DISCLAIMER: I do not own Draco, Hermione, or anything HP. Suing would be a pointless endeavor.
A/N: This was originally written and posted on Hermione's birthday (September 19, 2003) on my LJ. I was going to get it beta'd before posting it here, but never did. So here it is, three and a half months late!
A loud squeal was followed by loud guffawing. Draco Malfoy looked over in annoyance.
Gryffindors, he thought malevolently. They were, as usual, causing a loud ruckus with their pitiful need to hog the spotlight, in the tradition of their forefathers. I bet Godric himself was a great arrogant ponce, always trying to be the center of attention. A frown covered his face in what he believed to be a broody, sexy manner. He knew this because he'd practiced it in front of his eager-to-please mirror.
A few Slytherin first-year girls swooned off to his right. He paid them no attention, as he was still trying to uncover the source of all the irkingly cheerful Gryffindor noise. The crowd that was centered around one end of the table suddenly parted, as if Draco's magnificent gaze himself (as Draco believed his gaze to be very masculine) had caused the rift.
There, sitting amongst brightly colored paper was a flushed-faced girl laughing prettily at the attention. It was – it couldn't be – Hermione Granger. Since when did she flush? And since when did she do anything prettily? Draco asked himself despairingly. His perfectly shaped eyebrows knitted together as his frown deepened. That's it, he thought, I need to get out of here.
***
Hours later found Draco in the library, the incident from lunch forgotten for the moment as he delved into his Potions text. He didn't even notice when the object of his un-affection strolled into library, laden down with books and a curiously shaped box. He did look up, however, when the crinkling of foil invaded the previously silent library.
Granger was sitting two tables ahead, her back to him with books spread on the table before her. Draco was still dreadfully curious about what had happened that morning, although he would die before admitting it. He did think he could slyly reap the information from her, though.
He stood and walked over to her in an imperious gait with just enough swagger to make a Ravenclaw fall out of her chair from leaning over for a better view. He didn't bother to spare her any notice, as he was completely focused on his mission.
Granger looked up as he approached, flinching slightly when she saw who it was. Draco smirked at her reaction and her face filled with annoyance.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" she asked in her normal bossy voice.
"Just wondering what got the Gryffindors all in a tizzy this morning," he said in his most condescending tone. "What, did you free another crazed house-elf?"
Granger reached down and took something from a slim box before answering. "No; actually, it's my birthday."
Draco was about to give a snarky reply when he noticed what Granger had retrieved. It was a small, bite-sized and creamy-looking chocolate that she was now holding before her lips. All conscious thought left the normally-suave Slytherin as she placed it on her mouth and – Dear God – a small pink tongue darted out and licked it against her suddenly luscious full lips before popping it in her red, red mouth. He stared transfixed at her – had they always been like that? – moist lips that had a spot of chocolate on them and – there it is again, he thought dazedly as her sly tongue came out for another appearance.
"Malfoy? Malfoy? Draco?" Draco broke out of his trance and closed his mouth, not realizing that he'd been standing there like a gaping fish. Hermione, no, Granger, looked puzzled.
"Hap–happy Birthday, Granger," Draco stuttered before whirling around and hurrying out of the library, leaving behind a very confused Gryffindor and trying to deal with a maelstrom of confusion in his own mind.