Disclaimer : None of the characters, places, etc etc that you recognise belong to me. They belong to JK Rowling, but the rest is mine!

Of All The People In The World Chapter One…

Hermione Granger wrote furiously on a piece of parchment, determined to finish her Ancient Runes essay by the time the school bell rang for lunch. She sighed as a warm breeze blew past her and watched as several leaves danced in the wind.

"How are you doing, love?" asked Ron Weasley as he sat down on the patch of dewey grass next to her.

"Fine. I'm just finishing my essay," Hermione replied. She gave Ron a quick peck on the cheek, causing his ears to turn a light shade of crimson. Ron attacked her with tickles, and she giggled uncontrolably, swatting playfully at his arms.

"Stop it!" she cried, laughing. Ron stop tickling her and smiled.

"You know, 'Mione, we haven't been spending much time alone together like this. With no one else around to bother us," Ron said, casually slinging his arm over her shoulder.

Hermione has chosen a secluded spot on the other side of the Lake, in hopes that she wouldn't be disturbed by anyone while she studied. They had a clear view of the Hogwarts students on the other side of the Lake doing all sorts of Sunday afternoon activities; chatting with friends, miling about, napping under a shady tree, pranking other students, and the occasional bookworm or study buddies.

Little did they know that someone was staring at her from afar, keeping out of sight behind a clump of neatly pruned shrubs. He was tall and extremely good-looking. The kind of guy that makes girls swoon at his feet, and raises room temperatures to the limit.

This guy was no other than Draco Malfoy.

He had lovely platinum-blond hair that shone in the sunlight, and steely blue-grey eyes that was filled with mystery.

His fists clenched at the sight of Hermione and Ron so close together. He felt a mix of emotions – longing, love, hate, spite, and jelousy.

Why can't it be me that kisses her so tenderly? Why can't it be me that hugs her tight and never lets go? Why can't it be me that she smiles to warmly to? Why can't it be me that she laughs with? he thought bitterly, glaring daggers at Ron. And of all the women in the world – why is it Hermione Granger I fall head-over-heels for?

Draco had discovered his strong obsession with the bushy-haired bookworm only a few nights ago.

Flashback:

"Today, class, we will be learning how to concoct Veritaserum. Who can tell me what is the use of the potion?" Snape asked the class in a bored voice.

Hermione immediately raised her hand up high. Snape looked around the class to see if any Slytherin's had raised their hand. His stare lingered on Draco, expecting him to raise his hand. When Draco did nothing, Snape grimaced.

"Yes, Miss Granger?" Snape asked, annoyed that no one else had raised their hand.

"Veritaserum is a colourless, odourless potion that forces the drinker to tell the truth," Hermione said in a matter-of-fact voice.

"Not the answer I was looking for," Snape said, lying through his teeth. He had secretly vowed never to give Hermione the comfort and satisfaction of knowing that she had reached his high expectations.

Draco glanced at Hermione, grinning, to see her expression. She frowned slightly, but no word escaped her lips. She just sat down and folded her arms across her chest and stared at her Advanced Potions Making book.

Draco studied her features. He noticed for the first time that Hermione's hair was a lovely shade of honey-brown, and her eyes were a darker shade. Her eyes looked as though she had had a mysterious past, which no soul could ever uncover. She smiled as Harry told her something funny -- probably one of his corny jokes.

Mudblood doesn't actually look that bad from here. She's got a nice smile, and is quite well-built, Draco thought to himself. He shook his head lightly, his eyes open wide. Merlin's beard! What am I talking about! This is Know-It-All Granger I'm talking about. Pfft. No, I don't like her smile. And I don't like her hair, either, he reassured himself as he tore his gaze away from Hermione and stared at his Potions book instead.

After several minutes, he stole a glance at Hermione, and noticed that she was writing down notes from her Potions book. Draco noticed how her brows knitted together and her lips curved into a small frown as she concentrated on her note-taking.

Hermi- I mean, Granger looks quite cute…-- WHAT AM I THINKING! Stupid Draco! Stupid Draco! Stop thinking of her! She is NOT cute. I don't even like looking at her – she just fills me with disgust.

Then stop staring at her… if you can, said a smirking voice in his head.

Draco frowned, and turned to look at Snape instead, growling.

Draco entered his dorm that night and headed straight for his four-poster bed. No one else was in the dorm, since they were all in the Common Room. He rummaged through his chest at the foot of his bed and brought out a pair of green and silver pajama pants. He stripped off his clothes and pulled on the pajama bottoms before getting into his bed and slipping under the green and silver duvet.

He didn't feel like sleeping at the moment, so he decided to do a bit of thinking.

But no matter what he thought about, it always somehow went back to Hermione Granger. He thought about how Hermione's hair was such a lovely shade of brown, how he hadn't noticed that her eyes were beautiful pools of dark chocolate-brown, and why he hadn't noticed this before.

Suddenly, he shot out of bed, his eyes wide-open, as realisation hit him.

I have fallen for Hermione Granger.

:End Of Flashback

A/n :

I hope you liked this chappie! I think it's missing something… something VERY IMPORTANT. Huff. But I just don't know what that important something is! Anyway, I'd love it if you could review, plz! Critism is accepted, as long as it's constructive critism! I'd like it if you guys review not only b'coz I wanna improve my writing, but also coz I wanna know that someone out there actually takes time to read my stuff… so please review! Flames will be used to toast my marshmallows.