Brightness of a Beloved Eye
Chapter Two: Who the Hell is Hermione Granger?

…

The feeling of emptiness followed me wherever I went all week long. It had started to get annoying. But not as annoying as that girl that was by my hospital bed last week. She remained ever elusive, although I knew she went to Hogwarts.

I walked into Double Potions with those damn Gryffindors and sat down in the first seat available. There was someone sitting next to me, but I didn't care who it was, as long as they didn't bother me.

Whispers started up around the room and I stared at everyone to shut them up. I was not in the mood to be bothered.

Snape swept into the classroom, his cloak billowing out behind him. He stopped to look at me, and my chosen seat and gave me a pointed look, which I returned.

He sneered slightly and continued to the front of the class.

"Turn to page 638 and start the potion with your partner next to you."

No one moved.

"NOW." And everyone started scrambling.

"Alright, you can start doing everything and then I'll bottle it up." I said to the person next to me. I turned to them and almost let a gasp leak out when I discovered it was the elusive girl.

"You."

"Who's me?" she mocked.

I scowled at her. She made no move to begin the potion.

"What are you waiting for? Start the damn potion."

"No. This is a partner potion and I'll damn you if you don't help."

The room went silent as they heard her talk back to me. Me, of all people. I scoffed. She didn't know who she was messing with.

I scowled at her and came back with a reply. But it died on my lips as I rethought my reply. Maybe I could play with her a bit.

"Alright. I'll help you."

She looked at me with an amused expression and nodded her head.

"Ok. You can get the ingredients and I'll start prepping the cauldron and tools."

I went to get the ingredients on the front table, but it was still quiet as a tomb. I stared at everyone until they started whispering and working again. Ah… the pleasures of being king.

I dumped all the things on the table and waited for her to tell me what to do.

"Well, start chopping the root and then I'll do the…"

And on the potion-making went. I waited for her to tell me what to do and did everything perfectly. I could tell that it started to annoy her so I did it even more perfectly than before. And finally, it was time to leave.

"Thanks." She said to me before I left.

I was so startled that it escaped my mask and she saw and chuckled slightly. She brushed past me and left by herself.

The Golden Boys left after her, running to catch up.

Wasn't it always the Golden Trio? What happened to…?

I left it alone. It was that empty feeling again. But, strange, I didn't feel that as I was working with that girl.

I still didn't know who she was!

I grabbed Longbottom and demanded to know whom I was working with. He looked ready to piss his pants, but managed to stutter out the answer.

"Y-you should know her. I-it's Hermione."

"Why should I know her? Hermione WHAT?"

"G-granger. B-because you and she h-have…"

He didn't get to finish as Golden Boy Weasel pulled him out of my grip and started to lead him down the corridor. I overheard what he told Longbottom as they left.

"You shouldn't announce what you aren't sure of Neville…"

"Weasel! You took my informant!" I yelled after him.

"Screw you too, Ferret." He yelled after his retreating steps.

"Damn Weasel."

I headed towards the dungeons, furious with letting Weasel take my answers right out of my hands. I must be going soft. I didn't even hex him.

With that realization, I went off in searching of first and second years to play with.

…

Authoress's Notes:
As I reread this, it seems to me that Draco is appearing too soft. Although my brother, my beta, tells me otherwise, it still feels that way. So, if he is… well, ignore it, I'm not changing it. I've tried my best to keep him as "mean and evil" as I can imagine him to be.

Yes, I'm aware that everyone in Slytherin or anywhere else, for that matter, would tell Draco about what Hermione did to him, but let's just let him figure it out on his own.

And in this story, Pansy is Draco's best friend, not lovers, not girlfriend, not anything, but best friend.

Until next time. Remember to REVIEW.

Kristina Chang