A/N This is an AU fic. For the purposes of this story, full canon applies up to the end of Goblet of Fire. Cedric Diggory didn't die and Voldemort failed to regain a body; he vanished with Wormtail and his whereabouts are unknown.

Chapter One

Be sure to make numerous appearances in front of the Granian. After showing it that you're not there to scare or injure it, it will grow used to your presence. This is the first step to it accepting you.

Extract from "From Wild Beast to Wizard's Steed, a how-to guide on taming Granian".

Draco's first step was to memorise Granger's timetable.

What with Gryffindor being paired with Slytherin for the core subjects, he and Granger shared a lot of the same lessons, and had even chosen some of the same electives, but these shared classes only furthered Draco's plans up to a point.

Whilst around other people he could only communicate with Granger so much. Especially since a lot of those classes also included Potty and the Weasel.

Even if he was willing to deal with the embarrassment of actively pursuing Granger, judging by her reaction in the Library the presence of others – their reactions – would likely only convince her he was being sarcastic or insincere.

And to be frank, Draco wasn't willing to deal with the embarrassment. He might not be full-blown Death Eater material, but he was a Malfoy, and Malfoys did not slum it with Muggle-borns. At least not openly. A relationship with Granger was out of the question.

But that was fine – all he wanted was a snog.

Just one kiss. Enough to get this insane physical pull out of his system.

But first he had to win her over. And lessons weren't enough to do it. The most he could do in the Gryffindor classes was be neutral – civil at a push. The electives gave him a little more wriggle room, but still, what he needed was time alone with her.

So he did what any self-respecting Slytherin would do: memorised her timetable and watched from the shadows until he figured out the times she was most vulnerable.

Standard.

Fortunately, Granger appeared to be a creature of habit; someone who valued the comfort of routine. She practically had set times for everything: when she took her meals, when she liked to go for walks, when she liked to study (which accounted for most of her free time).

But it was important to remember Granger was no idiot – if he showed up too often in too short a space of time, she would quickly become suspicious.

So Draco started off small: arranging it so that he frequently passed her in corridors, timing it so that he entered classrooms at the same time as her, manoeuvring himself so that he was standing next to her. He was careful to keep at least a foot of space between them at all times, but whenever she looked at him he would nod politely at her.

At first Granger looked surprised, then surprise quickly gave way to deep suspicion. However, she limited her antagonism to a single glare then pointedly looked away, ignoring him. As far as he could see, she steadfastly avoided looking at him.

Undiscouraged, Draco continued with his plan. Every day he would find at least one time to stand near to Granger without saying anything, just peaceably standing nearby.

He became so sensitised to her, he swore he could feel the slight but unmistakeable tension rolling off her body in his presence. Which meant he was aware of the first day it started to lessen.

It had taken four days of carefully timed encounters, but on the fourth day he took his place next to Granger outside classroom 6A, waiting for the previous occupants to vacate. Granger's face was buried in Spellman's Syllabary. She was so engrossed that when Draco drew alongside her she didn't even look up. Draco cleared his throat, causing Granger to glance up with an abstracted expression. Draco nodded at her; she absent-mindedly nodded back and returned to the runes.

Schooling his expression so none of his internal elation showed, Draco spoke to Granger for the first time since instigating Project Kiss-met:

"Morning, Granger."

Her head snapped up in surprise, suspicious expression back, but Draco retained his polite smile. Granger's eyes narrowed, waiting, but when nothing more was forthcoming she spoke, slowly and uncertainly: "Good morning."

Draco nodded again and looked away, allowing his polite smile to take on a disinterested tinge, as though their greeting one another amicably was an everyday occurrence.

He could feel Granger studying his face, waiting for the punch line, but after a few seconds more, she slowly returned to her book.

Project Kiss-met was off to a flying start.

After a week of "accidentally" running into Granger and civilly exchanging greetings, Draco judged that it was time to increase the contact. That evening, he accosted Granger on her pre-supper walk.

Draco had made good use of the time it had taken to work out Granger's schedule, using it to study her habits, her favourite foods, her likes and dislikes. One of the pieces of information he learned was that Granger took daily walks. Usually when the Ponce and the Pauper were occupied with Quidditch practice.

That afternoon, he timed it so that their paths crossed by the lake.

Granger stopped in surprise when she saw him walking towards her, but didn't try to leave when he moved to stand alongside her.

A light breeze skimmed across the surface of the lake, ruffling their hair. Granger's chaotic curls were more affected then Draco's sleek strands; her well-remembered scent came to him on the breeze, momentarily distracting Draco from his careful plans. Mmmm... vanilla.

Focus, Draco!

"Hi," he said.

"Hi..."

A small crease formed between Granger's eyes. She opened and closed her mouth several times as though already unsure of what she was about to say.

Draco easily read the question she was working up to, so he made sure he got there first. "Granger, are you following me?"

"Huh?" asked Granger intelligently.

"Wherever I look lately, there you are..." He tilted his head. "I'm starting to wonder if you've got a crush on me."

Granger began to splutter.

The breeze picked up again; an errant curl broke free from the rest, drifting across Granger's face. She raised a hand to impatiently brush it away, but Draco got there first.

Gently grasping it between thumb and forefinger, he lazily wound the tendril round his finger, delighting in its downy texture. Then slowly, ever so slowly, he gently tucked it behind Granger's ear.

Granger's head jerked back in surprise, but her expression was more confused than suspicious.

"What are you up to, Malfoy?"

Draco's raised-brow inquiry was the very picture of innocence. "Your hair was in your eyes. Wouldn't want your eyesight to be compromised – it might impede your view of me. Good day to you, Granger." He nodded at her then sauntered back inside.

Damn. Granger was even quicker on the uptake than he had anticipated. Accidental encounters weren't going to cover it. He needed deliberate meetings – but how to accomplish this without raising Granger's suspicions?

Draco made a mental list of what he knew Granger liked to do: lessons, telling others what to do, being an infuriating know-it-all...

His expression twisted in realisation.

The answer to all his problems was staring him in the face. But his pride was going to take a hit...