When Draco Met Hermione

Disclaimer- Any character you recognize does not belong to me. They belong to the wonderful J.K.Rowling, who's making a mint on them.

The storyline is from a Hindi movie called Hum Tum (Hum Me, Tum You)

Summary-AU- A sexy Casanova and a witty, smart Siren engaged in a droll battle of wits trying to one-up the other. Not your typical 'Boy Meets Girl' but the never ending battle of the sexes in a new, wacky style! Not based on When Harry Met Sally. Well………kinda based on that but not really. Yes I'm getting confused myself.

PROLOGUE:

"Mr. Malfoy", a deep voiced blond, dark-eyed man stepped up from between the crowd of reporters, "Your book is a phenomenal success, one of the fastest selling in the history of the world." here he pointed to a hardbound book near Draco titled 'Hum Tum', with a boy cartoon and a girl cartoon drawn on its cover.

"Critics and readers alike have praised it. As a newcomer in the literary world, how does it feel?"

Draco pondered the question. How did it feel indeed? How did it feel to be the wildly famous author of an even more famous book? How did it feel to know that people from the age of 6-60 were reading something he'd written? How did it feel to receive a thousand letters in fan mail everyday?

He'd heard other authors on this topic. He was supposed to feel ecstatic, intoxicated by his success. So why did he feel so empty? Why did he feel that there was a hole where his heart was? Why'd he not been able to feel anything since she……no he wouldn't go there………not today.

He plastered on a fake smile and answered "It feels fantastic! I'm just speechless, overwhelmed by the love of the people who I don't even know and might never meet."

It was a Malfoy trait to be able to keep a cool front when you were feeling just the opposite. It'd saved him from many emotional situations. He never let his guard down now.

The reporter nodded and melted back into the crowd. He was satisfied; this was what every inexperienced young fool said in interviews. It was the standard reply. And this guy was pretty young, not more than 32.

"What everyone is commenting on, is the authenticity of your characters. Infact they seem so real that they might be our next door neighbors. Any comments?"

Draco gave a low chuckle and glanced at the 'BBC' microphone in front of him. "Yes" he said "I wanted my characters to be real. Flawed. Not perfect mannequins, but actual human beings. I'm glad I achieved that."

"Mr. Malfoy" a breathless, shrill voice came from the back. It reminded him of a girl called Pansy, he'd know in his childhood. She'd had one of the most irritating voices in the universe. "Mr. Malfoy" the voice continued, "I can't tell you how glad I am to have met you, I just love your book, it's……"

"Mr. Malfoy" a cool and firm voice interrupted.

Draco looked up to behold a girl with dark hair and blue eyes. Her voice indicated thorough professionalism. However, her eyes betrayed her. They were shy and innocent, giving a youthful appeal to her face and making her look like the beginner that she probably was.

"Are your characters based on real people?" Her voice brought him back down to reality. She's opened an old wound with her words and drawn fresh blood. It still hurt.

"Yes" he whispered, looking down at the ground, as the dam of memories threatened to burst.

Immediately there was a pandemonium amongst the reporters.

"Are you Hum?" shouted one voice

"Was your Tum anything like the one in your book?"

Draco smiled "She was Tum. Maddening… and yet nobody understood your thoughts better than her. She was a total know-it-all… and yet showed lack of concern about every norm of the society. She was firm, but with an underlying gentleness……warm, caring……"

His eyes had lit up. Every reporter noticed this. He'd never looked so exultant or carefree before. They felt as if they were witnessing a sacred scene not meant for their eyes.

"She was beautiful……" he sighed "And totally unconscious about it……which made her even more gorgeous in my eyes……"

"Was she your wife?" a reporter shouted

"Or your girlfriend?" another guessed

"Or maybe your childhood best friend?"

Draco was forced to laugh at the irony of it all. "No" he said "She wasn't my wife nor my girlfriend. Forget best we weren't even friends……infact…" his voice grew soft and a loving smile spread across his face "We were worst enemies……"

A hush fell over his eagerly awaiting audience. What kind of a love story was this? Their reporter minds sensed a good scoop, while their simple hearts sensed a fairytale romance.

The blue-eyed woman voiced their thoughts "Why don't you tell us your story?" she said quietly.

Draco looked at her "it's too long"

"We have time……" she insisted

"It took many years"

"We have time……" she repeated

Draco looked around at his listeners. Their faces were lit up with expectation and upturned towards him with faith. They looked like little children waiting for a bed time story from a favorite uncle.

Should I tell them? Draco thought. Would they understand? Does anyone understand?

His mind whispered to him ...Tell them. Maybe it'll make the pain a little less.

Draco sat down and closed his eyes. The face of which he'd memorized every detail swam before his eyes, wearing the familiar teasing smile.

Draco opened his eyes, he was ready……

"It began eleven years ago………………………"

A/N Thought this was necessary for the story.

So what d'yu think? Let me know. No reviews, no chapter XD