Hermione was spending her Saturday afternoon bent over a long scroll of parchment. She scribbled furiously at her potions essay in a secluded corner of the library, far away from any other students. It was the usual place for her to work on her schoolwork. She liked the quiet spaces where nobody was likely to disturb her. She had planned on heading down to the quidditch pitch to watch the Gryffindor team practice but she figured if she heard one more of Lavender's high-pitched squeals, she might just strangle her.

Hermione got up from her table with a sigh as she realized she needed a very particular book for her essay. She mumbled to herself as she left her things sitting on her table and slowly walked down one of the farthest hallways of the Hogwarts library, skating her fingers over the spines of the books as she went. The dust that came off of the covers danced in the warm sunlight.

"...No, not that …Not that either… No…"

She was looking for a specific book that listed all of the uses of bezoar stones for an essay that Professor Slughorn assigned. He was not as hard of a grader as Professor Snape was and she got the idea that he placed more importance on personal relationships between himself and his students but she wanted to make a good impression through the quality of her assignments.

"Yes, there it is!" Hermione whispered to herself excitedly as she stared up at the book she was looking for, Poisons and Their Enemies.

She stood on her toes and reached for the book but her height failed her. She jumped into the air to try to knock it off but still she couldn't reach. Just as she was about to take out her wand to levitate the book off of its shelf, a long, pale arm extended over her shoulder and easily plucked the book from its slot. Hermione looked up at the arm and then whipped around only to be left staring at the chest of Draco Malfoy. She inhaled sharply and lifted her eyes to his. He was wearing a white button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, his mouth was pulled to one side in a small smirk and his light grey eyes looked down into her brown ones. He blinked once lazily.

She took notice of his eyes that looked especially dark around the edges and the face that typically looked so unblemished and perfect now appeared thin and unusually pale. She also noticed how close he was standing and she took a slow step backward into the bookshelf.

"Excuse me, Malfoy. Could I have that book? I really need it for a potions assignment." Hermione scowled at him and folded her arms in front of her.

Draco's smirk broadened as he spoke and he held the book at his side. "I don't know, Granger. In case you didn't notice, we are in the same potions class. Did it ever occur to you that I might want to use this book as well?"

"No it didn't, but only because I know you couldn't be doing well in that class. You never pay any attention and your potions never turn out the way they're supposed to." She sighed exasperated.

"My grades are perfectly fine. If you recall, I'm only second in our year… Thanks to you." He flicked a speck of dust off of his upper arm and then squinted his eyes at her.

"And how would you even know, Granger? Are you observing me in your spare minutes? Been harboring feelings, have we?" He winked at her through a few of his blonde locks that were shining bright in the sunlight coming through the window beside them. He lifted the book a little higher on his waist.

She did not expect him to say that. Hermione narrowed her eyes and her cheeks blushed a fierce shade of pink. She opened her mouth in an attempt to spit a comeback his way but then closed it again, not sure of what to say. Draco smirked at her, seemingly satisfied with his ability to make her flustered. "That's what I thought, Granger. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my essay."

He turned on his heel and Hermione saw her opportunity. She let him walk a few paces and hesitated before lunging for the book in his hands. He quickly swung the book to his other side out of her reach and she fell into his back, pushing him into the shelf opposite her. They crashed into each other awkwardly and fell to the ground, both groaning.

She laid on the ground next to Draco, massaging the bump that was forming on her head. He rubbed his shoulder tenderly and sat up straight, leaning against the shelf.

"Why in the hell would you try something like that, Granger!" He screwed his eyes up in pain.

"Malfoy, I found the book first and I want to use it for my essay! This library is huge. I'm sure you can manage to find one other book in this place that would be just as suitable."

"It's not my fault you're so short, Granger. I was able to reach it just fine without magic. If you're so sure there's another book in this library that works for the assignment, why don't you go find it yourself?"

Hermione scoffed and sat up straight, crossing her legs out in front of her. She sighed and leaned her head on one of her hands. She tried her best to feign defeat.

Suddenly she pounced again, stretching across his long legs to where his hand held the book. He quickly held it above his head and stood up to full height. She stood along with him and jumped to try to grab at the book but he was considerably taller than her and she was having no luck. Draco looked down at her as she jumped with a slight smile on his lips and he chuckled softly at her fruitless attempts to retrieve the book.

"Give me back my book!" Hermione raised her voice and jumped again, though she knew it would accomplish nothing.

"Why are you doing this?" Hermione sighed and crossed her arms, clearly irritated.

"I don't know. I like to see you struggle, Granger. It does something to me." Draco smirked through his laughter and dodged her hand that came up to hit him across his shoulder. He took in her face as she stood there, utterly embarrassed and frustrated. She was wearing a dark blue sweater with a pair of jeans and her wavy hair was unruly and frizzy. Her cheeks were flushed and she had a slight pout on her lips.

She steadied herself on her feet and huffed, making stray hairs flair out around her face.

"Fine. If you won't give it back, I have other more important things I could be doing right now." She straightened her sweater and moved past him.

"Oh, you mean like pining after Weasley?"

Hermione turned and furrowed her brow at him, a scowl on her face. He glared at her from behind his hair and let out a single laugh through his nose, knowing he had touched a nerve.

"What?" She stared incredulously back at him.

"Come on, Granger. You can't say you've been entirely discreet about that, am I right?" He lowered the book down to his side again and smirked knowingly.

"Not that it's any of your business, Malfoy. But I gave up on Ron weeks ago." She said it angrily and quickly turned to leave again but Draco grabbed her wrist.

She stopped, turned, and stared down at his hand. It was new territory for both of them and she looked back up at him with pink cheeks and a mixture of shock and confusion on her face.

Draco quickly dropped her arm and lightly shook his head to clear his thoughts.

"Why would you give up on him? Last I saw, things were going pretty well between you two." He smirked at her and laughed when he saw the look on her face.

"Is that some sort of cruel joke, Malfoy? He's very obviously been with Lavender and there's no mistaking that." She looked down at her feet. Draco took a step towards her and raised his eyebrows as if urging her to speak more.

Hermione sighed. "...And I've discovered that Ron and I wouldn't really be a good match anyway."

She shook her head, narrowed her eyes and her face went pink again. "Ugh! Why am I even talking about this, and with you of all people. What are you doing following the things that go on in my life? Maybe YOU'RE the one with feelings."

Draco ignored her last statement and walked around her, blocking her only escape. He casually leaned against the bookshelf with Poisons and Their Enemies still clutched in his hand.

"So, what was wrong with the Weasel? Too ginger for you? Not smart enough for that big brain of yours?"

Hermione considered his words for a moment and then looked at him confused.

"Why do you even want to know?"

"Just fishing for more material to tease you with, I guess." Draco looked down, observing his nails with a tiny smile on his face.

Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed, realizing that she wasn't getting past him without giving up some information. "If you must know, Malfoy, Ron is quite inconsiderate and he isn't nearly mature enough to be in any sort of meaningful relationship right now. Or at least any relationship that I would want."

Draco glanced at her and raised his eyebrows again.

"What?" Hermione said quietly.

"Don't you have any other details, Granger? I'm just dying to know."

"No, I do not. I've given you all that you're getting." She took in a hesitant breath, bit her lip, and looked down to the ground."

"Really, Granger? Is that really all you wanted to tell me?" Draco said softly as he took a step closer to her. He smiled when she didn't back away.

"Well I-I have liked someone else but he's apparently attached at the moment anyway…" She muttered under her breath without meeting his gaze, horrified that she would even consider divulging this information to Malfoy.

"No, that's untrue actually. Pansy and I broke up just a couple of weeks ago." Draco snickered at his joke and grinned as Hermione blushed violently and opened her mouth in shock.

"What did you ever see in the Weasel anyway? I never imagined you two being anything more than friends."

"I don't know, Malfoy. I guess I was just confused… Can I go now?" She looked up at him as if pleading for him to let her off the hook. He held up his hand.

"Not just yet, Granger. I haven't finished. Confused about what?" He took another small step towards her and she backed herself deeper into the narrow row of books.

Hermione exhaled slowly and slumped her shoulders. "I was confused because…" She took a long pause and glanced off to the side, trying to find any place to look that wasn't his grey eyes that hadn't left her face the whole time.

"...Because…?" Draco stepped closer still and bent his head down. He looked to his side to see what she was staring at and her eyes darted over to a different spot behind him.

"Ugh, I was confused because... Ron is the way it's supposed to be. It's not supposed to be-It should be Ron and I together because that's what I always thought would happen. That's what was supposed to happen. Everyone thought so and-I was conflicted and-I guess I was just upset when I realized that I didn't like him in that way anymore. I wanted to but I just couldn't."

Hermione stopped herself there and looked up at him briefly, with a mildly guilty expression, and looked away again. Draco looked very pleased with himself.

"So you couldn't, huh? Could it be that you had another person in your sights instead?" Draco winked at her again and she let out a gasp that she hoped was barely audible. She was still trying to avoid his gaze.

"Granger, look at me." He said quickly. She blinked a few times and reluctantly met his eyes. They were narrowed and his smirk was no longer present. He took another step towards her and her back hit the wall behind her. He was now close enough for her to smell his cologne. He smelled earthy and light. Like a forest after a thunderstorm. She was cornered and when Draco spoke next, his voice was low and steady.

"I don't know about yourself, but I always imagined you with someone more… intelligent, protective, caring. Maybe someone with a witty sense of humor." Hermione's eyes were wide, now unwilling to look away from his own.

"Someone who's athletic, someone who can take charge… Maybe someone who knows what they're doing when it comes to women." He raised his eyebrows suggestively and she held her breath.

Their close proximity had them practically touching now and Draco was staring at her with a seriousness she had never seen before.

"What do you think, Granger? Talk to me. Am I correct?" Draco's voice was soft and low as he moved his left hand to rest on the wall on the side of her head, awaiting her answer.

Hermione didn't dare herself to make a sound but Draco watched as she ghosted her eyes over his face and tall frame and then very slowly, nodded.

Draco's face was still for a moment until he lifted his other hand and gently stroked the back of his index finger down her bright red cheek. He felt on his hand her tiny breaths that were labored but silent.

Draco looked her straight in her eyes and smirked broadly, his finger still held to her heated face. He leaned forward so close that she could feel his breath on her lips.

"Thought so, Granger."

Without another word, he turned on the spot and left her standing there with her mouth parted slightly and her chest heaving.

She clutched her chest and willed her heart to slow down to a normal rate.

Once she had collected herself, she walked cautiously back to her table, careful not to run into Draco on the way.

She shakily sat back down in her seat and gasped softly at the sight of Poisons and Their Enemies laying on top of her unfinished essay.