Chapter One: I didn't know

I didn't know I felt this way, I guess it just happened overnight. I leaned against the Gryffindor's fireplace, looking at my fellow students working away, like I should be; but I couldn't- not now. The flames were licking the hard chunks of wood and the smoke hovered around my head, I didn't notice the fire burning the back of my legs, the pain wasn't there because something else was.

Finally my sore eyes rested on my two best friends, Harry and Ron. They were playing a game of wizard chess, one of few things that I couldn't master by reading a book; once again Ron was winning, judging by his smirk of contentment and once again Harry was pissed but still his beautiful jade green eyes told otherwise.

I didn't think they would understand, even though both of the boys had suffered love and losses. I know my pain is much worse, all because of one person; the only one that makes me go on in life. The only one who can sweep me off my feet and suppress my feelings of happiness or sadness. The lone individual that could make me feel free.

"Bishop to F4!" Ron called then as the King dropped his crown…

"Checkmate Harry once again!" I vaguely heard Ron laugh. It's so unfair, no matter what happens to them; Harry and Ron always end up being happy.

I felt like screaming, or maybe even throwing myself of the Astronomy Tower to get rid of this unwanted burden of love. How could I love him? I mean I already love Harry! How could I love Draco Malfoy!!

My thoughts were interrupted when Harry, my beloved boyfriend; started to talk to me.

"Hey Hermione, are you okay? You haven't done your homework yet and you weren't reading. Is there anything wrong?" he inquired, looking concerned. I forced a smile and allowed Harry to embrace me softly. Harry made me feel like I could do anything, his hugs were warm and protecting while his kisses were filled with only joy and tenderness.

It's been two weeks since Harry and I began dating, so far; so good. But now my thoughts and my dreams are only focused on the least likely student; the blonde-haired Slytherin Prince.

At last I assumed the air of my normal self and sat down; placing myself between Ron and Harry. Ron had been attempting to finish a particularly nasty essay set by Professor Snape, Harry was editing his Charms homework and I, well I pretended to do Transfiguration essay but my thoughts were of hopeless forbidden love.

Eventually, it was time for my Head Girl rounds across the castle with one annoying prat for a Head Boy. I said goodbye to my friends and exited the common room, dreading my confrontation with Ferret-Face, although a slight smile crept to my lips last time we had meet alone in the corridors at night…

FLASHBACK

"Well mudblood you're up late…aren't you scared some Death Eater may come and kill you?" drawled a familiar voice in to my ear.

"No because I know that you're father is in Azkaban, because my boyfriend put him there. I guess you're father was too pathetic for civilised wizards and witches…" I had replied, knowing that my comment would piss him off.

"Go to hell mudblood!" Malfoy hissed as he turned to stalk away.

"See you there then!" I laughed as I too, turned to get away from the Head Boy.

END OF FLASHBACK

I wandered around, casually striking up conversations with the ancient portraits about the running of Hogwarts; until the Slytherin Prince himself slithered in behind me. I decided to ignore him and continue my conversation with Sir Harris Brushstroke, one of the oldest wizards to have lived without any immortal potions or charms.

"Yes, dear Hermione! I quite enjoyed my time in Romania…until the vampires found me! But enough about me…" the ancient painting leaned down to look straight at me and sank his crinkly voice into a hoarse whisper. Sir Brushstroke's face sparked with curiosity and intellect

"You do realize that the ghastly Slytherin Head Boy is standing behind you; Miss Granger? Do you want me to mouth him off? You do seem like a witch with a worry to me!" Sir Brushstroke asked, his glare directed over my shoulder and into the eyes of the very unwelcomed guest.

"It's alright Sir Harris! We're just here to start our duty around the castle…Have a nice night though!" I replied with a soft laugh as I spun around; knocking Malfoy down in the process.

"How dare you do that mudblood!" Malfoy glared at me with his steel grey eyes changing into a furious shade of dark and stormy grey; I couldn't help but laugh at his anger.

I chose to push my luck that he didn't hex me into oblivion as I chose to stick my nose up at him.

"You know that 'mudblood' thing is getting rather old. Everyday I can think of new insults yet you tend to stick to your own pathetic, worthless invective!" I sneered. I surprised myself at the venom that had seeped into my voice and judging by the look I was getting from Malfoy, I had surprised him too.

Malfoy's face flushed a tinge of pink as he stood up and brushed himself off. My heart raced when the ferret stepped closer to me. His sneer made my knees go weak and I suddenly found myself collapsing onto him.

"You can't even hold yourself up, what makes you think that you're better than me; you bushy-haired freak!" he mocked when my weight and the element of surprise knocked him over once again.

We struggled to get up but my legs wouldn't listen, I finally gave up with a sigh and rolled away from the good-looking Slytherin seventh year. It was like my heart was on fire when his breathing with simultaneous with my own. I closed my eyes quickly and tried to think of Harry but my thoughts drifted to Draco… the way he sneered or glared, it was sickening but somewhat fulfilling. Finally Malfoy regained his wits and stood up.

"Get off the floor Granger! We need to complete our night of rounds unless you've gotten scared…?" Ferret-boy prodded. He'll never care for me. Draco would never feel the passion that I feel when I'm close to him or talking to him. I don't even think Malfoy has emotions burning inside him for anything…or anyone.

I think, he thought I wasn't responding because I was hurt, Malfoy didn't know how wrong he was; but suddenly as if the ferret had a heart. Draco leaned down and lowered his elegant, thin white hand. One of my eyebrows rose from its normal position and into shock. Draco's face looked curious when I didn't move towards his hand, he waited for a few minutes; we were both staring into each other's eyes.

"Fine, don't take my one-time-only offer of help, but seriously get up now or I'll have to levitate you around…maybe I could do it upside down show all the professors and students your underwear…" Malfoy flicked back to his normal, cold and arrogant self as he drawled his reply to my silence. My mouth couldn't or wouldn't work right at that moment, my breath quickened and my eyes remained glaring at him with a false hatred.

"You wouldn't dare to Dra-Malfoy! I know you're a self-centred bastard but you're not the kind of guy that would dare to humiliate the very same girl that keeps on insulting you with better and wittier comments than yours." I snarled with the same venom as I had before I collapsed.

"Oh yeah? Want to bet on it?" He smirked as my face drained and paled.

I didn't reply. I contemplated on it, but I couldn't reply; I don't know why though.

Malfoy wouldn't stop glaring at me with those eyes, it was driving me insane. Those stormy grey eyes glowered in fury, frustration and something else that made my skin crawl. Tension built up and crumbled from the sound of my muggle watch going off. I stood, not taking my eyes of the Prince of Snakes and his irresistible eyes.

"Finally!" I murmured as I turned to leave; Malfoy's eyes burnt the back of my head as if to let me know they were always watching…

"You're not getting away that easily, Granger!" he launched himself at me and tackled me back to the ground. The blow knocked the wind out of me, once more as we hit the ground again. I have really got to avoided contacting with this floor.

"Let go of me you bastard!" I drew my wand from my pocket and prepared to hit him with all the hexes I could think of. But, before I could hex him into oblivion, he leaned down; my heart sped up again and my mind started forgetting all I ever knew. Before I knew it my life crumbled as the Slytherin Prince, Draco Malfoy; kissed me.

The kiss made me dizzy; it was soft and left me silently begging for more. I couldn't pull away, one: because I knew I love him and two: Draco was on top of me. His heart was racing too, I could feel it beating from within and I broke it off, I couldn't look at him; my feeling were so mixed and my boyfriends upset face kept on floating across my mind.

"I've got to go Draco…" I whispered. With much struggling and moving I managed to pull my self away from Draco and I ran. Further and further away from him and when I finally made it to my common room; I collapsed onto my softer four-poster bed. I've done too much collapsing tonight.

For the rest of the night I couldn't sleep. I lay in bed, staring at the canopy of my four-poster, with my fingertips pressed to my lips, replaying the kiss in my head; the feel of his lips on mine, his weight on top of me as he pinned me to the ground, his hands on my arms. Yes, I can still feel his soft, tender lips covering mine and now I know: we've started something.