Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed my last chapter. I appreciate all your comments very much . Also, I have an important question to ask, and i was wondering if anyone knew: Does anybody know the names of any Hogwarts students who are half-bloods or muggle-born witches, besides Hermione?

Chapter Five: Coincidence

"Should I say it

Should I tell you how I feel?

Oh, I want you to know

But then again I don't

It's so complicated"

It was nearing the end of Christmas break, and students were due to arrive by tomorrow so that classes can resume the day after. Most people had gone home to celebrate the holiday with their families. Almost everyone, that is, except Hermione. She didn't feel like going on vacation this year with her parents, and instead decided on staying in Hogwarts and finish up her studies. Her parents eventually agreed with her decision, of course, but were very disappointed that she can't come with them.

She had already received her Christmas presents and was now happily looking over at all of them. She got several books to add to her expanding collection: Hogwarts: A History, Seventh Edition from Harry, Achievements in Charming from Ron, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them from Hagrid. She'd also received quite a lot of clothes from both Mrs. Weasley and her parents, and a necklace with a lion pendant from Ginny. All morning, she was unwrapping the gifts cheerfully, and trying her new clothes on.

In the afternoon, Hermione decided to head down to the library and start reading her new books since all of her friends were gone home. If she has enough time after that, she could do some studying and work. As she was sitting down in her usual spot in the library, she noticed a familiar blonde-haired boy in the opposite end.

Omigosh, what is Draco doing here?? Why would HE be in the library, instead of at home for Christmas?? She thought. She saw that he was deeply concentrated on a book he was reading, which was surprising since he never takes interest in anything that has to do with schoolwork. It must be some good book; his eyes seemed as if they were focusing on every word in the book, trying to decipher every meaning. He was also ignoring everyone around him, which would explain why he didn't start teasing her when she walked past him.

Okay, that's enough... stop looking at him. Just get to work, Hermione thought when she realized that she had been staring at him for a few minutes but she couldn't resist another look at him. After all, she was very curious as to what Draco was reading. As she looked up at him, she noticed that he was staring at her. She blushed and looked quickly back down at her work, but was so embarrassed and mentally slapped herself to not do that again. She was so busy trying to pretend like she was doing her work that she didn't notice someone approaching her.

"Ahem"

Hermione looked up and let out a little gasp. "Umm... yes? Can I help you with something?"

"Just wanted to know if I can sit here" Draco pointed to the seat across from Hermione.

"Why? What's wrong with your seat?"

"It just gets a bit lonely over there" he said with his famous smirk.

Hermione sighed. She thought to herself, why does he want to sit with me? He can't even stand to be around me! Why is he so polite to me today, when every time he sees me, all he does is make fun of me? Should I let him sit? I wonder if he's pulling a trick on me...

"Helloooo? Earth to Granger, are you there?" Draco waved his hand in front of her face, interrupting her thoughts.

"Yes, yes... stop that!" she said when he wouldn't stop waving his hand. "You can sit down as long as you don't bother me, or I'll hex you outta here. Got that?"

"Yes, ma'am" he said, putting his hands up in the air as if to surrender and slumped into the chair across from her. He pulled out the book that he was reading a while earlier, and again, had that concentrated look on his face. This time he was closer to her, so she noticed more clearly how his eyes kept scanning the page, going from left to right and stopping a few times when he couldn't figure something out. When he did that, his eyebrows would furrow, and his eyes would squint as if he was reading an alien language. It was quite funny actually, since she had never seen him with that face ever in all of the years she had to deal with him in Hogwarts. She wondered what made him so intense on reading and looked at the spine of the book.

'Dreams and Its Interpretations'. Now why would he be reading that?? She wondered to herself.

"I know you already think I'm extremely good-looking, so you don't need to stare at me like that"

"I'm not! I wasn't! Argh... you're a disgusting, self-conceited git!" Hermione snapped and buried herself in her homework. She didn't notice, however, that he had a slight smile on his face after.

Draco knew it must be strange that he would be in the library reading a book, sitting across from someone he couldn't stand. But since there was almost no body in the school, and he found the one book that could help him understand more about his dreams, he could care less. He noticed how Hermione kept on glancing up at him every couple of minutes. He couldn't help but put on a small smile, regardless that he was Draco Malfoy, the one who rarely shows his feelings except to put fear in others.

She must be thinking I'm under some kind of spell for acting so nice, he thought as he laughed to himself.

"What's so funny?" Hermione asked.

"Huh? What?" "I... asked... you... what... was... so... funny?" she repeated, more slowly this time as if Draco was didn't quite understand the English language.

"Oh, I was just laughing at your face" he said quickly when he realized that she heard him laugh. That was close; he didn't want her to know what he was thinking about.

"You know, there are no witnesses here so I can easily hex you all I want."

"Ok, ok! Jeez Granger, calm down. I'll behave myself if you will," he said with a smirk. He didn't want to let his guard down, not even for one second, especially in front people like Hermione or else he would lose that power of intimidation that he has over everybody. She was definitely different, which made him all the more curious to get to know her better, to know her secrets or to see the other side of her personality when he's not around. He stopped his thoughts there before he got carried away, and continued reading his book.

"Dreams are hallucinations that can also serve as fantastical journeys that help us relieve stress or reduce certain habits. They are a mixture of our biological instincts, cultural assumptions, and personal experiences. While dreaming, the brain uses these three factors to create stories to replay recent events or voice the concerns the waking mind is not ready to face. These stories often have difficult plots and visual or verbal situations that can help unlock their meanings. They help us to understand ourselves and our futures depending on how it is interpreted. If analyzed correctly, we can discover deep secrets or reveal concealed feelings."

After reading the paragraph on dreams, Draco knew he was on to something. He didn't know what deep secret or concealed feelings the masked girl in his dream was suppose to symbolize. He knew that maybe his dream was just trying to reveal the identity of the masked girl or something simple like that, but he was too interested in the book to care. If any of the Slytherins saw him in the library totally immersed in a book, like Hermione, they would definitely disown him from the House. He laughed to himself at this thought, careful this time to not let Hermione notice. He looked up to see what she was doing, but she was already gone.

Had I been that absorbed into the book that I didn't notice she left? He thought with a shrug. He let out a little sigh and went back to reading. He noticed a dictionary that was included at the back of the book where it is used to interpret the meaning of any significant object or situation in the dream, and quickly looked up the word mask.

"Mask:

1. Wearing a mask in your dream symbolizes that you may be pretending to be someone you are not or hiding your true feelings.

2. Seeing others wear a mask in your dream symbolizes that you will be battling against deceit, dishonesty, and jealousy.

3. Seeing others unmask in your dream symbolizes failure in gaining the admiration and/or respect of someone sought after."

Draco closed the book, more questions forming in his head than ever before.