1

It Begins

"Neville!" A victory-high Seamus shouted across the common room. "Who would you rather snog, Parvati or Lavender?"

Neville's face turned a color that could easily be compared to a raspberry as the whole room turned to him. "I don't, erm… I don't think, I, uh-" And he abruptly stopped talking, turned and fled for cover.

"That's alright," Seamus said, turning back to where a large group of Gryffindor boys were gathered. "Anyone else got one?"

Ron, draped in a Gryffindor banner and still glowing with pride from the game, waved nonchalantly. "I do. Any females willing to step up?"

"Hey, Ron, have you seen my A History Of Hogwarts?" Hermione appeared behind him.

"Nope," he said, barely turning to look at her. "Come on, ladies, no one? Damn." Then he looked up. "Hermione! Care for a round of Who Would You Rather?"

"Erm..."

"Pleease?"

"Alright then. But make it quick."

"Okay. Zacharias Smith or," he paused for dramatic effect, "Malfoy? On second thought, that's pretty easy. I mean, I think I'd rather snog Smith."

"Would you let me answer, Ron?" Hermione snapped. She was suddenly annoyed. Probably because Ron always just assumed he knew what she thought, although she rarely got annoyed about it unless she was having a really bad day. And today hadn't been that bad.

"What, were you going to say Malfoy?" Ron appeared ready to quarrel.

She paused. Of course she didn't want to snog Malfoy. Sworn enemy, Death Eating failure, perpetual tormentor of the Muggle-born, no hex was strong enough to express how she felt about him. But he's rather gorgeous, isn't he? What?! No!

"Of course not, Ron, don't be stupid," she said, as though it were all a joke. "But it was the principle of the matter."

"Whatever," he said, sulking.

"Fine then," she said, sounding much less mature than she'd intended. "I'm going for a walk. It's too nice to be inside."

Once outside the portrait hole, she had to stop and lean on the wall. Hermione Granger found herself rather lightheaded. When she'd gathered herself, she began the walk down to the lake and attempted to puzzle out her odd reaction. He's attractive, it's been obvious since the day you met, her sensitive side said. The logical part of her brain responded, But I've never felt like that around other attractive boys. What's so different about him, other than he's a git?

She closed her eyes, trying to tune into her senses, something she'd learned at a yoga class her mum had made her try over the summer. I mean, Harry's quite good looking too. Malfoy, though. He's so... so-

"Granger, watch where you're going!"

So right in front of me. She looked up into those grey eyes and a bomb exploded in the pit of her stomach. What do I say? What do I do? Do I bitch- that's not a nice word- lash out at him like everything's normal? …Of course I do! He's Malfoy. And this is normal, for Chrissakes.

"Malfoy! Hello! I was hoping to run into you out here," she said brightly, her tongue so far in her cheek it was a wonder it wasn't poking out the other side.

"Really?" Disbelief was etched onto his pale, handsome face, but she thought she noticed a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes. Or maybe that was pure evil.

She faked like she was about to give an affirmative answer, then switched and gave an emphatic "NO!"

"Clever, Granger," he said, rolling his eyes. She waited for more, but that appeared to be the end of his statement.

"Yeah, well." She couldn't believe it. She was out of words too.

"If you'll excuse me, I've got places to be, Mudblood."

For the second time that night, someone had tested her patience just a little too much. "Really, Malfoy? Mudblood? After all we've been through together, you can't come up with something more original?"

"We haven't been through anyth-"

"That's the point, stupid. But I swear, if you call me Mudblood one more time, I'll…"

"You'll what?" He looked skeptical. "…Mudblood."

"I'll-" And with that, Hermione forgot all of her magical training, reverted to Muggle self-defense, and gave him a swift knee in the groin.

"What the hell, Granger? Is something seriously wrong with you?" Malfoy managed to get out, despite being doubled over and wheezing.

"Yes," she said with as much venom as she could, "I'm a Mudblood. Sorry!" As she flounced off, Hermione though she heard a wheeze that sounded almost like a laugh.

A figure appeared at the end of the hall. "Oh dear, what's been going on here?" tiny Professor Flitwick asked. "Mr. Malfoy, are you alright? Miss Granger?"

"I- erm-"

"So sorry, Professor," Malfoy said, standing up gingerly. "I've been having trouble in Muggle Studies and Gr-", he coughed, "Hermione was teaching me some of their self-defense methods. She got me really well on that last one. But I'm alright."

"Ah. I... I see," Professor Flitwick said, nodding, though he clearly did not. "I hope you, ah, thank her for her… help. And get to bed soon. It's dangerous out here!" And he tottered off.

"Thanks, Professor!" Hermione chirped, then turned to where Malfoy was still having difficulty breathing. "And, um, thanks to you too. You alright?"

He regarded her coldly. "Fine. No problem, you think I wanted to get a detention with you?" And with that, a paler-than-usual Draco Malfoy strode down the corridor, robes billowing.