Disclaimer: I solemnly swear that I do not own any part of the Harry Potter books in any way, shape, or form...happy now?

A.N: Okay everybody this is my first fanfiction story! Tell me if you like it!

3/24/06-- Well, first of all I started writing this story before HBP so none of that exists in R&D. Second of all, this is my first fanfic story and I've come back and read some of it and the beginning is definitely not up to my standards, but please read and review because it does get unbelievably better, I promise.

Chapter 1

Seeing His Soul

Finally, Hermione thought. Her nightly patrol with Malfoy was over. All I want to do is go to bed and get away from him. Malfoy was insulting her again. She tried to ignore it as always. Why does he always have to bother me? Suddenly Hermione was even more tired than before. She was tired of Malfoy always insulting her and her friends. She was tired of having to always be the strong one and ignore him, as well as hold her friends back. For once she wanted to explode and let go just like that time in 3rd year, 3 long years ago. No, not this time. Malfoy was going to stop. Where does he get off hurting peoples' feelings so much? As much as she tried to ignore the insults she couldn't help but feel hurt. Hermione reached the top of the steps and whirled around to Malfoy's smirking face. Obviously he was in the middle of saying something hurtful to her again.

"You know what Malfoy, I hate you! I loathe you! I try to be civil but no, you always have to go out of your way to insult me and my friends about things you have no idea about!" Draco opened his mouth to retort.

"No Malfoy," Hermione yelled forcefully, "for once I am going to finish what I have to say to you!" Draco closed his mouth in surprise.

"You have no clue what it's like to muggleborn, no clue what it's like not to have as much money as others, and certainly no clue what it's like to be Harry." Hermione's voice went back down a fierce whisper. "What makes you so special Malfoy? What have you done? Nothing, unless you count making peoples' lives miserable, which you get some sort of sick pleasure out of." Hermione gave an angry glare at Malfoy then sighed. "But you don't do you," she stated, some of the fierceness in her voice fading, "get some sort of pleasure out of it, I mean." Hermione gave a slight shade of her head, looking away. "I know that you're hiding things all the time; things that no one knows about. So you go and put up this elaborate façade and take it out on everybody else." Hermione looked at him, her stare hard. "You may have everyone fooled, thinking you're the same spoiled rich kid from 1st year, but this year was different. I know it wasn't the same." Hermione paused, waiting for some sort of reaction.

Draco kept his stare blank as he gazed at her with cool indifference. Stupid Mudblood. Why does she all of a sudden have to go from 'Ms. Know-it-all, bookworm' Granger, to 'Ms. Know-all-about-Malfoy' Granger. She of all people just has to try to look past the infamous 'Malfoy façade' to try and give me a 'chance'. After the hell I put her through, she's giving me a chance. Draco ignored the foreign feeling of guilt rising in side of him. Draco shuddered. Malfoys are not supposed to feel guilty, much less feel unworthy. He met her eyes that were still gazing at him expectantly. Draco lifted an eyebrow and smirked. He walked up the stairs towards her knowing his 'chance' was going down the drain with it by bringing up the only thing he knew still got to her. Why couldn't he stop? Draco paused inches away from her face. This was just how it was. How it had to be.

"So let me get this straight." Hermione's eyes narrowed in suspicion. He was using that arrogant, cocky, 'I'm-incapable-of-sounding-innocent' voice. Draco continued, leaning against the banister. "You hate me, everything thing about me." He put on a confused face. "That's funny I could have sworn you absolutely adored the way I kiss. I believe the word was...Wow?"

Earlier this year…

Draco stood fuming in a deserted hallway, cloaked in a concealment charm. He should have known better than to play Truth or Dare with Theo when he was in a vengeful mood. So a few days ago Draco had played one lousy prank on Theo causing him to spend the rest of the day around the common room with purple hair twirling like a ballerina every time someone asked him about it… but still, under no circumstances did Draco deserve this. Who knew one little game of Truth or Dare could go so very wrong.

Draco flattened himself closer to the wall as he heard the sound of footsteps begin to echo down the hall. And why did it have to be magical Truth or Dare? There was no way to get out of this without even worse repercussions. Draco gave a small smirk. At least the look on their faces would be absolutely priceless.

Draco tensed, seeing his prey. The Golden Trio had appeared in hall and was getting closer to him. The plan was already set in motion. He would grab Granger, and before the other two had a clue what was going on, Theo and Blaise would whisper a mild body bind spell.

Draco held his breath. Just one foot closer… Harry stopped walking, frowning slightly.

"Does something feel… strange to you guys? Draco held back the urge to groan. Damn Potter and his stupid 'Potter senses'. I guess I'll have to come to her. Without warning, Draco stepped away from the wall, and strode over to Hermione, snaking an arm around her waist, pulling her close. Unable to see what was going on because of the concealment charm, Hermione eyes widened in confusion, before his mouth covered hers. Draco's lips moved against Hermione's slowly, gently, but firm, without a hint of hesitation. Hermione's eyes fluttered closed as she gave a small gasp. Draco took advantage, deepening the kiss. The world around them faded with only the slight sound of struggling in the background. Hermione's mind reeled as logic seemed to float away with every soft caress of this stranger's lips. She gave a soft sigh, lost in the feeling, her own lips involuntarily beginning to move against his. Slowly, she felt him smirking, before gradually pulling away.

"Wow," Hermione whispered, breathlessly, her eyes till closed, her mind still reeling. As smirking lips gave one last brief brush against hers, reality came crashing back down. Hermione's eyes fluttered open once more, meeting pools of cool, glinting grey. Hermione felt a hot blush rise to her cheeks.

"You- you-" Hermione sputtered, staring in shock at a now visible Draco, her voice rising in anger. Draco smirked, casting the same mild binding spell, as Hermione raised her hand to slap him. Draco winked, following Blaise and Theo back down the hallway.

"All's fair in Truth or Dare, right Granger?"

Hermione's eyes flashed. How could he be so heartless? She had given him a chance and he had gone and reminded her of that. Hermione gazed into the cold, merciless pits she knew to be Draco Malfoy's eyes. She stared harder and harder and looked deeper and deeper until she felt like she was lost in them; lost in his soul. There was neither coldness nor mercilessness. Instead there was fear, confusion, hurt, and loss, like he couldn't find his way out no matter how hard he tried. Perhaps there was even sadness too, sadness for blowing the one chance he had in a long time. Hermione sighed angrily and tore her eyes away. Why do I always have to 'care' so much. She glanced at him again. Don't worry Malfoy it won't be your last chance. But that doesn't mean you get off the hook now. Hermione was still mad and she wasn't going to let him get away with it.

"You're such an evil little-" she raised her hand to strike. Then a small frown formed on her face and she lowered her hand to her side. "You know what, you're not even worth it." Draco stared coolly back at her. She had said stuff like that to him before, but this time it almost felt 'different'. There was no anger in her voice. It just made him feel like she was right, that it was the truth, that he really wasn't worth it. Hermione turned on her heel and stepped up to where the hallway floor should have been, but there was nothing but air. Hermione fell.

A.N: And there's Chapter 1. Please, Please, Please Review. It will let me know if anyone is actually reading my story and how it's going. It would really mean a lot so please just take 2 minutes and review. Thanks!