Author's note: Heyya! I really really hope that you guys are enjoying this coz I am :) I love writing this story and writing this exhilirating couple, Gryffindor princess and Slytherin King is just not easy. No, not easy at all. Anyway I hope that I kept the characters in their element. Yes yes quotes will be there.

NOT EDITED (DO I NEED A BETA? TELL ME)

DISCLAIMER: I don't , you don't , frankly no one does own Harry Potter. (Well except you are the queen herself and in that case, how is my writing? :D)

Love You all

ZC


With the device Professor McGonagall had given, Hermione was able to visit Malfoy on a daily basis, without missing any of her class. Even that dreadful day when Malfoy was first attacked, Hermione desperately counted the time when she could be alone and could use her time turner.

As soon as she was alone in her four poster bed, she took out the time turner and turned it the exact number of loops that was required. A quarter of a circle. A wild array of activities rushed past her in a hurried motion and in the blink of an eye, Hermione saw that the sunlight was again shining brightly from her window. She checked her watch. A half past eight. That meant that they would be on their way to the class. She quickly dashed towards Hagrid's hut taking care not to be seen by anyone. She hid behind the wall when she saw Harry, Ron and herself walking towards the hut.

"For Merlin's sake Ron! I'm not going to finish the Professor Flitwick's essay for you. The schools barely started! How can you be lacking behind?"

"Blimey Hermione! It's just charms. You love charms!"

"Here we are."

Hermione's frantic gaze searched for the familiar slivery blonde hair. He stood at the other edge of the hut, looking perfectly unharmed, and was saying something to Crabbe who had a confused look on his face. Hagrid's laughter grabbed his attention and his gaze swept towards The Hermione. His gaze turned into a glare as she smiled brightly at Harry.

For the next half hour Hermione sat idly waiting for the dreadful incident to happen. However, she could not help but notice Malfoy's silent brooding gazes directed towards her when she was not looking. When Harry had gone towards the hippogriff and Hermione had gone still, nearly white with fright, Malfoy had been just as still, only he wasn't looking at Harry, his eyes only on her. His expression unfazed though his posture was rigid. And when Hermione had given Harry the hug when he got back, Malfoy's eyes had turned ravenous. He looked ready to kill. He then strode towards a Hippogriff.

Hermione closed her eyes. She had no strength in her to re-watch what happened. She, however, could not help but listen to Malfoy'screams. She opened her eyes just in time to see Hagrid cross the gate. The Hermione had stood there with her hand, the same hand that squeezed Malfoy's, clutched to her heart. Malfoy, on Hagrid's arm had a content look on his face. A hint of the old Draco in his smile.

She followed Hagrid quietly until Hagrid had handed Malfoy to Madam Pomfrey's care. When he left, Hermione waited until Madam Pomfrey tended to Malfoy's wounds. As soon as she left, Hermione entered and closed the curtains that hung surrounding Malfoy's bed. From the looks of it, Malfoy had been given a sleeping potion to help ease the pain.

Hermione gently laid a hand on his forehead. He whimpered, half conscious.

"You all right?" Hermione asked gently.

At the sound of her voice, Malfoy startled. He had just enough strength to open his eyes into slits.

"Perfect" His grin was disarming and so very charmingly different from his usual smirks.

"Why did you do it?" Malfoy's grin disappeared.

"Because that's who I am. I do and I say mean things. Things that would, things that should make you hate me."

It was pitiful that Hermione actually believed it. She believed he could do worse. She feared he was right on some level. One of these days, he might do something that would end whatever it is that was between them. Yet she remained quiet. Faithful to her first friend she visited him several times a day. There had been no skin-on-skin contact yet the tension that grew between them was delightfully stimulating. Neither talked about anything serious. Hermione would bring all her homework and would do it there. Sometimes Draco would help, the other times he would continue to watch her silently.


Hermione was in her potions class when the whole class buzzed with excitement. Ron swore under his breath and Harry had squished his Shrivelfig in two.

"You're doing it wrong! You're supposed to skin it" Hermione hissed. Harry ignoring her, kept his eyes fixed on the classroom door. She followed his gaze and sucked in her breathe when she saw Draco Malfoy lounging lavishly against the door frame. His smirk set in his face.

Pansy Parkinson was at his side instantly and was touching his face, cooing, smothering him with kisses. Hermione resisted the urge to gag.

The whole class was spent with Malfoy tormenting poor Ron and Harry. He was back to his old self again. His taunts were not just witty, they were callous. The rest of the class she avoided his gaze, dismissing him from her mind and hopefully from her heart.

Her hurried exit must have been peculiar for she heard Ron mutter. "Do you get the feeling Hermione's not telling us something?" She closed her eyes as she set her timer to go the next class.


Hermione was having a horrible time at Hogwarts. It wasn't just the fact that Malfoy had gone back to being a snob. It was more than that. Harry and Ron had been angry with Hermione. Ron more so than Harry. He claimed that Crookshanks ate scabbers. Continuously arguing with both her best friends was draining her emotionally. Not that the stupid gits would realize that. Her workload worsened the matter. She simply couldn't keep up with them, even with her time turner. As a result she found herself going to Hagrid's more often and crying her eyes out. He helped calm Hermione for a bit, and then when she returned to Hogwarts she would be the recipient of Malfoy's brooding gaze. She could feel those silver orbs boring holes behind her back. The last blow to Hermione's horrible incidents for the year was when she received Hagrid's letter. Buckbeak was going to be executed. Because of Malfoy!

Hermione could really kill him. She really wanted to. How could he do this? Yes, Buckbeak hurt Malfoy. Yes he was injured. But he did insult it. He didn't abide the rules. No one had the right to do what he did. Just because he is Luscius Malfoy's son did not give him the right to execute the poor thing. Draco Malfoy better be ready… An enraged Hermione was not someone he would want to deal with.

The three of them headed towards Hagrid's hut, Buckbeak's execution was to be held that day. Hermione's already enraged anger rocketed roof tops as she saw Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle sniggering, their gazes on Hagrid's hut. They heard the approach of the trio and turned around.

"Ahh, come to enjoy the show have we?" Draco joked,

"YOU! YOU FOUL, LOATHSOME, EVIL, LITTLE COCKROACH!" Hermione could not hold back. All the anger, all the frustration that she held inside of her bubbled over and spilled out. She headed straight towards Malfoy, who now had a panicked look on his face. Good.

She raised her wand, it's tip grazing Malfoy's chin.

"Come on Hermione, he's not worth it." Ron said causing Hermione to lower her wand. He was right. It would be letting Malfoy off the hook if she just cursed him. She needed him to feel physical pain. Feel something because right now the git that was enjoying buckbeak's death was not the Malfoy she knew.

Malfoy relaxed as she lowered her wand. He started to laugh, a nervous toned down laugh. Yet a laugh, nonetheless. Big Mistake. Hermione turned and punched him squarely in the face.

BAMN!

She broke his nose.


An expression akin to a smile flitted across Hermione's face as she remembered the incident. She had been quite proud of herself for the fact that she broke his nose. She even heard his bones break! Served him right for being such a knucklehead. And she didn't fret. No, not even for a second. She deemed herself above all the girls, who would have been tending to his nose while he cried like a baby. No she proved herself that she was not one of those girls that dissolve into a mass of puddle when he gave them the least bit of attention.

Hermione remembered perfectly well, the effect he had on girls. Especially ever since their fourth year.

Fourth year… that was an unforgettable year...