Walking very fast and snarling at every boy who happened to glance his way, Draco scanned the corridors, trying to

think of somewhere to find sanctuary. *The library* No self-respecting 6th year would be in there on a Saturday....

except maybe Hermione Granger. *Do I want to risk running into that Mudblood?*

"Draco! Draco, I love you!" A distant voice cried.....a distant male voice.

*Yes*

* * * * * * * * * *

Draco tentavely opened the door, perring through the crack into the library. Just as he'd thought - it was empty.

Sighing with relief, he pushed the door open further and sloped in. *Ok....what now?* Until then, Draco had tried to

steer clear of the library. Now his sanity depended on it and he had nothing to do. He dropped into a chair and rested

his head on the table, pondering the days events.

* * * * * * * * * *

Hermione sat in silence in front of the fireplace, pretending to listen to Ron gushing over Malfoy. She glared, eyes

glazed over as if in a trance, into the dancing flames of the fire. Her mind was working over-time, trying to think of

something - anything - to break the spell.

"Hermione?"

Ron's voice rocked her out of her trance. "Yes?"

"I said - it is rather odd, isn't it?"

"What is?"

Ron sighed, starry eyed, and threw himself onto the couch next to her.

"Me.....Draco.....the factthat I love him all of a sudden..."

*Draco?* Hermione couldn't take it any longer.

"Love? Ron, you don't love MALFOY - its a spell! Pansy Parkinson.....the stupid..."

But Ron wasn't listening. He gazed into the fire, a wonky grin plastered on his face. Hermione could see it was hopeless.

"I love him so much. When he's not here, I feel....oh why am I talking to you about it? Its not like you understand."

Tears threatened Hermione - lurking behind her eyes. If only he knew how close to home those words were.

* * * * * * * * * *

*A love spell, it must be....someone's idea of joke. Potter.*

Just as he was contemplating just why Potter would consider this funny, Draco heard a shuffle of boots behind him, to

his left. His head snapped up, eyes darting from left to right - trying to find the culprit of the noise. Nothing. Silently

rising to his feet, Draco prowled over to the spot he thought the sound had come from. He dived into the aisle in front

of the spot and stopped, peering through the gaps in the books. Peering at....Harry Potter.

Potter seemed unaware of the prying eyes as he flipped the pages of the book he was engrossed in. Draco felt his eyes

wander to Potter's eyelashes - so dainty and soft looking. They were very long, and curved...and framed his emerald

green eyes perfectly....

*What AM I thinking?*

Potter stopped reading. Draco could tell - Potter's eyes had stopped scanning the words and were now perfectly still -

staring at the page.

*Has he heard me?*

Slowly and cautiously, Potter looked up - just in time for Draco to slide along the shelf, out of his view. Potter saw

nothing. Seemingly satisified that he wasn't being watched, he returned to his book. Draco slowly worked his way back

to the gap in the books and again rested his eyes upon the Gryffindor. The candles nearby threw tiny shadows dancing

on Potter's face - his smooth skin glowing in the weak light. Draco couldn't help but notice the way Potter's raven hair

was hanging over his forehead. His eyes wandered down to Potter's hands - strong and manly.

*What on earth....*

Draco's thought was interrupted as Potter's eyes snapped up - and landed on the bewildered face of Draco.

"Hi." said the Gryffindor.

* * * * * * * * * *

Hermione and Ron sat side by side - neither speaking - their demeeners contrasting dramatically. Ron: still with his

wonky grin worn only by those in love - and Hermione: tears still brimming her dark eyes. Ron looked into her eyes,

apparently oblivious to the pain concealed withing them.

"Do you think he loves me back?" he asked, looking suddeny pained.

"Ron..." Hermione began, exhasperated. She looked into his big brown eyes and knew she couldn't break his spirit like

this. She sighed, a heavy, sad sigh. "You never know."

Ron face brightened once again.

"Have you ever felt like this? Do you know how love feels?" Ron grinned.

Hermione looked away. Tears had began to fall. She had harboured a secret longing for Ron since the begining of their

3rd year - to see him madly in love with someone else - much less Draco Malfoy - hurt more than she could have

imagined. Spell or not - it was still unbearable. She could only hope he wouldn't act on his infatuation.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Er....Hello..." *Hello? HELLO? What sort of greeting is that to give your nemesis?* "...Potter." He added. *Pathetic*

Draco felt like a right pillock. Forcing himself to sneer, he looked into Potter's green eyes. Surprisingly, Potter was

scrambling to close the book and shove it back on the shelf, closing the gap between which they had been looking.

*Potter as well? I can have some fun with this.*