Chapter 2! Finally! I told you I didn't promise frequent updates, but here I am again. And I hope you're happy that I am.

Disclaimer: Unless I've recently Polyjuiced JK, I am not her. Because I am not a witch and cannot Polyjuice her. Woe is me.

Chapter 2: Studying? A Guy's Date, A Girl's Homework

She blushed and squeezed her books tighter. She could feel his breath on her ear, warm and full of arrogance. Draco walked in the opposite direction from her, and Hermione turned around so that she wouldn't even be able to see his golden-white hair move down the hall. The familiar squeals of girls still reached her ears, but the warmth of Draco's breath was still on her ear.

Ugh, she thought, and began to shake her head so the feeling would go away.

"Hermione?" Harry placed a hand on her shoulder, and she jumped at his touch. "Hermione, are you okay?"

She turned around. "Oh, Harry, it's you. Sorry, I was just startled."

"It's ok," Harry said, his green eyes filled with concern.

I need to get out of here, Hermione said to herself and began to walk away towards the courtyard. She figured some fresh air would do her some good.

"Um, the library's this way." He said, and she turned around raising an eyebrow. She knew where the library was. Why would he be telling her? "You said you would help me with my magical creatures essay."

Hermione mentally slapped herself; Draco's getting to my nerves too much. Otherwise I wouldn't have forgotten to help Harry. "Oh, right, Harry. Let's go then."

Harry smiled his innocent smile, green eyes shining brightly. "Thanks, 'Mione. You're the best!" They walked down the halls together, finally reaching the library.

The library was Hermione's favorite place for three reasons. First because of all the books. Rows upon rows of pages of information that Hermione just couldn't wait to suck up. Big books, small books, dusty book, old books, new books, the Hogwart's library was always growing. It had never let Hermione down before.

The second reason was because it was so calm and serene. The normal ruckus in the Great Hall could not be heard from the soundproof library walls. It was her place to sit and think. Whether it be Ron's stupidity or Voldemort's latest plan, Hermione had always found the library the best place to contemplate all of life's troubles.

Lastly, the room was full of windows. She would curl up with a book on the windowsill and look down at all the people in the courtyard. They always looked so cheerful, as if their lives couldn't get any better. They'd never have to deal with Voldemort or trying to help Harry nearly escape death. No, their lives were fairly easy. Hermione always wondered if she'd be like them if she had never befriended Harry or Ron. If instead she would just be a normal teenager. But what would be her life's purpose then? No matter how long she thought about the matter she always came to the realization her reason of living was to help defeat evil alongside her best friends.

So, like every time she visited the library she sat on the windowsill. Instead this time Harry sat across from her.

"Okay," she started, getting in work mode, "what creature were you assigned to write an essay on?"

He reached down into his bag and pulled out some papers. "It's written here somewhere…oh I was assigned the Chimaera."

"Interesting animal." She stood and walked around the bookshelves, pulling out a book here or there. When she returned she handed Harry four books. "There's not much information on the Chimaera, but I'm sure these books will help you."

Flipping through the books he looked up at Hermione with adoration. "These have everything!"

She smiled at him and began to read her book as he worked hard. The silence wasn't awkward for them, they'd been friends long enough to enjoy the time they spent together; whether it was spent in silence or not. The minutes turned into hours, and the sun began to set outside of the window.

Hermione was in a daze until, "Hermione?"

"Yeah?" She looked up from her book to look at Harry. His green eyes were hopeful, cheeks slightly rosy, his head down so that his hair covered the tips of his eyes a bit. For once Harry looked shy.

"Well, um, I…I just wanted to say," He fumbled with his quill. He wouldn't even look at her directly.

"There you guys are! I was starting to worry!" The two best friends looked up to see the other third of the Golden Trio, Ron Weasley. "I was looking all over; it's starting to get late."

Harry's expression was something of a mix of being relieved and irritated. "Yeah, Ron."

"You two go down, I'll clean up here, Harry. Don't worry, this way you guys can play Wizard's Chess or something." In truth, Hermione just wanted to finish her chapter in peace.

Harry and Ron looked worried. "Just don't stay up here too long."

She laughed. "Don't worry you guys; I'm fully capable of taking care of myself."

They nodded and left out the doors and up the stairs, chatting the entire way. That was something Hermione could never talk to them about. Quidditch. She shook her head to herself and proceeded to read her book.

"So which one are you into? Potty or Weasel?" Hermione jumped for the second time that day.

"Malfoy?"

"You didn't answer my question, Granger. Who is it, Potty or Weasel?" He was leaning against the wall, his tie undone, and a large green apple in his left hand while the other was behind his head. He was the spitting image of arrogance.

Hermione looked back down at her book. "No apples in the library, Malfoy."

"An apple here and there never hurt anyone, now did it, Granger?"

She just sighed, shook her head and continued to read. Or at least to try to read.

He examined the apple. He brought it because he thought he looked sexy when he was eating an apple. And because it would keep him from saying anything stupid. Plus, it just tasted good. He rolled his eyes and turned to face Hermione.

"Would you just answer my question? Potty or Weasel?" His grey eyes searched for her chocolate ones.

"I didn't know you cared so much, Malfoy. If you must know, neither. I don't know where you got such a crazy idea from."

"I thought you would have read enough books to know how this works. Girl has two best guy friends. Said friends fall in love with her. Girl is in tug-of-war for love." He bit his apple again.

She looked up at him, laughter in her eyes. "It sounds like you've read enough girly books to learn such information."

"I did no such thing."

Hermione laughed a true, pure laugh. "I'm going to pretend I believe that, but only for your sake. But my, Harry, and Ron's relationship isn't like that. They're like my brothers."

"Keep telling yourself that."

She didn't reply to him, instead just stared at her book. She wasn't really reading, just looking at the book blankly.

"What book are you reading now, Granger?"
Eyes still glancing across the page, she replied, "How to keep boy ferrets away from unsuspecting Gryffindors."

He let out a huff. "If you didn't want to tell me you could've just said so."

"But that wouldn't have been interesting now would it?"

His eyes grew wide. He actually looked genuinely surprised, something a Malfoy never showed. "That's something I would've said."

"So?"

Draco looked out the window at the setting sun. "Why do you sit here? Whenever you come up here you sit here."

"I'm amazed you noticed. I don't want to tell you why. Ron and Harry are waiting for me, and it's getting late, so I'll be going now." Her books found their way into her bag, and she picked up the satchel huffily. She was walking toward the exit when someone pulled at her hand.

She was about to tell Draco off when she noticed his eyes. Cold as stone, it was as if she was hitting a wall, but there was a dull warmth to them. As if he was sad and happy at the same time. "Goodbye, Granger."

He took off in the other direction before Hermione uttered a soft, "Malfoy." Had he heard?

When he gave her a curt nod she understood that he had.

Unclenching a fist she didn't know she was holding, a small piece of parchment lay in her palm.

In green ink was written:

We need more time to work on the project; Merlin knows we won't be able to finish it if we only work on it during class. Let me know. I'll be waiting for your note.

Draco Malfoy. (Although I'm sure you'd rather call me Malfoy.)

Instinct was telling her to burn the note. Logic was telling her Malfoy was right. And because Hermione favored logic in any situation, she knew she would be replying to Malfoy through a note tonight. Only she didn't know she'd be writing to him again and again.

That's it for chapter 2! Tell me how you liked it, and please R&R! Thanks!

~coolcrystal