Chapter One
Hermione could never quite understand the attraction she felt for the blonde Slytherin boy. He hated her best friends, Harry and Ron. But mostly, he hated her. Frizzy hair, frumpy clothes, nerd, Gryffindor, but the topping of the shit sundae? She was a mudblood. He bullied her. Taunted her every day of school. And yet, sneaking peeks at him during Potions class, she found herself strongly desiring to taste his lips and to mess up his perfectly gelled hair.
"Miss Granger, I ask you to please pay attention to the lesson rather than Mister Malfoy."Snape drawled. Hermione jumped and turned her attention to Snape as he resumed the lecture she already had memorized. She caught Ginny's eye from across the classroom and looked down in shame. Ever since Voldemort had been defeated, every one had the idea that she and Ron had slept together. The rumor was spread by Ron, no doubt. Now she was expected to date Ron. Have children with him. Just the idea made her sick. She had come back to repeat her year at Hogwarts simply to get away from Ron. She knew Ginny would tell her brother and Harry of what she had been caught doing. Finally class ended and she bolted from the classroom. She didn't want Ginny to question and accuse her. She would tell her fancy Auror boyfriend and stupid lying brother all about her. She didn't stop running until she reached the newly built Room of Requirement. A chair spun around and she gasped.
"Mudblood." A familiar voice said. Hermione gulped and her palms felt moist.
"M-M-Malfoy." She stuttered. Draco smirked at her and she felt dizzy. "What exactly are you doing in here?"
"I came to ask why you were staring at me during Potions. Even Snape's ghost noticed."
"You saw?" She asked. She mentally cursed herself for being so daft.
"Of course. Hermione…. aren't you with the Ginger Boy? And isn't Gingerette with Perfect Little Potter?" He spat out. He sounded strange. Full of raw emotion. Even he looked shocked at his outburst.
"Firstly, I am NOT with Ronald. Nor was I EVER with Ronald. He lies. I would never date such an idiot." Hermione growled.
"I'm not surprised. Are you no longer friends?" He asked. Why did he even care so much about Ron and her?
"No. I only talk to Ginny and Harry. And even then, barely. They both want me to be friends with Ron." She said slowly.
"Understandable. I wouldn't talk to them either." He said, rising from his chair and walking towards her. Hermione felt her legs grow weak as she watched him. "And the secondly was?" He asked, his familiar smirk brightening his face.
"S-second thing? What second thing?" She asked softly. Her cheeks felt warm as Draco continued to look at her.
"You said firstly. What was your secondly?" He asked. He was right in front of her now.
"We were talking about something?" She said, locking eyes with him. Draco chuckled.
"Yes, Hermione." He said softly. Hermione's face changed to shock.
"You said my name. Not mudblood or Granger." She whispered. Draco looked down at her lips.
"It would be a shame to waste such a beautiful name with harsh terms." He said, brushing her hair behind her ear. She smiled and looked at her feet. She knew her face was completely red. An ugly blotchy stupid blush. Draco lifted her chin with his hand. "Don't hide yourself from me. It isn't fair." He whispered. Now Hermione was the one looking at his lips.
"Not… fair?" She asked. She felt light-headed. She brought her eyes back to his calming gaze.
"Horribly unfair. I'd like to be able to watch the girl I've had a crush on since third year. The only girl ballsy enough to hit me." He said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"D-Draco?" She whispered. She couldn't grasp what he was saying. Crush? Third year?
"Yes, Hermione?" He asked softly. He was so close. Close enough for her to kiss him.
"What are you saying? I hear it but I don't understand the meaning of the words." She shifted uncomfortably. She sounded so stupid!
"I'm trying to say that I think you're beautiful. And I love you." Draco said. Hermione couldn't concentrate on anything. He loved her? She opened her mouth but Draco quickly put a finger to her lips. "I wasn't finished. I liked you first in third year. Not only were you… are you… a genius but you have so much care and definitely a great arm. Since then I watched you in Potions. But then I noticed that not only was I watching you, you were watching me. And when Voldemort asked who would join him, I went. I was going to beg him for your life. I would've bought us a nice home in a muggle neighborhood. I know you sacrificed your family, but we could've looked for a cure together. And if he said no and killed you anyway…. life without you wouldn't be worth it. Death Eaters died quickly when they angered him. Or I could've avada kedavra'd myself. I wouldn't want to live if you weren't here, gracing all the wizards with your beauty." He said softly, maintaining eye contact. Hermione's heart thumped in her chest.
"Beauty? I have none. Look at me. I'm not beautiful. I hate how I look. I hate it. Look at my-"
"You have all beauty. I wish I told you that instead of bullying you." Malfoy pleaded. Hermione saw in his eyes that he truly thought she was beautiful. She felt full of a strange confidence she had never felt before. She smiled at him and he smiled back. Her heart beat louder and louder.
"I love you too, Draco." She said. Draco's eyes lit up and he leaned in to kiss her. She answered him by leaning in and kissing him with a passion she had never felt for anyone or anything before. After what felt like mere seconds, Draco broke the kiss. His cheeks looked slightly pink as he beamed at her. The taste of fruit lingered on Hermione's lips.
"We still have other classes today." He said. Hermione groaned. She didn't care about classes or her grades. She wanted to taste more Malfoy.
"I don't have any good classes. And I know all the lectures. I'll just ask Ginny what the homework is. Stay here. With me." Hermione begged.
"Love, as much as I wish I could stay I can't. I wasn't blessed with the brains you have." Malfoy whispered, brushing his lips on her forehead. She pouted but agreed with what he said.
"Do you think it would be smart to tell our classmates of… us?" Draco asked. She hadn't thought of that before.
"There would be a lot of angry people. A former death eater and someone who killed your lord."
"A Slytherin and a Gryffindor."
"The most beautiful boy in school with the ugly whore." She whispered. Draco's face contorted into a face of fury.
"People are calling you an ugly whore?!" He shouted. Hermione whimpered in fear, but nodded. Draco's hands curled into fists and he started to walk around the room destroying artifacts.
"Draco! Draco, stop it!" Hermione begged. She had never been so scared in her whole life. Draco paid no attention to her as he continued to break numerous items. The world around Hermione grew black and begun to spin as her legs lost the strength to stand.