Disclaimer: No, I don't own the characters. No, I don't own Harry Potter. No, I'm not JK Rowling. But in an alternate dimension, I assure you that I do, I do, and I am. So there.

When I was first reading the Goblet of Fire, the idea popped into my head that Malfoy had a major crush on Hermione. The way he teased her didn't show hatred, but affection, at least in my opinion. That's when the idea for this story popped into my head. Originally, I didn't picture Hermione ever returning Draco's affections; indeed Malfoy was originally more of a villain in my mind. It was when I curiously Googled pictures of "draco and hermione," thinking that I was probably the only one who had ever had the idea of them being a couple but still hoping for inspiration, that I discovered that there was a thing called "Dramione," that it was quite popular among fans, and (to my complete surprise) that I shipped it. The more fan art and fanfiction I found about it, the more I found myself thinking that it was truly a wonderful ship. I must say that I still think Ron and Hermione make a great couple, but I equally love Dramione.

I have rewritten this first chapter many times as my ideas about how the story continues changes, but I am still not completely content with it, so any and all suggestions will be highly appreciated. Enjoy...

Chapter 1

The library was nearly empty that Friday afternoon. At a table sat three students working on their History of Magic homework assignment. Two boys, one with flaming red hair and a short temper and one with long black hair, glasses, and a strange scar that zigzagged across his forehead. Also sat a girl, her bushy brown curls bouncing as she stood up in annoyance.

"It's not that hard! I finished this assignment two weeks ago!"

"Yeah, but not everyone's Hermione," Harry groaned.

"We're not all know-it-alls," Ron added.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "I have a book in my dorm that could help. I don't think the library has it. I'll be right back." She stood and hurried out of the library toward the Gryffindor common room. From there she dashed into her dorm, grabbed the book she needed from her bedside table, and walked back out into the common room. She stopped short as she saw the last person she ever would have expected to see there.

"Malfoy! Wha…what…how?"

Malfoy stood there with his arms folded, smiling smugly. "I followed you. Not that hard, really; you ought to be more careful. Listen, Granger, we need to talk."

"What do you want, Malfoy?"

"You."

"What do you mean?" Hermione was in shock. He couldn't mean…

"I need a partner for the Yule Ball, of course. You were the obvious choice."

She was shocked. "Why me?"

He rolled his eyes. "You really are an idiot. What do you say, Mudblood?"

"No thank you. I would rather go with anyone other than you, Malfoy," She said forcefully, not knowing what to think. Did Malfoy like her? Could he like her?

Indeed he looked hurt which shocked her. Surely he already knew this? He recovered quickly and continued, "As I expected. However, you will be going to the ball with me, whether you like it or not."

"You can't force me to do anything, Malfoy," she pronounced the name with utter disgust.

"Oh really? If you attend the ball with me, I will swear on my honor as a Malfoy—"

"What honor? You Malfoys have no honor."

"Watch your words, Granger. It is not wise to insult the Malfoy line. As I was saying, if you will consent to be my date to the ball, I swear that I will leave Potter and Weasley alone for the rest of the year. The anti-Potter pins will disappear, Potions class will become more bearable, I'll never disrupt another of Hagrid's classes, and I'll get Skeeter to stop writing that junk about them. I might even be able to get her to renounce all that she's said already. Everyone's lives would be so much easier."

Hermione was stunned. Why would he do all that, just to go to a dance with her? The offer was so tempting. Malfoy made their lives so difficult, but he was willing to stop. The boys would do it for her, wouldn't they? But to go to a dance with Draco Malfoy of all people…the very idea filled her with disgust.

"That's not all, Hermione dear. It gets better. Let's discuss your parents, shall we?"

"You can't do anything to them!"

"Quite true, but the Death Eaters can. They don't really care for Muggles, you see."

"You wouldn't!" His sudden openness about any association of his with the Death Eaters surprised Hermione. She could only assume that both his parents were indeed Death Eaters, but he had never openly admitted it before, though he practically had at the Quidditch world cup. She could just picture it-"Dear Father, for Christmas this year, I want ten thousand Galleons, a new Firebolt, a lifetime supply of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, and for the Death Eaters to kill that Mudblood Granger's parents. I hope it's no trouble. Signed, your jerk of a son, Draco." She decided to keep this thought to herself, however.

Malfoy shrugged. "I might. So let's think about this. You could be an orphaned witch, and those who mean the most to you could be completely miserable, for you can count on the fact that I will make things much more difficult for your friends if you refuse. You would lead a very miserable life. However, if you attend the dance with me, everyone's lives will be easier. Now, what do you say?"

Hermione's eyes filled with tears and she hung her head as she whispered, "Fine."

"Wonderful." Malfoy reached into his own pocket and pulled out a folded parchment. "This is our contract, Hermione dear. It is made of fallissum deprendo paper, so if either of us does not live up to our end of the deal, it will wither and fall apart and we will both be free from our agreement. Oh, and I should probably mention that you can't mention this conversation or this contract to anyone."

"But…everyone will think that I actually like you!"

He nodded. "That's the point, see? What's the purpose of having a girlfriend who hates you?" He smiled at the irony of what he just said. "Sign here," he said, pointing to a line on the parchment under where he had already signed.

"Why must you do this?"

"Just sign the paper, Granger."

She took it in her hands and read through it. "It says that…" She sniffed. "I have to be your girlfriend and do your bidding for the rest of the school year! That wasn't the deal, Malfoy!"

"Did I forget to mention that little detail? Whoops." He laughed as he took in her shocked, yet infuriated expression. "Yes, you're mine for the year. Fun, huh?"

"I can't believe you!" She very reluctantly took the quill in her hand and signed the paper, tears stinging her cheeks. Immediately the paper began to glow and split into two identical pieces. Malfoy took one and placed it back in his pocket, then handed Hermione the other.

She stared down at it, breathing deeply and shaking. What had she done? "You're a monster," she whispered.

"And you're a Mudblood." He reached out and grabbed her hand firmly, then lifted it to his lips and kissed it. "Good evening, my dear." And with that, he turned and left through the fat lady painting.

Hermione stood there, shaking in shock. What exactly had just happened? At that moment, the painting swung open again and in walked Ron and Harry.

"Hermione, where have you…" Harry stopped when he saw her shaking. "What's the matter?"

"I…I'm not feeling well." She turned and ran to her dorm where she lay down on her bed and cried into her pillow.

She didn't go down to the Great Hall for dinner that night, but just remained in her room alone, not sure what to think.