Draco Malfoy walked quickly through the library. The dusty smell of old books quickly filled his nostrils. He was rather nervous. The Yule Ball was coming up and he had a specific Gryffindor in mind to ask out. Someone who also happened to despise him. Ever since she'd punched him in the face, breaking his nose, he'd come to respect her, and only more recently he found his heart beating faster at the sight of her, his thoughts being haunted with her and his dreams being filled with her: Hermione Granger. The one person in the world he on principal had to hate, had to tease. He then heard a familiar voice mumbling slightly and he stopped in his tracks. How the heck was he going to do this? She hated him as much as he was supposed to hate her. He cleared his throat and finally saw the bushy-haired Granger. She was standing with her back to him, apparantly looking for a book. He slowly and silently walked over to her, and planted his best sneer on his face.

"Talking to yourself Granger? I always knew you were a tosser," he said, his voice nasty. Hermione jumped before glancing at him over his shoulder.

"Go away Malfoy," she said.

"That's what you always say. Can't you be a bit more creative?"

"You're not worth it," she told him, turning sideways to search for the book there.

"Did you hear that sound? That was my wounded ego crashing to the floor."

"Very funny Malfoy. Now beat it," she told him, glancing at him once more. Those eyes were so beautiful.

"I am quite the jokester, it's true."

She rolled her eyes.

"You know, I haven't gotten my revenge on you since you broke my nose."

Hermione looked a bit shocked.

"I broke it?"

"Yes, you did."

She seemed to get back to herself then. "Well, your face looks just as perfect as before," she sneered.

"Ooh, a compliment."

"Evidently one you don't deserve," she sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Ow, you wound me!"

"Trust me, I can do worse than that."

"So I imagine."

"And by the way, all the times of calling me a 'filthy little mudblood' makes up for that broken nose, don't you think?"

Malfoy was speechless for a second.

"Actually, no." He finally managed. Hermione finally sighed and gave up finding her book.

"Why don't you just go die somewhere?" she asked him, meeting his eye square on. "Perhaps behind a bush?"

He shrugged. "It's a beautiful day. I have better things to do."

Hermione sighed. "Like bothering me?"

"Precisely."

"Oh, just implode already. Go into hiding. Jump off a building-"

"Go to the ball with me?"

Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.

Hermione frowned.

"Come again? I'm pretty sure you just asked a muggle-born to the Yule Ball." Draco shrugged.

"You heard me right," he finally said. Hermione thought for a while.

"Why?"

Draco bit his lip.

"Uhhm.."

Hermione chuckled. "Draco Malfoy, speechless? That's a first. Nice try anyway Malfoy. Where are the other Slytherins hiding?" she asked, looking around. He frowned.

"What other Slytherins?" he asked, confused. Hermione shrugged.

"Oh please. The ones waiting for a good laugh? The ones going to mock me? Those Slytherins?"

He shook his head. "I'm alone here, Granger."

"If you think I'm going to let you ridicule me-"

"Hermione, I'm not kidding here," Draco finally said. Hermione looked really confused when he said her name. "I know it sounds impossible but I'd just like to go to the ball with you."

Hermione bit her lip.

"You know, starting off with mocking me and teasing me isn't a good way to get me to go anywhere with you," she said.

"It's a habit," Draco said. Hermione narrowed her eyes. Draco sighed.

"I'm sorry."

Hermione was quiet for a while. "Fine, I'll go to the ball with you."

Dracos eyes widened, heart pounding faster.

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

"I—alright then, I guess I'll see you there?"

"I guess you will."

Draco turned around, leaving the library with a huge grin on his face.