DISCLAIMER: JK Rowling owns everything but me – they'll never catch me mwahahahaha!! Em yes. Ok. Anyway, on with the story!!

Encounters

The next morning Hermione Granger flounced down to the Great Hall for breakfast. She skipped over to the long Gryffindor table and sat down beside her best friends Ron and Harry.

"Gooooooodmorning gentlemen!" she said, game show style.

"You're cheery." Ron said through a mouthful of cereal.

"Well observed Ronald, well observed!" she answered, grabbing some toast.

Harry looked up from his breakfast.

"Any particular reason why?" he asked dully.

"Yes." She said.

They waited for a few moments before Ron turned around to look her in the face and said "Yes….."

Hermione giggled.  "Yes yes!"

Ron and Harry looked at each other, completely dumbfounded. Why was Hermione happy? Where there some exams coming up that only she knew about? Had Dumbledore just asked her to spend the rest of her life in classes?

Then Harry's eyes widened. "Damn it Hermione, did you steal any of my beer from my dorm?!" he accused.

"You have beer in your dorm?" Ron and Hermione asked in unison.

"I didn't say that."  Harry replied awkwardly, and resumed to swirling his cereal – hiding a most probably blushing face.

"My God you two! Have you completely forgotten what day it is?" she exclaimed.

"Um, Monday?" they answered.

"Yes – Monday! And what happens first on a Monday?" she looked at them. When no reply came, she sighed and informed them brightly "Double Transfiguration!"

Harry groaned while Hermione beamed brightly.

"Um, actually Hermione…" Ron began, pulling something out of his pocket. "We have double transfiguration next Monday. This Monday, we have double Potions first." He said, showing her his timetable he had taken out.

"What?!" she exclaimed. She snatched the crumpled piece of parchment out of his hands. She looked at it for a few moments before banging her fist in the table and throwing the parchment in Ron's general direction.

"Sorry." Ron said apologetically. Harry kicked him under the table and made an angry face at him. Happy Hermione was much nicer than angry Hermione. Much nicer. 

"Dumb school."  Hermione murmured as she reached for another slice of toast. Everybody within listening range (meaning two extra people seeing as she had murmured) looked at her in shock. Hermione – criticising school? What kind of crazy world was this?! 

"What the hell is that asshole looking at?" Hermione said, motioning at the Slytherin table. Normally, her friends would be amazed at her once-in-a-lifetime swearing, but they were still trying to get over her last comment. 

Ron and Harry followed her hand. Sure enough, Draco Malfoy was sitting at the table smiling contently at them.  When he noticed the angry glares he got in return, he busied himself buttering toast, talking, fiddling with his cup – anything to avoid their gaze.

"Odd." Harry Thought. No angry faces, no smart comments, no hand gestures for them? Not the normal Malfoy response. Then again, this hadn't been a normal morning.

*~*~*~*~*

            Hermione was running towards the Potions Dungeon. Snape was going to kill her. She was 10 minutes late because she had had to go back to her room to get her books. On her way, a tall figure stepped in front of her and gently grabbed her elbows.

"Granger." Its voice said. She looked up to see Draco Malfoy in front of her. "Um, hi." He said, smiling. Smiling? Yes, there was no doubt – he was smiling the same smile he had on that morning.

"What do you want Malfoy?" she asked, exasperated.

He looked a bit confused. "Um, just to say hi, you know?"

She looked even more confused. "Ok…hi. Can I go now?"

Draco looked at her. She was so beautiful. He must have looked at her for some time because the next thing he knew she was saying:

"Hello, Draco! Can I go now?" she asked, shaking her head.

"Huh? Oh um…" he stuttered, laughing lightly. "Yeah, sure." He smiled that smile.

"What is up with him?" Hermione thought.

"Ok, kind of need you to let go of me for me to do that." She said pointedly.

"Oh God yeah, sorry." He blushed and let go, realizing he'd been keeping her in a fairly firm grasp.  She rubbed her elbows and gave him a quizzical glance. She walked off, muttering something that sounded like "Weirdo".

Draco waited before she was out of sight before running to the Slytherin common room. As soon as he got there he kicked the wall in frustration.

"What the hell was that Malfoy!" he yelled at himself. He looked around, thankful the room was empty. Why was the room so empty? Oh yeah, class. He realized he had potions. She would be there. There was no way he would be able to face her so soon. Snape wouldn't mind anyway. He sat down in a chair. What had he done? Hadn't he decided to ignore his feelings?

"But you can't do that. Na na na na na!" the obnoxious, younger him voice sang from inside.

"Shut the hell up!" he screamed again. Damn he was glad no one else was there.

Hermione arrived in the dungeon 20 minutes late for class.

"Ah, Granger. So glad you decided to take the time out of your busy schedule to join us." Snape snarled. A lot of the Slytherins laughed. Ok, it hadn't been that funny.

"I'm sorry professor! I had to go -"

"I don't want to know your pathetic excuses Granger. Sit down and 10 points from Gryffindor, and thank your stars it's not 20."

Hermione did as she was told and slid into her seat. When Snape turned his back, Ron leant back and whispered to her.

"Hey, how come you're so late?"

"I met Draco." She whispered back. Ron looked at her incredulously.

"Long and very confusing story. Tell you later." She said. Ron nodded and turned around to face the front quickly. But not quick enough.

"Weasley! 5 points from Gryffindor!" Snape yelled. Ron moaned and picked up his quill again.

Little note from me: wow thank you so much everybody!! Lots of reviews in such a short space of time – you're all brilliant!! Anyway, in answer to your question 'me', it's rated R because I'm not entirely sure of the plot yet and I don't trust my mind so really it's just a precaution J Thank you everyone who said it's interesting – I hope you mean good interesting!! Somnium Niveus – wow thank you so much! And thank you to everyone else who reviewed too! I was going to name you all but instead I'll just upload this chapter and work on the rest! Please keep reviewing though and all questions and suggestions are welcome!!