Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor do I own 'A Little Princess.'

Infatuation.

Was that what she was feeling truly? She didn't know and didn't contemplate it now when she was late for Latin class.

Draco had left abruptly when Mrs. Dursley suddenly burst in to the room. It was a shock to both of them and Draco scurried down the Hall and up to the stairs heading to the attic.

Hermione frowned. She was fond of Draco and was annoyed because this – this woman was always keeping her away from him.

"Draco's so nice. I don't know why should he be a servant." She had protested.

The tight-lipped Headmistress had nastily replied, "A servant, is a servant. You are not allowed to speak with him nor come in to contact, am I clear?"

Hermione grudgingly nodded.

It was a chilly autumn's Sunday and Hermione and the rest of the students lined up to go to church.

"Come along now, children."

The children hastily chased after the retreating figure of the Headmistress.

Hermione looked back towards the looming castle smiling, of all things.

Draco pushed open the aged attic-door, making a creaking sound; he winced and hoped no one heard. He quickly dismissed the icy chill of the wind and went in to his freezing room. He suddenly stopped short smiling at the orange box that lay by his bed.

He made his way to the package and slowly lifted off the lid.

Inside laid a pair of shoes, the newest pair he had ever received. They were white and soft. Slippers.

He slipped then on and smiled. He knew just who had the heart to give them to him.

Hermione.

He wiggled his toes in his slippers and hugged his pillow, curled up on his broken bed and fell asleep.

Loud cries and screams could be heard outside the girl's dormitories. Hermione, the always-curious one crept outside to take a look. On the floor was a little girl; pounding on the floor crying her eyes out, she must have not been very old. She looked around ten or so.

Hermione gently kneeled beside the crying girl and hushed her, "What's wrong?"

The girl stopped and sniffled, looking up at Hermione she snapped, "None of your business. Go away."

"She's Lavender. She's the same age as you, you know?" A voice behind her replied. Hermione turned around to find a girl around her age with long red hair, and intense blue eyes.

"And what's your name?" Hermione asked politely.

"Ginny." The redhead replied.

"My name's Hermione. So—do you know what's wrong with Lavender?"

"Her mother died when she was born. Her father put in here so he wouldn't have to look at her…"

Hermione again kneeled beside Lavender and started saying, "It's okay Lavender, I don't have a mother either, you know? And my father has left me here to go to the war."

Lavender stopped sniffling for a moment and looked at Hermione, "Really?"

Hermione nodded earnestly. "Sometimes when you're really quiet, they can hear you and you can hear them. Well—that's what I think. It must be so silly."

Lavender disagreed, "No—it's not silly at all. Sometimes I think she can look down at me from heaven." Lavender's voice was trembling slightly.

"Everyone looks down at you already," a voice behind the three sneered. "Why should your dead mother be any different?"

Lavender's eyes looked as if she was going to start crying again.

"Leave her alone, Pansy." Ginny glared.

"Why should I Weasley?" Pansy sneered.

"Because she said so." Hermione snapped, she was getting tired of all this rudeness.

Pansy then shut up and glared at Hermione. "Hmmph, so you're the new girl. You're so ugly, I don't know why all the boys want to court you." Pansy sniffed.

"Maybe they can't even stand to see your face anyways." Ginny muttered so only Lavender and Hermione could hear. Hermione and Lavender laughed at that and made Pansy even angrier.

Pansy turned on her heel and retreated back in to her room to brush her hair.

But the three didn't notice the pair of eyes that was watching them.

"Children! Breakfast!" Lily Evans cried downstairs.

The girls and boys all crowded around the table, one side filled with boys and the other with the girls.

"The Headmistress won't be joining us today…" Lily said, with a hint of reluctance in her voice.

A creak of the door was heard and clanking as well. Hermione turned and caught the eye of Draco smiling. She smiled happily back at him.

Dudley tripped Draco as he went past and sent Draco hurling towards the floor. A crash sounded. Hermione jumped up from her seat and hurried to Draco's side.

The children gasped.

She helped him up and whispered gently, "Are you okay Draco?" She smiled when he said he was fine. If Hermione turned around she would've seen Dudley looking livid.

The cook came out and told Draco off, telling him to clean up the porridge splashed all over the floor.

Draco got out a mop and bucket and started cleaning up the mess. Hermione silently helped him by whispering a spell, so when the mop moved over the porridge, it would disappear immediately. Draco soon caught on and said a silent thank you to Hermione.

When Breakfast ended, Lily called Hermione to her, "Hermione, I know you're friends with him, but don't do it in front of us, especially Dudley and his friends. They'll tell the Headmistress without a moment's hesitation."

Hermione took Lily's warning trivially.

Draco saw Hermione was alone and hugged her around the waist. "Guess who?" He whispered in her ear.

"Draco…"

He smiled as his heart fluttered. "Hermione…I think we should…"

Hermione fulfilled his wish my cutting him off with her lips pressed against his. She tasted like strawberries, his favourite fruit. And guess what? They liked it.

Hermione felt as if she was floating and she could feel all his love for her. It was her second kiss, and it would just keep getting better and better with him.

They sprang apart for air and smiled in to each other's eyes.

"Miss Granger." A strained voice came from the door.

Review. Or I won't continue. (Glares at all of you.)