Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or ideas in the Harry Potter books, written by J.K. Rowling. I only own this small plot.

Summary: Things at Hogwarts tend to have a certain pattern. Malfoy hates them. They hate Malfoy. But what happens when a certain spell reveals that the last thing Hermione Granger wants to hear is "He doesn't love you." Who could it be about? Draco is sure curious...(A Draco/Hermione and Harry/Ginny piece.) A friend and I originally co-wrote this as a role-play. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 4: The scent of evil

Draco found himself once again in the library reading a book on curses when he heard someone behind him clear their throat.

"Ehem." Hermione said.

Draco turned, "Oh, it's you again."

"Yes, this Library is open to the public you know." She took a seat across from him.

Draco shifted uncomfortably. This was a situation he'd never been in, sitting across from anybody of another house and having a practically civil conversation. He never expected anything like this to happen, least of all with Hermione Granger.

"Erm...what do you want?"

"No Malfoy, what do you want? Did you know that Professor Snape just threatened me?"

"No. I had no idea"

"Right. Well, he did, and he threatened me over you, and I know that you put him up to it or something. Look Malfoy, I don't know what you bloody want from me, but making up a rumor that I put you under a love potion is just mad!"

Malfoy turned red in the face. "I have no idea what you're talking about Granger. It seems to me that you are the mad one."

Hermione saw him return to his book. She thought, 'What? He's bloody ignoring me now!' She tried to grab the book from across the table, but he wouldn't let go, and soon they were struggling over it.

"Let go!"

"No you let go!"

Draco reached to pry her arm off the book, but his hand found her face instead.

They stopped. They were both leaning over the table now, starring at each other. 'What the hell is happening?' Hermione thought.

Their foreheads were practically touching now...

Very slowly, over a series of millennia…their lips brushed.

They opened their eyes, both screamed, and pulled back roughly; staring at each other wide eyed and in complete shock of what had just happened.

"Err...um...yuck...I mean...yes I mean yuck, you filthy...mud...blood..." Draco stammered, slightly befuddled.

Then, as if a light had turned on in the attic of his mind, he had a change of heart.

"Damn it Hermione, I...I'm sorry…"

"Y-You, Y-you just, called me Hermione."

"Oh...right. Well, that's your name, isn't it?" he muttered.

"Yes but, oh my god what did I just do?" Hermione paced back and forth looking extremely confused and distraught. "Did we just? Bloody Hell! I mean, we did - didn't we?"

"Well yes, I daresay we did…" he was back to his cocky self.

"Why are you happy about this! Is this some sort of horrible prank? I mean, I hate you...right? You definitely hate me, I-I mean, I'm -"

"Settle down Hermione! Now this is very hard for me to say but - 1) No this is not one of my genius pranks, although I'm flattered you think so and 2) I hate to say it, but I don't really hate you. I mean I hate you out of principle, for so many reasons…and god you can be annoying sometimes, but I think the truth is...Damn it Hermione I think I'm in love with you!" and with that he stormed out of the library.

Hermione had to force herself to close her mouth. She very calmly sunk to the ground and took a deep breath. 'Did that just really happen? I don't believe it, he c-cant. I mean, he's…oh my god!" She gathered her books and ran out the door headed towards the common room, she needed to be alone.

Ron and Harry were just finishing an argument over the finite rules of wizard's chess when Hermione stormed in. She was flustered and of all things did not want to talk to them. She ran up the stairs to the girls rooms without a word. Harry and Ron looked at each other.

"Bloody Hell, what was that about?" said Harry.

Ron scowled, "I don't know, but she smells like Malfoy…"

"What!" screamed Harry. "You must have imagined that Ron, I mean come on?"

"No trust me, I can smell Malfoy from a mile away. He smells of evil. And I could definitely pick up his scent as she dashed by."

"Do you think he hurt her? Oh I'd kill him..." Harry threatened.

"She wasn't crying..."

"Lets just, forget about it, we can ask her about it tomorrow, when it's not such a big deal."

"Alright. For now, I've got a question to ask you."

"Yeah?"

Ron took a deep breath, "What do you think of Ginny?"

"She's gotten really good at quidditch, don't you think? And she seems to be great friends with Mione now a days..."

"That's not what I mean Harry"

"What do you - ...oh…"

Ron grimaced, "God this is awkward. But really Harry, I'm in earnest here."

"Oh, well , I-uh, I-uh, I'm not quite sure, I- " Harry eyed Ron quickly to test his reaction

Ron evidently found the rug fascinating, for he was staring fixedly at it.

"Well Ron, I - she's a wonderful girl...she's - your sister..."

"Yeah...yeah she is. But bloody hell Harry! She's been keen on you since before you saved her from the Basilisk!"

"Yeah, I know. I just- well...does she talk about me much?"

"Oh you know, she only mentions you every time we have a conversation."

"Oh." Harry tried to keep a straight face but inside he was smiling.

Just then, Ginny entered the common room and came to sit across from them. "Hey guys, how's it going?" Ron grunted and got up to go to the loo.

Harry all of a sudden was feeling quite nervous; his heart was racing. "Um, Ginny, can I ask you a-a question?"

"Yeah."

"This is going to sound very out of the blue, and I-I don't know but, would you...-would you like to go to the ball with me?"

…

Ginny nearly screamed. It took all she had to keep her bottom on the chair. "I would love to, Harry."

"Really? Good then, I'm happy you said yes…" He let out a breath of tension that had been building inside him as he awaited her answer.

Harry smiled.

Ginny smiled.

Just then, Ron came out of the loo. He could sense a change in the atmosphere. "Cards, anyone?"

Harry didn't even hear him, he was caught up in the relief of her saying yes, and in the million of thoughts racing in his head...then he snapped out of it. "Uh- what sorry Ron?"

"I thought you might go for a round of cards...evidently not. You know this weekend is Hogsmead, and I can't go with my sister because I have detention again with Flitwick..."

"Ill go!" Harry said a bit more enthusiastically than he meant to. Ginny blushed. All of her dreams were coming true.

AN: Hope you liked it.  Much more Draco and Hermione to come. Please review.