Bookworm and the Beast

Summary: Due to Draco's vanity and way of viewing life, he gets turned into a hideous beast. Guess who's his beauty? Cough*Hermione*Cough. The story's plot is loosely based off Beauty and the Beast, hence the title. Has a Draco and Hermione pairing.

Author's Note: First time writer, please read, review and give any constructive criticism you have! Thank you and enjoy!

"Look at that atrocious girl, Draco," Pansy snickered to Draco, as she clung onto his arm.

"Why would I want to look at such a thing?" Draco asked her rhetorically, his gaze looking at the direction Pansy had pointed out.

It was Luna Lovegood. Luna wasn't the prettiest of girls, and the strands of leaves braided into her long blonde hair didn't do any good. Her matching horseradish earring and necklace set and long billowy skirt did nothing to help the cause either.

"Hey Loony," called Pansy haughtily. Luna looked over to the group of Slytherins. "Who dressed you?"

They awaited her response.

"I did, of course." She replied calmly, evenly. "Why does it matter how I dress or look?"

"It hurts to look at you." Draco snickered. "And everyone cares about how they dress or look." He gave her a contemptuous look then added, "Except you. Clearly."

Luna appeared unaffected and serene. "Says you, Draco Malfoy," she said dreamily. "But where would you be without your good looks? Will people really like you and adore you like they do for what you have inside?" She paused. "The ugly inside?"

"Well good thing that's never going to happen to me." He scoffed, unaffected as she was. With that, Draco motioned for them to leave and he stalked off.

"Draco," Pansy purred, as she was straddling his lap in the empty Slytherin common room. "You do know what color dress I'm wearing right?"

"Um, no," he said lazily, not really caring.

"It's purple, Drakie-Poo, you have to get a matching tie okay?" She whined.

"Yeah, sure okay, I will," he replied.

Satisfied, she began to kiss him again.

"I'm so glad were going together," she added. She was of course, referring to the Halloween dance at Hogwarts the upcoming week.

The ugly inside…the ugly inside…the ugly inside…

As much as Draco didn't want to admit it, Loony Lovegood's words were haunting him.

"Draco…" Pansy whined again. "Why aren't you kissing me? What are you thinking about?"

"Ugh, get off," he said roughly, shrugging her off. "I'm not in the mood."

"What…?" Pansy asked her eyes full of hurt. "I thought you said…"

"Well you thought wrong. Go find yourself some 5th year to play with. You mean nothing to me."

With that Pansy burst into tears and rushed out of the room.

Draco rolled his eyes and wondered how he even settled for something as pug-faced as Pansy. He was obviously too good for her, a list of girls practically falling at his feet and pining for him. He needed to clear his head. He got up abruptly and went to his room, grabbing his broom stick and heading out.

His thoughts returned to what Luna said. What the hell does she think she's talking about? What ugly? Is she really not aware of this ridiculously superficial society they all live in?

Rushing through an empty corridor, Draco walked at a fast pace, his mind still lost in his thoughts. He didn't even notice the curly haired brunette, whose nose was buried in a book, walking towards him.

With a loud oomph, the two collided, belongings and a broom scattered everywhere. Draco, who despite his bad mood, promptly picked up the girls belongings and apologized.

Getting up to hand the books to the girl, he realized that the girl he ran into was in fact Hermione Granger.

"Granger." He scowled at her, thrusting her books to her quite forcefully.

"Malfoy." She returned at him. "Maybe you could watch where you're going next time"

"Don't tell me what to do you filthy mudblood. Maybe if you hadn't buried your nose in whatever the fuck you were reading, you'd be able to clear the mud out of your eyes."

"Ho hum," Hermione said amused, brushing herself off. "Tell me you're not playing the mudblood episode again".

"Oh, it was a love letter from Potty right? Saying that he's finally decided to leave the love of his life, that she-Weasley, for you, a pathetic excuse for a female".

Hermione blinked, attempting to rid of the tears forming in her eyes. Was it that obvious to the whole world that she liked Harry? So obvious that her worst enemy had noticed?

"Aw, did I touch a nerve?" he asked mockingly.

"Fuck off Malfoy," she said through angry tears, briskly walking away from him.

Malfoy walked away calmly, sighing as he arrived outside.

Finally. He was out in the cool night air. The sky war clear, but the moon and stars had lit up the sky. Mounting his broom, he kicked off with full force and sailed into the night sky. After half an hour or so, his mind became sleepy and he landed near the lake at Hogwarts, planning to get a drink.

As he kneeled beneath the water, he started at his reflection. Despite his windblown hair he was still irresistible. He smiled a cocky smile at himself. Cupping his hands to drink some water he heard a voice cry to him…

"Dracoooo. Help me…"

What the fuck? Draco's head quickly snapped around, alerted, his wand out in front of him. He saw a horrid, old woman, with shriveled, saggy skin and beady, green eyes.

"Help me Draco, fetch me some water. "

"How do you know my name?" he demanded, taking a step closer. "Who are you?"

"I've been watching you Draco," she told him, the corners of her mouth turning into a creepy smile.

"Watching me? What the hell are you talking about?" he demanded once again.

"Draco…I'm so tired, but so weak, please just fetch me some water is all I ask."

"Don't speak to me creepy lady. I don't even know who the hell you are so don't go around telling me what to do!" He told her angrily.

"Very well then," she told Draco pleasantly, her calmness almost scaring him. Her green eyes dangerously flashed at him before she began to step closer to him.

Draco took a step back, now well afraid of what she was doing. She begun to pace around him, and soon her speed became faster and faster, until she was just a blur.

And before he knew it, right before his eyes, her body became a thousand of pretty hibiscus flowers, encircling him.

Your vanity makes you inhumane

No respect, no compassion or empathy the same

So now, you become what really is inside

A beast, a monster, and here now you lie.

Draco remembered hearing those words before his whole world was overcome with darkness.

Authors Note: How was it? Like it, Love it, Hate it? Please Review. All are appreciated as well as constructive criticism. Thanks for reading!