Disclaimer: Sadly, I own nothing but the plot and a few custom characters.

Chapter 4: Forbidden Attraction and An Unexpected Visitor

Draco –

After the brief encounter with the Mudblood, I went to bed and fell asleep after a few minutes of pondering her behavior.

First she's all pissed and all high and mighty on insults, but then she completely fell apart. 'So unlike her…' I had thought. But that's when the exhaustion won out and I fell into a series of dark dreams and un- uneasy sleep.

The next morning I awoke to find her to have already showered and left the Common Room to what I assumed to be the library since I had woken up a good 30 minutes to an hour before breakfast was to be served. But then again, what do I care what goes on with her life?

Sighing inwardly, I looked up to see the Mudblood laughing with her boyfriends and the Weaselette. But I noticed something different (Not like I've ever watched the Mudblood during breakfast before!). Her eyes were completely void of emotion. And her smile, I could tell, was strained and the laugh she let out was horrible. It was like she forgot how to laugh, how to have fun, but at times she was fearless, and totally sarcastic and rude; like she's two different people. The depressed, pathetic Granger and the bitter, wild and out there Granger who stands up to me...How could her boyfriends not notice? It's like she completely changed from the previous years at Hogwarts.

And who would have ever thought that she'd break down in front of me? Draco Malfoy, her one and only enemy at Hogwarts!

The irony! Who would have thought that Miss-perfect-Granger would ever crack around the edges and fall flat on her face? It was quite amusing I have to say.

But, just when I was pondering on how I could make her life miserable, Goyle tapped me on the shoulder. Now pissed off, I turned to look at him only to find him trying to talk with his mouth full. I scoffed and turned my head in disgust, not knowing that I returned to staring at the bushy-headed Gryffindor.

--

Hermione -

When I woke up really early this morning, I remembered how I had cracked in front of the evil, slimy git himself. I cringed at the thought and then I spent the next 10 minutes freaking out until I realized I couldn't take it back and when he decided how to humiliate me I would just throw it back at him. I mean, what could I do about it? What was done was done. No point in fretting over it.

But inside I was screaming. Of course there was a reason to fret! It was Malfoy. Draco Malfoy I'm talking about here. He's going to ruin my last year here I know it. I can feel it in my bones. And it will probably be least when I'm least expecting it, too! "Damnit!" I swore under my breath. Cringing, I looked around to see if anyone noticed. Harry and Ron would probably faint if they heard me swear.

Still looking around, I was wondering what everyone was doing as nobody was talking or paying any attention to me. Harry and Ron were passing jokes around the table and Ginny was listening and laughing at the punch lines.

Sighing, as I continued to ponder about last night, knowing there wasn't anything else to do about it anyway; my eyes traveled somewhere that they shouldn't have.

I found myself looking over at Malfoy, who was eating slowly as though deep in thought, and every time he'd move his head, I'd look away, pretending to be happy as I'd let out a hollow laugh at the series of jokes that were being passed around the table. If he looked over here, he'd probably notice it was a fake laugh. (Like he ever would,) And that's when another voice in my mind spoke up. 'And exactly what do you care if he looks or not?'

Forcing the voice in my head away, I stole another look at Malfoy. I saw him looking at Goyle and finally turn his face away to look out across the hall. That's when I gave up looking at him (Although deep in the back of my mind I knew I shouldn't be looking at all,) and continued to eat my meal.

--

After breakfast I headed off to the first class of the day with Harry and Ron (DADA).

Harry and Ron looked only a tad bit curious as to what the new teacher will be like, but I, on the other hand, could jump up and down with excitement. I always enjoyed the first class of the day and the first class with a new teacher. You never knew what to expect.

As we entered the classroom we took our usual seats up front on the left of the room, and the Slytherin's on the right. Unfortunately, we had double DADA today. What a joy.

As I began to get out my wand, DADA book, a bit a parchment and quill, I noticed that the teacher had begun walking down the walkway and up to his desk, a very cheerful smile plastered on his pale pink lips.

I immediately shivered. His hair is a lighter brown, with darker tints to it in places; his eyes are overly dark and cheery. They look extremely creepy. He's about two feet taller then I, putting him about 5'7' or 8. He has a very muscular build that could easily crush someone like me. I shivered again at the thought, and was all of a sudden aware that he was looking at me like Christmas had come 3 months early.

My mouth had suddenly gone dry and he looked away from me, pulled out a piece of parchment and leaned casually against his desk. I didn't like him at all.

Smiling that white toothed, perfect shiny yet creepy smile he said, "Roll call!" A few people groaned, and I shifted in my seat, wishing I could run from my seat and sit in the back. Hell, I'd sit next to Malfoy just to get this guy to stop looking at me.

And then something else really freaked me out. As he called out the first name, he looked directly at me and winked. I gulped and looked wildly around the room, hoping nobody noticed, my eyes landing on Harry who was beside me. He looked over at me, smiled and then frowned at the look on my face. "You ok Hermione?" he asked softly out of the side of his mouth so the teacher couldn't hear.

I nodded and looked back at the teacher. He was still looking at me. Shrinking slightly in my seat, my insides turn to lead, making me want to puke all of a sudden and wishing that this class would end.

--

Malfoy –

When we entered the first class of the day, which just so happened to be Defense against the Dark Arts with the stupid Gryffindors, I sat back, relaxed and began to stare into space. But when the teacher came in, I was brought roughly back to reality when he passed by my desk. Something was very…wrong with him.

Watching him go up to the desk, I inwardly cringed at the look on his face. And to whom he was looking at. Although I couldn't see her, I knew he was looking at Granger.

Scowling, I tried to look around Crabbe's fat head to see the stupid Mudblood. What was up with this guy? He looked like he wanted to jump her or something. I shivered. I couldn't imagine that EVER happening to anyone. Stupid Mudblood…

That's when he started the Roll Call and I noticed that he winked in someone's direction. What a freak!

Disgusted, I leaned back in my chair, figuring Granger loved the attention. That brown-nosing book worm…

--

Hermione –

After Defense Against the Dark Arts I remained uneasy for the rest of the day. I'd jump at odd little noises and constantly look around me to if someone were watching me. You know that freaky feeling on the back of your neck that you get when you think someone is watching you? Yeah, that's what I had.

It is now dinner time and although I felt lonely at the moment I was blessing the lack of contact I'd received when we sat down to eat. Or was I? As usual the boys minded their own business and Ginny wasn't here. Sighing, I picked at my food, ate a few bites and excused myself from the table.

Only getting a few nods and nothing else I felt myself bubble over the edge. "What the hell is wrong with you guys? Am I so pathetic that I can't even be acknowledged by either of you? Well I tell you what! I'm so SICK of it, SICK, SICK, SICK!" After saying this rather loudly, I could feel the eyes of my fellow students all around me cast up in my direction. Feeling the urge to bust into tears I ran from the Hall, up the staircase and into the Heads common room, only to find –

"Gin!" I said as the flaming red-headed Weasly looked up at me from over the book she was reading on the couch. "What are you doing here? How did you find out the password?" I asked, the streaming tears forgotten and numbly stinging my cold cheeks.

She smiled at me and put the book down, stood up, walked over to me and embraced me in a tight, warm hug. Pulling away, her little mischievous smirk played across her lips. "I followed you last night. I knew you were in the need of girl talk, so I memorized your password and voila! Here I am!" She said, smiling.

Despite how lousy I felt, and although I should be mad, as she could give the password to anybody, I returned the smile and the hug.

Ginny grabbed my hands and led me over to the couch to sit down. I clasped my delicate hands in my lap and looked down at the floor.

"Sooo..." She said as she leaned back on the couch. I assumed we would be here a while as she was getting comfortable. Sighing, I scooted farther back in my seat and pulled my knees up and sat Indian style on the couch.

"So what…?" I asked stupidly. I just felt so bad. I could feel myself rapidly fall down this big black and desolate hole. And unless I did something about it that hole will get bigger, close around me and never let me out.

Ginny rolled her eyes and sat Indian style too and then turned to face me on the couch. I looked over at her and she looked at me in pity. "You look like shit, you know that right?" At first I was taken aback by her bluntness and her use and language, but then again I haven't been in touch with her over the summer, nor had we been as close in school last year as much as we were the year before.

"I know you're all bummed about your dad, but life does move on, Hermione." She said as she twirled her hair between her fingers. At first I was thinking, 'What a bitch!', but she wasn't done.

As if she read my mind she let out a small laugh and said, "Yeah, that probably made me sound like a complete bitch, but I meanyou can't waste your life by reliving the nightmares, horrors or bad times in your life. You just can't. I'm already noticing and you may or may not be aware of it, but the thoughts and sorrow of your father are eating you away!"

By now I was crying all over again and listening desperatelyto every word. The words she spoke were so true, so full of hope that I couldn't help but start the water-works. My God…I am withering away from it all. I've only been here one day and I'm already finding the misery out of life. I must have started during the summer, because right now I feel like I can't get up. It's like I'm stuck in a big lake of tar and I keep sinking.

Ginny smiled warmly at me and patted my hand comfortably. "It's ok. Let it all out. You need to. I'm going to help you Hermione. We may not have been in touch or spent as much time together as I'm sure either one of us would have liked, but I do consider you my best friend. And best friends help each other no matter what."

I smiled a true, genuine smile and hugged her tightly. When we broke apart she dried a few of my tears with her thumb and sighed. "So, tell me everything. Tell me what guys you like, what you did over the summer, whether or not you think the new teacher is hot and everything!" she laughed.

My smile faded and I shivered.

"Gin he's not normal. There's something wrong with him." She tilted her head to the side and a look of confusion and curiosity etched onto her freckled face. "What do you mean?"

Letting out a shaky breath I explained how he looked at me, how he winked at me and the vibes he let off. "I don't what it is, but I don't trust him as far as I could throw him and he makes me uneasy."

"Hm," she paused, as though looking for the words. "I didn't get any feelings like that. We had him for our last class and I thought hee was hot. Are you sure he winked at you? That would be pretty freaky if he did." I nodded and she bit her lip, but then her lips curved into a smile. "Someone has a crush on you…" she started to taunt. I laughed at her childishness and shook my head, throwing the bad thoughts of him away. "You're hopeless you know? And who, might I ask, do you like?" I asked mischievously.

Her smile widened and she started to blush. "Well…I have another crush on Harry…" she muttered shyly. I smirked and pushed her playfully. "Awww…And does he know?"

She nodded and bit her lip, looked away and turned back to me, her eyes alive with…life. "Yeah, he asked me out too!" she cried happily.

I gasped. "Oh Gin, that's excellent! I can't believe he didn't tell me! Or you for that matter! When did he ask you?"

"It was yesterday after you went on to the Head's common room. That's one of the reasons I followed you. I wanted to tell you! I was so happy! He stopped me right out side of the portrait and shuffled around for a while talking about the weather," she chuckled, shaking her head and playing with the seam on the fabric of the sofa. I've never seen her so happy! "And then finally he sighed and let it out really fast. I couldn't understand him so he had to repeat himself and when he did he looked me in the eyes. Gosh, his eyes! Their so dreamy! I could stare into them for hours!" she giggled at her own girly self and I laughed along with her. "That's amazing Gin! But you want to know something?" I asked. I had just remembered the picture that Harry had on the train. I smirked when she nodded. "I know he has a picture of you with little hearts drawn around it like some love sick puppy!" I laughed harder.

She gasped and gaped at me like I was growing another head. And then she cracked a smile. "He does not!" she exclaimed, shaking her head and started to laugh really hard.

I nodded and finally the laughter died down. We sighed in content and stared into the fire. All was silent for a few minutes until she broke it, looking at me cautiously. "You know you do need to move with your life? You can't be like this, Hermione. I can't to see you like this. You probably aren't aware of it, but you've changed dramatically. Your personality…" she shook her head and bit her lip. "I don't know…Something changed though. You're not as bossy, not as driven. I know it was because of your father, but you have to snap out of it. You'll go crazy if you don't."

I sighed, knowing it was true. But damnit, I miss him so much! My heart aches with loss and pain. God, I wish I knew who killed him…

I finally nodded under her gaze and she rubbed my back soothingly. "I promise Hermione. I promise it will all be better soon…"

"Oh yeah, that reminds me!" I said quite suddenly, getting all happy and excited again. "I was wondering if you could give me a complete make-over…."

She looked at me and grinned, that look in her eye again.

I then smirked and she nodded. "You bet I will. And when I'm done, you'll be so drop-dead sexy that any guy that looked you over would be called insane!"

I laughed and shook my head. "I hope something good comes out of it. I need some fun in my life for a change…"

She conjured a pen and paper to write down God only knows what. She kept mumbling and I bit my lip. "Should I be worried?" she laughed and shook her head. "Nope, don't worry one little bit. You'll have fun alright. Although you're Head Girl…What do you think of a party…?"

--

Later that night, after Ginny had left, I went up to my room to go to bed. We had planned to do the make-over tomorrow. I just didn't know what I'd do if I didn't have Ginny as my friend. No, not just a friend; a BEST friend. She swore she'd pull me out of my rut and that we'd throw this party, I'd have fun and it would be after the make-over, so I could go all out. The party would be on Saturday night, and tomorrow it would be Friday. I could barely control my anticipation. All these years I had looked the same; was looked down upon as the same old know-it-all bookworm who could answer any question that was thrown at me, and I was tired of it. Tired of all the ridicule and loneliness…

Harry and Ron didn't know, but for years I had been made fun of. The people who were doing it were just too afraid to do it in front of them. No, they would wait until I was alone. Then they would strike. Constant harping on my hair, my lack of make-up, and my "snooty-ness" they would call it. I'm so tired of it! I have to change. Change for my sanity and change for my self-confidence. Out of all my years at Hogwarts I have not had a single date. I have never been approached by a guy, nor had I been the 'approacher'. I've been too afraid of rejection. I can't handle failure and I can't handle rejection. I would have cracked.

But tomorrow it would change, I thought as I sat in the window-sill looking down upon the darkened shadows that played across the grounds from the moonlight. It would all be different and I would have some peace in my life. I could have fun.

--

Well there you are! Chapter four! I am very sad to say I only have 1 review…one…:tear: But seriously though, I did expect a bit more then that. I worked really hard on this fic and this is the only fan fiction I've written that has a full thought out plot. I amazed myself with it actually lol! Anywayz…Please read and REVIEW! If there's something wrong with it I need to know! Keep reading…I promise you won't be disappointed…

Thanks…

Chelsea