Chapter 1: Too Strange and…Too Attractive?
Hermione's POV
That disgusting…low-life…despicable…pig! Who does he think he is? UGH! I can't believe someone would…oh. Wait. You probably have no idea what I'm talking about. Let me start over. It was a rather normal day. I got up, put on my uniform, and grabbed my supplies for class. After double checking them (as I always say, you can never be too prepared) , I noticed that my right from the laundry room plaid skirt had ripped and it now appeared to be two times shorter than it was yesterday. Well, I guess that little mishap was not nearly as annoying as what came to follow. I got to class and began organizing my quills by color…oops! I messed up the phrase from earlier. My saying is actually "You can never be too prepared or too organized". Although, I think I might tack on another bit to that sentence today. "…but you skirt can definitely get too short!"
Trying to push insecurities aside, I went back to my quills until Ron tossed his books sloppily on the table, interrupting my thoughts. To be honest, I was sort of grateful for the distraction. I mean, I can't always be seen doing things like categorizing my writing devices…I have to have some kind of a decent social status, right? "Hermione, did you get the homework by chance?" Ron mumbled. I just glared at him. "Ron, today is the first day of class, we didn't have an assignment," I explained, shaking my head. Ron's look of worry immediately changed to one of relief. "Oh, okay then. Thank you Hermione! You're a life saver," he said, probably in all seriousness. I watched as the rest of the class filed in. I got a big smile from Harry, a wave from Luna, the usual "OMG, Hermione is such a loser!" looks from some of the class' cattier girls, and…what? A half smile from Draco? I attempted to process this but just couldn't over the noise the class was making. Everyone wanted to swap summer stories and get a chance to see if any makeovers had taken place over the break. "I can see that an un-makeover took place at Granger's!" I heard the girl behind me whisper. The other witches that were with her laughed hysterically. Oh, yes, that is so funny! Un-makeover? Is she serious? "Students! Please, settle down! We have a lot to do today," I heard a teacher's voice proclaim. However, this was not the teacher I had been expecting. I was in McGonagall's class. The person who was speaking was…Lockheart? Ohmigosh! Hottie alert! "I know that I have been absent for some time now, but you can all applaud because the most charming man in the Wizarding World is back!" The professor paused, waiting for applause. The room was silent. Lockheart awkwardly cleared his throat. "Uh, well then, let's get started then, shall we? Today, instead of taking a quiz about me…wait? Do you all want a quiz about me? Because, I think that would be a lot more fun then what your Professor has prepared for you," he went on. Silence. Although…I wouldn't mind it! "Fine then. Your professor has arranged a little activity for you students to do today because she isn't present. I'll pair you up with a partner and give you a series of questions to answer. You will ask your new friend the questions and record what they say, and finally, present those responses to the class. Any questions?" he wondered. Not a single person raised their hand so he continued. Picking up his wand, he illuminated the students he wanted together. "Luna and Margaret. Harry and Ron," he started. Lucky them! "Hermione and-," Lockheart stated, illuminating my worried face. Oh, God, please don't let it be one of those awful girls…"Draco!" he announced. I take it back! I'll be partnered with one of those girls…I'll let them giggle at me and everything, promise!
"Granger," I heard a voice say coldly. I looked up to find Draco, but couldn't make eye contact with him because he was looking down…and I know what he was looking at. Um…ew! I crossed my legs as quickly as I could. "Let's just get this over with," I groaned. Taking a seat at Ron's place, Draco nodded. "Fine. I'll ask you the questions first. Favorite TV Show?" he asked. I had to think about it for a minute, but came up with my answer soon after. "Witches from Around The World," I told him, referring to the Travel channel show about students that have attended Hogwarts from all over. Draco scribbled something down and continued. After I had shared my favorite band, food, and more, it was my turn to interview him. "Favorite Color?" I read off the sheet, tapping my foot. "Plaid," he said, his eyes darting back to my skirt. I shifted further away from him. "That isn't a color. It's a pattern, " I corrected him. "No. Color," he argued. "Pattern." "Color." "Pattern." "Color." "Pattern!" "Color!" "Pattern!" "COLOR!" "PATTERN!" I cried at the top of my lungs before I heard the crash of a book on the table. Lockheart had slammed it down in frustration. Apparently, he had had enough. "Stop! Look, I really don't want to send a pretty girl like you to the Head Master…" he admitted, glancing at me. I blushed. He was so handsome! "However, it wouldn't be fair to send just Draco…so…Hermione, why don't you head over to the ladies' room for the rest of class and blow off some steam? Draco can present your answers alone," the professor suggested, crossing his arms. I really didn't like his plan, but I didn't feel like arguing it. My throat hurt too much from yelling. Instead, I rushed off to the bathroom, still furious. Draco's behavior today had been too strange. Approaching the washroom, I tried to look on the bright side. My parents had gotten some free passes to Disney World from a contest and invited me to join them. I'd have to miss school because we would be leaving in a week. At first, I wasn't too keen with the whole missing school thing, but right now, it seemed like an awesome idea. I mean, there was no way Draco would be caught dead at Disney World. Him going there would be truly too strange.
Draco's POV
She's such an annoying, prissy little mudblood…yet…she's beautiful, smart, and…woa. I think I'm getting ahead of myself. Shall I start over? My day started in a pretty regular way. I woke up, and got dressed in the clothes I was required to wear for school. I looked in the mirror and spent spent some time admiring how downright hot I looked. Sexy beast. I snatched whatever quill was closet to me and my expensive leather backpack and headed out the door. I met up with my crew in the hall, not at all surprised to see the boys both eating. "What took you guys so long? Spent all morning in the great hall, did you?" I snapped angrily. I had been waiting for a half hour. It doesn't take me that long to get ready for school. When you're awesome like me, there isn't much to do. "We were in the laundry room. Goyle-" Crabbe tried to spit out. Goyle instantly pushed Crabbe to the floor, his lot of muffins falling with him. "Don't tell him!" begged Goyle, not at all sorry that Crabbe was now lying in a smushed breakfast pile. "We kind of, uh, turned your underwear pink," my muffin covered friend spilled, standing up. They…what?
Goyle pulled out a light rose colored pair of underwear from his robe. "We, uh, accidently put them in with Hermione Granger's stuff. We kinda, uh, had a mishap with her skirt. I hope she doesn't-" Goyle ranted. Who cares what she thinks? Now I have to wear undergarments that resemble girly panties! Tossing the offending clothing item aside, I threw my backpack over my shoulder. All I wanted them to do was do my laundry, fetch my breakfast, do my homework, and feed my owl. Every day. Was that too much to ask? "Can we just go please?" I cried, bringing Goyle and Crabbe back to reality. We marched down to McGonagall's class, ready to deal with the strict professor. Entering the classroom, I instantly spotted Hermione…and her shorter skirt. I couldn't help but smiling a little at how gorgeous she looked. Sitting down in spots across the room from her, I started chatting with the witches and wizards around me. Everyone wanted to know about the fabulous places I went over the summer. What they didn't know was that my traveling was just getting started. My father was taking me on a surprise trip next week, and I was going to get to miss school and everything. I couldn't wait to see where we would go. France…Germany…the possibilities were endless! Just as I was about to brag about my trip to Switzerland, stupid Professor Lockheart cut in. "Students! Please, settle down! We have a lot to do today," I he informed us. Ha. Like what, talk about your hair? I glanced down at my built in mirror on my backpack to make sure my own hair was perfect. Of course, it was.
"I know that I have been absent for some time now, but you can all applaud because the most charming man in the Wizarding World is back!" he said dramatically. Just as I was about to stand up and accept my applause, I realized Lockheart was referring to himself. Asshole. "Uh, well then, let's get started then, shall we? Today, instead of taking a quiz about me…wait? Do you all want a quiz about me? Because, I think that would be a lot more fun then what your Professor has prepared for you." A quiz about Lockheart? Sure, then let's all write love poems for him. God, is there anyone more full of himself than Lockheart? I double checked my hair, smiling at my reflection. Stud. "Fine then. Your professor has arranged a little activity for you students to do today because she isn't present. I'll pair you up with a partner and give you a series of questions to answer. You will ask your new friend the questions and record what they say, and finally, present those responses to the class. Any questions?" he asked. A few flicks of his wand later, it as announced that I would be partnered with Hermione. FML.
I snuck up behind the curly haired brunette, and couldn't help but sneak a peek at her lower half again. She was just so…hot. "Granger," I said. Noticing that I was eyeing her, she placed one leg over the other and sighed. "Let's just get this over with," she pleaded. "Fine. I'll ask you the questions first. Favorite TV Show?" I asked her, choosing the first "Get To Know Me" question from the list. After a brief moment, she told me her answer. Instead of writing down whatever the hell she said, I wrote "Magical Montana," the spin-off of the Muggle show "Hannah Montana". All the little witches loved it. This was sure to give the class a laugh. For all the rest of the questions asked, I put a different answer on my parchment.
When I was finished, it was Hermione's turn to ask me the questions. "Favorite Color?" the girl started impatiently, obviously not too happy about being partnered with me. Oh really, sweetie? I'm having a blast! After catching another glimpse at her skirt, I gave my choice. "Plaid." "That isn't a color. It's a pattern, " Hermione informed me. "No. Color," I corrected her, infuriated. "Color." "Pattern." "Color." "Pattern!" "Color!" "Pattern!" "COLOR!" "PATTERN!" she screamed, her long hair flying, and her face red. The sound of a heavy book hitting a table or something caused the two of us to stop fighting. "Stop! Look, I really don't want to send a pretty girl like you to the Head Master…" Lockheart flirted. Wow. This guy is messed up. I'm kind of impressed. "However, it wouldn't be fair to send just Draco…so…Hermione, why don't you head over to the ladies' room for the rest of class and blow off some steam? Draco can present your answers alone," the older wizard told us, crossing his arms to show that no negotiating would be tolerated. I didn't care. It seems like I won! Hermione ran out of the room, giving me her meanest glare. Even though her look wasn't that friendly, it was sort of cute…and irritating! I couldn't wait to get on that trip and get away from her. She was just too annoying…but also too attractive. What's wrong with me?
