A/N: Thankyou all so much for the reviews! You all rock!

DISCLAIMER: I own the plot, nothing more.

Chapter Two: Obvious

The first day of school couldn't finish quick enough for Draco. But when it did he was glad. Probably the happiest feeling he'd felt for the first time in months. But still, he had homework to do, three subjects of it and two pieces were due the next day. Are they planning on killing them this year or something? That was the only conclusion Draco could or would settle with as he headed to the Library after a nice dinner – would you call it a great dinner if you had Pansy hanging off your arm and Crabbe and Goyle eating in front of you with there mouths open allowing you too see the chewed food inside?

Well… perhaps it was an okay dinner.

Draco was lucky enough to even escape the clutches of Pansy – he did when she declared to the whole common room that she needed to use the ladies room to pamper up for her Drakie. Draco made Blaise swear to keep his mouth shut on his where abouts when she returned – if he told her, Draco said he would personally see to it that Blaise was the most unpopular person in the school.

So now he was in the Library, after receiving a glare from Madam Pince, Draco headed to the senior study area near the restricted section, and whom he saw there, he wasn't surprised to see at all.

With an obnoxious smirk plastered on his face, Draco headed toward a spare table and placed his parchment, ink, quills and books on the table.

Granger looked up at him, giving him a glare of annoyance. She still looked tired and Draco monetarily wondered what could possibly make her look so exhausted all the time, the thought lasted a second before Draco mentally scolded himself for even caring.

Before he even got a shot at niggling at her, Granger looked at her watch and hurriedly packed her things before leaving.

Peace and solitude at last.

!D!

Tuesday dawned to be just as dreaded as Monday. Though today Draco dreaded more, why? Well later that night he had patrol with Granger. No doubt the goody two shoes had mapped out a strict routine to follow. And there no doubt would be rules as well. Such as no name-calling, no this, no that. Draco had that girl sorted out to the core.

She was just so obvious it was sickening.

After slowly dressing and pushing past the annoying eager students, Draco made his way to the Great Hall. Perhaps this morning he could eat his breakfast without being held onto and being made sick.

But no luck, Lady Luck had obviously deserted Draco this year. Just as he was going up the staircase to the Entrance Hall, Crabbe and Goyle came running up behind him.

"Morning Draco," said Crabbe in his deep rumbling voice.

"Morning Vincent, Gregory," replied Draco, "Perhaps this morning you two could chew with your mouth closed?"

"We do," said Goyle.

"Me seeing what is being demolished in your mouth is not chewing with your mouth closed."

Crabbe and Goyle looked confused as Draco marched ahead into the Great Hall, nearly colliding with the Head Girl.

"Watch it Granger!" snapped Draco.

Granger glared at him, "Perhaps you should consider looking up as you walk that way you can see what is in front of you for once."

Draco glared at her before pushing past, knocking her too the ground.

He didn't even giver her a backward glance as he strode towards the Slytherin table. He was just about to sit when a barking, crisp voice ordered him back.

"I'll be back in a moment," said Draco to his two dopey friends before heading toward the Deputy Headmistress.

McGonagall glared at him coldly as he walked closer.

"Mr Malfoy! You are head boy and it is your duty to show the younger students how to behave! Knocking over a si-"

Granger cut McGonagall off before she could continue.

"Please Professor. It was my clumsy footing that made me fall," lied the Head Girl, "Malfoy didn't even touch me. It was all a misunderstanding."

McGonagall nodded, "Very well. Sorry Mr Malfoy."

Draco just nodded looking at Granger in wonder, he did bump her causing her to fall, but why was she lying to McGonagall, covering up for him.

McGonagall hurried away leaving Granger Draco looking at each other.

"Don't get used to me covering for you," said Granger coolly.

"Why did you?" asked Draco more out of curiosity, he certainly didn't want to be civil with her, by Merlin he was a Malfoy!

"I just did alright? Just be grateful that I did."

"Aren't we snappy?"

Granger glared at him, "You are the most immature rat I have ever had the displeasure of meeting!"

"Your not meant to have the pleasure of meeting me."

"Oh and a suppose you want me to hate you?"

"Naturally."

"Just so you know I don't hate you. Hate poisons people. I just don't like you because I don't know you."

"Whatever you reckon Granger, you filthy mudblood."

Draco watched as Granger suddenly looked very tired and weak. She just shook her head and walked away.

Draco smirked, thinking he'd beaten her until he heard her weary voice say, "Least I will die with a heart, Malfoy."

Draco was stung, that comment had hit him hard, he didn't understand why, but what she had said really did hurt. He did have a heart, but he had been pained to many times to care anymore, to care about anything, or anyone.

Life sucks. It really does.

!D!

The first lesson of that day was Advanced Care of Magical Creatures with the great oaf, Hagrid. Draco could never understand what Potter and his two lovers saw so great about him. He was a walking disaster! That oaf nearly got Draco murdered. Okay so maybe he had exaggerated, but it was a great excuse to allow him to annoy Potter, Weasley and Granger… although Granger had got him good when she slapped him. He wore a red hand print on his face for an entire day after that… that stupid… filthy… witch!

He couldn't say mudblood… why bloody not?

At the moment he didn't know and was too confused to even care.

"Draco man," came Blaise's voice, "What is up with you?"

Draco looked up from the ground at his mate, "I'm thinking."

"About who?"

"Who said I was thinking about anyone? I'm not thinking about anyone, about stuff that is none of your Merlin damn concern!"

"Okay… calm down."

Draco heard voices whispering and looked up to see Granger and her two boyfriends looking at him.

"Do you three have a starring problem or something?" he snapped,

He was in no mood to put up with any of there… crap.

Potter glared at Draco, "Actually Malfoy we were just wondering if you could speak to people in a neutral equal way… or did your father force you too speak that way?"

The Slytherin's all sucked in sharp breaths, as did the other Gryffindor's.

Seriously, deep inside Draco, that comments meant nothing… but he was Draco Malfoy. He was expected to protect his 'honoured' name. He had to act out all snotty and evil about it.

"Don't you dare speak about my father Potter!" snarled Draco, "Why speak to anyone in an equal manner?"

"Forget about it Harry," said Granger grabbing Harry's robe, "He knows nothing of equality."

"Best listen to your lowly girlfriend Potter. After all, she will never experience any equality in her life."

When Draco would think back to this, he wished he'd never spoke those words, but it was the start of something, the start of what would lead to something great.

Granger spun around and glared at Draco, though her body looked tired, her eyes shined with anger. Draco noticed Hagrid exit his cabin looking at Hermione in surprise but not daring to stop her.

"I stood up for you this morning and this is how you treat me? You Draco Malfoy know nothing about me! You know nothing of what the rest of my life will hold for me!"

Draco was surprised to see tears in her eyes and Potter and Weasley turn sad at those words.

"I will experience more in my life than you ever will! You will be nothing but a sad person for the rest of your life because you are too scared to step out and show everyone who you really are."

Draco said nothing as Granger turned to Potter and Weasley who led her inside Hagrid's cabin as she cried.

Those harsh words were true, every single one of them.

Draco turned, hiding all emotion on his face as he pushed past the Slytherin's.

"Drakie," said Pansy.

"Back off!" snarled Draco barging past her.

!D!

Draco sat by the lake watching as it moved peacefully with not a care in the world – how Draco wished life were that simple. But nothing was, nothing would ever be that simple. Life always through you the curve balls and he knew it. But how come, why was he always thrown them, why was he given the life he had?

A father who was a hypocrite, a mother who was too damn confusing to figure out, a house full of weird people all prying for his attention.

Granger had it bloody simple! She breezed through life, not having to worry about anything. No doubt her life was full of roses – no thorns either- perhaps Draco had been given all the thorns taken from her roses.

Draco sighed and picked up a smooth stone, an emerald green one. He pocketed it, knowing it was no ordinary stone when the others were all white, black and grey. Perhaps it would be his lucky stone.

Perhaps it would send Lady Luck his way… perhaps he would find someone to actually care about, someone who wouldn't hurt him anymore than he had been?

!D!

Patrol time. A miserable time it would be no doubt. Granger, who was overly emotional, would most likely complain about everything he did – on top of the rules of course and the map.

Draco waited impatiently outside the Great Hall tapping his foot. He leant on the wall lazily.

What could possibly be taking goody-goody Granger so bloody long?

"Sorry I'm late," came a breathless voice.

Draco stood up right and looked at Granger, "Whatever Granger. Let's get going."

"Wait. First we need rules and I have a map drawn out for us."

Draco smirked, "I figured you would do that. You are just so plainly obvious."

"Glad to know. You on the other hand would no doubt just want to walk anywhere, while you are calling me every dirty name under the sun. Or you would be insulting Harry and Ron… if not that you would mutter how your father would be disgusted with how you had to work with a filthy person such as myself," said Granger in a know it all voice, "You are just as plainly obvious as I am."

"Fine, so we know each other inside and out."

"No exactly Malfoy. We just know the person we pretend to be. Well you pretend to be someone you mustn't be because I honestly don't believe someone could be as evil as you show yourself to be."

"You know nothing about me."

"Precisely and you don't know me as well as you say you do."

They both began walking up the staircase, Granger occasionally grabbing the handrail.

"Granger, you just think life is a bed of roses – with no thorns. You breeze through life without a worry, always knowing someone will catch you when you fall."

Granger gave a dry laugh, "There are things about you don't know, you will never know. Life is short, cherish it."

"What's to bloody cherish about life?" muttered Draco.

Granger obviously didn't hear him or was too deep in thought to have heard him. Draco glanced at her and again saw how pale she was, her eyes were still full of passion as they had been since he first met her seven years ago. But they held dark circles underneath them.

Draco shook his head he didn't care, not one bit. She was only Granger, mu- witch Granger.

!D!

Patrol finished finally and so did week 1 of school. Draco welcomed the weekend by sleeping in. The longer he slept the longer her managed to be away from all those whacks in his house. Especially Pansy, she was the one who Draco loved to be away from. The thought of her made him shudder violently.

Never in his life had he come across someone so… he couldn't remember the word… but one sentence would state Pansy as a psychotic weirdo obsessed with Draco to a very crazy extent sending the poor guy into hiding or sneaking around to be away from her.

Yes, that said it all.

Draco looked at his wizard clock by his bed. 10:59am. So he should get up or no doubt Pansy would manage to find a way up here and barge into his room and try to give him mouth to mouth fearing he was dead – naturally he would vomit. Who wouldn't… imagine Pansy giving you mouth-to-mouth, pug nose and all.

Anyone would die – or have a heart attack at the mere image of it.

Draco sat up and dressed in some dark coloured clothing – he would never dress in pale happy colours, he wasn't happy and why should he? He wasn't going to be forced to wear a blue shirt and blue jeans – he would look like a Ravenclaw.

That is an insult to him.

Instead he dressed in a dark brown button up shirt with long sleeves rolled up to his elbows and black baggish jeans with his skate type shoes – skegs. After a quick brush of his hair – no he wasn't a 'pretty boy' though people believe him to be – he left his room, his safety haven from Pansy and headed to the common room.

Stealthy Draco peered around the corner and was pleased to see Pansy not around. He left the staircase and walked over to the lounge and flopped down beside Blaise.

"Your up," commented Blaise finishing an essay, "Pansy has gone to see Madam Pompfrey saying you aren't up."

"Good. It keeps her away. I'm going outside – don't tell Pansy. Say I died, that way she will stay moping in here like a lunatic than maybe Snape will have her admitted to St Mungo's crazy ward or something," replied Draco standing up, "See you later."

Blaise just nodded and Draco left.

Well he can always dream right? Just like he dreams of a life full of acceptance and happiness.

A/N: There you go! And thankyou all for your reviews!

Bye for now!

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