The Life I Lead

Draco Malfoy got slowly on the Hogwarts Express, on his way to his seventh and final year at Hogwarts. Would this be the year? The year that he would finally fess up to the feelings he had since first seeing her his first year......the year that he would confess to her how he felt. He rolled his eyes as he saw his archrival Harry Potter climb into the compartment with his two friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. He thought of calling out and saying something nasty to Harry but decided against it since it almost wasn't worth it anymore. Not that he'd admit it, but ever since Harry had beated him at almost everything since they started school, but he actually admired Harry in a way. I mean, how many young men could say they've fought a dark lord and live to tell the tale, several times over in fact.

"Hey Malfoy..." his fellow Slytherin goon, Crabbe sat down next to him, clapping his shoulder. "Crabbe..." he said looking over at his chubby friend. "Been eating all summer I see?" Malfoy asked trying to sound dominant and witty. Crabbe only gave Draco a hurt look before laughing it off. "Tried not to." He said grinning. Thing was, Malfoy wasn't such a bad guy. He could be nice, on occasion.

A few other Slytherin classmates joined them, including Goyle, and Malfoy's main squeeze, Pansy Parkinson. He liked Pansy, but she got to him, and not in a good way. She was quite annoying really, and he had been thinking about breaking up with her since the beginning of the summer. After all....he had to pursue his crush....her.

His thoughts drifted to her as the train rolled through the mountains. Her bright brown eyes, her wavy brown hair, her shining intellect, her voice.....

"Draco!....Draco!" his thoughts were disturbed as he looked over at Pansy trying to get his attention. "Where the bloody hell are you today?" she asked sounding annoyed that his every move or thought was for her. "Pansy im growing quite tired of your always trying for my attention. I'm not interested anymore, alright?! And I would appreciate it if you'd leave!" Malfoy said pointing his finger towards the hallway of the train. She gave him a hurt look and reluctantly left. "Malfoy....i mean, you two have been together for a long time, how could you NOT like her? She's just like you...rude, conniving, rich, and don't forget...pure blood." Goyle said picking up some butterbeer and drinking it down. "She just doesn't interest me anymore, alright!?" Malfoy replied quite defensively. Goyle gave him an apologetic look and left to find a washroom. Malfoy turned his head back towards the window and sighed as the train headed closer to Hogwarts.

The train finally arrived and he got off and walked towards the horseless carriages that took them to the front gate of his school. Since every one of them were quite full he reluctantly had to get in with Potter, Granger and Weasley. This was going to be a fun ride, even if it was short. They all tensed up as he stepped in. "What are YOU doing in here?!" Ron asked, clutching Hermione's hand. "What's it to you Weaselby?!" he asked glaring at Ron. "Mind your tongue Malfoy!" Harry cried. "I don't think I was talking to you Potter!" Draco retaliated. "Just let it go boys!" Hermione said rolling her eyes. "Yea, listen to the mudblood boys." Draco said grinning. Ron reached for his wand but Hermione stopped him. "Don't...." she said putting her arm out stopping him from pulling it out from his pocket. She glared at Draco as he looked from her to the outside of the carriage. He was sitting beside Harry, but he could've cared less about this. He was too busy worried about her and how she could possibly like him if she seemed happy with another. How could he ever be good enough? They arrived at the front gates and all got out of the carriage and Malfoy pushed his way to the front. Harry went to find Cho Chang his girl, as Hermione and Ron walked up the front gates hand in hand.

Draco rolled his eyes as the hat did its sorting for the first years. "I swear, it's the same year after year. Singing and sorting...." Goyle laughed as they took their seats and Dumbledore made his usual first term announcements. Their food appeared and everyone began eating. Draco's eyes drifted over to the Gryffindor table and landed on her hair. That wavy brown, bushy hair. She's so beautiful, for a Mudblood. He thought as he knocked himself out of the trance she seemed to always put on him. Not knowingly of course. He had to keep up the fact that he hated Granger. But, he ached to tell her how he felt. Damn his father, damn his family, damn his pure blood line!

The first day of classes began quite well for Hogwarts. Potions was Malfoy's favorite class. He knew that it would be with the Gryffindor's and this was good, because it meant seeing Hermione. Okay Draco, keep up appearances, don't look at her too much...remember to call her a Mudblood if need be. He told himself after sitting down, looking around the room. His head of house, Professor Severus Snape entered the dungeon slamming the door. "Silence class....take out your cauldrons and start mixing this potion..." the ingredients appeared on the board with a wave of his wand. Misty grey whisps entered the air as the class prepared its potions for the day's marks. Draco found himself looking across the room more and more at Hermione, who was busy helping Harry mix his ingredients as she, had already finished hers. Snape was seen giving her perfect marks, and sneering at Potter, who was looking disgruntled.

"Mr. Malfoy..." Snape had approached Draco's cauldron, but he was so enthralled in Granger's working that he didn't even notice this. "Yes, professor..." "Why have you not started your potion?" he hated to do it, but Snape took 10 points away from his own house of Slytherin, and gave Draco zero marks for the day's work. Draco had always been a favorite student of Snape, but rules were rules. Draco couldn't help but blush as he announced this to the entire class. And for once, Harry laughed at him, and he was the one being embarrassed instead of Potter.

"Damn....potions...." Malfoy said for the first time ever as he sat down at the Slytherin table during lunch. It was kind of early in the afternoon so there weren't a lot of Slytherin's at the table as of yet, so Malfoy decided to actually work on some of his extra homework for Potions and Arithmancy. A few minutes later he saw Hermione sit at the Gryffindor table and wondered if he should go over, he needed help in his Arithmancy class but as soon as he went to stand up he saw Ron come in with his mini owl Pigwidgeon, scowled and sat back down. He decided then that he should ask her later about possible tutilage. Yes, this could be a good thing. Granger, tutoring me....not that he really needed help....but as long as he got to spend some time alone with his favorite Mudblood.....

Yes....be seeing you soon Miss Granger. Draco sneered to himself as he walked out of the Great Hall and down to the dungeons to find out who this year's Head Boy and Girl were....

Chapter Two coming soon....

Hey everyone! This is my first HP fan fiction and I hope you all like it so far...I know it's a bit boring, but aren't all first chapters?? I promise to get the ball rolling in the next few chapters! And I hope that you all will enjoy this Hermione/Draco fic as much as I love writing it!  OH! If any of you could show me how to make a banner for this title I would greatly appreciate it! I find that having banners increases the reader's eye to seeing it and giving the story a shot!  thanks!