I don't own anything of the HP world, I'm just playing around with a few of my favorite characters.

This story is set in the muggle world!

Draco Malfoy has been the biggest pain in my ass since the day I was born. In fact, we were born on the same day, at the same hospital, and only a minute apart. Draco was, unfortunately, born first, and he never let me forget it. We couldn't be more different if we tried. Draco was popular, outgoing, second in our class, and drop dead gorgeous. Naturally platinum blonde hair, bright grey eyes, tall, and absolutely ripped. His problem? He knew he was hot. He was your classic jock. All the guys wanted to be him, and all the girls wanted to be with him. Look wise, we were complete opposites. I was short, standing in at 5'3 compared to his 6'4 frame. I had dark, naturally curly hair, hazel eyes, and while I was very pretty, I wasn't anywhere near Draco's level of attractiveness. I was popular in my own right, first in the class (thank you very much), but wasn't always outgoing. I wasn't much for constant partying, only going when Draco's best friend Theo convinced me to. I was academic vs athletic, but kept in shape by going to self defense classes and occasionally took MMA classes. My father wouldn't have it any other way. He and my mother may be dentists, but my father took his role as a protector of me seriously, and always taught me self defense. It was something I really enjoyed doing, and came with added benefits. The only way Draco and I were alike is that we shared a best friend. Theo is really the only reason we interact at all, and it is very much a love hate relationship. Our families became friends when Draco and I were born, and when we were young we were forced to play together and hang out. When we were really little, it didn't matter, and we got along just fine. He was actually my first best friend, but then we got older and girls got uncool, and that was the end of that. Which is ironic given his playboy reputation now. Then came freshman year, I was partnered with Theo in biology, and we hit it off immediately. Theo didn't care that his two best friends couldn't stand each other. That we were literally in competition with each other in regards to who was the best student. He loved us both, and split his time between us. He liked to joke around saying we were his divorced parents, and he has to spend time at both houses. I always roll my eyes, but Draco takes offense. As if he would ever be with me, even in a hypothetical situation.

Yes, Draco and I had a complicated relationship. We couldn't stand one another, and always gave each other a hard time, but it was mutually agreed upon that we were the only ones who were allowed to do so. We had each other's backs, and Theo's of course. If any other person tried to mess with either boy, I took issue with that, and vice versa. The first instance that came true was sophomore year when my first boyfriend, Ron, cheated on me, and I broke up with him. Coincidentally, the day after the news spread around school of our split, Ron came to school with a black eye and busted lip, and Draco's knuckles were bruised. I did my part of keeping an eye out for any girls that were just trying to use them, and warned them off. I also acted as a sort of wingman by letting them know which girls were genuinely interested in them. I admit I thought Draco was attractive. I mean, he was the type of attractive that was undeniable, as aggravating as that was, but I can't say I ever thought I was into him. Sure, he got on my nerves and insulted me, getting under my skin was easy. Not to mention he'd make obscene sexual comments to me to make me blush, and I was just a girl, I couldn't help my reaction. And sure, I maybe have thought about him sexually after he made some of these comments. Especially the ones where he insinuated that such a good girl must be a bad girl between the sheets, and if I ever needed an outlet for all my panic and stress to just let him know. He would send me winks, and make small caresses, and some of my other friends thought he was hitting on me, but I knew better. He did it because it made me uncomfortable, and Draco Malfoy loved to make Hermione Granger uncomfortable. He was just too good at it to stop, he said. But again, it was never real, it's just how our relationship was. Theo would just shake his head good naturedly, and would calm us both down when things got too heated. We had an arrangement and it worked. It worked so well I didn't think anything would ever change, but I was so very wrong.

It was the end of our senior year in school, and Draco had been on and off again with Astoria, or Tori as she liked to go by. She was honestly the first girl I think Draco may have actually had feelings for. He tried to make things seem casual to everyone else, but I knew the inner workings, and he liked her more than he let on. Which is why one conversation that I wasn't even meant to hear changed everything for me. It was the last big party of the year, and the seniors went all out. Draco and Theo's friend Blaise was hosting at his mother's oceanfront beach house, and it was crazy. Music was blasting, alcohol was flowing, and everyone was having a great time. Needing a break, because I was nearing the end of my social meter, I was trying to find a spot where no one else was. My escape was found on a private balcony, but it was short lived when I heard the door open on the next balcony and a gaggle of giggles from a group of girls. Now there were partitions up, so you couldn't see who was in the next balcony over, but I recognized the girls from their voices. It was Astoria and her group of friends, and they were laughing cruelly.

"Tori! You have to tell us! When are you going to do it?" What sounded like her one friend, Ariel said. Do what, I could help but wonder?

"Honestly, it's getting a bit late in the year. If you want to see the results of all your hard work this year, you better do it soon." Her best friend, Jazmine said. The more I heard, the less I liked what they were saying. It didn't sound promising.

Astoria laughed, "I know, I know! I plan on getting through this party, and then I'll do it. By the end of next week, I'm going to break the infamous Draco Malfoy's heart. I can't wait to see him beg." Their laughs drowned out the sound of my appalled gasp. My hand flew to cover my mouth, and my eyes were blown wide. What in the hell was I overhearing?

"Do you think he has any idea?" Someone asked, but I couldn't tell who.

"No. None at all. He never lets on, but he is so into me. He even said at the end of the year, he was going to give me a piece of his family jewels, and you know what jewelry means to the Malfoy's! I'm going to accept it, and flaunt it when I destroy him. I can't wait to leave behind my legacy as the one girl who made Draco fucking Malfoy fall to his knees. They are going to talk about me for years to come. No one will forget me."

As quietly as I could, I snuck out of my balcony and walked in a daze back to the party. I had to tell him, but when? How was he going to react? Not well, I knew what much. Would he hate me for being the one to say something? Or maybe he wouldn't even believe me. Oh shit, he probably wouldn't, and then I'm going to be the one that breaks his heart! My internal musings were cut short when I ran straight into the subject of my thoughts.

"Whoa easy there Granger." Draco laughed. "Only you would walk around the best party of the year looking like someone just kicked your puppy." I glanced up and saw that Draco was with Blaise and Theo, and luckily no one else. Theo looked concerned, and when our eyes met, I made a face letting him know his concern was valid.

"Hey Draco. Boys." I nodded to each one behind Draco. "I know this is the party of the year, but do you think you could spare me a minute of your time? There is something I need to tell you."

Draco laughed. "Going to profess your love to me, Granger? C'mon now, That's pathetic, even for you. You know I'm taken!" He winked to show he was joking, but my look soured at his words. His brows furrowed as he took in my reaction, and his hand reached out to grab my arm.

"Hey. Hermione, you know I'm only joking, right? I didn't mean anything by it. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings." He whispered under his breath, not wanting to be seen actually being kind to me.

"No, that's not it. C'mon Malfoy, you know it'll take more than that to hurt my feelings." I tried to joke, but it fell flat.

Theo stepped up, "Mione what's going on?"

"Yeah, Granger. There's definitely something up. You alright?" Blaise asked.

I sighed, and knew I had to rip the proverbial band aid off. "I have some bad news for you Draco, and I mean that sincerely. I'm sorry I have to be the one to tell you, because I don't want you to hate me for this. Believe it or not I wish this wasn't happening to you. Do you want to be alone, or do you want me to tell you in front of the guys?" His brows were furrowed as he nodded to the cellar. Blaise never let anyone down there, so he knew no one would overhear us. That apparently means he wanted to be told alone. Mustering up the courage I was known for, I followed him down the winding stairs and he and I sat on opposite ends of the plush couch they had set up.

"What's going on Hermione?" Draco was sullen, and I didn't want to linger on this any longer.

I took a deep breath and just let it out. "First I want to say I am so incredibly sorry that this is happening, and out of all people I have to be the one to tell you. I really hope you believe me, too, because I would never just do this to you for the hell of it. So you know how I hate parties, and never stay for that long. Well, I knew I couldn't bail early on this one so I needed a break from everybody to be able to last the rest of my night, so I went and took a breather on one of the balconies. And you know there are partitions up, so you can't see anyone and no one can see you. I was being quiet, and just doing gentle breathing when the balcony door next to mine opened. It was Astoria and her friends. They were cackling over something, and I was nervous to let them hear me, so I just froze. But I am glad I heard them! Because Astoria's friends kept asking her when she was going to do something, and that she was running out of time." I stopped to take a breath and finally took a look at Draco. He was staring at me, hands clasped so hard his knuckles were turning white. I looked into his eyes as I finished. "She plans to break your heart, Draco. She said she had been planning it all year, because she wants the popularity and notoriety from being the one to hurt you, playboy Draco Malfoy. She said she was going to wait until you gave her a piece of jewelry from your family, and by the end of the week she was going to have you on your knees begging. She wants to leave behind her legacy of breaking your heart. I'm so incredibly sorry, Draco."

We sat in silence for a few moments, before Draco's palms came to run against his eyes.

"Fuck." He mumbled under his breath.

"I really am terribly sorry, and I hope you believe me. I'm sure I'm not the person you wanted to hear this from, but I promise to you I would never hurt you like this just to mess with you. I'm telling you the truth." I finished, feeling the need to defend myself. Finally, he looked up to meet my gaze. His eyes were red rimmed, and looked a little watery as he finally spoke.

"I believe you, Mione." He whispered. My breath caught, for he'd never called me Mione before. "For two reasons. I never told anyone else other than her about the piece of jewelry I planned to give her, and the simple fact that it's you. I know you wouldn't lie about something like this. You don't have a mean and manipulative bone in your body to pull something like this off. Granger, I can see how much this was bothering you. You're not very good at hiding things, if you didn't know. It's one thing I know I do better than you." He smirked, I think trying to lighten the heavy mood.

"Thank you for believing me. And so sorry for not being a good sneak." I rolled my eyes.

"Apology accepted." He winked.

We were silent a few moments before I asked, "What are you going to do?"

Letting out a deep breath he answered, "Nothing. Break up with her I guess. Not give her my mothers favorite necklace, that's for sure. Mum's going to be devastated. She was so happy I finally found someone to let in." He scoffed. "Shows what good that did me. You know, I really thought she was a genuine person, Granger. I thought she actually liked me. Not the asshole Draco Malfoy that everyone thinks I am, the genuine person behind the mask. The one no one's ever really seen. Except for Theo. And you." He looked me in the eyes again, I'm sure to see my reaction. According to his smirk, my complete confusion and surprise was what he was looking for.

"What?" I asked.

"I may bust your balls, Granger, but I don't actually hate you, you know? You are one of the only people that can handle me, and I admit I'm a bit more brutal to you than necessary, but it is only because you can take it and dish it right back. Bantering with you is a highlight of my day. If I really didn't like you, and treated you like everyone else, I would have told you to fuck off the second you were done telling me. You may not believe me, but I don't talk like this with just anyone."

"You really are unbearable, but my life would be a lot more boring without you in it." I relented with a grin.

Took references of how the school was from the movie Never Back Down, especially in regards to the fighting in chapters to come.