CHAPTER TWO

Hermione sat in her early potions class, she could feel Professor Snape's eyes on her. Not looking up she knew the reason why, no-one else had arrived yet. Where else could she have gone? Harry and Ron were far too busy with flirting and joking around with any girl they could that they weren't too bothered about getting to class early with her.

" Good morning Draco, I see you're as eager as ever." remarked Snape with a smile on his face.

Draco merely nodded smiling slightly before he took a seat behind Hermione, Hermione froze suddenly feeling self conscious at the mess that was her hair. She had to sigh, why was she thinking this way? This was the guy who had called her mudblood and many other names on various different occasions but yet she cared what he thought of her.

" Mind if I sit with you Draco?"

Hermione turned her head slightly at the sound of a new voice, narrowing her eyes slightly as that girl called Drusilla slid next to Draco smiling at him. Letting out a breath she turned her head back round before she focused on her notes trying to ignore the chuckling she could hear from behind her. Hearing the familiar voices of Ron and Harry, she turned in her seat and rolled her eyes as a crowd of girls trailed in after them. Professor Snape remarked scornfully,

" Late on the second day of term is not very impressive Mr Potter and Weasely, twenty points from Gryffindor. Now find some seats and should either of you feel the need to express your distaste for my actions I highly suggest you consider the possibility of losing yet more points for your house as a sufficient detterent." Harry and Ron scowled before they sat beside Hermione, Ron as usual was peering at her notes and scribbling furiously away at his parchment as soon as he sat down but Harry on the other hand, was glaring at Snape.

As the lesson went on, Hermione was sure she could feel someone watching her but everytime she looked around, whoever was watching her had stopped. Just as the lesson was coming to an end, Snape announced," Oh yes, I am having a potion competition between all four houses in today's class and the people chosen to represent each house have already been chosen." Everyone in the class muttered quietly amongst themselves before Snape shouted over the noise," The four people chosen for the four houses are Drusilla for Slytherin, Bernard for Hufflepuff, Victor for Ravenclaw and Hermione for Gryffindor."

Harry nudged Hermione," Good luck Mione." Hermione sighed inwardly, as much as she loved potions she was never very good when it came to competitions. Looking up she gasped as she looked directly into the cold gaze of one Professor Snape,

" Miss Granger, I suggest you pay more attention to the lesson at hand." Nodding weakly she watched as he withdrew like a snake would after attacking its prey," Getting back to the competition, it will take place in precisely three hours from now so I suggest the four people concerned study well and study hard." Harry frowned as Snape sneered in Hermione's direction," Class dismissed, please proceed to the library." With that the whole class erupted into loud chatter, Hermione took her time waiting for the noise and frantic rushing for the door to pass but as she stood up and turned to walk out, she was suddenly aware she wasn't alone.

A pair of blue and grey eyes watched her, she couldn't help but blush at such close scrutiny from Draco. Either her eyes were playing tricks on her or Draco had actually smiled at her, shaking her head she began to gather up her books. Draco watched as Hermione turned away from his gaze, perhaps the smile had been a little too much but he couldn't help it. The way she would look at him with eyes full of wonder, he couldn't help feeling like nothing else in the world mattered. Sighing, he was thinking such idiotic thoughts; he had tormented her most of her life at Hogwarts, there was no way she could ever see him anything more than an enemy.

*************

" Where's Hermione?" asked Harry impatiently.

Ron shrugged as he chewed on a jelly bean before his face screwed up and he spat it out, muttering," Urgh that's disgusting." Wiping his mouth he placed the box down and then glanced across at Harry," I'm sure Hermione will be along shortly, you know how many books she carries with her, you think she can move that fast with that many books?"

Harry chuckled slightly to himself, Ron always did have a unique way of looking at things. Suddenly in a flourish of movement and a lot of 'excuse me' Hermione appeared in the seat next to Harry, Ron noted the redness of her cheeks and teased," Oo Hermione, looking a little flustered there."

Hermione rolled her eyes dumping her various notebooks from Potions class out onto the table remarking," Very funny Ronald Weasely but I unfortunately have no time for such childish banter as I have a potions competition to win." Harry laughed before smiling as Ron simply rolled his eyes and got back to rummaging through the box of Jelly beans he had previously put aside.

" So all ready then Mione?"

Hermione blinked at Harry before replying," Sort of, can't help but feel whatever I do won't be good enough as Snape is the head of Slytherin and this just so happens to be his competition." Harry nodded, casually glancing through Hermione's various notebooks,

" Well if anyone can do it, then you can." Hermione smiled blushing slightly totally unaware of a certain Slytherin's eyes on her.

Draco turned round at the calling of his name and smiled as Drusilla remarked," Eyeing up the competition?" Draco leaned back into his chair, propped his feet up on the table,

" My father always taught me, keep your friends close but your enemies even closer."

Drusilla laughed running a hand through her long hair," Being cryptic today then? Typical Malfoy." Draco shook his head as Drusilla went back to studying her notes, tuning into Crabbe and Goyle's conversation for a minute he instantly tuned out as all they were talking about were cakes. Crossing his arms, his eyes travelled back to Hermione. He couldn't quite work out what it was but there was something about her, something that drew him to look at her whenever he could perhaps it was the change in her but perhaps it was because of the change in him. A change gone unnoticed by his fellow Slytherins but as Hermione looked up and met his eyes, he knew she knew he was different.

Hermione found herself staring into his eyes again, the frustrating thing was despite knowing how mean he could be and what he had said to her in the past she just couldn't pull her eyes away. Gasping slightly as a hand was waved in front of her face," Hello? Anyone home?" Hermione blinked and saw Ron peering at her closely," You alright Hermione? You seem distracted."

" Of course I'm alright." With that she buried herself in her notebooks and prepared herself for whatever Snape had planned but she still couldn't shake the feeling that even now Draco was watching her.

THREE HOURS LATER .....

Snape paced around his classroom, his gaze watching the four selected people as they stood beside their cauldrons," If the potion is brewed correctly it should be a light golden colour and smell faintly of cinnamon, and if any of you have done your research you should know what this particular combination is."

Drusilla raised her hand and said confidently," The potion is for Euphoria, Professor Snape."

" Very good Drusilla, ten points to Slytherin." Drusilla smirked to herself before she glanced at Hermione mouthing,

" Good luck, you're gonna need it."

Snape glanced at his pocket watch before he announced," You have precisely ten minutes to brew this potion, all the ingredients are laid out in front of you...begin now."

Ron and Harry settled in at the back shouting enthusiasm," Go Hermione." Snape growled at them which caused them to instantly quieten down but Hermione smiled thankful for the support. She flicked a glance at Drusilla and frowned as she was already chanting a spell, that girl sure was quick but it only made Hermione more determined. Dropping in the dried Hogsbane she smiled as her cauldron bubbled away quite happily to itself before she reached over to grab the next ingredient, pausing for a minute as it looked like she had one too many ingredients. Looking up she saw Victor was also having the same problem and was currently standing scratching his head while Bernard was closing his eyes and picking the first one that came to hand.

Meeting Snape's gaze, she could see the smugness lurking behind those dark eyes and she knew he had rigged this. Trying to push his deception to the back of her mind she closed her eyes trying to remember which ingredient she needed, her mind racing through the catalogues of knowledge she had learned. Growling as her mind seemed to be a blank, she opened her eyes and picked up the Trazelle feather dust, raising it she peered at it closely. Was this the right thing? Why couldn't she remember her notes? Taking off the lid she sniffed it cautiously hoping the smell might somehow trigger her memory, gasping as she felt something hit her back causiny the Trazelle feather dust to fall into her cauldron. Her eyes widening as suddenly it exploded in a flurry of reds and yellows, as the smoke cleared she felt eveyone's eyes on her and Neville pointed out the obvious,

" Um Hermione your face, is well black."

Snape marched over to her demanding," What happened here Miss Granger?"

Hermione was lost for words before she heard from behind her," It was my fault Professor." Snape's head snapped upwards before his eyes fell on Draco, Hermione turned around and listened as Draco explained," I placed my wand on the table but it rolled off and as it hit the ground, it fired a shot at Hermione, so I am afraid her mistake is actually my fault." Hermione's eyes filled with anger and her eyebrows drew close to one another, that little toad! He had deliberately sabotaged her so that Drusilla his new girlfriend could win the competition but with Snape's intervention, it was guaranteed anyway. So why even bother? Did he hate her that much?

" Fine then Mr Malfoy, due to your negligence behaviour ten points will be deducted from Slytherin and you will have detention for the rest of this week."

Draco nodded looking resigned before he placed his wand back into his pocket, a happy squeal broke the sombre atmosphere that had descended over the classroom. Snape looked over at Drusilla as she grinned victoriously," My potion is finished Professor." Snape smiled walking over, glancing into the cauldron before he dipped a finger into the brew and as he tasted it, a grin broke over his face,

" Congratulations Drusilla, consider yourself the winner. Fifty points to Slytherin." Drusilla walked over to her fellow Slytherins and accepted all the congratulations they had to offer but as Hermione wiped away the black mess that was on her face she noticed Draco watching her with an almost remorseful look on his face. Ignoring him, she knew he had done it on purpose and there was no way she was going to fall for those puppy dog eyes. Feeling something pat her back, she turned round and smiled at Ron,

" Bad luck Mione, that snake Malfoy ruined it all."

Harry glared at his arch enemy before he gave Hermione a hug," I'm sure you would have won if Malfoy hadn't been around." Hermione smiled,

" Thanks Harry and Ron, what would I do without you?" Ron and Harry grinned at her before they both helped her with her books heading out of the classroom, Hermione risked a look back and once again found Draco watching her looking genuinely disturbed. Shrugging it off she hurried after her two friends.

*************

Even though a week had passed Hermione had not been able to forget Malfoy's face. Her mind burned with the overwhelming urge to know exactly why Draco had been watching her at the potions competition. This was the person that had called her 'MudBlood' and had been thoroughly horrid ever since they had met. Were the looks just another process of him finding a weakness in her to exploit, If so why hadnt he? The potion contest had given him more that enough ammuniton.

Walking into the toilets, she looked around for the resident ghost Mertle. Not seeing her, she went and sat in a cubicle. Why couldnt she stop thinking about him? What was so alluring about Draco? She sighed putting her elbows on her knees resting her head in her hands before she closed her eyes. He was even there too, behind her eyes and in her thoughts she sighed again and gently let out his name," Draco."

" Oh so that's who you like." A high pitched voice commented before it giggled hysterically.

Hermione jumped slightly to see the semi ghostly head of Moaning Mertle grinning at her. The girl with hair tied back and large round spectacles stayed grinning for a moment before the all too serious expression she wore most of the time returned.

"Oh it's you Mertle, you startled me. What on earth do you mean? I like Malfoy, that rat? You have got to be kidding." remarked Hermione raising an eyebrow trying to hide the obvious.

" You like him alot don't you? I'm sure he is a nice guy underneath it all." chuckled Mertle before her head disappeared back through the door. Hermione sighed again, 'If Mertle can see it, I'm sure everyone else can too." Picking up her books, she opened the cubicle door before she ventured out into the halls of Hogwarts, trying to forget the silver haired boy that haunted her every waking moment.

" Drusilla!" Looking up sharply Hermione gasped as Draco stormed past the hallway she was stood in, his face full of anger and his eyes cold as ice. What was going on? Perhaps he and Drusilla were having a lovers spat? Her curiosity getting the better of her, she quietly walked up the hallway and peeked around the corner.

Drusilla swung round, crossing her arms across her chest before saying," Oh calm down Draco, it's not like I killed anyone." Draco stopped in front of her, throwing his arms out before he hissed,

" I don't care Drusilla, cheating is cheating." Hermione frowned, what were they talking about? Drusilla simply scoffed before she rolled her eyes,

" This coming from you? You should know better than anyone that mudbloods like Hermione Granger and incompetents like Victor and Bernard deserve every bit of embarassment they can get." A smirk spread across her face, a smirk Hermione had seen so many times before. Draco narrowed his eyes before he said in a dangerously quiet voice,

" Watch what you say Drusilla."

" Why's that Draco? Gone a bit soft in your old age?"

Draco simply smiled," Not soft Drusilla, I've grown and as far as I know Granger could kick your ass in anything magical or non magical so don't lecture me as to whether or not purebloods are better or not. I've said it all before and even then the words sounded hollow to me." With that he pushed past Drusilla who stood with anger burning in her eyes.

Hermione blinked, had Draco really said that? Did he really see her as something more than a mudblood? Watching as Drusilla stormed off, snapping at anyone who crossed her path. Hermione thoughts raced back to the potions competition, it wasn't Snape after all, it was Drusilla who had planted the extra ingredients but why? And the more important question, why did Draco care? Gathering her robes around her, she marched after the now very confusing Draco Malfoy.

END OF CHAPTER TWO!