Formal Summary:

Regardless of what everyone may think, Draco Malfoy really doesn't care. It doesn't matter which side wins the bloody war, so long as he is on said side. For him, the war is not about saving those he loves. The war is about destroying those he hates.

Being as he hates everyone, it's a win/win situation.

At least, that's what he thinks.

Regardless of what everyone may think, Draco Malfoy really does care. If he didn't, he wouldn't have come to help them. He says he hates everyone but that's not true. If it was, he wouldn't look at her that way, he wouldn't speak to her that way, and he would most certainly never touch her that way. She knew he was trying to seduce her. She was even well aware that her silly, girly body was causing him to win his little game.

But HE didn't realize that he was falling in love with her.

At least, that's what she thinks.

Hermione Granger has never been and will never be wrong.

But what if, just this once, she was.

A/N: Hey! This is my very first attempt at writing a real story so bear with me. Please do leave me many suggestions and reviews, I can already tell you I'll need them. The story is canon through six, then I start tweaking.

And as you all know:

JKR Brilliant Owner

I Jealous Not Owner

Regardless of What Everyone May Think…

"Prologue: Draconius Lucius Malfoy"

The street was cold and empty. The misty wind blew harshly against the pale skin of the young man sitting on the curb. It was August; there shouldn't be cold, misty wind. Hell, there shouldn't be any wind at all. The boy shuddered at the thought of the frightening hooded figures that made the summer so cold these days. It wasn't a shudder of fear, though. Draconius Lucius Malfoy did not shudder with fear. It was just all the bloody cold.

Draco realized he looked somewhat pathetic, all cold and pale, sitting on a street curb in Muggle London. He quickly jumped up and assumed what he hoped was a lazy and carefree position, leaning against his trunk. Draconius Lucius Malfoy was not a weak child and he would not be seen as one. Potter would soon come and he would be afraid. Draco was determined that it be so. After all, Draconius Lucius Malfoy was a man to be feared. He had single handedly orchestrated the Wizarding World's very first successful attack on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was the brilliant mastermind who had helped to bring the death of the greatest wizard of the century, possibly longer.

'Second greatest,' he corrected himself automatically. Then, "No," he said allowed to no one in particular as the street was empty, "The absolute greatest." 'The Dark Lord must be trembling, knowing that I took on a wizard far greater than he will ever be and won.' This he said to himself, in the safety of his mind, just in case. The boy, even at a young age, knew too much pride had been the downfall of many and too little the downfall of many more. Perfect balance was the key to success.

"Draco Malfoy," came a hard emotionless voice. "I must say, I am completely disgusted to see you alive and well," finished the voice of a raven-haired boy, no older than his fair counter-part standing across the street from him.

Draco turned slowly, careful to keep his easy-going demeanor, and faced his approaching old school rival, not surprised to see a wand pointed directly at his heart.

"Put your wand away, Potter" he sneered viscously, "I'm not going to hurt you."

"You hurting me is the least of my worries, Malfoy," the young man replied, spitting his opponent's sir name, much as Draco had just spat his. As he said this, his words took on a fierce meaning as three members of the famed Order of the Phoenix came out of the shadows to stand behind him. Draco recognized one as his own cousin, a half-blood whom he had never actually met but heard about quite often during his mother's rants. The other two were large men, unfamiliar, but Draco watched them carefully nevertheless.

"You didn't think I'd trust a known Death Eater to come alone, did you? Where are all your pathetic and cowardly little friends, you little ferret?"

'Well isn't Potter is being particularly cruel tonight,' Draco noted the cold remark referring to a traumatizing experience in Draco's fourth year at school. The emerald eyed hero would clearly not be thinking reasonably tonight.

"However, I bet I could best him in a duel pretty easily in this condition," Draco couldn't help but add quietly under his breath. But alas, he needed the reasonable Potter tonight.

"I'm not here to fight you, Potter" Draco said, somewhat softer this time. "I want to help…the Order that is… certainly not you." He finished with the familiar sneer creeping back into his voice.

Damn it. He shouldn't have added that. O well, just the asshole in him again. Damn that asshole in him. It was in his blood, his very nature and he was quite certain it'd get him killed one day. 'Most likely this day,' he thought, silently reminding himself of the danger hanging in the misty air.

"Your message said you have valuable information for us." The larger of the two large men had decided to take control before Potter could get out the nasty remark on the tip of his tongue. He was older and Draco sensed he was not pleased with the school boy argument Potter was foolishly engaging in. Maybe they weren't just cronies after all.

"Why yes it did, I'm glad somebody noticed," sneered Draco coldly, "And, just out of curiosity, who exactly are you?"

"Kingsley Shackebolt," the impressive man replied with a bit of force. "I'm afraid I can't say it's a pleasure to finally meet you, Draco Malfoy." He was clearly trying to make a statement that he was someone to be respected. Unfortunately for him, Draconius Lucius Malfoy did not respect anyone.

'O how very witty,' Draco thought sarcastically. Then he put on his famous smirk, the smirk that so many people loved to hate and hated to love, and added aloud, "But just wait until you hear what I have to tell you…"