"Cancelled?"

Stephanie was still half asleep the next morning while she was combing her hair with a wooden brush when Hermione told her that Potions class was cancelled for the day. She didn't even fix her uniform that her blouse was tucked out and not buttoned properly with her necktie loose. Hermione was sitting on her own bed, doing some reading while stroking her orange cat's head.

"Unfortunately, one of the students made a bad potion and it exploded" Hermione exploded, her eyes scanning every word in the book, "Don't worry, it's normal for that to happen. The staffs need to clean the classroom until it's safe to use it"

"Too bad, I was eager to get to that class" said Stephanie, letting out a loud yawn, "Will you be staying here all day?"

"I'll just finish reading this and then I'll be watching Ron and Harry's Quidditch practice. Want to come with me?"

"Oh, no thanks. I'll just go to the library. I need to give a book back" explained Stephanie, grabbing the book from her table.

She waved at her friend and made her way out of the Gryffindor house and walked around the big hallways of the castle. Now that it's been a week and three days since she entered Hogwarts, she was now getting quite familiar with the places and directions. She had also recognized some classmates of hers whom belonged in different houses and would greet them whenever they passed by each other. She turned a right at the next corner until she finally saw the entrance of the library. Since it was too early, there weren't that many students reading or borrowing books. Most of the people in there that time were professors, searching for stuff related to their lessons. Stephanie quietly walked around the big library and looked for the aisle where she got the book from. To her surprise she found Draco sitting on a chair at the aisle where she needed to go, scanning a book.

Draco lifted his head up when he finally realized that he wasn't alone. He placed the book back in the shelf and stood up, looking at the girl in front of him. Stephanie clutched the book against her chest, her heart racing at the sight of him. She didn't know what to say or do for it had been days since they last talked to each other. Now that he knew that she was half a muggle, she was expecting him to treat him differently. Waiting for him to do something like push her aside or insult her for having muggle blood. But to her surprise, he didn't do any of that.

"It was just my hunch that you'll be going here since Potions class got cancelled" he finally spoke and noticed the book she was holding, "So, you finished it already?"

"Oh, uh, y-yes. It was really interesting" Stephanie stammered with her words, keeping her gaze at the book she was holding.

"Are you here to borrow another book?"

"I-I'm not sure what to borrow next"

"Would it be alright if I recommend you another one?"

"Sure, go ahead"

And so, Draco looked through the shelves again for an interesting book. He pulled one out and handed it to her, grabbing the one she's holding and placed it back on the shelf.

"I'm pretty sure that would help you out"

Stephanie looked at the new book that was on her hands and read the title out loud, "Details on Magic: Its beginnings and present"

"It talks about the history of magic and how you'll survive in this world. I'm guessing that it could help a half…muggle like you"

Stephanie looked at him confused. She didn't understand why he was still being nice to her even though he knew what she really was. Even without asking, Draco could understand the look on Stephanie's face. He rubbed the back of his head and tried to explain himself.

"Let's just keep this between us, okay?" Draco told her, "Our friendship"

"I don't think you'll like to be friends with me" Stephanie mumbled although she liked the fact that Draco still wanted to be friends with her.

"Why is that?"

"Because of Harry"

"I knew it, you do fancy Potter" there was a hint of jealousy in Draco's voice and made a fist under his cloak.

"I do not fancy him" she said as confidently as the last time she said it to him, "I've been told that you despises him a lot. And, well, Harry and I are related. We're cousins"

For a moment, Draco fell quiet. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, an expression on his face that seemed like he was about to pass out or vomit. Stephanie was about to move closer to him when he suddenly looked at her with a serious expression, the same expression he had whenever he would see Harry.

"Are there more secrets about you that I should know?" Draco asked.

Stephanie shook her head, "N-no, that's that. I'm half muggle and Harry's cousin"

And all of a sudden, a familiar smile appeared on Draco's face. The same smile that he always flashed whenever Stephanie was around.

"I can make an exception just this once" said Draco, his smile widened.

"B-but why? Why are you so eager to make friends with me?" asked Stephanie, curious on what was about her that Draco would make an exception.

Draco himself didn't know how to answer and shrugged his shoulders.

"I just feel it" he explained, helping Stephanie with her loose necktie and buttoned the one on top, "It feels like fate brought us together"

Stephanie couldn't help but giggle hearing such cheesy lines from a guy that looked so tough. But it honestly made her blush and happy. She bit her lower lip at the process of suppressing her smile. Since their first class was cancelled, the both of them decided to spend their free hours in that same aisle. They both took a seat and Stephanie started flipping through the pages of the book recommended to her. Draco leaned on the table and quietly watched her read through the pages. He couldn't help but smile. He liked the way her green eyes sparkled in delight, how her pink lips curved into a smile, and how her long brown hair smelled of fresh strawberries. This was the very first time he felt like this towards a girl, especially a half muggle who's actually related to the person he hated the most. He stretched his hand out, gently moving a strand of hair that was getting on her face. Stephanie blushed at the simple gesture and looked at him with a shy smile.

"I missed talking to you" Draco confessed embarrassed.

Stephanie was surprised and looked at him amused, "Did you now?"

"It felt strange, not talking to you the past few days. I didn't like it. It made me…sad"

"I was sad too, not able to talk to you. It felt boring" Stephanie chuckled and flipped through the pages, "Your friends wouldn't like it that I'm friends with you when they found out"

Draco leaned back on his chair and smirked, "They can't do anything about it anyway"

"That girl loathes me, the one you're always with"

"You mean Pansy?"

"Yes. She doesn't want me being near you. I've read her mind and it's scary, the things she would want to do to me"

"Don't worry, I won't let her do anything bad to you" assured Draco, stroking her back gently.

Stephanie smiled and looked at her curiously, "What is it exactly that you like about me?"

Draco was surprised by the question; even Stephanie was surprised herself that she asked him that. But Draco's thoughts were just speaking out loud. For the first time, Stephanie saw him turn a shade of red. He tried avoiding her eyes but he kept finding himself looking at her. He leaned closer to make sure that only the two of them could hear what they were talking about.

"My mum once told me how she stumbled upon love" he whispered to her softly, "She said it was something unexpected. She wasn't look for love, it just found her by accident at that exact time and at that exact place. But when she looked at my father's eyes, there was a spark that grew between them. It was something she didn't experience with other people. She told me it felt like being under a love spell, only that this love was real and not from a spell. For some reason, I felt the same way when we met at the station. Personally, I would shout at someone if they bump me. But when my eyes met yours, I forgot about being angry and was just completely drawn to you"

Stephanie's face was completely red already. She had never heard a guy say such sweet words to him and it felt like a dream. She looked at him closely, trying to figure out if she was just dreaming or not. He was there, alright— warm and real, sitting beside her.

"I think all these are too good to be true" Stephanie admitted although she was pretty flattered that a handsome guy such as Draco liked her.

Draco knew she was going to say that and just smiled, "I know it looks that way but, you have to believe that it is all true. I never intended to share you any of that but then you just have to read my mind"

"I-I was just curious"

She returned back to the book she was reading and Draco looked at the books in front of him when he heard familiar voices. Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle were checking aisle after aisle for Draco.

"I'm pretty sure I saw him go here earlier" Goyle whispered and tried to catch up with Pansy.

"Well where is he?" Pansy hissed, impatient that she hadn't seen him nowhere since he left the common room.

Draco was peeking from the aisle he was staying and could see his three friends getting nearer to where he was. He couldn't be seen by them hanging out with Stephanie and he had to find a way to hide. He looked at Stephanie, busy reading the book, and quickly grabbed her by the shoulders which startled him.

"I'm sorry for doing this" and before Stephanie could even ask what he was talking about, Draco moved closer and sealed her lips with a passionate kiss.

Pansy looked at the aisle on her left and found a couple busy snogging. She rolled her eyes and walked away once she thought that Draco wasn't in the library. It wasn't even his thing to go to the library for all she knew. As soon as they were gone, Draco pulled away and looked at Stephanie. His heart was beating too fast and his face turned scarlet red. Stephanie was as red as him, clutching her chest, and was still shocked with what just happened. It was the first time she was kissed and not just by any guy but, a guy she really fancied.

"I-I didn't mean to do that" Draco stammered, feeling like he blew it off for doing such a stupid thing, "I-it's just that Pansy and the others were here and looking for me…and they couldn't find out that I'm hanging out with you. Not that I don't like it b-but, you know—"

Stephanie didn't wait for him to finish whatever he was trying to say and leaned on him, kissing him as passionate as he did earlier. Draco was surprised but after a few seconds, he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her back.