Title: Secret Desires

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything else associated with the books.

Summary: Alternate Universe. (Hr/D) Hermione is a Malfoy and a Slytherin. Draco is a muggleborn Gryffindor whose best friend is Harry Potter. What happens when these two enemies start having feelings for each other?

This is an alternate universe fic so the characters will be ooc. I hope you guys don't get confused with the names. Remember Hermione is a Malfoy and Draco's name is Draco Granger.

Chapter 3: A Snake's Gratitude

Although Draco and Hermione shared the Head Boy/ Girl Common Room, it was very rare the day that they actually came in contact with each other. Draco was usually in the Gryffindor Common Room and Hermione kept to herself most of the time in her own bedroom. This is why the next time they interacted with each other was not in their common room, as one would expect, but in the Hogwarts Library.

Draco and Hermione had to write a foot long parchment on Doxies for Care of Magical Creatures. Although it was only due in two weeks, they were already busy doing research. They didn't even realize each other's presence until they both reached for the same book.

"Excuse me, but I…" Hermione stopped speaking when she saw who she was talking too. It was as if her tongue had just swollen up in her mouth. She felt remorse, an unnatural and obscene emotion, for what she had said to Draco Granger in Hogsmeade. Draco Granger! The low life she was supposed to squash. He was mud under her shoes and yet, as she stood there, watching him at that moment, he seemed no different from her. Draco was just a regular boy and deep down she had known this for a long time. That was why she was feeling horrible for causing him so much pain with her words.

Draco let Hermione take the book. He was still furious with her and didn't want to get into another argument with the Queen of Slytherin. He was about to leave when he felt a hand on his arm.

"Umm Draco, I just want to say…I mean I just want to…uhh". Hermione was not raised to apologize to anybody, especially a muggle-born, so she was having a difficult time finding the words.

"Look Malfoy if you want another fight, just get it over with, so that I could get back to my research."

"No it's not that at all." Hermione was frustrated with herself for not being able to get out a simple apology. "Granger, you know what, just keep the stupid book. I don't need it anyway."

Hermione was embarrassed by her apparent weakness, so she snatched her bag off a couch that was in the corner of the room and left the library as quickly as possible.

Draco was left stunned for a moment, registering what had just transpired between them two. Not only did Hermione Malfoy not pick on him and call him names, but she had also let him keep the book. Of course, to the average person, it would sound as if she was being awful to him, but Draco knew that this was an unusual act for the ice princess. He had to remember to thank her later.

Hermione walked quickly through the halls at Hogwarts to get to the Head Common Room. What would her father say about what she had thought about and what she had done today? Not only did she almost apologize to a muggle-born, but she also allowed him to get what he wanted. Hermione knew she was a great disappointment to the Malfoy family name. She was supposed to treat Granger badly. The scenario she had created for herself was so clear in her head. She was supposed to make fun of him and his origin and leave the library not only with the book, but also with a smile of satisfaction on her face. Why couldn't she just be the perfect pureblood witch that her father raised her to be.

Hermione was so distracted by these thoughts that she didn't even notice her best friend approaching her until she heard her name being called out.

"Mione! Mione! Hermione!!!"

Hermione stopped walking and looked up to find Ron in front of her. "Oh, hey Ron!"

"Where have you been Mione? I've been looking for you."

"Umm…I was in the library." Hermione didn't want to tell Ron about what had occurred in the library with Draco, so she kept her responses short and continued to walk towards her common room. She didn't want Ron to question her any further about her whereabouts.

"Hermione what's wrong?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about Ron."

"Hermione! Hermione! Why can't you just bloody stop and look at me?"

Hermione was annoyed with Ron's questioning. The only thing she wanted to do was go into her room and be alone with her books and her thoughts. Hermione stopped once again in the middle of the now empty hallway and glared at Ron.

"What is it Ron?"

"I just want to know what is wrong with you. Ever since we came back from Hogsmeade, it seems that something has been bothering you."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really Hermione."

"You know what Ron, something has been bothering me. Do you really want me to tell you what it is?"

"Yes Hermione, please just tell me."

"Your presence is bothering me and your inquisitive nature. Can you just leave me alone for awhile?"

Hermione didn't even wait for a response from Ron. She took the couple of steps needed to get to her common room, whispered the password and walked in before Ron fully realized what had just occurred.

Hermione locked herself in her private room for nearly two hours, attempting to study. The operative word, of course, being 'attempting'. She could not get the argument between her and Ron out of her head. Ron was her best friend and she loved him like a brother. She didn't remember the last time they had truly fought. Hermione decided that it was best if she took a walk to clear her head before going down to dinner.

Hermione walked down the stairs that led from her room to the common room. She had grown so accustomed to the common room being empty that she jumped with fright when she heard her name being called out.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you," Draco said as he got up from the couch with a book in his hands.

"You couldn't possibly scare me mudblood". Hermione was angry at herself when she saw the pain in Draco's eyes after she had said this. She actually didn't know why she had said it. It was simply done on impulse.

Draco was angry at what Hermione had just said so he threw the book back on the coach with force. "Look I just wanted to thank you for earlier and give you the book back. I'm already finished with it and thought you might need it. I thought it was the least I could do, since you let me take it out."

After finishing what he wanted to say to Hermione, Draco turned towards the stairs and walked quickly towards his room. However, before he was able to shut the door , he heard Hermione thank him. Although it was barely audible, Draco was able to catch it. For a moment he was too stunned to even do anything. When he was finally able to turn toward the area she had been standing only moments before, Hermione had already left. With a smile on his face, Draco walked into his room to get ready for dinner.

Thank you to all my reviewers.

I hope you guys liked this chapter. : ) I know it's kind of boring, short, and nothing important occurred. There will be more Draco/ Hermione action next time and later on we will learn about Lucius plans for his little girl.

Sarahamanda: Yeah I think they are too nice to be in Slytherin too, that's why I wanted to experiment in this fic. Thank you so much for your review.

Avlrocks: His name is Granger. I realized that I might not have made that clear that's why I wrote that on top of this fic in the a/n. Thank you for telling me this or I wouldn't have realized it.

Please: Oh wow I'm sorry. I hadn't even realized that I had spelled her name wrong. I fixed it up as soon as I read your review. Thanks for pointing that out.

DazedPanda: Thank you!

Spicysuga: Thank you! I'll try as best as I can.

Red satin and black silk: Thank you! I'll try to update sooner next time.

The Ever Lazy One: Look I updated! Can you believe it? (lol ) I hope you like it. I'm not sure if it made your day. It was probably a big let down, but at least I updated it. (lol)