A/N: Hello peeps! This is my first D/H shipper so I hope you'll be kind with me. I don't have a beta reader so I tried my best to edit this in the every way possible. I'm sorry if Draco or Hermione don't sound British and all, I'm not oriented about their language. I'm not all magical and imaginative in adventurous wizardry (in short, I can't write love stories with magical stuff in it but I'm trying!) so I decided to do an AU. Please read and review! ^_^

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and its characters; Ms. Rowling and affiliates do. *It was on my wish list to Santa oh well*

Being Draco

Chapter One: Chestnut Encounters

I'm not crazy I'm just a little impaired

I know right now you don't care

But soon enough you're gonna think of me

And how I used to be

*~*~*~*

Life isn't easy. Especially if you're a Malfoy. Specifically Draco Malfoy. Yeah, yeah, my schoolmates and classmates would think me conceited and all if I say that I am pressured most of the time with the lifestyle I am currently having, but hell, if you look inside my so-called "soul", you'd see that I…never mind. There's no point in telling anyway.

I'm an ordinary guy. That's what I used to say to myself—every fucking day, really wishing that I *was* a normal guy. But I ain't. Give me a list of all the norms you have in your life and I'd say your weird. Honestly! (Except if you tell me you visit PlayboyMagazine.com everyday and I'd say you're my species.)

So what's the point in all this crazy shi…

"Malfoy!" I hear Mr. Ever-Appearing-Tonsil-When-I-Talk exclaim to me. Or maybe he was whispering, but with that voice who would think he was? The difference was undecipherable (learned that while using my PC's thesaurus, really you should use your PC more often, take it from a Malfoy). I turn around, stop myself from writing on my "Tupperware™" desk and look up at him.

I sigh and ask in a way that I wouldn't punch his sorry ass," Yes, Mr. Binns? Is there a problem?" I almost added, "No need to RAISE your voice."

He sort of calmed down and said to me *remember the word I used, SAID, not BELLOWED*, " I do not have a problem but I believe that there is a problem with your ears and hands. For the past 15 minutes, you haven't been lending me your ears, vandalizing school property and writing what is obviously not our lesson." His hands, take note, were akimbo and he was looking at me degradingly.

Well if his stare (or glare?) was meant to throw daggers, it missed me. "So what do you want me to do?" I drawled. I bet half the girls at the back were drooling. They love my drawl.

Mr. Ever-Appearing-…oh, you know him ok?! widened his eyes in surprise of my repugnance. He composed himself immediately, preparing to shoot daggers at me again. He asked, slowly. "Mr. Malfoy, what do you think would be the best thing to do?" Again, he missed.

I stood up so that I could outheight (What? The word's not in the dictionary? Well, fuck off!) him (I'm a six-footer)."Well, walk out of this really boring classroom and be rid of your tonsils. Did you know that when you speak, I could almost see your throat? You could just imagine how disgusted I am." I said coolly, hearing a few grunts of 'go, Malfoy!' from the class.

And you guessed it right. He looked at me as if it was my last day on Earth and I could only be sickened by his breath inhaling fast and gruff. SO I was back to calling him Mr. Ever-Appearing-Tonsil-When-I-Talk guy again. "DRACO MALFOY GET OUT OF MY CLASSROOM RIGHT NOW!!!!!!" Even if he did not shout it at my face, I would have done the same thing.

Who wanted Philosophy anyway? Just a crappy piece of subject debating endlessly whether to be or not to be. If you're feeling like I should mind my attitude well then I'm sorry to tell you that this is me. To hell with morality and all that crazy bullshit about Draco Malfoy. Fuck off if you think I'm quite offensive. Sorry to say my lady, your worst nightmare had just arrived. I told you, I'm no ordinary guy.

With a swift glide of my hands, I took my knapsack and left the classroom without even batting an eyelash (I'd be damned if I even batted them; it would be rather *sissy*). If he thinks I'd be fucked thinking he'd fail me in his crappy subject, he oughta think again. Honestly, dropping Philosophy makes me feel like I won the Most Courageous Student Award for Dropping A Very Shitty Subject.

I wander the hallways of this American University my father stuck me in. Nice? Yeah, the place's absolutely great with all the chicks and stuff. Cool gardens (No, I'm not fond of flowers, I'm checking out the girlies, silly), really spacious dorm rooms, and myriad places you could hang out or stay at when you cut classes. So far, my favorite place has been the boys' comfort room. It's where wonders begin.

And so wonders did begin at the COMFORT ROOM. I guess some people really sought comfort here. Even girls.

As I entered the boys' room, I heard a faint sob (by a girl) coming from one of the cubicles. I ignored it, believing that here was Malfoy's alter ego attacking again.

But then when I began to unzip my pants and heard the sob once more, I searched the cubicles for any sobbing girl. Of course, I was a bit apprehensive because rumors have been flying about a certain ghost girl whom gossips named Moaning Myrtle haunting the boys' comfort room for the past two weeks. I wouldn't blame the ghost for appearing to me. I bet she couldn't resist what I call Malfoy Charm.

And there she was.

No, not some ghost named Moaning Myrtle. At least she appeared alive to me. A bushy-haired, red-faced, all propped up girl, embracing her knees to her chest and constantly rocking herself to calm down. I noticed that she was slim and that those chocolate brown orbs staring at me, surprised, were almond-shaped and quite huge.

She gasped as I expected her to do since, I think, for her, discovering her presence in the cubicle seemed to be the next worst thing to finding her crying.

I guess I was in this staring state for the past three seconds that's why I jumped when she attempted to speak. I regained my composure and asked her, "What are you doing here? This is the Boys' Comfort Room and you're a… girl!" Yeah, I know it was a lame statement considering I saw boobs not flat abs.

She sniffed before answering me. "I-I'm so sorry. I'm new here. I-I was disappointed so I ran to the nearest empty room I could find. I didn't notice the Boys' Comfort Room sign." She explained, highly English-accented and I was a bit relieved there for a while, to know that there was another British in school. My Hallelujahs can wait later.

"Oh, it's ok. A lot of women like to think it's a unisexual comfort room. Believe me I've seen them in more appalling situations than yours." I rolled my eyes, remembering Paula who I just caught snogging Elmer, the jock, in a very interesting position—and costume last Monday, "You're not a ghost are you?" I said in a low voice after scrutinizing her looks. I thought that her propped up look might have been an ages ago type of propped up look.

"What?" she asked, rubbing her tears off.

I don't know if she heard me clearly but I think not so I said, "Nothing. I'm just mumbling my way off to Neverland." I shrugged.

She looked at me in a 'huh?' way and shook her head. "Well, I must go. I-I still have classes to catch up with." She stood up and smoothed her black skirt. It slid up an inch to reveal a gracious amount of skin which I believe is well pampered because…and I think I should not continue.

"Wait, Ms. Crying A River in the Wrong Comfort Room, I haven't known your name. C'mon, we're the only British people here on campus, we might as well know each other's names." I saw her eyes widen at that name-calling of mine (I'm quite fond of the habit actually) but good thing I was able to cushion an anticipating slap on my face by telling her that interesting trivia.

She raised her brows upon that "interesting trivia" of mine and commented, "Really? But this is quite a big university how do you know we're the only British students around?" she furrowed her brows and I answered her coolly.

"I have my ways." I smirked. She shifted when she saw me smirk and I have once again proven my conclusion true: A Malfoy's smirk is highly intimidating.

"Oh I see." She paused then her eyes widened again; I presumed she remembered something quite important. "Aren't you suppose to be having classes?"

I shrugged. "I suppose so." I walked over the sink and sat there in a cross-sitting position.

"Well then, why aren't you in your class?" she insisted. It wouldn't hurt telling her why right?

I sighed and answered her. "Well, I just dropped a very shitty subject today."

She looked at me intuitively. "Really?"

I nodded. "Really."

She still looked befuddled. "I mean, you could just drop out your subject just like that if you don't like it?"

I nodded again. "Yeah. It's really easy. Let me teach you. You just get your stuff, come up the teacher and say to his or her face—'You know you're so fucking boring. I don't wanna see your gitty face anymore. So right now I'm gonna pack my bags and scram. Understand me? Tata!' then you bang the door on his or her face. That simple." I smirked at her.

She pondered my answer for a minute and asked me, "Did you really tell that to your professor?"

I grunted. "Uh, no. But hell do I wish I had. That would be like winning an Oscar while shagging Anna Kournikova, you know!"

She winced at my last five words but I didn't mind. "I couldn't and would never do that."

"Didn't tell you to do it. Just sharing."

We paused for some moment; I hated it so I broke the silence. "Anyways, Ms. I Thought You Were A Ghost, what's your name? I've been talking here for some time now to a stranger. And my dad always told me never talk to strangers. So if you don't give me your name I'm sure my pop's gonna sue you." I crossed my arms.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I-It's Hermione. Hermione Granger." She extended her hand and gave me her sweet smile. It was then that I noticed she had two big front teeth, with a gap at the middle. She closed her mouth immediately, realizing I have looked at her. Maybe she was aware of her molar issues. Or maybe she was caught off-guard of my staring.

"Malfoy. Draco Malfoy." I said with a smirk, sounding as if I was a James Bond clone. I stood up to shake her hand. She cringed a bit at the feel of my palm, her cinnamon curls bouncing at her movement. "Sorry if my hand's kinda sweaty, it's antisocial." I said.

"It's ok." she nodded. She had a warm, soft hand (Yeah, I know they are two, but hello I'm only holding one!) that I didn't notice I was shaking it for so long. She broke off and I let out a sheepish grunt. She also broke off the anticipating uneasiness by asking me. "So what subject were you…uh…thrown out?"

"Philosophy." I said as I smoothed my silver hair. She looked at me and…ok, sorry with the arrogance. Let's just move on.

"Wow, that's quite a heavy subject. What course are you taking?" she seemed interested because she sat down on the cold floor.

"Interdisciplinary Studies. You know, that course where fickle people settle in." I rolled my eyes.

She smiled. "I don't think so. To be able to pass Interdisciplinary Studies you have to be a well-rounded person. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it that you study arts, philosophy, business management and that stuff in your course?"

I was impressed. This woman sure knew her academics. I myself didn't know Inter-studies (it's too long) was all about being good in all fields; I thought it was a cool course because this university had the best summary of it in their brochure. Oh well. Stupid me.

"I guess I am a well-rounded person. In a different sense, I am."

She tilted her head and asked. "What do you mean in a different sense?"

I smirked and sighed. "You'll know Ms. Granger as the school year rolls on."

She looked at me quizzically but I just smirked at her. "Anyway, it's my turn to interrogate you, Hermione." I clapped my hands to my knees.

She nodded. "Ok, so what do you want to know about?"

"The beginning of it all, why I found you here in the boys' comfort room, well, comforting yourself."

She hesitated then heaved out a big sigh. "As I've told you, I'm new here and I wasn't well-oriented about the place. I just moved in last night and everything since then was horrible." She flinched and I understood why. Room mates.

"Must be your room mate." I guessed. From my experience, roommates were the worst thing that ever happened to me next to being caught with a pack of used condoms in my bag last year by my mom. I've had a schizo roommate, a suicidal roommate, a super geek roommate and a yoga freak roommate. Good thing Grinwald, the dean, accepted these reasons enough for me to have a room all by myself. Although at night, I'm not *really* alone. You're not telling right?

She looked at me with her hazel orbs and smiled, approving my guess. "How did you know?"

I put on a serious face and said "I can read your mind." She looked at me like 'Oh, really?' and I broke it off, "No, joking, though I wished to read your mind, it was based on my experience."

"Well, yeah. It all began with my roommate who I am guessing must be some *goddess* in this place. She calls all the boys in this campus and keeps changing her clothes every blink of an eye plus she continuously rants about her figure! I don't know how to deal with her anymore!" she sighed, exasperated.

"What's her name?" I sure knew a lot of goddesses in this university and all of them were—shall I say—memorable.

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Pansy Parkinson. Do you know her?"

So it was Prissy Pansy. "Yup, we're actually dating."

I felt her almost raise her eyebrow in disgust but instead she panicked. "Oh, well, I…please don't tell her. I…uh.."

"Don't worry, your secret's safe with me. I know how you feel. Believe me, I really do." I grinned at her and she relaxed.

"I believe you. I just don't know how you are able to stand a …creature like her! She's so unbearable." She commented.

I laughed. "There are some things she is tolerable in if you know what I mean." I rocked my head side to side.

She nodded knowingly. "Oh…I get it."

"You're free to call her Prissy Pansy if you want to. Everybody does call her that name. Of course she thinks she's known as Goddess of Beauty and Love…you know. Is that why you were crying? You were so upset over Pansy?"

"No, I told you it was just the beginning. And so, this morning I woke up late because Pansy turned my alarm clock off. I was suppose to wake up earlier than everyone else but then she did what she did. I asked her last night where Women Studies, which was my first subject in the morning, was and she just said it's at the Cogsworth Building as if I had any orientation of the campus. Whenever I asked her where this or that subject was being held she'd just say 'Oh, it's where I and Seamus meet' or 'Oh, that's a so boring place' or 'Oh, that's where I and Dean snog'." She rolled her eyes and I can't hold my laughter for she mimicked Pansy's voice so well. "So since I woke up late and I got lost on my way to the class, my professor cancelled me in her class. She said she doesn't tolerate late students and that I was so immature not to wake up as early as I should have. She said I acted like I was still in High School. I tried to reason out but she won't buy it. So there, I was so upset that I ran to nowhere and landed here." She sighed as I listened intently to her.

"I'm awfully sorry about those mishaps but you got to get used to them. To be able to survive in college you have to have a strong stomach and lotsa guts."

She shrugged. "Well, thanks for listening to me. I thought today was a really terrible day." She stood up and took her things. "I got to go. I don't want to be late for the next class. Maybe we could just see each other around. Or you can drop by the dorm anytime. Thank you so much Draco."

I snorted. "It's nothing. I'll sure drop by. See you around." I grinned at her as she waved goodbye and left the room.

So here I am, off to my next class, Chemistry. The Tupperware™ chairs in there are nicer to write at plus, I'm seated at the back row, I'm sure Snape wouldn't give a shit about what I'd do. Although he usually does in other stuff.

I look at my watch and arrive at a desirable realization. I've still got 15 minutes before Chem! That means I'm a freeman before Snape bounds me to my chair. Hmmm, I guess I should just smoke at Flourish and Blott's. It's the little store by the coffee shop in the university. It's also one of the things I love about this place. I get to do anything I want. And there's places to go.

*~*~*~

A/N: So what do you think? Is it boring? Is it ok? Have you any suggestions? Did you hate it? Did you like it? *pants* Should I continue the story? Or should I just join the army? Is Draco OOC? Am I trying too hard to make him seem like him? Please tell me! Your opinions matter the most! *I sounded like a desperate salesman there*

Note: Yup, it's Mr. Severus Snape in there teaching Chemistry. I have some plans for him but if you guys don't say anything I dunno if I'd get on with the story. *I'm not threatening you though, HONESTLY!*