Please read and review! This chapter is mostly an introduction, but just warning there's some mild smut and violence later on! I'm really trying to capture the essence of the characters from the books in this story, so tell me how I'm doing. Also, this story takes place during sixth year. I'm going to try to follow the storyline of the book, but some of the events may not be in order. Enjoy!
xxxx,
Malfoy-Anonymous
Chapter 1
The tall brunette clutches her books tighter to her chest as she slinks down the hallway. She hears footsteps and immediately melts into the shadows with ease, only relaxing her harsh stance once the footsteps fade. She continues on her way, making no noise, until she reaches the large oak doors. She pauses for a second, inhaling the musky, woodsy smell of books, before pushing the doors open.
She smiles contentedly as she drops her book bag on the table furthest away from the doors and runs her fingers along the spines of the books on the shelves. She is a bit nervous about being in the restricted section after dark without the invisibility cloak to shield her, but Madam Pince said the wards would be lowered, and she trusts the Professor.
Her fingers linger on a thick, leather bound book and she grins before pulling it off the shelf. Perfect. She takes a seat at the table and cracks the book open, crinkling her nose when the dust tickles it. With a sigh, she lowers her nose and begins to lose herself in the text.
...
The lanky blonde boy struts down the hall. His confidence is wasted on the empty hallway, but it is not something that can be turned off. Despite his ragged appearance- his hair is slightly limp and scraggly, his skin is pale and shallow and his clothes are slightly rumpled as if he had just climbed out of bed- he is intimidating. He meets no one on his way besides a house elf, which immediately disappears with a snap of its fingers after one look at the boy's menacing expression.
The boy approaches the oak doors with a smirk on his face. Perfect. He opens the door slowly and peers in to make sure Madame Pince, the old bat, isn't there. His smirk broadens when he realises the library is empty. He strides in and immediately takes to a bookshelf, sliding the books to the side with practiced ease, reaching in and pulling out a little velvet pouch. He plops down at the table and shakes the pouch. A small metal object falls out and hits the table with a clink. His smirk is replaced with a concentrated expression as he lights a lamp and begins examining the object.
...
Further in the library, the girl closes the book she is pouring over with a huff and sets it back on the shelf with a defeated expression. It was of no help whatsoever. She absentmindedly begins strolling between the shelves, fingering a book here and there and pulling out a few, adding them to the growing pile cradled in her arms.
She turns a corner and stops short. Seated at a table is a familiar boy, hunched over something she can't see. His pale hair glints in the lamp light. He hasn't noticed her.
She should leave before he sees her, she really should. Just turn around and go back to her table until he leaves and then slip out of the library unseen. But she is hypnotised. What is he doing here this late at night? He's not even reading a book. She takes a cautious step forward and cranes her neck to peer over his shoulder, catching a hint of something silver before it is snatched away and thrust into a little velvet pouch.
The boy turns around and snarls.
"Anyone ever tell you to mind your own fuckingbusiness, Granger?" he spits, fury in his eyes. Hermione presses her lips into a thin line and draws herself up to full height.
"Anyone ever tell you the library is off limits after midnight, Malfoy?" she throws back. He takes the little pouch and shoves it into his pocket, eyes blazing.
"I would ask you what you're doing here, Mudblood, but I don't really care." He stands up too and towers over her. "And I don't give a damn about the rules." She opens her mouth to retort, but he cuts her off.
"It doesn't matter, I'm going," he begins walking towards the door. "And by the way, Granger? I'd be careful with that book." With a flick of his wand, a book in her arms changes into a hissing green snake. She screams and drops the whole pile, scrambling to reach the wand in her pocket. Draco laughs cruelly and strides out. The slam of the door echoes around the vast library. Hermione transfigures the snake back into a book with ease before sitting up and cradling her knees to her chest. Her heart is beating wildly with adrenaline and surprise, and she lets it slow down before beginning to put the scattered books back into a neat pile.