It was in sixth year that our favorite bookworm made an extraordinary discovery. No amount of reading or studying could have prepared her for this ground-breaking event. It was a little less than a month before the students of Hogwarts would make their journey home, and it went a little something like this…
As usual, Hermione Granger was in the library, much to the dismay of her not quite boyfriend, and not just a friend, Ronald Weasley. Though, if Miss Granger was being honest, she would admit that lately she was going just to find solace away from Ron. But, of course she would never say that in any circumstances other than being put under veritaserum. After all, they were supposed to be love struck, remember?
To her, it just seemed that he was… a little needy, for lack of a better word. Not in a "need you by my side twenty-four-seven" needy, but instead, in an "I really need a babysitter." Don't get me wrong, she did love Ron, but at times he was just so immature it made her want to throw a temper tantrum. But she can't do, that it just wouldn't look right, both of them pitching a fit.
Then there was Harry. She'd always thought of the boy as a brother, but lately it felt like he was so absorbed in saving everyone, he was destroying himself. When Hermione would try to talk to him, it was like talking to a brick wall. But he did have a lot of weight on his shoulders, so she couldn't hold that against him.
She sighed. For once in her life, she actually put a book down. Lately everything seemed so... monotonous. Everyday she would wake up at five o'clock, go over her homework (again), which when done properly usually took around a hour or two. Then of course, Hermione would head towards the Great Hall, book in hand, and munch on a piece of toast while waiting on the other two-thirds of the Golden Trio. After Ron and Harry had joined her, she would then proceed to rant about Ron's atrocious table manners, not noticing him and Lavender practically stripping each other bare with their eyes.
After tying to include Harry in the conversation, but failing, Hermione would storm off in a huff trying to rid herself of the vermin occasionally known as Ron Weasley. By the end of class she'll have convinced herself the argument was her fault and will apologize. Usually after classes were over, and dinner had already been served, the trio will just sit in the common room. Helping each other with homework, or playing a game of Wizard's Chess. These were her favorite memories. Not confronting a three-headed dog, going back in time to save a hippogriff, but just sitting in the common room, socializing.
The only thing she knows that could possibly beat that was the time when she punched Malfoy right square in the nose. Talk about some 'Good times.' For a good month after the incident, she would've sworn she was more popular than even Harry.
As all these thoughts swirled around in her ginormous monster of a brain, she was so distracted she didn't even hear the footsteps approaching her from behind.
"Granger? Why am I not surprised to find you here?" The deep, smooth, and may I say sensual, voice shocked her back in to reality.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Hermione snapped.
"Who got your knickers in a twist? Let me guess, it was Weasley again, wasn't it?"
Right before she could say some remark on him minding his own business, she couldn't help but feel... honored? Satisfied? No that wasn't it... but what ever it was bothered her. The only thought in the young genius's mind was the enemy actually knew her better than her sorta boyfriend. Talk about a shocker.
"For the last time, what do you want? I'm running out of patience here," she growled, trying to go for the whole "I don't like you" thing. Apparently it failed. If anything Malfoy's smirk only grew.
" Ah, naive little Granger. When are you going to figure it out?"
"Figure what out?" She shouted in a whisper, because it was a library after all. She would rather be sent to live with Slytherins for a month then disrespect her only haven these days.
Malfoy sat down in the chair across her, slung his bag down, and put his feet up on the table. Grabbing her recently vacated book, he simply said, "Hogwarts: A History, again Granger? I'm pretty sure this classifies as a addiction. This is a library after all, they have more than one book in here. Wait, you've probably read all of those too, am I right?"
"Does this visit have a point?" Hermione asked looking as grumpy as Crookshanks when she tried to bathe him last week.
"Not especially, and you never asked my question. What has Weasley done now?"
"Has it ever crossed your mind that I may just like to read?'The person, be it gentleman or lady, who was not pleasure in a good novel must be intolerably stupid.'"
"Jane Austen? Didn't know you was a fan."
At this point Hermione had to admit she was impressed that he knew that. "The word does not even begin to explain my love for the books." Why did she tell him that? Stupid, stupid, stupid, she mentally chastised herself.
"Hmmm... well, see ya around Granger." And with that Malfoy walked right out of the place, like a fleeting vision... errrr... she meant... uhh... like the ferret he was!
Okay, that's it! Chapter one is complete. Tell me what you think, and whether or not I should continue!