Disclaimer: Owning Harry Potter isn't child's play. And this game I can't play, try as hard as I may.


Written for the 'Stratified Agate' Challenge thrown by Lamia in the Dark.

Pairing: Dramione


Hermione Granger was in a furious mood.

She had been trying to read her Ancient Runes textbook valiantly for the past hour in her cosy little nook in the library which she so wonderfully had to share with His Pompousness Draco Malfoy, sarcasm intended, as he had fixated upon her spot in the entirety of the library. She had protested at first, but the dialogue had gone like so:

"No, Malfoy, absolutely not. This isn't going to happen."

"But why not?"

"Because you...you're insufferable!"

"Ah, do you say that just because I'm a Malfoy? You still doubt my integrity even after it has clearly been proven that my family was not a follower of that arsehole? We were threatened, Granger, if that means anything to you."

"I...I didn't mean that."

"Sure as hell you didn't. It's fine. Keep your harshness to yourself."

"No Malfoy, wait...alright you can share my table. But do not ever disturb me-why are you laughing?"

"You waltzed into offering me your table! Thanks so much, Granger! I didn't know you wanted me so desper-"

WHACK.

"Do you want the table or not?"

"You hit me!"

"Yes or no?"

"Fine, I do."

"Okay."

"Okay!"

"Ferret."

"Beaver."

She caught herself smiling and immediately wiped the sappy smile off her face, scowling as she glanced up yet again to see him sitting arm-to-arm with Daphne Greengrass. Their heads were bent together and he was whispering into her ear, as she giggled and looked at him in adoration.

Silly panda.

She had grown increasingly irritable since he had started appearing at Daphne's side for the past week or so. She'd snapped at Harry and Ron (whom she had awkwardly told she loved him like a brother and had been relieved to hear the same rush of words, after which they'd laughed amiably) when they had suggested she get some sleep. When Ginny asked her how her sharing of the table with Malfoy was, she had spoken a very nasty word, after which the redhead had raised her eyebrows.

"You have the hots for him." Ginny had remarked slyly.

She did not, thank you very much. After all, it was Draco Malfoy.

He was arrogant. He poked fun at others and was a manipulative little ferret. He was unnecessarily sarcastic and loved tormenting her. He'd always pop around her practically every time except for when she was in the loo, or the Common Room. Smug little prat, he sashayed his grades at people just for the sake of feeling superior.

What did Greengrass see in him anyway?

Admittedly, he was rather smart. Articulate to a frightening degree, he had a proclivity for being brutally honest about her bad hair days, or when he'd score more than her. He always had a storehouse a verbal equivalent of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, and though she'd never admit it, Hermione secretly loved it when he'd lash dryly out at a Slytherin holding a bias against her for being a Muggleborn. Not that she was a damsel in distress, but the look of puzzlement on the person's face, even as the person in question himself and stalked off a good hundred feet away, turning into slow comprehension was far too enjoyable. He would get surprisingly talkative about things as random as penguins and his favourite word was 'omnishambles'.

But not that Daphne knew these things. She probably liked him just for his looks, or lack of them.

Okay, maybe if she squinted and dimmed the light a bit, maybe, he could be called okay-looking. Well, to be honest, better than just okay-looking. His hair seemed to glow angelically when he'd flop his head down on her books and insisted on debating whether Mrs. Norris and Crookshanks were a couple or not. His face was long and sculpted, his cheekbones standing out when he frowned in thought. His hands were pretty, funnily enough. Well-kept nails and slim fingers. She'd noticed this when he'd pointed out her mistakes in their Potions assignment. His build was strong, yet not beefed up. Lean, and not scrawny. She'd learnt this when he'd supported her when she sprained her ankle and assisted her to the Hospital Wing. His eyes were pools of mystery, flickering blue, grey and silver, sparkling when she'd engage him in a war of wits and almost opaque when someone would whisper something looking at him and turn away hastily. His smile was a rare occurrence, something she'd been gratified to observe she was a sole recipient of. He did smirk, or grin lazily at people, but he smiled only with her. It transformed his face, softening the edges and quirking his lips...

Hermione shook her head. Was she just thinking about Draco Malfoy's smile? Merlin, she needed to get herself checked. She looked up from her book when Daphne laughed in a tinkling voice and spoke firmly, "Do you two mind? People come to the library to study."

Nodding, Daphne smiled apologetically and got up, "I'll see you later, Drake." Squeezing his hand, she waved to the scowling Gryffindor and walked away. He looked after the girl as she walked off and Hermione flicked a page, remarking, "Looks like somebody called Cupid."

Draco swivelled his head toward her and groaned, "Must you be such a Trelawney? I'm just a friend of hers."

Attributing the swell in her heart to a burp, she shrugged, "I say what I observe, Drake."

Rolling his eyes, he smirked, "She's been calling me that since she was four. We're family friends, Granger."

"So, there isn't any woman in your life now?" she questioned, hoping to hide the irritating tremble in her voice.

"Just you, Granger." He grinned lazily and stood up, announcing, "I'll go get my bag."

He stepped a foot and turned back at her, "Don't leave just yet, I need my partner." Smiling, he strode off.

Hermione broke into a smile and gazed absently at his retreating figure. Looking down at her lap, she groaned as she remembered the Runes book.

It was going to be a long study session.


A/N:

Hey guys, and this is the first chapter to what I plan on making a multichap, with oneshots and drabbles about Dramione. It'll focus mainly on their eighth year.

The cover art is my first attempt at any such art, hehe!

Thoughts and reviews are highly appreciated!

~Ana