This is the first chapter of my first fanfic. Read and Review, please! No copyright infringement intended...I just like to play around with the story. :)

Chapter 1

First Year

Platform 9 ¾

Draco

As soon as I set foot on Platform 9 ¾, I saw her. Amid all the relative newness of King's Cross (though OBVIOUSLY I'd known everything for years), the whispers of awe about "Harry Potter," the first thing that caught my eyes was her. Even though the Hogwarts Express was right there, right in front of me for my first glimpse, I could do nothing but stare. She was so…foreign to me and I had absolutely no idea who she was. As I tried to start towards her, my father quickly grabbed my arm before I could take a single step.

"Where do you think you're going young man?" he asked. "If you were thinking about going anywhere other than THIS compartment, think again." I glanced in and saw Crabbe and Goyle. Of course. I was supposed to be best friends with his Death Eater friends' sons. We'd been thrown together at countless "friendly get-togethers," though that was a cover for Death Eater meetings. They had also been, shall we say, "encouraged" to keep an eye on me at Hogwarts. Father still thought I would blurt out something about the Death Eaters or Voldemort. Pleeeeease. That hadn't happened since I was five. And I knew better now- he'd fallen and I was not to bring up anything of the sort, especially at Hogwarts.

"Fine." I stormed into the compartment, startling both boys into standing up to make room for me.

Hermione

Finally. I'd waited for months for this day- I was going to Hogwarts! My parents had been so excited for me, even buying me what seemed to be a thousand new books. I'd nearly driven them insane, mentioning it at every private conversation we'd had for the past months.

Now, finally standing on Platform 9 ¾ with my parents, I felt someone's eyes on me. Whirling around, I caught a slight glimpse of bright white-blonde hair. Watching the boy's back, I saw him enter the train after an apparent argument with the man I assumed was his father. Quickly, I said goodbye to my parents and sprinted onto the train, hoping against all hope to get a word with the owner of the white-blonde hair.

I'd seen pictures of his father. I knew- from all my reading- that they'd supported the Dark Lord. This, of course, meant they hated Muggleborns and, really, anyone who wasn't a pureblood. I felt an urge to set things straight with this boy who'd been staring so audaciously- I wasn't going to be messed with, no matter if I was Muggleborn or not.

Draco

She'd seen me, I knew that much. Hurriedly ducking into the compartment, I found myself face to face with Crabbe.

"H-hey, Draco," he stuttered. Ha, well of course they felt nervous. They should. My father had been in better standing with the Dark Lord than their parents had been. Glaring at them, I sat down dramatically in the best seat of our compartment.

"Hello, Vincent," I replied in the most bored tone I could muster. "Fancy seeing you here. I s'pose you've got to be here, as your job is to keep an eye on me for the whole year."

"Uh…uh. Yeah. That's right," he said. I sighed. This was going to be a long year. Glancing out the compartment window, I sat up straighter as a flash of curly brown hair passed by me. This was getting interesting. I had no clue who this girl was, so why did she interest me? Perhaps it was because I didn't know her.

"Crabbe. Goyle. Stay here. I've got to go to…uh, the restroom. Yes, I'll be back soon," I said, standing up quickly.

"But…we're s'posed to keep an eye on you," Crabbe said almost anxiously.

"Oh, for goodness' sake. I'll be quick. Just stay," I groaned, walking out of the compartment. Father didn't need to know EVERYTHING I did, did he? He wouldn't have approved of my seeking out the girl I'd never seen.

Walking up and down the train corridor, I peeked in every compartment, looking for her. I wanted to know more about her, as I'd never seen her. Father had told me of all the students and families he knew of, but not one word of the girl with curly brown hair.

Coming to one compartment, I saw Potter. That arrogant boy. Thinking he was sooo much better than me 'cause he was "The Boy Who Lived." Turning and walking away, I saw the girl coming towards Potter's compartment with the Longbottom boy. Sighing, I turned again to wait outside for her.

Hermione

And there he was again. The boy I suspected was a Malfoy. Shaking thoughts of him from my head, I helped Neville search for his toad. Unsuccessful, we left Harry Potter and a boy named Ronald Weasley. Spotting the blonde-haired boy at the end of the hall, I told Neville to go back to our compartment, as I had to use the bathroom.

As Neville left, I sprinted down the hall towards the boy. He stood, seemingly waiting for me, by another compartment.

"He-hello. Who are you?" I asked him.

"I? I am Draco Malfoy," he announced with an air of satisfaction. He WAS a Malfoy. I'd known it all along.

Draco

The girl was looking at me in a somewhat superior way, as if she knew or had guessed something I couldn't.

"Well, what's YOUR name?" I questioned.

"Hermione," she replied.

"Do you have a last name?"

"Well, of course I do." She looked at me in a fashion that told me exactly what she thought of my intelligence. Desperate, for some reason, to prove to her that I was smart, I tried to guess her last name.

"Well, I know you're not a Malfoy. Or Black or Selwyn. Definitely not Peverell. My father says they all died a while back." She stared at me, perplexed.

"What sorts of names are those?"

"Only ancient names of well-bred families," I sniffed. "So, do I have to keep guessing?"

"Yes."

"Well, not Potter, since he's got no family. Not Weasley. Are you even wizard-born?"

Hermione

My face blanched. I hadn't wanted him to find out about that. Of all the people who could've. I KNEW he hated Muggles and Muggleborns. I didn't want to have to explain to him, but he'd guessed from my face.

"You're…you're a MUDBLOOD?"

"What's that mean?"

"Oh, Merlin. Mudbloods are Muggleborn. And, I might add, far inferior to purebloods."

Face completely red, I ran to the compartment Neville and I were in for the ride. One look at my face told him not to ask, though I could see he wanted to know.

Staring out the window, I wondered why Muggleborns were so terrible to him. Did he think it was just wrong in some way? And had I imagined it or had he looked the slightest bit disappointed when he'd found out about me? I knew I was, I'd hoped to be friends. It seemed that wouldn't happen.

Draco

Watching her race down the corridor in full-blown tears, I felt a small twinge of regret. If I hadn't found out, we might have gotten along. Now I'd never know.

Sighing, I walked back to my compartment where Crabbe and Goyle looked at me somewhat confusedly and suspiciously.

"What?!" I snapped.

"Uh…uh…what took so long?" they asked.

"Nothing."

"Ok…"

Looking out the window, I sighed again. This wasn't the best start to my school year. I wished it'd gone differently, but Father always said to steer clear of Mudbloods. I sighed once more. I was daddy's little boy, wasn't I? No wonder she looked so disgusted when I said I was Lucius Malfoy's son.

Hermione

When the trolley lady came by, I couldn't muster up any of my previous excitement of the wizarding world. I simply couldn't remember why I'd been so excited. Neville didn't understand, though he was pureblood. Seemed like I was the only Muggleborn so far. Harry, Ronald, and Neville were all pureblood. And then there was the one with the ancient, well-bred family name- Draco. I'd been such an idiot to think he'd want to be friends with me, much less talk to me. I knew his family's views on Muggleborns.

Getting up, I walked slowly down the train corridor. For some reason, I stopped outside Harry Potter's compartment. Maybe because he'd been Muggle-raised: surely he'd understand how I felt, simply getting dropped into this world of magic and the unknown. As I debated whether or not to enter, Ronald walked out of the compartment. That decided me. Going in, I sat down next to Harry.

"Oh, hello," he said.

"Hi. Uh, I'm Hermione, Hermione Granger," I said.

"I guess you know who I am. Everyone seems to know more about me than I do."

"Yeah, I know. I sort of read up on you when I found out I was going to Hogwarts."

"Wait, there's a book?"

"Well, yes. Actually, more than one. So, I really wanted to talk about getting dropped into this whole magic world."

"Yeah, it's pretty weird."

Just then, the Hogwarts Express pulled up to Hogwarts with a loud bang. Quickly taking my leave of Harry, I went to my compartment to hurriedly put on my robes.

Exiting the train, I looked around for a moment before realizing I wasn't going to have anyone to walk with to the boats. Keeping my head down, I quickly walked over and got in a boat at random. Looking over, I saw Draco Malfoy sit down…right next to me. Turning away, I studied the castle far off in the distance.

Draco

I guess it was my own fault she was ignoring me. If I hadn't blurted that out, about her being a Mudblood…though there was one upside to being stuck in a boat with the Mudblood, Potter, and the annoying ginger: Crabbe and Goyle had been forced to find another boat, so they couldn't watch me. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I leaned toward Granger.

"Hey, look, I was just surprised earlier. I didn't know, I thought you were wizard- born," I said, trying for an apology.

"Well, I'm not. Now just leave me alone," she said, not turning to face me.

"Look at me when we're talking."

"No." At that point, Potter intervened, saying she could do whatever she liked. At the end of his…speech, we pulled up to Hogwarts Castle.

While all the other first years gasped at it- maybe the beauty, maybe the size- I simply waited until we could get out and go into the castle.

Once inside, I saw what Father had meant- Malfoy Manor was far superior to this drafty old place. No surprise, of course. Father had told me Hogwarts was, quite simply, nothing to our home. Our home had much more impressiveness, perhaps not in the size but in the decorations.

Glancing over, I saw Granger by herself. Deciding to try again, as I still wanted to know more about her (I'd never met a Muggleborn before, and despite all Father had said, I was going to talk to her). I walked over to where she stood and took a deep breath.

Hermione

I heard his intake of breath and instantly whirled around to face him.

"Why do you keep following me?" I demanded.

"I…I just wanted to talk," he said.

"Well, forget it, I know you hate me. I've heard enough about the Dark Lord and his followers."

"I…well, ok. I wanted to get to know you some. I've never met someone who wasn't wizard- born."

Glaring at him, I stalked over to where the other first- years were standing. As he tried to walk over, a professor came and began to talk to us. Shortly after she explained what we were doing, we filed into the Great Hall.

Standing in the Hall, I looked up in awe. I'd never seen anything so huge or impressive all within one room. All the others seemed mesmerized too- except for Malfoy. He'd probably grown up in a bedroom like this. Shaking my head, I told myself to get a grip- he hated me.

Looking towards the front of the Hall, I saw students going to sit at one of four table based on…what a hat said? I heard Ronald mutter something about a Sorting Ceremony and, pieced with what Professor McGonagall had said earlier, I realized this was a House Sorting.

"Granger, Hermione!"

Walking up to the small stool, I sat down with still- shaking legs. I felt the Hat touch my head and saw black fabric drop down in front of my eyes. All of a sudden, I heard a voice. After a moment, I realized it was the Hat, speaking to me.

"Hmmm. Well, you've definitely got the brains for Ravenclaw. But I'm sensing something else. There's more there. Ah, you have a real streak of determination. I think it'd better be GRYFFINDOR!"

Standing up as the Hat was taken, I saw Malfoy's gaze on me yet again. Making a distinct point of ignoring him, I walked over to the Gryffindor table to watch the rest of the Sortings.

Draco

Watching her, I almost missed my name being called. I knew which House I wanted to be in- Slytherin. With a few exceptions, that House had been the place for all the members of my family.

"Malfoy, Draco!"

Confidently, I sat down on the stool at the front of the Hall. The Hat dropped down over my eyes and began to talk. No surprises there- I'd heard all about the Sorting Hat from my family. However, I was quite surprised by what it said to me.

"Well, you're an interesting one. A little touch of each House. But if you really want it so badly…SLYTHERIN!"

Sighing with relief, I walked to my table, only stopping for a moment to glance back at the Mudblood. Slytherin only accepted the purest witches and wizards; Gryffindor would take anyone. Smirking at her, I tried again to assert my superiority to her. Turning away then, I sat to accept the congratulations of my fellow Slytherins.

Hermione

I wanted to wipe that stupid little smirk off his face! Just because he was a pureblood, he thought he was something special! Settling for one final glare at his turned back, I turned to talk to Harry.

"So, about getting dropped into the wizarding world…?" I prompted, wanting to continue our previous conversation.

"Oh, yes. It's just all so confusing right now. Though Quidditch- I think that's what it's called- is s'posed to be pretty fun. It's some kind of sport," he replied.

"Mm. I've never loved sports. I was mostly looking forward to starting classes- I love learning."

"Wow…I've never met anyone like that before."

As I began to respond, we were cut short by Professor Dumbledore's welcome speech. Following that, we were taken up to our dormitories to settle into our new home.

Draco

Looking at her, talking so comfortably with the "Chosen One," Potter himself, I felt a flash of…jealousy? Guilt? Or was it simply anger? I couldn't name it, I just wished I could talk to her rather than Crabbe and Goyle.

Glancing up towards the teacher's raised dais, I saw Professor Dumbledore preparing to give his welcome speech. As I watched, he began to speak as everyone in the Hall instantly fell silent. When he finished, the prefects led us down to the Slytherin dungeon dormitories.

Once in my Slytherin room, I eyed everything distastefully. The colors were fine- all green and silver. However, I most certainly did not relish the thought of having to room here for the next seven years. It was far too cramped for my liking- my room at home was twice this size and for only me. If I was lucky, I might be made a prefect in my fifth year and get a private room. True, it would still be quite a bit smaller than I was used to having, but at least it would be private.

Heaving a sigh, I lay back on my bed. Almost dozing off, I jolted awake when I realized that all my thoughts revolved around the mystery that the Mudblood Granger was still posing for me.

Groaning, I stalked into the bathroom to shower and change. Coming out of the bathroom, I went over to lay on my bed again. Before falling asleep, I steadfastly thought only of my classes and school, trying to keep thoughts of the brown, curly-haired Muggleborn girl out of my mind.

Hermione

Glancing around my new room appreciatively, I chose the bed nearest the door. Kneeling down on the floor in front of my trunk, I began unpacking and organizing my things.

Halfway through my futile attempt at distraction, I sighed. Hoping a shower would help to clear my mind and thoughts, I walked down the hall to find the bathroom. Leaving twenty minutes later, my mind was just as exhausted and muddled as it had been before. Going back to the foot of my bed, I resumed unpacking. Changing into my pajamas, I climbed into bed.

Staring up at the canopy of my four-poster bed, I sighed again. If only we'd been able to be friends…I sensed he'd never had a real friend before getting his Hogwarts letter and coming. I hadn't either and…no. I couldn't…shouldn't…WOULDN'T think of Draco Malfoy tonight, tomorrow night, or any night from now until I graduated. I'd never see him after that, so there was no point in thinking of him. With that promise to myself, I fell asleep quickly, already dreaming of what the first day of classes could hold.

Thanks for reading! Again, please review! -HappyPotterGames and may the magic be ever in your favor! :)