The library seemed to be the one place where Draco could really be himself, and not worry about the expectations that loomed over his head every waking moment. So that is where he spent most of his time when he could get away from the bumbling idiots who roamed the halls at Hogwarts. It made things easier to just hide in the library and ignore the outside world, that is until Hermione Granger came in. The girl was like a whirlwind, stirring up everything around her wherever she went. The thing is, Draco seemed to be the only one who was affected by the bushy haired know-it-all who was unpacking her books from her bag. When she came in the room she was the only thing that he could concentrate on no matter how hard he tried to pretend that she wasn't there.

She didn't even know he was fucking there, he thought to himself as he tightened his grip on his quill and ground his teeth. He could even SMELL her from two tables away. He never knew how tantalizing the light smell or lavender and vanilla was until he met her. She opened her book and began copying notes, and he couldn't do anything because he was absolutely mesmerized by the way she leaned over the desk to looks closer, or how she chewed on her lip as she studied. Everything that he was taught growing up screamed at him. She is NOTHING, the voice in his head insisted even as he felt himself drawn to her. He could her the disappointment in his father's voice as he chastised him for only being the second smartest in his year. As if being second was as bad as being last because he was being beaten by a girl who had "dirty blood" and "no business being at Hogwarts." Draco could only imagine the tone of his father's voice if his father found out that he fancied the mudblood.

Draco shook his head quickly and let out a deep sigh, nothing in his life made sense anymore since he'd seen her at the Yule ball. She had always been a beautiful girl, and he had always paid more attention to her than he reasonably should have. Something about seeing her look so striking at the ball left things irreparable in his own mind. He couldn't let her walk past him in the hallway without the image of her walking into that room in that beautiful gown being conjured up in his mind. He craved her in a way he never thought he would crave anyone and it irritated it more than he would have ever thought possible. Hermione didn't know any of this information, she pranced around Hogwarts completely unaware of the misery she caused for the blonde Slytherin.

That had to change, thought Draco as he stood up from his table and stuffed his books into his bag. He was going to make her just as aware of him as he was of her. He wasn't going to be the only one left awake at night contemplating someone that he could never have, at least he could ensure that she would share in the misery. He walked gracefully over to her table, not wanting to scare her.

"Good afternoon Granger" he said in a silky smooth tone, him smile a bit brighter than he intended it to be. He wanted to dazzle her a bit, but not that much. Her head shot up immediately, her eyes glared into his with an intense ferocity and he felt his resolve waver. How could she make him question his motives with a simple glare? Her chocolate brown eyes were so kind, but as soon as she locked eyes with him he could see her put up shields.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" she asked calmly, but he could feel the edge in her voice. She was already putting up walls and all he had said was hello. He threatened the urge to scream, of course she wouldn't want to have a conversation with him, he has been torturing her since they first arrived at Hogwarts and he hadn't exactly made it a secret that he thought muggles were dirty creatures. He may have already sabotaged his plan by being an insolent prick from the beginning.

"Already on edge, Granger? What have the boys been up to in Gryffindor tower to have you so wound up?" he asked aloud, smirking at her and leaning over the back of the chair next to her. Her cheeks grew red and she glared at me as she calculated her next move. "Of course, it wouldn't surprise me if they weren't getting up to anything," he added looking down at her appreciatively. Her cheeks turned bright red as she realized what he meant.

"Don't be so foul Malfoy, honestly" she said quietly, but with enough venom that he nearly took a step back. Here she was, looking up at him like he was some kind of pest. That fact gave him a little more resolve.

"Foul, you say? I'm not sure what you mean, Granger. I'm merely asking a few innocent questions," he smirked down at her like an animal stalking his prey, "unless there is a truth to my joke, and your little golden trio is not as pure as you act" he raised his eyebrows at her, hoping to egg her on just a little bit more.

"You aren't funny, Malfoy. Get out of my face" she said quickly, her pale cheeks turning a beautiful shade of pink. That was it, Draco thought to himself. He didn't want her to be mad, just irritated enough that it would keep her thinking.

"Fine fine" he replied holding his hands up in mock surrender before bending down so that his lips nearly brushed against her ear, "but if you want to find out what we get up to in the dungeons, don't be afraid to ask." As soon as he said it he stood up straight and walked gracefully out of the library, seemingly unaffected by their little encounter. Little did Hermione know, his heart was pounding much harder than hers.

Hermione sat at her table with her books open in front of her, unable to concentrate due to Malfoy's interference. She had originally gone to the library to get away from the fact that Harry and Ron completely forgot about the fact that she was a girl. Malfoy certainly seemed to remember that she was a female and it sent a shudder through her just thinking about it. When he leaned down close to her to whisper in her ear, she nearly jumped out of her skin. She let out a low groan as she slumped down in her chair.