Hello everybody! This is another HermionexDraco fic, but this time it's not a oneshot. I wanted to write something a little longer, still a bit fluffy, and romantic; both physically and emotionally (Having only so much actual experience, I hope it's well written enough.) Keep in mind that this story is one of my side projects. It won't be complete anytime soon, but the chapters are written in a way that could end the story, but leave things open enough to continue.

Well enough babble. Please enjoy and Review what you think!

Chapter One. Slight Realization.

Draco Malfoy was rich, good looking, and everyone in is house wanted to be connected with him in some way, even as pawns. Draco treated them like nothing more, and his lazy attitude combined with everything else he had, made his life quite wonderful.

Except that it wasn't. He was restless and annoyed, and if nothing else, listless. There was something missing from his life, and he couldn't fully comprehend what it was about. But he had an inclination what it had to do with. Hermione.

Draco had started his life at Hogwarts thinking like his father had taught him to think. He was better, simple as that. He looked down his nose at muggles, muggle-borns, and anyone who had a good opinion of them.

For the first two years of his life, Draco made the most fun of Hermione Granger. But at the end of the third year, after he had gotten punched in the nose by her and run away, he ran into Hermione while she was on her own on the school grounds. He called her a name of some sort, and made a nasty comment, and she replied with her same ice-cold indifference to his prejudice. But despite her calm voice and appearance, Draco saw tears well up in her eyes. A single drop of salty water rolled down her cheek as she gave him her usual brush-off and walked away.

The sight of that single tear hit Draco in the gut, like no punch ever could.

After that, he could hardly stomach the thought of doing anything to her. He didn't know why he had the slightly sick feeling in his stomach about teasing her, but he had it. And he continued to feel that odd, sick feeling because, he needed to look to his friends as if nothing had changed. He kept up the teasing and tormenting for the next two years.

But now, in his sixth year, his sick feeling and turned into...other feelings. Feelings he decided to pass off as a simple need for another person. Nothing more. After all, it is Granger we're talking about here.