A/N: Here's chapter number two! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and the character of Jillian the librarian (who I don't think anyone would want to take credit for!). Anyone or anything you recognize belongs to JKR.

A Twist of Fate

Chapter Two: An Unexpected Meeting

Draco Malfoy strode down the History aisle of Oxford's Bodleian Library, searching shrewdly for a book entitled "The British Isles: A History of Civilization". If the book's title was any indication, the next three years of Modern history were going to be a bore.

Draco shook his head, causing pieces of silky blond hair to fall into his eyes. How did he get into this mess?

Two months ago, Draco's life had been right as rain. He had left Hogwarts School of Wizardy with great marks and was planning to begin initiation as a Death Eater soon after. But things hadn't gone as expected.

After the last day of his seventh year at school, Draco was told that his father, Lucius Malfoy, had been killed in a Death Eater raid. To add insult to injury, Narcissa Malfoy then made off with most of the family's fortune, leaving Draco with a small sack of gold to his name.

Intially, Draco had been quite happy to be free of his controlling parents. But, after two months of job-searching and trying to make a name for himself, he had given up. Without his influencial father, Draco Malfoy meant nothing to the rest of the wizarding community. Not even wizardry academies would accept him. Indeed, he had been practically exhiled from the wizarding world; the Dark Lord himself wouldn't have anything to do with him after the shame of Lucius' death.

So Draco Malfoy did the only thing he could: he took the money he had and applied to Oxford University, ready to start a new life in the world of Mud -- Muggles.

It was a disgusting arrangement, really. He was probably the only Pureblooded wizard in a school full of Mudbloods; the only wizard most likely. All of the people he would have to associate with were below him. Draco did have one thing to be thankful for, though: he'd never have to deal with the repulsive Golden Trio of Potter, Weasley, and Granger ever again. Draco smirked and returned his attention to his book search.

"R....S...." he said aloud, fingering the bindings of the books that were neatly placed on the shelf. "Ah hah!" He snatched up the remaining copy of "The British Isles: A History of Civilization" and rested it at the top of the stack already tucked under his arm.

Draco looked over his book requirements list once more, and realized that, after an hour of searching, he was finished. Picking up the tall stack of books at his feet, he unsteadily made his way to the front desk.

"I'll just be a minute," said the young librarian, who was frantically writing names on a list of some sort, her back turned to him.

Draco grimaced, tapping his fingers on the counter impatiently. Stupid Mudbloods, he thought. No manners whatsoever.

The librarian turned to him suddenly and Draco's frown immediately switched to a sparkling smile.

"Sorry about that," she said breathily.

"No problem," replied Draco easily. "I've got all the time in the world."

She giggled then, and Draco was suddenly aware of how young she was: not a day over 20. Her hair was pulled into two high ponytails and her thick eyelashes fluttered brightly at him.

"I have to check out all of these textbooks," he said, pushing them carefully in her direction.

She examined his selections and frowned."I'm sorry, sir. We only allow six books to be taken out at a time, and you have twelve."

"Are you sure you couldn't bend the rules a little?" Draco asked slyly. "I need these books for my Modern History course. I start on Wednesday."

The librarian shook her head firmly. "Not allowed. It's a rule."

Draco sighed dramatically. "I guess I understand. I hope I don't get in trouble in my classes on Wednesday. It's just that it's my first year here, and I don't want to start off on the wrong foot." He looked down sadly at the counter. "I'm sorry. It's not like you'd give a care about me anyway. I'll just put these books away." He started to pick up the books.

"Oh no, no, no," she said quickly. "I understand completely, sir. I've only been here for two years, and it was really scary when I first came. It's so big and everything." Her eyes were sympathetic and she gave him a small smile. Draco nodded and smiled back shyly.

"You can call me Draco." He looked at her thoughtfully. "Has anyone ever told you how beautiful your eyes are? They're like sparkling diamonds."

She shook her head, pigtails bouncing wildly."I'm Jillian" she giggled, as she continued to process his books into the system.

When she was finished, he picked them up in a swift motion. He could barely see; the stack came up to his nose. "Thank you, Jillian. I'll be on my way now."

"You're welcome, Draco," Jillian replied, placing a kiss on her hand and blowing it towards him.

Draco winked at her. He moved to leave but changed his mind. "Jillian!" he whispered loudly.

"Yes?"

"How do I get back to the Wadham college campus?" he asked, wide-eyed. She looked at Draco pityingly and gave him directions. He continued out the door.

Draco walked down the library steps, chuckling to himself as he shifted under the weight of the immense load of books. That was some of the finest acting he'd ever pulled off. The Malfoy charm had once again come to his rescue.

*********

Hermione surveyed her room, deciding that, after an hour of unpacking, she was done organizing. The room was small and plain, two simple twin beds, desks, and bureaus being its only furnishings. Hermione had yet to meet her roomate, who, judging from the bare mattress and box-spring on the other side of the room, hadn't moved in.

She had had a busy morning, beginning with a meeting with Oxford's Dean of Admissions. Hermione also had a long discussion with the head of Wadham College, where she would be staying. She was given a complete tour and welcome by the Student-Advisor, who had also helped her bring her things into the large dormitory. Hermione was then left to fend for herself, with a University map and book-requirements list in hand.

Hermione had settled into the new space easily and, everything else aside, was looking forward to her year at Oxford. It's immense size had scared her at first but, since classes didn't begin till Wednesday, few students were in residence and the grounds were quiet. She liked Wadham College; the wide staircases and thick carpets reminded her of Hogwarts.

She eyed her book list, more than ready to venture out onto the campus. Hermione grabbed her coat and the papers off her bureau and made for the Bodleian Library, the biggest of three libraries in her area.

Once outside, she walked briskly down Manfield Road, the cool autumn air nipping at the creamy skin of her face. Hermione was soon within viewing distance of Bodleian, but, rather than keep going, she stopped at a nearby cafe to pick up some steaming coffee. She ordered it to go, and was soon on her way.

She cut across a large courtyard, finally reaching the stone path that ran beside the huge library building. Hermione gazed up at it, sipping her coffee thoughtfully as she walked along the walk-way. The building was at least three stories tall! She couldn't wait to -

WHAM!

Hermione suddenly walked straight into a solid form, one that appeared to be a young man carrying a stack of books. Her grip on the coffee was let go in surprise and she cried out as the hot liquid spilled down her front. The man had been knocked down, his books spread across the pathway. He was bent over, swiftly picking them up, his soft light hair falling into his face.

"I'm so sorry," he was saying apologetically. Hermione recognized his voice from somewhere, but couldn't place it.

"It's quite alright, my fault anyway," she said, trying to use her hands to wipe the coffee from her shirt. She bent to pick up one of the books that had fallen by her feet.

The man stood up, presently, and turned to her. Hermione straightened also, her eyes widening in recognition.

Evidently, he recognized her too. "Granger," he spat, his lip curled into his trademark smirk.

'What a git,' Hermione thought. She felt indignant heat rise in her cheeks and she replied angrily, "Malfoy."

*********

A/N: The end! (for now) Hope you liked it! Review it whether or not you did. Thanks for reading it! Thanks so much to the five people who did review: that's the most I've ever had for a story! I really appreciated the encouragement and it helped me to get this chapter out so soon. But you know what I like better than receiving reviews? Writing them! So you should try it, by pressing that little button down there. lol, thanks! (I'm convincing, eh?)