Author's Note: I know at the beginning of the first chapter I said that this fanfic was going to be written primarily in Hermione's perspective, but as I have thought about furthering the story, I've come to the conclusion that it would be best to write in both her and Draco's point of view. This way I can showcase each character's emotional and mental state and to show the change they go through as the story progresses. Also, I hope the first three chapters haven't been to slow and have held your attention. I'm excited to continue writing, and I hope you all enjoy!

Disclaimer: All characters (save a few of my own) belong to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter Four

Silly girl, thinking she could escape so easily.

Oh, he knew what he was doing. It took an immense amount of self control, but it was worth it. She was worth it.

And Professor Ribthorn's decision to partner them up together was an added bonus; the plan would unfold better than he thought.

How he loved to see her all riled up because of him... He projected such a perfectly innocent facade that no one would suspect him otherwise. He knew he had quite the beguiling charm with women, and it seemed to work exceptionally on her. He noticed her pupils dilating as she stared at him, the shortness of breath and the pounding of her heart when he was near, the electricity that hummed through their bodies when their fingertips met... However, he didn't expect her to faint.

Granger will be easier than I suspected.

But she was still as feisty as he remembered. That little stunt she pulled on the way to the infirmary angered him, yet it also amused him. It angered him that she had the nerve to be so ungrateful for his selfless act; he was simply trying to help her. It amused him because she was so naive to think a stinging hex would harm him. She knew absolutely nothing about him. How he suffered much worse at the hands of the Dark Lord. A simple, elementary stinging hex wouldn't affect him.

He would have to keep her dominating nature in check. In time, she would learn to be more subservient. To him.

Little do you know what awaits you, my Gryffindor princess...

He would begin his work this evening. Seeing that they needed to begin that silly project of Ribthorn's, it would make the perfect excuse to find her. And he knew just where she would be...

PART TWO

Hermione skipped the rest of Transfiguration. No way she was going back there where he was. She went back to the Gryffindor common room and waited until the class period ended so she could return and safely retrieve her book bag without running into Malfoy again.

Thankfully, by dinner time, the uncomfortable knot in her stomach had vanished, and she felt somewhat back to her normal self as she met Harry in the Great Hall once more. She refused to look anywhere near the Slytherin table. Harry greeted her with a smile and gave her a brief hug before sitting down next to her at the table. Upon seeing the food, however, Hermione quickly decided she no longer had an appetite.

"Don't think I don't know what happened earlier today, Hermione," Harry said, staring directly at her, his face appearing quite serious and concerned.

Hermione froze. "What?"

"Dean told me," Harry explained, still staring at her with that same serious demeanor. It was quite unsettling; it made her feel like she had done something wrong. She just stared at him blankly, refusing to show any of the turmoil she was feeling inside. "Listen, I know we've never been fond of Malfoy, I mean, no one really has, but I do think working with him on your paper won't be too big of a deal. He seems quiet enough now to be considered changed, I suppose, so working on a paper with him should be easy. As long as he doesn't resort back to his ferret-like ways, in which case you will come to me and I'll see to it that I hex his arse into oblivion. All right?"

Harry offered her a comforting smile and she returned it, feeling appeased by his words. He did sound reasonable; Malfoy had done nothing wrong after all. It's not like he had a say in who he was partnered up with, and carrying her to the infirmary after her fainting spell was the right, noble thing to do. She couldn't be angry with him. Maybe he had changed. But it was still hard to let go of the person he was, the person she knew him as the majority of her stay at Hogwarts. Yet, he had been perfectly civil to her thus far; he never taunted her or teased her as the old Malfoy would have done. Yes, this did make her feel better. But why was it that she was literally rendered speechless at the mere sight of him? Surely she couldn't be thinking of Malfoy as attractive? Then again she couldn't deny his physical assets. Maturity and manhood treated him well. As much as she loathed admitting it to herself, she did find him quite pleasing to look at. She couldn't help but to turn her gaze to the Slytherin table to see...

And he had been watching her.

Those beautiful grey eyes had met her stare as soon as she turned to marvel at him. It was as if he used Legilimency on her. She should have turned away, but damn him, she couldn't. He had her under his spell, and she, in that moment was completely willing. Those eyes, boring into the depths of her very soul, those hands, cradling her body against the warmth of his, that voice, compelling her to drop everything at the mere mention of her name...

Granger.

Granger.

Hermione.

She so desperately wanted to hear the sound of her name rolling off of his tongue.

As if reading her thoughts again, he flashed her another smile (damn him!) and proceeded to mouth something at her. What was it? He repeated his inaudible movement.

Library.

The library? Did he want her to meet him in the library? That must be it. They did need to start their project after all.

She nodded in return.

At the mention of her understanding, Draco Malfoy retrieved his things and exited the great hall with a flourish of his robes, leaving poor Hermione breathless once more.

"Hermione!"

Harry's voice snapped her out of her trance immediately.

"I'm sorry, Harry, my mind's just so preoccupied with schoolwork right now. You know how stressed I get about my schoolwork, I just want everything to be perfect-" she stammered out as a weak explanation before Harry cut her off.

"I know, Hermione, just remember to take care of yourself. Your life doesn't always have to revolve around school work."

She smiled at him. He smiled at her. Harry's presence calmed her. But right now she was eager to head to the library.

"I know, Harry." She placed her hand on his for a brief moment. "I think I'll head to the library to start my essay, maybe meet with Malfoy another time."

He nodded in understanding and allowed to her to get up from the table and collect her things.

"See you this evening, Harry!"

He smiled and waved as she exited the Great Hall and began to collect his things as well. Before he headed back to the common room, he couldn't help but glance at the Slytherin table and then back to where Hermione just left and hope that she would just be careful.

PART THREE

This was it. She had made it to the large double doors that opened into the library. She already knew he was in there waiting for her. It took her a good five minutes before she finally mustered up her Gryffindor courage and entered the library. Madam Pince welcomed her with a fond smile, as she knew how many countless times Hermione visited the library. Hermione returned the smile and began to slowly scan the aisles and tables to try and located Malfoy.

One after the other she continued to search the library trying to find him. Her nervousness was soon replaced with irritability as she walked down each aisle, continuing her search. Surely she hadn't imagined him saying that to her... She was positive he did. She knew what she saw. But where on earth was he?

She stopped.

Unless he was in the Restricted Section.

It seemed reasonable. He appeared to be no where else in the bloody library. But why would he be there? All of the books they needed would surely be out here, not there.

Unless he was researching Dark magic.

No! He couldn't be. He had changed, hadn't he? Harry had been right, surely. After seeing the fate of his parents and fellow pureblood families he should know better than to meddle in the dark arts again. Especially now that Voldemort was gone.

There was no other choice. She slowly made her way farther back into the library until she was there. Her heart hammered in her chest as she laid her eyes upon his graceful form lounged in a chair, his eyes turned downward scanning the pages of his book, his finger thoughtfully tracing the side of his jaw, his blonde hair glowing in the dim candlelight...

Oh god.

Grey eyes slowly turned up to meet hers.

There was that smile again.

"Nice of you to join me, Granger."

Author's Note: Sorry if this seemed like a short chapter, but I felt that I needed to end it here for now! Thank you for reading!