It's a fine, sunny afternoon at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and Draco Malfoy, Slytherin prefect, future heir to the Malfoy Manor, is very, very annoyed.

And the most annoying thing is he does not know why.

Even the blue blue sky outside seemed to mock him as he purposefully strode down the long hallways of Hogwarts with absolutely no idea of where he was going. As he passed numerous paintings and statues, Draco immediately knew something was wrong when he forgot to flash his trademark smirk at some giggling fourth-year girls. This bothered him so much that he lost his concentration and tripped over the caretaker's cat and scattered a bunch of scared looking first-years.

Shaking his head irritably, he continued to walk on, wondering what was wrong with himself toda---

Oof!

'Ouch! Malfoy! Do watch where you're going next time, because unlike you, other people would like to make it to their classes in one piece.'

Draco barely registered what was being said to him when he realised who had nearly given him a concussion. And suddenly he was speechless.

'Malfoy, I know you think it's funny to impersonate a goldfish, but I really don't think this is a good time,'

Amused brown eyes peered at him, and suddenly Draco was breathless and dizzy and his heart was leaping and pounding and the only word he could get out of his mouth was,

'Gr-Granger..'

'Yes, I am glad you know that is my name. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must be on my way.'

And without another word she swept off, her lovely frizzy hair moving with every step she takes..

Leaving Draco Malfoy standing there, rooted on the spot, feeling more confused and annoyed than he ever have been.

--

It is evening now, and the whole of Hogwarts have come together to eat dinner. Though, for Draco, there was not much eating going on, as he stared blankly at his roast chicken.

What was that strange feeling earlier today?

'..and so, i said to her....Draco! Drackie-poo! Are you listening to me?'

Pansy Parkinson, fellow Slytherin and an irritating attention seeker in Draco's point of view, was currently glaring at him.

He spared her a glance - Pansy wasn't the sharpest crayon in the box, - muttered something about an upset stomach, and slipped out of the doors to the Great Hall.

Maybe a walk will clear his head, Draco thought, as he turned a corner of one of the passageways. And maybe he'll find out what's been bothering him--

Oh, Merlin's pants. Not again..

'Matilda, have you learnt nothing at Hogwarts? Love potions…this is the third I've confiscated this week!' She paused and sniffed gingerly at the bottle. 'Though I applaud your skill in concocting such..potent..potions..'

Draco's eyes widened as he backtracked, staying in the shadows as he watched the little girl cower before Herm---errr, Granger.

'But…but miss, I really, really like him...and-and he doesnt even l-look at m-m-me!'

Matilda looked like she was going to burst into tears any moment.

'Oh honey, please don't cry. You see, what satisfaction will it give you when you know, deep down, that you are forcing him to love you? And besides, feeling love's sharp, keen sting is always a life lesson, isnt it?' Hermione sighed. 'And sometimes you'll have to just accept that you…won't get your happy ending with your prince charming.'

'um…prince charming, miss?'

'oh, never mind, its a muggle story. The point is, Tilly, if you want him, you have to get him yourself. Love knows no boundaries, but it is a game you cannot cheat in. So come on, off you go, finish your dinner. And this is the last warning i give you, then it's detention with Snape. And we know how much everyone loves that..'

'T-thank you, Miss Granger!'

And with that, Matilda the second year Ravenclaw stumbled off gratefully, wiping her eyes.

Hermione sighed deeply, as if she was trying to put away a particularly bothersome thought, and turned around, about to head off.

'Never thought you'd be the type to philosophise, Granger.'

Stepping out of the shadows, Draco gave her one of his trademark smirks. Hermonie, on the other hand, spluttered and turned a delicate shade of pink.

'So tell me...what on earth is a Prince Charming?'

She gave him a half-hearted glare, which would have been much more effective if she wasn't blushing furiously. Draco - on pure whim, he tells himself - stepped closer to Hermione. Close enough to see that she has a smattering of faint freckles on the tip of her nose, close enough to count her long eyelashes, close enough to smell that sweet, flowery scent..

'P-prince charming is every little girl's dream.' Hermione breathed, looking up into his gray eyes. 'The one they wish to sweep them off their feet and live happily ever after...'

The way she was looking at him made Draco's throat constrict, and he would've said something, really. Would've, should've, could've...but that moment shattered when the huge doors to the Great Hall burst open and everyone poured out, chattering and looking forward to a good night's rest.

Perhaps she realised what was happening. But maybe the only thing on her mind was the fact that she was 'fraternizing with the enemy'. Whatever it was, her eyes flashed and she hurried off, leaving the mighty Draco Malfoy, once again, rooted on the spot, feeling a bit like a toothless bear.

--

He does not know how he made it back into the Slytherin common room and past Pansy - 'DRAAACO!!! I MISSED YOU!! IS YOUR TUMMY BETTER NOW?' - but as he gripped the sides of the basin in his bathroom and looked, really looked at himself, he realised he really hasn't been well lately. There were slight shadows under his eyes, and he looked much more...ruffled than usual.

'Maybe that's because of your little encounter just then,' his mirror said slyly.

'oh, shut up, will you?'

He grumbled irritably and walked out of the bathroom, throwing himself on top of his bed and buried his face in his pillow.

'The heart speaks in a language which we know not, my child.'

His mirror spoke again, this time with a hint of sympathy.

Draco muttered something incoherently into his pillow, turned over and tried to get some sleep.

First thing tomorrow, he'll find out what on earth a Prince Charming is.

so, what do you think?

i know i'm mad for writing harry potter fanfic, especially a dramione D:

should i continue this?