I Don't Know You

Just Thoughts

(A/N: This is my second fanfic, first HP. I hope you enjoy it! Note that the chapters have inconsistent lengths, some short, some pretty long.

When a portion of text is italisized, it means either 1) It is Draco's direct thoughts. 2) It is a dream. 3) It is a flashback.

Summary: Draco develops a slight interest in Hermione, and when he tries to get to know her, he discovers emotions for her that he would have never expected. Draco's POV. HG/DM. Ignore HBP!)

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He didn't quite understand why he couldn't stop thinking about her. He didn't even like her- hated her, you could say. She hated him. They hated each other. That was the way it was. It hadn't changed; they were both as hostile towards one another as usual. The status quo. He preferred it to stay that way.

Then why was she always on his mind? Why did he follow her after class, and purposely direct his routes to his lessons so they would run into each other?

A mystery, for sure.

Maybe I'm in love with her. He snickered aloud at this ridiculous thought, causing some of his roommates to stir in their sleep. Not only was he not attracted to her, he was repulsed by her. He had never thought about her in this way, and considering his being almost at the peak of puberty, this was impressive.

He found himself nearly obsessed with all girls. Must be the age. Seventeen, Seventh year at Hogwarts. It was nearly impossible to speak to any woman without his eyes wandering, scanning her- thinking about how much attracted he was to her, he usually was on some level; and whether he would ever date her.

But he had never thought about Hermione in this way. It was as if she wasn't even a person, with all the respect he paid to her.

Her fault for being a filthy mudblood. She's rude to me too; I'm not a horrible person for being so mean. It's just the rivalry between the houses, that's all.

His attempt to convince himself of the old prejudices fell flat once again.

He once really did believe in the whole "mudblood" anti-gryffindor thing: Swept away by his father's influences. But as the years passed he decided the whole thing was rather silly. Still, he had kept up his reputation more harshly then ever, hoping that the others wouldn't notice his lack of heart when they discussed how awful all Gryffindors were in the great hall.

His train of thought never wandered from Hermione, still unable to rid images of her from his mind. What is it about her?

He decided right then.

"Just interested…" he said aloud, now sure that this was true. He just wanted to know more about her. He had never, after all, bothered to get to know her. Something about her intrigued him. Nothing more. Certainly nothing less.

"Draco! Shut up…" Blaise muttered from the lower bunk.

He wasn't used to sleeping here in the dorm anymore. He had, to his great delight, been awarded the honor of head boy, so he had his own personal bedroom with a common room he shared with head girl: Hermione.

But his friends had missed him, so he decided to stay here for the night. Just for old time's sake.

He didn't bother apologizing to his roommate for waking him. It wasn't in his nature. Is there something wrong with me? Am I really as conceited as they all say I am?

Draco had wondered about this for some time- how Potter and his little posse always told him what a terrible, selfish person he was. It was impossible to not consider that this might actually be true.

He clenched his fists at the thought of Harry Potter. He really did hate him. Every moment he caught a glimpse of the boy who lived, his face grew hot with rage. Something about him as well.

And Weasley. Draco had never thought much in detail about him, unless he was creating the lyrics to "Weasley is Our King".

These recurring thoughts about the "golden trio" disturbed him greatly. He had found himself rethinking everything he had ever assumed about the three of them. Were they not all bad?

Hermione certainly wasn't. He knew that. He wasn't stupid enough to think the opposite, like all of his friends- if they could even be called friends.

They looked up to him as the leader in their group. They all had tried to be close to him, but Draco knew they were just trying to gain more status, possibly steal his position as the leader. He despised this, but went along anyway.

But a person can go on only so long with no one to talk to, or confide your feelings in. He knew deep down that he did not even know what it was like to have a real friend- someone he could trust.

He had to admit he was envious of the "golden trio" for this reason. Just seeing them laughing and chatting under the tree by the lake made his blood boil.

Jealousy was a trait he would have to work on.

After a while, Draco found he had no more thoughts left to think in his head, and he drifted off into a disturbed sleep.

"Hey! Come sit by the lake with us!" Hermione motioned to me, and I hurried over and sat next to her and Ron under the tree.

"I can't believe Trelawney assigned us so much homework. A foot long essay and a new dream journal entry due in two days!" Ron groaned as he groped in his bag for a quill and parchment.

"Well, it is NEWT year, you know. You should already be studying, these exams will affect the rest of your life!"

"Yes, Hermione, I know. Thanks for pointing it out. I'm under enough pressure already," he retorted, grudgingly.

"We should have weekly trips to the library, where we can study together!"

I was mesmerized by her goofy enjoyment in something that seemed so utterly depressing to me.

Hermione gathered the worst from the dull expression on Ron's face, and turned to me.

"Well, you'll come, won't you Harry?"

I leapt up in shock, and glanced around. My badge had a griffin on it…

My forehead seared in pain.

Draco awoke to the sound of his roommates dressing for breakfast. He rubbed his brow, which continued to throb painfully. That was weird.

(A/N: Please Review! Thanks for reading. The next chapter will up in a short while.)