I knew something was going on with Malfoy, last time I looked at the Marauders map, it showed me that Malfoy was lurking about in the Room of Requirment, I don't know where my map went after that. Anyway..I know it Hermione, he's a death eater and he wants to kill us all! We need to report him to Professor Dumbledore" "Listen Harry, that's a serious accusation, you can't just assume someone's a death-eater. What if he's just there..maybe..looking for something" Hermione knew that she couldn't let Draco get accused like that, even though he is that spiteful boy.
Someone had hexed Katie Bell, it was assured that someone with the ability to control the dark-arts hexed her. Hermione was certain to find out who hexed her. She saw Katie strolling down the Hallway. "Katie! Katie! Wait I need to ask you something, really important!" "Listen Hermione, I don't know who cursed me, apparently all Professor Snape found was this box of chocolates which were full of Love potion next to me, that's all". Yes it was true, whoever hexed her triggered a bottle of Love potion and a box of chocolates. Hermione rambled around the corner and witnessed Draco Malfoy standing glaring at her, he took a deep breath to walk towards her but instead turned around a strolled the opposite direction. Hermione followed him, he kept looking back as he strutted into a place where she couldn't find him, into the boys toilets.
"Dra..Draco wait, please" shouted Hermione, he didn't stop. He removed his jumper near the sink and started to shed tears in the mirror, his face went pale and his temperature arose. Hermione without disturbing him silently walked into the toilets. "Hahahaha! Wait 'till you found out what he did, you'll be surprised! Hahahah!" shrieked moaning Myrtle. Hermione was terrified, she had never been alone with Draco Malfoy before, what if he tries to kill her? Draco looked melancholic, he was really losing it. He turned around and looked at Hermione, "You! What do you want! Just leave me alone!" He turned around back over to the sink and started sobbing even more, his tears were thicker than crystals. "What? Leave you to weep over what you did?" cried Hermione, Malfoy turned around with a disgusted face. Hermione was nervous and shaky, he walked towards her wiping his tears "If my father hears about me talking to you, he would kill me. So I really think you should leave" "No!" feared Hermione. "I want to know the truth, why are you like this? Why do you hate muggles?!" Draco felt the need to answer, he looked around to see if anyone was coming before he spilled out all of his memories to a Gryfindoor. "My Aunt was a muggle, and she was the brightest woman ever, somehow my father didn't seem to like her, he would command Bellatrix Lestrange to beat her. One night she used the Cruciatus Curse on her. After that…she killed her, I was only a boy and my father would tell me muggles are useless, they are no good. I grew up listening to him…Promise me you everything you hear tonight, you won't tell noone?!" "Honestly Draco, I thought you were spiteful, but I guess it's just your upbringing, I promise I won't tell anyone trust me" Draco smiled but frantically wiped that smile of his face. He walked closer to Hermione, "I honestly didn't mean to hex that Katie girl, I just wanted to test.. Never mind" Hermione expressed friendliness by smiling and he smiled back, it was awkwardly bizarre seeing Draco Malfoy smile, it felt like Hermione had just drifted into a dream. She stared right into his lovely, marble blue eyes. "You know, back in Year 7, I used to get home and tell my father all about you" chuckled Draco, "Really?! And what did you say?" Hermione was really curious. "Things like, Pottah has a new female friend. And that she's a muggle and she's really bright." Hermione and Draco laughed in the sweetest way possible. "I'd say we go now, imagine if Goyle & Blaise come in here looking for me, I'd be screwed and my father will hear about this, he doesn't want me talking to Pottah and his friends!" Hermione smiled, said goodbye and walked out.