I owe it to The Queen of Serpents, for writing the summary, and I know that a lot of people read the summary and were like oh that sounds interesting, yup she came up with it, It was all her, but the rest is mine, no worries!

Allright now, meaning after you read this story, you have to go read Queen of Serpents The Slytherin Ice Princess, that one was my favorite, and I am sure she will have no objection with you reviewing, or reading her other stories, so go on hurry up and read my story so that you can go and read hers... It is really good, like really really good.

A/N: Okay I know I'm terribly sorry I couldn't post it earlier with school and everything…

But it's here now and I hope you enjoy it…

I also thought of a more fitting name for it I guess that's what time does… (It was really my cousin… She read it and then was like you should call it I would love to hate you… and I was like why are you so smart?) but I digress…

Disclaimer: Sadly I own nothing but the plot, and only the plot… maybe later I might own some characters… but that's highly unlikely.

And Drum roll…

Chapter 1
The Beginning of the Last Year

It was Hermione Granger's seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Her final year was off to a great start. She was head girl, and she, Harry, and Ron were still best friends. Although each one had changed considerably over the years, they had stayed together, the Three Musketeers for the seventh year in a row. Harry had changed the least of the group. His hair was still jet black and messy, but he had traded in his thick black glasses for contacts, and he had grown muscled and tall. Ron had changed from a lanky read head to a tall, muscular, auburn-haired young man. Girls practically swooned over him, but he took no notice, still the same old Ron. But Hermione was the most changed. Her once bushy hair had become silky smooth with dark brown curls that framed a beautiful face and soulful brown eyes. She had changed from a skinny, dorky little girl to a beautiful young woman. But she had remained the brain of the group, her
nose always buried in a book.

Unpacking in the girls' dormitory, Hermione glanced around at the familiar surroundings. The scarlet-draped beds, the trunks at the end of each bed, and the windows looking out onto the grounds hadn't changed in seven years. Hermione lifted clothes and robes and school supplies out of her large trunk, and began to get ready for her last year in a place
she'd grown to know as home.

"Mione?" A head poked in the door, and Ginny Weasley stepped into the 7th year girls' room.

"Hey, Ginny." Hermione said, smiling warmly and motioning her friend inside.

"So, are you excited about your last year?" Ginny asked, flopping down onto one of the beds.

"Yes, but it's almost sad, in a way." She replied, knowing she would miss Harry and Ron.

"Yeah," Ginny agreed, "I'll miss the two of you so. But I know that we'll all be together in the summers and see each other."

"Of course, Ginny! You don't honestly think we'd all forget eachother?"

"No, no, of course not. I just can't bare the thought of a whole year without you, or Harry, or Ron...or Blaise" She looked down at her hands.

Hermione felt terrible for Ginny. She and Blaise had been dating for a year now, and Hermione knew Ginny would miss him terribly.

"Ginny, I know Blaise will not forget you. He will visit, and keep in touch. He loves you." Hermione reassured her friend, but a feeling of self pity enveloped Hermione's heart. She had no one. No boyfriend or anything special, and she was surrounded by couples all the time. Ron and Luna, Harry and Cho, Ginny and Blaise...It was all rather sad.

Hermione resumed unpacking, chatting with Ginny, all the while longing for what everyone else had, but she didn't.

Draco Malfoy strode along the edge of the large lake on the grounds of Hogwarts, contemplating what to make of the year ahead of him. He had sneered and teased his way through the past six years, and he knew it was time for a change. He needed to start working on school work, and not paying the Gryffindors as much attention. But his
father...his father was a constant reminder that crushing the Gryffindors was what he had been raised to do. He was also constantly reminded of his 'status'. Draco knew full well that when his father talked of 'status', he was only thinking of himself.

He stopped, watching the giant squid paddle merrily through the slate gray water, and thinking of his life. His responsibilities. His family; and his future. And he thought of what he really wanted that he would never have.

Why was it that the first day always seemed to drag? This question plagued Hermione's thoughts, which no longer focused on her own self-pitying. Now, she was forced to sit through the lectures and lessons of the first day back at school. She would give anything to rewind the clock back to the night before in the Great Hall, eating and talking with
Harry and Ron. But now she was stuck drifting off into dreamland as Professor Binns droned on and on and on...

What was bloody WRONG with these teachers! Draco had no idea why the workload was always so hefty on the first day, but he did know that it was even harder with his thoughts drifting constantly to the words of his father.

Finally, Professor McGonnagal dismissed the class, and Draco practically flew out of the classroom, glad to be free of classes for the rest of the day.

He was trying to ignore Crabbe, Goyle, and Pansy and get out of the classroom as soon as possible. He didn't notice someone else coming into the room, not noticing HIM. Books flew everywhere, and several people shot them curious glances. Draco looked down at the girl kneeling on the floor, gathering her books, and realized it was Hermione Granger. He motioned for his entourage to go ahead, and knelt to help her. Why was she there, anyway? The day was over.

"Sorry," He muttered, reminding himself not to launch the scathing comment that had first entered his mind. He had to keep reminding himself to stop doing everything his father told him to do.

"Um...no problem." Hermione mumbled, looking at him oddly.

Draco reached for a thick text book, and his arm brushed hers. Her head jerked up, and their eyes met. Draco pulled his gaze away and handed her the last book. She shoved it in her tote bag and fled the room.

What had just happened? Hermione picked at her food at dinner, which had been starting when she and Malfoy had collided. Why had his touch have such an effect on her? He was MALFOY! He had humiliated her constantly for the past seven years. Why should a simple brush of his hand make her heart skip a beat like that? Her skin still burned on the
spot where he'd touched her.

"Hermione?" Ron nudged her arm, pulling her away from her thoughts of Draco Malfoy.

"Hmm?"

"Something the matter?" Ron asked, taking a large bite of his roast beef.

"No, nothing at all. I'm fine." Hermione said quietly, swirling her spoon in her Clam Chowder.

"If you say so." He said, and went back to talking loudly with Harry and Seamus.

Draco tried to pretend interested in what Pansy Parkinson was screeching, but his head kept rewinding to earlier. Why had he reacted when he'd touched that-that mud- wait. He was doing it again. He was following in his father's footsteps, and Draco knew he would rather die than be a clone of his father. But when he had touched Hermione, his senses had suddenly felt five times sharper. His skin could feel the air in the room, and he could smell her shampoo. Vanilla, a scent that relaxed him, only thinking of it.

"DRACO! Darling are you LISTENING?" Pansy squealed into his ear. He nodded, wishing she would just go far far away. She was an annoying and snobby little wench and he had no idea what he ever saw in her. Probably just her money, her status. Just as he'd been taught.

"Actually, no." He said, his face a mask of stony determination.

"No what?" Pansy asked, fluttering her fake eyelashes.

"No, I'm not listening." He said through clenched teeth.

"Well fine then." She said sulkily, "If you don't LOVE me anymore."

"Pansy...I never did." He whispered, throwing down his napkin. He stood then and left the Great Hall, leaving Pansy and most of the Slytherin table gaping after him.

Hermione looked at her now cold food. It was pointless to eat, now. So she stood, making up a lame excuse to Ginny and Harry, and headed out of the Great Hall, planning to get some studying done. She was rusty in Herbology, and she needed to do her Arithmancy homework. She was halfway up the large, sweeping main staircase, when she saw someone sitting on the top step, his head in his arms. Drawing closer, she saw his silver blond hair and realized who it was.

"Malfoy?" She asked, stopping in front of him.

"Hello, Granger." He said, standing up, a head taller than her, standing a step above her.

She stared at him for a moment, meeting his eyes, and drowning in their stormy grey depths. Why'd he have to be so handsome? And why was he acting so civil to her.

"Are you on drugs?" She blurted, the first thing that sprang to her mind.

"I don't think so." He mumbled, his usual smooth attitude gone.

"Then what's the matter with you?" She asked bluntly.

"Nothing." He said with a small smile. It was nothing like his usual, snobbish, arrogant grin. It was genuine and somehow...kind. And much to Hermione's annoyance, it made him even better looking.

"You haven't said an unkind word to me yet." She said, narrowing her eyes. His own eyes clouded over, and he looked away.

"Yeah, well, I guess people change." He said sadly. Hermione watched him shift uncomfortably, as she wondered what he meant by it.

"I guess so." She whispered, then continued up the stairway, leaving him to stand alone.

A/N: I know this first chapter may be a little on the wierd side but, I promise that the next chapters will be better... much better. I just needed to set everything up so please read on! and review