Hermione Granger woke on a beautiful Saturday morning happy and alert. She was sixteen and would be entering her sixth year at Hogwarts. Hermione stretched and then went to take a shower.

She was meeting her best friends, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, at Diagon Alley today to look for school supplies. Hermione got out of the shower and looked at herself in the mirror.

Her friends haven't seen her since the beginning of summer and she was sure they would be surprised. Hermione's usual mane of untamable curls had turned into soft waves around her face. Her teeth were straight and pearly white. She had even grown some noticeable curves.

Hermione smiled at her reflection then brushed her teeth and went to change. She wore a soft pink peasant blouse that skimmed the top of her hip hugger jeans and high top black converse. She stuffed the list of supplies in her back pocket and then headed towards the bus station.

She walked to Diagon Alley and waited in front of Gringotts. And of course Harry and Ron were late. She sighed and studies the list of supplies. Hermione had just started to plan the day out in her head when a strong wind blew the paper from her hands.

She started to walk the way she thought it had blown when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Did you lose this miss?" Hermione turned around and choked. Draco Malfoy was standing in front of her holding her list. And he was smiling, not smirking, not leering, smiling!

"What no snarky comments Malfoy?" she smirked. She had been a little thrown about how good he looked. His usual slicked back blond hair was hanging a little longer than his ears and it was shiny and natural. His eyes were the same blue gray and he had grown muscular. She tried not to look to long at his chest though through the t-shirt he was wearing.

What she had missed though was that Draco was looking at her with mutual interest.

"Granger?" Draco's mouth opened and closed a few times like a gold fish and Hermione had to stifle her giggles.

"School hasn't been out that long Malfoy. You think you could remember Me." she scoffed. Draco scowled and handed her the list.

"I just didn't think you could actually get your hair to not look like it got caught in a weed whacker Granger." He spat then stalked off.

Hermione didn't move. He didn't call me a mud blood she thought. Why didn't he? Little did she know that a few stores down Draco was asking himself the same thing.

"Hey, Hermione!" some one called behind her. It was Harry and Ron. She waved to them.

"Hello Ron, Harry. Did you have a good summer?" she asked brightly, though her mind was still on Draco.

"Yeah, Harry has been over at the Burrow. We've been playing non stop Quidditch, you know to practice for this year." Ron said.

Hermione nodded. They went to Gringotts and Hermione exchanged her muggle money for some wizard money. Harry picked up some of his money and they were off. First they went to get there new robes and some quills and parchment. Next to get potions and things. Last they went to get there books.

"We made pretty good time." Hermione said while checking her wrist watch. They had only been there for a couple of hours and they had already finished.

"Let's go to the Quidditch shop. I need another Chudley Cannons poster. Pig ate mine." Ron said pointing to down the street. Hermione groaned. She absolutely detested being around those two when they were talking about Quidditch it was like she didn't even exist.

"I'm going to go look for some ingredients for a potion I want to try. I'll meet you here in a half an hour." She took off without waiting for an answer.

Hermione took out the address of a magic shop that she had asked one of the shop keeps about. She wanted to try and make a potion that would make a dreamless sleep. Hermione had been having nightmares recently and wondered if the potion would help.

She wasn't paying attention as she took a wrong turn into a dark alley. When she looked up again she gasped. She knew this place it was Knockturn Alley. Hermione turned to go but was stopped when a hand grabbed her arm.

"Well, what do we have here? A pretty girl in this place. You must be lost sweetheart." A gruff voice belonging to an even more gruff body. The man was dressed in a dirty black cloak and his mangy grey hair was tied in a band at his neck. He was covered in dirt and he had stubble.

"I am not lost now let go." She said as forcefully as she could but her voice shook at the end.

"You scared? Why don't you come with me and we'll find your way back home." He sneered and started to pull Hermione down the dark alley.

Hermione stood her footing and tried to pry her arm out of his grip. "No, let go." He growled and pushed her up against a wall.

"Fine, have it your way. I don't care where we go." The man slid his hands over the side of her body. Hermione jumped and tried to push him off. She finally saw that he wasn't going to budge.

"HELP!" She screamed. The man raised his hand to slap her but he was pushed off.

"Don't touch her." the voice was familiar. Draco took Hermione's hand and pulled her behind his body shielding her.

"Says who?" the man spat moving forward.

"Draco Malfoy and if you want to take this to my father then be my guest." He drawled like it was no big deal, but he squeezed her hand in reassurance.

The man gaped and bowed his head. "Sorry Mr. Malfoy, sir. I won't bother her again." Then he jogged off back into the shadows.

Draco didn't say a word but pulled Hermione out of the darkness and into the light of Diagon Alley. When they were far enough inside Draco let go of her hand and turned to her.

"You okay Granger?" he drawled but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes.

Hermione adjusted her clothes and nodded. "Yeah, thanks Draco." Then she froze.

"Did you just call me Draco?" he smirked. Hermione felt her cheeks redden.

"No don't be ridiculous Malfoy." She said quickly.

"Okay, then. See you around." He said then walked off. But he paused. "Hermione." He added quietly then he was gone.

Hermione walked off completely unaware of her surroundings. He said my name. Like he thought I was an actual person she thought. She had no idea why this made her so happy. Hermione chalked it up to finally be rid of years of torment.

Then she noticed she was in front of the Quidditch shop. Ron and Harry came out minutes later. It took her a moment to comprehend that they were there.

"Hello, Hermione?" Harry asked waving his hand in her face. She shook her head to get rid of the brain cloud and then smiled.

"Hey guys get anything interesting?" she asked. They exchanged a queer look and then continued to tell her what they had gotten. She nodded at the appropriate moments but her thoughts were still on Draco.

He had saved her. That had to mean something. He wouldn't save someone you hate. But then what was there relationship now? Were they friends? No. well maybe in the future if he didn't act like a glorified asshole all the time.

Soon the day was over and she said goodbye to her friends to head home. The trip to school was tomorrow and she was tired. When she got home she said goodnight to her parents and changed into her favorite nightgown.

It was an old red one with strawberries on it. It went a little higher then mid thigh and showed off her cleavage. In truth it was her only pair of pajamas. Hermione was about to get into bed when a tap at he window caught her attention.

She opened it and a gray tawny owl swooped in. it landed on her desk dropped a letter and then flew out. Hermione opened the letter. It read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

Of WITHCRAFT and WIZARDY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Ms. Granger,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been placed as head prefect of Gryffindor house at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You will have your own dormitory to share with one other Head prefect.

You will begin your duties on September 1.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Hermione squealed. She was going to be head prefect. This was great. This year was going to be great. Hermione smiled and hopped into bed. She wanted to be refreshed and ready for school.

What she wasn't ready for was the night she dreamed about a beautiful fair haired boy who saved her from the monsters in her nightmares.