Hermione was grabbed by two sets of male arms and dragged into an alcove as she was wandering down a corridor, minding her own business. It was, of course, Harry and Ron.
'What are you two doing?!' She demanded as she wrenched their hands off her. They looked at her a little guiltily, and then Harry came back to his senses.
'We've come to warn you Hermione!' He cried.
'About what exactly?' She asked with a raised eyebrow. Her friends exchanged meaningful glances and then Ron took a deep breath.
'We think, well, we know, that Malfoy had er, taken uh… help me Harry!' Ron hissed the last part and Hermione felt a flicker of hope flare up in her chest. What was this about Draco?
'We have received information from a very trusty source… that Malfoy uh… hethinksyou'renotthatbad.' Harry said the last bit very quickly and Hermione couldn't for the life of her, divulge what it meant.
'What?' She asked blankly.
'We think Malfoy likes you Hermione.' Ron said bluntly. 'What are we going to do?' Hermione couldn't answer and just gaped at the two.
'We thought you'd take this badly.' Harry muttered. 'Sorry, but we had to let you know.'
'No, I, uh… I have to go!' Hermione spun on her heel and ran down the corridor. Her best friends watched her go.
'Poor girl, I knew she'd take this badly.' Ron said whilst shaking his head.
-
Hermione headed to the library where she'd sat with Draco the day before, and her face fell when she saw the empty table. Well, he couldn't be everywhere could he? She went and got the book she had looked at before. People born with this ailment find that at a certain age they are instinctively drawn to those they desire most. No matter how far away they are at nightfall, by morning they awake by each other, and oddly, the person they are drawn to, suffers dreams which warn them of their mate approaching. She had had dreams about him… and he did always wake up by her at daybreak. From what Harry and Ron had told her, he did desire her… but was he aware of that?
-
Draco stormed down the corridor in a foul mood. Damn everyone and everything!! Hermione had discovered the reason for him appearing by her every morning, but it wasn't as if it did him any good. He needed to talk to her… she had told him about the close call she had had that morning. He'd woken up in the common room and she'd told him in not-very-hushed tones about it. They needed a cure but… but he didn't think there was one apart from them being together.
What if tomorrow he was discovered in her bed by the other girls? They would want to know why he was unconscious… it would be funny if it WASN'T HIM that this was happening to. What was with this bloody curse??!! Oh yes, you haven't been told everything about it.
Pure-blooded wizards suffer from it. That's right, he, Draco Malfoy, was cursed because he was a pure-blood! Only thing was, no run of the mill pure blood could simply have the curse, oh no, it had to be HIM. Yes, but for some inexplicable reason, he, Draco Malfoy was the only living wizard at the moment that was under this curse.
Every morning of his life he would wake up by his destined soul-mate. It seemed the bloody curse had decided his future for him… although he had to admit, marrying Hermione had its good points. His father would surely disown him-
Oh NO!! What about Aunt Penelope??! Would she disown him if he married a Mud- er, Muggle-born??!! He hit his head repetitively against the stone wall, much to the amusement of passing students. Would he actually have to get a job when he left school to survive??? He was a Malfoy!! Malfoy's did not work!!!
But then again… there was her face drifting through his thoughts. Her wild hair… the hair that had his fingers itching to put some hair product in it, but it was still very… her. Oh, he had to talk to her; he'd had enough of this inner monologue crap.
-
Hermione's next class was Muggle Studies and she walked into the class early to find it empty apart from Zabini. Oh GOD NO!! Not that maniac!! He shot her a devious grin and then wandered over to her.
'Hello Granger. How are you on this fine day?'
'Fine thankyou.' She muttered through clenched teeth. He seemed oblivious that she didn't like him. Argh, why was he still smiling at her??!!
'I've noticed something… odd lately.' He continued.
'Oh?' She asked in a bored tone.
'Yes… Draco is never er, in his bed when I wake up.'
'So??!' Hermione blurted out in near hysteria. Zabini smirked and shook his head.
'I should have known. How long have you two been together?'
'We're not together!!' She yelled at him. 'And I'm not going to talk to you anymore!!' She abruptly turned away, set her bag on her desk and began taking out her things for the class. The boy looked amused, but wandered off as the other students trickled into the class.
Muggle Studies was riveting as usual, but Hermione found her thoughts drifting… Draco's face swam into her thoughts and she began idly drawing on the margin of her page.
'What's this?' Someone whispered in her ear. She started to see Zabini leaning over her shoulder peering at the scribbles she'd been busy making. She covered the sets of initials a bit too late. He let out a short laugh, and then tossed one of the books he was handing out onto her desk. She flinched as it made a bang and screwed up the parchment while berating herself. How could she be so stupid as to let slip to that Slytherin that she liked Draco??!! Argh!! It was only the third day of the term!!
-
Draco had an idea. Her hair was so bushy it looked like it could possibly house birds in it right? She needed a haircut!! He knew many people who had had out-of-control hair, and a simple short 'do had made it manageable! He frowned in contemplation. She probably wouldn't agree… he had another idea. If he took a drought to combat unconsciousness, he could fight the enchantments in the girls' dormitory, and while she was sleeping, he could cut her hair!! He briefly wondered how angry she would be, and then dismissed it. She'd love him for sure after-
WHAT? What did he just think??!! Draco mentally slapped himself and sighed. He didn't even know if she liked him back… he'd better stop fantasising just in case…
A/N: WOOHOO!! NEW KEYBOARD!!! Here you go!! It is beginning to come together… man; they are falling for each other so quickly… it's only the third day!! But all they're doing is realising they like each other, nothing more yet. Any suggestions for other characters you want to see? Things you want to happen? I'm open to suggestions!! Oh and thankyou so much for reviews… you all rock!!