Chapter One

Three years later

Hermione hid behind a tapestry when she heard the Slytherins moving through the halls. Unfortunately for her they chose the wall opposite where she hid to stop and have their conversation. She sighed silently and settled in for a long wait, Slytherins were notoriously full of hot air. She ignored them for several moments until she heard her name.

"…Granger, mudblood or not, I'd pound her sweet little ass into the mattress anyday. Can you imagine? As repressed as she is, I bet she's a hellcat in the sack. It's always the studious ones that are the freakiest, eh?" the boy sighed as a furious flush raced up Hermione's neck.

"You'd have to be mental to touch her!" The other boy laughed.

"What? Please, like I'm scared of her Gryffindork bodyguards."

The other boy laughed again a bit coldly and she finally recognized the voice. Blaise Zabini, Malfoy's best friend. "She's untouchable."

The other one, the one she didn't know snickered. "Says who? Granger? Give me ten minutes with her and I'll change her mind."

Blaize chuckled coldly. "Says Draco. Nobody is allowed near her except the golden boy and weasel. She's a pariah, you touch her and he'll make you suffer far beyond anything you've ever imagined." Hermione felt her throat close and was relieved that their footsteps were moving farther from her.

She slumped down against the wall her mind racing. Malfoy had declared her untouchable. Why would he do that? When had he done it? Of course as the most influential wizard in school he had that power, and everyone would listen to him. Which meant if she wanted to date at anytime in her school career it would be Ron or Harry. No other wizard in the school would go near her in that way if Malfoy had declared her off limits. Her shock was dissipating quickly and in its place rage was building. Who was he to declare her Untouchable? Who the bloody hell did he think he was trying to control her life?

She got to her feet, her face set in a familiar determined glare as she stalked through the halls. She knew what class he had, it was one of the few they didn't share, and she stalked up the Astronomy tower and ducked into the classroom full of Slytherins. "Madame Sinistra? May I borrow the head boy? There is a bit of a situation…"

"Of course of course," said the beautiful, though a bit intimidating, woman.

All of the Slytherins stared at her in fury as Draco gathered his things and walked towards her. His eyes were polite, yet she could see the hatred that boiled between them.

"What do you want Mudblood? I spoke to Snape just before class so I know that there isn't a situation." He sneered at her and she had a sudden vision of the smile she'd seen only once in fourth year. The only time he'd ever done anything nice for her or not gone out of his way to torment her. In fact, he'd kept his word and never mentioned it again.

"Come with me." She led the way back to the main entrance of the Dorm they shared. Absently thinking the password at the gryffon with the snake hanging over it's head, she stepped inside.

"Problem Granger?" His voice was as cold and disdainful as always, but she could hear the undertone of fear, after all, the results of her temper were not exactly a secret.

"Where the hell do you get off declaring me untouchable? Do you hate me so much that you want to see me alone forever?" He blanched at her words, but then haughtily crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the wall.

"Come now Granger, surely you could turn to Potty or Weasel couldn't you? Honestly I thought they'd be the only two you ever considered anyway…"

"You thought wrong! Harry and Ron are like my brothers you git!" She started crying and he choked back his next words. "I want to be more than just Hermione Granger, head girl, smartest witch, little Ms Perfect, isn't that what you and your horrible friends call me? Well maybe I do want a boyfriend! Maybe I don't want to be the oldest virgin in school but thanks to you that's about where it's going to stay isn't it?"

He froze, stunned not only by the passion in her gaze but by her words as well. Oldest virgin in school? Bloody hell… His mind went completely blank as he stared at her. He was watching her lips move but could hear no sound. He grabbed hold of the wall behind him in an effort to keep from grabbing her. He tuned back in to her words just in time to hear her say, "…and I don't want to die a virgin!" The last was said as she sobbed into her hands. "Why do you hate me so much? What did I ever do to you to make you want me to spend the rest of my life alone?"

He moved quickly to her side. "Granger! I made that decree fourth year after the Yule Ball…" he broke off for a minute, uncomfortable with the subject they'd never once mentioned. "I did it to stop any of the other guys from doing that again…"

Her tear stained eyes raised to his, no longer angry or hurt, but a bit curious and … flattered? A tremble ran through him as he stared into her glassy gold eyes. "Granger, I figured you'd end up with Potter or Weasel, neither of whom would give a damn about my orders to leave you alone…"

She nodded, understanding finally. "I… I see. Well then, I guess thank you since you had good intentions…" She stood and moved towards him, not noticing how tensely he stood against the wall. "Thank you Draco," she whispered and pressed a kiss to his neck, just below his jaw, the only place she could reach. Then she bolted for the door and left him standing in shock.

Draco couldn't believe what had just happened. As many times as he'd thought about Granger and her fantastic body since that night, never in his wildest dreams had he thought that she'd willingly touch him. Sure he'd helped her, but as soon as she was safe he'd reverted to his usual obnoxious self, as had she. Though he had to admit that she'd gone out of her way to avoid confrontations with him, even going so far as to drag her friends down hallways if she saw him coming.

He missed his Potions class as he was still sitting in the same spot, but he'd forgotten that he shared that class with her and of course she'd notice his absence.

Hermione managed to evade her friends by telling them that she had forgotten her Arithmancy homework in the dorm and would see them at lunch. Quickly she made her way to the dorm, hoping that Malfoy was all right, even though her mind was telling her that she shouldn't care. But he'd extended his protection to her without letting her know, and granted it wasn't a way she'd have chosen, but it had been effective.

Blaise had seen Granger run towards the Head's dorm and followed at a discreet distance until he was sure he could catch her alone. "Granger!" she didn't even seem to hear him as she was now nearly running. Using his highly trained Quidditch skills he darted around her and grabbed hold turning her to face him. "I need to talk to you." His words were simple but his tone was not.

"I have to be somewhere Mr Zabini, I'm sure whatever it is your head of house can help you with." She tried to be pleasant and firm while at the same time struggling to remove his hands on her arms.

He laughed softly, "Oh I very much doubt Snape would have any luck at all with this situation."

She sighed. "Alright then, what is it you need help with?"

"Actually Granger, it's you I'm trying to help. Well you and Draco anyway." She eyed him warily. "look, I know all you see when you look at us is Slytherin, but just as you Gryffindor are, we are all different people. Not all of us are good, but we aren't all bad either. You need to look past houses colors and purity of blood to see whom a person really is. But that wasn't what I wanted to talk to you about. You're going to find Draco aren't you? Because he wasn't in class? Did the two of you have a fight when you dragged him out of Astronomy?"

She sighed. He obviously knew something or he wouldn't be here. "Yes and no. We argued, but it was resolved before I left for class. I thought he'd be right behind me…" she trailed off, her eyes darting over his shoulder towards the main entrance to the dorm. There were six entrances total to the Heads Dorm, though she only had the passwords for three of them. Four of them were house entrances, leading directly from the House Common Rooms, one was a direct connection to the Head Mistress's office, the final being the Main Entrance on the third floor. That being the entrance that was currently less than ten feet from her but was blocked by 6'2" of pure Slytherin muscle. She sighed again. "Zabini, please move out of my way."

"Look Hermione, he's my best friend and I know him better than anyone. Don't give up on him ok? He's not the repulsive bastard he pretends to be…" With a sad smile Zabini left her alone in the corridor dumbfounded. Had Zabini just told her to pursue Malfoy? Shrugging it off she rushed through the portrait, her eyes immediately scanning the room.

He sat against the wall where she'd left him, head back, knees pulled up to his chest. "Draco?" she whispered, moving closer to him. His eyelids shot open and his piercing gray eyes landed on her instantly.

"Don't you have class Granger?" he asked in a sort of detached voice.

"You missed potions," she said quietly, sitting on the floor beside him.

He gave her an odd look, but didn't say anything about it. "I'm sure ole' Sluggy managed just fine without me," he smirked annoyingly and was surprised when she giggled in response. Sure, he got that reaction often from other girls, but never once had Hermione Granger laughed at anything he said.

"Hermione Granger!" He declared. "Did you just laugh at something I said?"

She laughed again. "Wasn't that the point?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, what's the point to this whole conversation? Why aren't you in History of Magic Granger?"

She sighed, leaning her head back and closing her eyes, assuming much the same pose he'd been in when she'd entered the room. "Do you realize that this is the first time in my life I've missed a class without being in the hospital wing?"

He choked. "You're joking right?" She shook her head and he repeated the gesture, only his was dripping with disgust. "Come on, if you're going to skip your first class, you might as well have fun doing it." He got to his feet and pulled her up before she could protest.

"Wait! What?" He dragged her firmly yet gently towards his dorm room and her face turned the color of tomatoes. "Oh no, no, no, no, no, no…"

She tried to jerk her arm free and he turned to look at her, puzzled. "What are you going on about Granger?"

"I am not going in your room Malfoy! That may be your idea of fun but…"

He nearly fell over as laughter rushed out of him. "Oh Merlin, I needed that… get your mind out of the gutter Granger. The reason we are going into my room is because that is where the door to Slytherin House is and there is something I need to grab." He looked at her again, his eyes dancing with laughter. "Geez Granger… you really thought I was taking you in there for that?" He shook his head. "I've already told you, sex should be consensual and I really don't think you'd consent. Now, if I'm wrong, I'd be happy to show you how comfortable my bed is, as well as my arms, my hands, my mouth…" his voice got lower with each word, as did his eyelids and Hermione had to firmly remind herself this was Draco Malfoy. She absolutely could not fall for his seduction attempts. Not quite enemies, not quite friends, that she could deal with, that was acceptable. Intimacy between them?

"Not a chance," she finally said, answering her own question as well as his.

He shrugged carelessly and led her to the portrait of a thin cold looking man who suddenly spoke with anger in his voice. "And why would you be trying to bring a Gryffindor into my house?"

"Oh shove off Salazar, we're only going to grab something, we'll be out of there long before anybody has a chance to find out we've been there." Salazar Slytherin's portrait slid open and Draco ushered her through before the codgy old bastard changed his mind.

They slid into the Slytherin common room quietly and Hermione took advantage of the chance to look around. A slight moue of disgust appeared on her face as she took in the stone walls, damp and cold atmosphere and pretentious furnishings. She'd never been so grateful to be a Gryffindor.

Draco had seen her expression and hid a smile. "Come on, if I leave you here you'll likely find something that will get all of the Slytherins expelled." Her eyes lit up and he grinned. "Not happening Princess. Come on." He grabbed hold of her hand then dragged her off to the closet where the Slytherin Quidditch brooms were kept and grabbed his new Thunderbolt. Neither of them noticed the pleased young man reclining on a couch in a dark corner.

"What exactly did we need a broom for Malfoy?" Hermione asked hesitantly while she followed him out into the dungeons and down a hall she'd never been in before.

He laughed, something he seemed to be doing with more frequency while in her company. "What do you think we're going to do with it Granger? Sweep the kitchens?"

"Oh," she said in a much more timid voice than he'd ever heard from her.

He stopped abrubtly, turning to face her and she collided with him. His hands caught her upper arms and steadied her before he then used one forefinger to tip her head towards his. Once her gaze was locked with his he spoke slowly and carefully. "I know that you are scared to fly. I also know that it must infuriate you not to be able to do something that your best friends love to do. So Ms Granger, I am going to teach you to fly and by the end of the day you will love it as much as they do. You might never be as good as Potter or me, but it shouldn't take anytime at all to pass up the Weasel. Now come on!" He grabbed hold of her wrist again and dragged her out of the classroom.

She allowed him to lead her to the Pitch only because she was in shock. How had he known? How did he see so much? Sure everyone knew she didn't like flying, but no one had ever guessed how much that bothered her. Her two best friends in the world loved to fly and it was something she'd never been able to share with them. It had always made her feel slightly cut off from them. Come to think of it, neither of them had offered to teach her so she could overcome her fear.

Then there was the fact that it was Malfoy who had seen so deep into her insecurities. She wished she could figure him out. He was so confusing, his mood swings erratic. She didn't fight it even after the shock wore off, wanting to see where it lead. Of course she knew that no good could possibly come of her newfound fascination, but that didn't stop her from stepping deeper and deeper into something far out of her league.