A/N: Okay, here's the next chapter, I just want to say thanks again to all who reviewed. Special thanks to HotRed89 as well, for giving a suggestion of a song. Everyone is welcomed to give in ideas for songs that I can use in my story! I already have a short list of course, but all new ideas are welcome! Thanks again to all my lovely reviewers! Anyway, enough with my ramblings. On with the story!

Disclaimer: When will Draco be mine?

Draco's Green Monster

The next morning, Hermione woke with a feeling of strange excitement. She always got that feeling at the start of every Hogwarts term. The feeling of anticipation.

She got out of bed, stretched, and headed for the bathroom. She turned the doorknob. Locked. Draco was probably inside. She went out into the common room still in her pyjamas. She always wore her dad's old shirts; they were really big and comfortable. She never understood why women would want to wear itchy-scratchy lingerie when they could just grab a man's shirt to sleep in. Particularly of the big, collared, button-down kind.

She sat down in one of the armchairs and wondered how the year would turn out. She was worried about their upcoming NEWT's. If she didn't do well, it would be the end of her. Not so much because her parents would be mad, but because she really needed top marks if she was going to become a specialist Healer in St. Mungo's.

Just then, she heard the click of a doorknob. She swiftly turned her head to see Draco.

She got up and headed for her room. This was her game plan. As long as she stayed far away from him, she wouldn't have to endure any of his taunting about her lineage. She hurried for her room. She had a feeling that he was looking at her. She decided to stay and fight. She whipped around to face him.

"Look, Malfoy," she said, her voice not quivering. "I know you're not exactly ecstatic about the arrangements this year. I'm not exactly celebrating either. But I absolutely refuse to listen to any of your shameless torment about my bloodline. You've treated me horribly and cruelly for six long years, Malfoy. You've hurt Ron, and you've hurt Harry. I'm sick of it, and I won't put up with it for another school term. Okay?"

She whipped back around before he could say anything. But she wasn't fast enough. "People change, Granger. Maybe I have."

Hermione turned around again, but he was out of the common room. He was gone.

&&&&&&

After she had showered, Hermione went down for breakfast. She found Harry, Ron and Ginny and sat with them. It sounded like Ron and Ginny were in a serious discussion. Ron was saying, "I am not."

"Yes, you are," Ginny said curtly. "I'm not surprised, of course, knowing the amount of food you eat."

"What's going on?" Hermione asked Harry.

Harry grinned and said, "Ginny said Ron was fat because he's already having his fourth helping of bacon eggs." Hermione burst out laughing. Ron turned to look at her. He sniffed indignantly.

"Well, who cares," he said. "Sod it all." He wolfed down more bacon. Harry, Hermione and Ginny laughed.

Just then, a boy walked up to them. They'd never seen him before. "Hi there. I'm Matthew Woods. I've just been transferred from Fignius International School of Magic. May I sit here?"

"Sure," Harry said. "I'm—"

"Harry Potter," Matthew nodded.

"Yeah," said Harry with a grin. "How did you know?" Then he proceeded to patting his hair down in attempt to make it lie flat so it could cover his lightning-bolt scar on his forehead.

"I'm afraid that's not going to work, Harry," said Ginny.

Harry put his hands down. "I guess you're right."

"Anyway," said Ginny, looking at Matthew, who was smiling. "I'm Ginny Weasley. This is my brother—" she looked at Ron.

"Ron Weasley," Ron said.

Matthew looked at Hermione expectantly. She said, "And I'm Hermione Granger."

Matthew's eyes grew wide. "I've heard people say you're the smartest in our year. They say you've got guaranteed O's in all your NEWT subjects."

"That's our Hermione!" piped up Ginny.

For the remainder of breakfast, Matthew could hardly keep his eyes off Hermione. She hardly noticed. But Ginny did. She found it very obvious: Matthew fancied Hermione.

&&&&&&

After breakfast, Ginny pulled Hermione aside. "Mione, I think you know what I'm about to say." Hermione stared at her.

"Uh," she said. "No?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. Just then, Draco walked by. But Ginny said, "Matthew fancies you!"

Draco stopped in his tracks. He hid behind a nearby pillar so he could eavesdrop.

Hermione said, "How can he? He hardly knows me. He doesn't know what I'm like. We barely exchanged five words to each other."

"That's because he was admiring you silently!" said Ginny. "And what's not to like? You're friendly, smart, funny and pretty." Hermione snorted. Ginny stared at her. "Do you like him back or don't you?"

Draco's eyes widened. He almost held his breathe.

"Oh, I don't know, Ginny," said Hermione exasperatedly. "You know I don't have that much experience with boys. I don't deny he's somewhat charming, but you can't really judge a book by its cover."

Ginny laughed. "I should have known you'd say something like that." Hermione grinned sheepishly. "Fine," said Ginny. "We'll get to know him better, then we'll see how it goes. Okay?"

"Okay." They walked off.

Draco stepped out from behind the pillar. Draco could feel the ugly green monster of envy awakening inside of him.Who was this Matthew bloke? And what was he doing chasing after his Hermione?

Then Draco laughed. How uncanny it was, calling the Muggle-born Gryffindor—whom he had hated so much before—his. It seemed so silly and hypocritical.

As he was passing the two Gryffindor wenches, Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil (though he didn't remember their names), he overheard one of them saying, "Yeah, Matthew Woods. He transferred from Fignius or something, into our year. He's SO cute."

Draco walked on. Sounded like this Matthew bloke was definitely getting noticed. He had to do something to get rid of this Matthew bloke, before he took Hermione away.

A/N: Done! Whoo. I used the word 'bloke' a lot in this chapter. I like the word, don't you? Ha ha. So anyway, please review to tell me what you thought of this chapter. Thanks a lot. windsinger257 xxx