Aloha! Do you like my story? Do you? Review! Do you hate my story? Do you? Review! If you hate Draco though don't bother reviewing because I will get defensive. ^_^ I mean how can he be anything but cute? Sure, he's arrogant and mean and crude and selfish but that doesn't mean he can't have posters too! (Ok my urge for a Draco poster got the best of me there.)

Anyway…

Review Review Review Review Review Review Review…*sucks in a breath of oxygen* Review Review Review Review Review… (You get the message, I trust.)

(Bwahaha if anybody noticed Xain Lu is suppose to be a rip off reference to Xain Pu [Shampoo] from Ranma ½! But I didn't have Xain Lu look like Xain Pu because like I said it's only a reference in name. Well whatever. I don't own Ranma ½ either!)

My worthless disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling… Don't sue me!

Now I command you to read!

'Damn, damn, damn!' Hermione thought as she saw Draco Malfoy sitting, alone, at a table in the library.

She nervously walked into the library. She wondered why he, of all people, was sitting there. But then she noticed that his eyes were closed. Hermione could get past without being detected!

Hermione slid past him quietly and picked out a few books from the shelf and sat down at the farthest table away from him. She opened the book and began to get ready to take some notes.

Hermione looked down at the book…but she couldn't concentrate. She couldn't think of anything but why Draco Malfoy was sitting in the library, apparently sleeping. She gritted her teeth. This wasn't supposed to be the way of the world. She slammed her book closed and walked right in front of Malfoy from across the table.

"Are you alive?" she said, annoyed that he could distract her so.

Draco stirred, barely, and lifted one eyelid open. He placed a steady gray gaze on Hermione. For a split second she forgot that this arrogant asshole was Draco Malfoy and her heart leapt.

'Stupid!' she chided herself, catching her breath silently. She hoped he didn't notice her momentary lapse of judgement.

"Yo," he said simply closing his eyelid again, "Go read a book or something."

"I can't," Hermione replied quickly.

"Why not?" he asked in a light tone.

"That's none of your business," Hermione answered. I can't read because you're sitting here looking lonely and that just proves I'm too nice of a person since I'm caring about a jerk like you.

"Well, if I tell you what I'm doing here would you go back to your chair?" he answered.

"Maybe," Hermione replied in what she hoped was a 'I-don't-care' tone.

"Crabbe and Goyle are eating. They annoy me. I came here to get some peace," Draco sighed, still with his eyes closed, "You came in and I thought it would suit both our interests if we avoided each other. I am, I was, pretending to be sleeping so that you would leave me alone."

Hermione blinked. Did Malfoy just admit to being considerate?

"…Oh," Hermione replied, trying not to sound how she really felt: dumbfounded, "Well, I'm sorry to disturb you."

She was about to go back to her table when Draco opened a single eyelid again, "Wait."

That single word made her heart leap again. Why was she acting so dense all of a sudden? But despite her mental pleas she did not move.

"Yes?" she asked.

"You're working on our group project alone," Draco stated, "I'm part of the group. I think that group projects mean that you don't have to do all the work by yourself."

He knew. Hermione wondered how Draco Malfoy could know her so well.

"…Do you want to help me?" she asked, "You don't have to. I'm fine by myself."

"You were going to do all the research right now and then when we met in a few hours you'd already have everything we needed. You did all of that just because you didn't want to spend any more time with me than you had to," Draco stated, shutting his eye again, "How thoughtful."

He knew! Malfoy was just sitting there, casually ticking off her plan. She was always in the library. She was always reading. How did Malfoy know that she would come in here on her own accord and do the group project by herself?

"I suppose you're freaking out now that I've revealed your plan," Draco smiled slowly, "It's not that big of a deal."

Hermione was sure her mouth was gaped open like a fish but since Malfoy had his eyes closed he wouldn't know of her surprise.

"You're…very strange," Hermione said at last, "How could you know?"

Draco let out a true amused laugh; "Do you think I don't know you that well? I know you about as well as Potty and Weasel."

"But…how?" Hermione asked desperately.

"Because I watch," Draco shrugged, "It's not hard to see. Your emotions practically give you away. And your emotions are always right there, in your eyes."

Draco Malfoy was telling her about her eyes. She shook her head. Hermione had to remind herself that just because Draco had split personalities didn't mean it was a good trait.

"If you hadn't noticed," Draco continued, "I wouldn't be able to insult you so well if I didn't know you. All of my remarks hit home, I know. You may be too stubborn to admit it but I know that what I say hurts and it hurts a lot."

Hermione had a bad feeling now. What could this possibly be leading up—?

"And I'm sorry they hurt you," Draco said.

Hermione blinked again. Draco Malfoy had just apologized to her. This…was making no sense at all. And yet…Hermione felt light-headed. She felt like someone had just given her what she'd always wanted and she was so happy she didn't care what was happening around her.

"You…apologized," Hermione said carefully, "Why?"

"Because I'm sorry," Draco said opening both his eyes, "But you have to understand something Hermione…"

He… My name…

"Y-Yes?" she replied, feeling her face turn pink.

"You… You can't tell anyone I apologized. And this is serious. There is a reason I have to insult you three, but believe me when I say I'm sorry and I don't mean to hurt you. But if I were to be found out, that I was apologizing to you, and not insulting you three anymore…there would be trouble. Unless we're completely alone Hermione I will be like I've always been."

Hermione swallowed hard. Was someone…blackmailing Malfoy? Was that why he had always been mean to us?

"W-What do you mean?" Hermione asked, "Tell me what you mean!"

"I-I can't," Draco said, very alert and glancing around the room, "This has to stay between you and I. Do you understand? My father will kill all of us if you don't understand."

"Your father?"

"…I shouldn't have said that," Draco said, "Just… Promise me, Hermione."

Hermione felt like she was going to melt in her chair. She had to get out of this room. She had to get away from Draco. He was being so…straight-forward that it scared her. It scared her even more that she was feeling this way about him. Him! Of all people…

"O-Of course. I promise," she managed to breath out.

"Good," Draco nodded, easing back into his relaxed state, "Now then… Come back at 2 when we'll all do the project."

"…Ok," Hermione leapt out of her chair and grabbed her bag from the table she had been sitting at. She slung her things into her bag and almost flew out the door. She slammed the library door shut behind her and slumped against it. Her chest was heaving; she was out of breath for all different sorts of reasons. What was wrong with her?