Characters from the HP Universe belongs to JK Rowling

Dramione Fan Fic

Prologue

—

Draco couldn't believe it. Hermione Granger had slapped him, for the second time. In front of Snape too, but fortunately, that was all who saw. "Bloody hell, Granger! What was that for?"

"Oh for goodness sake, Malfoy! don't act innocent. I heard you call that poor first year 'Mudblood'! I honestly have no idea how you came to be a prefect…" Hermione's voice trailed off as Snape strode towards the Gryffindor and Slytherin.

"Miss Granger, correct me if I'm wrong, but did I just witness your… attack on Draco here?" Snape spoke, emphasising the word 'attack'.

"Attack?" Hermione scoffed, "that was hardly an attack! Malfoy just insulted a first year!"

"Tut-tut, the school year hasn't even started and you've already lost ten points from Gryffindor for talking back to a professor and making up lies on a fellow isn't exactly being a good role model for future Gryffindors now, is it?" Snape said with a smug look on his face. Draco snickered as Hermione was fighting with herself to not reply, knowing it would get her into more trouble. Snape praised himself silently for embarrassing the muggle-born.

"You are a prefect, are you not? If I were you I'd consider getting to the Great Hall before the Sorting begins, and before I decide to take more points off Gryffindor. You too, Draco." Ordered Snape as he whisked his robes around himself and disappeared into the night.

With a glare at Hermione and a grunt of annoyance, Draco climbed into a nearby (What appeared to be horseless) carriage, and sat himself down. Her mind swarming with complaints about how unfair Snape was, Hermione scanned the area for another carriage, but found none.

"Coming up?" Drawled Draco as he gazed down at Hermione. Reluctantly, Hermione climbed in and sat down next Draco. The carriage sped towards the welcoming castle looming ahead of them.

—

The short journey to Hogwarts was awkward. Hermione's and Draco's knees kept banging into each others when they went over rough surfaces, and it was quite squishy, since their arms kept brushing up against the other.

"It was your father," Hermione suddenly said.

"Hm?"

"Your father. He's the only way that you could've became a prefect, since he has connections and all." Hermione had been dwelling on the thought since she got in the carriage. Draco stared at her questioningly, then chuckled.

"Granger, you sadden me. Do you really think that that is the case, and not that I just naturally have the capabilities to be a prefect?" The sarcastic tone was clear in his voice as he continued to stare down at Hermione, who couldn't help but glare back as she processed what he said. 'Sure, he's a leader. but I can't believe he would have got the honour fairly' Hermione thought.

"Who's the female Slytherin prefect?" asked Hermione suspiciously. "Pansy." Draco answered bluntly. Hermione let out a short laugh.

"Her? who in their right mind would pick her? At least you're really smart! All she knows is your timetable, and what times she should be pestering you!" Draco raised an eyebrow and his lips curled into smirk, and Hermione suddenly realised what she had said.

"Never thought I'd see the day when you would compliment me. Is my charming personality getting to you? it must be. Who knew that even Granger couldn't compete against them." Hermione's cheeks turned red, but she kept a straight face.

"You're as charming as a cat's arse, Malfoy." Draco's smirk faltered as he tore away from Hermione's glare, and massaged his sore and red face.

The rest of the journey was silent until they reached the entrance of Hogwarts. Draco, who was waiting to get off the carriage as soon as he got on, sprung from his seat and swaggered towards the huge doors. Hermione slowly followed, staring at the back of Draco's blonde hair, as confused thoughts raced through her mind.

'No, you're being silly Hermione, it was a slip of the tongue. You have never thought of something like this until he mentioned it. There is no way Draco's 'charming personalty' is getting to you. Oh crap, you're calling him by his first name now?' As quick as the thoughts had came, all things Draco Malfoy was wiped from her mind as she entered the Great Hall. The Sorting was definitely about to begin by the time she had rushed to her two best friends, Harry and Ron.

—

"What took you so long? you disappeared when we got off the train." Asked Ron as soon as the Sorting was done and the feast had began. "Snape… and Malfoy," Hermione replied, trying to sound offhand as thoughts of Draco intruded her mind once again.

"What happened? what did Malfoy do?" Harry piped up, dropping his fork and suddenly looking angry.

"He was insulting a first year, calling him 'Mudblood'. Not that the kid would've known what that meant, but still…"

"Well, what did you do?" Harry and Ron spoke in sync. Hermione sighed and held up her hand and demonstrated a swinging motion. "I slapped him, and Snape saw, so I lost ten points from Gryffindor. That's all, can I eat now?" Ron laughed and Harry grinned from ear to ear and nodded. Hermione happily picked up her fork and ate.

Meanwhile at the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy was being interrogated by his friends.

"She only lost ten points? how did you and Snape let her get off so easily?" questioned Blaise Zabini. Draco shrugged and continued eating quietly.

"If you weren't running late, he probably would've gave her detention. What were you doing anyway?" asked Pansy Parkinson with an annoyed tone in her voice.

"Helping first year brats, like you were supposed to be doing, Pansy." The Slytherin suddenly girl shrank into her seat and stayed silent for the rest of the feast.

Draco could tell that the thought of Hermione and him sharing a carriage was slowly breaking Pansy, but Draco didn't care. He was glad he left out the part of Hermione calling him smart. He didn't need his 'posse' getting the wrong idea. 'What ideas, Draco? they're smart enough to know something like that would never happen, and so are you! Granger even said so herself' That last thought brought a smug smile to his face, than quickly transformed into a frown. 'Don't think of her like that, Draco. Since when did her opinion matter to you? It was nothing, remember?'

—

Soon, the feast came to an end as the leftover food and plates disappeared from sight. This was the prefects cue to stand at the head of their tables and wait to guide their new housemates.

Hermione was the first to get up, and Ron the last. He was inspecting the other house's prefects, and scowled when he saw the Slytherin ones.

Draco stood facing his table, with Pansy standing uncomfortably close. Hermione couldn't help but notice it.

After Dumbledore said a few words, everyone was excused.

"First years, over here!" Hermione yelled as Ron hailed the eleven year olds. Harry walked past the two Gryffindor prefects and whispered, "Good luck,"

"Thanks mate, but I don't think we'll need that with Hermione here." Ron replied, elbowing Hermione who rolled her eyes.

In the distance, Hermione could hear the droning voice of Draco and the frustrated shouting from Pansy, calling to their first years. 'They definitely aren't prefect material.' Hermione thought, and she was pretty sure Harry and Ron agreed.

As soon as all the first years were rounded up, Hermione lead them out the hall with Ron at the back of the group. The Hufflepuff's and Ravenclaw's had already left, but the Slytherin's were walking just beside the Gryffindors. Draco's eyes were transfixed on a certain bushy haired girl. 'She is undeniably pretty, but that's all she's got going for her.'

Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione could've sworn she suddenly saw Draco watching her as she started to explain the movements of the paintings. They locked eyes for a few second until Hermione broke the gaze, but that was after Draco… 'Winked?' Hermione broke out in stutters as she watched him lead the first year Slytherins down stairs. Hermione could feel her cheeks heating up and becoming redder and redder.

Ron noticed that she suddenly stopped talking, so he continued Hermione's lecture, giving her a discreet questioning look. They continued walking and Hermione became the one to walk behind the group with Ron at the front.

They finally reached the portrait of The Fat Lady.

"Password?"

"Lion claws," Said Ron automatically. The portrait swung open and they were all greeted with open arms. Ron immediately ran to Harry, Fred, and George, while Hermione was left to direct the first years to their dorms. She stood awkwardly in the crowd of smiling Gryffindors. 'Honestly Hermione, you were imagining things. You're just tired, that is all.' And with that final thought, Hermione made her way to her dorm for a well deserved sleep without wishing no one but herself goodnight.