Have you ever wished for something so hard that it actually came true? Contemplated your dream; day and night, in the hope that your wish may just be granted. Well, I can tell you that it happens; that some times, someone upstairs, whether that be God, a collective or purely fate, listens to those in desperation and actually follows through. It is a truly magical moment, no pun intended, when you realize that all your life wishes have just come true and that your happily-ever-after is within reach.
Last year, I was a Slytherin student; happy and proud, but as with all stories that go like this, it was a girl that made my world crumble. I know it's cliché to say that you only want what you can't have, but in the case of Hermione Granger, it was all but true. I could have had the world. My father, if I'd worked hard enough, would have given me anything I desired. Slytherin girls fell at my feet.
But there are only so many times you can lie through your teeth. Telling someone who looked as ugly as Millie Bulstrode she is beautiful, or tell someone as thick as Pansy Parkinson that her wit just blows you away. However, there was no escape for the poor quality of girls that infest the Slytherin common room and, sadly, if my father ever heard of bullying, or even talking down to a woman, he would beat me silly.
Not being Slytherin was what made Hermione so attractive. Even though she was rough around the edges and a little too patronising in the first year, the moment I saw her at the Yule Ball, I knew she was something special; my perfect double. She could talk to me on the same intellectual level, battle my sarcasm with equalled intensity and drive my ambition to further myself, not just propel me higher up the food chain.
You can only imagine the internal conflict that was created for me. After all, I was Draco Malfoy, most hated Slytherin student since my father had attended, and I was proud of that. Proud of my pureblood heritage, proud of my achievements as a Slytherin and most importantly, proud of the respect that I had gained from both my father and fellow students. But on seeing Hermione's radiant face, her beautiful pink dress that completmented her body entirely and her hair, not static and manic, but beautiful, flowing and curled. Well, I realised there was something missing in my life and sadly, it was something that I could never have.
Being seen with a mudblood would only lead to instant death, something that was not high on my list of priorities. Not to mention that kissing her would go against every fibre of my being. I screamed at myself to try and stop the cravings. That it was a phase I would get over. So, for the first few months after the Yule Ball, I ignored my emotions; squashed them down till they were as small as imaginable. I even tormented her more than I normally did in the hope of pushing the image of her beautiful smile out of my head, but fate had different plans for me. Fate at already decided, no matter how dangerous the relationship was, it was a risk worth taking.
Our first encounter happened during the first week back in our fifth year. I thought that after a summer long vacation away from Hermione, I would have outgrown my infatuation with Hermione, only to find that as we brush past each other in the hall, my emotions suddenly sky rocket.
"Hey, watch it!" Hermione's books clattered on the marble floor. Her face screwed up in anger. The books had obviously been ordered so that they were easier to carry and that order now lay tangled at our feet. I had to keep my cool as all my previous emotions came rushing to the surface. So standing over her and watching meant a lack of connection and my secret covered. To be sure though, I started making filthy comments about, "this is where muggles-borns belonged, at my feet". I must have over stepped the mark, as in flash, Hermione was nose to nose with me.
I could feel her breath brushing against my skin; goose-bumps ran down my spine, even the hairs on the back of my neck stood-up. I could see her soft kissable lips purse together and still look beautiful, and those brown firey eyes, so full of passion. It was the most intense moment of my life. I couldn't hear what she was saying to me, as the blood pounding in my ears drowned it out. I had never felt like this before. Even in the presence of those beautiful girls from Beauxbatons, I was not thrown off quite so much.
Suddenly, it became apparent that Hermione had stopped yelling and that I was merely standing there, mouth open, staring at her. A smooth recovery was needed, "Whatever Granger," was all I could summon, but managed to bump her shoulder again, causing a cascade of books and my signature snigger. My shoulder, however, tingled away, begging me to go wrap my arms around her and never let go.
After a few minutes of carrying on down the hall way, I suddenly heard the sound of speedy footsteps coming up behind me. It was my moment to strike, it could only be Hermione. My suspicion was confirmed when her voice blasted down the corridor, "One step too far Malfoy! I've had enough of you; it's time to settle this." As she bounded around the corner she almost ran full pelt into me.
"Settle what?" I asked her. My question, coupled with the near on collision, threw her off. Stuttering from a moment, she found her words, "You've been stepping over the line, time and time again. I've had enough! You can either stop your childish behaviour, or I'll be force to report you."
"Fine," I stepped forward and planted a light kiss on her lips. It was impulsive, reckless and stupid. I'd never been more alive! She didn't, however, get an explanation as I just walked off after that, leaving a gob-smacked Hermione in the middle of the corridor.
Now, I have the biggest wish in the world. I wish only that I could be with her, to at least try and make it work. That would only happen though, if I was not Slytherin. If I was in Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw… even Griffindor, I could have a chance, but I don't. So I spent all day, everyday for the last four months watching, waiting, for the moment fate smiles on me. In that day, everything will change. I pray to God that it'll be soon and I'll be able to hold her in my arms.