Disclaimer: No I'm not smart enough to create all these characters myself. J.K. Rowling is, though.

Title of Story: When Darkness Catches the Light

Summary: Can two sworn enemies ever find true love in each other? What happens when a seductive mission comes along to prod them in the right direction? Draco/Hermione

Rated: PG-13 for language, angst descriptions and some sexual connotations.

Chapter Two: A Different Kind of Story

He comes from a foreign place
An island far away
Intrigues me with every move
Til I'm breathless, I'm helpless
Can't keep my cool
Steals my heart when he takes my hand
And we dance to the rhythm of the band
--Infatuation, Christina Aguilera

"You're meant to be in the Head compartment up front."

Malfoy had entered Hermione's compartment, eyes glistening with malice and arms crossed over his broad chest. His hair was slicked back with what seemed like vats and vats of hair gel. His lips were fixed in a thin straight line.

Hermione felt her breath hitch.

"What do you mean, Malfoy?" Harry said sharply.

Malfoy smirked and ran his hand over his hair. Ron and Harry exchanged momentarily amused glances before Ron moved to stand in front of Hermione.

"Answer him, Malfoy," he said coldly, his freckles blazing with anger.

Malfoy merely sneered.

Ginny tightened her grasp around Harry's arm. Needless to say, Hermione was confused, but she desperately wanted to avoid conflict of any sort in her last year at Hogwarts.

She placed a hand on Ron's shoulder and gently pulled him back, muttering a quick, "It's okay, Ron."

Malfoy seemed to find this even more amusing. His cruel smile made Hermione's blood boil somewhat.

"Cat got your tongue, Malfoy?" she scorned, betraying her New Year's resolution of peace.

Malfor leered. "If it has, it's certainly not the filthy fur ball that you consider your cat, Granger."

Ron scowled. "Don't insult her, Malfoy. I'm warning you."

Malfoy raised an eyebrow. "Weasley, even you're not foolish enough to threaten me. You are asking for a death wish, you know. Yet if I wanted to know if you were being serious about the warning or not, all I need do is drop a little.... Veritaserum... into your evening pumpkin juice and you will bare all... although I guess there's no other scandal that you can reveal, now is there...?"

Ron's eyes were blazing now and he looked ready to kill. Hermione shook her head. Ron was brave, perhaps even a bit reckless, and Malfoy was indeed right, Ron would never win in a duel against him.

They were looking at each other with steely eyes, pure, unadulterated hatred on each face for the other's. Hermione would not let Ron endanger his life for her.

"Um Malfoy," she spoke uncertainly, "why was it again that you came here?"

She was regretful soon after uttering her words that they were not as bitter as she would have liked them to be. Yet the lack of bitterness seemed rather subconscious. She knew Malfoy would probably see the innocence as a weakness on her part and would surely use it against her.

But when Malfoy glanced at her, his eyes seemed completely impassive. She willed herself to not become absorbed in those beautiful, silver orbs...

"Pity you've lost that brain of yours in our last and most important year at Hogwarts, Mudblood," Malfoy sneered, emphasizing the last word with an almost fanatical relish. "I am Head Boy this year and unfortunately – for me, that is – you are Head Girl. So if your will make your graceful appearance at the Head compartment when you think it best suits you, I'm confident they will not confiscate your title."

Malfoy's voice was positively dripping with sarcasm. He bowed mockingly and left their compartment, his robes billowing behind him.

"Hermione, are you okay?" Ron inquired amiably, stroking her hair.

Hermione felt a fleeting sense of irritation at Ron. He's treating me like a damn baby! Malfoy didn't even lay a finger on me...

But you wanted him to, another voice in her mind reprimanded.

Hermione shook her head out of the thought.

"Hey Hermione, " Ginny said, a smile playing on her face, "you never told me you made Head Girl! Well done!"

Hermione opened her mouth to say that she didn't exactly know it herself, but then thought better of it. She didn't want to let on her doubt to the others.

"Oh," she replied hastily. "I just didn't think it was important..."

Ron playfully punched her arm.

"Of course it is you dope," he teased. "Congratulations, I'm really happy for you."

And he genuinely looked it. Hermione felt bad that she had ever experienced feelings of disgust towards Ron. He really did care about her.

"Well I guess you better go up front then," Harry nodded reassuringly at her. "I just hope Malfoy doesn't give you any trouble."

Hermione smiled at his thoughtfulness. "Harry, I'm a big girl and I'm pretty sure I can look after myself. Malfoy is just a stupid jerk, so don't worry about me."

Hermione really meant the last sentence. Malfoy was indeed a jerk. But she couldn't help but think that deep down, he was possibly just a sweet and vulnerable boy. Draco's macho act had mislead her for years, making her believe that he was simply born that way. But now... she truly felt different about him... and she didn't know why.

Just then, Ron looped his arm around her waist and brought her closer to him. She could feel the familiar contours of his body next to her.

"I swear Hermione," Ron murmured softly, so that only she could hear, "you look more and more beautiful every time I see you."

Hermione smiled and felt an overwhelming desire to kiss Ron, right in front of Harry and Ginny. Ron seemed to sense this, and instinctively placed a soft kiss on her lips.

Waves of heat spread through Hermione. The kiss had numbed her sense of anxiety and indecisiveness and she felt momentarily elated. She took the initiative to deepen the kiss, resolutely wishing to slake her thirst for more of Ron's warmth.

But her lips were prickling with the kiss. It was an odd and sore feeling.

Ron withdrew almost instantaneously at Hermione's vigour, his face a deep shed of red as he glanced nervously towards Ginny and Harry, who were trying to maintain straight faces.

Hermione sighed. She felt guilty and for some reason, evil, that she had so forcefully pulled Ron to her, just to satisfy her own desire. It was not a scandalous desire, really. She had just felt so cold and empty, for so long... but when kissing Ron, it just seemed to... disappear...

But what of the tingling? Why had it felt so strange and even painful? It was not a normal feeling that Hermione had experienced before. She did not like the feeling one bit.

Nevertheless, Hermione smiled supportively at Ron, nodding to signal that she was not upset at him.

"Um, you better go before my brother starts shagging you senseless right here in this very compartment," Ginny giggled.

Ron threw a scandalised look her way, but grinned sheepishly at Hermione.

She returned the smile hesitantly and walked through the compartment door, unconsciously leaving it ajar behind her.

The journey toward the Head compartment was not necessarily a pleasant one. It was more reminiscent.

Hermione didn't even get a chance to think about how happy she was with the news of her leadership position. She was certainly pleased. Pleased, but not ecstatic, as she thought she ought to have been.

So why wasn't she?

Ron, Hermione grumbled. It was Ron's fault she wasn't over the moon. The kiss they shared was still nagging Hermione. She did not understand why it had hurt her, why it had tingled so peculiarly. Also the fact that Ron was treating her like she was a delicate porcelain doll and Hermione certainly did not appreciate that.

Then her conscience bit back at her. Ron is delightful, Hermione, he loves you.

You're the selfish one, milking him for all he's worth and then leaving him to be abandoned.

Hermione stopped in her stride.

It was not really as if she didn't love Ron. It was more so the strange, almost inherent feeling that Hermione felt she could love and trust no one... enjoy intimacy with no one...

No, she told herself firmly. I am not using Ron. I love Ron. I love him...

She repeated it like a mantra to herself silently, but she then realised that she was in denial. And the repetition of the phrase was not going to change the fact that she had no romantic feelings toward Ron whatsoever.

He was sweet, but a little... too sweet?!

Hermione never thought there was such a thing as being 'too-sweet'. She had always loved stories where the hero rescued the damsel-in-distress from the wicked villain. The evil scoundrel was often left to rot in the dungeon, while the hero had been so benevolent and chivalrous and noble and kind...

So why had she suddenly felt like she fancied the villain of her story?
A/N: Hey everyone again! Another chappy from me but um yeah, appreciate any comments you give me and thanks for reading so far! Oh and thanks to my wonderful reviewers, you know who you are, I can't thank you enough. Aw I feel sorry for Hermione, she is so confused at the moment! Argh. But don't worry, I have a pretty good plot lined up, well I think its good (hehehe) and yeh it will straighten out Hermione's feelings a tad even though there is some deception yikes! lol. Coming up in Chapter Three: an appearance from Seamus and Dean and also the Headmaster himself and Hermione and Draco have a fight (as if you didn't see that coming!). I'm still debating with myself as to whether I should write at least a part of the next chappy from Draco's POV... though the consistency with Hermione might also have its advantages, even though probably in either chappy four or five or watever I will definitely have to change POVs... but I guess you'll have to wait and see my final decision... but thank you for reading :)!