A/N- Hi everyone, it's me snowflake99 back with another story but this time, it's not a one-shot! This is the first chapter of about four or five, I haven't really made up my mind yet. I will try to update every week but with exams and revision etc this might not always be possible.

This story is AU and set in the trio's seventh year. It completly disregards everything that happened in book seven.

This story is also dedicated to all my readers especially uniquegrl7 and hahaheeheehaha who have reviewed almost almost all of my stories and your comments mean a lot to me:) Now on with the story! Enjoy...

He was always there watching her. Everywhere she went, she could feel his piercing eyes boring into her. He was always silent, his expression unreadable which although she would never admit it, terrified Hermione a little. Of course if she mentioned her thoughts to Ginny her immediate reaction would be that Hermione was hallucinating because of stress. Ever since she had noticed Malfoy's unusual behaviour she had become much more jumpy and constantly on edge ready for and attack that never came. Indeed maybe she had been hallucinating when, for a fleeting second she thought she saw Malfoy staring at her that night late in the library when everyone had left with a look of look of anger, hatred but also tinged with sadness but deep down Hermione knew that it couldn't possibly be just hallucinations.

At meal times, she always felt uneasy and sick to her stomach when ever she caught his gaze from the slytherin table making the hairs of the back of her neck stand on end. Yet whenever she turned round, ready to confront him about his odd behaviour, she would find him acting completely naturally, his face passive and rid of all emotion. Hermione could feel his presence constantly surrounding her and her paranoia about the whole situation had become so overwhelming, she had to pause every now an then and turn around just to check if he was following her again. More than once, she had seen him out of the corner of her eye skulking in the shadows; his grey eyes surveying her, trying to drink in her entire appearance but the second she turned towards him, it was as though he had melted into the darkness. It scared her how he managed to appear right beside her as if from no where and then disappear from sight in another moment. A thousand questions buzzed round her head every minute of every day the prominent being "What does he want from me?"

Draco Malfoy was a death eater and as she was often warned by Harry and Ron, he was dangerous. He had to be, how many other death eaters became inducted into Lord Voldemort's inner circle at the age of sixteen? There was no doubt in her mind that he had played a part in the sick games of the death eater- torturing muggles and muggle-borns. He had probably killed ruthlessly on Voldemort's orders. "Maybe he wants to kill me" whispered Hermione, her stomach now in knots. Was he like an animal hunting for its prey, just waiting for an opportune moment to strike? Should she go and tell Dumbledore? That idea almost seemed laughable in her head as she pictured the scenario in her minds eye. Draco Malfoy was perfectly at liberty to stare at her but unless he attacked her, there was absolutely nothing the headmaster could do about it. Hermione took a shaky breath as she carried on walking towards the library. Telling Ron or Harry was also out of the question. They were in the middle of the wildreness somewhere, searching for horcruxes while she continued her research and training at Hogwarts. They both had a lot on their mind and there was no point in worrying them over something they couldn't do anything about.

Words couldn't describe how much she hated Draco Malfoy with a passion. She hated him for every fibre of his being and all the pureblood mania he whole heartedly believed in. She hated him for everything he was making her become; paranoid and a nervous wreck. She hated him for playing mind games with her how it not only affected her awake but also in her dreams too. She however hated herself for the effect she was letting him have on her. Her heart would start to thump rapidly in her chest every time she caught him watching her. Every time he brushed past her whether by accident or on purpose it would always send shivers down her spine. His gaze was enough to make the hairs on the back of her neck prickle as a whole mixture of different emotions washed over her. Trying to push all thoughts of him out of her head, she pushed open the large mahogany door to the library and walked down the various aisles until she found her favourite table and settled down, trying to concentrate on her studies.

The library which had once been her sanctuary, her haven where she could loose herself amongst the dusty tomes of books was now almost too quiet for her liking. The slightest footstep behind her was enough to make her jump up and withdraw her wand, ready to attack and if Hermione was completely honest with herself it was driving her insane. As she poured over her transfiguration essay willing her mind to focus she could have sworn she heard someone whisper her name and out of the corner of her eye, she caught a fleeting glimpse of that all too familiar platinum blond hair, disappearing round the corner. Her heart started to beat rapidly once more as she now felt very alone. She could hear Malfoy's footsteps running deeper into the library before fading to silence. Wide eyed she turned around sharply and withdrew her wand, her arm shaking slightly. He was here somewhere, she knew it. Maybe he was going to murder her right now and no one would know. There was silence now except for the ticking of the clock hanging up on the wall. Tick tock tick tock…. Abruptly she stood up and turned around, her wand still out, straining her ears for any sounds. CRASH She jumped about a mile in the air as she heard something smashing somewhere towards the back of the library and nearly screamed in terror. Hastily she stuffed her belongings into her satchel and ran out the library as fast as her legs would carry her. She ran blindly into the corridor and slumped against the wall breathing deeply. Hermione closed her eyes and leant her head back, trying to regain composure. She couldn't go on like this. She had to sort out this mess before she went completely insane.

So what did you think? Please review! I'll give you a virtual cookie :P