Disclaimer: The persons, places, and things that have anything to do with HP-verse belong to the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling. They are not mine.

The Thin Line Between Love and Hate Blurs

Chapter 4: First Impressions

It was still early yet by the time Hermione had finished unpacking and the sun streaming through her windows was almost beckoning to her. She thought about getting a head start on her teaching plans for the semester, but then remembered she'd already taken care of that during the summer holidays. Rather than vegetate in her room, Hermione figured she'd take the rare opportunity to enjoy the grounds before the students flooded the castle. Grabbing her worn, dog-eared copy of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice off one of the bookshelves she had in her bedroom, she walked down the stairs to her living room and out the door. She didn't stop until she had reached the small plot of grass between buildings. With a contented sigh she lowered herself to the ground and leaned up against one of the benches; she cracked open her book and settled in to read enjoying the warm sun beating down on her.

Around the same time, Draco had finished his unpacking and perusal of his room. He didn't want to sit around the room like he so often did at the Manor. "Guess I can walk around a bit. It's not like I'll be overrun by the hoards of students..." His white dress shirt was unbuttoned at the top and the sleeves were rolled nearly to his elbows giving him a ruggedly handsome appearance. With his hands thrust into his pockets he roamed the castle. Draco's mouth formed a thin line as he passed the segment of wall where the Room of Requirement previously resided. There was a part of him that regretted his blind devotion to the Dark Lord; how could one child be so stupid? Then again, it was all he was raised to know; he wasn't 100% at fault. Either way that was all in the past he was here to make a fresh start. The castle was oddly quiet and brought very little comfort to Draco. He felt no homecoming upon entering the castle; in fact he felt he did not belong anywhere. There was no place for a wayward soul who had committed such crimes as he at a young age. Each time he passed a window the sun would reflect upon his pale blonde hair and warm him, when he reached the fourth floor he paused at a wide window that overlooked most of the grounds. The lake laid flat, not a ripple upon its dark surface. There, in the distance stood Hagrid's modest hut; an involuntary snarl emanated from his throat. He had never liked Hagrid, and probably never will, it was too ingrained in his psyche to dislike the half blooded animal. Directly beneath him though, a slight brunette sat reading a book.

It did not even occur to Draco that anybody else would be at the castle, though he should have realized that all the professors would be in residence or nearby by now. The figure looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn't quite place her. The nose in a book stance instantly made him wary, was it Hermione Granger, the filthy mudblood? It couldn't be…Granger had a permanent poodle poof to her hair and there's no way she ever had a figure like that under all those stupid robes. His lip curled in dissatisfaction as he pictured the know-it-all who had forever plagued his years at Hogwarts and helped thwart everything he had attempted in the name of the Dark Lord. Might as well give her a little taste of the hell she'd be experiencing while he was employed here, if it really was her.

Before he had even emerged completely from the shadows of the walkways leading to the courtyard, he knew his assumption had been right. Hermione Granger lounged within thirty yards of him, completely unaware of his presence. He knew that McGonagall probably expected him to push aside the past and fall over himself to be as non-confrontational as possible. Ha—try again. Old habits die hard. "Now I know where that stench is coming from. Had to pollute the grounds with your mudbloodness already Granger? Couldn't wait until all the other little biddies helped muddle the stench?" He stepped into the light and leaned up against a stone column, contempt etched into his every feature. Her spine stiffened as she slowly lowered the book, chocolate brown eyes narrowed and lips pursed. She took in his nonchalant, yet slightly intimidating stance before speaking, "Did you just leave your mother's, Malfoy? I'm sure she can explain what the stench is, since she seems to always be smelling it."

He stiffened at the remark about his mother. Yes, she was an irritating, clingy, self-absorbed mother but she was still his mother. "Take that back." A hint of the past echoed through his words, he realized they were already bickering as if they were in third year again, almost pathetic, if he hadn't genuinely felt she deserved every bit of it. "Just because precious Potty won the war, you think you're so special. Get off your high horse."

"Malfoy, you're the one on the high horse. Do you need me to knock you off it again?" She snapped her book shut and rose to her feet. "In case you forgot, I pack a pretty mean right hook, want a reminder?" Every muscle in her body was tense; she couldn't believe that the past could not stay where it should. It had to follow her here, now.

His eyes flashed with anger. "Stupid bitch," he thought. Her fury was evident through her tone of voice as well as her body language, if he didn't think of her as a filthy mudblood he could have found her attractive. The thought flitted across his mind without registering. "Don't start with me, Granger. You don't have Potty and Weasel here to help you anymore."

"You're right. I don't need them. Where are your cronies? Oh that's right, in Azkaban. How'd you get off so easy, Malfoy? Bribe the Wizengamot with your money? You're disgusting. I can't believe they expect you to educate the next generation of witches and wizards, you couldn't even think for yourself when you were their age."

She was right, but damned if he would admit that, even to himself. "Go off yourself, Granger. Stay out of my way, and I'll stay out of yours. Wouldn't want that smell near me anyway."

"Fine!" Hermione strode past him and back into the castle, nearly colliding shoulder to shoulder with him. In her wake, Draco noticed a strawberry scent.

She didn't bother leaving her room at all Sunday; it was now Monday, September 1st. She had had the house elves bring her meals in her room as she paced and took her frustrations out by writing in her diary. For some crazy reason, Hermione had expected the two of them to at least be decent towards each other, if not cordial. It was too bad that his upbringing was so well ingrained in him that he couldn't even be accepting of his colleague and former year-mate. The book she had pulled from the bookshelf to help her relax, Minds with Meditation, lay forgotten on the coffee table of her sitting area. Her hands were curled around a warm mug of tea as she stared into the flames of the gently crackling fire. His rejection surprisingly stung, though she kept reminding herself she shouldn't have expected any different. "Stupid pureblooded, arrogant, arsehole," she muttered. Another dejected sigh escaped her lips as she took a sip of her tea and glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner of the room. "Blimey!"

The clock read ten of 6:00; she was supposed to be in the Great Hall already, prepared to welcome the students back to another year of education. With a clatter she set her mug on the table, grabbed her cloak and hat and rushed out of the room, pulling her arms through the sleeves as she ran. Draco Malfoy was exiting his room at the exact same moment. Poor Hermione was in such a rush that she ran directly into him, throwing them both off balance. His arm shot out and kept her from falling flat on her face but as soon as she regained her balance he withdrew his hand as if he had been stung. A look of curiousness crossed his features and she noted it, "What? Did you expect your hand to burn or something from touching someone you deem unclean? Sorry to spoil your fun." Without another backwards glance she took off down the hall.

"Oh bollocks. He lives in the apartment across from him. Damnit!" she thought as she walked quickly down the many staircases to the Great Hall. There was no escaping him now. It made things that much more complicated. She reached her destination without any other interruptions and quickly took her seat between Professors Flitwick and Longbottom, plaiting her hair over her left shoulder in an attempt to make herself presentable. Malfoy strolled into the room a few minutes later and took his place at the end of the table, not even glancing in her direction. Headmistress McGonagall entered with the Sorting Hat in her hands and placed it on the lonely stool set in the center of the raised dais in front of the professors. With a nod to Hermione she took her seat in the center of the table. Hermione rose, feeling eyes boring into her back, as she made her way around the table, down the room, and into the hall to greet the new students. The older students arrived a mere two minutes after she had walked into the entrance hall and shuffled around her into the Great Hall, a few waving and greeting her warmly. She smiled in response and motioned for them to get a move on. A few minutes later and the entrance hall was emptied of students; Hermione heard Hagrid's booming voice just on the other side of the large double doors. He banged open the doors and glanced up at Hermione sheepishly, herding several dozen children with wide eyes through.

"I'll take them from here, Hagrid." Her eyes danced across the newest class of students to enter Hogwarts with a bit of nostalgia as she remembered her first experience at the castle. Oh, what a know-it-all she had been back then, piping up random and insignificant little facts as they walked down the corridors in an attempt to show off her knowledge. She was extremely lucky to have been paired with Harry and Ron on the train, without them, she doubted she would have had any true friends within the stone walls. A small smile crept across her lips as she looked down on the students huddled at the base of the staircase, "Well, come along then!" She turned and strode towards the Great Hall, glancing back once to be sure that the students followed her. When they entered the Great Hall a dull roar filled her ears as the older students whispered and caught up with one another, eyeing the new students somewhat warily.

A hush fell over the crowd as she stepped up to the dais and grasped a tightly rolled parchment. "Welcome students. I am Professor Granger," at this several of the newer students gasped and elbowed one another, whispering. It seems that her involvement in the downfall of Lord Voldemort with Harry was still common knowledge, then again she expected that, and would for the rest of her life, it was a huge part of wizarding history now. The quiet whisperings around the Great Hall were interrupted as one of the small tears upon the Sorting Hat widened and words erupted from its depths:

The beginning of the year again,
I sit and ponder, thinking,
Who am I to judge these men?
These men of magic making.

Yet the Founders created me
And here I sit
Forced to separate and see
Where exactly do you fit?

Be you of house of Raven
Where wit and mind are engendered,
Or Hufflepuff, whose loyalty and
Trust is oft remembered.

What of Gryffindor?
Courageous and true they stand,
Next to Slytherins, cunning
And sly is their brand.

I must divide and hope that past
Beliefs will not repeat.
Remember the union that happened fast.
You stood as one against defeat.

"Work together, help each other,
Banish thoughts of laying blame;
Though your banners may be diff'rent,
Deep inside you're much the same." [1]

"But I digress, and now too long
I've held you in suspense,
So step right up! It's time now for
The sorting to commence!" [2]

As the last word rung out across the now quiet hall, Hermione opened the parchment and began reciting names beginning with, "Adams, Hilary" and ending with, "Yost, Connor". Each time a student was sorted, his or her House would erupt in massive cheering to be quieted when the next name rung out. After Yost, Connor was sorted (Hufflepuff), Hermione rolled the parchment back up, grasped the Sorting Hat and took both to the little room just off the dais before returning to her seat. McGonagall rose from her seat and addressed the students, "Welcome to another great year here at Hogwarts. I hope that everyone's summer holiday was relaxing and that you've all arrived with minds ready for learning. Just a few announcements before the feast begins: first of all I'd like to welcome a new professor. Draco Malfoy was graciously accepted the position of Potions professor upon the retirement of Professor Slughorn." Draco rose out of his seat briefly, as if the entire student body didn't already know who he was. "Furthermore," McGonagall continued, "I am to remind you all that the rules have not changed. There will be no spell casting in the corridors between classes, uniforms will be worn correctly, and a list of all prohibited items is posted outside of Filch's office. Announcements will be posted regularly in each of your Common Rooms, please be sure you're aware of them. Without further ado, Welcome!" She waved her wand once and the tables immediately filled with delicious, mouth-watering food.

The feast passed without event as the students caught up with one another and welcomed new additions to their Houses. The professors likewise caught up; Hermione noted that Draco hardly ever contributed to conversation, content to simply eat and look around as if surveying his surroundings. Unfortunately, it was at one of these times when she was gazing intently at him, when he looked her way and crooked an eyebrow upwards. She turned quickly away from him, almost blushing and answered Neville's latest question, "Of course I'm sure that if you presented your inquiry to McGonagall she would gladly add another greenhouse!" She resisted the urge to look at him again during the feast and almost sighed with relief as McGonagall announced the ending of it, that the prefects should now direct their houses to their common rooms. Once the room cleared of students McGonagall addressed the professors, announcing a staff meeting Saturday afternoon. Each professor in turn rose from their seat, said goodnight and made their way back to their respective rooms or residences off the Grounds.

Hermione walked with Neville and Filius back to their hall, waving them a cheerful goodnight as they entered their rooms. She was almost to her room when she heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Draco making his way to his own room. She paused, her hand on the doorknob. "Goodnight, Malfoy."

"Goodnight, Granger," he gruffly replied. She opened her door, but when she turned to shut it she saw Draco still standing in the hallway, that same peculiar look on his face as she shut the door.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" Draco thought to himself as he opened his door and strode in. "Am I really being cordial with that mudblood? Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. Might as well make this as easy as possible…right?" The two sides of his mind were warring with one another as he poured himself a libation of Firewhiskey and took a sip. On one hand, he had been raised to think of people like Granger as lower on the social chain than he was and deserved to be looked down upon; on the other they were colleagues now and would have to work very closely together in some instances, why make it harder than it already was? He knew this would not be settled tonight so instead of contemplating the near impossible he finished off his Firewhiskey and went upstairs to undress for bed.

"This will be an interesting year…" Hermione mumbled to herself as she got ready for bed. There was no doubt in her mind that tonight, Malfoy had not looked at her with contempt, but neither did he look at her as if she were a human being. What it entailed for the year, she didn't know, but she wasn't going to argue she'd take what she could to make this transition as easy as possible. Crookshanks was already curled up at the foot of her bed, but Hermione couldn't crawl into bed just yet. She pulled out a piece of parchment, inkwell, and quill and began a letter.

Dear Ginny,
What an eventful year already, and it's barely begun. I know Harry already told you about Malfoy. I'm at a loss for words. The other day we crossed each other for the first time since the end of the war and it was like we were back in third year again, yelling petty insults at one another. Then tonight during the feast, he wasn't the rude, arrogant, arsehole he usually is. It was so odd, Gin! I don't get him.
So I finally agreed to go out on that date with your brother. He seemed so excited, I almost felt bad for not agreeing sooner. I hope it's the right thing to do, I don't want to get his hopes up. You're so lucky to have Harry! Which reminds me? How's James doing? Getting big I hope. Send me pictures as soon as you can, ok? I miss you all. Hope to see you soon.
Lots of love,
Hermione Granger

She sealed the letter and placed it atop the small pile of books she had laid ready for tomorrow's classes so she could remember to send it in the morning. A small smile crossed her lips as she finally felt exhaustion creep up on her and she nearly dove beneath the soft, warm covers on her bed and let sleep take her.

[1] Taken from Laura H and her Sorting Hat song submitted to The Leaky Cauldron's Sorting Hat contest.
[2] Taken from Willow Knox and her Sorting Hat song submitted to The Leaky Cauldron's Sorting Hat contest.
-both can be found by searching Google for "leaky cauldron sorting hat songs" [it won't let me post the url]

Author's Note: Yes, it was the first time where Hermione and Draco meet. Was it what you expected? What do you think will happen next? Rate/Review, let me know!