Prologue
Draco Malfoy had never been particularly warm. He was cold in every sense of the word. His pale blonde hair and his porcelain skin gave off an appearance that was harsh and unfeeling, a replica of his father, Lucius Malfoy. Growing up in Malfoy Manor ensured he would be as cool and ominous as his father, the cold marble floors and nasty portraits did not convey a feeling of home, more of isolation. So from the start of his life, many could have assumed he would not be the most feeling of people, and as he grew, suspicions would only have been confirmed. Even Draco himself knew that he was not like the other children. Although he had been play mates with Pansy Parkinson for years, as a toddler, he never failed to make her cry, albeit with a harsh insult, or by refusing to giver her back her things.
No one would have guessed that out of all the students at Hogwarts he had no problem bullying, that she, Hermione Granger, a mudblood of all people, supplying him with ample ammunition, would have been the chink in his armor. Her hair, her snobbish opinions, her parentage, her teeth, everything about her made her a target, and yes he did taunt her, as Draco did to all the others, but she was different, He refused to acknowledge it, but he always felt a hitch in his breath when he called her a mudblood. Always felt that small voice, nibbling at the back of his consciousness. Always to be quashed before any words could be uttered, but nonetheless, it was still there, struggling to speak.