Draco massaged the back of his neck as he sluggishly walked down the long hallway leading to his History of Magic classroom.

Professor Binns was the History of Magic teacher and would probably be voted as "The teacher most likely to elicit a yawn from every student in every class." Draco thought that with a smirk as he stepped through the door into the classroom.

He was late so he took a seat in the back of the room where he could rest his eyes in peace. He slung his bookbag over his shoulder and sat down heavily.

As Draco waited patiently, he observed the other people in the classroom. He first saw Ron Weasley sitting next to Harry Potter. Draco tilted his head as he watched the two of them casually talk back and forth.

He didn't dislike them anymore, he decided. For he had no reason to. Their was nobody pressuring him anymore. The only reason he was so terrible to them in the first place was because if he hadn't been, he wouldn't have had the reputation that his Father wanted him to have. 'That would have been a problem for Lucius.' Draco thought.

Draco turned his head lazily and suddenly stared straight into the brown eyes of Hermione Granger. Her bushy head suddenly whipped around and bent over her desk.

Draco smirked with relish of the situation, wanting to savor this moment.

He, surprisingly, found it quite adorable that Hermione, the bookwormish, bushy-haired girl that he mistreated for most of her life, fancied him. He was sure she did because their was no mistaking her behavior when he caught her looking at him.

He leaned back in his chair, smiled in a satisfied way and thought of what her best friends, Harry and Ron would say if they found out that she liked Draco, a Malfoy.

Draco chuckled quietly to himself at the thought of him telling Blaise that he fancied a muggle-born girl. He had to admit, as he looked at her chocolate brown hair, that she wasn't all that bad looking. He frowned and creased his eyebrows. She was actually very pretty.

Right now, she was currently feathering the bristles of the tip of her quill across her chin and she bit her bottom lip in deep thought. 'She has to be the only person in Hogwarts to actually pay attention to these lessons.' Draco thought. Draco lowered his gaze to her legs which were swinging slightly under her desk. He smiled a real smile and returned his gaze to the front of the classroom where Professor Binns droned on still.

• • •

Draco's last class was a break. He usually spent it upstairs in the common room with all the other Slytherins. There, they would play cards, chess, and some of them would bring food up from the kitchens for a snack before dinner. This time though, Draco wanted to spend his break time in the library. Not that he needed any particular book, but these days, if he had a choice, he mostly just wanted to be alone with whatever he wanted to do.

He sat on a small table in a dusty corner of the restricted section. Once settled, he pulled out a thick book with the title of "To Kill a Mockingbird." He found it lying on the floor near the girls toilet.

On the cover were two children silhouetted by the light of the moon while on the left was a tree with a knot in it with a pocket watch hanging out. The book looked intriguing when he picked it up so he put it in his book bag as soon as he saw it.

Draco loved reading. It was like an escape from his everyday life. He loved it when he was a little boy all alone in his room at Malfoy Manor with the flickering light casting over the pages as the candle burned lower and lower and the clock ticked further and further into morning. He would read until his vision blurred or until his eyes fell too heavy and he could no longer hold them open. That was, without question, the best memory of his childhood.

Draco flipped the book over onto its front and read the backside. As he was about to get to the end, he heard a high-pitched shriek coming from around the other bookshelf.

"-honestly, she horrific! I wouldn't touch her if you paid me!"

It was Pansy. Their was no mistaking that voice. Murmurs of agreement followed after her rant and Draco shook his head slowly in disappointment and sadness. It was no doubt they were talking about Granger and the remark that followed confirmed that.

"The stupid Mudblood should have died from that disgusting troll in first year. You guys remember that?"

Draco didn't know who said it. Their was mild laughter and many said yes with a hint of a smile. He didn't like this.

"Why does she even get to be Head Girl? It's not like she's anything special. Just because she's "the chosen ones' friend" doesn't mean she should get some kind of special treatment."

Draco bit his bottom lip with aggravation.

"I know, and did you guys see what she was wearing the first day back. It's like she thinks she can pull that stuff off."

Draco blew air quickly through his nose. That was most definitely Pansy. The next voice to speak was lowered and urgent.

"And you'll never guess what I saw today at lunch... the little troll was staring at Draco the entire time. She was practically undressing him with her eyes!"

Their were suddenly loud roars of laughter from the other Slytherins in the group but this was too much for Draco. He slammed his large hand on the table, got up, and marched over to the other side of the shelf. There, stood Marcus Flint, Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bullstrode, Gregory Goyle, and Vincent Crabbe. Draco glared down on all of them.

"Just what do you think you're talking about?

Their was no answer from any of them. They all looked at him with an indifferent expression. Draco asked again.

"What are you talking about!"

Marcus scoffed. "Relax, Drake. It's only the Mudblood Granger."

Draco narrowed his eyes at Marcus and continued to glower at all of them.

"Come on, you guys. I thought all this blood status thing didn't matter anymore. Clearly I was wrong. Apparently it does matter to people who haven't grown up yet and need to stop being so ignorant and listen to the whole rest of the wizarding world. It doesn't matter!"

Draco, out of habit, stood straight and tall like his Father had told him to do when disciplining house elves. Draco quickly slouched his shoulders and shakily ran a hand through his hair.

Pansy looked at him with a snotty expression. "Jesus, Drake. Since when do you defend Mudbloods?"

"Since I learned that their is literally no difference between Granger who has muggle parents and me who has had a pureblood family for nearly twenty-six generations! And don't say that word anymore. It drives me crazy"

Pansy smirked and squinted her eyes. "B-But...she's filthy. Have you ever really looked at her Drake? She's...gross."

The other Slytherins murmured agreement and nodded slowly.

Draco looked at all of them one last time before sighing hopelessly and walking around to the other side of the shelf, grabbing his things and briskly walking out of the library.

Draco didn't see Hermione, with her back to the opposite wall. She shivered slightly, her mouth hanging open and watery tears brimming on the edge of her eyes.

A/N. Hey!

How are you liking it so far? Please review with some suggestions on where to take the story. I have an idea in mind but I'd like to hear what you guys want! Constructive criticism is always appreciated and welcomed! 3

-fanfictionation.