It all started the night of the Yule Ball. Hermione's day had started off pleasantly. Her dress had arrived. Her date had made it painfully obvious that he was, in fact, very excited to be attending the ball with her. She thought it rather cute as she had never really received such treatment from a boy before.

It all went according to plan and for some reason she had felt pride at the envious whispers when she had been escorted onto the dance floor by the famous seeker. But Ron's jealousy had been so obvious that it had ended up ruining her night. He had been a total prat. He'd embarrassed her in front of everyone, causing a scene like a child whining to his mother. Calling her immature. Ruining the magic of the night. And all because another boy had asked her out. If he didn't have the guts to ask her himself then why should she ever feel sorry for him.

She sat alone on the steps of the staircase just outside the great hall for hours to the point where she started to find people watching enjoyable. The older students had evidently managed to sneak some sort of alcohol because some had come out drunk. Couples making out, friends cackling, boys fighting. And she sat in the corner, rubbing her sore feet. At around midnight she finally adjusted her shoes to get up, just as a snicker met her ears.

"If it isn't little miss Granger," Malfoy called out. Crabbe was following close behind and Hermione took a second to think about what had happened to his other useless minion. "All alone?" He sneered. "Krum must have tired of your incessant voice."

"Piss off, Malfoy," she said, lifting her skirts and standing. She turned around and walked up the stairs but Malfoy followed. Turning the corner she continued, pretending he wasn't even there.

"How did you snag him, anyway. Stuck him a love potion?"

She didn't respond.

"I bet he realized what you'd done and decided to leave. Of course, who would want to be with a mudblood."

Hermione turned around and looked him dead in the eyes. "Quit bothering me." She looked around. "Seems like your idiot minions aren't even with you. You're so pathetic to follow me? Do you have nothing better to do, hmm? Of course you don't."

She turned to leave and he jetted towards her, gripping her arm. "How dare you," he snarled. The push and pull of his action caused Hermione to lose her balance, tilting towards Malfoy, but with her hands on his chest, she quickly shoved him away. "Don't touch me, ferret."

He let her walk away then and right before she turned the next corner she decided to look over her shoulder. He was standing there and looking at the ground before he moved to look behind him. She smirked. He looked pathetic. What a good for nothing human being that guy was.

And yet, that night marked a new beginning for the two of them. Because as curious as life might be, they began thinking of the other quite frequently. Both chose to bury their thoughts deep inside them. But again and again, they'd catch their stares. And Draco would fantasize of what it would feel like to dance with Granger. Holding her close, his hand holding her waist and then inching lower, as low as can be. He'd snap himself back into reality and nearly gag. She had cursed him, he was sure of it.

Funny how she thought the same. His fingers had been bewitched, she thought. When he had held onto her arm, she had been enchanted into believing that Malfoy was something more than despicable. However, every time she caught him staring at her in Potions, Herbology, from opposite ends of the Great Hall, she let her mind whirl into thinking that he was looking at her because he liked her.

She knew it was pathetic and stupid to think someone liked you simply because they stared. But the girl in her went there every time and she let it.

Miserable weeks turned into months and neither of them did much, they let their thoughts fester and be buried and hopefully, forgotten. The holidays came and went and the TriWizard Cup was coming to an end as well. Harry was doing well but Hermione could tell he was worried about his last task.

"What are you worried about?"

"Well, Hermione," he said, looking out towards the lake as they walked about, "I've already had to fight off a dragon and face mermaids. They could be planning anything for the last task."

"Mmm."

"I wonder how they manage to create something so gruesome."

"So do I," she contemplated.

But, regardless of all Harry's training, the last tournament didn't go so well. In fact, it went horribly. Cedric Diggory died and Harry witnessed Voldemort's return.

One of the first things Hermione noticed was how one person in particular reacted. Everyone seemed completely taken aback. In fact no one believed Harry. At the end of the year's feast when Dumbledore gave his speech, everyone respected their headmaster, but she could tell no one really wanted to believe it. But when no one was looking she noticed Malfoy's utter disillusionment. He had gone as pale as a ghost and as they ate, she noticed he barely touched his food. In that moment she let herself wonder what exactly Malfoy could be thinking in his head.